Gwendolyn Brooks Collection, 1909-2003 | Rare Book & Manuscript Library, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

By Meg Hixon, Siobhan McKissic, Ruthann Mowry, Dana Miller, and RBML Staff

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Collection Overview

Title: Gwendolyn Brooks Collection, 1909-2003

Predominant Dates:bulk 1960-2000

ID: 01/01/MSS00086

Primary Creator: Brooks, Gwendolyn (1917-2000)

Extent: 200.0 Linear Feet

Date Acquired: 09/19/2013

Subjects: Poets, American - 20th century

Languages: English

Abstract

This collection consists of a variety of materials related to Gwendolyn Brooks, a Black American poet from Chicago, Illinois.

Scope and Contents of the Materials

Gwendolyn Brooks (1917-2000) was an American poet and educator born in Topeka, Kansas and raised on the South Side of Chicago. In 1950, Brooks was the first Black person to win a Pulitzer Prize in any category, receiving the award in Poetry for Annie Allen (1949). At the core of this book is "The Anniad," an epic poem that details the life of a young woman in Chicago's Bronzeville neighborhood. Brooks was a beloved mentor to many poets and artists from the Black Arts movement, and started the Illinois Poet Laureate Awards to encourage poetry writing amongst young people. During her life, Brooks received numerous accolades for her work, including her appointment as Poet Laureate of Illinois in 1968 and Consultant in Poetry to the Library of Congress (now the Poet Laureate of the United States) in 1985.

This record does not contain collection content for the first series of the Gwendolyn Brooks Collection. Series 1, which contains alphabetical correspondence and correspondence files, was separated from the rest of the collection in an attempt to improve load times. Click here to view series 1 (temporarily MS00086a).

Collection Historical Note

Poet Gwendolyn Brooks was born to parents David Anderson and Keziah Wims Brooks on June 7, 1917 in Topeka, Kansas. A few weeks later, her family moved to Chicago where she would live for the rest of her life. Brooks began writing at an early age and was encouraged by her mother saying, "You are going to be the lady Paul Laurence Dunbar." When she was 13, her poem "Eventide" was published in the children's magazine American Childhood [1]. By the time she graduated high school, Brooks had published over one hundred poems in the "Lights and Shadows" poetry column of the Chicago Defender [2]. After high school, Brooks graduated from a two-year program at Wilson Junior College [3]. In 1939, she married Henry Blakely, Jr. whom she met after joining the Chicago NAACP Youth Council. They soon had their first child, Henry III, and later their daughter, Nora.

Early in her career, Brooks was encouraged by poet James Weldon Johnson and Harlem Renaissance writers Langston Hughes and Richard Wright [4]. In her work, Brooks drew inspiration from her life and surroundings in Chicago. Her first book of poetry, A Street in Bronzeville (1945), received praise for its authentic portraits of the Bronzeville neighborhood of Chicago. Her second collection of poems, Annie Allen (1949), chronicles the life of a young Black Bronzeville girl. It was for this book that Brooks won the 1950 Pulitzer Prize for poetry, making her the first Black person to win the award in any category [5].

In the 1960s, Brooks work became more overtly political as she became close with activists and writers involved in the Black Arts Movement, a group of artists whose work reflected the cultural side of the growing Black Power movement [6]. She became especially close with Haki Madhubuti, to whom she became both a mentor and a mother figure. Soon Brooks began working exclusively with Black publishers, especially Broadside Press, founded by her close friend Dudley Randall, and Third World Press, founded by Madhubuti. In the 1980s, Brooks also established her own imprint called The David Company.

Throughout her long career, Brooks published more than twenty books of poetry, including The Bean Eaters (1960), Selected Poems (1963), In the Mecca (1968), Riot (1969), Family Pictures (1970), Aloneness (1971), Beckonings (1975), To Disembark (1981), Black Love (1982), The Near-Johannesburg Boy and Other Poems (1986), Blacks (1987), Gottschalk and the Grand Tarantelle (1988), Winnie (1988), and Children Coming Home (1991). She also published one novel, Maud Martha (1953), as well as children's literature such as Bronzeville Boys and Girls (1956) and The Tiger Who Wore White Gloves (1974). Brooks also published two autobiographies, Report from Part One (1972), and Report from Part Two (1995).

In addition to her writing, Brooks taught poetry and creative writing at numerous colleges and universities. In 1990, the Gwendolyn Brooks Center for Black Literature and Creative Writing was founded at Chicago State University, where Brooks served as distinguished professor and writer-in-residence [7]. Brooks influenced generations of writers, not only with her words, but with her actions. For most of the year, she traveled the country to perform her poetry for children of all ages as well as at universities, public libraries, hospitals, and prisons. As she especially encouraged young poets, Brooks sponsored youth poetry awards for over thirty years. Renowned for her generosity, Brooks dedicated her life to promoting the value of poetry and inspiring young writers.

Brooks was the recipient of more than seventy-five honorary doctorates and countless accolades [8]. In 1968, she was appointed Poet Laureate of Illinois, a position which she held until her death in 2000 [9]. In 1985, Brooks was selected for an honorary one-year term as the Consultant in Poetry to the Library of Congress [10]. She received lifetime achievement awards from both the National Endowment for the Arts in 1989 and the National Book Foundation in 1994. Brooks then received the National Endowment for the Humanities' highest honor when she was named the 1994 Jefferson Lecturer. The next year, Brooks received the National Medal of Arts.

Today, Gwendolyn Brooks' legacy persists as one of the most significant poets of the twentieth century, because of both her contribution to American literature and her kindness and generosity, especially toward young poets and authors of color.

Subject/Index Terms

Poets, American - 20th century

Administrative Information

Repository: Rare Book & Manuscript Library, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Acquisition Source: Nora Brooks Blakely

Related Materials:

Celebrating Brooks @ 100

Gwendolyn Brooks Supplementary Materials

Finding Aid Revision History: This finding aid is experiencing ongoing revision, beginning in June 2023.

