Guide to the Barbara L. Kevles Collection on Gordon Parks M1409
Department of Special Collections and University Archives
published 2018
Green Library
557 Escondido Mall
Stanford 94305-6064
specialcollections@stanford.edu
Language of Material:
English
Contributing Institution:
Department of Special Collections and University Archives
Title: Barbara L. Kevles collection on Gordon Parks
source:
Kevles, Barbara L.
Creator:
Kevles, Barbara L.
Identifier/Call Number: M1409
Identifier/Call Number: 8235
Physical Description:
1 Linear Feet
(2 boxes)
Date (inclusive): circa 1976-2001
Abstract: Interview notes and other material related to filmmaker and photographer Gordon Parks by journalist Barbara Kevles.
Kevles biography
Barbara Kevles has worked as a free-lance journalist for major publications for nearly forty years. Her articles have been
published in many leading national magazines such as Esquire, Salon.Com, The Atlantic, The New York Times, People, Harper's
Bazaar, Cosmopolitan, Glamour, Redbook, Ladies' Home Journal, Good Housekeeping, US Weekly, New York, The Village Voice, Seventeen,
Cineaste, Piano, American Record Guide, and Fanfare.
She has interviewed such famous people as Tom Wolfe, Kathleen Kennedy, Andy Warhol, Liv Ullmann, Jeanne Moreau, Judy Collins,
Jerzy Kosinski, Slavko Vorkapich, Edith Head, Gail Parent, Joan Baez, Eleanor Holmes Norton, Stephen Hough, Andrew Litton,
and profiled luminaries like Gordon Parks, Lowell Liebermann, Joan Kennedy, Eunice Kennedy Shriver, Sharon Percy Rockefeller,
and Shirley Temple Black. Her critically influential interview with Pulitzer poet Anne Sexton published first in The Paris
Review has been republished in six anthologies: Writers At Work: The Paris Review Interviews, 4th Series (Viking, 1974); Women
Writers at Work and Poets at Work, (both Viking/Penguin, 1989); and Women Writers at Work (Modern Library, 1998); as well
as Anne Sexton: The Artist and Her Critics, (Indiana University Press, 1978) and No Evil Star: Selected Essays, Interviews,
and Prose: Anne Sexton, (The University of Michigan Press, 1985).
She's also published hundreds of newspaper articles in such well known dailies as the Daily News (NYC), New York Post, Newsday,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram, San Antonio Express-News, Austin American-Statesman, and The Dallas Morning News.
Collections of Kevles' audio taped interviews, research, manuscripts, and correspondence reside at the John F. Kennedy Library,
operated by the National Archives, Yale University Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library, Museum of Modern Art (NYC),
Harry Ransom Humanities Research Center at The University of Texas at Austin, and Bryn Mawr College for the benefit of scholars,
historians, authors, and students. Her Kennedy Library archives, which measure 1.5 linear feet, were used by Laurence Leamer
in his bestseller, The Kennedy Women: The Saga of an American Family (Villard Books, 1994). See Kevles, Barbara L(ynne) at
http://www.jfklibrary.org/Historical+Resources/Archives/Archives+and+Manuscripts [as of 2007]. Recently, Stanford University
Libraries Special Collections and Art and Architecture Library jointly acquired a Kevles archive.
Kevles' last bestseller writing book, Basic Magazine Writing (WDB), was a Book-of-the-Month Club and Quality Paperback Book
Club choice and a Main Feature by Writer's Digest Book Club. Basic Magazine Writing was endorsed by top editors at TV Guide,
People, Family Circle, Harper's Bazaar, and House Beautiful. It sold 2100 copies. She's also co-edited an essay collection,
In Opposition to Core Curriculum: Alternative Models for Undergraduate Education (Greenwood Press). Endorsed by Presidents
of the University of Pennsylvania and Vassar as well as Harvard University faculty, this essay collection was excerpted in
The New York Times and Change Magazine.
