Finding Aid to the VèVè A. Clark papers BANC MSS 2009/102
Marjorie Bryer
The Bancroft Library
2021
The Bancroft Library
University of California
Berkeley, CA 94720-6000
bancref@library.berkeley.edu
Contributing Institution:
The Bancroft Library
Title: VeVe A. Clark papers
Creator:
Clark, Vèvè A.
Identifier/Call Number: BANC MSS 2009/102
Physical Description:
8 linear feet
(6 cartons, 1 card file box)
Date (inclusive): approximately 1943, 1964-2007
Abstract: The VèVè A. Clark papers document her research, teaching, and professional career. The collection is divided into nine series:
Photographic Materials; Audiovisual Materials; Teaching and Course Materials; Administrative Materials; Correspondence and
Personalia; Katherine Dunham; Maya Deren; Writings; and Professional Activities.
Physical Location: Many of the Bancroft Library collections are stored offsite and advance notice may be required for use. For current information
on the location of these materials, please consult the library's online catalog.
Language of Material:
English
, French
, Creoles and pidgins
.
Conditions Governing Access
Collection is open for research.
Accruals
No future additions are expected.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
The VèVè A. Clark papers were given to The Bancroft Library in 2008 by Ula Y. Taylor.
Alternate Forms Available
There are no alternative forms of this collection.
Biographical Note
VèVè Amasasa Clark (December 14, 1944-December 1, 2007) was a scholar, author, and expert in African and Caribbean literature.
She helped create the nation's first doctoral program in African Diaspora Studies at the University of California, Berkeley.
Clark was raised in Queens, New York and received her B.A. and M.A. from Queens College. She completed her Ph.D. in French
and ethnology at UC Berkeley in 1983. After earning tenure at Tufts University, Clark returned to Berkeley as an associate
professor in the Department of African American Studies. She was a faculty member for 16 years, serving as a mentor to and
champion of Black undergraduate and graduate students across all disciplines. Clark focused on retaining and supporting Black
students in her department, as well as those who specialized in African American, African and Caribbean studies. Clark was
fluent in French, Spanish, and Creole, and conversant in Wolof. Trained in literary theory and anthropology, her approach
was interdisciplinary, and she sought to foster social justice through the academy. Some of Clark's areas of expertise included
African and Caribbean literatures, Afro-Caribbean folklore, African diasporic theater, African American dance history, and
critical pedagogy. Clark taught some of her department's most popular classes, including Marasa: Caribbean Literatures by
Women, The Negritude Movement in French African/Caribbean Literatures, African Women Writers, and Introduction to the University
(AAS 39B), a course that helped prepare students for academic and extracurricular life at UC Berkeley. Clark coined the term
"diaspora literacy" in one of her best known essays, and helped define African Diaspora Studies. She was also widely recognized
for her research and publications on African American dancer, anthropologist, and social activist Katherine Dunham and avant-garde
filmmaker Maya Deren.
This brief biography was adapted from the obituary for Clark written by Ula Y. Taylor, Sara E. Johnson, Trica D. Keaton, and
Lisa Ze Winters. For more on Clark's life and work, see https://senate.universityofcalifornia.edu/_files/inmemoriam/html/veveclark.html
Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements
Access to audio-visual materials may be restricted due to technical limitations.
Preferred Citation
[Identification of item], VèVè A. Clark papers, BANC MSS 2009/102,The Bancroft Library, University of California, Berkeley.
System of Arrangement
Arranged to the folder level.
Processing Information
Processed by Marjorie Bryer in 2021.
Scope and Content of Collection
The VèVè A. Clark papers document her research, teaching, and professional activities. The collection includes materials from
her tenure at UC Berkeley and Tufts University. The collection is divided into nine series: Photographic Materials; Audiovisual
Materials; Teaching and Course Materials; Administrative Materials; Correspondence and Personalia; Katherine Dunham; Maya
Deren; Writings; and Professional Activities. The Correspondence and Personalia series is small. Original folder titles were
retained when available.
