The collection contains Herbert Aptheker's professional correspondence with other academics, Marxist scholars, as well as his correspondence from his presidency of AIMS [The American Institute of Marxist Studies] with people interested in Marxism ; manuscripts, printed articles, and books written by Aptheker; family correspondence and information on the Aptheker family in general and Bettina Aptheker in particular; the research files and manuscripts belonging at one time to W.E.B. Du Bois and given to Aptheker at the time that Du Bois moved to Ghana in the early 1960's; and the manuscripts and supporting documents related to A DOCUMENTARY HISTORY OF THE NEGRO IN THE UNITED STATES, Vols. 1-7.

Dr. Herbert Aptheker, historian and lecturer, was born in Brooklyn, New York, on July 31, 1915 to Benjamin and Rebecca (Komar) Aptheker. He married Fay Aptheker on Sept. 4, 1942; they had one daughter, Bettina Aptheker, an author and historian in her own right. Aptheker received his B.S. in 1936, an A.M. in 1937, and his Ph.D. in 1943, all from Columbia University. He also holds a Ph.D. (honorary) from Martin Luther U., Halle, Germany , 1966 and a DHL (honorary), University of Massachusetts, 1996.

103 Linear Feet (approx. 200 boxes, 2 oversize folders)

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.

Open for research. Note that material must be requested at least 36 hours in advance of intended use. Accession 2002-251 (9 linear feet, includes correspondence, photographs, and audiovisual materials), 2003-221 (3 linear feet), and 2005-227 (2 linear feet, includes 32 audio cassettes, 2 video cassettes, and additional correspondence) are closed until processing is complete.