Oakland Post Photograph collection, 1922-2005, bulk 1963-1996

Summary

Creators:
Oakland post.
Abstract:
The Oakland Post Photograph Collection consists of 11,797 photographs appearing in the Oakland Post newspaper between 1963-2005. A majority of the photographs are portraits of African American politicians, business and community leaders, entertainers, athletes, and community and social groups from Oakland, California. The collection documents significant social and political events in Oakland, California, including social protest movements during the 1960s-1980s, festivals and sporting events, visits to Oakland, California by notable figures such as Nelson Mandela and Bill Clinton, and activities of Oakland politicians.
Extent:
56 linear feet (116 boxes + 1 oversized box)
Language:
Languages represented in the collection: English
Preferred citation:

Oakland Post Photograph collection, MS 169, African American Museum & Library at Oakland, Oakland Public Library. Oakland, California.

Background

Scope and content:

The Oakland Post Photograph Collection consists of 11,797 photographs appearing in the Oakland Post newspaper between 1963-2005. A majority of the photographs are portraits of African American politicians, business and community leaders, entertainers, athletes, and community and social groups from Oakland, California. The collection documents significant social and political events in Oakland, California, including social protest movements during the 1960s-1980s, festivals and sporting events, visits to Oakland, California by notable figures such as Nelson Mandela and Bill Clinton, and activities of Oakland politicians. A majority of the photographs were taken by staff and contract photographers working for the Oakland Post, including E.F. Joseph, Cleveland Glovers, Barry Evans, Donald Cunningham, Calvin Harrell, and Cleo's Photography. Many of the portraits were taken as part of the Faces by the Bay series, a regular column in the Oakland Post featuring biographical sketches and portraits of prominent African Americans from Oakland and the San Francisco Bay area. Some of the portraits include correspondence, résumés, biographical sketches and other printed material. The photographs are arranged alphabetically by either person, organization, or person, followed by a description/caption, and photograph identification number. Many of the photographs’ dates designate when the photograph appeared in the Oakland Post and not the date the photograph was taken.

Biographical / historical:

The Oakland Post newspaper was founded by attorney Thomas L. Berkley and wife Velda M. Berkley in 1963. Published weekly, the newspaper was dedicated to covering the major issues confront African Americans in Oakland - education, civil rights, crime, employment, and the fight against racism. The newspaper became the largest African American newspaper in Northern California with a circulation over 55,000 and was the central paper of the Post Newspaper Group which included five Bay Area newspapers including the Richmond Post and the Spanish language newspaper El Mundial. In 1972 the newspaper moved its business offices and printing facilities from Berkeley, California to 630 20th St. in Oakland, California. Following Thomas Berkley’s death, the newspaper was purchased by Paul Cobb in 2004.

Processing information:

Processed by Sean Heyliger, January 3, 2015.Finding aid updated on August 26, 2016 to add accession #2016-053.Finding aid updated on October 6, 2016 to add accession #2016-084.Sean Heyliger updated finding aid on December 13, 2017 changing box number 24 (duplicate) to box 116.

Arrangement:

I. Photographs

Rules or conventions:
Finding aid prepared using Describing Archives: a Content Standard

Access and use

Restrictions:

No access restrictions. Collection is open to the public.

Materials are for use in-library only, non-circulating.

Terms of access:

Permission to publish from the Oakland Post Photograph Collection must be obtained from the African American Museum & Library at Oakland.

Preferred citation:

Oakland Post Photograph collection, MS 169, African American Museum & Library at Oakland, Oakland Public Library. Oakland, California.

Location of this collection:
659 14th Street
Oakland, CA 94612, US
Contact:
(510) 637-0198
aamlo@oaklandlibrary.org
Website