Series 4 | A Finding Aid to the Charles W. White papers, 1933-1987, bulk 1960s-1970s | Digitized Collection | Archives of American Art, Smithsonian Institution | Archives of American Art, Smithsonian Institution

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Series 4: Professional Activities, circa 1942-1982

1.81 Linear feet

Boxes 5-6, 13, OV 15

This series is arranged as three subseries.

4.1: Boards and Committees, 1952-1982
4.2: Lectures, Panels, Juries, and Other Activities, circa 1942-1980
4.3: Projects and Commissions, 1953-1982

The bulk of this series has been digitized. Material not digitized includes some publications for which only covers and/or relevant pages have been digitized.

4.1

Boards and Committees, 1952-1982

This series consists of agendas, by-laws, correspondence, meeting minutes, reports, printed material, planning documents, and other material related to boards and committees Charles White served on. Typically, there is little material related specifically to White's contributions but the series indicates the range of White's interests and influence. Of particular note is a letter from A. Philip Randolph and Martin Luther King, Jr., thanking White for his help in compiling a list of "names and addresses of Negro community leaders" for the Committee to defend Martin Luther King, Jr., and the Struggle for Freedom in the South.

4.2

Lectures, Panels, Juries, and Other Activities, circa 1942-1980

This subseries consists primarily of correspondence, printed material, and planning documents related to lectures, panels, and exhibition or art contest juries in which Charles White participated. Also documented here are other professional activities such as those related to fellowships, guest artist appointments, appearances at dedication events, work as a consultant, and participation in symposiums. White worked in such capacities in a wide range of schools, colleges, and universities, at small community festivals, and with larger city and international organizations.

Records related to the Third World Festival of Youth and Students for Peace in 1951 include correspondence from students who participated in the festival, and photos of Charles White with students from the group.

4.3

Projects and Commissions, 1953-1982

This subseries includes records, primarily correspondence, contractual records, and printed material, related to the planning and execution of projects and commissioned work.

Projects documented here include the first major Hollywood film White worked on, drawing Eartha Kitt in the title role of Anna Lucasta. Records include the photo of Eartha Kitt used by White for one of his three drawings for the film. Also found is correspondence and printed material related to the promotional art White produced for the Paramount Pictures film Leadbelly. Some of White's radio and television appearances are also documented here including a Black Journal feature for National Education Television, and a documentary by Silvermine Films, Inc., Five, about five contemporary Black artists including White.

White's illustrative work is also documented including work for publications and companies such as Beacon Press, Childcraft, Doubleday & Company, Freedomways magazine, Jung Welt, Little Brown & Company, and Scholastic Book Services. Records include drafts of White's concepts for his drawings and correspondence related to his ideas. The records document, for instance, how he stressed to Diana Klemin of Doubleday, the importance of representing the dress of enslaved children accurately in his illustrations of Frederick Douglass, Harriet Tubman, and Robert Smalls.

There are two folders of correspondence and one folder of financial records related to the publication of Sidney Finkelstein's monograph, Charles White: ein Künstler Amerikas and the inclusion of White's autobiographical essay. Records include contractual documents and a 1953 calendar produced by VEB Verlag der Kunst featuring artwork by White. Correspondence includes drafts of letters from White.

Make a Request

To request an appointment to view materials, make your selections using the checkboxes and click the "Reading Room" button. Please note, you will receive the full box.
To request reproductions, make your selections using the checkboxes and click the "Reproduction" button.