Barbara Kevles has taught at New York University, The New School (NYC), and The University of Texas at Dallas. Articles in
basic forms she has taught, assigned and supervised by staff and free-lance journalists have appeared in The New York Times,
Christian Science Monitor, Parents, Esquire, and People. Her alumni have worked for The Wall St. Journal, New York Post, Elle,
Victoria, House Beautiful, and other notable publications. Barbara Kevles was educated at Bryn Mawr College where she received
a Bachelor of Arts Degree. Kevles' biography is included in Contemporary Authors.
Conditions Governing Access
Open for research. Note that material must be requested at least 36 hours in advance of intended use.
Related Materials
Stanford Special Collections also holds the Barbara L. Kevles Collection of Computer Technology (M1588):
https://searchworks.stanford.edu/view/6962501
Wichita State University holds the Gordon Parks Papers:
http://specialcollections.wichita.edu/collections/ms/2013-01/2013-1-a.html
The Libary of Congress also holds a Parks collection:
https://www.loc.gov/item/mm96083761/
Conditions Governing Use
While Special Collections is the owner of the physical and digital items, permission to examine collection materials is not
an authorization to publish. These materials are made available for use in research, teaching, and private study. Any transmission
or reproduction beyond that allowed by fair use requires permission from the owners of rights, heir(s) or assigns.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Purchased, 2004. Accession 2004-005.
Preferred Citation
[identification of item], Barbara L. Kevles Collection on Gordon Parks (M1409). Dept. of Special Collections and University
Archives, Stanford Libraries, Stanford, Calif.
Scope and Contents
Interview notes and other material related to African American filmmaker, photographer & author Gordon Parks, created by journalist
Barbara Kevles for two articles: "Gordon Parks, 'I don't make black exploitation films'",
Village Voice May 10, 1976; and "Scenes from a Modern Marriage," interview with Gene Parks, third wife of Gordon Parks,
Working Woman April, 1977.
This finding aid was created with notes supplied by Kevles about her interviews.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Motion pictures -- History.
African Americans in the motion picture industry
Kevles, Barbara L.
Parks, Gordon, 1912-2006
box 1, folder 1
Gene Young Parks, Gordon's third wife & his book editor ; Executive Editor of the Trade Dept., J. B. Lippincott Company (23
5" x 8" cards)
2084087
box 1, folder 2
Carl Mydans, Life photographer (13 Cards) 2084089
Scope and Contents
Gordon from 1948 at Life, how Gene Young got to be his editor, his unusual photographic strengths, attitudes toward Muhammad
Ali, Malcolm X
box 1, folder 3
Gordon Parks, Jr. (13 cards & questions) 2084091
Scope and Contents
Parks' first born, also a film director, who filmed Super Fly (1972). Died tragically in an airplane crash in 1979 filming
on location in Africa. Criticizes dad's films: "He takes the horror out of violence."
box 1, folder 4
Leadbelly Producer Mark Merson (8 cards & 2 cards with questions) 2084093
box 1, folder 5
Dr. James Barringer, Director of Minority Programming, Paramount (7 cards) 2084095
Scope and Contents
Parks credits him as the reason Leadbelly got produced and that he prevented Leadbelly's production work from being stopped
many times.
box 1, folder 6
Phil Kundhardt, Life Magazine, Assistant Managing Editor, and Managing Editor Special Issues (9 cards) 2084097
Scope and Contents
Importance of Gordon as black for advice on stories like Watts Riots, Gordon's special eye, how lived with. Harlem gang, Flavio,
to get joy & suffering, on film, 2 photo stories didn't run by Gordon & why
box 1, folder 7
Bob Williams, Farm Security Administration staff member (9 cards) 2084099
Scope and Contents
how Gordon overcame blatant harassment of his photography & prejudice in Farm Security Administration photo lab workers
box 1, folder 8
Dave Golden, Hollywood cameraman on Learning Tree, both Shafts (2 cards) ; Village Voice editor Richard Goldstein 2084101
box 1, folder 9
Gordon Weaver, VP Marketing, Paramount (10 cards & questions on card front & back 2 cards on Shaft) 2084103
box 1, folder 10
Life editor Loudon Wainwright (6 cards & questions) 2084131
box 1, folder 11
More sources. List of awards Gordon Parks won (5 cards) ; Norman Whiteman, Paramount's Director of Distribution (1 card) 2084133
box 1, folder 12
Gordon Parks (9 cards #3 - #8 missing) 2084135
3/11/1976
Scope and Contents
Fracas in Detroit over Leadbelly... Depression... Insulted by Paramount marketing campaign & why
box 1, folder 13
Gordon Parks (21 cards & 1 card of phone #'s, 2 cards scheduling) 2084221
3/12/1976
Scope and Contents
How Ken Hyman at Warner/7 Arts gave first break in film, why Shaft was made, why sequels, why Leadbelly, Hollywood's stereotype
of him as black director
box 1, folder 14
Gordon Parks (7 cards) 2084223
3/12/1976
Scope and Contents
Paramount cooperating, different audiences, different marketing. View of black man can die any moment, etc.
