The Civil Rights History Project: Survey of Collections and Repositories

Blank (Donald) documentary film collection

Repository: University of Southern Mississippi. McCain Library and Archives

Collection Description (Extant): The Blank (Donald) Documentary Film Collection contains raw footage from several of Blank's documentaries including: Standing Tall (1999) about the working conditions of African Americans employed in catfish factories in the Mississippi Delta, who successfully organized themselves and joined a national union. Also see: How to Become Sheriff When Born Poor and Black in Segregated Mississippi and features profiles of Sheriff Frank Davis, Claiborne County, MS; and Sheriff Fred Johnson, Pike County, MS. Sequences filmed in churches include gospel music.

This collection also contains a two-part video taped interview with Nathan and Julia Jones of Port Gibson, Mississippi, regarding their involvement in the NAACP after World War II. Additionally there is Video taped interviews with Rev. Eddie Walls and Rev. James Dorsey, the first two presidents of the Claiborne County, Mississippi, chapter of the NAACP, during the 1960s.

Date(s): 1999-2002

Digital Status: Yes

Existing IDs: AM 2000-58
AM08-23
AM02-27
AM02-16
AM02-8
AM01-116

Extent: 32 VHS tapes; 555 Sony DV-Cam tapes; 28 Fuji film Hi-8 tapes

Finding Aid URL: http://www.lib.usm.edu/legacy/archives/blank.htm

Language: English

Interviewees: Nathan Jones, Julia Jones, Rev. Eddie Walls, Rev. James Dorsey, Frank Davis, Fred Johnson

Rights (CRHP): Contact the repository which holds the collection for information on rights

Subjects:

African American labor union members
African American police
Civil rights movements--Mississippi
National Association for the Advancement of Colored People

Genres:

Interviews
Videorecordings