Guide to the Ethel Pitts Walker Collection MSS-2014-07-01
Monika Lehman
SJSU Special Collections & Archives
August 21, 2014
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Library
San José State University
One Washington Square
San José, CA 95192-0028
special.collections@sjsu.edu
Language of Material:
English
Contributing Institution:
SJSU Special Collections & Archives
Title: Ethel Pitts Walker Collection
creator:
Ethel Pitts Walker
Identifier/Call Number: MSS-2014-07-01
Physical Description:
4 boxes
(2.2 linear feet)
Date (inclusive): 1973-2012 [1976- 1988]
Date (bulk): 1976-1988
Abstract: The Ethel Pitts Walker collection consists of four boxes of material donated by Dr. Ethel Pitts Walker, a former Emeritus
Professor of Theater at San Jose State University. This collection includes copies of her published works, directorial notes
and scripts of plays she directed. The collection also includes newspaper articles, reviews of her plays, letters and digital
copies of photographs of awards she received. Also include are copies of speeches she wrote and delivered at school events.
Biographical / Historical
Ethel Pitts Walker was born in Tulsa, Oklahoma in 1943. She received a Bachelor of Science in education from Lincoln University
in 1964, a M.A. in speech and drama from the University of Colorado in 1965 and a Ph.D. from the University of Missouri in
theater in 1975. Dr. Walker has directed over 25 plays, written two books, owned a theater company with her husband which
specializes in African American historical plays for thirty years and has taught for over twenty years at San Jose State University
and other universities including the University of California, Berkeley, Laney College and the University of Illinois, Urbana-
Campaign. She retired from her position as Emeritus Professor of Theater at San Jose State in December 2014.
Included in this collection are copies of books she wrote chapters for or edited. Also included are various scripts and production
notes of plays she directed. Her speeches, awards, research notes from her dissertation and other projects and programs of
her plays are also contained in this collection.
The collection is divided into three series: Series I: research and dissertation notes and recordings Series II: scripts,
production notes, and programs, Series III: publications, reviews and awards.
Arrangement
The collection is arranged into three series: Series I: Scholarly Research ; Series II: Artistic Production; Series III: Publictions
and Awards. The contents of the series are arranged chronologically by date.
Conditions Governing Access
The collection is open for research.
Conditions Governing Use
Copyright has been assigned to the San José State University Library Special Collections & Archives. All requests for permission
to publish or quote from manuscripts must be submitted in writing to the Director of Special Collections. Permission for publication
is given on behalf of the SJSU Special Collections & Archives 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 by the reader. Copyright restrictions also apply
to digital reproductions of the original materials. Use of digital files is restricted to research and educational purposes.
Processing Information
Processed by: Monika Lehman
Reviewed by: Danelle Moon
Date completed: 2014
Scope and Contents
The Ethel Pitts Walker Collection documents the professional career of Dr. Ethel Pitts Walker, Emeritus Professor of Theater
at San Jose State University. This collection includes copies of her published works, directorial notes and scripts of plays
she directed. The collection also includes newspaper articles, reviews of her plays, letters and digital copies of photographs
of awards she received. Also included are copies of speeches she wrote and delivered at various events.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
African Americans -- Race identity.
African American Theater
Research
San José State University -- History
Theater Periodicals
Theater Programs
Women -- Education (Higher) -- 20th century
Education -- Higher -- California -- San Jose
Ethel Pitts Walker
Series I: Scholarly Research
1975- 1988 [bulk 1985-1986]
1985-1986
Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements
1 box, 2 folders, 1 small box
Scope and Contents
This series consists of Ethel Pitt Walker’s research and dissertation notes, as well as cassette recordings from interviews
she conducted while writing her dissertation. These materials are undated . Also included is a folder of research on Krigwa
players, a popular theater group which emerged during the Harlem Renaissance. The research is accompanied by letters from
individuals who Walker reached out to for information. Walker conducted this research around 1985.
Dissertation Notes and Audio Tapes
1975-1985
Krigwa Research
circa 1985
Lorraine Hansberry Picture and Clippings
Undated
Series II: Artistic Productions
1973- 2009 [bulk 1991-2007]
1991-2007
Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements
1 box, 1 folder, 4 binders of notes
Scope and Contents
This series consists of Ethel Pitt Walker’s scripts, production notes and programs from various plays that she directed. Included
are director’s binders from four different productions: Long Time Since Yesterday, To Be Young, Gifted and Black, The Amen
Corner and The Colored Museum), which have all of Walker’s notes, rehearsal schedules and blocking plans. Also included are
programs saved from a variety of her productions which she either directed or adapted for the stage.
This series is arranged alphabetically by format and by date.
Binder, "To Be Young, Gifted and Black Notes,"
1991
Binder, "Long Time Since Yesterday Notes,"
2000
Binder, "The Amen Corner Notes,"
2003
Binder, "The Colored Museum Notes,"
2009
Programs and Notes
1973-2007
Series III: Publications and Awards
1973-2013 [bulk 1982-2009]
1982-2009
Scope and Contents
This series consists of five books on drama which Walker either edited or contributed a chapter. Also included are various
speeches she wrote such as the unveiling of the Tommie Smith and John Carlos’s sculpture dedication at SJSU in 2005. The series
contains various articles written by Walker published in the newspaper and in the Black American Literature Forum.
This series also contains reviews of Walker’s plays including A Raisin in the Sun. Also included are posters for plays she
directed such as The Amen Corner. Included are issues of the Spartan Daily which depict events which Walker was involved in
such as supporting student protestors.
Walker received many awards throughout her life. A USB drive contains pictures of her awards including her Outstanding Professor
Award which she received in 2007. Also included is information from her retirement party in 2014, an invitation to the awards
banquet for the National Council of Negro Women and an invitation to the College of Fellows of the American Theatre from George
Bush.
This series is arranged by format and by date.
Invitations and Events
1999-2005
Oversized Photographs and Posters
2003-2009
Newspaper Clippings
1991-2009
Speeches and Writings
1982-2007
