Research Catalog

Barbara Mae Watson papers

Title
  1. Barbara Mae Watson papers, 1929-1984.
Supplementary content
  1. Finding aid
Author
  1. Watson, Barbara Mae, 1918-1983

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ContainerBox 50FormatMixed materialAccessUse in libraryCall numberSc MG 421 Box 50Item locationSchomburg Center - Manuscripts & Archives
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Details

Additional authors
  1. Rusk, Dean, 1909-1994
  2. Watson, James L (James Lopez), 1922-2001
  3. Sangster, Donald B.
  4. Skinner, Arturo, 1923-1975
  5. Barthé, Richmond, 1901-1989
  6. Hughes, Langston, 1902-1967
  7. Annenberg, Walter H., 1908-2002
  8. McKay, Claude, 1890-1948
  9. Cullen, Countee, 1903-1946
  10. Suzman, Helen
  11. Yunkers, Adja, 1900-1983
  12. Knight, Francis G.
  13. Carter, Jimmy, 1924-2024
  14. Humphrey, Hubert H. (Hubert Horatio), 1911-1978
  15. Johnson, Lyndon B. (Lyndon Baines), 1908-1973
  16. Watson, Violet L. (Violet Lopez), 1891-1971
  17. German, Milagros A.
  18. United States. Visa Office
Description
  1. 17.8 lin. ft. (50 boxes)
Summary
  1. The Barbara M. Watson Papers date from 1929-1984 and document Watson's career as a business woman (1946-1955); lawyer (1962-1964, 1981-1983); government official (1966-1974, 1977-1980) and diplomat (1980-1981). In addition to career information, there are personal papers, general and family correspondence, lecture and conference participation data, including typescripts of speeches delivered by Watson, records of her board memberships and professional associations and extensive printed material relating to Watson's professional and personal life.
  2. There are papers relating to Watson's career (1946-1955) as owner and director of Brandford Models, the first African-American modeling agency and charm school in the United States; her position as Coordinator of Student Activities at Hampton Institute (1958-1959); her series of positions as an attorney with New York City, as well as her private practice of law and international trade consultancy with the Washington based law firms of Italo H. Ablondi and van Kloberg & Associates after her retirement from the U.S. Department of State.
  3. The largest series, United States Department of State is divided into five subseries beginning with the Office of Deputy Under Secretary of State for Administration. This subseries covers her initial three month (1966) appointment with the State Department and consists of personnel records, congratulatory letters regarding her appointment and newspaper clippings.
  4. The Bureau of Security and Consular Affairs (later renamed the Bureau of Consular Affairs) subseries documents Watson's duties as Acting Administrator and Administrator, with the rank of Assistant Secretary of State, and consist of what Watson called her "Personal Chronological File" which are letters and carbon copies of her replies that are considered official, yet informal and unclassified. The correspondents are friends and acquaintances who held official positions in consulates and embassies throughout the world, government leaders, executives of corporations, social action, cultural, ethnic, legal, political, educational and other organizations. Also documented is Watson's 1974 ouster, her job related speeches, travel vouchers and appointment calendars indicating the scope and purposes of her extensive travels in the U.S. and abroad, and which provide a framework for her official duties.
  5. The U.S. Ambassador to Malaysia subseries reflects Watson's activities in this position. Included is documentation of her official nominationand appointment, background information concerning Malaysia, ambassadorial seminars, commerce and foreign policy briefings, ceremonies, daily schedules, invitations, appointment calendars, speeches Watson delivered at official functions and newspaper clippings covering her tenure.
Subject
  1. New York (N.Y.) > Politics and government
  2. African American orators
  3. New York (N.Y.) > City Commission for the United Nations and for the Consular Corps
  4. Beauty, Personal
  5. Women orators > United States
  6. African Americans in radio broadcasting
  7. Orators > United States
  8. United States > Department of State
  9. Government executives > United States
  10. Speeches
  11. Women government executives > United States
  12. Passports > United States
  13. Lawyers > United States
  14. United States > Officials and employees
  15. United States > Politics and government
  16. African American lawyers
  17. Modeling agencies > United States
  18. African American government executives
  19. Brandford Models, Inc. (New York, N.Y.)
  20. United States > Foreign relations > Malaysia
  21. Diplomats > United States
  22. Radio broadcasting > United States
  23. Barbara Watson Models (New York, N.Y.)