Conditions Governing Use
Some materials in these collections may be protected by the U.S. Copyright Law (Title 17, U.S.C.). In addition, the reproduction
of some materials may be restricted by terms of University of California gift or purchase agreements, donor restrictions,
privacy and publicity rights, licensing and trademarks. Transmission or reproduction of materials protected by copyright beyond
that allowed by fair use requires the written permission of the copyright owners. Works not in the public domain cannot be
commercially exploited without permission of the copyright owner. Responsibility for any use rests exclusively with the user.
All requests to reproduce, publish, quote from, or otherwise use collection materials must be submitted to The Bancroft Library.
See: http://bancroft.berkeley.edu/reference/permissions.html
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Clark, Vèvè A. -- Archives.
Clark, Vèvè A. -- Correspondence.
Dunham, Katherine.
Deren, Maya
University of California, Berkeley. Department of African American Studies -- Faculty,
Tufts University -- Faculty.
African Americans -- Study and teaching -- California -- Berkeley.
African Americans -- Research -- California -- Berkeley.
African diaspora -- Research -- California -- Berkeley.
African diaspora -- Study and teaching -- California -- Berkeley.
African American college teachers--California--Berkeley
African American women educators -- California -- Berkeley.
Ethnologists -- United States.
Caribbean literature
Series 1.
Photographic Materials
approximately 1971-2004
Physical Description: Carton 1; Carton 3 folders 1-4
Arrangement
Slides were in 5 cases and 7 boxes; Clark's original order was maintained.
Scope and Content Note
Slides, negatives, and prints documenting Clark's research in the Caribbean and Africa. Other prominent subjects include dance
and Maya Deren. Most of the slides are color. There are slides of original photographs and photographs of secondary sources.
Clark's original folder titles for the negatives and prints were retained. Groups of slides in the cases were rehoused in
folders, and folder titles were taken from the key Clark provided in each case (keys are included in the first folder from
each case).
carton 1, folder 1-24
Slide Case 1: Legend of Maya Deren Project Slides
approximately 1975-1979
Scope and Content Note
This slide case includes the following subjects: Signatures; Haiti: Architecture; Vodoun; Peters, [Deuitt]; Turner, L; Chambers;
Goddess of Love – Lewis; Mardi Gras; Destiné – Flyer; Folks – Mangones, A.; Vol II: Bateson-Collins; Vol. II: Bateson-Deren
(Haiti); and Vol. II: Vodoun.
carton 1, folder 25-34
Slide Case 2: Hacho; Oper Koum; Bas Boen; Vevers; Comb. Quisq.; Kaiso; Martinique; and Jamaica Dance/Bay Area Dance
approximately 1976-1980
carton 1, folder 35-50
Slide Case 3: African Lit; House of Bondage; Dakar; Gambia; Gambia—Dyeing; Operation Crossroads; Mali; Gambia; NY; Women &
Poverty; and Black Slides
approximately 1971-1978
carton 1, folder 51-62
Slide Case 4: Carnival; Caribbean in NY/Brooklyn; Arawaks/Maroons; Haiti; Haiti [General]; and Haiti 75
approximately 1975-1978
carton 1, folder 63-71
Slide Case 5: W.T. [Walter Turner]; Hold and Show/"Hold and Show Cheryl"; and Copies VèVè
approximately 1976-1981
Scope and Content Note
Some of the compartments in this case were empty, so it's not clear that all the subjects listed on the key are represented.
The case also included a list of slides, but it is not clear that they are all in the case. That list reads: KSOL Fashion
Show, Copy Photo, Haiti, Misc., Black Film Maker, Carv/Flute Player, Jim-Julie Research for Wed., Baby First steps/walk, Mrs.