Box and Folder Listing

Browse by Series:

[Series 1: Correspondence],
[Series 2: Writings],
[Series 3: Gwendolyn Brooks Personal Files],
[Series 4: Photographs and Scrapbooks],
[Series 5: Drawings],
[Series 6: Calendars],
[Series 7: Public Engagements],
[Series 8: Contests and Scholarships],
[Series 9: Teaching Materials],
[Series 10: Programs, Broadsides, Posters, and Ephemera],
[Series 11: David Company Records],
[[information restricted]],
[[information restricted]],
[Series 14: Gwendolyn Brooks Personal Realia/Artifacts],
[Series 15: Gwendolyn Brooks Library],
[Series 16: Sheet Music],
[Series 17: LPs],
[Series 18: Newspapers and Magazines],
[[information restricted]],
[[information restricted]],
[[information restricted]],
[[information restricted]],
[[information restricted]],
[Series 24: Supplementary Material],
[All]

Series 4: Photographs and Scrapbooks

Sub-series 1: Personal Photographs

Box 350

Folder 1

Item 1: Studio portrait of Blakely, Nora Brooks, 1971: View digitized content: 00086_04_01_01_01_001
Item 2: Camera Studios Chicago cardboard frame, 1971?: View digitized content: 00086_04_01_01_01_002
Item 3: Blakely, Nora Brooks envelope to Blakely, Henry, Sr., 1971?: View digitized content: 00086_04_01_01_01_003

Folder 2

Item 1: Manuscript note by Gwendolyn Brooks, undated: View digitized content: 00086_04_01_01_02_001
Item 2: Walgreens photo negatives envelope, undated: View digitized content: 00086_04_01_01_02_002
Item 3: Walgreens photo coupon sheet, undated: View digitized content: 00086_04_01_01_02_003
Item 4: Walgreens photo envelope, undated: View digitized content: 00086_04_01_01_02_004

Folder 3

Item 1: Dimly lit face in profile, undated: View digitized content: 00086_04_01_01_03_001
Item 2: Kodak photo envelopes, undated: View digitized content: 00086_04_01_01_03_002

Folder 4

Item 1: Blakely, Henry, Sr. passport prints, 1973: 11 copies.
Item 2: U.S. Passport Photo Service envelope, 1973: View digitized content: 00086_04_01_01_04_002

Folder 5

Item 1: Burrell, Joseph holding Sukari the cat, undated: View digitized content: 00086_04_01_01_05_001
Item 2: Marching band in a tunnel, undated: View digitized content: 00086_04_01_01_05_002
Item 3: Marching band in a tunnel, undated: View digitized content: 00086_04_01_01_05_003
Item 4: Partial view of flag bearers, undated: View digitized content: 00086_04_01_01_05_004
Item 5: Marching trombone players, undated: View digitized content: 00086_04_01_01_05_005

Folder 6: University of Illinois graduation (Blakely, Nora Brooks)

Item 1: Blakely, Henry, Jr.; Blakely, Nora Brooks; Brooks, Keziah C. Wims; and Gwendolyn Brooks in front of Assembly Hall, 1972: View digitized content: 00086_04_01_01_06_001
Item 2: Blakely, Nora Brooks in graduation regalia, 1972: View digitized content: 00086_04_01_01_06_002
Item 3: Blakely, Henry, Jr.; Nora Brooks; and Henry, Sr. in the Assembly Hall parking lot, 1972: View digitized content: 00086_04_01_04_05_048
Item 4: Blakely, Henry, Jr.; Nora Brooks; and Henry, Sr. in the Assembly Hall parking lot, 1972: View digitized content: 00086_04_01_04_03_014
Item 5: Blurry view of Blakely, Henry, Jr.; Nora Brooks; and Henry, Sr. in the Assembly Hall parking lot, 1972: View digitized content: 00086_04_01_04_05_048
Item 6: Blakely, Henry, Jr. with his hands in his pockets, 1972: View digitized content: 00086_04_01_01_06_004_002
Item 7: Blakely, Henry, Jr. laughing, 1972: View digitized content: 00086_04_01_01_06_004_001
Item 8: Blurry view of the Brooks-Blakely family getting into a car, 1972: View digitized content: 00086_04_01_01_06_005_001
Item 9: Brooks-Blakely family getting into a car, 1972: View digitized content: 00086_04_01_01_06_005_002

Folder 7

Item 1: Three boys in a Christmas-themed sleigh (negative), undated: View digitized content: 00086_04_01_01_07_001
Item 2: Seated woman wearing a beaded necklace (negative), undated: View digitized content: 00086_04_01_01_07_002
Item 3: “Share your snaps!” Kodak envelope, undated

Folder 8

Item 1: View of a storefront from a window across the street, circa 1970: View digitized content: 00086_04_01_01_08_001
Item 2: Seated man speaking on the phone, circa 1970: View digitized content: 00086_04_01_01_08_002
Item 3: Book advertisement, undated: View digitized content: 00086_04_01_01_08_003
Item 4: Blurry view of a court transcript, undated: View digitized content: 00086_04_01_01_08_004

Folder 9

Item 1: Plymouth Fury missing the driver’s side headlight, 1960s: View digitized content: 00086_04_01_01_09_001_001
Item 2: Driver’s side of a Plymouth Fury parked on the street, 1960s: View digitized content: 00086_04_01_01_09_001_002
Item 3: Partial view of a Plymouth Fury missing the driver’s side headlight, 1960s
Item 4: Two men on sitting on a couch (negative), 1960s: View digitized content: 00086_04_01_01_09_002
Item 5: Blurry view of four women at a family gathering (negative), 1960s: View digitized content: 00086_04_01_01_09_003
Item 6: Family around table (negative), 1960s: View digitized content: 00086_04_01_01_09_004
Item 7: Woman smoking a cigarette in front of a staircase (negative), 1960s: View digitized content: 00086_04_01_01_09_006_001
Item 8: Two women standing in a kitchen (negative), 1960s: View digitized content: 00086_04_01_01_09_006_002
Item 9: Blurry view of two women and small dog (negative), 1960s: View digitized content: 00086_04_01_01_09_005_001
Item 10: Three family members at gathering (negative), 1960s: View digitized content: 00086_04_01_01_09_005_002
Item 11: Six family members on a staircase (negative), 1960s: View digitized content: 00086_04_01_01_09_008_001
Item 12: Four women and a small dog on a staircase, 1960s: View digitized content: 00086_04_01_01_09_008_002
Item 13: Seven young women on a staircase, 1960s: View digitized content: 00086_04_01_01_09_007_001
Item 14: Kodak negatives envelope, undated: View digitized content: 00086_04_01_01_09_009

