Finding Aid to the Eldridge Cleaver Photograph Collection, 1966-circa 1982
Finding Aid written by Chris McDonald
The Bancroft Library
University of California, Berkeley
Berkeley, CA 94720-6000
Phone: (510) 642-6481
Fax: (510) 642-7589
Email: bancref@library.berkeley.edu
URL: http://bancroft.berkeley.edu/
© 2007
The Regents of the University of California. All rights reserved.
Finding Aid to the Eldridge Cleaver Photograph Collection, 1966-circa 1982
Collection number: BANC PIC 1991.078
The Bancroft Library
University of California, Berkeley
Berkeley, CA 94720-6000
Phone: (510) 642-6481
Fax: (510) 642-7589
Email: bancref@library.berkeley.edu
URL: http://bancroft.berkeley.edu/
- Finding Aid Author(s):
- Finding Aid written by Chris McDonald
- Finding Aid Encoded By:
- GenX
© 2016 The Regents of the University of California. All rights reserved.
Collection Summary
Collection Title: Eldridge Cleaver photograph collection
Date (inclusive): 1966-circa 1982
Collection Number: BANC PIC 1991.078
Extent:
Number of containers: 10 boxes, 1 oversize folder (circa 1,720 photographic prints, circa 480 negatives, circa 440 slides).
7 digital objects (7 images)
Repository: The Bancroft Library.
University of California, Berkeley
Berkeley, CA 94720-6000
Phone: (510) 642-6481
Fax: (510) 642-7589
Email: bancref@library.berkeley.edu
URL: http://bancroft.berkeley.edu/
Abstract: Collection consists primarily of snapshots of Eldridge Cleaver's career from the mid-1960s to the early 1980s. Earliest materials
relate to his affiliation with the Black Panther Party. Also contains photographs taken during his exile abroad from 1968
to 1975. The majority of photographs was taken after Cleaver's 1975 return to the United States and relate primarily to his
activities in conservative politics and the evangelical Christian movement.
Languages Represented: Collection materials are in
Physical Location: COLLECTION STORED, IN PART, OFF-SITE: Advance notice required for use.
Information for Researchers
Access
Collection is open for research, with the following exceptions: RESTRICTED NEGATIVES: Use of negatives only by permission
of the appropriate curator. Inquiries concerning these materials should be directed, in writing, to the Head of Public Services,
The Bancroft Library.
Publication Rights
Copyright has not been assigned to The Bancroft Library. All requests for permission to publish or reproduce must be submitted
in writing to the Head of Public Services. Permission for publication is given on behalf of The Bancroft Library as the owner
of the physical items and is not intended to include or imply permission of the copyright holder, which must also be obtained
by the user. See:
http://bancroft.berkeley.edu/reference/permissions.html.
Preferred Citation
[Identification of item], Eldridge Cleaver Photograph Collection, BANC PIC 1991.078, The Bancroft Library, University of California,
Berkeley
Alternate Forms Available
Digital reproductions of selected images are available.
Related Collections
Eldridge Cleaver Papers BANC MSS 91/231 c.
Indexing Terms
The following terms have been used to index the description of this collection in the library's online public access catalog
Allende Gossens, Salvador, 1908-1973--Pictorial works
Axelrod, Beverly--Pictorial works
Carmichael, Stokely--Pictorial works
Cleaver, Eldridge, 1935--Pictorial works
Cleaver, Kathleen--Portraits
Colson, Charles W.--Pictorial works
Newton, Huey P.--Portraits
Stapleton, Ruth Carter--Pictorial works
Black Panther Party--Pictorial works
African Americans--Photographs
Evangelists--California.--Photographs
Gay pride parades--California--San Francisco--Photographs
Political activists--California--Photographs
China--Pictorial works
Korea--Pictorial works
Vietnam (Democratic Republic)--Pictorial works
Administrative Information
Acquisition Information
The Eldridge Cleaver Photograph Collection was transferred from the Eldridge Cleaver Papers, which were given to The Bancroft
Library by Eldridge Cleaver in November 1990. Subsequent additions were received in later years.
Accruals
No additions are expected.
Arrangement
The collection has been divided and stored by medium: photographic prints, slides, and negatives. Images are arranged chronologically,
followed by categories representing miscellaneous, often undated activities and themes (e.g. speaking engagements, press conferences,
portraits, and family).
Processing Information
Processed by Chris McDonald.