  24. Ambassadors > United States
  25. African American executives
  26. Clothing and dress
  27. Women in radio broadcasting > United States
  28. Women lawyers > United States
  29. United States > Bureau of Consular Affairs
  30. African American diplomats
  31. United States > Bureau of Security and Consular Affairs
  32. African American women executives
  33. Cabinet officers > United States
  34. Malaysia > Foreign relations > United States
  35. Embassy buildings > Malaysia
  36. Diplomatic and consular service > Malaysia
  37. Black author
  38. I'm your next door neighbor (Radio Program)
  39. Women diplomats > United States
  40. Visas > United States
  41. Diplomatic and consular service, American > Malaysia
  42. African Americans > Politics and government
Genre/Form
  1. Speeches.
Call number
  1. Sc MG 421
Note
  1. Photographs transferred to Photographs and Prints Division.
Biography (note)
  1. Barbara Mae Watson (1918-1983) business woman, lawyer, government executive and diplomat. Watson was the first woman and first African American Assistant Secretary of State, serving under Presidents Johnson, Nixon, Ford and Carter. As Acting Administrator and Administrator, Watson headed the U.S. Department of State's Bureau of [Security and] Consular Affairs from 1966-1974 and 1977-1980. From 1980-1981, she was the U.S. Ambassador to Malaysia.
  2. Born in New York City, Watson was educated at Hunter Model School and High School. She earned degrees from Barnard College and New York Law School. From 1946 to 1955 Watson was the owner and director of the African-American modelling agency and charm school, Brandford Models, Inc. (later changed to Barbara Watson Models). In 1958 until 1959 Watson served as coordinator of Student Activities at Hampton Institute. Upon graduation from law school in 1962 she worked as an attorney with three New York City government agencies; the Board of Statutory Consolidation of the City of New York, the Office of the Corporation Counsel of the City of New York, and as director of the New York City Commission to the United Nations. Upon retirement from the U.S. State Department she entered private law practice with two Washington based firms specializing in international law and business development and trade. At the time of her death in 1983 she had received an appointment to the U.S. Department of State's Special Selection Board.
Author
  1. Watson, Barbara Mae, 1918-1983.
Title
  1. Barbara Mae Watson papers, 1929-1984.
Biography
  1. Barbara Mae Watson (1918-1983) business woman, lawyer, government executive and diplomat. Watson was the first woman and first African American Assistant Secretary of State, serving under Presidents Johnson, Nixon, Ford and Carter. As Acting Administrator and Administrator, Watson headed the U.S. Department of State's Bureau of [Security and] Consular Affairs from 1966-1974 and 1977-1980. From 1980-1981, she was the U.S. Ambassador to Malaysia.
  2. Born in New York City, Watson was educated at Hunter Model School and High School. She earned degrees from Barnard College and New York Law School. From 1946 to 1955 Watson was the owner and director of the African-American modelling agency and charm school, Brandford Models, Inc. (later changed to Barbara Watson Models). In 1958 until 1959 Watson served as coordinator of Student Activities at Hampton Institute. Upon graduation from law school in 1962 she worked as an attorney with three New York City government agencies; the Board of Statutory Consolidation of the City of New York, the Office of the Corporation Counsel of the City of New York, and as director of the New York City Commission to the United Nations. Upon retirement from the U.S. State Department she entered private law practice with two Washington based firms specializing in international law and business development and trade. At the time of her death in 1983 she had received an appointment to the U.S. Department of State's Special Selection Board.
Connect to:
  1. NYPL Digital Collections
  2. Finding aid
Local subject
  1. Black author.
Added author
  1. Rusk, Dean, 1909-1994.
  2. Watson, James L (James Lopez), 1922-2001.
  3. Sangster, Donald B.
  4. Skinner, Arturo, 1923-1975.
  5. Barthé, Richmond, 1901-1989.
  6. Hughes, Langston, 1902-1967.
  7. Annenberg, Walter H., 1908-2002.
  8. McKay, Claude, 1890-1948.
  9. Cullen, Countee, 1903-1946.
  10. Suzman, Helen.
  11. Yunkers, Adja, 1900-1983.
  12. Knight, Francis G.
  13. Carter, Jimmy, 1924-2024
  14. Humphrey, Hubert H. (Hubert Horatio), 1911-1978.
  15. Johnson, Lyndon B. (Lyndon Baines), 1908-1973.
  16. Watson, Violet L. (Violet Lopez), 1891-1971.
  17. German, Milagros A.
  18. United States. Visa Office.
Research call number
  1. Sc MG 421
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