Washington D.C. Headquarters and Research Center

New York Office

Affiliated Research Centers

Charles W. White papers, 1933-1987, bulk 1960s-1970s

Creator

Occupation

Make a Request

Series 4: Professional Activities, circa 1942-1982

1.81 Linear feet

Boxes 5-6, 13, OV 15

4.1

4.2

4.3

Make a Request

Research Center Hours

Description	Container
Artists Equity Association Board of Directors, 1952-1956	5 13	Select: Artists Equity Association Board of Directors, 1952-1956
Black Academy of Arts and Letters, Inc., Board of Directors, 1969	5 14	Select: Black Academy of Arts and Letters, Inc., Board of Directors, 1969
Black Academy of Arts and Letters, Inc., Board of Directors, circa 1970-1971	5 15	Select: Black Academy of Arts and Letters, Inc., Board of Directors, circa 1970-1971
Black Academy of Arts and Letters, Inc., Board of Directors, circa 1972-1974	5 16	Select: Black Academy of Arts and Letters, Inc., Board of Directors, circa 1972-1974
Black Academy of Arts and Letters, Printed Material, circa 1970-circa 1972	5 17	Select: Black Academy of Arts and Letters, Printed Material, circa 1970-circa 1972
Oversize Black Academy of Arts and Letters, Printed Material, 1971	13 5	Select: Oversize Black Academy of Arts and Letters, Printed Material, 1971
Black Arts Council, 1969-1975	5 18	Select: Black Arts Council, 1969-1975
Bronze Jubilee, 1979-1980	5 19	Select: Bronze Jubilee, 1979-1980
California Museum of Afro-American History and Culture Advisory Board, 1978-1982	5 20	Select: California Museum of Afro-American History and Culture Advisory Board, 1978-1982
Citizens' Advisory Committee on the Arts, 1975	5 21	Select: Citizens' Advisory Committee on the Arts, 1975
Committee of the Arts to Free Angela Davis, 1970-1973	5 22	Select: Committee of the Arts to Free Angela Davis, 1970-1973
Committee to Defend Martin Luther King, Jr. and the Struggle for Freedom in the South, 1960 Includes letter from A. Philip Randolph and Martin Luther King, Jr. thanking White for his help compiling list of "names and addresses of Negro community leaders" for the committee.	5 23	Select: Committee to Defend Martin Luther King, Jr. and the Struggle for Freedom in the South, 1960 Scope and Contents Includes letter from A. Philip Randolph and Martin Luther King, Jr. thanking White for his help compiling list of "names and addresses of Negro community leaders" for the committee.
Oversize Committee to Defend Martin Luther King, Jr. and the Struggle for Freedom in the South, 1960	13 6	Select: Oversize Committee to Defend Martin Luther King, Jr. and the Struggle for Freedom in the South, 1960
Community Arts Foundation Board of Trustees, 1968	5 24	Select: Community Arts Foundation Board of Trustees, 1968
Emergency School Aid Act Arts for Children Program Advisory Committee, 1975-1978	5 25	Select: Emergency School Aid Act Arts for Children Program Advisory Committee, 1975-1978
Emergency School Aid Act Arts for Children Program Advisory Committee, 1978-1979	5 26	Select: Emergency School Aid Act Arts for Children Program Advisory Committee, 1978-1979
