Oakland Black Cowboy Association Records, 1967-2018

Collection context

Summary

Creators:
Oakland Black Cowboy Association
Abstract:
The Oakland Black Cowboy Association Records consist of administrative records, flyers, posters, videocassette recordings, clothing, and photographs documenting mostly the Oakland Black Cowboy Parade between 1976-2018.
Extent:
6.75 linear feet (6 boxes + 2 oversized boxes)
Language:
Languages represented in the collection: English
Preferred citation:

Oakland Black Cowboy Association records, MS 190, African American Museum & Library at Oakland, Oakland Public Library. Oakland, California.

Background

Scope and content:

The Oakland Black Cowboy Association Records consist of administrative records, flyers, posters, videocassette recordings, clothing, and photographs documenting mostly the Oakland Black Cowboy Parade between 1976-2018. The records are organized into six series: Series I. Administrative history, Series II. Black Cowboy Parade, Series III. VHS tapes, Series IV. Juneteenth picnic flyers, Series V. Clothing, Series VI. Assorted printed material. The bulk of the collection is the Black Cowboy Parade series which includes parade flyers, posters, route maps, entry forms, news releases and photographs. Additional material includes videotapes of the parade during the 1980s, a four-piece teal nylon cowboy suit, and administrative files documenting the history of the Oakland Black Cowboy Association and its executive board.

Biographical / historical:

The Oakland Black Cowboy Association was established in 1976 as part of the preparation for the Oakland Black Cowboy Parade. The mission of the association is to “educate all the citizens of Oakland and the Bay Area about the role played by Black cowboys and other pioneers in the settling of the American West.” The association is governed by a board of directors whose primary duty is to plan and raise funds for the annual Oakland Black Cowboy Parade. The first parade was held in 1975 as part of the Oakland Museum’s exhibit, “Blacks in the West,” and was sponsored by the Oakland Museum Cultural and Ethnic Affairs Guild. The following year the parade was co-sponsored by a group of local businessmen, Oakland Traders, and the parent organization of the Oakland Black Cowboy Association, Blacks Unified to Motivate Progress (B.U.M.P.). Since 1977, the Oakland Black Cowboy Association has funded and planned the parade each year. The parade has traditionally been held in October each year and the parade route begins and ends in DeFremery Park in West Oakland.

Acquisition information:
Collection donated by Pat Haggerty, secretary of the Oakland Black Cowboy Association.
Processing information:

Processed by Sean Heyliger, 12/03/2015. Updated for additional accession #2016-092 by Sean Heyliger on December 15, 2016. Updated to incorporate accession #2018-025 on October 30, 2018 by Sean Heyliger.

Arrangement:

Series I: Administrative history Series II. Black Cowboy Parade Series III. VHS tapes Series IV. Juneteenth picnic flyers Series V. Clothing Series VI. Assorted printed material

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 Black Cowboy Association Records must be obtained from the African American Museum & Library at Oakland.

Preferred citation:

Oakland Black Cowboy Association records, MS 190, 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