Collection Full View
Kenneth Bancroft Clark Papers (1897 - 2003)
RepositoryLibrary of Congress, Manuscript Division
Collection IDMSS78303
Size215 linear feet (506 boxes) and 1 microfilm reel
Collection Description
Kenneth B. Clark was born on July 14, 1914, in the Panama Canal Zone and came to New York at the age of five with his mother and sister. He became a U.S. citizen in 1931. He earned his AB degree in 1935 and an MS in psychology in 1936 from Howard University, and a PhD in experimental psychology from Columbia University in 1940. He married Mamie Katherine Phipps (d. 1983) in 1938.
He taught psychology at Hampton Institute (1941-1942) and at City College, City University of New York (1942-1975). While pursuing his teaching career he found many opportunities to apply his research to social service, civic betterment, and the goals of the civil rights movement.
To cite only a few examples, he cofounded, with Mamie Phipps Clark, the Northside Center for Child Development in New York City (1946); was a social science consultant to the NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund (1951); contributed research on the effects of racial segregation that was used by the Supreme Court in its Brown vs. Board of Education decision (1954); was a consultant to the U.S. State Department (1961-1967); chaired the Board of Trustees of Harlem Youth Opportunities Unlimited (1962-1964); was a member of the Board of Regents, NY State Education Department (1966-1986); and served on the Board of Directors of the New York State Urban Development Corp. (1968-1975).
He was able to support his own far-reaching publication projects and the research and social action work of others through the creation of three private entities: the Metropolitan Applied Research Center (MARC), New York City (president, 1966-1975); Clark, Phipps, Clark and Harris (president,1976-1986); and Kenneth B. Clark and Associates (president, 1986-1994). Among Clark's more important publications were: "Prejudice and Your Child" (1955); "Dark Ghetto: Dilemmas of Social Power" (1965); "A Relevant War against Poverty: A Study of Community Action Programs and Observable Change," with Jeannette Hopkins (1968); and "The Pathos of Power" (1974). His many awards and honors included the NAACP's Spingarn Medal (1961) and the American Psychological Association's Award for Outstanding Lifetime Contribution to Psychology (1994). Kenneth Clark died at Hastings-on-Hudson, NY, May 1, 2005.
He taught psychology at Hampton Institute (1941-1942) and at City College, City University of New York (1942-1975). While pursuing his teaching career he found many opportunities to apply his research to social service, civic betterment, and the goals of the civil rights movement.
To cite only a few examples, he cofounded, with Mamie Phipps Clark, the Northside Center for Child Development in New York City (1946); was a social science consultant to the NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund (1951); contributed research on the effects of racial segregation that was used by the Supreme Court in its Brown vs. Board of Education decision (1954); was a consultant to the U.S. State Department (1961-1967); chaired the Board of Trustees of Harlem Youth Opportunities Unlimited (1962-1964); was a member of the Board of Regents, NY State Education Department (1966-1986); and served on the Board of Directors of the New York State Urban Development Corp. (1968-1975).
He was able to support his own far-reaching publication projects and the research and social action work of others through the creation of three private entities: the Metropolitan Applied Research Center (MARC), New York City (president, 1966-1975); Clark, Phipps, Clark and Harris (president,1976-1986); and Kenneth B. Clark and Associates (president, 1986-1994). Among Clark's more important publications were: "Prejudice and Your Child" (1955); "Dark Ghetto: Dilemmas of Social Power" (1965); "A Relevant War against Poverty: A Study of Community Action Programs and Observable Change," with Jeannette Hopkins (1968); and "The Pathos of Power" (1974). His many awards and honors included the NAACP's Spingarn Medal (1961) and the American Psychological Association's Award for Outstanding Lifetime Contribution to Psychology (1994). Kenneth Clark died at Hastings-on-Hudson, NY, May 1, 2005.
Collection Contents
The collection consists of correspondence, memos, subject and project files, speeches and writings, transcripts of interviews and testimony, book drafts, minutes, reports, and administrative, academic, and financial records relating to Clark's career at City College, his contributions to the civil rights movement, and his various consulting firms, especially the Metropolitan Applied Research Center (MARC), a group he organized in New York City, to conduct research on and advocate for the urban poor and disadvantaged.
