Guide to the Sojourner Kincaid Rolle papers CEMA 55
Callie Bowdish, 2013. Additions processed by Rebecca Vasquez, 2024.
UC Santa Barbara Library, Department of Special Research Collections
2013 March; 2024 March
University of California, Santa Barbara
Santa Barbara 93106-9010
Phone Number: (805) 893-3062
special@library.ucsb.edu
Contributing Institution:
UC Santa Barbara Library, Department of Special Research Collections
Title: Sojourner Kincaid Rolle papers
Identifier/Call Number: CEMA 55
Physical Description:
35 Linear Feet;
(29 cartons, 1 flat box, 102 U-Matic tapes, 3 VHS tapes)
Date (inclusive): 1960-2012
Abstract: Papers of Sojourner Kincaid Rolle, former Santa Barbara poet laureate, poet and playwright, television producer, community
activist, and environmental educator.
Physical Location: Special Research Collections, UC Santa Barbara Library
Language of Material:
English.
Arrangement
The collection is arranged by topic into 4 series:
- Series 1: Community activism
- Series 2: Poetry and playwriting
- Series 3: Academic and professional materials
- Series 4:
Outrageous Women recordings and materials
Biographical / Historical
Joy "Sojourner" Kincaid Rolle (August 26, 1943 - Novemeber 13, 2023) was a former poet, playwright, environmental educator
and peace activist. Rolle earned her B.S. in Criminal Justice from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte in 1978,
after which she attended the University of California, Berkeley School of Law. Rolle graduated from Berkeley Law in 1981 and
decided against formally practicing law to become a "legally trained person in service to the community."
In the mid-80s, Rolle moved to Santa Barbara and quickly became involved in community work and activism. She began at the
Santa Barbara City Hall working in areas of conflict resolution and became the first director of the city's Rental Housing
Mediation Task Force. Later, she worked as the Violence Prevention Educator for the Isla Vista Mediation Program. Rolle was
also instumental in the creation of the Santa Barbara Eastside Library and the African-American Resource Center at Franklin,
now known as the Franklin Center. And in partnership with Shirley Kennedy, she successfully advocated for the recognition
of Martin Luther King Jr. Day by the City of Santa Babara. She also served as the Community Outreach Coordinator for the UCSB
Center for Black Studies, in effort to share and preserve Santa Barbara's African-American history.
In addition to her community work, from 1985 to 1987, Rolle hosted the
African Kaleidoscope KCSB radio program, and from 1988 to 1985 produced a TVSB television show,
Outrageous Women, that featured interviews with local notables from the African American community including Shirley Kennedy and Anita Mackey,
and Chumash leader Martina Grogan.
As a poet and playwright, Rolle worked with the City at Peace teen theater group, served as a representative on the Santa
Barbara County Arts Commission, worked as a California Poets in Schools and California Arts in Corrections teacher, held several
of her own creative writing workshops and discussion groups for the local communities, and served as the official Poet Laureate
for the City of Santa Barbara from 2015-2017. Her poetry has been included in anthologies such as
The Geography of Home and
Poetry of Peace, as well as published as standalone books like
Mellow Yellow Global Umbrella: La Sombrilla Global. A number of her poems were produced as short plays by the local theatre group "Dramatic Women." In 2002, she co-wrote and
co-produced
Ayo's Journey, a multidimensional theater performance about the transatlantic slave trade, based on a 12-poem cycle.
Scope and Content
This collections contains materials that document Rolle's educational, activist and artistic activities in the Santa Barbara
community. In addition to her poetry and playwriting, materials related to her work with the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial
Committee, National Association for the Advancement of Colored People's activities, poetry societies and other civic organizations
in Santa Barbara are also included in this collection.
Materials may include poetry and notes, correspondence, photographs and scrapbooks, manuscripts, broadsides and flyers, newspaper
clippings, ephemera, and audiovisual recordings.
Preferred Citation
[Identification of Item], Sojourner Kincaid Rolle Papers, CEMA 55. Department of Special Collections, UC Santa Barbara Library,
University of California, Santa Barbara.
Existence and Location of Copies
Related Materials
Shirley Kennedy papers. UArch FacP 67. Department of Special Research Collections, UC Santa Barbara Library, University of California, Santa Barbara.
Access Restrictions
The collection is open for research. Audiovisual materials must be reformatted for access. Please contact the Department of
Special Research Collections in advance to request access.
Use Restrictions
Property rights to the collection and physical objects belong to the Regents of the University of California acting through
the Department of Special Research Collections at the UCSB Library. All applicable literary rights, including copyright to
the collection and physical objects, are protected under Chapter 17 of the U.S. Copyright Code and are retained by the creator
and the copyright owner, heir(s), or assigns.
