Afro-Americans in San Francisco prior to World War II Oral history project records, 1966-1982, bulk (bulk 1978-1982)

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Summary

Creators:
Afro-Americans in San Francisco prior to World War II Oral history project
Abstract:
The Afro-Americans in San Francisco prior to World War II Oral history project was a series of 27 interviews with men and women from the African-American community in San Francisco and the Bay Area conducted between 1976 and 1978. The project was co-sponsored by the Friends of the San Francisco Public Library and the San Francisco African American Historical and Cultural Society and produced new source material for study in African-American history, of which there were few written records of at the time of creation. Lynn Bonfield served as the project coordinator; Albert Broussard and Jesse J. Warr III were interviewers. This collection contains final and rough drafts of 27 interviews conducted with members of the San Francisco and Bay Area African-American communities focusing on the times between 1900-1940. Also included in the collection are interview notes, administrative project files, and audio recordings of the interviews on cassette tapes.
Extent:
3 letter size manuscript boxes, 8 legal size manuscript boxes, 2 oversize flat boxes. (5.4 Cubic Feet)
Language:
Materials are in English.
Preferred citation:

[Identification of item], Afro-Americans in San Francisco prior to World War II Oral history project records (SFH 719), San Francisco History Center, San Francisco Public Library.

Background

Scope and content:

This collection contains final and rough drafts of 27 interviews conducted with members of the San Francisco and Bay Area African-American communities focusing on the times between 1900-1940. Also included in the collection are interview notes, administrative project files, and audio recordings of the interviews on cassette tapes.

One noteable exception is that the physical tapes of the interview audio recordings for Naomi Anderson Johnson were destroyed in accordance with the interviewee's wishes.

Biographical / historical:

The Afro-Americans in San Francisco prior to World War II Oral history project was a series of 27 interviews with men and women from the African-American community in San Francisco and the Bay Area conducted between 1976 and 1978. The project was co-sponsored by the Friends of the San Francisco Public Library and the San Francisco African American Historical and Cultural Society. The project produced new source material for study in African-American history, of which there were few written records of at the time of creation. Lynn Bonfield served as the project coordinator; Albert Broussard and Jesse J. Warr III were interviewers. These primary source interviews have been frequently used since they were published and are cited in a number of scholarly books and articles.

Acquisition information:
This collection was created for the Friends of the San Francisco Public Library and the San Francisco African-American Historical and Cultural Society. The collection was later maintained by the Labor Archive and Research Center at San Francisco State University on behalf of the San Francisco Public Library. The collection was then transferred to the San Francisco Public Library on October 18th, 2022.
Processing information:

During processing, the entire collection was re-foldered and re-housed in acid-free folders and boxes. Some metal staples remain.

Arrangement:

The collection is arranged in 2 series: Series 1: Project Files Series 2: Interview Transcripts, Notes, and Audio Recordings

Physical location:
Collection is stored off-site.
Rules or conventions:
Describing Archives: A Content Standard

Access and use

Restrictions:

The collection is available for use during San Francisco History Center hours, with photographs available during Photo Desk hours. Collections that are stored offsite should be requested 48 hours in advance.

Terms of access:

All requests for permission to publish or quote from manuscripts must be submitted in writing to the City Archivist. Permission for publication is given on behalf of the San Francisco Public Library as the owner of the physical items.

Preferred citation:

[Identification of item], Afro-Americans in San Francisco prior to World War II Oral history project records (SFH 719), San Francisco History Center, San Francisco Public Library.

Location of this collection:
San Francisco Public Library
100 Larkin Street
San Francisco, CA 94102, US
Contact:
(415) 557-4567
sfhistory@sfpl.org
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