Folder 10

Item 1: Chicago highway entrance, 1960s: View digitized content: 00086_04_01_01_10_001_001
Item 2: Blurry view of a car and semitruck driving on a Chicago highway, 1960s: View digitized content: 00086_04_01_01_10_002_001
Item 3: Chicago highway entrance, 1960s: View digitized content: 00086_04_01_01_10_001_002
Item 4: Blurry view of a car and semitruck driving on a Chicago highway, 1960s: View digitized content: 00086_04_01_01_10_002_002
Item 5: Blurry view of a car and semitruck driving on a Chicago highway, 1960s: View digitized content: 00086_04_01_01_10_002_003
Item 6: Street corner in the rain, 1960s: View digitized content: 00086_04_01_01_10_004
Item 7: View of a car driving on a highway from another vehicle, 1960s: View digitized content: 00086_04_01_01_10_003

Folder 11

Item 1: Parked Volkswagen Beetle, undated: View digitized content: 00086_04_01_01_11_001
Item 2: Partial view of a moving station wagon, undated: View digitized content: 00086_04_01_01_11_002
Item 3: Man working in an office environment (negative), 1960s: View digitized content: 00086_04_01_01_11_003_001
Item 4: Woman in an office environment (negative), 1960s: View digitized content: 00086_04_01_01_11_003_002
Item 5: Woman resting her chin on her fist, 1960s: View digitized content: 00086_04_01_01_11_003_003
Item 6: “OFFICE” Kodak photo envelope, undated: Includes an ad for Christmas-themed photographic cards. View digitized content: 00086_04_01_01_11_004

Folder 12

Item 1: Blakely, Henry, Sr. and two women on a beach, 1970s: View digitized content: 00086_04_01_01_12_001_001
Item 2: Pontiac Firebird driver’s side rear, 1970s: View digitized content: 00086_04_01_01_12_001_002
Item 3: Blakely, Nora Brooks in the driver’s seat of a Pontiac Firebird, 1970s: View digitized content: 00086_04_01_01_12_001_003
Item 4: Partial view of a Pontiac Firebird, 1970s: View digitized content: 00086_04_01_01_12_001_004

Folder 13

Item 1: “Share your snaps!” Kodak photo envelope, undated

Item 2: Woman sitting in a chair, undated

View digitized content: 00086_04_01_01_13_001

Item 3: Woman sitting in a chair (negative), undated

View digitized content: 00086_04_01_01_13_002

Item 4: Young woman and two children at a beach (negative), 1960s

View digitized content: 00086_04_01_01_13_008_001

Item 5: Seated woman holding a can of beer at a beach (negative), 1960s

View digitized content: 00086_04_01_01_13_008_002

Item 6: Blurry partial view of a child wrapped in a beach towel (negative), 1960s

View digitized content: 00086_04_01_01_13_008_003

Item 7: Boy wrapped with a black sheet at the beach (negative), 1960s

View digitized content: 00086_04_01_01_13_008_004

Item 8: Partial view of the United Nations building in New York City (negative), 1960s

View digitized content: 00086_04_01_01_13_006_001

Item 9: United Nations building in New York City (negative), 1960s

View digitized content: 00086_04_01_01_13_006_002

Item 10-16: Folded into “Julius” note

Item 10: Partial view of a Chevrolet car driver’s side rear, 1960s: View digitized content: 00086_04_01_01_13_007_002
Item 11: Chevrolet Bel-Air driver’s side rear, 1960s: View digitized content: 00086_04_01_01_13_007_001
Item 12: Partial view of a Chevrolet car, 1960s: View digitized content: 00086_04_01_01_13_010
Item 13: Partial view of a red car passenger’s side, 1960s: View digitized content: 00086_04_01_01_13_009_001
Item 14: Red car passenger's side front, 1960s: View digitized content: 00086_04_01_01_13_009_002
Item 15: Red car driver's side front, 1960s: View digitized content: 00086_04_01_01_13_009_003
Item 16: “Julius” note, undated

Item 17: Assurance Inspections Group office entrance (negative), 1960s

View digitized content: 00086_04_01_01_13_003_001

Item 18: Assurance Inspections Group employee at a desk, 1960s

Item 19: Blakely, Henry, Sr. reading at an office desk, 1960s

View digitized content: 00086_04_01_01_13_003_003

Item 20: Blakely, Henry, Sr. writing at an office desk, 1960s

View digitized content: 00086_04_01_01_13_003_004

Item 21: Chicago highway entrance (negative), 1960s

View digitized content: 00086_04_01_01_13_004_001

Item 22: Blurry view of a car and semitruck driving on a Chicago highway (negative), 1960s

View digitized content: 00086_04_01_01_13_004_002

Item 23: Street corner in the rain (negative), 1960s

View digitized content: 00086_04_01_01_13_004_003

Item 24: Urban intersection in the rain (negative), 1960s

View digitized content: 00086_04_01_01_13_004_004

Item 25: Parked car next to a highway entrance ramp (negative), 1960s

View digitized content: 00086_04_01_01_13_005_001

Item 26: Blurry view of two Assurance Inspections Group employees (negative), 1960s

View digitized content: 00086_04_01_01_13_005_002

Item 27: View of houses from a road (negative), 1960s

View digitized content: 00086_04_01_01_13_005_003

Item 28: Landscape from moving car (negative), 1960s

View digitized content: 00086_04_01_01_13_005_004

Folder 14

Item 1: Woman sitting on a desk holding a cigarette (negative), undated: View digitized content: 00086_04_01_01_14_001
Item 2: Closer view of a woman sitting on a desk holding a cigarette (negative), undated: View digitized content: 00086_04_01_01_14_002
Item 3: Woman standing between two windows (negative), undated: View digitized content: 00086_04_01_01_14_003
Item 4: Woman in a trench coat (negative), undated: View digitized content: 00086_04_01_01_14_004
Item 5: Underexposed view of woman on a sofa (negative), undated: View digitized content: 00086_04_01_01_14_005
Item 6: Woman in green (negative), 1967: View digitized content: 00086_04_01_01_14_006