During the 1960s and 1970s Clark became involved in research projects relating to Newark, and also acted as a consultant to the Newark Board of Education and informal advisor to the Gibson Administration. Newark-related material in the collection includes, but is not limited to, the following:
Box 90: Subject File, "Newark, N.J. Supt. of Schools Screening Committee" (1966), contains correspondence with Committee Chair John H. Callan of Seton Hall University, and with Harold Ashby, President of the Board of Education; and copies of letters to candidates, arranging interviews. [After many interviews were conducted, Franklyn Titus, who had been Acting Superintendent, was chosen.]
Boxes 115-122: correspondence, arranged alphabetically. These boxes may include additional Newark-related correspondence.
Box 131, Folder 7: "Social Dynamics Research Institute, Stern Family Fund Study, Interviews with Community Workers -- transcripts of tape recordings" (1965 and undated). A document headed "Key to Interviews" indicates, for Newark, Don Wendell, James Blair(?), and Cyril Tyson. A chart indicates 3 interviews, but only 1 of them with a transcript. No interview transcripts are present in the folder; the Wendell transcript is in Box 132.
Box 132, Folders 1 and 2: Social Dynamics Research Institute, Stern Family Fund Study, Interviews with Community Workers -- transcripts of tape recordings" (1965 and undated). Folder 2 contains a transcript of an interview with Don Wendell, Asst. Executive Director, United Community Corporation, Newark (6 pp.). Wendell discusses the UCC's 3 area boards (to date), how they were set up, and their mission. He also discusses the structure of the UCC, its Task Forces, and its political problems. Initially there were no problems, although there were many ex officio members from city government. The City is now aiming for more control, and is investigating the UCC. Relations with civil rights groups? Many CORE members are involved; CORE Chair Fred Means is in on the UCC Board. Of the many "Negro betterment" groups in Newark - with different focuses -- most are involved with the UCC in some way. On the 58-member UCC Board 27 members are black. CORE has some programs; doesn't know of any NAACP ones.
Box 133, Folder 8: Social Dynamics Research Institute, Stern Family Fund Study, Inventory of Community Action Programs, "Newark, NJ, 1965-1966" contains a copy of the UCC By-Laws (May 27, 1965); a UCC press release, Cyril D. Tyson announces that Newark will use closed circuit tv in training of anti-poverty staff and reaching target populations (Nov 26, 1965); statement of UCC Executive Director Cyril Tyson at the 12th Annual Alumni Conference, Fordham University School of Social Work, NYC, Nov 6, 1965; UCC Area Board manual of procedure, "The Community in Action" (Nov 24, 1965); newsletter, "Project Concern," for Area Board 1, 193 Central Ave. (Vol. 1, no. 1, Nov 1965, one half page is in Spanish) -- lists staff, meeting dates, aims, etc.; map of Area Board 1; UCC Newsletter (Nov-Dec 1965); UCC Board of Trustees list (1965-1966); flyer "What Is the UCC?"; multi-page questionnaire to be filled out by local organizations - filled out for Newark-Essex CORE by Fred Means, with information on officers, activities, policies, overview of the local situation, etc. (Jan 1966); (partial?) transcript of a discussion between Cyril Tyson, Kenneth Clark, and others about community programs in Newark, relations with the mayor and Council, etc. (undated); spreadsheet "Progress Report" on 15 UCC community programs; and several clippings about the UCC (ca. 1965)
Box 153, Folder 2: "New Jersey, University of Medicine and Dentistry of NJ" (1987-1990), includes a transcript of testimony about charges of discrimination at the University of Medicine and Dentistry, Newark, made by Norma Davenport. Discusses the role of the Board of Concerned Citizens and of Mary Smith, and the effectiveness of Affirmative Action at the University [recently evaluated by Kenneth Clark; his highly critical report on Affirmative Action at UMDNJ was completed in June 1987]. Also present are correspondence, memos, and other documents relating to the University's response to the Clark report; a report by George Kaludis Associates, Inc. on the "Human Resources Function" at UMDNJ (Sep 1987); and copies of clippings and newsletters relating to charges of racial discrimination at UMDNJ.
Box 181: "Writings," contains material relating to Clark's Book, "Beyond the Ghetto" (drafts, clippings, etc.). Folder 1, Clippings (1977-1980) includes many on Newark. Folder 2, drafts of foreword and preface, "This book is a consequence of the Newark Riot of 1967...." Includes a draft section on Newark, which Clark visited with a tv crew, "several days after the peak of the riot..." He notes that he spoke with two black policemen who were bitter; they told him there had been no snipers.
