Sacramento Observer records MS.0011
Finding aid created by Moriah Ulinskas
Center for Sacramento History
2017
Language of Material:
English
Contributing Institution:
Center for Sacramento History
Title:
Sacramento Observer records
creator:
Lee, William 1936-
creator:
Lee, Kathleen 1935-2013
creator:
Sacramento Observer
Identifier/Call Number: MS.0011
Physical Description:
30 Linear Feet
(25 boxes)
Physical Description:
24,000 Photographic Prints
Physical Description:
4 Artifacts
Date (inclusive): circa 1964-1991
Abstract: The
Sacramento Observer records document the production and management of the
Sacramento Observer, an African American-owned weekly newspaper, between 1964 and 1988. Founded, owned, and published by William H. Lee, a business
and civic leader in Sacramento, California, this collection contains Lee's correspondence and honors, administrative and financial
documents, and over 24,000 black and white photographs used in the production of the paper.
Container: 1-6
Container: 7-9
Container: 10-15
Container: 16-21
Container: 22-24
Container: 25
Access
The collection is open for research.
Publication Rights
All requests to publish or quote from private collections held by the Center for Sacramento History (CSH) must be submitted
in writing to csh@cityofsacramento.org. Permission for publication is given on behalf of Center for Sacramento History as
the owner of the physical items and is not intended to include or imply permission of the copyright holder, which must also
be obtained by the patron. No permission is necessary to publish or quote from public records.
Preferred Citation
[Identification of item],
Sacramento Observer records, MS0011, Center for Sacramento History
Acquisition Information
Donated by Lilburn H. Horton Jr., July 2011 (accession #2011/031).
Biography/Administrative History
The
Sacramento Observer is an African American-owned weekly newspaper based in Sacramento, California. The paper was established in 1962 by Dr. William
H. Lee, Gino Gladden, and John W. Cole, who purchased what was then a religious weekly called the
Sacramento Outlook from the Reverend J.T. Muse, with the intention of expanding the paper to serve the growing African-American community of
the area. By 1965, ownership had been assumed by Lee, who went on to publish the paper with his family. In 2001, Lee appointed
his wife, Kathryn, co-publisher and in 2005 executive publishing control passed from the Lees to their son Lawrence Charles
Lee. The paper's offices are located in the Oak Park neighborhood of Sacramento.
The
Sacramento Observer features local, national, and international news with a focus on African-American culture, politics, and leadership. In addition
to the weekly issues, the
Sacramento Observeralso regularly published special editions addressing Black business, Black education guides, equal opportunity guides, Martin
Luther King Jr. memorials, Black entertainment guides, local church directories, and calendars of events highlighting African-American
events. The
Sacramento Observer spearheaded the local chapter of the National Urban League and sponsored numerous local events central to the African-American
community, including the Sacramento Black Expo. The newspaper has been awarded the John B. Russwurm trophy numerous times
and has received hundreds of local and national awards for outstanding community service and journalism excellence.
William Lee was born in Austin, Texas, in 1936 and moved to Sacramento with his family in 1950. His father, the Rev. Charles
R. Lee, was the founder of the Unity Fellowship Baptist Church, Sacramento, and managed spiritual singing groups, one of which
William Lee was a member. Lee attended Sacramento State College from 1953 to 1955, earned his AB degree from the University
of California in 1957, served in the Air Force reserves from 1959 to 1965, and worked as a real estate broker before founding
the newspaper. He served as a member of the board of directors of the National Newspaper Publishers Association from 1970-1973
and was president of the West Coast Black Publishers Association in 1974. He was a co-founder of the Sacramento Area Black
Caucus, founder and past president of the Men's Civic League of Sacramento, and is a lifetime member of the NAACP.
Kathryn Lee was born in 1935 in New Orleans, Louisiana, and moved to Sacramento with her family when she was 8 years old.
