Research Catalog

Details

Additional authors

1. Moiret, Al.

Description

1. .4 lin. ft. (1 archival box)

Summary

1. The Virginia Girvin papers are comprised of biographical information, drafts of her memoirs, and letters primarily acknowledging her volunteer efforts, and one letter from Orson Welles offering his advice on her acting career. There are also playbills (1930s to 1950s) from productions in which Girvin appeared; Negro Actors Guild yearbooks and souvenir journals; reviews; book jackets and magazine articles - including "Native Son" by Richard Wright and romance magazines, for which she modeled (1942 to 1953, n.d.); and a file on Donbar Enterprises (1961).

Subject

1. Moiret, Al
2. Women volunteers in social service > United States
3. Community development > Harlem (New York, N.Y.)
4. Women in community organization > New York (State) > New York
5. African American actresses
6. Community development > New York (State) > New York > Harlem
7. Welles, Orson, 1915-1985
8. Negro Actors Guild of America
9. African American models
10. Girvin, Virginia, 1902-1975

Call number

1. Sc MG 639

Note

1. Photographs transferred to Photographs and Prints Division.

Source (note)

1. Rosalie P. Jeter

Biography (note)

1. Virginia Girvin was an actor, print ad-model, real estate agent and a community activist. As an actor, Girvin worked in multiple mediums - stage, film and radio. Her roles were mainly that of domestic, nurse, chorus member or appearing in crowd scenes. A life time member of the Negro Actors Guild, the high point of Girvin's involvement with the organization was in 1970 when she served as its Vice President. Between acting roles and when she could no longer secure that type of work, Girvin was employed as a secretary and a real estate agent. She worked with Donbar Enterprises-Sundale, a real estate development corporation based in Westbury Long Island that developed a number of integrated communities throughout the northeast in the 1960s.

Processing action (note)

1. Accessioned
2. Cataloged

Author

1. Girvin, Virginia, 1902-1975.

Title

1. Virginia Girvin papers, 1902-1975.

Biography

1. Virginia Girvin was an actor, print ad-model, real estate agent and a community activist. As an actor, Girvin worked in multiple mediums - stage, film and radio. Her roles were mainly that of domestic, nurse, chorus member or appearing in crowd scenes. A life time member of the Negro Actors Guild, the high point of Girvin's involvement with the organization was in 1970 when she served as its Vice President. Between acting roles and when she could no longer secure that type of work, Girvin was employed as a secretary and a real estate agent. She worked with Donbar Enterprises-Sundale, a real estate development corporation based in Westbury Long Island that developed a number of integrated communities throughout the northeast in the 1960s.

Connect to:

1. NYPL Digital Collections
2. Finding aid

Local subject

1. Community development -- Harlem (New York, N.Y.)

Added author

1. Moiret, Al.

Research call number

1. Sc MG 639