Biographical Information
Leroy Eldridge Cleaver was born on August 3, 1935 in Wabbaseka, Arkansas. In 1956 his family moved to Los Angeles. During
his youth he was convicted for various theft and drug offenses and spent time in reformatories and the California State Prison
at Soledad. In 1958 he was convicted of assault and spent 8 years in the San Quentin and Folsom prisons. During this period
of incarceration he became a member and minister of the Nation of Islam and a follower of Malcolm X. With the assistance of
attorney and lover Beverly Axelrod, Cleaver had several of his prison writings published in the left-wing periodical
Ramparts. The support which his writings earned him from the U.S. intellectual community was influential in gaining Cleaver's release
from prison in 1965. In 1967, while living in the San Francisco Bay Area, Cleaver married Kathleen Neal, an activist in the
Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee. That same year he befriended Huey P. Newton and Bobby Seale, co-founders of the
Black Panther Party, and soon became the Party's Minister of Information. The following year Cleaver published
Soul On Ice -- a collection of essays named Book of the Year by the
New York Times -- and ran as a candidate for the U.S. Presidency for the Peace and Freedom Party. Later that year Cleaver and fellow Black
Panther Bobby Hutton were involved in a shootout with Oakland Police. Hutton was killed and Cleaver was charged with murder.
While awaiting trial, Cleaver fled to Cuba. He would spend the next seven years in exile, living also in Algeria and Paris
during that time. During his exile, Cleaver formed the International Section of the Black Panther Party in Algeria; met with
political leaders in North Vietnam, North Korea and China; quickly became disillusioned with Marxist-Leninist beliefs; and
eventually broke ties with the Black Panthers. During this time he and Kathleen had two children, Antonio Maceo and Joju.
While in Paris, Cleaver experienced a spiritual transformation which led to his conversion to Christianity and conservative
politics. In 1975 Cleaver negotiated with the F.B.I. for his return to the United States as a prisoner. In 1977, after his
renunciation of his earlier political activity and his release from prison, he founded the Eldridge Cleaver Crusades, an evangelical
Christian movement. Cleaver would later have affiliations with Sun Myung Moon's Collegiate Association of Research Principles
and the Mormon Church. In the 1980s Cleaver ran two unsuccessful campaigns for U.S. Congress. He later became addicted to
crack cocaine and was arrested on several drug-related charges. In 1987 Kathleen Cleaver divorced him. In the 1990s Cleaver
kicked his addiction and worked as a diversity consultant for the University of La Verne in Southern California. Eldridge
Cleaver died May 1, 1998.
[Biographical information abridged from that of the finding aid for the Eldridge Cleaver Papers, BANC MSS 91/231 c.]
Scope and Content of Collection
Collection consists primarily of snapshots of Eldridge Cleaver's career from the mid-1960s to the early 1980s. Earliest materials
relate to his affiliation with the Black Panther Party and include snapshots, portraits and negatives of party leaders such
as Alprentice "Bunchy" Carter, John Higgins, Stokley Carmichael and attorney Beverly Axelrod. Also contains photographs taken
during his exile abroad from 1968 to 1975, including his stays in Cuba, Algeria and France; visits to China, North Korea and
North Vietnam; and a meeting with Chilean President Salvador Allende. The majority of photographs was taken after his 1975
return to the United States and relate primarily to his activities in conservative politics and the Evangelical Christian
movement, including speaking engagements at various California churches and universities. Approximately fifty snapshots of
a San Francisco Gay Pride Parade, dated June 1977, are included. Also contains photographs of his wife Kathleen Cleaver and
children Antonio Maceo and Joju, various friends, and such associates as Huey Newton, Charles Colson and Ruth Carter Stapleton.
Prints
Note
Please note: some prints taken during Cleaver's exile from 1968-1975 were printed a number of years after his return and bear
laboratory date markings to that effect.
PIC_box 1
Black Panther Party
1966-1971
PIC_box 1
Black Panther Party: people, campaigns
PIC_box 1
Eldridge Cleaver and Beverly Axelrod
PIC_box 1
Black Panther Party: Alprentice "Bunchy" Carter portrait
1969
PIC_box 1
Exile: Cuba and Algeria
1968-1969
PIC_box 1
Exile: Portraits of Black Panther Party International members in Algeria
circa 1969-1972
PIC_box 1
Exile: U.S. People's Anti-Imperialist Delegation tour of North Korea, China and Vietnam
1970
Physical Description:
5 folders
box 1, folder 12
[Eldridge Cleaver] Power Salute #1.
1970 BANC PIC 1991.078--PIC
Physical Description:
1 photograph
Scope and Content Note
Eldridge Cleaver with raised fist in a trench, North Vietnam.
