Chicago Public Library
Vivian Harsh Research Collection
of Afro-American History and Literature Ben Burns Collection, 1939 - 1999

Series I: Correspondence, 1945 – 1999

The correspondence series has been divided into five subseries:  The Chicago Defender Years, The Ebony Years, Sepia Business Correspondence, Nitty Gritty Correspondence and Personal Correspondence and Family Materials.  Folders are arranged alphabetically within each subseries.

Subseries A.  The Chicago Defender Years, 1941 – 1980 

 

Box 1

Folder 1

The Chicago Defender
BB's American Newspaper Guild cards, announcement of BB as new editor-in-chief of Defender, BB's business cards, press pass and employee cards; clippings re:  BB as editor-in-chief of Defender, correspondence between BB and John Sengstacke re: remaking the Defender; correspondence and letters to the Defender from readers; BB's editorial department program for 1963, future goals, Defender masthead
(1941 – 1962)

Folder 2

Defender – Metz Lochard
Pamphlets: "The Defender, the Negro Press and You," and "John Sengstacke: Defending the Black Press," copy of the Defender (May 5, 1975) -- special tribute to Defender's rise; correspondence between BB and ML; ML's obituaries in newspapers, program for Honors Luncheon for ML (May 22, 1976), articles covering tributes to ML, funeral program for Julia Lochard
(1946 – 1990)

Folder 3

Defender Paris Stories -- 1945 – 1946
Envelopes of photographs of delegates to the World Federation of Trade Unions (WFTU) in Paris in 1945 including Sydney Johnson, Joe Curran, President of the National Maritime Union, Teresa Garcia, P.L. Prattis, Charlie Collins (?) and others; dispatches from BB to ML re: WFTU, including the names and addresses of Negro delegates; “'Defender Sends Burns to Paris," in The Worker; Defender newsprint of article by BB about Duke of Windsor's butler, Sidney Johnson; criticism of West African labor about the seating of a delegate from the "Jim Crow unions of South Africa"; discussion of conditions in South Africa; handwritten correspondence with Sidney Johnson and Charles A. Collins, ex-WPA actor from Harlem; correspondence with CIO and other trade unions (1945 – 1946)

Subseries B.  The Ebony Years, 1938 – 1995

Box 2

Folder 1-2

Ebony 1943 (2 folders)
Various articles re: Ebony, the Negro Press and John Johnson (JHJ)
(1945 – 1976)

Folder 3

Ebony History
Oversized pages: "Germany has Einstein, Britain had Shaw, but Ebony has the world's only white Mau Mau!"; clippings re: "Johnson Publishing heads Illinois slate of top 100 black-owned firms," "Battle of the Beauty Counter," fact sheet on Ebony magazine by Cooper & Golin  (1953, 1976 – 1989)

Folder 4

Ebony, JHJ - Letters/Wires
Employment agreements between BB and Negro Digest; letter from JHJ commending BB on promotional work 
(1947 – 1972; most materials are undated)

Folder 5

Ebony; Letters
Letters discussing Ebony; correspondence with Professor Wolseley, author of "The Black Press;" complaints regarding inaccurate information about Ebony, JHJ and BB (draft of a letter sent to Fortune) 
(1949 – 1977)

Folder 6

Ebony – Staff
Review of Era Bell Thompson's autobiography published in The Nation (June 27, 1987), Thompson's resume, clipping on Vincent Tubbs (first black selected to head motion picture union), Sylvester Watkins' resume, Sun-Times article, "Black Society” 
(1954 – 1987)

Folder 7

Photographers
Addresses of photographers who worked for Ebony and Sepia; Ben and Esther Burns Slide Collection – No. 2 
(undated)

"Eviction" of two Negro photographers from darkroom of JPC (a joke?)