box 1, folder 15
Gordon Parks (5 cards) 2084225
3/13/76
Scope and Contents
Tennis style & strategy at tennis date, directorial style & intent of Leadbelly, story of Flavio, subject of LIFE Magazine
photo essay & aftermath
box 1, folder 16
Gordon Parks (16 cards) 2084227
3/13/1976
Scope and Contents
Watching Gordon Parks play tennis & discussion with. him about tennis training & strategies
box 1, folder 17
3/27/76 1 card questions 4/6/76. 1 card questions. 2084229
box 1, folder 18
4/6/01 Gordon Parks (3 cards) 2084231
Scope and Contents
Interview NYC train station, Leadbelly's performance, his direction of screen actors, Life ATTEMPT AT CENSORSHIP pof his essay
on killing of Martin Luther King why left life 16 cards Philmfest director scene & stats
box 1, folder 19
Gordon Parks at Philadelphia radio station, WDAS (6 cards) 2084233
box 1, folder 20
Reception prior to screening at Philmfest '76 (2 cards) Gordon Parks on stage prior to screening of Leadbelly at Philadelphia
Philmfest (4 cards)
2084235
box 1, folder 21
4/6/01. Hotel Room Interview Gordon Parks (10 cards) 2084237
Scope and Contents
Paramount's mistreatment of him, his son as film-maker
box 1, folder 22
Typed page of my memory of Gordon Parks' standing ovation end of screening (1 page)
2084239
box 1, folder 23
On meeting Gordon Parks at People Magazine 2nd anniversary party 2/26/76 (4 pp. single-spaced typed notes) 2084241
3/3/76
Scope and Contents
His battle with Paramount's racist marketing of Leadbelly with his comments
box 1, folder 24
Bob Williams Farm Security Administration staff member (4 pp. typed) 2084243
Scope and Contents
Reminiscences of Gordon Parks working in 1942 segregated Washington, DC, working in the prejudiced Farm Security Administration. Discussion of Gordon's Job for Stanford [i.e. Standard] Oil that led to
Life. signed by Bob Williams. w. letter also signed by Williams
box 1, folder 25
Village Voice agreement letter, article drafts 2084245
Scope and Contents
Agreement letter to the
Village Voice drafts: Editor's marked copy we revised in conference at Voice My copy of revisions made contemporaneously. Second article
draft, First article draft
box 1, folder 26
My outline of article, Notes on relevant themes 2084247
box 1, folder 27
My Gordon Parks chronology 2084249
box 1, folder 28
Expenses 2084251
Scope and Contents
Handwritten & typed list for Village Voice for trips for interviews with Paramount Marketing VP, Life photographer Carl Mydans,
Ex-Farm Security Administration layout artist, Bob Williams Paramount Director of Minority Programming, Life editors Loudon
Wainwright, Phil Kunhardt, Leadbelly Producer Mark Mereon
box 1, folder 29
List of phone numbers 2084339
Scope and Contents
List of phone numbers of interviews Including those for Gene Young, his wife, Kunhardt, Wainwright, Mydans Williams, Gordon
Parks, Jr. Paramount's Dir. of Distribution, Dir. of Marketing, Minority Program Dir., Leabelly producer, Gustav Rehberger,
Sue & Bob Massey, David Gordon, Philmfest, Viking, a Hollywood writer, a cameraman. attached Gordon Parks signature? & home
phone #
box 1, folder 30
Leadbelly news coverage 2084341
Scope and Contents
Sunday News (Parks Interview) 76 Variety, "Par Rebuts Parks" 'Dillar Bias' Crack 76 Life, 1939 story of Leadbelly with handwritten
note by Life Editor, Phil Kundhardt Letter from Philmfest: Leadbelly screening count Paramount Pictures Handbook of Production
