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Finding Aid to the Afro-Americans in San Francisco prior to World War II Oral history project records
1966-1982
SFH 719
SFH 719
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Table of contents
Contributing Institution:
San Francisco History Center, San Francisco Public Library
100 Larkin Street
San Francisco, CA 94102
(415) 557-4567
info@sfpl.org
Title: Afro-Americans in San Francisco prior to World War II Oral history project records
Creator:
Afro-Americans in San Francisco prior to World War II Oral history project
Identifier/Call Number: SFH 719
Physical Description:
3 letter size manuscript boxes, 8 legal size manuscript boxes, 2 oversize flat boxes.
(5.4 Cubic Feet)
Date (inclusive): 1966-1982
Date (bulk): (bulk 1978-1982)
Abstract: The Afro-Americans in San Francisco prior to World War II Oral history project was a series of 27 interviews with men and
women from the African-American community in San Francisco and the Bay Area conducted between 1976 and 1978. The project was
co-sponsored by the Friends of the San Francisco Public Library and the San Francisco African American Historical and Cultural
Society and produced new source material for study in African-American history, of which there were few written records of
at the time of creation. Lynn Bonfield served as the project coordinator; Albert Broussard and Jesse J. Warr III were interviewers.
This collection contains final and rough drafts of 27 interviews conducted with members of the San Francisco and Bay Area
African-American communities focusing on the times between 1900-1940. Also included in the collection are interview notes,
administrative project files, and audio recordings of the interviews on cassette tapes.
Physical Location: Collection is stored off-site.
Language of Material: Materials are in English.
The collection is available for use during San Francisco History Center hours, with photographs available during Photo Desk
hours. Collections that are stored offsite should be requested 48 hours in advance.
All requests for permission to publish or quote from manuscripts must be submitted in writing to the City Archivist. Permission
for publication is given on behalf of the San Francisco Public Library as the owner of the physical items.
[Identification of item], Afro-Americans in San Francisco prior to World War II Oral history project records (SFH 719), San
Francisco History Center, San Francisco Public Library.
This collection was created for the Friends of the San Francisco Public Library and the San Francisco African-American Historical
and Cultural Society. The collection was later maintained by the Labor Archive and Research Center at San Francisco State
University on behalf of the San Francisco Public Library. The collection was then transferred to the San Francisco Public
Library on October 18th, 2022.
Researchers are encouraged to see also the Afro-Americans in San Francisco prior to World War II : Oral history project at
digitalsf.org for digitized copies of the audio recordings and final draft transcripts. Note that audio and transcripts for
interviewees Katherine Flippin and Naomi Anderson Johnson have not been digitized.
During processing, the entire collection was re-foldered and re-housed in acid-free folders and boxes. Some metal staples
remain.
The Afro-Americans in San Francisco prior to World War II Oral history project was a series of 27 interviews with men and
women from the African-American community in San Francisco and the Bay Area conducted between 1976 and 1978. The project was
co-sponsored by the Friends of the San Francisco Public Library and the San Francisco African American Historical and Cultural
Society. The project produced new source material for study in African-American history, of which there were few written records
of at the time of creation. Lynn Bonfield served as the project coordinator; Albert Broussard and Jesse J. Warr III were interviewers.
These primary source interviews have been frequently used since they were published and are cited in a number of scholarly
books and articles.
This collection contains final and rough drafts of 27 interviews conducted with members of the San Francisco and Bay Area
African-American communities focusing on the times between 1900-1940. Also included in the collection are interview notes,
administrative project files, and audio recordings of the interviews on cassette tapes.
One noteable exception is that the physical tapes of the interview audio recordings for Naomi Anderson Johnson were destroyed
in accordance with the interviewee's wishes.
Existence and Location of Originals
The physical tapes of the interview audio recordings for Naomi Anderson Johnson were destroyed in accordance with the interviewee's
wishes.
The collection is arranged in 2 series:
Series 1: Project Files
Series 2: Interview Transcripts, Notes, and Audio Recordings
Subjects and Indexing Terms
African Americans -- California -- San Francisco -- History
African American women -- History -- 20th century
San Francisco (Calif.) -- History -- 20th century.
Oral History
Afro-Americans in San Francisco prior to World War II Oral history project