Williams, House Party Feb. 77, Milli's in NYC, Company Picnic May 1982, Visit to Earl August 1975, City Jam August 1984. Comin'
of Theo; January 1982, VèVè, House Part II, Family – EWF DXPO, [Jamison Grad?], Ted in "76," UCF Im Fest "73," House Party
"78," Villa Haiti, KQED W.P., Black Family at Hunter's/Shopping, M-N-Gayle [Dorma] Al, Williams, Joel the Whistler/Home Intrior,
Models M/F/Someone I Don't Know, Bailey Ville 1975, Senior Citizen, UC FM Fest 1973, and Maya and Friend [Joasin] Grad).
carton 1, folder 72-78
Kenya Slides
July 1985
Scope and Content Note
Subjects/locations include Mugo; Mugo/Masai; Tech and Tools; Nairobi; Amboselli; and Mombasa. Each box of slides is in a separate
folder.
carton 3, folder 1
Negatives: Grot Hebbn': Railroad Station/Condemned Houses/Fifth Street Vents/Railcar-Inverne
1976
carton 3, folder 2
Haiti and Fran – Negatives – Architecture-Portraits
carton 3, folder 3
UC Berkeley/St. Clair Drake Gradute Cultural Studies Forum – Materials from Exhibit, including Photographs, Negatives
approximately 1995-2004
carton 2
Series 2.
Audiovisual Materials
approximately 1973-1984
Physical Description: Carton 2
Scope and Content Note
Consists of audiocassettes and open reel audiotape; Umatic 1/2" open reel video tapes; and super 8mm films.
Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements
Access to audio-visual materials may be restricted due to technical limitations.
carton 2
The Negritude Poets, Pacifica Radio (KPFA) (Open Reel Audiotape)
carton 2
Side 1: Music Discussion/Side 2: Deren's Lecture – Talk of Film; Intro of At Land, contd. Lecture, Form/Beats – Puritans
carton 2
Side 1: Maya Deren Communications Lecture (cont'd) – Symbolism/Intro to Meshes/Intro to Eye of Night/Questions
carton 2
Tape #1 – Group Meeting of Saturday, June 19, 1976
carton 2
Tape #2 – Group Meeting, Monday June 21, 1976
carton 2
Group Meeting of June 27, 1976 (Tape Marked 3)
carton 2
Group Meeting of Wednesday June 30, [1976] [Tape marked "3"]
carton 2
Coumbite '80 Transcription, 11/11/78 and 11/25/78 [Tape marked "3"]
carton 2
Coumbite '80 Meeting, 8/20/77
carton 2
Limonatas #5/Ms. Romaine #1
carton 2
L'Arbre – Interview: Miss Romain (2), Combite Songs (1), June 24, 1976 [Tape marked "4"] (Case says Staged Kombite, N[illegible]
Center Interview, Romain Interview)
carton 2
Bauduy (Suite), 8/16/73 [Tape marked "D"]
carton 2
Bauduy – End, Narcisse [illegible], 8/17/73 [Tape marked "F"]
carton 2
Excerpts from "Coumbite"; Divine Horsemen, College Art Assoc. Conf., 2/23/84 (Umatic)
carton 2
Limontas Interview, Hacho Office, #1-5, 7/3/76 (5 Sony 1/2" Open Reel Videotape)
carton 2
Berthulle Romain Interview, #1-2, 7/4/76 (two Sony 1/2" Open Reel Videotapes)
carton 2
Tape 4 – Video [Critique] Save (Sony 1/2" Open Reel Videotape)
carton 2
Unlabeled (two Sony 1/2" Open Reel Videotapes)
carton 2
Super 8mm film – Four Reels, Unlabeled
Series 3.
Teaching and Course Materials
1971-2006
Physical Description: Carton 3, folders 5-76; and Carton 4, folders 1-24
Scope and Content Note
Teaching and course materials for classes at Tufts and UC Berkeley. Includes subject files that Clark used for classes. These
are organized alphabetically and consist of her lectures, notes, and secondary source materials. There are also syllabi, exams,
and notes for specific courses. May include some of Clark's writings. Original folder titles were retained.