Information back: my notes on importance of Gordon's films Paramount Pictures New Ads for Special Audiences (white or black)
Philadelphia Philmfest Program Booklet & Movie Lineup Program (Leadbelly opened fest) Philmfest Pin Undetermined publication
(Parks interview & ape like ad) Detroit, The Sunday News Washington Sunday Star Long Island Press
box 1, folder 31
Leadbelly Reviews 2084343
Scope and Contents
The Atlanta Journal Variety box office for Detroit Sunday Detroit News Hollywood Reporter 2 copies Playboy Undetermined publication
Boston Notes on Paramount Distribution Variety 50-Top Grossing Films Variety Detroit Free Press Soul Endorsement Quotes Including
The Village Voice, UPI, etc. Letter of Endorsement: National Education Association Letter of Endorsement: Manufactures Hanover
Trust Co. UPI
box 1, folder 32
Gordon Parks Works 2084345
Scope and Contents
Jazz, written & photographed by Gordon Parks- poem & essay on Duke Ellington, Original Life essay and Photographs by Gordon
Parks: 'A Man Who Tried To Love Somebody' (His essay & color photos of funeral of Martin Luther King) Gordon Park's Life essay
on "The Long Seach for Prido"
box 1, folder 33
Learning Tree film reviews 2084347
Scope and Contents
Newsweek '69 Shaft's Big Score, The New York Times Learning Tree (book) undetermined publication Learning Tree, undetermined
publication Learning Tree, Newsweek
box 1, folder 34
General Coverage Daily News (Gene & Gordon) 2084349
Scope and Contents
75 The New York Times (Gordon reminisces about his life) Undetermined publication, Cicely Tyson, Shaft: The New York Times
interview w. Gordon Parks Learning Tree: Gordon Parks interview, pub unknown Long Island Press, black films Shaft's Big Score,
undetermined publication The Learning Tree, UPI This Week Magazine, Gordon Parks bio, The Village Voice, photographers make
great directors from a Poet & His Camera, On Gordon Parks, Whispers of Intimate Things (Introduction) Kansas Qaurterly, Summer,
1976, Autobiographical Memories by Gordon Parks
box 1, folder 35
Copy of Working Woman, "Scenes From A Modern Marriage," (Cover Line Article) Published April, 1977 2084359
Scope and Contents
Introduction & Interview with Gene Parks, wife of Gordon Parks
box 1, folder 36
Background Research 2084361
Scope and Contents
Questions for Gordon Parks, Paul Wilkes, Book Author, Helen Hanff, Book Author, Evan Thomas, Vice Pres., Editor W.W. Norton,
Previously boss of Gene Parks. 7 hand-written pages of questions for Gene Young, Business Card of Genevieve Young, Exec. Editor,
J.P. Lippincott Company (Gene Parks). List of Background Interviews & Phone Numbers (front & back) Hand-Written Interviews
on a pad with Evan Thomas Helen Hanff Paul Wilkes Gordon Parks: as his editor, how he changed her clothing styles & attitudes,
her fair play, his tearing up 100 pages & starting again because of her, dedication for her authors & sacrifice, their work
schedule conflicts, her bossiness about household tasks, taught him to speak out, her Long Island marriage, his indefiniteness
about engagements. Justified by his creativity, he consults her on his speeches & talks to her about his work (never would
2nd wife), her insecurity: her clothes, her work interferes with their sex life
box 1, folder 37
Typed letter to Gene Parks from Barbara Kevles 2084363
Scope and Contents
with my unlisted # & interview dates: 5/20/76 & 5/21/76. 5/12/76. Questions for Gene Parks Working Woman Interview 2 pcs.
