Guide to the Harold Thaxter Lumsden 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
© 2013
African American Museum & Library at Oakland. All rights reserved.
Guide to the Harold Thaxter Lumsden Collection
Collection number: MS 129
African American Museum & Library at Oakland
Oakland, California
- Processed by:
- Sean Heyliger
- Date Completed:
- 02/04/2014
- Encoded by:
- Sean Heyliger
© 2013 African American Museum & Library at Oakland. All rights reserved.
Descriptive Summary
Title: Harold Thaxter Lumsden collection
Dates: 1899-1996
Collection number: MS 129
Creator:
Lumsden, Harold Thaxter.
Collection Size:
.1 linear feet
(1 box)
Repository:
African American Museum & Library at Oakland (Oakland, Calif.)
Abstract: The Harold Thaxter Lumsden collection includes photographs, biographical material, sympathy card, and a pamphlet,
We also serve: 10 per cent of a nation working and fighting for victory, related to African American workers in the San Francisco Bay Area during World War II. The collection consists of portrait
and family photographs of Harold Thaxter Lumsden, a reproduction of his birth certificate, and his obituary and funeral program.
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 Harold Thaxter Lumsden Collection must be obtained from the African American Museum & Library
at Oakland.
Preferred Citation
Harold Thaxter Lumsden collection, MS 129, African American Museum & Library at Oakland, Oakland Public Library. Oakland,
California.
Processing Information
Processed by Sean Heyliger, 02/14/2014.
Biography / Administrative History
Black labor leader Harold Thaxter Lumsden (1899-1996) was born on November 24, 1899 in Hagley Gap St. Thomas, Jamaica to Edward
Lumsden and Dorcas Thaxter. He was raised in rural Jamaica before moving to Columbia during his teenage years to live with
his uncle. In 1916, he went to sea as a ship steward surviving the sinking of two merchant vessels by German U-boats before
settling first in Baltimore, Maryland and then in San Francisco, California in 1921. While San Francisco, he began taking
classes in 1923 at Lincoln University School of Law while working construction, eventually graduating with a law degree in
1930. Beginning in the 1930s, Lumsden worked as a labor organizer for Union Local 261, unionizing workers at Hamilton Field
in 1933 and shipyard workers at Bethlehem Shipyards in Alameda and Hunters Point Naval Shipyards in San Francisco, and as
a business agent with Shipyard Laborers Local #886 during World War II. Following the war, he worked as laborer in the shipyards
and was elected as Local 886’s union representative to the San Francisco Labor Council and the California Federation of Labor.
Lumsden served on the Executive Committee of the San Francisco Labor Council and served as recording secretary of the Shipyard
Laborers Local #886 until his retirement in 1983.
Scope and Content of Collection
The Harold Thaxter Lumsden collection includes photographs, biographical material, sympathy card, and a pamphlet,
We also serve: 10 per cent of a nation working and fighting for victory, African American workers in the San Francisco Bay Area during World War II. The collection consists of portrait and family
photographs of Harold Thaxter Lumsden, a reproduction of his birth certificate, and his obituary and funeral program.
Arrangement
Series I. Biographical
Series II. Photographs
Series III. Printed material
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 labor leaders.
African American labor union members.
World War, 1939-1945 Participation, African American.
Biographical material
Physical Description: 1 folder
Series Scope and Content Summary
Includes Harold Thaxter Lumsden's birth certificate, obituary, and funeral service program.
Arrangement
Arranged by format.
Photographs
Physical Description: 12 photographs
Series Scope and Content Summary
Includes 12 portraits and family photographs of Harold Thaxter Lumsden.
Arrangement
Arranged by photograph identification number.
Box 1:2
Portrait of Harold Lumsden, Bachmann Studio, G.E. 14th St., N.Y. [001]
circa 1920s
Box 1:2
Harold Lumsden standing outside next to table with hat and plant, inscribed: ‘Jojo Amores 1.933’ [002]
undated
Box 1:2
Portrait of Harold Lumsden, Bachmann Studio, G.E. 14th St., N.Y. [003]
circa 1920s
Box 1:2
Harold Lumsden standing outside next to chair [004]
circa 1910s
Box 1:2
Harold Lumsden standing next to car parked on street [005]
1948
Box 1:2
Portrait of Harold Lumsden in suit and boater hat [006]
circa 1910s
Box 1:2
Harold Lumsden and four men and women standing in front of Wawona tree, reverse: ‘Yosemite Park & Curry Co.’ [007]
circa 1920s
Box 1:2
Harold Lumsden sitting at dining room table, reverse: ‘Lumsden Christmas 1981’ [008]
1981
Box 1:2
Harold Lumsden holding baby boy, caption: ‘Mr. Lumsden & John 16 mos.’ [009]
circa 1967
Box 1:2
Harold Lumsden at graduation ceremony of John [-] [010]
1983
Box 1:2
Harold Lumsden at graduation ceremony of John [-] [011]
1983
Box 1:2
Harold Lumsden and two women attending graduation ceremony, reverse: ‘Lumsden, Nana, Grandmommy 6/83 John’s graduation’ [012]
1983
Printed material
Physical Description: 1 folder
Series Scope and Content Summary
Includes the pamphlet,
We also serve: 10 per cent of a nation working and fighting for victory, on African American shipyard workers in the San Francisco Bay Area and a sympathy card by California State Senator, Milton
Marks, honoring Harold Lumsden in the California State Senate.
Arrangement
Arranged by format.
Box 1:3
We also serve: 10 per cent of a nation working and fighting for victory, Tilghman Press
1944
Box 1:3
Milton Marks sympathy card California State Senate adjourned in honor of Harold Lumsden
1966