carton 3, folder 5
Achebe, Chinua – Notes
1997, undated
carton 3, folder 6
African Theater: Lectures
approximately 1994-2002
carton 3, folder 7
African Women Writers, includes U.N. Report
approximately 1984-1985
carton 3, folder 8
African Writings Systems – Tufts Courses
carton 3, folder 9
Aidoo, Ama Ata – Notes, Email
approximately 1996
carton 3, folder 10
Ancient Mali/Niane – Tufts Courses
carton 3, folder 11
Beckford, George, Plantations in Third World Economy
carton 3, folder 13
Bildungsroman Handouts (French 42, AAS 159, AAS 161)
1978-1997
carton 3, folder 14-15
Caribbean Literature by Women/Towards a Bibliography of Women Writers in Spanish America
approximately 1979-1985
carton 3, folder 17
Henri Christophe: the Citadel – Notes
carton 3, folder 18
Comparative Diaspora Discourses
carton 3, folder 19-24
Condé, Maryse
approximately 1979-1988
Scope and Content Note
Includes Tim tim? Bois Sec/Caribbean Women Writers, Tufts; La Vie scélérate; Condé – La Parole des Femmes; and Condé Book
Party.
carton 3, folder 27-28
Fanon, Frantz, Damnes de la Terre/Peau Noire, Masques Blancs (Francais 100, Tufts)
carton 3, folder 29
Ferré, Rosario – Notes
approximately 1990
carton 3, folder 30
Fouche, Franck
approximately 1992
carton 3, folder 35
Jahn Lectures, Tufts, UC Berkeley
carton 3, folder 36
Kincaid, Jamaica
1986-1998
carton 3, folder 38
Lamming, George, part of AAS 155
approximately 2006
carton 3, folder 40-45
LD
1978-1990
Scope and Content Note
Includes : Ambiguous Adventure; Black Shack Alley; The Dark Child; Handouts; Masters of the Dew/French 42, UC Berkeley (Léon-Gontran
Damas and Jacques Roumain, born Jean-Baptiste Roumain)
carton 3, folder 46
Lewis, Contemporary Caribbean
carton 3, folder 47
Mali – Ethnography/History – Tufts
1980
carton 3, folder 48-49
Marasa Lectures and Notes; and Terms to Remember, Exams (Tufts and UCB)
approximately 1986-1992
carton 3, folder 54
Nwapa, Flora - Efuru (1966)
approximately 2002
carton 3, folder 56-57
Oyono, Ferdinand, includes Romans, Tufts
approximately 1998
carton 3, folder 60-61
Xeroxes for Teaching, Tufts
1988-1990
carton 3, folder 62-65
French Courses - Tufts
approximately 1980-1985
Scope and Content Note
Includes French 42 – [Illegible]: Focus on an African Civilization; French 92 Lectures; and French 47/48/146/147/148, including
Lectures
carton 3, folder 67-76
African American Studies (AAS) Courses, University of California Berkeley
1993-2004
Scope and Content Note
Includes files on the following: Lectures for African American Studies 17AC/History 17A: Cultural Identity in American History.
and Intro to Theory (with Lawrence Levine); course calendar, syllabi, course reader, and exam prep for African American Studies
154-155, [Literatures of the Caribbean]; Frutkin, S., Aimé Césaire; Black Between Worlds; Gérard, A., The Western Mood; and
Steins, M., "Black Migrants in Paris. There are also syllabi for African American Studies 39B, 154, 155, 160, 161, 162, 163,
201A and 301. These include courses in African and Caribbean Literatures and Cultures; African and Caribbean Literatures by
Women; French African Literature; New Literatures in English: The Anglophone Caribbean, Critical Pedagogy; and Their University
or Ours, an Introduction to the University: African American Perspectives.
carton 4, folder 1-5
AAS 155, Caribbean Literature, University of California Berkeley
approximately 1990-2000
Scope and Content Note
Includes The Ripening by Edouard Glissant; Rodriguez, Ileana. "Towards a Theory of Caribbean Unity"; and Lectures
carton 4, folder 6-18
African American Studies (AAS) Courses, University of California Berkeley
1976-2006
Scope and Content Note
Includes the following files: African American Studies 159/192, course calendars for Senior Seminar and MARASA: Caribbean
Literature by Women; African American Studies 160 – Jose Luandino Vieira; African American Studies 162; Guides to Analyses,
MARASA, Caribbean Literatures by Women; African American Studies 163--syllabi, biography of and interview with Maryse Condé;
syllabi for African American Studies 261C, Disrupting Ideologies, Recovering Diasporas: Maryse Condé's Narrative Persuasions;
African American Studies 182 -- Carnival; African American Studies 201B -- Multidisciplinary Approaches to African American
and African Diaspora Studies; and African American Studies 264 -- Migrations of the World. There are also materials related
to African American Studies 260 and 263.