All requests to reproduce, quote from, or otherwise reuse collection materials must be submitted in writing to the Department
of Special Research Collections at UCSB at special@ucsb.edu. Consent is given on behalf of the Regents of the University of
California acting through the Department of Special Research Collections at UCSB as the owner of the physical items and is
not intended to include or imply permission from the copyright owner. Such permission must be obtained from the copyright
owner, heir(s), or assigns. It is the responsibility of the researcher to determine who holds the copyright and pursue the
copyright owner or their assigns for permission to publish where the UC Regents do not hold the copyright.
Custodial History
Gift of Sojourner Kincaid Rolle, 2005 and 2006.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
African American dramatists
African American poets
African Americans -- Human rights workers
Martin Luther King, Jr., Day -- California -- Santa Barbara
African Americans -- California -- Santa Barbara
Series 1: Community activism
box 1
Program and workshop materials
Scope and Contents
Poetry workshops, Community Mediation Program materials, and other local civic and activists materials
box 2
Program materials and articles
Scope and Contents
Magazines and journals, poetry and playwriting, Community Mediation Program materials
box 3
Event and program materials
Scope and Contents
Photographs from various events around Santa Barbara, Rolle's Women's History Month Commendation Award, event flyers, notes,
poetry publications, school programs, and other local civic and activists materials
box 4
School and community programs
Scope and Contents
Poetry publications, school art and literacy programs, MLK Jr. materials, newspaper clippings
box 5
Event materials and articles
1978-1990
Scope and Contents
Poetry, flyers, magazines, some organizational files
box 6
Event and program materials
approximately 1980-1990s
Scope and Contents
Announcement posters, Santa Barbara flyers, correspondence, photos, applications from programs, Spike Lee material
box 7
Training and program materials
1977-1998
Scope and Contents
Job Training material, correspondence, photocopied articles, grant applications, community organization papers
box 8
MLK Jr. Committee and NAACP materials
1986-1997
Scope and Contents
Newspapers, movie reviews, catalogs, flyers, pamphlets, and press releases. A bulk of the material is related to the Martin
Luther King Jr. Memorial Committee and the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People.
box 9
MLK Jr. Committee materials
approximately mid- to late-1980s
Scope and Contents
Documents pertaining to the Martin Luther King Jr. Committee including notes, correspondence, flyers, grant applications,
and other related materials
box 10
MLK Jr. Committee materials
approximately 1980-1990s
Scope and Contents
A bulk of the material contained in this box is related to the Martin Luther King Jr. Committee. It includes organizational
notes, event planning materials and correspondence. There are also some NAACP materials, newspapers and miscellaneous materials.
Included in the box are five videocassette tapes related to Sojourner's "Outrageous Women" show.
box 11
School and community programs
Scope and Contents
Several mini notepads, County Arts Commission, school workshops, Work, Inc. (Workshop Organization for Rehabilitation by Kiwanis)
administrative materials, newspaper clippings, and other local civic and activists materials
box 12
Oversized promotional and other materials
Scope and Contents
Santa Barbara County Race Unity Day proclamation, Black History Month calendar, published interview with Maya Angelou, Mending
an era A Slave Ship Speaks: The Wreck of the Henrietta Marie exhibition poster, and other various event announcement posters.
item V1717/VHS
Juneteenth and MLK float
n.d.
item V1719/VHS
MLK Committee Juneteenth 1989
1989
item V1723/UM
"Musicale" A Tribute to Martin Luther King Jr.
n.d.
Series 2: Poetry and playwriting
box 13
Program and workshop materials
Scope and Contents
California Poets in the Schools and Arts in Corrections materials, also includes other workshop flyers and materials, and
some personal correspondence
box 14
Publications and workshop materials
Scope and Contents
The Geography of Home: California's Poetry of Place anthology, a photo album, art advocacy, poetry publications and workshops, newspaper clippings
box 15
Program and publication materials
Scope and Contents
California Poets in the Schools materials, poetry publications, NAACP, newspaper clippings
box 16
Program and publication materials
Scope and Contents
Poetry publications, community arts programs, and other local civic and activists materials
box 17
Program and workshop materials
Scope and Contents
California Artists in Residency program materials and poetry workshops and programs
box 18
Program and publication materials
Scope and Contents
California Artists in Residency program materials and poetry publications, and other local civic and activists materials
box 19
Program and publication materials
Scope and Contents
Event and workshop planning materials, poetry publications, poetry events and workshops, school art and literacy programs,
correspondence, newspaper clippings
box 20
Promotional and publicity articles
Scope and Contents
Shirley Kennedy BLST course materials, notes, magazines and newspaper clippings mostly about art events, art series and exhibition
programs, correspondence
box 21
Writing and program materials
Scope and Contents
Writings and poetry, photographs, other local civic and activists materials, magazines and books
box 22
Workshop materials
Scope and Contents
Poetry and other civic workshops materials, newspaper clippings
box 23
Writing and poetry materials
1983-1988
Scope and Contents
Magazines, poetry, miscellaneous notes, correspondence, flyers
box 24
Poetry and workshop materials
approximately 1980-1990s
Scope and Contents
Poems, flyers, poetry class materials, other related documents
box 25
Poetry and workshop materials
1984-1998
Scope and Contents
Flyers, poems, notes, letters, announcement cards, brochures, newspaper clippings
box 26
Poetry and related materials
1987-1998
Scope and Contents
Toby Lurie material including cassette, correspondence, and postcards. In addition there are various poems, notes, a resume,
correspondence, agendas, and flyers.