Box 182: Writings, "Beyond the Ghetto," contains more drafts and background material
Box 183: Writings, "Beyond the Ghetto," includes transcripts of Clark's "Dialogues" with his close colleague, Jeannette Hopkins (Folders 5-13, 1977-1978 and undated). Folder 5, pp. 36 ff., contain discussion of interviews that were conducted in Newark, the isolation of Newark teachers, ghettoization, and "power people" in Newark; pp. 47 ff. contain more discussion of Newark. Folder 6, on pp. 16 ff. Clark talks about politics in Newark and black separatism, and asks if black-controlled, segregated schools have become a virtue. He mentions pockets of prosperity but deterioration of the tax base and his belief in the centrality of integrated education: "Newark...will have to desegregate their educational facilities before they desegregate their residential." (p. 31)
Box 184, Folders 1 and 2: contain correspondence, memos, reports, notes, etc. on MARC's "Two Cities Project" [also "Beyond the Ghetto"] (1969-1972, 1987, and undated). The rest of the box is material on the published book "Dark Ghetto" (1966). Folder 1 includes a copy of a questionnaire filled out in detail by a staffer interviewing Mrs. Martha Daniels of the Cultural Training Center, Newark - with the interviewer's comments at the end. Followed by sheets tabulating in brief form ca. 40 interviewees' answers to queries on the questionnaire (e.g., did the Riots or the Black Power movement have any effect on the work of your agency?) Followed by a blank copy of a revised (much longer) questionnaire (1970). a spreadsheet with details of the work of 46 Newark agencies (1970), and a detailed proposal to the Rockefeller Foundation, describing the nature and scope of the "Two Cities" project, reasons for choosing Newark as a subject, etc. (Jul 10, 1972). Folder 2 contains a partial (ca. 188 pp.) draft of "Two Cities: A History of the Black Experience in Newark, New Jersey and White Plains, New York," by Kenneth T. Jackson and Barbara B. Jackson (MARC, undated; stamped "Confidential" with some editorial notes. Note: this entire manuscript is about Newark.
Box 294: includes 2 folders on the George Cureton Project. Folder 7, contains clippings and printed matter (1960-1961; 1968-1976), including background on the project and articles by Cureton. In a 1972 article Cureton is described as a former teacher in Newark; says he developed his reading program ca. 1968, when, as a junior high school science teacher, he found that his students couldn't read. He left Newark for the Wyandanch, NY school system in 1970, and the Newark schools discontinued the reading program. Cureton earned a BS degree from North Carolina Central University and an MA from Newark State Teachers College, and did graduate study elsewhere. He was a member of federal and state commissions and task forces, and won the New Jersey Teacher of the Year award in 1969 and a Newark NAACP Award in the same year. Folder 8 contains correspondence (1971) and a lengthy memo (1971) on the history of the Cureton Program, noting that it was used in Morton Street and Queen of Angels Schools in Newark.
Box 295: contains additional material on George Cureton's "Action Reading Project"
Box 331, Folder 6: MARC Projects, "New Jersey, Congressional Redistricting Project" (1970-1972), contains background material, extensive correspondence, and proposals from Amiri Baraka, Committee for a Unified Newark, 502 High St. Baraka is applying for $119.278.00 (Sep 21, 1970) for a proposal headed "Congressional Redistricting of Newark, New Jersey." Also present are clippings from the local press, opposing a plan that would join Essex and Hudson counties in one district - thus limiting the chance of electing a black candidate; and correspondence with Newark attorney Raymond Brown and others about prospects for redistricting, foundation grants, etc. Local activists want the new district to consist of Newark and East Orange. A press release from Baraka's group is signed by a long list of local black political activists. A suit was filed by Brown's law firm; Baraka's plan won and there is a letter of thanks to Clark from Baraka (Apr 21, 1972).
Box 331, Folder 7: MARC, Projects, "New Jersey, Gibson, Kenneth A., Mayor of Newark" (1970-1972) contains a memo from Junius Williams on MARC participation in the Gibson Administration's First 100 Days (Jun 1, 1970), with analysis of voting patterns and mention of a planned meeting with Tom Bradley of Los Angeles. Clark is asked to assemble a task force to assist Gibson; Sanford Gallanter of Newark and Paul Ylvisaker are to be involved. Clark's "Two Cities Project" will yield useful analysis of Newark and program suggestions. Also present is a clipping, David C. Berliner, "Newark: A Study in Self-Destruction" (Washington Post, Dec 2, 1977); the author sees Newark as in crisis and focuses on the bitter conflict over planned construction of KawaidaTowers in the North Ward.