Folder 8

Press Passes, Ebony & Jet (1954)
BB's press cards for Ebony & Jet (1954)

Folder 9

Printing
Printing information, contract and printing proposal from W. F. Hall Printing Company
(1950 – 1952)

Folder 10 - 11

Wright, Richard (2 folders)
Letter to BB from RW re: "I Choose Exile" article about RW's life in Paris and disagreements over the article, receiving payment for this article and others; “I Choose Exile” by RW; correspondence with Addison Gayle re: BB maligned for Ebony's refusal to publish "I Choose Exile"; articles about RW's books (including Native Son and White Man, Listen!) and black ex-patriots in Paris; Ben Burns' "'They're Not Uncle Tom's Children,'" published in The Reporter (March 8, 1956); correspondence with Joe (?) re: Bigger Thomas, the Communist Party, traveling to the South, difficulties in getting books published
(1938 – 1994)

Folder 12

Wright, Richard – PBS
Correspondence re: “Richard Wright-Black Boy” production (BB’s photograph was used in the film)
(1993 – 1995)

Box 3

No folders

Ebony Page Proofs

“Ebony’s Name”

“Ebony’s Girls”

“Ebony Opens Its New Building” (1949)

“Kingsblood Royal”

“Where Ebony Stands Today”

“Meet the Real Lena Horne”

“Ebony’s Fifth Anniversary” (Nov 1950)

“5 Million U.S. White Negroes” (March 1948)

Subseries C.  Sepia Business Correspondence, 1955 – 1977

Box 4

Folder 1

Ads – 76
7/8/74; 7/
Correspondence re: advertising and increasing Sepia sales; challenge ad comparing Sepia to Ebony
(1975 – 1976)

Folder 2

Barnes, Bill
7/8/74; 7/
Letter from Mrs. Joe Turner re:  efforts to prevent leprosy in Korea
(July 1974)

Folder 3

Barnick, Kaye
Correspondence including letter from BB to KB re: two suggestions for articles – 1) Iman; 2) Rutgers professor who claims that blacks were in U.S. before Columbus
(Sept – Nov 1976)

Folder 4

Bennett, Lerone – “Southern Trip” with Mike Sheas

Folder 5

Biondi, Shirley
Correspondence including letters discussing problems with article and photographs of Berkeley schools(discussion of problems with white writers’ naiveté about black audiences); questionnaire for BB for article on black magazines
(Nov – Dec 1972)

Folder 6

Blackman, Brandon
Letters re: interview with Melvin Van Peebles for Sepia and other article ideas; “Approaching the inevitable caller,” by Blackman
(June 1974 – Dec 1976)

Folder 7

Brockman, Chris
Letter to CB from BB re: influence of “black music” on classical music and black conductors and “The Black Chinese” article in Sepia
(Sept 1974 – June 1975)

Folder 8

Brower, Bill
Letter to Brower from BB re: story ideas including black basketball coaches & black sports broadcasters
(July 17, 1974)

Folder 9

Brower, W.A.
Letter of introduction and resume of W.A. Brower, freelance writer on black culture and music
(August 18, 1976)

Folder 10

Brown, Mamie
Correspondence between MB and BB including letters re: disappointment with photos of Norman Jones, article idea describing a lynching when MB was seven
(Jan 6, 1975 – Dec 19, 1975)

Folder 11

Burrell, Walter
Letters re: Roots story and photography
(June 4, 1974 – Oct 21, 1976)

Folder 12

Carter, Tom
Letters to BB from TC re: Alex Haley article, Ernest Gaines, Artus DeLonguiel’s sex change, photography costs and TC finding his 19-year-old son
(1972 – 1976)

Folder 13

Cartoonists
Letter to BBs re: cartoon work for Sepia
(June 17, 1961 – Aug 10, 1971)

Folder 14

Clips for file
Letter to Ted Stewart from Anita Wilson re: use of the word “black;” letter to BB from Al White re: Sepia; New York Times book reviews; Bauman Rare Book catalog of rare books and autographs
(1976, 1979, 1997)

Folder 15

Cofield, Ernestine
Letter to EC from BB re: Ethel Ennis
(1971 – 1973)

Folder 16

Collins, Lisa
Correspondence between LC (freelance writer) and BB re: article ideas and photography (Wanda Babin, Eagle Guard Security, Blacks in Soaps) 
(Feb 26, 1976 – March 11, 1977)