She attended San Francisco State College and, in 1956, became the first African-American woman to work at the Sacramento County
Sheriff's Office. She worked as a legislative aide in the California State Capitol for 14 years before going to work at the
Sacramento Observer. The Lees were married in 1961 and they had three sons, Roderick Joseph Lee, William H. Lee Jr., and Lawrence
Charles Lee. Kathryn Lee was recognized with numerous awards including the Women's Civic Improvement Club's Woman of the Year
(1970); the Greyhound Corporation's Woman of the Year (1991); the National Council of Negro Women, Sacramento Valley Section's
"Most Outstanding Women" award (1993); the Second Annual Madame CJ Walker Entrepreneurial Award (1999); and the National Coalition
of 100 Black Women, Sacramento Chapter's Pioneer Award (2002). She passed away in 2013.
Scope and Content of Collection
This collection primarily documents the business and production activities of the
Sacramento Observer, an African American-operated weekly newspaper, between the years of 1964 and 1988, and that of the paper's publisher William
H. Lee. Presumably collected by Lee, the materials consist of his business and research files, administrative and financial
documents, and tens of thousands of black-and-white photographs used in the production of the weekly newspaper. Photographs
comprise the bulk of the collection – 19 out of 25 boxes total – however they are only described here at the container level.
The first six boxes have been organized and described at the folder level.
Correspondence files consist primarily of business matters and those pertaining to Lee's extensive record of community service.
This includes correspondence related to Black businesses and organizations, political correspondence, newspaper publishing
associations, and national African American organizations such as the NAACP. Folders also contain extensive documentation
of the production of the Afro-American Festival of 1969, of which Mr. and Mrs. Lee were organizers and sponsors. Financial
records largely concern a period of financial instability for the newspaper during the 1970s. The Lees' papers were not in
a discernible order, and an artificial series hierarchy was created based on subject material under the series "William and
Kathy Lee Papers." These files are organized by correspondence, organization, and event, ending with financial and legal records
regarding Roderick Lee. The
Sacramento Observer administrative records include financial, marketing, and employee materials.
Research files were originally in alphabetical order by subject, and that order has been kept. These consist of photographs,
newspaper and magazine clippings, and biographical sketches that feature African-American professionals of various fields
including medicine, education, government, entertainment, business, and military. Material in the research files cover the
Sacramento region, California, and national subjects and include personal photographs of the Lee family, which are filed under
Rev. Charles R. Lee. The collection contains a small reference library of books, magazines, newspapers, curricular materials,
and political campaign materials regarding African-American history, culture, politics, and religion.
The majority of the photographs (13 boxes) in the collection represent the Sacramento Observer production photo morgue, which
are organized chronologically and foldered with the weekly issue they were used to produce. Additionally, one box of photographs
is organized alphabetically by subject, while another box of photographs pertaining to sports is organized by sports team,
and three boxes are not organized at all.
Arrangement
The collection is arranged into 5 series:
- Series 1. William and Kathy Lee papers, 1969-1991
- Series 2.
Sacramento Observer, 1967-1988
- Series 3. Reference publications, 1967-1989
- Series 4.
Sacramento Observer production photo morgue, 1964-1983
- Series 5.
Sacramento Observer photographs, 1969-1977
Subjects and Indexing Terms
African Americans
Civil rights
Community Development
Education
Housing
Sacramento (Calif.)--History
African American journalists
National Association for the Advancement of Colored People
West Coast Black Publishers Association
Series 1. William and Kathy Lee Papers
Physical Description: 1 boxes
Series Scope and Content Summary
This series is made up of personal and professional correspondence and documents from the office of William Lee. Professional
correspondence is related to Lee's honors and awards, including a letter from Governor Ronald Reagan on the occasion of the
10th anniversary of the
Sacramento Observer. Other correspondence and documents relate to Lee's involvement with the NAACP, Sacramento Black Chamber of Commerce, the
National Newspaper Publishers Association, the West Coast Black Publishers Association, and the Afro American Festival (1969).