Box 336: contains material on the "Two Cities Project" [White Plains, NY and Newark]. Folder 4, "Memoranda and Miscellany," includes a transcript of a discussion between Clark, Jeannette Hopkins, and others (Mar 31, 1970) about a meeting between Clark and staffer Hylan Lewis and the Welfare Rights organization in Newark, in which local people questioned the role of MARC and of MARC staffer "Helene [Levens]": "...they were tired of being studied." They asked if Levens was "a plant from the national" and if she would "interfere with their activities and report on them...." There follows a lengthy discussion among the MARC staffers about the Newark group's attitudes toward outsiders, especially Helene. Did the fact that that she is white make a difference? Yes. "No one seemed particularly pleased that we were there." On p. 9 are Clark's comments on the search for a Superintendent of Schools in Newark: "They thanked us profusely and said that we [the search committee] did an extraordinary job, and the next week or the next day they chose Addonizio's candidate." A staff member asks Clark, "How do you view Newark?" His reply, "As a fascinating jungle." (p. 10) The folder also includes minutes and many memos to staff (Feb 1972).
Box 336, Folders 6-8: contain miscellaneous reports, including "The Newark Negro - A Study in Community Power" (a proposal of the Urban Studies Center, Rutgers University-New Brunswick, Aug 4, 1967); Governor's Commission on Civil Disorder, "Report for Action," (Feb 1968); "Two Cities Study: Selected Abstracts of Documents Pertaining to the Ghettos of Newark, New Jersey and White Plains, New York," Volume 1 (MARC, Jun 1969); and "The Two Cities Project, Reconnoitering in Newark, New Jersey," by John Cardwell (25 pp., ca. Aug 1969), a description of walking along South Orange Ave., talking to residents there and in other neighborhoods about clubs and parties, drugs, sex (with a mention of transvestites on Howard St.), politics, jobs, bar culture, and the Vietnam War
Box 337: "Two Cities Project," Folders 1-3 contain miscellaneous reports, including, in Folder 1, "Education, Newark, N.J., 1969: A Five-Month Progress Report," by Theoni V. Spyropoulos. This very detailed report, with many statistical tables, includes two lengthy accounts of "interviews" with Franklyn Titus, Superintendent of Schools and Donald Campbell, Director of Reference and Research, Newark Board of Education, with quotes from them, bringing out their defensiveness, attitudes toward the black and Hispanic communities, bad feeling about earlier studies, etc. These are not transcripts of interviews but lengthy narratives of Spyropoulos's experience and impressions. At one point she includes an account of a discussion about the schools with her cab driver. Folder 2, includes "Status Report on Political Structure and Municipal Services" [For similar material, see also Boxes 474, and 496, and Box 315, "Beyond the Ghetto" files.]
Box 360, Folder 5: MARC, Subject File, "Committee for a Unified Newark, Inc." (1969-1974), includes notes on a meeting of the Committee for a Unified Newark (CFUN) representatives with Clark (May 12, 1969, with details of plans for use of a $10,000 grant from MARC for a Voter Registration drive in Newark. High school interviewers are to be trained; the goal is 3,000 interviews and 40,000 registered voters. Junius Williams will oversee the project. Also present is 1969 correspondence with LeRoi Jones [Amiri Baraka] re: the grant, which will be given via the National Urban League, because the Committee's tax status is uncertain; drafts of the questionnaire to be used; a letter from Rabbi Joachim Prinz to Clark (Mar 10, 1971), warmly recommending Baraka; a letter from Baraka inviting Clark to a day-long program of the CFUN, on October 9, 1971, with a detailed event program; correspondence and clippings from Baraka re: Congressional redistricting efforts (1972); 4 issues of CFUN's newspaper, "Black Newark" (May-Aug 1972), with correspondence from Cheo Halisi; and another CFUN Voter Registration project proposal, with Baraka correspondence (1974)
Box 395, Folders 1-5: MARC, Subject Files, "Newark, N.J., Board of Education Screening Committee." Folder 1 (Feb-Jul 1966), material on the formation of the Screening Committee, preliminary contacts with the Board, the job ad, some applications, etc. Folders 2-4 (Jul-Aug 1966), contain more applications. Folder 5 (Sep 1966-Dec 1967), application material and memos on interviewing of candidates (in Nov-Dec 1966); a letter informing Clark of the appointment of Franklyn Titus as Superintendent (Feb 20, 1967); and statistical analyses of the Newark school system (1967-1968)
Box 421: "Contracts, Books, Cureton, George O." (1970). Cureton is living in East Orange, NJ. The folder includes correspondence and a schedule of 1971 screenings of a film made in connection with the Cureton's book project (2 screenings are in Newark).