Folder 15

Item 1: Two women sitting on a sofa, one holding a picture (negative), 1970s: View digitized content: 00086_04_01_01_15_003_001
Item 2: Two seated women looking at a picture (negative), 1970s: View digitized content: 00086_04_01_01_15_003_002
Item 3: Three seated friends posing for the camera (negative), 1970s: View digitized content: 00086_04_01_01_15_003_003
Item 4: Man posing next to a fireplace (negative), 1970s: View digitized content: 00086_04_01_01_15_003_004
Item 5: Two women sitting on a sofa (negative), 1970s: View digitized content: 00086_04_01_01_15_001_001
Item 6: Two seated women talking on a sofa (negative), 1970s: View digitized content: 00086_04_01_01_15_001_001
Item 7: Woman in green touching flowers (negative), 1970s: View digitized content: 00086_04_01_01_15_001_002
Item 8: Blakely, Henry, Sr. sitting on a sofa with two friends (negative), 1970s: View digitized content: 00086_04_01_01_15_001_003
Item 9: Blakely, Henry, Sr. and friends looking at a picture (negative), 1970s: View digitized content: 00086_04_01_01_15_001_004
Item 10: Two seated women looking at a picture (negative), 1970s: View digitized content: 00086_04_01_01_15_002_002
Item 11: Two women sitting on a sofa (negative), 1970s: View digitized content: 00086_04_01_01_15_002_003
Item 12: Two seated women looking at a picture (negative), 1970s: View digitized content: 00086_04_01_01_15_002_004
Item 13: Group of women in line during a performance (negative), 1970s: View digitized content: 00086_04_01_01_15_004_001
Item 14: Woman sitting on a blanket at the beach (negative), 1970s: View digitized content: 00086_04_01_01_15_005
Item 15: Empty yellow Walgreens envelope, undated: View digitized content: 00086_04_01_01_15_006

Folder 16

Item 1: Helen’s Wig storefront, undated: View digitized content: 00086_04_01_01_16_001
Item 2: Front entrance of a building (address 6252) with shattered glass, undated: View digitized content: 00086_04_01_01_16_002
Item 3: Ceiling water damage, undated: View digitized content: 00086_04_01_01_16_003
Item 4: Apartment building staircase, undated: View digitized content: 00086_04_01_01_16_004
Item 5: Boiler room covered in trash, undated: View digitized content: 00086_04_01_01_16_005
Item 6: Wooden apartment door, undated: View digitized content: 00086_04_01_01_16_006
Item 7: Blurry view of an open doorway, undated: View digitized content: 00086_04_01_01_16_007

Folder 17

Item 1: Partial view of two parked cars (negative), 1960s: View digitized content: 00086_04_01_01_17_001_001
Item 2: Partial view of the parked car driver’s side (negative), 1960s: View digitized content: 00086_04_01_01_17_001_002
Item 3: Partial view of two parked cars from driver’s side (negative), 1960s: View digitized content: 00086_04_01_01_17_001_003
Item 4: Partial view of parked cars from driver’s side rear (negative), 1960s: View digitized content: 00086_04_01_01_17_001_004
Item 5: Photo negatives envelope, undated: View digitized content: 00086_04_01_01_12_004

Folder 18

Item 1: Woman sitting in a living room (negative), 1970s: View digitized content: 00086_04_01_01_18_006_001
Item 2: View of a Chicago intersection (negative), 1970s: View digitized content: 00086_04_01_01_18_006_002
Item 3: Group running on a Chicago street with commercial spaces (negative), 1970s: View digitized content: 00086_04_01_01_18_006_003
Item 4: View of a Chicago street with commercial spaces (negative), 1970s: View digitized content: 00086_04_01_01_18_006_004
Item 5: Blakely, Henry, Sr. talking to another man in front of a fireplace (negative), 1970s: View digitized content: 00086_04_01_01_18_005_001
Item 6: Woman standing in front of a fireplace (negative), 1970s: View digitized content: 00086_04_01_01_18_005_002
Item 7: Group of friends gathered around a piano (negative), 1970s: View digitized content: 00086_04_01_01_18_005_003
Item 8: Woman sitting next to a man playing the piano (negative), 1970s: View digitized content: 00086_04_01_01_18_005_004
Item 9: Apartment building staircase (negative), undated: View digitized content: 00086_04_01_01_18_004_001
Item 10: Blurry view of an open doorway (negative), undated: View digitized content: 00086_04_01_01_18_004_002
Item 11: Front entrance of a building (address 6252) with shattered glass (negative), undated: View digitized content: 00086_04_01_01_18_004_003
Item 12: Helen’s Wig storefront (negative), undated: View digitized content: 00086_04_01_01_18_004_004
Item 13: Blurry view of a band performing on a stage (negative), 1970s: View digitized content: 00086_04_01_01_18_002
Item 14: Ceiling water damage (negative), undated: View digitized content: 00086_04_01_01_18_003_001
Item 15: Wooden apartment door (negative), undated: View digitized content: 00086_04_01_01_18_003_002
Item 16: Boiler room covered in trash (negative), undated: View digitized content: 00086_04_01_01_18_003_003
Item 17: Coupon sheet for Walgreens photo services, undated: View digitized content: 00086_04_01_01_18_007
Item 18: “Bring me back to Walgreens” photo negatives envelope, undated: View digitized content: 00086_04_01_01_02_002

Folder 19

Item 1: “PICTURES” envelope, undated: View digitized content: 00086_04_01_01_19_001