carton 4, folder 19
AAS Faculty Summer Seminars, including Administrative Materials
1996-1997
carton 4, folder 20-21
Course Materials, includes New Syllabi, Exams, Notes - Tufts and University of California, Berkeley
approximately 1982-1998
carton 4, folder 22-24
Miscellaneous Syllabi, Notes for Teaching, and Course Materials, and Departmental Memos
1985-2000
Scope and Content Note
Includes draft of "Towards a Cross-Cultural Feminist Theory of Discourse by 'Women of Color': A Comparative Analysis of bell
hooks, Toni Morrison, Leila Khaled, Assata Shakur and Assia Djebar"
Series 4.
Administrative Materials – Tufts and UC Berkeley
1987-1999
Physical Description: Carton 4, folders 25-39
Scope and Content Note
May be some overlap with the Professional Activities series.
carton 4, folder 25
African American Studies - Departmental Correspondence, Prep for Ph.D. Exams, Africa in the Americas Exhibit
approximately 1987-1997
carton 4, folder 26
Hiring at University of California, Berkeley
1990
carton 4, folder 27
Bio-Bibliography
1991-1994
carton 4, folder 28-29
Annual Academic Update
1991-1992
carton 4, folder 30
Comparative Literature
1992
carton 4, folder 31
Frontiers in African American Studies
1992-1993
carton 4, folder 32
Caribbean Studies Abroad: Barbados and Martinique
approximately 1995
carton 4, folder 33
Curriculum Development, University of California, Berkeley
approximately 1996-1999
carton 4, folder 34-35
African American Studies Curriculum Committee, including Overviews
1997-1998
carton 4, folder 36
Computer Equipment Grant, Bio-Bibliography
1997
carton 4, folder 37
Haas Scholars Program
1998
carton 4, folder 38-39
Tufts University Projects - World Civilizations Program and Sundiata Project, including "Sundiata: An Epic of Old Mali," an
undated Voice-Over Script, by Djibril Tamsir Niane
1987, 1997
Series 5.
Correspondence and Personalia
mid-1960s-2005
Physical Description: Carton 4, folders 40-47
carton 4, folder 43
Shange, Ntozake - The Lizard Series
2005
carton 4, folder 44
Medals – Mostly Track & Field
mid-1960s
carton 4, folder 45
Documents - Credentials, Transcripts, Certificates
1967-1972
carton 4, folder 46
Diploma, Graudation, and Awards (Distinguished Service Award, Friendship Award)
1983-1998
carton 4, folder 47
Diary – Fellowship Year
1988-1989
Series 6.
Katherine Dunham
1983-2006
Physical Description: Carton 4, folders 48-54
Scope and Content Note
Materials related to Clark's research and writings on activist, anthropologist, and dancer Katherine Dunham.
carton 4, folder 48
Dunham: Notable Women in American Theatre
1983-1987
carton 4, folder 49
Dunham Website, Seminar, Writings, Legacy Project
approximately 1985-2000
carton 4, folder 50
Correspondence re: Dunham Projects
1989-2006
carton 4, folder 51
"Performing the Memory of Difference in Afro-Caribbean Dance: Katherine Dunham's Choreography," 1938-1987
1994
carton 4, folder 52
Social Protest in Dance – Notes
2001
carton 4, folder 52
"Kaiso! A Collection of Writings by and about Katherine Dunham" - Photo and Textile Exhibit
2003-2004
carton 4, folder 54
Minefields – Prologue, Clark Edits
Series 7.
Maya Deren
approximately 1967-2007
Physical Description: Carton 4, folders 55-58; Carton 5, folders 1-30
Arrangement
Original order was maintained.