Box 432: Folders 2 and 3 contain draft chapters of "Bread and Justice," a study of a Welfare Rights Organization [the city studied is not mentioned] (1971). Folder 2 identifies the study as, "Bread and Justice: A Participant-Observer Study of a Welfare Rights Organization," by Helene Levens, who did research in Newark.
Box 450, Folder 12: "Two Cities Project" material, including budget sheets. [The study was funded by a Rockefeller Foundation grant.])
Box 454, Folder 4: "Cureton, George O., Clippings re:" (Mar-Jun 1972). Cureton came to Wyandanch, NY to test his reading program at the invitation of district principal Dr. James Lewis, Jr., a friend from Cureton's boyhood days in Newark. Cureton grew up around the Howard St. ghetto area in Newark and taught various grades in Newark schools (1954-1969). There are many clippings on the program, and on Cureton's appointments and awards. Some teachers questioned the results in Wyandanch. The folder includes a copy of an unidentified article - or report, "The Cureton Reading Method," with sections on the Newark experience and test results tables from Morton Street and Queen of Angels School.
Box 474: "Two Cities Project," Rockefeller Foundation files. All but one folder in this box contain correspondence, proposals, memos, reports, financial records, and personnel files relating to Rockefeller Foundation support for the "Two Cities" project. (1968-1974) Grant funding for the "publication phase" was extended to June 1974.
Box 496: "Two Cities Project." This box contains more complete drafts of Kenneth and Barbara Jackson's overview of Newark history and drafts of other sections of the "Two Cities" study. Also present are memos and transcripts of lengthy discussions dealing with the history of the study, how it evolved, difficulties encountered by staff, etc., with comments on the general situation in Newark, Newark politics, etc. (1971-1974)
During the 1960s and 1970s Clark became involved in research projects relating to Newark, and also acted as a consultant to the Newark Board of Education and informal advisor to the Gibson Administration. Newark-related material in the collection includes, but is not limited to, the following:
Box 90: Subject File, "Newark, N.J. Supt. of Schools Screening Committee" (1966), contains correspondence with Committee Chair John H. Callan of Seton Hall University, and with Harold Ashby, President of the Board of Education; and copies of letters to candidates, arranging interviews. [After many interviews were conducted, Franklyn Titus, who had been Acting Superintendent, was chosen.]
Boxes 115-122: correspondence, arranged alphabetically. These boxes may include additional Newark-related correspondence.
Box 131, Folder 7: "Social Dynamics Research Institute, Stern Family Fund Study, Interviews with Community Workers -- transcripts of tape recordings" (1965 and undated). A document headed "Key to Interviews" indicates, for Newark, Don Wendell, James Blair(?), and Cyril Tyson. A chart indicates 3 interviews, but only 1 of them with a transcript. No interview transcripts are present in the folder; the Wendell transcript is in Box 132.
Box 132, Folders 1 and 2: Social Dynamics Research Institute, Stern Family Fund Study, Interviews with Community Workers -- transcripts of tape recordings" (1965 and undated). Folder 2 contains a transcript of an interview with Don Wendell, Asst. Executive Director, United Community Corporation, Newark (6 pp.). Wendell discusses the UCC's 3 area boards (to date), how they were set up, and their mission. He also discusses the structure of the UCC, its Task Forces, and its political problems. Initially there were no problems, although there were many ex officio members from city government. The City is now aiming for more control, and is investigating the UCC. Relations with civil rights groups? Many CORE members are involved; CORE Chair Fred Means is in on the UCC Board. Of the many "Negro betterment" groups in Newark - with different focuses -- most are involved with the UCC in some way. On the 58-member UCC Board 27 members are black. CORE has some programs; doesn't know of any NAACP ones.
