Finding Aid to the Afro-Americans in San Francisco prior to World War II Oral history project records
1966-1982
SFH 719
Finding aid composed by Norman Yee
San Francisco History Center, San Francisco Public Library
2022
100 Larkin Street
San Francisco, CA 94102
sfhistory@sfpl.org
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.
Conditions Governing Access
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.
Publication Rights
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.
Preferred Citation
[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.
Provenance
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.
Related materials
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.
Conservation Note
During processing, the entire collection was re-foldered and re-housed in acid-free folders and boxes. Some metal staples
remain.
Administrative History
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.
Scope and Content
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.
Arrangement
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
Series 1
Project Files
1966-1982
(bulk 1976-1982)
box 1, folder 2
Signed Interview Release Forms
box 1, folder 4
Advisory Board Meeting Minutes
1976-1978
box 1, folder 6
Reports. Lynn A. Bonfield
box 1, folder 8
Interviewer Papers. Diana Lachatanere
box 1, folder 9
Interviewer Papers. Jesse Warr [1/3]
box 1, folder 10
Interviewer Papers. Jesse Warr [2/3]
box 1, folder 11
Interviewer Papers. Jesse Warr [3/3]
box 1, folder 15
Proofreading and Typing Instructions
box 1, folder 18
Release Forms. Signed Copies
box 2, folder 1
Lynn Bonfield Notes [1/2]
box 2, folder 2
Lynn Bonfield Notes [2/2]
box 2, folder 7
Research Grant Application, Thomas C. Battles
box 2, folder 12
Correspondence, 1966-1980 [1/3]
box 2, folder 13
Correspondence, 1966-1980 [2/3]
box 2, folder 14
Correspondence, 1966-1980 [3/3]
box 3, folder 1
Correspondence. Importance of Project
box 3, folder 3
Correspondence. Radcliffe College
box 3, folder 4
Other Oral History Projects [1/2]
box 3, folder 5
Other Oral History Projects [2/2]
box 3, folder 6
San Francisco African American Historical and Cultural Society Papers
box 3, folder 8
Flippin, Katherine Stewart. Interview from Radcliffe College
Series 2
Interview Transcripts, Notes, and Audio Recordings
1976-1978
Conservation Note
Original audio cassette tapes of interview recordings have been retained in addition to one set of copies whenever possible.
Additional duplicates have been removed from the collection. Audio tapes for Naomi Anderson Johnston interviews are not included.
Interview recordings and final transcripts can also be accessed online at digitalsf.org under "Afro-American Oral Histories,
pre-WWII" except for the interviews of Katherine Flippin, Kline Wilson, and Helen Wilson.
box 4, folder 1
Alberga, Aurelious P: Final Draft
box 4, folder 2
Alberga, Aurelious P: Rough Draft
box 4, folder 3
Alberga, Aurelious P: Correspondence and Notes
box 11, folder 7
Alberga, Aurelious P: Photographs
box 12
Alberga, Aurelious P: Interview Recordings
box 4, folder 4
Alley, Edward Henry Jr: Final Draft
box 4, folder 5
Alley, Edward Henry Jr: Correspondence and Notes
box 11, folder 8
Alley, Edward Henry Jr: Photographs
box 12
Alley, Edward Henry Jr: Interview Recordings
box 4, folder 6
Archibald, Frederick: Final Draft
box 4, folder 7
Archibald, Frederick: Rough Draft
box 4, folder 8
Archibald, Frederick: Correspondence and Notes
box 11, folder 9
Archibald, Frederick: Photographs
box 12
Archibald, Frederick: Interview Recordings
box 4, folder 9
Brooks, Alma Thomas: Final Draft
box 4, folder 10
Brooks, Alma Thomas: Rough Draft
box 4, folder 11
Brooks, Alma Thomas: Correspondence and Notes
box 12
Brooks, Alma Thomas: Interview Recordings
box 4, folder 12
Brooks, William T: Final Draft
box 4, folder 13
Brooks, William T: Rough Draft
box 4, folder 14
Brooks, William T: Correspondence and Notes
box 12
Brooks, William T: Interview Recordings
box 5, folder 1
Butler, Alfred J: Final Draft
box 5, folder 2
Butler, Alfred J: Rough Draft
box 5, folder 3
Butler, Alfred J: Correspondence and Notes
box 11, folder 10
Butler, Alfred J: Photographs
box 12
Butler, Alfred J: Interview Recordings
box 5, folder 4
Calbert, Sadie: Final Draft
box 12
Calbert, Sadie: Interview Recordings
box 5, folder 5
Cole, Josephine Foreman: Final Draft
box 5, folder 6
Cole, Josephine Foreman: Rough Draft
box 5, folder 7
Cole, Josephine Foreman: Correspondence and Notes
box 12
Cole, Josephine Foreman: Interview Recordings
box 6, folder 1
Crawford, Bernice Clark: Final Draft
box 6, folder 2
Crawford, Bernice Clark: Rough Draft
box 6, folder 3
Crawford, Bernice Clark: Correspondence and Notes
box 12
Crawford, Bernice Clark: Interview Recordings
box 6, folder 4
Finis, Kenneth A: Final Draft
box 6, folder 5
Finis, Kenneth A: Rough Draft
box 6, folder 6
Finis, Kenneth A: Correspondence and Notes
box 12
Finis, Kenneth A: Interview Recordings
box 6, folder 7
Flippin, Katherine: Final Draft
General
Recordings and transcripts for this interview have not been digitized.