Folder 20

Item 1: “Gwendolyn Brooks, a gift from LaVern H. Clark” envelope, undated: View digitized content: 00086_04_01_01_20_008
Item 2: Gwendolyn Brooks smiling and looking down, 1980s: View digitized content: 00086_04_01_01_20_005
Item 3: Gwendolyn Brooks seated with arm on chair, 1980s: View digitized content: 00086_04_01_01_20_006
Item 4: Gwendolyn Brooks looking to her right, 1980s: View digitized content: 00086_04_01_01_20_004
Item 5: Gwendolyn Brooks smiling and looking to her right, 1980s: View digitized content: 00086_04_01_01_20_007
Item 6: Gwendolyn Brooks speaking at a podium in Tucson, Arizona, 1980s: View digitized content: 00086_04_01_01_20_003
Item 7: Gwendolyn Brooks speaking at a podium in Tucson, Arizona, 1980s: View digitized content: 00086_04_01_01_20_001
Item 8: Gwendolyn Brooks smiling at the camera, 1980s: View digitized content: 00086_04_01_01_20_002

Folder 21: Dedication of Gwendolyn Brooks Park (Topeka, KS)

Item 1: Gwendolyn Brooks and Slade, Leonard, 1996: View digitized content: 00086_04_01_01_21_001
Item 2: Gwendolyn Brooks and Slade, Roberta, 1996: View digitized content: 00086_04_01_01_21_002
Item 3: Public near an outdoor podium, 1996: View digitized content: 00086_04_01_01_21_003
Item 4: Public near an outdoor podium, 1996: View digitized content: 00086_04_01_01_21_004
Item 5: Gwendolyn Brooks approaching an outdoor podium, 1996: View digitized content: 00086_04_01_01_21_005
Item 6: Gwendolyn Brooks and a speaker near an outdoor podium, 1996: View digitized content: 00086_04_01_01_21_006
Item 7: Gwendolyn Brooks and a speaker near an outdoor podium, 1996: View digitized content: 00086_04_01_01_21_007
Item 8: Group gathered around a park sign, 1996: View digitized content: 00086_04_01_01_21_008
Item 9: Group gathered around a park sign, 1996: View digitized content: 00086_04_01_01_21_009
Item 10: Group gathered around a park sign, 1996: View digitized content: 00086_04_01_01_21_010
Item 11: Seated crowd, 1996: View digitized content: 00086_04_01_01_21_011
Item 12: Gwendolyn Brooks speaking before an audience, 1996: View digitized content: 00086_04_01_01_21_012
Item 13: Gwendolyn Brooks and others standing near an outdoor podium, 1996: View digitized content: 00086_04_01_01_21_013
Item 14: Children standing near an outdoor podium, 1996: View digitized content: 00086_04_01_01_21_014
Item 15: Woman in an orange dress speaking at an outdoor podium, 1996: View digitized content: 00086_04_01_01_21_015
Item 16: Woman in green speaking at a podium, 1996: View digitized content: 00086_04_01_01_21_016
Item 17: Crowd in front of an outdoor stage, 1996: View digitized content: 00086_04_01_01_21_017
Item 18: Three photographers, 1996: View digitized content: 00086_04_01_01_21_018
Item 19: Gwendolyn Brooks clapping at the unveiling of a park sign, 1996: View digitized content: 00086_04_01_01_21_019
Item 20: Gwendolyn Brooks speaking at an outdoor podium, 1996: View digitized content: 00086_04_01_01_21_020
Item 21: Gwendolyn Brooks unveiling a park sign, 1996: View digitized content: 00086_04_01_01_21_021
Item 22: Gwendolyn Brooks unveiling a park sign, 1996: View digitized content: 00086_04_01_01_21_022
Item 23: Gwendolyn Brooks speaking an outdoor podium, 1996: View digitized content: 00086_04_01_01_21_023
Item 24: Gwendolyn Brooks greeting a child, 1996: View digitized content: 00086_04_01_01_21_024
Item 25: Gwendolyn Brooks greeting children, 1996: View digitized content: 00086_04_01_01_21_025
Item 26: Woman in green speaking at an outdoor podium, 1996: View digitized content: 00086_04_01_01_21_026
Item 27: Gwendolyn Brooks with a veiled park sign, 1996: View digitized content: 00086_04_01_01_21_027
Item 28: Letter from Swearingen, Paul to Gwendolyn Brooks, 1996: View digitized content: 00086_04_01_01_21_028
Item 29: Shipping envelope from Swearingen, Paul to Gwendolyn Brooks, 1996: Includes a sticky note. View digitized content: 00086_04_01_01_21_029

Folder 22

Item 1: 80th birthday cake for Gwendolyn Brooks, 1997: View digitized content: 00086_04_01_01_22_001
Item 2: Keziah Wims Brooks standing in front of a Chicago house, undated: View digitized content: 00086_04_01_01_22_002
Item 3: Black cardboard photo frame, undated: Includes a manuscript note by Gwendolyn Brooks. View digital content: 00086_04_01_01_22_003

Folder 23

Item 1: Craig, Vivian; Leath, Viola; and Gwendolyn Brooks, undated: View digitized content: 00086_04_01_01_23_001
Item 2: Group photo at a Chicago multicultural event, undated: View digitized content: 00086_04_01_01_23_002

Folder 24: Edward Jenner School (Chicago)

Item 1: Gwendolyn Brooks seated in front of a classroom, 1989: View digitized content: 00086_04_01_01_24_001
Item 2: Students in a classroom, 1989: View digitized content: 00086_04_01_01_24_002_003
Item 3: Students in a classroom, 1989: View digitized content: 00086_04_01_01_24_002_002
Item 4: Students in a classroom, 1989: View digitized content: 00086_04_01_01_24_002_001
Item 5: Gwendolyn Brooks speaking at a podium, 1989: View digitized content: 00086_04_01_01_24_003
Item 6: “July 11, 1989: Edward Jenner School Graduation Day Pictures (sent by former assistant Principal Arthur Wilson)” envelope, undated: View digitized content: 00086_04_01_01_24_004

Folder 25

Item 1: Family attending an African wedding, 1980: View digitized content: 00086_04_01_01_25_001
Item 2: Bride, groom, and officiant at an African wedding, 1980: View digitized content: 00086_04_01_01_25_002
Item 3: Gwendolyn Brooks and Johnson, Sybil inside of a library, undated: View digitized content: 00086_04_01_01_25_003
Item 4: Gwendolyn Brooks and Alvin, Glenda inside of a library, undated: View digitized content: 00086_04_01_01_25_004

