Peter F. O'Brien collection on African American artists
Collection
Call Number: JWJ MSS 99
Scope and Contents
The collection contains material compiled by Father Peter F. O'Brien on twentieth-century African American cultural figures. The collection consists chiefly of subject files on prominent mid-century artists, authors, and performers, including stage and screen actors, singers, and dancers. Individuals covered include: James Baldwin, Paul Robeson, Antonio Salemme, Ethel Waters, Mabel Mercer, and Thelma Carpenter, among others. Files contain printed materials, such as newspaper clippings and programs and playbills for productions, letters, and photographs.
Dates
- 1940-1998
Creator
Conditions Governing Access
The materials are open for research.
Conditions Governing Use
The Peter F. O'Brien Collection on African American Writers and Performers is the physical property of the Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library, Yale University. Literary rights, including copyright, belong to the authors or their legal heirs and assigns. For further information, consult the appropriate curator.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Gift of Peter F. O'Brien, 1994-1998.
Arrangement
Orgnaized chronologically into five groupings by date of acquisition: I. February 1994 Acquisition. II. March 1994 Acquisition. III. November 1994 Acquisition. IV. January 1995 Acquisition. V. March 1998 Acquisition.
Extent
1.51 Linear Feet (6 boxes)
Language of Materials
English
Catalog Record
A record for this collection is available in Orbis, the Yale University Library catalog
Persistent URL
Overview
The collection contains material compiled by Father Peter F. O'Brien on twentieth century African American cultural figures. The collection consists chiefly of subject files on prominent mid-century artists, authors, and performers, including stage and screen actors, singers, and dancers. Individuals covered include: James Baldwin, Paul Robeson, Antonio Salemme, Ethel Waters, Mabel Mercer, and Thelma Carpenter, among others. Files contain printed materials, such as newspaper clippings and programs and playbills for productions, letters, and photographs.
Peter F. O'Brien
Father Peter F. O’Brien, S.J. ( -2015) was a Roman Catholic priest and a member of The Society of Jesus. Also a noted jazz historian, Father O'Brien managed the musical career of Mary Lou Williams from 1970 to 1981 and served as Executive Director of The Mary Lou Williams Foundation. He taught English composition at St. Peter's College in Jersey City, New Jersey and was a chaplain for Compassionate Care Hospice.
Biographical information taken from the Mary Lou Williams Foundation website, <http://marylouwilliams.org/contact.htm>, accessed 8 January 2013.
Biographical information taken from the Mary Lou Williams Foundation website, <http://marylouwilliams.org/contact.htm>, accessed 8 January 2013.
Processing Information
This collection received a basic level of processing, including in some instances rehousing and minimal organization, when it arrived at the library. Each acquisition is described separately in the contents list below, identified as a unique grouping and titled according to year of acquisition.
As a rule, descriptive information found in the Collection Contents section is drawn in large part from information supplied with the collection and from an initial survey of the contents. Folder titles appearing in the contents list below are often based on those provided by the creator or previous custodian. Titles have not been verified against the contents of the folders in all cases. Otherwise, folder titles are supplied by staff during initial processing.
This finding aid may be updated periodically to account for new acquisitions to the collection and/or revisions in arrangement and description.
Former call numbers: Uncat Za MS 316, Uncat Za MS 395, Uncat Za MS 421, Uncat Za MS 429, and Uncat JWJ MS 62.
As a rule, descriptive information found in the Collection Contents section is drawn in large part from information supplied with the collection and from an initial survey of the contents. Folder titles appearing in the contents list below are often based on those provided by the creator or previous custodian. Titles have not been verified against the contents of the folders in all cases. Otherwise, folder titles are supplied by staff during initial processing.
This finding aid may be updated periodically to account for new acquisitions to the collection and/or revisions in arrangement and description.
Former call numbers: Uncat Za MS 316, Uncat Za MS 395, Uncat Za MS 421, Uncat Za MS 429, and Uncat JWJ MS 62.
- African American actors
- African American dancers
- African American singers
- American literature -- 20th century
- American literature -- African American authors
- Baldwin, James, 1924-1987
- Carpenter, Thelma, (Vocalist)
- Mercer, Mabel, 1900-1984
- O'Brien, Peter F. (Peter Francis)
- Photographic prints
- Robeson, Paul, 1898-1976
- Salemme, Antonio, 1892-1995
- Waters, Ethel, 1896-1977
- Title
- Guide to the Peter F. O'Brien Collection on African American Writers and Performers
- Author
- by Beinecke staff
- Date
- January 2013
- Description rules
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
- Language of description note
- Finding aid written in English.
Part of the Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library Repository
Location
121 Wall Street
New Haven, CT 06511
Opening Hours
Access Information
The Beinecke Library is open to all Yale University students and faculty, and visiting researchers whose work requires use of its special collections. You will need to bring appropriate photo ID the first time you register. Beinecke is a non-circulating, closed stack library. Paging is done by library staff during business hours. You can request collection material online at least two business days in advance of your visit, using the request links in Archives at Yale. For more information, please see Planning Your Research Visit and consult the Reading Room Policies prior to visiting the library.