Box 133, Folder 8: Social Dynamics Research Institute, Stern Family Fund Study, Inventory of Community Action Programs, "Newark, NJ, 1965-1966" contains a copy of the UCC By-Laws (May 27, 1965); a UCC press release, Cyril D. Tyson announces that Newark will use closed circuit tv in training of anti-poverty staff and reaching target populations (Nov 26, 1965); statement of UCC Executive Director Cyril Tyson at the 12th Annual Alumni Conference, Fordham University School of Social Work, NYC, Nov 6, 1965; UCC Area Board manual of procedure, "The Community in Action" (Nov 24, 1965); newsletter, "Project Concern," for Area Board 1, 193 Central Ave. (Vol. 1, no. 1, Nov 1965, one half page is in Spanish) -- lists staff, meeting dates, aims, etc.; map of Area Board 1; UCC Newsletter (Nov-Dec 1965); UCC Board of Trustees list (1965-1966); flyer "What Is the UCC?"; multi-page questionnaire to be filled out by local organizations - filled out for Newark-Essex CORE by Fred Means, with information on officers, activities, policies, overview of the local situation, etc. (Jan 1966); (partial?) transcript of a discussion between Cyril Tyson, Kenneth Clark, and others about community programs in Newark, relations with the mayor and Council, etc. (undated); spreadsheet "Progress Report" on 15 UCC community programs; and several clippings about the UCC (ca. 1965)
Box 153, Folder 2: "New Jersey, University of Medicine and Dentistry of NJ" (1987-1990), includes a transcript of testimony about charges of discrimination at the University of Medicine and Dentistry, Newark, made by Norma Davenport. Discusses the role of the Board of Concerned Citizens and of Mary Smith, and the effectiveness of Affirmative Action at the University [recently evaluated by Kenneth Clark; his highly critical report on Affirmative Action at UMDNJ was completed in June 1987]. Also present are correspondence, memos, and other documents relating to the University's response to the Clark report; a report by George Kaludis Associates, Inc. on the "Human Resources Function" at UMDNJ (Sep 1987); and copies of clippings and newsletters relating to charges of racial discrimination at UMDNJ.
Box 181: "Writings," contains material relating to Clark's Book, "Beyond the Ghetto" (drafts, clippings, etc.). Folder 1, Clippings (1977-1980) includes many on Newark. Folder 2, drafts of foreword and preface, "This book is a consequence of the Newark Riot of 1967...." Includes a draft section on Newark, which Clark visited with a tv crew, "several days after the peak of the riot..." He notes that he spoke with two black policemen who were bitter; they told him there had been no snipers.
Box 182: Writings, "Beyond the Ghetto," contains more drafts and background material
Box 183: Writings, "Beyond the Ghetto," includes transcripts of Clark's "Dialogues" with his close colleague, Jeannette Hopkins (Folders 5-13, 1977-1978 and undated). Folder 5, pp. 36 ff., contain discussion of interviews that were conducted in Newark, the isolation of Newark teachers, ghettoization, and "power people" in Newark; pp. 47 ff. contain more discussion of Newark. Folder 6, on pp. 16 ff. Clark talks about politics in Newark and black separatism, and asks if black-controlled, segregated schools have become a virtue. He mentions pockets of prosperity but deterioration of the tax base and his belief in the centrality of integrated education: "Newark...will have to desegregate their educational facilities before they desegregate their residential." (p. 31)
Box 184, Folders 1 and 2: contain correspondence, memos, reports, notes, etc. on MARC's "Two Cities Project" [also "Beyond the Ghetto"] (1969-1972, 1987, and undated). The rest of the box is material on the published book "Dark Ghetto" (1966). Folder 1 includes a copy of a questionnaire filled out in detail by a staffer interviewing Mrs. Martha Daniels of the Cultural Training Center, Newark - with the interviewer's comments at the end. Followed by sheets tabulating in brief form ca. 40 interviewees' answers to queries on the questionnaire (e.g., did the Riots or the Black Power movement have any effect on the work of your agency?) Followed by a blank copy of a revised (much longer) questionnaire (1970). a spreadsheet with details of the work of 46 Newark agencies (1970), and a detailed proposal to the Rockefeller Foundation, describing the nature and scope of the "Two Cities" project, reasons for choosing Newark as a subject, etc. (Jul 10, 1972). Folder 2 contains a partial (ca. 188 pp.) draft of "Two Cities: A History of the Black Experience in Newark, New Jersey and White Plains, New York," by Kenneth T. Jackson and Barbara B. Jackson (MARC, undated; stamped "Confidential" with some editorial notes. Note: this entire manuscript is about Newark.