Records and correspondence relating to financial issues are prevalent, including two files on financial and legal issues regarding
Lee's eldest son Roderick, who served as the music editor for "The Happenings," the
Sacramento Observer's entertainment guide. This series is made up of 22 folders (one oversized), or approximately 0.75 cubic feet.
box 1:4
Lee correspondence
1974-1989
box 5:6
Correspondence NAACP
1980-1990
box 5:7
Correspondence - Black Chamber of Commerce
1986-1989
box 5:8
Black Organizations
1970-1991
box 5:10
Correspondence and Financials
1974-1983
box 5:11
Political Correspondence - Greater Sacramento
1969-1990
box 5:12
West Coast Black Publishers Association
undated
box 5:13
National Newspaper Publishers Association
1971-1979
box 5:14
West Coast Black Publishers
1983
box 5:15
National Organizations
1968, 1982
box 5:16
Appraisal of 1800 Broadway
undated
box 5:17
Afro-American Festival
1969
box 5:18
Afro-American Festival
1969
box 5:19
Miss Soul "69" Contest
1969
box 5:20
Ten Best Dressed Women
1970
box 5:22
Bankruptcy Court Forms
undated
Series 2.
Sacramento Observer
Physical Description: 5 boxes
Series Scope and Content Summary
This series contains documents, photographs, ephemera, and media pertaining to the administration of the
Sacramento Observer. It is organized in five subseries, as follows, and is made up of 77 folders, 10 special edition publications, and one box
containing ephemera and miscellaneous media assets.
Subseries 2.1 Administrative Files
1969-1980
Subseries Scope and Content Summary
This subseries contains historical and background documents on the
Sacramento Observer, general information, special issues materials, advertising materials, employee handbooks, staff photos, communications and
form letters, subscription forms, and federal correspondence.
box 1:23
History and Background
undated
box 1:24
The
Stockton Observer
1970-1981
box 1:25
Special Issues Materials
1969-1977
box 1:26
General Information
1969-1988
box 1:27
Advertising Materials
1961-1985
box 1:28
Employee Info Booklet
undated
box 1:31
National Observer Staff Photos
undated
box 1:33
San Joaquin, Stockton Materials
1990
box 1:34
Federal Correspondence
1971, 1985
Subseries 2.2 Biographies
1967-1988
Subseries Scope and Content Summary
This subseries contains 26 folders of biographical files and photographs of politicians, entertainers, and business leaders
– primarily African American – that were sent to William Lee.
box 2:1
Biographies "A" S.B.C.
undated
box 2:2
Biographies "B" S.B.C.
undated
box 2:3
Bradley, Mayor Tom, 1983 Guburatorial Race
1983
box 2:8
Biographies "C" S.B.C.
undated
box 2:10
Biographies "D" S.B.C.
undated
box 2:11
Biographies "E" S.B.C.
undated
box 2:12
Biographies "F" S.B.C.
undated
box 2:13
Biographies "G" S.B.C.
undated
box 2:14
Biographies "H" S.B.C.
undated
box 2:15
Biographies "J" S.B.C.
undated
box 2:16
Biographies "K" S.B.C.
undated
box 2:17
Biographies "L" S.B.C.
undated
box 2:18
Biographies "M" S.B.C.
undated
box 2:19
Biographies "N" S.B.C.
undated
box 2:20
Biographies "O" and "P" S.B.C.
undated
box 2:21
Biographies "R" S.B.C.
undated
box 2:22
Biographies "S" S.B.C.
undated
box 2:23
Biographies "T" S.B.C.
undated
box 2:24
Biographies "U" - "W" S.B.C.
undated
box 2:25
Williams, Reverend Cecil B.
1983
box 2:26
Biographies "X" – "Z" S.B.C.
undated
Subseries 2.3 Research files
1970s-1980s
Subseries Scope and Content Summary
This subseries contains 174 folders pertaining to Black businesses, Black entertainment and culture files, and biographical
sketches of individuals in medicine, education, entertainment, business, and politics that were sent to Percy Pinkney, who
was at the time the Special Assistant to Governor Jerry Brown. One oversized file contains court documents regarding the case
of Rahman Jabul.