Folder 17

Comer, James (Dr.)
Correspondence between James P. Comer, M.D., (Associate Professor Of Psychiatry at Yale Child Study Center) and John Griffin (editorial consultant for Sepia); Review of Comer’s book, Beyond Black and White (July 14, 1974)
(May 15, 1974; May 31, 1974)

Folder 18

Conrad, Earl
Correspondence between EC and BB re: story ideas (“The First Black President of the U.S. Why Not and When?”) and resuscitation of Sepia 
(Feb 23, 1971 – March 2, 1971; some undated)

Folder 19

Daniels, George
Correspondence between GD and BB re: article suggestions (trips to Africa, Opportunities Industrialization Center in Ghana – the most successful OIC operation in Africa) 
(August 10, 1976 – Feb 9, 1977)

Folder 20
Darden, Norman

Article in Amsterdam News on Norman Darden, “Lone Black Literary Agent?” (undated); correspondence between ND and BB re: Wilkins piece, article and interview ideas, advertising space, contributions to Amsterdam News, Shirley Verrett piece 
(May 30, 1975 – March 11, 1977)

Folder 21

Davis, Griffith
Business card and letter from BB re: BB’s trip to Africa 
(July 8, 1977)

Folder 22

Davis, Melton
Correspondence between MD and BB re: article possibilities 
(Feb 2, 1971 – Feb 22, 1975)

Folder 23

Demille, Darcy
Correspondence between DD and BB re: Levitan’s death, article ideas 
(March 15, 1971 – Oct 22, 1976)

Folder 24

Diouf, S.
S.Diouf’s CV; correspondence between SD and BB re: rejection of article on Bonnys
(June 17, 1974 – June 21, 1974)

Folder 25

Drake, Hal
Correspondence between HD and BB 
(July 1, 1976 – July 7, 1976)

Folder 26

Duckett, Al
News release re: Ruth Duckett Gibbs, associate editor of Collegiate Woman’s Career Magazine (April, 20, 1977); Correspondence between AD and BB 
(Nov 4, 1971 – April 20, 1977)

Folder 27

Duke Magazine
Correspondence re: Duke, Modern Man and Sepia magazines; includes George Schuyler’s CV
(May 8, 1957 – May 12, 1958)

Folder 28

Ebert, Alan
Correspondence between BB and AE 
(Aug 4, 1976 – May 4, 1977)

Folder 29

Fallis, Diana
Letter and article, “Black Co-Eds at White Colleges” by Donna Fallis 
(August 2, 1972)

Folder 30

Fingarette, Sherry
Correspondence between SF and BB 
(Aug 2, 1976 – Aug 13, 1978)

Folder 31

Garfinkel, Perry
Correspondence between PG and BB re: Ernie Royal story
(May 6, 1976 – May 10, 1976)

Folder 32

Gaver, Jessyca
Correspondence between JG and BB re: Sepia mention in Writers Newsletter 
(Feb 24, 1971 – March 2, 1971); copies of Writers Newsletter
(Feb 1, 1970 – Nov 15, 1970, March 15, 1971)

Folder 33

General Sepia Correspondence
Correspondence between BB and Alvin White, Ambassador Richard Jones, Wayne Willer; correspondence between Bea Pringle and George Wilcox, complaints about articles; correspondence re: BB leaving Sepia for a year to travel to Africa and Frank Peterson as the new editor; Article in Texas Monthly: “Soul on Ink: Farewell to the Fort Worth publishing house that gave us Sepia, Jive and Bronze Thrills”
(1956 – 1983)

Folder 34

Gibbs, Ruth Duckett
Correspondence between RDB and BB
(Sept 23, 1971 – May 22, 1975; some handwritten notes are undated)

Folder 35

Griffin, John Howard
Correspondence between JHG and BB re: Sepia articles, including correspondence about writing an article, “White No More,” a follow-up to Roi Ottley’s article that would describe the passing of “passing”; photograph and print of JHG’s book, Black Like Me, jacket cover of Black Like Me
(1958 – 1977)

