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Guide to the Oakland Post Photograph Collection
MS 169
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Table of contents
Title: Oakland Post Photograph collection
Dates: 1922-2005
Bulk Dates: 1963-1996
Collection number: MS 169
Creator:
Oakland post.
Collection Size:
56 linear feet
(116 boxes + 1 oversized box)
Repository:
African American Museum & Library at Oakland (Oakland, Calif.)
Oakland, CA 94612
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.
Languages:
Languages represented in the collection:
English
No access restrictions. Collection is open to the public.
Materials are for use in-library only, non-circulating.
Permission to publish from the Oakland Post Photograph Collection must be obtained from the African American Museum & Library
at Oakland.
Oakland Post Photograph collection, MS 169, African American Museum & Library at Oakland, Oakland Public Library. Oakland,
California.
“The life and times of an uncommon man: in remembrance of Thomas L. Berkley.” 2001
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.
Biography / Administrative History
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.
Scope and Content of Collection
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.
I. Photographs
The following terms have been used to index the description of this collection in
the library's online public access catalog.
Oakland post.
Oakland (Calif.)--History.
African Americans--California--East Bay--History.
Oakland (Calif.)--History--Pictorial works.
Oakland (Calif.)--Politics and government.
Oakland (Calif.)--Social life and customs--Pictorial works.