Box 294: includes 2 folders on the George Cureton Project. Folder 7, contains clippings and printed matter (1960-1961; 1968-1976), including background on the project and articles by Cureton. In a 1972 article Cureton is described as a former teacher in Newark; says he developed his reading program ca. 1968, when, as a junior high school science teacher, he found that his students couldn't read. He left Newark for the Wyandanch, NY school system in 1970, and the Newark schools discontinued the reading program. Cureton earned a BS degree from North Carolina Central University and an MA from Newark State Teachers College, and did graduate study elsewhere. He was a member of federal and state commissions and task forces, and won the New Jersey Teacher of the Year award in 1969 and a Newark NAACP Award in the same year. Folder 8 contains correspondence (1971) and a lengthy memo (1971) on the history of the Cureton Program, noting that it was used in Morton Street and Queen of Angels Schools in Newark.
Box 295: contains additional material on George Cureton's "Action Reading Project"
Box 331, Folder 6: MARC Projects, "New Jersey, Congressional Redistricting Project" (1970-1972), contains background material, extensive correspondence, and proposals from Amiri Baraka, Committee for a Unified Newark, 502 High St. Baraka is applying for $119.278.00 (Sep 21, 1970) for a proposal headed "Congressional Redistricting of Newark, New Jersey." Also present are clippings from the local press, opposing a plan that would join Essex and Hudson counties in one district - thus limiting the chance of electing a black candidate; and correspondence with Newark attorney Raymond Brown and others about prospects for redistricting, foundation grants, etc. Local activists want the new district to consist of Newark and East Orange. A press release from Baraka's group is signed by a long list of local black political activists. A suit was filed by Brown's law firm; Baraka's plan won and there is a letter of thanks to Clark from Baraka (Apr 21, 1972).
Box 331, Folder 7: MARC, Projects, "New Jersey, Gibson, Kenneth A., Mayor of Newark" (1970-1972) contains a memo from Junius Williams on MARC participation in the Gibson Administration's First 100 Days (Jun 1, 1970), with analysis of voting patterns and mention of a planned meeting with Tom Bradley of Los Angeles. Clark is asked to assemble a task force to assist Gibson; Sanford Gallanter of Newark and Paul Ylvisaker are to be involved. Clark's "Two Cities Project" will yield useful analysis of Newark and program suggestions. Also present is a clipping, David C. Berliner, "Newark: A Study in Self-Destruction" (Washington Post, Dec 2, 1977); the author sees Newark as in crisis and focuses on the bitter conflict over planned construction of KawaidaTowers in the North Ward.
Box 336: contains material on the "Two Cities Project" [White Plains, NY and Newark]. Folder 4, "Memoranda and Miscellany," includes a transcript of a discussion between Clark, Jeannette Hopkins, and others (Mar 31, 1970) about a meeting between Clark and staffer Hylan Lewis and the Welfare Rights organization in Newark, in which local people questioned the role of MARC and of MARC staffer "Helene [Levens]": "...they were tired of being studied." They asked if Levens was "a plant from the national" and if she would "interfere with their activities and report on them...." There follows a lengthy discussion among the MARC staffers about the Newark group's attitudes toward outsiders, especially Helene. Did the fact that that she is white make a difference? Yes. "No one seemed particularly pleased that we were there." On p. 9 are Clark's comments on the search for a Superintendent of Schools in Newark: "They thanked us profusely and said that we [the search committee] did an extraordinary job, and the next week or the next day they chose Addonizio's candidate." A staff member asks Clark, "How do you view Newark?" His reply, "As a fascinating jungle." (p. 10) The folder also includes minutes and many memos to staff (Feb 1972).
Box 336, Folders 6-8: contain miscellaneous reports, including "The Newark Negro - A Study in Community Power" (a proposal of the Urban Studies Center, Rutgers University-New Brunswick, Aug 4, 1967); Governor's Commission on Civil Disorder, "Report for Action," (Feb 1968); "Two Cities Study: Selected Abstracts of Documents Pertaining to the Ghettos of Newark, New Jersey and White Plains, New York," Volume 1 (MARC, Jun 1969); and "The Two Cities Project, Reconnoitering in Newark, New Jersey," by John Cardwell (25 pp., ca. Aug 1969), a description of walking along South Orange Ave., talking to residents there and in other neighborhoods about clubs and parties, drugs, sex (with a mention of transvestites on Howard St.), politics, jobs, bar culture, and the Vietnam War
Box 337: "Two Cities Project," Folders 1-3 contain miscellaneous reports, including, in Folder 1, "Education, Newark, N.J., 1969: A Five-Month Progress Report," by Theoni V. Spyropoulos. This very detailed report, with many statistical tables, includes two lengthy accounts of "interviews" with Franklyn Titus, Superintendent of Schools and Donald Campbell, Director of Reference and Research, Newark Board of Education, with quotes from them, bringing out their defensiveness, attitudes toward the black and Hispanic communities, bad feeling about earlier studies, etc. These are not transcripts of interviews but lengthy narratives of Spyropoulos's experience and impressions. At one point she includes an account of a discussion about the schools with her cab driver. Folder 2, includes "Status Report on Political Structure and Municipal Services" [For similar material, see also Boxes 474, and 496, and Box 315, "Beyond the Ghetto" files.]