Folder 26

Item 1: Writing portfolio cover, undated: View digitized content: 00086_04_01_01_26_001

Folder 27

Item 1: Note from Blakely, Nora Brooks to Gwendolyn Brooks, undated: View digitized content: 00086_04_01_01_27_001
Item 2: Name card for Blakely, Nora Brooks, undated: View digitized content: 00086_04_01_01_27_002

Folder 28

Item 1: Studio portrait of Blakely, Nora Brooks in a cover, undated: View digitized content: 00086_04_01_01_28_001

Folder 29: Poetry Festival (Waterloo, CA)

Item 1: Peccorini, Francisco and Carole letter to Gwendolyn Brooks, 1996: View an envelope. View digital content: 00086_04_01_01_29_001
Item 2: Gwendolyn Brooks speaking at a podium, 1996: View digitized content: 00086_04_01_01_29_002
Item 3: Gwendolyn Brooks and Peccorini, Francisco, 1996: View digitized content: 00086_04_01_01_29_003_002
Item 4: Poetry reading near a creek, 1996: View digitized content: 00086_04_01_01_29_004
Item 5: Peccorini, Francisco talking to Gwendolyn Brooks, 1996: View digitized content: 00086_04_01_01_29_003_001

Folder 30

Item 1: Blakely, Nora Brooks on her high school graduation day, 1968: View digitized content: 00086_04_01_01_30_001
Item 2: Gwendolyn Brooks at a College Language Association event, 1982: View digitized content: 00086_04_01_01_30_002
Item 3: Gwendolyn Brooks with Turner, Darwin and another woman at a College Language Association event, 1982: View digitized content: 00086_04_01_01_30_003
Item 4: Gwendolyn Brooks and two others sitting in a courtyard, 1984: View digitized content: 00086_04_01_01_30_004
Item 5: Gwendolyn Brooks and Bolton, Linda, 1984: View digitized content: 00086_04_01_01_30_005

Folder 31

Item 1: Gwendolyn Brooks and two others sitting in a courtyard, 1984: View digitized content: 00086_04_01_01_31_001
Item 2: Gwendolyn Brooks seated on a ledge, 1984: View digitized content: 00086_04_01_01_31_002
Item 3: Gwendolyn Brooks standing at a podium with a man in a gray suit, 1984: View digitized content: 00086_04_01_01_31_003
Item 4: Gwendolyn Brooks signing autographs at her 80th birthday party, 1997: View digitized content: 00086_04_01_01_31_004
Item 5: Gwendolyn Brooks standing with Madhubuti, Haki near a painted portrait at her 80th birthday party, 1997: View digitized content: 00086_04_01_01_31_005

Folder 32

Item 1: Gwendolyn Brooks opening presents at her 80th birthday party, 1997: View digitized content: 00086_04_01_01_31_006
Item 2: Blakely, Nora Brooks at the 80th birthday party for Gwendolyn Brooks, 1997: View digitized content: 00086_04_01_01_32_002
Item 3: Gwendolyn Brooks and young man on a stage, undated: View digitized content: 00086_04_01_01_32_003

Folder 33

Item 1: Gwendolyn Brooks with Bennett, Lerone, Jr. and others, undated: View digitized content: 00086_04_01_01_33_001
Item 2: Bennett, Lerone, Jr. at a microphone, undated: View digitized content: 00086_04_01_01_33_002
Item 3: Melhem, D.H. and a “newish Ford”, 1993: View digitized content: 00086_04_01_01_33_003
Item 4: Person sitting in the driver’s seat of a Ford Probe, 1993: View digitized content: 00086_04_01_01_33_004

Folder 34

Item 1: Gwendolyn Brooks with Bennett, Lerone, Jr. and others, undated: View digitized content: 00086_04_01_01_34_001
Item 2: Gwendolyn Brooks and children at Oatka Residential Center, undated: View digitized content: 00086_04_01_01_34_002
Item 3: Gwendolyn Brooks standing next to a plant, undated: View digitized content: 00086_04_01_01_34_003
Item 4: Melhem, D.H. photographic envelope, undated: View digitized content: 00086_04_01_01_34_004

Folder 35: Accra Zoo (Ghana)

Item 1: Chimpanzee in an enclosure (negative), 1974: View digitized content: 00086_04_01_01_35_005_004
Item 2: Crowned crane enclosure sign (negative), 1974: View digitized content: 00086_04_01_01_35_005_003
Item 3: Very underexposed view of an African crowned crane in an enclosure (negative), 1974: View digitized content: 00086_04_01_01_35_005_002
Item 4: Partial view of two lions in enclosures (negative), 1974: View digitized content: 00086_04_01_01_35_005_001
Item 5: Partial view of a lion in an enclosure (negative), 1974: View digitized content: 00086_04_01_01_35_004_004
Item 6: Closer look at a lion in an enclosure (negative), 1974: View digitized content: 00086_04_01_01_35_004_003
Item 7: Visitor looking at a lion (negative), 1974: View digitized content: 00086_04_01_01_35_004_002
Item 8: Lion in an enclosure (negative), 1974: View digitized content: 00086_04_01_01_35_004_001
Item 9: Children in front of enclosures (negative), 1974: View digitized content: 00086_04_01_01_35_003_004
Item 10: Blurry view of an enclosure (negative), 1974: View digitized content: 00086_04_01_01_35_003_003
Item 11: Duckling in an enclosure (negative), 1974: View digitized content: 00086_04_01_01_35_003_002
Item 12: Duck and ducklings (negative), 1974: View digitized content: 00086_04_01_01_35_003_001
Item 13: Macaw parrot in an enclosure (negative), 1974: View digitized content: 00086_04_01_01_35_002_004
Item 14: Blurry view of an enclosure (negative), 1974: View digitized content: 00086_04_01_01_35_002_003
Item 15: Group of people looking at a young hippopotamus in an enclosure (negative), 1974: View digitized content: 00086_04_01_01_35_002_002
Item 16: Two children and a woman looking at a young hippopotamus in an enclosure (negative), 1974: View digitized content: 00086_04_01_01_35_002_001
Item 17: Plant with long leaves in a wooded area (negative), 1974: View digitized content: 00086_04_01_01_35_001_004
Item 18: Wooded area with vegetation (negative), 1974: View digitized content: 00086_04_01_01_35_001_003
Item 19: Two animals in an enclosure (negative), 1974: View digitized content: 00086_04_01_01_35_001_002
Item 20: Small animal in an enclosure (negative), 1974: View digitized content: 00086_04_01_01_35_001_001
Item 21: Kodacolor photo envelope, undated: View digitized content: 00086_04_01_01_35_007