ERIC Clearinghouse on Urban Education Advisory Board, 1975-1978	5 27	Select: ERIC Clearinghouse on Urban Education Advisory Board, 1975-1978
Golden State Mutual Life Insurance Company Art Selection Committee, circa 1965-circa 1975	5 28	Select: Golden State Mutual Life Insurance Company Art Selection Committee, circa 1965-circa 1975
International Children's School Board of Directors, 1974-1976	5 29	Select: International Children's School Board of Directors, 1974-1976
Los Angeles City Schools Cultural Resources Advisory Committee, 1966 Includes abstracts of project proposals submitted to supplementary education planning center.	5 30	Select: Los Angeles City Schools Cultural Resources Advisory Committee, 1966 Scope and Contents Includes abstracts of project proposals submitted to supplementary education planning center.
Los Angeles City Schools Cultural Resources Advisory Committee, 1966	5 31	Select: Los Angeles City Schools Cultural Resources Advisory Committee, 1966
Los Angeles City Schools Cultural Resources Advisory Committee, 1967	5 32	Select: Los Angeles City Schools Cultural Resources Advisory Committee, 1967
Los Angeles City Schools Cultural Resources Advisory Committee, 1967	5 33	Select: Los Angeles City Schools Cultural Resources Advisory Committee, 1967
Los Angeles City Schools Cultural Resources Advisory Committee, 1967, 1971	5 34	Select: Los Angeles City Schools Cultural Resources Advisory Committee, 1967, 1971
Los Angeles County Museum of Art Community Advisory Committee on Black Historical Exhibition, 1974	5 35	Select: Los Angeles County Museum of Art Community Advisory Committee on Black Historical Exhibition, 1974
Mayor's Advisory Committee on Cultural Affairs, 1974-1975	5 36	Select: Mayor's Advisory Committee on Cultural Affairs, 1974-1975
Mayor's Advisory Committee on Cultural Affairs, 1976-1977	5 37	Select: Mayor's Advisory Committee on Cultural Affairs, 1976-1977
Mayor's Advisory Committee on Cultural Affairs, 1977-1979	5 38	Select: Mayor's Advisory Committee on Cultural Affairs, 1977-1979
National Center of Afro-American Artists Board of Directors, 1970-1978	5 39	Select: National Center of Afro-American Artists Board of Directors, 1970-1978
Oversize National Center of Afro-American Artists Board of Directors, 1978	13 7	Select: Oversize National Center of Afro-American Artists Board of Directors, 1978
National Conference of Artists, circa 1960-1961	5 40	Select: National Conference of Artists, circa 1960-1961
National Conference of Artists, circa 1962-1979	5 41	Select: National Conference of Artists, circa 1962-1979
Pasadena Community Services Commission, 1974-1975	5 42	Select: Pasadena Community Services Commission, 1974-1975
Studio Watts School for the Arts Chalk-In Committee, 1968-1970	5 43	Select: Studio Watts School for the Arts Chalk-In Committee, 1968-1970
University of Southern California Medical Center Men's Advisory Committee, 1969-1973	5 44	Select: University of Southern California Medical Center Men's Advisory Committee, 1969-1973
W. E. B. DuBois Memorial Committee, 1967-1969	5 45	Select: W. E. B. DuBois Memorial Committee, 1967-1969

