Guide to the Kerrigan Black Papers, 1963-1993

Processed by Special Collections staff; machine-readable finding aid created by Sean Quimby.

Department of Special Collections

Green Library

Stanford University Libraries

Stanford, CA 94305-6004

Phone: (650) 725-1022

Email: specialcollections@stanford.edu

URL: http://library.stanford.edu/spc

Guide to the Kerrigan Black Papers, 1963-1993

Collection number: M0752

Department of Special Collections and University Archives

Stanford University Libraries

Stanford, California

Contact Information

Department of Special Collections
Green Library
Stanford University Libraries
Stanford, CA 94305-6004
Phone: (650) 725-1022
Email: specialcollections@stanford.edu
URL: http://library.stanford.edu/spc

Processed by:: Special Collections staff
Encoded by:: Sean Quimby

Descriptive Summary

Title: Black, Kerrigan. Papers.,

Date (inclusive): 1963-1993

Collection number: M0752

Creator: Black, Kerrigan

Extent: 7.5 linear ft.

Repository: Stanford University. Libraries. Dept. of Special Collections and University Archives.

Abstract: A musician and composer whose one-man shows delighted and edified thousands of school children in the Bay Area. In the mid-1980s he developed an original one-man show called "Tryin' to get home" which was based on African American songs. Mr. Black was born in Chicago, received a BA from Stanford in 1975 and an MA in folklore from U.C. Berkeley. Includes compositions, files, photographs, sound recordings including an interview with Studs Terkel, video recordings, newsclippings, and biographical information including material from Black Gay Men United. Also included is a video, "To Marlon with love," 1992, a tribute to Marlon Riggs which includes some clips of Black talking and singing one of his songs.

Language: English.

Administrative Information

Access Restrictions

None.

Publication Rights

Property rights reside with the repository. Literary rights reside with the creators of the documents or their heirs. To obtain permission to publish or reproduce, please contact the Public Services Librarian of the Dept. of Special Collections.

Provenance

Purchased, 1995.

Preferred Citation:

Papers. M0752. Dept. of Special Collections, Stanford University Libraries, Stanford, Calif.

Biography

A musician and composer whose one-man shows delighted and edified thousands of school children in the Bay Area. In the mid-1980s he developed an original one-man show called "Tryin' to get home" which was based on African American songs. Mr. Black was born in Chicago, received a BA from Stanford in 1975 and an MA in folklore from U.C. Berkeley.

Scope and Content

Includes compositions, files, photographs, sound recordings including an interview with Studs Terkel, video recordings, newsclippings, and biographical information including material from Black Gay Men United. Also included is a video, "To Marlon with love," 1992, a tribute to Marlon Riggs which includes some clips of Black talking and singing one of his songs.

Access Terms

The following terms have been used to index the description of this collection in the library's online public access catalog.

Riggs, Marlon.

Black Gay Men United.

African Americans--Music.

Gay musicians.

Afro-American musicians.

Terkel, Studs.

The Kerrigan Black Show. Tryin' to get home.

Carton 1, Folder 1

Biographical information: resumes and promotion biographies, diplomas, genealogy, TD Black (father), Black Gay Men United, obituaries.

Carton 1, Folder 2

Song compositions. Book 1 (A-N)

Carton 1, Folder 3

Song compositions. Book 2 (O-Z), unfinished songs, "For-A-Song" business.

Carton 2, Folder 1

Writings: published articles, newspaper writings, essays, "Impatient for Luck", interviews, letters.

Carton 2, Folder 2

Organizations worked with: Aerobics, Artworks, Jewish Home for the Aged, American Red Cross, Task Force AIDS Prevention, SF Symphony: Adventures in Music (AIM) Program, Arts for the Schools, Spectra, Young Audiences, and others. "The Kerrigan Black Show" cable television program.

Carton 2, Folder 3

Grants and Applications: Berkeley Civic Arts Fund, California Arts Council, National Black Programming Consortium, Clorox and Zellerbach Foundations. Business correspondence. Thank-you-notes to Kerrigan Black.

Carton 3, Folder 1

"Trying To Get Home": Performances, programs, newspaper notices, song lists, business correspondence, song lyrics, monologues, outline and production, contracts with Ralph Pavone.

Carton 3, Folder 2

"Trying To Get Home": Teachers Guide, letters of appreciation, canceled contracts due to death, contracts through young audiences.

