The Civil Rights History Project: Survey of Collections and Repositories

Jordan, June. Papers

Repository: Harvard University. Radcliffe Institute. Schlesinger Library

Collection Description (Extant): The papers of June Jordan, poet, author, outspoken activist, champion of equal rights for African Americans and women, and professor . . . .

The collection contains biographical material; personal and professional correspondence; notes; drafts of published poetry, novels, short stories, essays, articles, plays and collaborations; publicity materials; works by other writers; audio- and videotapes, and photographs documenting Jordan's professional and private life. Topics include equitable housing; racial equality; Black English; abuse against women; breast cancer; lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) issues; and American foreign policy, especially conflicts in Nicaragua and Lebanon. The personal correspondence in each series reflects the broad range of Jordan's friends and colleagues, her passion for creativity, her involvement in numerous organizations and political causes, and mutual critiquing among a core group of artists. The original filing systems were most likely created first by Jordan and then by her various personal assistants over the years. Papers, audio- and videotapes and photographs arrived both loose and in folders, both labeled and unlabeled. Audiotapes (T-331, Phon-38) and videotapes (Vt-155) were removed from the collection and cataloged separately.

Date(s): 1936-2002

Digital Status: No

Extent: 49.63 linear feet (109 file boxes, 2 folio folders, 7 folio+ folders, 4 oversize folders, 2 supersize folders, 120 photograph folders, 1 folio photograph folder, 1 folio+ photograph folder)

Finding Aid URL: http://oasis.lib.harvard.edu/oasis/deliver/deepLink?_collection=oasis&uniqueId=sch00345

Language: English

Related Archival Items: See the separate database entries on the audiotapes and videotapes in her papers, which were removed from the collection and cataloged separately by Harvard.

Interviewees: June Jordan, Fannie Lou Hamer, Alice Walker, Nannie Evers

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

Subjects:

African American authors
African American college teachers
African American journalists
African American poets
African American women civil rights workers
Civil rights movements--Mississippi
Discrimination in housing
Gay rights
United States--Politics and government
Women's rights

Genres:

Interviews
Lectures
Manuscripts
Photographs
Speeches
Transcripts