Description	Container
Address, Third World Festival of Youth and Students for Peace (1951), 1951-1952 Includes photo of Charles White with children from the group. Also includes handwritten essay about Charles White.	5 46	Select: Address, Third World Festival of Youth and Students for Peace (1951), 1951-1952 Scope and Contents Includes photo of Charles White with children from the group. Also includes handwritten essay about Charles White.
Address, Third World Festival of Youth and Students for Peace, Correspondence, 1951-1953, 1973	5 47	Select: Address, Third World Festival of Youth and Students for Peace, Correspondence, 1951-1953, 1973
Oversize Address, Third World Festival of Youth and Students for Peace, 1951	13 8	Select: Oversize Address, Third World Festival of Youth and Students for Peace, 1951
Consultant, Conference of African-American Art Historians, Northwestern University, 1969	6 1	Select: Consultant, Conference of African-American Art Historians, Northwestern University, 1969
Dedication, Watts Towers Art Center (1970), 1967-1979	6 2	Select: Dedication, Watts Towers Art Center (1970), 1967-1979
Fellowships, John Hay Whitney Foundation, Correspondence, 1951-1972 Includes a draft of a recommendation from Raphael Soyer.	6 3	Select: Fellowships, John Hay Whitney Foundation, Correspondence, 1951-1972 Scope and Contents Includes a draft of a recommendation from Raphael Soyer.
Fellowships, John Hay Whitney Foundation, Proposal, circa 1954	6 4	Select: Fellowships, John Hay Whitney Foundation, Proposal, circa 1954
Fellowships, John Hay Whitney Foundation, Proposals of Other Artists, circa 1961-circa 1963 Includes plans for work for artists including Daniel Johnson, Leonard Taylor, Betye Saar, Melvin Edwards, and Camille Billops.	6 5	Select: Fellowships, John Hay Whitney Foundation, Proposals of Other Artists, circa 1961-circa 1963 Scope and Contents Includes plans for work for artists including Daniel Johnson, Leonard Taylor, Betye Saar, Melvin Edwards, and Camille Billops.
Fellowships, John Hay Whitney Foundation Printed Material, 1955, 1972-1978	6 6	Select: Fellowships, John Hay Whitney Foundation Printed Material, 1955, 1972-1978
Fellowships, John Simon Guggenheim Memorial Foundation, circa 1954-1965	6 7	Select: Fellowships, John Simon Guggenheim Memorial Foundation, circa 1954-1965
Fellowships, Julius Rosenwald Fund, circa 1942	6 8	Select: Fellowships, Julius Rosenwald Fund, circa 1942
Guest Artist, Living Arts Program, Dayton Public Schools (1968), 1967-1972 This program included lectures and an exhibition.	6 9	Select: Guest Artist, Living Arts Program, Dayton Public Schools (1968), 1967-1972 Scope and Contents This program included lectures and an exhibition.
Guest Artist, Living Arts Program, Dayton Public Schools (1968), Printed Material, 1968	6 10	Select: Guest Artist, Living Arts Program, Dayton Public Schools (1968), Printed Material, 1968
Guest Artist, Living Arts Program, Dayton Public Schools (1968), Printed Material, 1968-1970	6 11	Select: Guest Artist, Living Arts Program, Dayton Public Schools (1968), Printed Material, 1968-1970
Juries, Air France Bicentennial Art Competition, 1975	6 12	Select: Juries, Air France Bicentennial Art Competition, 1975
Juries, Bicentennial Black Achievement Exhibition, 1975	6 13	Select: Juries, Bicentennial Black Achievement Exhibition, 1975
Juries, Festival of the African Peoples, 1968	6 14	Select: Juries, Festival of the African Peoples, 1968
Oversize Juries, Festival of the African Peoples, 1968	13 9	Select: Oversize Juries, Festival of the African Peoples, 1968
Juries, Future Masters Program, Los Angeles Junior Chamber of Commerce, 1973-1974	6 15	Select: Juries, Future Masters Program, Los Angeles Junior Chamber of Commerce, 1973-1974