paper 3 white pages, single-spaced questions, "Questions for Gene Parks," dated May 20,1976. 3 gold pages, double-spaced questions,
"Gene Parks Final Interview," dated July 12,1976
box 2, folder 1
Gene Parks (1 of 2) 2084377
Scope and Contents
Verbatim answers from Gene Parks to Barbara Kevles' interview questions typed exactly as she said them, on 20 pages, typed
single-spaced of yellow paper : age, birthdates, responsibility for sister's name, sister's ages, lonely childhood, punishing,
overly disciplining nanny, never snitched, dad Chinese diplomat, Daddy's girl, their mutual pursuits, relationship to remote
mother, family moves, dad's incarceration by Japanese in W.W. II & death, schooling, her high school success, mother's UN
job & credo mother's metamorphosis after husband's death, Wellesley College years 1st job & how she advances w/o typing or
steno skills, 1st marriage, their relationship, housework, division, differences met Gordon Parks in 1962, opposed to taking
on his book, Gordon's daily calls, weekly lunches, her naive views of it, fled his first protestations of love, discussion
of course of action & its result and her prolonged five year work for divorce, her sisters' jobs, her work relationship w.
Gordon Parks & yelling at him, Gordon's disregard of age or sex if he can learn something, his quickness of mind, spendthrift
attitudes about advertising for his books nurtured by unlimited Life expense budgets, the Gordon Parks she married, her contractual
nature & his open-handedness & its negative, her overburned[?] lot in house and for his business, her management of his pension,
investments, financial decisions & her resentment & her feelings she's the only coolie in the house, drawn to him despite
his faults, for travel & freedom & wilder life as Great Neck (Long Island) housewife.. his call to her from Madagascar during
her lunch w. new NY Times food critic, Clive Barnes, at the Sheraton.. drawn to him for his gifts... refers to herself as
"the brains in the family" her attitude about his possible affairs during his travels or hers, her frustration w. his indecision
about making plans, her disapproval of her travel for work he didn't take her advice on "Shaft's Big Score," with disastrous
end, who shares what with whom, or doesn't & why she taught Gordon to voice his disagreements with her, her complete obliviousness
to his being black, in anecdote Gordon's jealous suspicions of her business lunches, her influence on him to fight Paramount's
campaign for "Leadbell"y as black exploitation film, his influence on her, Gordon as self-starter in Love, written when they
lived together, how she got Gordon an agent that precipitated his leaving Lippincott, her subscriptions to cultural events
& Gordon's reactions how she got 20 lbs. off Gordon & changed his diet & her 1/4 lb. butter binges, her dependence on his
clothes sense for herself, Gordon's taste for himself good except for check suits his prevailing & choosing their apt. furniture
all in one day at Bloomingdale's (very funny anecdote about their clash of wills), why their marriage works though Gordon
resents the demands of her career, some weeks they don't have real conversation because of conflicting schedules. End of 1st
20 pp. of 1st Interview with Gene Parks
box 2, folder 2
Gene Parks (2 of 2) 2084407
Scope and Contents
Second set of verbatim answers from Gene Parks to Barbara Kevles' interview Questions typed exactly as she said them, on 18
pages, typed single-spaced on yellow paper. Her favorite cookbook, her salary, her bestsellers as editor, her job responsibilities
as Vice President of Lippincott & Executive Editor of Trade Dept., root of her honesty and her tactlessness, roots of her
Independence & Influence of her mother's development & credo on her, her family travels en masse & what it's like, once a
year childhood in Shanghai, Paris, Manila no. times in China, life as Great Neck housewife, cooking beef casseroles changes
in dress from formal Chinese to pants suits, her repressed emotions... oriental distaste for emotional scenes of she and her
sister, "Both of us stayed married five years longer because we hated scenes." Initial meeting w. Gordon Parks over his book
as one of her first authors & what his attention did for her, Gordon Parks' like her mother, her unworldliness, Gordon's encouragement
to dress American & their disagreements about her clothes: about his desire for a formal look and her casual chic, Gordon
