The Civil Rights History Project: Survey of Collections and Repositories

Frances Hawthorne papers

Repository: University of Iowa Libraries. Iowa Women's Archives

Collection Description (Extant): The Frances Hawthorne papers date from 1906 to 2000 (with the bulk dating from 1950 to 1996) and measure 2 linear feet. The papers are arranged in five series: Iowa Humanities Board Grant, Oral Interviews, Research Materials, Outside In, and Black History in Iowa.

[ . . .] The Oral Interviews series consists of audiocassettes and transcripts for interviews Frances Hawthorne conducted in the spring and summer of 1992. The interviews were conducted in several Iowa communities and contain a record of what it was like to grow up black in Iowa during the twentieth century. Those interviewed include: Frances Brewton (Des Moines), Geraldine Brown (Burlington), Frances Carson (Des Moines), Betty Jean Furgerson (Waterloo), Gwendolene Barry Harris (Des Moines), Marjorie Marsh (Ft. Madison), Artice Maxwell (Marshalltown), Bessie Spencer (Marshalltown) and Paul Wilson, who shared his memories of the now defunct Buxton, Iowa. The series also contains handwritten notes Frances Hawthorne took during the interviews. The towns listed are where the interviews took place, but describe the shared experience of growing up in various Iowa communities. For example, Brewton attended schools in Estherville, Davenport, Cedar Rapids and Iowa City; while Carson lived in both Clarinda and Red Oak before moving to Des Moines.

Access Copy Note: The papers are open for research.

Date(s): 1906-2000

Digital Status: No

Existing IDs: E185.93.I64 H39 1992; AC885-AC892; V286-V287

Extent: 2 linear feet and audiovisual material (8 sound cassettes, 2 videocassettes).

Finding Aid URL: http://sdrc.lib.uiowa.edu/iwa/findingaids/html/HawthorneFrances.htm

Language: English

Related Archival Items: Betty Jean Furgerson Papers: Teacher, social worker, human rights commission director, and university regent from Waterloo.

Marjorie Marsh Papers: Fort Madison, Iowa, native, and active club member and volunteer.

Verda L.Williams Papers: Filmmaker and producer; communication specialist in Iowa State University's
Extension Communication Services. Wrote and produced the documentary "Black Des Moines: Voices Seldom Heard" which was utilized as a resource by Frances Hawthorne. (shelved in videocassette collection: V06)

Interviewees: Frances Brewton, Geraldine Brown, Frances Carson, Betty Jean Furgerson, Gwendolene Barry Harris, Marjorie Marsh, Artice Maxwell, Bessie Spencer, Paul Wilson

Rights (Extant): Copyright held by the donor has been transferred to The University of Iowa.

Subjects:

African Americans--Iowa

Genres:

Interviews
Sound recordings
Transcripts
Videorecordings