Juries, Initiating Committee to Welcome the Soviet Exhibition to Los Angeles, 1977	6 16	Select: Juries, Initiating Committee to Welcome the Soviet Exhibition to Los Angeles, 1977
Juries, Los Angeles Department of Parks and Recreation Sunday At the Bowl Exhibition, 1966-1967	6 17	Select: Juries, Los Angeles Department of Parks and Recreation Sunday At the Bowl Exhibition, 1966-1967
Juries and Lectures, Other, 1965, 1971, undated	6 18	Select: Juries and Lectures, Other, 1965, 1971, undated
Juries, PAS Graphics, Inc., First Annual Graphic Art Awards, 1977-1978	6 19	Select: Juries, PAS Graphics, Inc., First Annual Graphic Art Awards, 1977-1978
Oversize Juries, PAS Graphics, Inc., First Annual Graphic Art Awards, 1977-1978	13 10	Select: Oversize Juries, PAS Graphics, Inc., First Annual Graphic Art Awards, 1977-1978
Juries, Peace Corps 10th Anniversary Poster Contest, 1971	6 20	Select: Juries, Peace Corps 10th Anniversary Poster Contest, 1971
Juries, PIC 73 Photo Contest, 1972-1973 Also includes printed material related to PIC 74.	6 21	Select: Juries, PIC 73 Photo Contest, 1972-1973 Scope and Contents Also includes printed material related to PIC 74.
Juries, San Diego Art Institute 18th Annual Exhibition, 1971	6 22	Select: Juries, San Diego Art Institute 18th Annual Exhibition, 1971
Juries, Verdugo District Fine Arts Festival, 1973	6 23	Select: Juries, Verdugo District Fine Arts Festival, 1973
Juries, Watts Summer Festival, 1970-1974 Also includes printed material from years in which White did not serve as a judge.	6 24	Select: Juries, Watts Summer Festival, 1970-1974 Scope and Contents Also includes printed material from years in which White did not serve as a judge.
Lectures, Black Arts Festival, Montgomery Museum of Fine Arts, 1976-1977	6 25	Select: Lectures, Black Arts Festival, Montgomery Museum of Fine Arts, 1976-1977
Lectures, Community Lecture Series, Boston University, 1968-1969	6 26	Select: Lectures, Community Lecture Series, Boston University, 1968-1969
Lectures, Harlem Renaissance, University of California, Riverside, 1971	6 27	Select: Lectures, Harlem Renaissance, University of California, Riverside, 1971
Lectures, University of California Extension Lecture Series, 1966-1975 Includes material related to multiple lecture series/programs.	6 28	Select: Lectures, University of California Extension Lecture Series, 1966-1975 Scope and Contents Includes material related to multiple lecture series/programs.
Panels, Art-West Associated, 1962, 1968	6 29	Select: Panels, Art-West Associated, 1962, 1968
Panels, Beliefs and Values as Sources of Creativity Panel, Galton Institute, 1963	6 30	Select: Panels, Beliefs and Values as Sources of Creativity Panel, Galton Institute, 1963
Panels, Giants of Contemporary Art Forum, Compton Community College, 1974 Also includes material related to a tribute to Bill Hanna and Charles White, October 1974.	6 31	Select: Panels, Giants of Contemporary Art Forum, Compton Community College, 1974 Scope and Contents Also includes material related to a tribute to Bill Hanna and Charles White, October 1974.
Symposiums, Art and the Humanities, Hampton Institute (1968), 1967-1968	6 32	Select: Symposiums, Art and the Humanities, Hampton Institute (1968), 1967-1968
Symposiums, Politics and Our Deteriorating Environment Symposium, Southern Oregon College, 1966, 1969 Also includes correspondence related to the Fine Arts Festival, 1966.	6 33	Select: Symposiums, Politics and Our Deteriorating Environment Symposium, Southern Oregon College, 1966, 1969 Scope and Contents Also includes correspondence related to the Fine Arts Festival, 1966.
Oversize Symposiums, Politics and Our Deteriorating Environment Symposium, 1966, 1969	13 11	Select: Oversize Symposiums, Politics and Our Deteriorating Environment Symposium, 1966, 1969