box 6, folder 8
Flippin, Katherine: Rough Draft [1/2]
box 6, folder 9
Flippin, Katherine: Rough Draft [2/2]
box 6, folder 10
Flippin, Katherine: Correspondence and Notes
box 11, folder 11
Flippin, Katherine: Photographs
box 12
Flippin, Katherine: Interview Recordings
box 7, folder 1
Gordon, Benjamin: Final Draft
box 7, folder 2
Gordon, Benjamin: Rough Draft [1/2]
box 7, folder 3
Gordon, Benjamin: Rough Draft [2/2]
box 7, folder 4
Gordon, Benjamin: Correspondence and Notes
box 13
Gordon, Benjamin: Interview Recordings
box 7, folder 5
Gordon, Elizabeth Fisher: Final Draft
box 7, folder 6
Gordon, Elizabeth Fisher: Rough Draft
box 7, folder 7
Gordon, Elizabeth Fisher: Correspondence and Notes
box 13
Gordon, Elizabeth Fisher: Interview Recordings
box 7, folder 8
Hightower, Myrtle Thompson: Final Draft
box 7, folder 9
Hightower, Myrtle Thompson: Rough Draft
box 7, folder 10
Hightower, Myrtle Thompson: Correspondence and Notes
box 13
Hightower, Myrtle Thompson: Interview Recordings
box 8, folder 1
Johnson, Naomi Anderson: Final Draft [1/2]
box 8, folder 2
Johnson, Naomi Anderson: Final Draft [2/2]
box 8, folder 3
Johnson, Naomi Anderson: Rough Draft
box 8, folder 4
Johnson, Naomi Anderson: Correspondence and Notes
box 8, folder 5
Lucas, Sybil Sanford: Final Draft
box 8, folder 6
Lucas, Sybil Sanford: Rough Draft
box 8, folder 7
Lucas, Sybil Sanford: Correspondence and Notes
box 13
Lucas, Sybil Sanford: Interview Recordings
box 9, folder 1
Lumsden, Harold: Final Draft
box 9, folder 2
Lumsden, Harold: Rough Draft
box 9, folder 3
Lumsden, Harold: Correspondence and Notes
box 13
Lumsden, Harold: Interview Recordings
box 9, folder 4
Marshall, Toronto Cannaday: Final Draft
box 9, folder 5
Marshall, Toronto Cannaday: Correspondence and Notes
box 13
Marshall, Toronto Cannaday: Interview Recordings
box 9, folder 6
Nurse, Augustine A: Final Draft
box 9, folder 7
Nurse, Augustine A: Rough Draft
box 9, folder 8
Nurse, Augustine A: Correspondence and Notes
box 13
Nurse, Augustine A: Interview Recordings
box 9, folder 9
Osborne, Johyne Beverly: Final Draft
box 9, folder 10
Osborne, Johyne Beverly: Rough Draft
box 9, folder 11
Osborne, Johyne Beverly: Correspondence and Notes
box 13
Osborne, Johyne Beverly: Interview Recordings
box 10, folder 1
Raymond, Lillian: Final Draft
box 10, folder 2
Raymond, Lillian: Rough Draft
box 10, folder 3
Raymond, Lillian: Correspondence and Notes
box 13
Raymond, Lillian: Interview Recordings
box 10, folder 4
Ritchardson, Franzy Lea: Final Draft
General
Family photographs have been removed from the collection and returned to daughter. See relocation form in this folder for
more details.
box 10, folder 5
Ritchardson, Franzy Lea: Rough Draft
box 10, folder 6
Ritchardson, Franzy Lea: Correspondence and Notes
box 11, folder 12
Ritchardson, Franzy Lea: Photographs
box 13
Ritchardson, Franzy Lea: Interview Recordings
box 10, folder 7
Scott, Lora Toombs: Final Draft
box 10, folder 8
Scott, Lora Toombs: Rough Draft
box 10, folder 9
Scott, Lora Toombs: Correspondence and Notes
box 13
Scott, Lora Toombs: Interview Recordings
box 10, folder 10
Thompson, Raymond: Final Draft
box 10, folder 11
Thompson, Raymond: Rough Draft
box 10, folder 12
Thompson, Raymond: Correspondence and Notes
box 13
Thompson, Raymond: Interview Recordings
box 11, folder 1
Watson, Roberta Scott: Final Draft
box 11, folder 2
Watson, Roberta Scott: Rough Draft
box 11, folder 3
Watson, Roberta Scott: Correspondence and Notes
box 11, folder 13
Watson, Roberta Scott: Photographs
box 13
Watson, Roberta Scott: Interview Recordings
box 11, folder 4
Wilson, Kline and Wilson, Helen: Final Draft
box 11, folder 5
Wilson, Kline and Wilson, Helen: Rough Draft
box 11, folder 6
Wilson, Kline and Wilson, Helen: Correspondence and Notes
box 11, folder 14
Wilson, Kline and Wilson, Helen: Photographs
box 13
Wilson, Kline and Wilson, Helen: Interview Recordings
box 11, folder 15
Negatives and Proofsheet: Interviewees
box 11, folder 16
Photographs. SFPL Reception. Alberga, Calbert, Crawford
1978
box 11, folder 17
Photographs. SFPL Reception. Flippin, Osborne
1982
box 11, folder 18
Photographs. Oral History Publicity
box 12, folder 1
Interview Recording Details
box 12
Reception for Interviewees audio recording
1978
