The Civil Rights History Project: Survey of Collections and Repositories

Kennedy, Florynce. Papers

Repository: Harvard University. Radcliffe Institute. Schlesinger Library

Collection Description (Extant): The papers of Florynce Kennedy, [an African American] lawyer, political activist, civil rights advocate, lecturer and feminist.

These papers contain biographical material; personal and professional correspondence; notes; drafts of unpublished poems, short stories, and essays; works by other writers; and videotapes and photographs documenting aspects of Kennedy's professional and, to a lesser degree, private life. Topics include feminism and women's rights; reproductive and abortion rights; the decriminalization of prostitution; racial discrimination; and socio-economic inequity. Personal correspondence is spotty and primarily concerns political issues.

Subseries B, Autobiographical, 1947-1994, n.d. (#2.9-3.2, 32.1m), includes Kennedy's autobiographical sketches; transcripts of interviews (some of which were later used in constructing her autobiography, Color Me Flo: My Hard Life and Good Times); materials pertaining to the publication of Color Me Flo, and documents labeled "Color Me Flo," or found within other papers so marked, even though some of the topics are not strictly autobiographical. Interviews were conducted by Carol Gault, Marion Boker, Bob Abrams, and others, primarily in 1976. While interviews were taped, corresponding tapes were not found. A number of interviews, especially those regarding her family, were not ultimately used in the autobiography; others were included in abbreviated or altered form. Most interviews were titled, and, in some cases, the content of the transcript does not match its given title. Most of the interviews exist in fragmented form and cover a broad variety of topics including: feminism, politics, prostitution, and racism. Also included are Kennedy's reminiscences of feminist politics; the National Organization for Women (NOW); development of the the Feminist Party; her husband, Charles Dye; and her opinions about various politicians. While segments of many of the interviews appear in Color Me Flo, the majority of pages in this subseries contain Kennedy's additional extensive handwritten edits. Sections found clipped together were kept as grouped. Drafts of other essays that appear in Color Me Flo but were not found with materials labeled as such and are not present here may be located in #18.7-18.18. This subseries is arranged chronologically, with correspondence, contracts, royalty statements, requests to publish, reviews, and publicity about the book, appearing last.

Date(s): 1915-2004

Digital Status: No

Extent: 14.45 linear ft. (31 + 1/2 file boxes, 1 folio box, 1 carton) plus 4 folio folders, 2 folio+ folders, 1 oversized folder, 15 photograph folders, 205 videotapes, 1 motion picture

Finding Aid URL: http://oasis.lib.harvard.edu/oasis/deliver/deepLink?_collection=oasis&uniqueId=sch01221

Language: English

Interviewees: Florynce Kennedy

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

Subjects:

African American lawyers--New York (State)
African American political activists
African American women
African American women civil rights workers
Black Panther Party
Feminism
Women's rights

Genres:

Interviews
Lectures
Manuscripts
Photographs
Speeches
Transcripts
Videorecordings