Description	Container
Anna Lucasta Film Titles, 1958-1959	6 34	Select: Anna Lucasta Film Titles, 1958-1959
Oversize Anna Lucasta Film Titles, 1958	13 12	Select: Oversize Anna Lucasta Film Titles, 1958
Beacon Press Book Project, 1963 Includes White's notes and outline for the book.	6 35	Select: Beacon Press Book Project, 1963 Scope and Contents Includes White's notes and outline for the book.
Bill Cosby Design, circa 1969	6 36	Select: Bill Cosby Design, circa 1969
Black Journal Film, National Educational Television, 1966-1968	6 37	Select: Black Journal Film, National Educational Television, 1966-1968
Black Journal Film, National Educational Television, 1968-1971 Includes extensive package of material sent to White by Judy Harris Weitzman intended to familiarize White with Black Journal.	6 38	Select: Black Journal Film, National Educational Television, 1968-1971 Scope and Contents Includes extensive package of material sent to White by Judy Harris Weitzman intended to familiarize White with Black Journal.
Black Omnibus Show on KTTV, 1973	6 39	Select: Black Omnibus Show on KTTV, 1973
Charles White: ein Künstler Amerikas Monograph Published by VEB Verlag der Kunst, Correspondence, 1953-1955	6 40	Select: Charles White: ein Künstler Amerikas Monograph Published by VEB Verlag der Kunst, Correspondence, 1953-1955
Charles White: ein Künstler Amerikas Monograph Published by VEB Verlag der Kunst, Correspondence, 1956-1965	6 41	Select: Charles White: ein Künstler Amerikas Monograph Published by VEB Verlag der Kunst, Correspondence, 1956-1965
Charles White: ein Künstler Amerikas Monograph Published by VEB Verlag der Kunst, Financial Records, 1956-1963	6 42	Select: Charles White: ein Künstler Amerikas Monograph Published by VEB Verlag der Kunst, Financial Records, 1956-1963
Childcraft Publication Illustrations, 1962-1963	6 43	Select: Childcraft Publication Illustrations, 1962-1963
Congress of Racial Equality (CORE) Holiday Cards, 1971	6 44	Select: Congress of Racial Equality (CORE) Holiday Cards, 1971
Doubleday & Company, Inc., Book Illustrations, 1963-1964 Relates to illustrations for Freedom Soldiers and Four Took Freedom.	6 45	Select: Doubleday & Company, Inc., Book Illustrations, 1963-1964 Scope and Contents Relates to illustrations for Freedom Soldiers and Four Took Freedom.
Doubleday & Company, Inc., Book Illustrations, 1964-1967	6 46	Select: Doubleday & Company, Inc., Book Illustrations, 1964-1967
Freedomways Magazine Contributions, 1962-1971, 1977-1980	6 47	Select: Freedomways Magazine Contributions, 1962-1971, 1977-1980
Graphic Arts Council Print and Lecture, 1970-1977	6 48	Select: Graphic Arts Council Print and Lecture, 1970-1977
Hatch/Billops Collection, 1972-1982	6 49	Select: Hatch/Billops Collection, 1972-1982
Hooper Avenue School Mural, 1974-1976	6 50	Select: Hooper Avenue School Mural, 1974-1976
Oversize Hooper Avenue School Mural, circa 1975	OV 15 1	Select: Oversize Hooper Avenue School Mural, circa 1975
Johnson Publishing Company, Inc., The Shaping of Black America, Illustrations, 1973-1975	6 51	Select: Johnson Publishing Company, Inc., The Shaping of Black America, Illustrations, 1973-1975
Jung Welt Publication Illustrations, 1973-1975	6 52	Select: Jung Welt Publication Illustrations, 1973-1975
Oversize Jung Welt Publication Illustrations, 1973-1975	13 13	Select: Oversize Jung Welt Publication Illustrations, 1973-1975
Little, Brown & Company, A Man Ain't Nothin' But A Man Book Jacket Design, 1974	6 53	Select: Little, Brown & Company, A Man Ain't Nothin' But A Man Book Jacket Design, 1974
Los Angeles Public Library, Dr. Mary McLeod Bethune Exposition Park Branch Mural, 1978	6 54	Select: Los Angeles Public Library, Dr. Mary McLeod Bethune Exposition Park Branch Mural, 1978
Oversize Los Angeles Public Library, Dr. Mary McLeod Bethune Exposition Park Branch Mural, 1975	OV 15 2	Select: Oversize Los Angeles Public Library, Dr. Mary McLeod Bethune Exposition Park Branch Mural, 1975
Paramount Pictures Leadbelly Film Promotional Art, 1975-1976	6 55	Select: Paramount Pictures Leadbelly Film Promotional Art, 1975-1976
Scholastic Book Services, Runaway Slave: The Story of Harriet Tubman, Illustrations, 1964	6 56	Select: Scholastic Book Services, Runaway Slave: The Story of Harriet Tubman, Illustrations, 1964
Scholastic Magazines, Inc., Black Culture Program Film Strip, 1971-1973	6 57	Select: Scholastic Magazines, Inc., Black Culture Program Film Strip, 1971-1973
Oversize Scholastic Magazines, Inc., Black Culture Program Film Strip, circa 1973	13 14	Select: Oversize Scholastic Magazines, Inc., Black Culture Program Film Strip, circa 1973
Silvermine Films, Inc., Five Documentary, 1970-1971 Documentary film about five contemporary Black artists including White.	6 58	Select: Silvermine Films, Inc., Five Documentary, 1970-1971 Scope and Contents Documentary film about five contemporary Black artists including White.
"White's Magnificent People" Interview with Jack Daley on KPFA Radio, 1961 Letter and program only.	6 59	Select: "White's Magnificent People" Interview with Jack Daley on KPFA Radio, 1961 Scope and Contents Letter and program only.

Washington D.C. Headquarters and Research Center

New York Office

Affiliated Research Centers

Charles W. White papers, 1933-1987, bulk 1960s-1970s

Creator

Occupation

Make a Request

Series 4: Professional Activities, circa 1942-1982 1.81 Linear feet Boxes 5-6, 13, OV 15

4.1

4.2

4.3

Make a Request

Series 4: Professional Activities, circa 1942-1982

1.81 Linear feet

Boxes 5-6, 13, OV 15