Parks' influence on her change in hairstyle strangers' diff. reactions to them when they travel, his overwhelming instant
popularity at Jill Kremintz' tennis club in a day, her childhood book favorites, very revealing, divvying up of household
chores dishwashing male/female roles in previous marriage, doesn't worry about not cooking Gordon's dinner when delayed at
work, divvying up of rent, household expenses, maid problems w. Gordon at home working, her deal to do his business books,
Gordon's live & let live attitude about checking acct., bitches about her larger share of housework & why she does it, whose
approval she seeks, her clash with Gordon's cultural values about manners, the orderly life she gives Gordon & their clash
when she's not the hausfrau, her inauguration of vacations in Gordon's life, her bossy nature & Gordon's passive resistance,
his respect for her work at night & weekends, his resentment of her reading half an hour before bed, famous people she's met
with Gordon, her retreat from press & celebrity bit at movie openings, advantages in restaurants being famous encroaches on
their privacy & time, her way around Gordon's inability to make social commitments & problems it poses for friends & how it's
part of Gordon being black & graphic example of it w. Gordon, Jr. her subscriptions to cultural events & her independent social
life apart from Gordon, her adjustment when he worked in Hollywood and she lived in NYC as his wife, her attitudes about being
a mother, Gordon's phone calls or hers interrupt their dinner but she resents Gordon's calls more, why people marry, who cooked
soup when both were ill with flu. End of second interview with Gene Parks.
box 2, folder 3
Excerpt Gene Parks likes from Betty Rollin book or article, First You Cry 2084409
Scope and Contents
Barbara Kevles' notation of important themes & pages in interviews 3 versions of introduction to article, last typed Work
notes of Barbara Kevles "Read Interview I through...see letter for themes..."
box 2, folder 4
white paper, Barbara Kevles' author note for article end blue paper, list of themes & pages 2084411
Scope and Contents
Final Draft of Introduction & Interview, "Gene Parks: Scenes from A Marriage," 31 pages, typed on Time-Life paper ruled for
easy word & space counting, with hand-written corrections & edits by Barbara Kevles on typed ms. Many pages have different
versions of the same page under the one paper clip
box 2, folder 5
Kevles notes 2085393
Scope and Contents
Hand-written outline of interesting themes Typed notes of Barbara Kevles' impressions of important themes Typed notes on July
13, 1976 by Barbara Kevles of her impression of Gene Parks at outset and during Interview Saturday, May 22, 1976 Blue paper
typed notes by Barbara Kevles of Gene Parks dinner & Gordon's housework Carbon Copy Typed of Barbara Kevles' Biographical
Data for Working Woman article. Submission Letter from Barabra Kevles to Beatrice Buckler, Editor of Working Woman, accompanying
Gene Parks ms. & noting next assignment to interview comedy writer, Gail Parent.
box 2, folder 6
Gene Parks (3 pp. on column-lined paper) 2085395
Scope and Contents
Carbon Copy: Text Changes from Discussion with Gene Parks. (Unsolicited) 28 changes to introduction and interview, Gene Parks
Interview: Scenes from a Marriage. pp. 1-28 Introduction and Interview unedited. Coral stickum on top of edits & ms, "Original."
2 white note pages hand-written notations on both sides dated 7/20/76...list of same Gene Parks; editorial changes listed
above.
box 2, folder 7
Gene Parks Interview (28 pp. manuscript typed on Time-Life column, pages of introduction and interview) 2085397
Scope and Contents
Scenes From a Marriage, without previously noted 3 pp. of typed changes, Text Changes from Discussion with Gene Parks, incorporated.
It is the ORIGINAL Unedited manuscript. Red marks indicate places where changes notes above belong in the manuscript. This
manuscript is the first typed copy. It obviously has been read by Gene Parks. She has written a few editorial questions in
the manuscript in pencil. Coral stickum on top says, "Original."
box 2, folder 8
Gene Parks (original typed copy 4 pp.) 2085399
Scope and Contents
Text Changes from Discussion with Gene Parks (Unsolicited). Each edit checked twice with red and black pencil. & 5th page
of edits not included with carbon copy.
