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Guide to the Thomas C. Fleming Papers
MS 131
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Title: Thomas C. Fleming papers
Dates: circa 1929-2004
Bulk Dates: 1978-2004
Collection number: MS 131
Creator:
Fleming, Thomas C., 1907-2006.
Collection Size:
1.25 linear feet
(2 boxes + 1 oversized box)
Repository:
African American Museum & Library at Oakland (Oakland, Calif.)
Oakland, CA 94612
Abstract: The Thomas C. Fleming papers include photographs, certificates, programs, manuscripts, and newspaper clippings documenting
his life and career as a journalist.
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 Thomas C. Fleming Papers must be obtained from the African American Museum & Library at Oakland.
Thomas C. Fleming papers, MS 131, African American Museum & Library at Oakland, Oakland Public Library. Oakland, California.
Processed by Sean Heyliger, 02/06/2014.
Biography / Administrative History
Journalist Thomas C. Fleming (1907-2006) was born on November 29, 1907 in Jacksonville, Florida. He was raised by his grandmother
in Jacksonville until 1916, when he moved to New York City to live with his father, a Pullman porter, before moving to Chico,
California to live with his mother in 1919. After graduating from Chico High School in 1926, he worked as a cook and bellhop
for the Southern Pacific Railroad. During the 1930s, he began working for the San Francisco black newspaper,
The Spokesman, while taking journalism classes at Chico State College.
Fleming was hired as the founding editor of the African American newspaper
The Reporter in 1944, which quickly merged with Carlton B. Goodlett’s newspaper
The Sun, to become
The Sun-Reporter. He worked as managing editor and lead reporter for the
Sun-Reporter for over 33 years until his retirement in 1997 at the age of 89. In retirement, he worked on his memoir which was collected
in his 1997 publication
Reflections on black history.
Scope and Content of Collection
The Thomas C. Fleming papers include photographs, certificates, programs, manuscripts, and newspaper clippings documenting
his life and career as a journalist. The papers are organized into three series: biographical material, writings, and artifacts.
Biographical material consists of two portraits of Fleming, a certificate and plaque, and three programs from events honoring
Fleming. His writings include a 150 page unpublished manuscript about his life growing up in California and career as a journalist,
three copies of his self-published monograph,
Reflections on black history, and assorted newspaper clipping written by or about Fleming. Artifacts include Fleming’s hat and two smoking pipes.
Series I. Biographical
Series II. Writings
Series III. Artifacts
The following terms have been used to index the description of this collection in
the library's online public access catalog.
Fleming, Thomas C., 1907-2006.
African Americans--California.
African American journalists--Biography.