item V1718/VHS
Apilln [illegible] Play with Sojouner
n.d.
Series 3: Academic and professional materials
box 27
School and University materials
Scope and Contents
School and University - training, conference, and workshop programs; correspondence; notes
box 28
Academic materials
1975-1985
Scope and Contents
Assorted notes, letters, poems and documents. Many documents related to going to law school at UC Berkeley, transcripts, job
application and resume, loan materials. Black Law student association
box 29
Articles and reference materials
Scope and Contents
Contains clipped articles relevant to Soujourner's research, her writing or articles written about her. In addition, catalogues
and magazines can be found in this box
Series 4:
Outrageous Women recordings and materials
Existence and Location of Copies
box 30
Outrageous Women materials
1992-2006
Scope and Contents
Material pertaining to the "Outrageous Women" project including notes, lists, and correspondence. Miscellaneous notes, flyers,
pamphlets, and correspondence can also be found. "Queen Elizabeth 2" VHS video cassette "The Artist in New York" book by Jose
Clemente Orozco Guest Book for Rod Rolle
item V1498/UM
1. Manuel Unzueta
1990 October 12
item V1499/UM
2. Themba Sadiki
1993 October 18
item V1500/UM
3. Mayor Sheila Lodge
1992 September 28
item V1501/UM
4. Annette Cordero
undated
item V1502/UM
5. Abdulhamid Akoni -Storyteller
1991 December 26
item V1503/UM
6. A Tribute To Jacqueline Taylor
undated
item V1504/UM
7. A Luta Continua
undated
item V1505/UM
8. Antonia Castaneda
1992 April 20
item V1506/UM
9. Henry Brown
1994 March 7
item V1507/UM
10. Martha Sadler
1992 September 21
item V1508/UM
11. Kim Carter
1994 August 15
item V1509/UM
12. Ella Williams
1993 May 17
item V1510/UM
13. Susan Frascella
1991 October 28
item V1511/UM
14. Jim Kennedy
1993 September 27
item v1512/UM
15. Roulette William Smith PhD
1993 December 6
item V1513/UM
16. Aileen Hernandez
1993 February 8
item V1514/UM
17. Leslie Lembo
1993 April 12
item V1515/UM
18. Deborah de Camaret
1994 February 28
item V1516/UM
19. Joyce Howerton
1992 January 3
item V1517/UM
20. John Muir
1991 September 16
item V1518/UM
21. Anita Mackey
1992 January 6
item V1519/UM
22. Charlene Hunter-Gault
1993 November 2
item V1520/UM
23. Montessori school visits KCTV
1993 March 21
item V1521/UM
24. Shirley Kennedy
1991 August 12
item V1522/UM
25. Reverend Pat Patrick
1991 January 28
item V1523/UM
26. Tribute To Chumash Elders
1992 October 5
item V1524/UM
27. Sandra Lizzaraga
1993 October 4
item V1525/UM
28. Sonny Harper Part 1
1994 January 24
item V1526/UM
29. Sonny Harper, Part 2
1994 January 24
item V1527/UM
30. Huayaka Taki
1990 December 10
item V1528/UM
31. Jeannie Class & Genene Knudson Hoffman
1990 January 8
item V1529/UM
32. Gail Rappaport
1994 August 24
item V1530/UM
33. Jonathan Young/Joseph Campbell Library
1994 October 24
item V1531/UM
34. Katie Ingram Poet
1992 May 4
item V1532/UM
35. Marsha Bailey Women's Economic Ventures
1993 September 13
item V1533/UM
36. Bishop Pat Patrick
1992 February 3
item V1534/UM
37. Santa Barbara Teens/United Youth Empowered
1993 June 21
item V1535/UM
38. Santa Barbara Teens/Akil Hill Et Al
1994 March 28
item V1536/UM
39. Reverend Leander Wilkes
1993 January 11
item V1537/UM
40. Michelle Lawyer
1993 February 22
item V1538/UM
41. Bill Downey
1991 February 18
item V1539/UM
42. Perry Longo And Gene Hoffman
1993 May 3
item V1540/UM
43. Mrs. Anita Mackey
1993 April 19
item V1541/UM