Carton 3, Folder 3

"Trying To Get Home": Contracts 1990-92. Casuals and other gigs 1987-1991.

Carton 4, Folder 1

"Adventures in Music" (AIM) Program [1989-1990].

Carton 4, Folder 1

"Music Talks!" [1991-1993].

Carton 4, Folder 1

"Music Talks!" Songs.

Carton 4, Folder 1

Workshops with songs. "America Paints". Ross School Jazz Class. UC-extension, English language program. Hawthorne School, Black English program.

Carton 4, Folder 2

Publicity photos, club gigs, Song lists, set lists, Board and Care facilities.

Carton 4, Folder 3

Information material on: "Tryin' to get Home" (video), "The World that I see" (cassette tape), "Two Sides" (cassette tape), song writing classes, song plugging, Europe gigs - 1983, touring overseas, Ideas for songs and writings.

Box 5, Folder 1

Video cassettes: Kerrigan Black television shows #s 1-4.

Physical Description: (2 hours)

Box 5, Folder 2

Video cassettes: Kerrigan Black television show #4 -

Physical Description: rough footage. (2 hours)

Box 5, Folder 3

Video cassettes: Kerrigan Black television shows #s 5-8.

Physical Description: (2 hours)

Box 5, Folder 4

Video cassettes: Kerrigan Black television shows #s 9-12.

Physical Description: (2 hours)

Box 5, Folder 5

Video cassettes: Kerrigan Black: La Pena, [6/17/90 Father's Day]. "Trying to get Home"

Physical Description: original footage. (2 hours)

Box 5, Folder 6

Video cassettes: Kerrigan Black: "Trying to get Home" @ Hansberry, Edgewood Children's Center.

Physical Description: (2 hours)

Box 5, Folder 7

Black Renaissance (cable channel 44) interview [1990], "Sunday on 7" interview [1991], "Children of the Night" for the Gay Task Force on AIDS Prevention [1991], "America Paints" for Young Audiences [1991], Hawthorne Elementary School (SF) graduation graduates performing "Hold On To Your Dream" [1990], Aerobics tape made for friend's birthday [1991].1990-1991

Box 5, Folder 8

"Tryin' To Get Home: A History Of African American Song". Written and performed by Kerrigan Black. [1993]

Box 5, Folder 9

Kerrigan Black Memorial Service [March 27. 1993].

Physical Description: (2 hours)

Box 6, Folder 1

Music cassettes: "When I Get To Have My Dream"

Box 6, Folder 2

Music cassettes: "Women in Distress"

Box 6, Folder 3

Music cassettes: "When I Finally Fall in Love"

Box 6, Folder 4

Music cassettes: "Someone is Watching Over Me", "He'll Never Let You Down", How Long has this Soul Been Traveling?", "I'm Goin' Home".

Box 6, Folder 5

Music cassettes: Interview re: Hawthorne Language Development. [1989]

Box 6, Folder 6

Music cassettes: Studs Terkel interviews Kerrigan Black. [1963/89]

Box 6, Folder 7

Music cassettes: Music for "Intro to Jazz"

Box 6, Folder 8

Music cassettes: Jazz Recordings for Lectures.

Box 6, Folder 9

Music cassettes: Jazz Lecture Music.

Box 6, Folder 10

Music cassettes: "Tryin' to get home".

Box 6, Folder 11

Music cassettes: "Tryin' to get home". SF Museum of Modern Art. [[1992]

Box 6, Folder 12

Music cassettes: "Children of the Night" in association with the National Task Force on AIDS Prevention.

Box 6, Folder 14

Music cassettes: Kerrigan Black: "Two Sides". [1984]

Box 6, Folder 15

Music cassettes: Kerrigan Black: "Ya Gotta Know Somethin' 'Bout History" and Hold on to Your Dream". [1991]

Box 6, Folder 16

Music cassettes: Kerrigan Black: "The World that I See" [1993]

Flat Box 7, Folder 1

Kerrigan Black T-Shirt: "Ya Gotta Know Somethin' 'Bout History So The World Isn't Just A Mystery!"

Flat Box 7, Folder 2

"The San Francisco Bay Guardian". [May 1-8, 1980]

Flat Box 7, Folder 3

"Express. The East Bay's Free Weekly". [December 14, 1990]