Guide to the Angela Davis Ephemera Collection MSS.1823
Davis, Angela
- Publication:
W.S. Hoole Special Collections Library, The University of Alabama
Mary Harmon Bryant Hall
March 2008
500 Hackberry Lane
Box 870266
Tuscaloosa, Alabama, 35487-0266
205.348.0500
archives@ua.edu
- Creation:
This finding aid was produced using the Archivists' Toolkit 2012-12-18T13:37-0600
- Language Usage:
English
- Description Rules:
Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Angela Davis Ephemera Collection
- Unit ID:
MSS.1823
- Repository:
W.S. Hoole Special Collections Library, The University of Alabama
- Quantity:
0.1 Linear feet 46 items
- Dates:
1970 - circa 1987
- Abstract:
Includes materials related to the Alabama-born activist Angela Davis and the early 1970s movement to have her freed from prison along with materials related to her campaigns to win the seat of U.S. vice-president as part of the Communist ticket in the 1980s.
Scope and Contents note
This collection includes a large number of hand-bills and flyers promoting events organized to either raise awareness of Angela Davis’s imprisonment or to collect funds to support her legal fund. The documents are mainly from four organizations: the Philadelphia Committee to Free Angela Davis, the National United Committee to Free Angela Davis, the New York Committee to Free Angela Davis, and the Communist Party USA. The collection also includes a copy of Davis’s article, Reflections on the Black Woman’s Role in the Community of Slaves, and a ‘partial list of organizations and individuals who have spoken out in behalf of Angela Davis.’ Finally, items to promote Davis’s cause are included, such as stickers, postcards, and a poster.
- Processing Information:
Processed by
John McIlwain, 2007
- Preferred Citation:
Preferred Citation
Angela Davis ephemera collection, W.S. Hoole Special Collections Library, The University of Alabama.
- Acquisition Information:
Provenance
unknown
Biographical/Historical note
Angela Davis was born in Birmingham, Alabama, in 1944 and was exposed to segregation and violence against civil rights activists in her youth. She was educated in New York, Massachusetts, California, France, and Germany. She was influenced by a number of prominent Marxist theorists during her studies and joined the Communist Party at the age of 24. Around the same time she became active in the Black Panther organization in California. In 1969, Davis began teaching philosophy at the University of California, Los Angles, but was subsequently relieved of her position when then California Governor Ronald Reagan introduced a law that stipulated that known communists could not hold jobs for state institutions. Davis gained international recognition after her arrest and trial for kidnap and murder of a prosecutor and judge during a Black Panther member’s trial. In 1972, she was found not guilty. After her trial she began teaching again at universities in California and continues today at the University of California, Santa Cruz. Davis has never ceased to be politically active. She has been associated with many activist groups over the years and even campaigned for the office of US vice-president twice in the 1980s as the candidate for the Communist Party.
Sources: The Biographical Dictionary of African Americans. African-American Social Leaders and Activists, A to Z of African Americans. A to Z of American Women Leaders and Activists, A to Z of Women.
- Access Restrictions:
Conditions Governing Access note
none
- Usage Restrictions:
Conditions Governing Use note
none
Angela Davis Ephemera Box 6623 Folder 2
Booklet, The Black Family: The Ties That Bind, by Angela Davis and Fania Davis, 1987? http://purl.lib.ua.edu/81449
Postcard (blank), photograph of Angela Davis stating, Free Angela Davis, to be sent to Governor Ronald Reagan, circa 1971 http://purl.lib.ua.edu/81450
Sticker, What Are You Doing To Free Angela, circa 1971 http://purl.lib.ua.edu/81451
Campaign flyer, People Before Profits, 1984: Stand Up and Fight For Peace, Jobs, and Equality, Angela Davis, Communist Party Candidate for Vice President, 1984 http://purl.lib.ua.edu/81452
Political flyer, Angela Davis Statement to the Court, Marin County Courthouse, January 5, 1971 http://purl.lib.ua.edu/81453
Political flyer with open letters, People's Suit, National United Committee to Free Angela Davis, circa 1971 http://purl.lib.ua.edu/81454
Order form for book, If They Come in the Morning, by Angela Davis, circa 1971 http://purl.lib.ua.edu/81455
Petition form, People's Petition Demanding Bail For Angela Davis, National United Committee to Free Angela Davis, New York City, New York, circa 1971 http://purl.lib.ua.edu/81456
Postcard (blank), photograph of Angela Davis stating, Free Angela Davis, to be sent to President Richard Nixon, circa 1971 http://purl.lib.ua.edu/81457
Political flyer with open letter, A Letter From Angela to Ericka, New York Committee to Free Angela Davis, New York City, New York, circa 1971 http://purl.lib.ua.edu/81458
Political flyer with open letter, Get It Together!: An Open Letter to Black High School Students, from Angela Davis, New York Committee to Free Angela Davis, New York City, New York, circa 1971 http://purl.lib.ua.edu/81459
Political flyer, What you can do to help free Angela, Committee to Free Angela Davis, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, circa 1971 http://purl.lib.ua.edu/81460