box 2:30
20th Anniversary Program
1982
box 2:31
Articles, Posters, Miscellaneous
1967-1982
box 2:32
Autos & Dealers, SAC
undated
box 2:33
Billy Graham Crusade
1983
box 2:35
"Black Business Hall of Fame" Program
1981
box 2:36
Black Enterprise Magazine
1984-1985
box 3:1
Black History Related
1972-1979
box 3:2
Black Pictures (not original)
undated
box 3:3
Black Political Cartoons
undated
box 3:7
Speaker Brown's Letter
1984
box 3:8
Tony Brown's Journal
1986
box 3:10
100 Most Influential Blacks
undated
box 3:14
C. Alfred Anderson Awards
undated
box 3:15
Black Funeral Story
undated
box 3:16
[Black Newspapers]
undated
box 3:17
Black On-Air Talent
undated
box 3:18
[Black Press Releases]
undated
box 3:19
Black Political Caucus
undated
box 3:20
Black Political Leaders, Bios and Pics
undated
box 3:21
Brown & Williamson Tobacco Corp.
undated
box 3:25
Crocker Art Museum
undated
box 3:26
California State Colleges
undated
box 3:30
Faithful Working (Mission) Club
undated
box 3:33
NBC "Generations"
2/9/1990
box 3:34
Hacket, Benjamin, U.S.A.A. Rear Admiral
undated
box 3:35
Haley, George Willford Boyd
undated
box 3:39
Jackson, Jesse, news clippings
undated
box 3:42
James, Massengale
undated
box 3:44
Jean-Juste, Reverend Gerard
undated
box 3:46
Johnson, Charles W.
undated
box 3:47
Johnson, Grantland
undated
box 3:50
Jones, Reverend A. Paul
undated
box 3:52
Jones, P. Orlando
undated
box 3:55
"J" - Miscellaneous
undated
box 3:56
King, Jr., Martin Luther
undated
box 3:58
Lane, Ella & Associates
undated
box 3:59
Lara, Edison (Ed)
undated
box 3:60
Lee, Charles R. Rev. (photos)
undated
box 3:61
Lee, William (resumes)
undated
box 3:63
Los Rios Community
undated
box 3:64
"L" – Miscellaneous
undated
box 4:3
Marks, Margaret "Maggie"
undated
box 4:6
McCauley, Harriette
undated
box 4:14
Minority Business
undated
box 4:20
"M" – Miscellaneous
undated
box 4:27
Norton, Eleanor Holmes
undated
box 4:28
Norwood, Walter R.
undated
box 4:37
Patterson, Clarence J. "C.J."
undated
box 4:40
Payton, M.D., Sarah
undated
box 4:41
Peterson, Del Roy
undated
box 4:42
Pierce, Jr., Samuel -HUD Secretary
undated
box 4:45
"P" – Miscellaneous
undated
box 4:47
Ramey, Felicenne H.
undated
box 4:48
Rangel, Charles B. - Congressman
undated
box 4:50
Reagan, Ronald – Governor
undated
box 4:53
Riles, Jr., Wilson
undated
box 4:56
Robie, Lynn – Sacramento City Councilman
undated
box 4:59
Rudin, Anne – Mayor of Sacramento
undated
box 4:61
"R" – Miscellaneous
undated
box 4:63
Sacramento Area Businesses and Personalities
undated
box 4:64
San Jose, California
undated
box 4:69
Serna, Joe – Mayor of Sacramento
undated
box 4:70
Sheedy, Ted – Sacramento County Supervisor
undated
box 4:72
Shelton, Phrasel L. - Judge
undated
box 4:73
Shepard, Huey P. - Judge
undated
box 4:75
Sifford, Charlie - Assemblyman
undated
box 4:77
Smith, Jr., Archie M. – Reverend Dr.
undated
box 4:82
Smith, Willard B.
undated
box 4:83
Speraw, Ollie - Senator
undated
box 4:85
Stokes, Louis - Congressman
undated
box 4:86
"S" – Miscellaneous
undated
box 4:88
Thomas, Debi – Ice Skating
undated
box 4:89
Thompson, Daniel E. - Councilman
undated
box 4:91
Towns, Edolphus "Ed"
undated
box 4:93
Travis, Benjamin - Judge
undated
box 4:94
Tucker, Curtis R. - Assemblyman
undated
box 4:95
Tucker, Marcus O.- Judge
undated
box 4:96
Turner, James Edward
undated
box 4:97
Tutu, Desmond - Bishop
undated
box 4:98
Tyler, Jr., Sherman L.