Additional Note
Caption from back of print.
box 1, folder 12
Eldridge Cleaver and U.S. People's Anti-Imperialist Delegation giving raised fist salute, North Vietnam.
1970 BANC PIC 1991.078--PIC
Physical Description:
1 photograph
box 1, folder 12
Cleaver and U.S. People's Anti-Imperialist Delegation in front of Tiananmen.
1970 BANC PIC 1991.078--PIC
Physical Description:
1 photograph
box 1, folder 12
Eldridge Cleaver in China.
1970 BANC PIC 1991.078--PIC
Physical Description:
1 photograph
box 1, folder 12
Eldridge Cleaver walking along path in China.
1970 BANC PIC 1991.078--PIC
Physical Description:
1 photograph
PIC_box 2
Exile: U.S. People's Anti-Imperialist Delegation tour of North Korea, China and Vietnam
1970
Physical Description:
3 folders
PIC_box 2
Exile: Salvador Allende's visit to Algeria
1972 December
PIC_box 2
Exile: Paris street scenes
circa 1973-1975
PIC_box 2
Exile: Paris portraits
1974
PIC_box 2
Exile: Paris portraits; preparing to return to U.S.
1975
box 2, folder 7
Eldridge Cleaver in front of press clippings on wall of room in Paris.
1975 BANC PIC 1991.078--PIC
Physical Description:
1 photograph
Additional Note
Photo by David Graeme-Baker, Sipa Press.
box 2, folder 7
Eldridge and Kathleen Cleaver entering American Embassy with lawyer Carl Salans, Place de Madeleine, Paris.
1975 BANC PIC 1991.078--PIC
Physical Description:
1 photograph
PIC_box 2
Meeting press upon return to U.S.
1975
PIC_box 2
Press conference after release from prison
1976 August 13
PIC_box 2
Pamphlet: "Eldridge Cleaver at Exile's End"
1976
PIC_box 2
Church: "25 Years of Miracles"
1976
PIC_box 2
Church: Eldridge Cleaver baptism
circa 1977
PIC_box 2
Church: Youth For Christ rally, San Diego
1977 February 25
PIC_box 2
Church: speech at St. Stephen's, San Diego
1977 July
Physical Description:
3 folders
PIC_box 2
Church: Melodyland Christian Center, Anaheim, with Rev. Ralph Wilkerson and Charles Colson
1977 August
PIC_box 2
Church meetings
1977 August
PIC_box 2
Church: Chico testimony
1977
PIC_box 2
Church: "Eldridge Cleaver Crusades"
1977
PIC_box 3
Church meetings [from disassembled album]
circa late 1970s
PIC_box 3
Miscellaneous church meetings and speeches
late 1970s - early 1980s
Physical Description:
5 folders
PIC_box 3
Hope College speaking engagement
1977 October
PIC_box 3
Speaking engagement: Prison Fellowship Banquet, Denver
1977 October 15
PIC_box 3
Speaking engagement: Oahu Prison
1978 February
PIC_box 3
Miscellaneous speaking engagements
circa late 1970s
PIC_box 3
Speaking engagement: U.S. out of El Salvador
1981
PIC_box 3
Speaking engagement: San Jose
circa 1981
PIC_box 3
Speaking engagement: San Jose State University
1982
PIC_box 3
Miscellaneous speaking engagements
circa early 1980s
Physical Description:
2 folders
PIC_box 4
Interview: "Meet the Press"
1976
PIC_box 4
Miscellaneous interviews
1970s-1980s
Physical Description:
2 folders
PIC_box 4
Interview with KCBS and others at home
1982
PIC_box 4
4th of July Political Campaign
late 1970s?
PIC_box 4
Clothing store
circa 1975
PIC_box 4
Gay Pride Parade, San Francisco
circa 1977
PIC_box 4
Eldridge Cleaver office?
circa 1976
PIC_box 4
Eldridge Cleaver office "Going-Away Party" for staff member
1977
PIC_box 5
Family: children Joju and Maceo
late 1960s-early 1970s
PIC_box 5
Family and friends
1960s - 1980s
Physical Description:
2 folders
PIC_box 5
Huey Newton [unidentified event]
1970s
PIC_box 5
Eldridge Cleaver and Ruth Carter Stapleton
PIC_box 5
Eldridge Cleaver and Sen. Frank Church at Vanderbilt University
1977
PIC_box 5
Eldridge Cleaver with Charles Colson
PIC_box 5
Eldridge Cleaver with others, unidentified
PIC_box 5
Eldridge Cleaver portraits
Physical Description:
5 folders
PIC_box 5
Eldridge Cleaver miscellaneous snapshots
AX_box 1
Proofs: Korea, Vietnam, China
1970
Additional Note
Contact sheets.
