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West (Willa Mae) papers
7112
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Contributing Institution:
USC Libraries Special Collections
Title: Willa Mae West papers
Creator:
West, Willa Mae
Identifier/Call Number: 7112
Physical Description:
0.44 Linear Feet
1 box
Date (inclusive): 1920-1980
Abstract: A collection of photographs and ephemera spanning nearly 50 years of the life of Willa Mae West, an active participant and
leader in many African American social organizations in the Los Angeles area. West served as a national officer for the Improved
Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks of the World (IBPOEW), acting as Grand Directress of the Arts and Crafts Department.
West also served as a Chaplain Major for her local chapter of IBPOEW, as a member of the Crenshaw Committee on Aging, and
volunteered in various capacities for the City of Hope. Most of the photographs in the collection date from the 1920s to the
1940s and include studio portraits--presumably of Willa Mae and her family, photo booth shots, group shots with friends at
Knott's Berry Farm, and several World War II-era images featuring men in uniform. One of the albums is devoted exclusively
to Masonic and fraternal order events from the 1950s and 1960s and includes 16 large photographs of Willa Mae and others dressed
in their regalia as members, for instance, of the Prince Hall Masons Los Angeles Consistory and the Order of the Eastern Star.
Aside from the photographs, the collection contains news clippings recounting events of African American social organizations
in which Willa participated, event programs, correspondence, award certificates, and more.
Physical Description: Three photograph albums, the largest measuring 11.25" x 9.25". Together the albums contain approximately 150 photographs and
70 items of ephemera. Most photographs are black and white and measure from 2.25" x 3.5" to 3.5" x 5" with 17 measuring 8"
x 10". Some photographs are captioned with names and/or dates and around a quarter of them are loose.
Language of Material:
English
.
Container: 1
A collection of photographs and ephemera spanning nearly 50 years of the life of Willa Mae West, an active participant and
leader in many African American social organizations in the Los Angeles area. Most of the photographs in the collection date
from the 1920s to the 1940s. The photographs include studio portraits, presumably of Willa Mae and her family, photo booth
shots and posed snapshots of West's neighborhood and friends' homes. There are group shots with friends at Knott's Berry Farm
and several World War II-era images showing men in uniform. One of the albums is devoted exclusively to Masonic and fraternal
order events from the 1950s and 1960s and includes 16 large photos of Willa Mae and others majestically dressed in their regalia
as members, for instance, of the Prince Hall Masons Los Angeles Consistory, the Order of the Eastern Star and Sadie Alexander
Chapter.
Aside from the photographs, the collection contains approximately 30 news clippings (mostly from
The Los Angeles Sentinel) which recount events of little known African American social organizations in which Willa participated, if not led. West
was president of the Jollyette Girls Social Club, the Cinderella Social Club, the La Campaneros Social Club of the Elks, and
the Art Craft and Fez Club of her local Improved Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks of the World (IBPOEW) chapter. Other
clippings describe happenings of the Golodrina Social and Charity Club (also spelled as "Golindrinas") and the Crusaders--an
adjunct of the Outdoor Life and Health Association. West's collection also includes event programs, correspondence, award
certificates, and more. Highlights from the collection's ephemera include a 1950 invitation to one of Willa Mae's parties,
a Special Guest ribbon for the 1971 cornerstone laying of Los Angeles' Martin Luther King Jr. Hospital, and delegate and attendee
ribbons for the California State Association of Colored Women's Clubs. There's also a certificate from one of the fraternal
orders that was given to West for "Exemplifying The True Status of a Woman" as well as a handwritten draft of a speech she
gave in 1976.
This note was adapted from the seller's description of the material.
Advance notice required for access.
All requests for permission to publish or quote from manuscripts must be submitted in writing to the Manuscripts Librarian.
Permission for publication is given on behalf of Special Collections 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.
[Box/folder no. or item name], Willa Mae West papers, Collection no. 7112, Regional History Collection, Special Collections,
USC Libraries, University of Southern California
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Purchased from Langdon Manor Books, LLC, February 25, 2021.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
African American fraternal organizations -- California -- Los Angeles -- 20th century -- Archival resources
African American freemasonry -- California -- Los Angeles -- 20th century -- Archival resources
African American women -- California -- Los Angeles -- Societies and clubs -- 20th century -- Archival resources
Women in community organization -- California -- Los Angeles -- Archival resources
Women volunteers in social service -- California -- Los Angeles -- 20th century -- Archival resources
Correspondence
Ephemera
Newspaper clippings
Photograph albums
Photographs
Improved, Benevolent, Protective Order of Elks of the World -- Photographs
West, Willa Mae -- Archives