Research Catalog

Details

Description

1. .6 lin. ft.

Summary

1. The Harriet Pickens Papers primarily contain documentation regarding her military service as a lieutenant in the WAVES (1944-1946), and her public service work, and includes biographical information, and material related to her education. Mention is also made of her classmate, fellow African-American officer Frances Wills. Pickens' community service work is represented by her notes for a course she took for the training of tuberculosis workers (1940), and a 1960 article she published concerning hospital care. Most of the material concerning her other community involvements are printed.

Subject

1. Pickens, Harriet, 1909-1969
2. United States. Naval Reserve. Women's Reserve
3. Women soldiers -- United States
4. African American soldiers
5. African American women -- Political activity -- New York (State) -- New York
6. World War, 1939-1945 -- Participation, Female
7. World War, 1939-1945 -- United States -- African Americans
8. United States -- Armed Forces -- African Americans
9. United States -- Armed Forces -- Women
10. Harlem (New York, N.Y.)

Call number

1. Sc MG 759

Language

1. English

Note

1. Photographs transferred to Photographs and Prints Division.

Source (note)

1. William Pickens III

Biography (note)

1. Born in 1909 in Talladega, Alabama, Harriet Pickens joined the WAVES in 1944 as a member of the Women's Reserves in the U.S. Naval Reserve. She was one of two African-American women to be sworn in as an officer, and was commissioned as a lieutenant following her training, the first to receive this high rank. She served as an assistant in advanced training for WAVES recruits with an emphasis in indoctrination and was responsible for teaching the recruits the history, organization, recent exploits, rating and personnel of the Navy. She also was the director of the Navy Material Redistribution and Disposal Administration in New York.
2. Harriet Pickens, daughter of William Pickens, well-known educator, orator, editor and civil rights leader, lived in Harlem for fifty years and took a deep and active interest in improving life for residents of this community. She held several administrative positions in community service organizations. Pickens died in New York in 1969.

Author

1. Pickens, Harriet, 1909-1969.

Title

1. Harriet Pickens papers, 1922-2005 (bulk 1930-1968).

Biography

1. Born in 1909 in Talladega, Alabama, Harriet Pickens joined the WAVES in 1944 as a member of the Women's Reserves in the U.S. Naval Reserve. She was one of two African-American women to be sworn in as an officer, and was commissioned as a lieutenant following her training, the first to receive this high rank. She served as an assistant in advanced training for WAVES recruits with an emphasis in indoctrination and was responsible for teaching the recruits the history, organization, recent exploits, rating and personnel of the Navy. She also was the director of the Navy Material Redistribution and Disposal Administration in New York.
2. Harriet Pickens, daughter of William Pickens, well-known educator, orator, editor and civil rights leader, lived in Harlem for fifty years and took a deep and active interest in improving life for residents of this community. She held several administrative positions in community service organizations. Pickens died in New York in 1969.

Connect to:

1. NYPL Digital Collections
2. Finding Aid

Local subject

1. Black author.

Research call number

1. Sc MG 759