undated
box 4:99
"T" – Miscellaneous
undated
box 4:100
Waters, Maxine - Assemblywoman
undated
Subseries 2.4 Special editions
1970-1990
Subseries Scope and Content Summary
This subseries contains 10 special edition publications from the Observer publishers, including Christmas Edition 1970; Equal
Opportunity Edition 1979; the Reno Observer 1979; School and Career Guide 1980; Martin Luther King Jr. Special 1984 and 1990;
Black Businesses 1985 and 1989; and Entertainment 1985 and 1990. Folders are organized chronologically.
box 4:104
School and Career Guide
1980
box 4:105
Martin Luther King Jr. Special
1984
box 4:110
Martin Luther King Jr. Special
1990
Subseries 2.5. Ephemera and media
1972-2009
Subseries Scope and Content Summary
This subseries contains five folders and ephemera (six assets) from the
Sacramento Observer offices, including Observer press passes, letterhead, tear sheets, notepads, envelopes, tickets to the
Sacramento Observer's Tenth Anniversary Testimonial and Benefit Dinner (1972), staff ID cards, a stone pen holder belonging to Dr. William Lee,
a political button,
Sacramento Observer binder and calendar holder, and newspaper carrier signage. Media includes loose/unlabeled photographic negatives and slides,
a bag containing 25 partial rolls of film (labeled, possibly undeveloped), two 7" vinyl records, and four boxes of 8" IBM
floppy diskettes (labeled). This subseries also contains two binders containing a handwritten inventory of the collection
created by Lilburn H. Horton Jr., the donor of the collection.
box 5:5
Four Boxes, 7" IBM floppy diskettes
undated
box 5:5
Bag containing 25 partial rolls of film
undated
box 5:5
Sacramento Observer binder
undated
box 5:5
Sacramento Observer leather calendar holder
undated
Series 3. Reference publications
1967-1989
Physical Description: 1 boxes
Series Scope and Content Summary
This series consists of publications regarding Black history, culture, business, and politics, as well as educational resources
on African-American and African culture. It includes issues of
The Black Scholar,
Lincoln Review,
Crisis,
Negro History Bulletin,
Tony Brown's Journal, and
National Black Monitor. Educational resources include study guides,
The Black Collegian, and guides to Black public colleges; business publications like Black business guides, the
Las Vegas Black Directory, the
Greater Los Angeles Black Book,
Spectrum: National Association of Black Accountants, the
Bay Area Black Pages,
California Black Business Directory,
Black Enterprise magazine,
Black Business News, and multiple Sacramento-specific publications; and catalogs from Black conferences and meetings, primarily held in the Sacramento
area, and Sacramento black church publications.
Black churches, SAC
undated
box 6:5
Black Conferences/Meetings
1969-1971
box 6:7
Black Entertainment
1976-1985
box 6:10
Black History Calendars
1971-1984
box 6:14
Black History Calendars
1971-1984
box 6:15
Black Publications
1971-1982
box 6:16
Black Publishers
1969-1984
box 6:17
Black Statistics
1980-1983
box 6:20
Higher Education
1969-1971
box 6:22
Negro History Bulletin
1967-1973
Series 4.
Sacramento Observer production photo morgue
1969-1971
Physical Description: 14 boxes
Series Scope and Content Summary
This series comprises original black and white photographs from each weekly issue of the
Sacramento Observer spanning July 23, 1964, to August 25, 1988. Photographs are organized in folders chronologically by issue, and in most cases,
are accompanied by a copy of the published edition of the paper. Additionally, there are folders containing production prints
from "The Happenings," the
Sacramento Observer's entertainment issue.
Series 5.
Sacramento Observer photographs
Physical Description: 5 boxes
box 21
Subseries 5.1 Alphabetical
undated
box 22
Subseries 5.2 Sports
1969-1977
box 23-25
Unsorted photographs
undated
