Guide to the Friends of Negro Spirituals Oral History Collection

Sean Heyliger

African American Museum & Library at Oakland

659 14th Street

Oakland, California 94612

Phone: (510) 637-0198

Fax: (510) 637-0204

Email: aamlo@oaklandlibrary.org

URL: http://www.oaklandlibrary.org/locations/african-american-museum-library-oakland

Guide to the Friends of Negro Spirituals Oral History Collection

Collection number: MS 196

African American Museum & Library at Oakland

Oakland, California

Processed by:: Sean Heyliger
Date Completed:: 2016-09-02
Encoded by:: Sean Heyliger

Descriptive Summary

Title: Friends of Negro Spirituals oral history collection

Dates: 2007

Collection number: MS 196

Creator: Friends of Negro Spirituals (Organization)

Collection Size: 1.0 linear feet (1 box)

Repository: African American Museum & Library at Oakland (Oakland, Calif.)

Oakland, CA 94612

Abstract: The Friends of Negro Spirituals Oral History collection consists of DVDs and transcriptions of ten oral history interviews conducted in 2007 with supporters of Negro spirituals who work to preserve spirituals in the African American community. The collection includes interviews with William Bell, Lyvonne Chrisman, Marcella Huggins Conley, Doug Edwards, Sam Edwards, Jacqueline B. Hairston, Autris Thomas Paige, Linda Tillery, and Cleophas and Sadie Carter Williams.

Languages: Languages represented in the collection: English

Access

No access restrictions. Collection is open to the public.

Access Restrictions

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

Publication Rights

Permission to publish from the Friends of Negro Spirituals must be obtained from the African American Museum & Library at Oakland.

Preferred Citation

Friends of Negro Spirituals oral history collection, MS 196, African American Museum and&

Acquisition Information

The Friends of Negro Spirituals Oral History Collection was donated to the African American Museum & Library at Oakland by Lyvonne Chrisman.

Processing Information

Collection processed by Sean Heyliger, September 2, 2016.

Biography / Administrative History

The Friends of Negro Spirituals is a educational and cultural organization based in Oakland, California dedicated to the preservation and promotion of Negro spirituals. Founded in 1998 by Sam Edwards and Lyvonne Chrisman, the Friends of Negro Spirituals offers lectures and radio programs on Negro spirituals, research assistance to scholars studying Negro spirituals, and publishes a news journal, The Negro Spiritual.

Scope and Content of Collection

The Friends of Negro Spirituals Oral History collection consists of DVDs and transcriptions of ten oral history interviews conducted in 2007 with supporters of Negro spirituals who work to preserve spirituals in the African American community. The collection includes interviews with William Bell, Lyvonne Chrisman, Marcella Huggins Conley, Doug Edwards, Sam Edwards, Jacqueline B. Hairston, Autris Thomas Paige, Linda Tillery, and Cleophas and Sadie Carter Williams. The interviewee discuss the importance of Negro spirituals within the African American community and their significance in their own lives. Each interview transcript includes an overview of the oral history project and an introductory essay by Sam Edwards, "Negro spirituals: folk songs birthed by Black slaves, inspired by American slavery".

Arrangement

Series I. Oral history interviews

Indexing Terms

The following terms have been used to index the description of this collection in the library's online public access catalog.

African American musicians--California.

Spirituals (Songs)--History and criticism.

Oral history interviews

Physical Description: 10 oral history transcripts and DVDs

Series Scope and Content Summary

Includes DVDs and transcriptions of oral history interviews with William Bell, Lyvonne Chrisman, Marcella Huggins Conley, Doug Edwards, Sam Edwards, Jacqueline B. Hairston, Autris Thomas Paige, Linda Tillery, and Cleophas and Sadie Carter Williams. Each interview transcript includes an overview of the oral history project and an introduction by Sam Edwards.

Arrangement

Arranged alphabetically by last name of interviewee.

Box 1

Interview with William Bell 2007-07-14

Description

Oral history interview conducted by Deeann Mathews with jazz pianist and conductor William Bell discussing his childhood, moving to California, and Negro spirituals and conductors, and his work as conductor of the Oakland Bay Area Community Choir.

Box 1

Interview with Lyvonne Chrisman 2007-06-20

Description

Interview conducted by Nancy Thompson with Lyvonne Chrisman discussing her work preserving Negro spirituals as co-founder of the Friends of Negro Spirituals.

Box 1

Interview with Marcella Huggins Conley 2007-06-23

Description

Interview conducted by Sharon Henderson-Nichols with professor and social worker Marcella H. Conley discussing her family, education, career, and stylized versus spontaneous spirituals.

Box 1

Interview with Helen Dilworth 2007-08-11

Description

Interview conducted by Deeann Mathews with educator Helen Dilworth discussing her introduction to spirituals, their history and meaning, her academic work, and the challenge of preserving spirituals.

Box 1

Interview with Doug Edwards 2007-07-14

Description

Interview conducted by KaSelah Crockett with radio host Doug Edwards discussing his broadcasting career, his advocacy for Negro spirituals, and how spirituals relate to the history of African Americans.

Box 1

Interview with Sam Edwards 2007-06-16

Description

Interview conducted by Ronnie Lee Robinson with social worker Sam Edwards Jr. discussing his childhood and first exposure to Negro spirituals, and his motivation for co-founding the Friends of Negro Spirituals.

Box 1

Interview with Jacqueline B. Hairston 2007-06-30

Description

Interview conducted by Yerdua Caesar-Kaptoech with pianist, musical arranger and educator Jacqueline B. Hairston discussing her childhood and career, musical arrangement, and her efforts to preserve Negro spirituals.

Box 1

Interview with Autris Thomas Paige 2007-08-11

Description

Interview conducted by Lyvonne Chrisman with singer and performer Autris Thomas Paige discussing his childhood, schooling, and the influence of Negro spirituals on his family and career.

Box 1

Interview with Linda Tillery 2007-08-11

Description

Interview conducted by KaSelah Crockett with performing artist Linda Tillery discussing her experiences as a choir director, her travels, and the importance of Negro spirituals as a part of the fabric of African American life.

Box 1

Interview with Cleophus Williams and Sadie Carter Williams 2007-06-30

Description

Interview conducted by Lashunda Tate with longshoreman Cleophus Williams and his wife Sadie Williams discussing their family history, business and social ties, and how Negro spirituals have played an integral role in their lives.