Folder 36

Item 1: Landscape around Cambridge University (negative), 1974: View digitized content: 00086_04_01_01_36_001_004
Item 2: Landscape around Cambridge University (negative), 1974: View digitized content: 00086_04_01_01_36_001_003
Item 3: Scenery from a car window en route to Cambridge University (negative), 1974: View digitized content: 00086_04_01_01_36_001_002
Item 4: A view of two young men from a car window en route to Cambridge University (negative), 1974: View digitized content: 00086_04_01_01_36_001_001
Item 5: Group walking toward King’s College at Cambridge University (negative), 1974: View digitized content: 00086_04_01_01_36_002_003
Item 6: Group walking toward King’s College at Cambridge University (negative), 1974: View digitized content: 00086_04_01_01_36_002_002
Item 7: Scenery from a car window en route to Cambridge University (negative), 1974: View digitized content: 00086_04_01_01_36_002_001
Item 8: Building, pond, and gardens at Rebecca West’s country estate in Buckinghamshire, England (negative), 1974: View digitized content: 00086_04_01_01_36_003_004
Item 9: Blurry view of a group in a punt boat at Cambridge University (negative), 1974: View digitized content: 00086_04_01_01_36_003_003
Item 10: Partial view inside King’s College at Cambridge University (negative), 1974: View digitized content: 00086_04_01_01_36_003_002
Item 11: Partial view of a stained-glass window from King’s College at Cambridge University (negative), 1974: View digitized content: 00086_04_01_01_36_003_001
Item 12: Partial view of a stained-glass window from King’s College at Cambridge University (negative), 1974: View digitized content: 00086_04_01_01_36_004_004
Item 13: Group watching the Changing of the Guard in London (negative), 1974: View digitized content: 00086_04_01_01_36_004_003
Item 14: Building, pond, and gardens at Rebecca West’s country estate in Buckinghamshire, England (negative), 1974: View digitized content: 00086_04_01_01_36_004_002
Item 15: Blurry view of a building, pond, and gardens at Rebecca West’s country estate in Buckinghamshire, England (negative), 1974: View digitized content: 00086_04_01_01_36_004_001
Item 16: View of a lamb grazing in a field taken from a car window, 1974: View digitized content: 00086_04_01_01_36_005_004
Item 17: Partial view of a Cambridge University building (negative), 1974: View digitized content: 00086_04_01_01_36_005_003
Item 18: Partial view of a stained-glass window from King’s College at Cambridge University (negative), 1974: View digitized content: 00086_04_01_01_36_005_002
Item 19: Underexposed view of a stained-glass window from King’s College at Cambridge University (negative), 1974: View digitized content: 00086_04_01_01_36_005_001
Item 20: Kodacolor photo envelope, undated: View digitized content: 00086_04_01_06_05_008

Folder 37

Item 1: Landers, Ann, “10 Ways to Get Along With Others” article in the Chicago Sun-Times (January 13), 1977: Includes a note on “Mama’s ‘List’” by Gwendolyn Brooks. View digitized content: 00086_04_01_01_37_001
Item 2: “PICTURES (temporary home)” envelope, undated: View digitized content: 00086_04_01_01_38_001

Box 351

Folder 1: National Endowment for the Humanities Jefferson Lecture

Item 1: Simon, Paul (U.S. Senator) standing at a podium, 1994: View digitized content: 00086_04_01_02_01_002
Item 2: Gwendolyn Brooks standing at a podium, 1994: View digitized content: 00086_04_01_02_01_003
Item 3: Gwendolyn Brooks speaking at a podium, 1994: View digitized content: 00086_04_01_02_01_004
Item 4: Gwendolyn Brooks standing at a podium, 1994: View digitized content: 00086_04_01_02_01_005
Item 5: Gwendolyn Brooks walking in a crowd, 1994: View digitized content: 00086_04_01_02_01_006
Item 6: Front view of Gwendolyn Brooks walking in a crowd, 1994: View digitized content: 00086_04_01_02_01_007
Item 7: Gwendolyn Brooks and Simon, Paul (U.S. Senator) talking at a table, 1994: View digitized content: 00086_04_01_02_01_008
Item 8: Simon, Paul (U.S. Senator); Gwendolyn Brooks; Hackney, Francis Sheldon; and one other talking at a table, 1994: View digitized content: 00086_04_01_02_01_009
Item 9: Simon, Paul (U.S. Senator); Gwendolyn Brooks; Hackney, Francis Sheldon; and one other talking at a table, 1994: View digitized content: 00086_04_01_02_01_010
Item 10: Three event attendees smiling for the camera, 1994: View digitized content: 00086_04_01_02_01_011
Item 11: Gwendolyn Brooks seated and signing an autograph for a man, 1994: View digitized content: 00086_04_01_02_01_012
Item 12: Gwendolyn Brooks seated and signing an autograph for a woman, 1994: View digitized content: 00086_04_01_02_01_013
Item 13: Gwendolyn Brooks lifting her glasses to look at a document, 1994: View digitized content: 00086_04_01_02_01_014
Item 14: Blakely, Nora Brooks; Blakely, Henry, Sr.; and Gwendolyn Brooks standing on the sidewalk, 1994: View digitized content: 00086_04_01_02_01_015
Item 15: Gwendolyn Brooks signing an autograph with Hackney, Francis Sheldon; Blakely, Nora Brooks; and Blakely, Henry, Sr., 1994: View digitized content: 00086_04_01_02_01_016
Item 16: Hackney, Francis Sheldon; Blakely, Nora Brooks; Gwendolyn Brooks; and Blakely, Henry, Jr. posing for a photo, 1994: View digitized content: 00086_04_01_02_01_017
Item 17: Hackney, Francis Sheldon; Blakely, Nora Brooks; Gwendolyn Brooks; and Blakely, Henry, Jr. posing for a photo, 1994: View digitized content: 00086_04_01_02_01_018
Item 18: Handwritten note with a phone number for Collins, Jim and Karen, undated: View digitized content: 00086_04_01_02_01_019
Item 19: Photo album with a sticker for Roy Lewis Photography (Hyattsville, MD), 1997: View digitized content: 00086_04_01_02_01_001c