box 2, folder 9
Gene Parks Interview (29 pp. typed) 2085401
Scope and Contents
Gene Parks: Scenes From A Marriage (revised) Carbon Copy The Introduction and Interview Incorporate all changes requested
in Text Changes from Discussion with Gene Parks (Unsolicited!) & fifth.
box 2, folder 10
Parks interview & correspondence, Working Woman 2085403
Scope and Contents
Note by Barbara Kevles about sophistication of crowd in which Gene & Gordon Parks move so that color is not an issue and the
two of them don't think of each other as black or Chinese. 29 pp. typed Gene Parks interview: Gene Parks: Scenes From A Marriage
(revised) Second Carbon Copy The Introduction and Interview incorporate all changes requested in Text Changes from Discussion
with Gene Parks (unsolicited). Fifth page noted above. Contains additional hand-written editorial comments by Gene Parks.
Barbara Kevles' hand-written note on coral stickum, "Geno's hand-written comments which I ignored." Carbon copy of letter
from Barbara Kevles to Gordon Parks, dated March 21, 1977. It's a cover letter accompanying a payment of $450 to Gordon Parks
minus Kevles' 10% agent fee for his photographs of Gene Parks published in the magazine. Kevles emphasizes how she got the
magazine to more than double its usual photographer's fee of $200 for Gordon's photos. The letter concludes, "I am honored
that your photographs are appearing with my interview." Letter from Barbara Kevles to Gordon Parks dated January 25, 1977.
It confirms the Working Woman $500 fee for Parks' photos of his wife and Kevles' agent fee. It concludes,"...It was marvelous
seeing you and Gene Saturday. As you know, I like you both very, very much." The letter includes and invoice for Parks' photos
sent to Working Woman. Gene Parks: Delivery WORKING WOMAN 7/19/76
box 2, folder 11
Village Voice May 10, 1976 Arts Section Cover Story 2085405
Scope and Contents
"Gordon Parks: 'I Don't Make Black Exploitation Films." The published article is a no-holds-barred chronicle of Gordon's fight
against Paramount's marketing of his film Leadbelly as a Blaxploitation film. Gordon is up against studio bookings in rundown
inner city theaters, a tasteless ad of an ape-like hero, prostitute and a fight, and Paramount's refusal to contact big city
critics about his film's premiere in their towns.
box 2, folder 13
Gordon Parks, recorded (MISSING) 2085409
Scope and Contents
20 minutes of tape on 5" Reel of questions and Gordon's answer at Philadelphia Philmfest April 6, '76. Gordon's Taped answers
are crystal clear sound bites. Gordon gives totally uncensored views on black actors, his directing style, Leadbelly's personal
meaning for him, Paramount's distribution tactics, his photography's influence, his camera style, hollywood prejudice, his
mandate for a black crew, his film's benefits for blacks. Gordon Parks selves into where he grew up, how he worked with black
people who had never worked in front of cameras, views of how much a director directs. His next projects including a Concerto
for Cello and Orchestra. The symbolic meaning of Leadbelly's life to him as an artist, his catching a Leadbelly performance
in 1949 - 2 months before Leadbelly's death. Why he didn't use Leadbelly's own recordings in the film as an insight into Leadbelly's
treatment by his times and the smash hit of his song Goodnight Irene 8 months following his death and Leadbelly's view of
his legacy and Park's. His problems with Paramount's distribution of his film and his views without a black VIP insider the
film never would have been made. Why he won't make fast buck films. The influence of his photography, particularly fashion
photography for Vogue, on how he shoots films. Views on what he searches for in shots -- beauty vs. truth. His relationship
to cameraman, how much he frames shot, shots he took in film. How Ken Hyman. Pres. of Warner Brothers 7 Arts, broke down Hollywood
prejudices to get him his first film project, Learning Tree, which he wrote, scored and produced from his book. His mandate
for a black film crew and its fulfillment on Learning Tree, on Leadbelly, sources for Leadbelly's Life. An interview with
a black reporter: Will people see Leadbelly rather than black stud films? What he hopes to accomplish for recognition of Leadbelly's
achievements. Will he make more historical biographical films, Benefit of Leadbelly for our people.
Custodial History
TAPE IS MISSING 2/2020