Collection Guide
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Guide to the Hickerson Family Papers
MS 167
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Table of contents
Dates: circa 1920-2005
Collection number: MS 167
Creator:
Harris, Dorothy Hickerson.
Creator:
Hickerson, Joseph William.
Collection Size:
2.5 linear feet
(3 boxes + 1 oversized box)
Repository:
African American Museum & Library at Oakland (Oakland, Calif.)
Oakland, CA 94612
Abstract: The Hickerson Family Papers includes photographs, newspaper clippings, cards, programs, certificates, and musical scores related
to the Hickerson and Swayzee families and their friends. The papers also document the Hickerson Family's involvement with
the Oakland, CA First African Methodist Episcopal (First A.M.E.) Church and other Christian and civic organizations. The papers
are arranged in five series: Dorothy Harris Hickerson, Joseph W. Hickerson, Religious Activities, Assorted Print Material
and Publications. The photographs are arranged in four subseries: Dorothy Hickerson Harris, Family Portraits, First African
Methodist Episcopal (1st AME) Church, and Assorted.
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 Hickerson Family Papers must be obtained from the African American Museum & Library at Oakland.
Hickerson Family Papers, MS 167, African American Museum & Library at Oakland, Oakland Public Library. Oakland, California.
The collection was donated to the African American Museum & Library at Oakland.
Processed Mia Jaeggli, Volunteer. April, 2014.
Biography / Administrative History
Joseph William Hickerson (1883-1971) was born Wilkesboro, North Carolina. His first wife Florence Hickerson (née Swayze) (1888?-1944)
was born sometime in Louisiana between 1888-1890. They married in 1912 and had two daughters, Emma Hickerson (1913-1918) and
Dorothy Hickerson Harris (1916-1989). Emma died of pneumonia at the age of 5.
Both Joseph and Florence were members of the First African Methodist Episcopal (First AME) Church of Oakland, California and
of the Acacia Lodge no. 7 of the Prince Hall Masonic Lodge. In 1944 Florence died, however the family papers include no documentation
as to the cause of her death. Joseph later married Vivian A. Hickerson. Again, the family papers do not include documentation
of Vivian's maiden name or the date of the marriage. Vivian was married to Joseph at the time of his retirement in 1948.
Joseph worked for the United States Mint in San Francisco, California retiring in 1948. In interviews with local newspapers,
he expressed a desire to spend more time on his hobbies which included fishing and fixing toys for neighborhood children.
His memorial service took place at the First AME Church in 1971, and his pallbearers were members of the Brothers of the Acacia
Lodge.
During her youth, Dorothy was an active participant in the First AME church and the YWCA. She later became a member of the
California Association of Colored Women and the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP). In 1950
she married Louis Harris at the First AME Church. Throughout her life, Dorothy remained a member of the First AME Church.
Scope and Content of Collection
The Hickerson Family Papers includes photographs, newspaper clippings, cards, programs, certificates, and musical scores related
to the Hickerson and Swayzee families and their friends. The papers also document the Hickerson family's involvement with
the First African Methodist Episcopal (First AME) Church of Oakland, California and other Christian and civic organizations.
The papers are arranged in five series: Dorothy Harris Hickerson, Joseph William Hickerson, Religious Activities, Assorted
Print Material and Publications. The photographs are arranged in four subseries: Dorothy Hickerson Harris, Family Portraits,
First African Methodist Episcopal (1st AME) Church, and Assorted.
A substantial part of the papers are related to the First AME Church, specifically service programs from 1944 to 1988, a small
set of administrative documents, and activity reports and rosters. Dorothy Hickerson Harris kept music scores for spirituals
and church choir hymns, as well as programs and membership material that record her involvement in youth and civic organizations.
Joseph William Hickerson's employment at the United States Mint in San Francisco is represented by a photograph, commemorative
plaque and newspaper clippings noting his retirement. His personal documents include the certificate of his marriage to Florence
Hickerson (née Swayze) and burial records for Emma Hickerson. Other noted materials he collected are related to freemasonry,
specifically from the Acacia Lodge no. 7 of the Prince Hall Masonic Lodge.
The photographs are primarily of Dorothy Hickerson Harris, family members and 1st AME Church members.
Series I: Photographs
Series II: Dorothy Harris Hickerson
Series III: Joseph William Hickerson
Series IV. Religious Activities
Series V. Assorted Print Material
Series VI. Publications
The following terms have been used to index the description of this collection in
the library's online public access catalog.
First African Methodist Episcopal Church (Oakland, Calif.).
Freemasons. Prince Hall Grand Lodge of California.
African Americans--California--East Bay--History.
African Americans--Families.
Oakland (Calif.)--History.
African American freemasonry--California--History.
Freemasons.--Prince Hall Grand Lodge (Calif.) -- History.
Photographs.
Musical Score.