Political flyer, Sister Angela Davis Political Prisoner, Philadelphia Committee to Free Angela Davis, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, circa 1971 http://purl.lib.ua.edu/81461
Application form to enroll as a sponsor, Freedom For Angela Davis, Philadelphia Committee to Free Angela Davis, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, circa 1971 http://purl.lib.ua.edu/81462
Event flyer, Portrait Of A Revolutionary: A Film on Angela Davis, Philadelphia Committee to Free Angela Davis, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, circa June 1971 http://purl.lib.ua.edu/81463
Event flyer, Philadelphia Social Science Forum Presents 2 Films, YWMCA, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, December 17, 1970 http://purl.lib.ua.edu/81464
Event flyer, Kate Millet's Three Lives and Angela, portrait of a revolutionary, by Mae Mercer, YWCA, June 1971 http://purl.lib.ua.edu/81465
Event flyer, City Wide Walkout & Rally To Free Angela Davis, March 19, 1971 http://purl.lib.ua.edu/81466
Event flyer, Committee To Free Angela Davis Presents, A Family Affair Dance, Blue Horizon Ballroom, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, December 17, 1971 http://purl.lib.ua.edu/81467
Letter from Debbie Bell, Philadelphia Committee to Free Angela Davis, to Friend, circa 1971 http://purl.lib.ua.edu/81468
Event flyer, Hot Thang Bar-B-Q, Come Party With Us!, West Philadelphia Committee to Free Angela Davis, May 13, 1972 http://purl.lib.ua.edu/81469
Newsletter, Philadelphia Committee to Free Angela Davis, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, June 1971 http://purl.lib.ua.edu/81470
Event flyer, Angela: Like It Is, film showing, Philadelphia Committee to Free Angela Davis, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, May 1971 http://purl.lib.ua.edu/81471
Stationary, letterhead and envelope, The Philadelphia Committee to Free Angela Davis, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, circa 1971 http://purl.lib.ua.edu/81472
Event card, An Evening on Angela, Mt. Olive Tabernacle Baptist Church, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, June 19, 1971 http://purl.lib.ua.edu/81473
Event flyer, An Evening on Angela, Philadelphia Committee to Free Angela Davis, Mt. Olive Tabernacle Baptist Church, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, June 19, 1971 http://purl.lib.ua.edu/81474
Press release, An Evening on Angela, Philadelphia Committee to Free Angela Davis, Mount Olive Tabernacle Baptist Church, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, June 9, 1971 http://purl.lib.ua.edu/81475
Booklet, A Political Biography of Angela Davis, New York Committee to Free Angela Davis, New York City, New York, January 1971 http://purl.lib.ua.edu/81476
Form in both English and Spanish, Act Now to Save Angela's Life, Support the Fund Drive, New York Committee to Free Angela Davis, New York City, New York, January 1972 http://purl.lib.ua.edu/81477
Letter from Professor Keith E. Baird, Committee of Concerned Academics, New York City, New York, to Colleague, circa 1971 http://purl.lib.ua.edu/81478
Flyer, Calendar of a Frame-Up, Free Angela!, New York Committee to Free Angela Davis, New York City, New York, 1969-1971 http://purl.lib.ua.edu/81479
Event flyer, Free Angela Davis! Rally, Young Workers Liberation League, November 14, 1971 http://purl.lib.ua.edu/81480
Speech, The case must be dismissed, by John Abt, reprinted from World Magazine, New York City, New York, March 20, 1971 http://purl.lib.ua.edu/81481
Event flyer, Free Angela Davis Now, meeting, Church of the Advocate, Philadelphia Committee to Free Angela Davis, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, April 21, 1971 http://purl.lib.ua.edu/81482
Newsletters, Labor's Stake in the Fight to Free Angela Davis, National Coordinating Committee for Trade Union Action and Democracy, Chicago, Illinois, circa 1971 http://purl.lib.ua.edu/81483
Article, Reflections on the Black Woman's Role in the Community of Slaves, by Angela Davis, The Black Scholar, Volume 3, Number 4, December 1971 http://purl.lib.ua.edu/81484
List, Partial List of Organizations and Individuals Who Have Spoken Out in Behalf of Angela Davis, circa 1971 http://purl.lib.ua.edu/81485
Newsletter, Angela Davis Newsletter, Angela Davis Defense Committee, No. 1, December 1971 http://purl.lib.ua.edu/81486
Newsletter, Angela Davis Newsletter, Philadelphia Committee to Free Angela Davis, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, circa 1971 http://purl.lib.ua.edu/81487
Event flyer, Rally for Youth Rights, featuring Angela Davis, Gladys Marin, and Gus Hall, Young Workers Liberation League, Bellevue Stratford Hotel, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, circa 1973 http://purl.lib.ua.edu/81488
Event flyer, Elections 72, Meet Angela Davis, McGonigle Hall, sponsored by the November 4 Committee, Temple University Students, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 1972 http://purl.lib.ua.edu/81489
Program, Welcome to the Put People Before Profits Rally, Cobo Hall, Detroit, Michigan, August 26, 1979 http://purl.lib.ua.edu/81490
Advertising flyer, FrameUp: A Weekly Trial Bulletin from the National United Committee to Free Angela Davis and All Political Prisoners, California, circa 1972 http://purl.lib.ua.edu/81491
Flyer, Free Angela Davis NOW!, New York Committee to Free Angela Davis, New York City, New York, circa 1971 http://purl.lib.ua.edu/81492
Angela Davis poster Box 6623 Folder 3