Proofs: Algeria, including Allende visit (Dec. 1972) and family
1972 December, undated
Additional Note
Contact sheets.
Proofs: France
circa 1973 - 1975
Additional Note
Contact sheets.
Eldridge Cleaver filling out papers at American Embassy in Paris to return to U.S.
1975 November 17
Enlarged snapshots: Eldridge Cleaver Crusade, clothing shop
1977
circa 1975
Unidentified church events
Physical Description:
2 folders
Kathleen Cleaver at a protest and Black Panther Party rally
Additional Note
Contact sheets.
Proofs: portraits
circa 1970s
Portraits: Eldridge Cleaver speaking
circa 1970s
S.F. Examiner portraits
1984
Additional Note
Includes a letter from the photographer.
Unidentified construction site
Eldridge Cleaver family
Scope and Content Note
Homemade poster found with items in AX box folder Eldridge Cleaver family.
PIC_box 6
Speech at St. Stephen's
1977 July
PIC_box 6
Gospel concert, Center of Hope Church, Oakland Calif.
1977 August
PIC_box 6
Eldridge Cleaver at Christian Businessmen's Club
1977 August
PIC_box 6
Eldridge Cleaver Crusade
1977 August- October
PIC_box 6
Melodyland with Charles Colson
1977 September
PIC_box 6
Hope College visit with Charles Colson
1977
PIC_box 6
Unidentified speaking engagements
PIC_box 6
Campaigns?
Physical Description:
2 folders
PIC_box 6
Eldridge Cleaver at unidentified events and at his office
Physical Description:
3 folders
PIC_box 6
Los Altos home with family
1977 August
Negatives
Note
Prints are available for many negatives. Roll numbers noted on negative sleeves are transcribed from original negative envelopes.
NEG_box 1
Black Panther Party: Stokely Carmichael and Eldridge Cleaver speaking at U.C. Berkeley
NEG_box 1
Exile: Asia (N. Korea, Vietnam, China)
1970
Note
[some prints available]
NEG_box 2
Exile: Asia (N. Korea, Vietnam, China)
1970
Note
[some prints available]
NEG_box 2
Exile: N. Korea: birthday party for Maceo Cleaver given by Madame Kim Il Sung
1970
NEG_box 2
Exile: Family in Algeria
circa 1969-1973
NEG_box 2
Exile: Salvador Allende in Algeria
1972 December
Note
[some prints available]
NEG_box 2
Exile: Paris
circa 1973-1975
Note
[some prints available]
NEG_box 2
Church: Youth for Christ rally, San Diego
1977 February 25
Note
[some prints available]
NEG_box 2
Church: Portland, Ore.
1977 April
NEG_box 2
Church: Mother's Day, San Francisco Christian Center
1977 May 9
NEG_box 2
Church: St. Stephen's, San Diego
1977 July
Note
[some prints available]
NEG_box 2
Church: Cleaver Crusades
1977
Note
[some prints available]
NEG_box 3
Church: San Francisco Christian School
NEG_box 3
Church: Paradise Baptist Church
NEG_box 3
Church: National Evangelical Convention San Francisco
NEG_box 3
Church: Cow Palace, San Francisco, meeting
NEG_box 3
Church: Vancouver B.C. and Seattle
NEG_box 3
Speaking engagement: Vanderbilt University
1977 March
Note
[some prints available]
NEG_box 3
Speaking engagement: Prison Fellowship Banquet, Denver
1977 October 15
Note
[some prints available]
NEG_box 3
Speaking engagement: Hope College, Mich.
1977 October
Note
[some prints available]
NEG_box 3
Speaking engagement: U.S. out of El Salvador
1981
Note
[some prints available]
NEG_box 3
Yosemite vacation, miscellaneous speeches
circa 1981
NEG_box 3
Speaking engagement: U.C. Davis
NEG_box 3
Speaking engagement: Father's Day
NEG_box 3
Press conference on civil rights suit
NEG_box 3
Gay Pride Parade, San Francisco
NEG_box 3
Kathleen Cleaver speaking
Note
[some prints available]
NEG_box 3
Family: Joju and Maceo
Note
[some prints available]
NEG_box 3
Eldridge Cleaver home, Los Altos, Calif.
box 3
Eldridge Cleaver and unidentified friends
NEG_box 3
Eldridge Cleaver and Ruth Carter Stapleton
NEG_box 3
Portraits
Note
[some prints available]