Box 360, Folder 5: MARC, Subject File, "Committee for a Unified Newark, Inc." (1969-1974), includes notes on a meeting of the Committee for a Unified Newark (CFUN) representatives with Clark (May 12, 1969, with details of plans for use of a $10,000 grant from MARC for a Voter Registration drive in Newark. High school interviewers are to be trained; the goal is 3,000 interviews and 40,000 registered voters. Junius Williams will oversee the project. Also present is 1969 correspondence with LeRoi Jones [Amiri Baraka] re: the grant, which will be given via the National Urban League, because the Committee's tax status is uncertain; drafts of the questionnaire to be used; a letter from Rabbi Joachim Prinz to Clark (Mar 10, 1971), warmly recommending Baraka; a letter from Baraka inviting Clark to a day-long program of the CFUN, on October 9, 1971, with a detailed event program; correspondence and clippings from Baraka re: Congressional redistricting efforts (1972); 4 issues of CFUN's newspaper, "Black Newark" (May-Aug 1972), with correspondence from Cheo Halisi; and another CFUN Voter Registration project proposal, with Baraka correspondence (1974)
Box 395, Folders 1-5: MARC, Subject Files, "Newark, N.J., Board of Education Screening Committee." Folder 1 (Feb-Jul 1966), material on the formation of the Screening Committee, preliminary contacts with the Board, the job ad, some applications, etc. Folders 2-4 (Jul-Aug 1966), contain more applications. Folder 5 (Sep 1966-Dec 1967), application material and memos on interviewing of candidates (in Nov-Dec 1966); a letter informing Clark of the appointment of Franklyn Titus as Superintendent (Feb 20, 1967); and statistical analyses of the Newark school system (1967-1968)
Box 421: "Contracts, Books, Cureton, George O." (1970). Cureton is living in East Orange, NJ. The folder includes correspondence and a schedule of 1971 screenings of a film made in connection with the Cureton's book project (2 screenings are in Newark).
Box 432: Folders 2 and 3 contain draft chapters of "Bread and Justice," a study of a Welfare Rights Organization [the city studied is not mentioned] (1971). Folder 2 identifies the study as, "Bread and Justice: A Participant-Observer Study of a Welfare Rights Organization," by Helene Levens, who did research in Newark.
Box 450, Folder 12: "Two Cities Project" material, including budget sheets. [The study was funded by a Rockefeller Foundation grant.])
Box 454, Folder 4: "Cureton, George O., Clippings re:" (Mar-Jun 1972). Cureton came to Wyandanch, NY to test his reading program at the invitation of district principal Dr. James Lewis, Jr., a friend from Cureton's boyhood days in Newark. Cureton grew up around the Howard St. ghetto area in Newark and taught various grades in Newark schools (1954-1969). There are many clippings on the program, and on Cureton's appointments and awards. Some teachers questioned the results in Wyandanch. The folder includes a copy of an unidentified article - or report, "The Cureton Reading Method," with sections on the Newark experience and test results tables from Morton Street and Queen of Angels School.
Box 474: "Two Cities Project," Rockefeller Foundation files. All but one folder in this box contain correspondence, proposals, memos, reports, financial records, and personnel files relating to Rockefeller Foundation support for the "Two Cities" project. (1968-1974) Grant funding for the "publication phase" was extended to June 1974.
Box 496: "Two Cities Project." This box contains more complete drafts of Kenneth and Barbara Jackson's overview of Newark history and drafts of other sections of the "Two Cities" study. Also present are memos and transcripts of lengthy discussions dealing with the history of the study, how it evolved, difficulties encountered by staff, etc., with comments on the general situation in Newark, Newark politics, etc. (1971-1974)
FormatTextual materials
SubjectsAfrican-American History / Civil Rights; Education; Medicine / Public Health; Politics and Government; Poverty / Philanthropy / Charities
Time Periods19th Century; 20th Century; 21st Century
LanguageEnglish
Access policyOpen for research
Finding AidYes
Finding Aid URLhttp://hdl.loc.gov/loc.mss/eadmss.ms998002