Folder 2: Dedication of Gwendolyn Brooks Junior High (Harvey, IL)

Item 1: Gwendolyn Brooks and Bakeman, Emma, 1981: View digitized content: 00086_04_01_02_02_002
Item 2: Index card describing front- and opposite-page photos, 1981: Corresponds to items 1 and 3.
Item 3: Gwendolyn Brooks and Green, Barbra, 1981: View digitized content: 00086_04_01_02_02_003
Item 4: “Unveiling the Portrait” index card, 1981
Item 5: Gwendolyn Brooks and others at her portrait unveiling, 1981: View digitized content: 00086_04_01_02_02_004
Item 6: Index card describing opposite page photo, 1981: Corresponds to item 7.
Item 7: Gwendolyn Brooks; Owens, Betty; and Isham, Ayana, 1981: View digitized content: 00086_04_01_02_02_005
Item 8: Index card describing a photo not present, 1981: View digitized content: 00086_04_01_02_02_006
Item 9: Blank index card, 1981
Item 10: Two students, 1981: View digitized content: 00086_04_01_02_02_007
Item 11: Index card describing a group photo not present, 1981: View digitized content: 00086_04_01_02_02_008
Item 12: Index card describing opposite page photo, 1981: Corresponds to item 13.
Item 13: Group of students, 1981: View digitized content: 00086_04_01_02_02_009
Item 14: Index card describing opposite page photo, 1981: Corresponds to item 15.
Item 15: Gwendolyn Brooks and others on a stage with her portrait, 1981: View digitized content: 00086_04_01_02_02_010
Item 16: Gwendolyn Brooks; Owens, Betty; and another woman posing with her portrait, 1981: View digitized content: 00086_04_01_02_02_011
Item 17: Index card describing a photo not present, 1981: View digitized content: 00086_04_01_02_02_012
Item 18: Photocopy of a text on friendship, undated
Item 19: Gwendolyn Brooks and Green, Barbra, 1981: View digitized content: 00086_04_01_02_02_013
Item 20: Photo album, 1981: View digitized content: 00086_04_01_02_02_001c

Box 352

Box 353

Box 354

Box 355

Box 356

Box 357

Box 358

Box 359

Box 360

Box 361

Box 362

Box 363

Sub-series 2: Albums and Scrapbooks

Box 364

Box 365

Box 366

Item 1: Brown scrapbook binding, undated: Cover reads, "Photographs."

Box 367

Folder 1: “Happy Birthday!” scrapbook (made by Zitch, Beryl), 1997

Box 368

Folder 1: “Drawings by Raymond Brooks” scrapbook pages, 1940s?

Item 1: Graphite drawing of a cartoonish dog holding a string of sausages
Item 2: Colored pencil drawing of a bird perched on a branch
Item 3: Colored pencil drawing of a baby laying on a pillow
Item 4: Colored pencil drawing of a bird with wings spread
Item 5: “Little Jack Horner,” colored pencil drawing
Item 6: Colored pencil drawing of a bird perched on a branch
Item 7: Ink and graphite drawing of a man on a horse playing a bugle
Item 8: Graphite drawing of a German Shepard
Item 9: Colored pencil drawing of a bird perched on a branch
Item 10: Graphite drawing of Gwendolyn Brooks at 14 years old
Item 11: Graphite drawing of a woman with an umbrella
Item 12: Graphite drawing of a woman smiling
Item 13: Graphite drawing of a cartoonish dog holding a broom
Item 14: Graphite drawing of a running woman
Item 15: Graphite drawing of a chicken and a dog
Item 16: Graphite drawing of an American football player
Item 17: Graphite drawing of a cartoonish man walking
Item 18: Graphite drawing of a child and a cow
Item 19: “How Seed Plants Obtain and Use Their Food,” graphite drawing
Item 20: Graphite drawing of a child looking down
Item 21: “Division 204,” graphite drawing
Item 22: Graphite drawing of three men playing American football
Item 23: Graphite drawing of a dog drinking water
Item 24: Graphite drawing of a man waving
Item 25: Graphite drawing of a woman in a fur-lined coat and hat
Item 26: “TOOTS if none other,” graphite drawing
Item 27: “M” “D,” graphite drawing
Item 28: “Be Prepared,” graphite drawing
Item 29: “Washington Horse,” graphite drawing
Item 30: Painted drawing of a laughing man holding a hat and a cane
Item 31: “Mosaic Borders,” painted drawing
Item 32: “Keep Out of Foreign Entanglements,” painted graphite and marker drawing
Item 33: Graphite drawing of George Washington
Item 34: Graphite drawing of a woman’s head
Item 35: “Science,” graphite drawing
Item 36: Graphite drawing of a Native American wearing a headdress
Item 37: Painted drawing of a bedroom
Item 38: Graphite drawing of three men playing basketball
Item 39: Graphite drawing of Mickey Mouse
Item 40: Page of baby photos (possibly Raymond Brooks?)
Item 41: Page of Raymond Brooks photos
Item 42: Graphite drawing of an older man with a moustache
Item 43: Graphite drawing of a newspaper cartoon: Includes cartoon reference image.
Item 44: Image of Mount Rushmore likely taken from a magazine

Folder 2: “Drawings by Raymond Brooks” scrapbook binding, 1940s?

Box 369

Box 370