44. Delia Horowitz Dee Duncan
1990 March 5
item V1542/UM
45. Babatunde Fuleyami And Onja Lawson
1992 November 23
item V1543/UM
46. Ann Marie Cruz
1994 August 22
item V1544/UM
47. Montino Burbon
1994 September 12
item V1545/UM
48. Patrick Davis
1993 June 7
item V1546/UM
49. Anna Galindo
1992 October 19
item V1547/UM
50. Harriet Miller
1994 November 7
item V1548/UM
51. Gender Issues: Linda Fardan, Paine Fardan, Lindeman
1994 October 17
item V1549/UM
52. Robert Majak
1992 October 26
item V1550/UM
53. Mark Elk Baum, Charlene Oretta
1994 April 11
item V1551/UM
54. Juneteenth Solstice
1993 June 14
item V1552/UM
55. Bright Hopes Santa Barbara Youth Nunnally-Boyd
1992 April 27
item V1553/UM
56. Art Of Identity Poetry
1992 November 16
item V1554/UM
57. Bill Of Rights: Johnson And Flacks
1991 December 16
item V1555/UM
58. Robert Majak 1/2 Hour Part 1
1992 October 26
item V1556/UM
59. Val Limar
1994 January 6
item V1557/UM
60. Chick Streetman
1992 May 9
item V1558/UM
61. Tracey Hall, HQ
1991 April 29
item V1559/UM
62. Wake Up Santa Barbara Rodney King Aftermath Forum Part 1
1992 May 11
item V1560/UM
63. Wake Up Santa Barbara Rodney King Aftermath Forum Part 2
1992 May 11
item V1561/UM
64. Michel Odent
1989 March 6
item V1562/UM
65. Outrageous Women
1989 November 18
item V1563/UM
66. Chic Streetman Leslie King
1988 September 22
item V1564/UM
67. Judy Baca, Joe Rodriguez, Alex Pereya, Gabriel Estabillo
1989 March 27
item V1565/UM
68. Leslie King, Marilyn Scott, Dara Mark, Sojourner Kincaid-Rolle, Sherri Mendenhall
1989 September 4
item V1566/UM
69. Abda- Hai Moore/ Maia
1990 August 13
item V1567/UM
70. Luis Muñoz
1989 August 14
item V1568/UM
71. Ken Carey "The First People" w/ Randy Tico
1988 September 8
item V1569/UM
72. Frank Kelly
1989 June 19
item V1570/UM
73. Luis Muñoz Trio
1989 August 10
item V1571/UM
74. Silent Values (labeled as no sound)
n.d.
item V1572/UM
75. Denise Odom
1993 April 5
item V1573/UM
76. Elinor Flewellin
1993 October 25
item V1574/UM
77. Susan Miles Gulbransen
1994 April 25
item V1575/UM
78. Matiana Grogan
1993 September 20
item V1576/UM
79. Phillip Walker
1993 May 10
item V1577/UM
80. Sacred Psychology" guests: Denni LeTourelle and Michael Ryan
April 28
item V1578/UM
81. Harry Ashmore
1994 September
item V1579/UM
82. Being Alive': Joe Mortz
1994 October 31
item V1580/UM
83. Gateway to sacred transition' Bonnie Brandt
1994 September 12
item V1581/UM
84. A Conversation with Kate Braverman
1993 March 15
item V1582/UM
85. Dr. Verna Yater
1994 October 31
item V1583/UM
86. Understand This" Jervey Tervalon
1994 October 10
item V1715/UM
Outrageous Women: Reggie Pagaling
1990 June 25
item V1716/UM
Family of Women, tape 1
n.d.
item V1720/UM
Outrageous Women: Carol Lee Sanchez
1988 August 22
item V1721/UM
Outrageous Women: Women in transition
1989 August 28
item V1722/UM
Outrageous Women: Jacqueline Taylor et al
1988 October 3
item V1724/UM
Outrageous Women: Violet Oaklander
1989 December 11
item V1725/UM
Jim Wallis and Roger Wikling
n.d.
item V1726/UM
Outrageous Women: Chic Streetman, tape 3
1992 October 3
item V1727/UM
Dark Madonna, tape 2
n.d.
item V1728/UM
Outrageous Women: Chic Streetman, tape 1
1992 October 3
item V1729/UM
Outrageous Women: Chic Streetman, tape 2
1992 October 3
item V1730/UM
Outrageous Women: Developing human character
1992 June 1
item V1731/UM
Outrageous Women: Pat Fish
n.d.
item V1732/UM
Outrageous Women: Flow Video
1994 April
item V4829/UM
Outrageous woman : Sharon Hoshida
1994 April 4