Scope and Content Note
Primarily materials related to "The Legend of Maya Deren," a biography of the avant-garde filmmaker and theorist that Clark
co-edited with Millicent Hodson and Catrina Neiman. There are also related slides in Carton 1.
carton 4, folder 55
Margaret Mead Oral History
1976
carton 4, folder 56
Calendar of Events and Deadlines
1980-1981
carton 4, folder 57-58
Legal Documents and Correspondence
1986-2001
carton 5, folder 1-2
Correspondence
1986-1990, 2007
carton 5, folder 3
"Seven Days of Initiation," Typescript, [Millicent Hodson]
carton 5, folder 4-7
Vol. II: Ritual: Contents, Front Matter/End Matter: Ritual
approximately 1988-1990
carton 5, folder 8
Deren at the University of New Mexico and Ousmane Sembene
1994-1995
carton 5, folder 9-10
Divine Horsemen
approximately 1978-1996
carton 5, folder 12-17
Crossroads, including Material Replaced, and Catrina Naiman
approximately 1988
carton 5, folder 18
Correspondence, Typescripts, Photos
1988-1989
carton 5, folder 20-21
Typescripts with Revisions, includes Deren's Yale Lecture from 1949
1988-1989
carton 5, folder 24
Grace Lavinia Poole Williams
1989
carton 5, folder 25-26
Editing – Initiation (1947-1949)
1976-1989
carton 5, folder 27
To Do
approximately 1987-1989
carton 5, folder 30
Index to Maya Deren's Writing on Film
[approximately 1967]
Series 8.
Writings
1943-1996
Physical Description: Carton 5, folders 31-38; Carton 6, folders 1-12; Card File Box 1
Scope and Content Note
Includes bibliographic records and research notecards.
carton 5, folder 31
Another Man Done Gone: Stack's Story (A Memoir She Wrote for and with Her Father), includes Photographs, Poetry
approximately 1943-1968
carton 5, folder 32
The Creative Power of the Word: A Statement on Profession
1975
carton 5, folder 33
International Encyclopedia of Dance
1987
carton 5, folder 34
Maryse Condé – Clark's Bibliography of, and Other Writings on
1984-1994
carton 5, folder 35
Developing Diaspora Literacy/Talking Shop
1985, 1993
carton 5, folder 36
Caribbean Literature by Women: A Neglected Resource
1986
carton 5, folder 37-38
Studies in Caribbean and South American Literature: An Annual Annotated Bibliography (with Others)
1987-1988
carton 6, folder 1-2
Studies in Caribbean and South American Literature: An Annual Annotated Bibliography (with Others)
1989-1990
carton 6, folder 3
To Do - "Callaloo"
1988-1990
carton 6, folder 4
Performing Disorder/When Womb Waters Break/Deirdre Lashgari (Violence, Silence, and Anger)
1992-1993
carton 6, folder 5
Center for Advanced Feminist Studies – "Retrofit"
1994-1995
carton 6, folder 6
The Stanford Symposium - The Two Reservations
1994
carton 6, folder 7
Reinvention of Serfdom/Tools and Tactics for Deconstructing Whiteness
1996
carton 6, folder 8
Women of Negritude, "Callaloo"
carton 6, folder 10-12
Notecards/Bibliographic Records; Performing Arts Notecards; Dramatic Arts of Haiti – Color-Code to Index Cards
cardfile_box 1
Dramatic Arts of Haiti – Color-Coded Index Cards
Series 9.
Professional Activities
1973-2005
carton 6, folder 13-13a
Conference and Event Materials, Workshops, Symposia, Invitations to Speak, Thank You's
1973-1999
carton 6, folder 16-17
Lift Every Voice Organizing Booklet (Tufts)
1981
carton 6, folder 18
Columbus's Experiment: Exploration and Exploitation
1991
carton 6, folder 19
African Studies Association
1991-1993
carton 6, folder 20-21
Commission on the Status of Women (CSWP) of the Modern Language Association) MLA Member's Packet/Anti-Feminism in the Academy
approximately 1992-1993
carton 6, folder 22
Consulting
approximately 1992-2005
carton 6, folder 23-29
The State and Soul of Jamaica – an Exhibit, including Inventories, Bibliography, and Debriefing
1993
carton 6, folder 30
California Association for Bilingual Education (CABE)/Joyce Watts/Critical Pedagogy
1996