Folder 36

Hill, Herman
Correspondence between HH and BB
(Jan 13, 1976 – Dec 20, 1976)

Folder 37

Hobbs, Sterling
Correspondence between SH and BB 
(Jan 20, 1974 – March 8, 1977)

Folder 38

Horne, Lena
Letter re: story on Horne

Folder 39

Irwin, Ben
Correspondence between BI and BB
(April 10, 1975 – Feb 9, 1977)

Folder 40

Jones, Isaac
Article published in Michigan Chronicle, “Couple Takes Sentimental Journey Home to ‘New South,’” by Isaac Jones  (undated); correspondence re: article on Arthur Barnes (101 years old) 
(Feb 28, 1973 – March 9, 1973)

Folder 41

Jordan, Milton
Correspondence between MJ and BB 
(Jan 27, 1975 – Dec 4, 1977)

Box 5

Folder 1

Kaplan, Marion
Correspondence between MK and BB 
(Oct 13, 1972 – June 13, 1977)

Folder 2

Killens, John
Letter to BB from JK re: book by Chancellor Williams 
(Feb 25, 1972 – March 12, 1972)

Folder 3

Lane, Bill
Letter to BB from BL re: pilot of Sepia and story and photos of Denise Nicholas (BB’s response is attached) 
(April 15, 1971)

Folder 4

Lant, Jeffrey
Correspondence between JL and BB 
(Sept 8, 1976 – May 16, 1977)

Folder 5

Lear, Len
Correspondence between LL and BB re: Caroline Rich, whites working in black publications and LL’s article, “The Tribune’s Token Honky Bares His Lily-White Soul”  (1975 – 1976)

Folder 6

Learn, Paul
Correspondence between PL and BB re: Cheryl Johnson, Miss Wyoming 1974 (BB’s response: not interested) 
(Aug 12, 1975 – Aug 21, 1975)

Folder 7

Letters
Correspondence with Morton Cooper re: article ideas, BB leaving PDC, MC suggesting possible job opportunities for BB; correspondence with Marcia Osborn at Doubleday re: reprinting Bucklin Moon’s The Darker Brother and Ray Bradbury’s The Martian Chronicles; correspondence with Mr. Peterson re: new articles for Sepia including articles on the black communities in major cities
(1956 – 1971)

Folder 8

Letters to the Editor

Folder 9

Levitan
Correspondence between BB and GL re: comparison between Ebony and Sepia, getting Sepia into libraries, BB’s editorial responsibilities, announcements about Bea Pringle being named publisher of Sepia
(1970 – 1977)

Folder 10

Lewis, Larry
Correspondence between LL and BB re: becoming “Sepia’s man in Israel” 
(Jan 15, 1975 – July 30, 1976)

Folder 11

Lucas, Bob
BL’s CV
(undated)

Folder 12

Marine, Gene
Correspondence between GM and BB re: article on Dizzy Gillespie 
(Aug 6, 1976 – Aug 31, 1976)

Folder 13

Matthews, Gene
Correspondence between FM and BB; New York Post article, “The Lomax ‘Revolt’ and the NAACP;” New York Times Book Review, “The Day the Negroes Left” (review of A Different Drummer by William Melvin Kelley) 
(Jan 25, 1972 – Feb 12, 1972; July 8, 1962; June 17, 1962)

Folder 14

McFadden, Jerome
Correspondence between JM and BB
(April 28, 1977 – May 4, 1977)

Folder 15

Moen, Erma
Correspondence between EM and BB; attached is EM’s article, “Unforgettable Gelu Pierre,” published in The Reader’s Digest  (January 1976) 
(Aug 4, 1975 – March 25, 1976)

Folder 16

Moore, Bob
Correspondence between BM and BB
(March 2, 1971 – March 19, 1972)

Folder 17

Niemark, Paul
Correspondence between BB and PN re: article on integration in the suburbs, Al Green, PN’s novel, She Lives!, which became an ABC Movie of the Week
(1975 – 1977)

Folder 18

Norman, Shirley
Correspondence between SN and BB re: Lena Horne interview, Roxie Roker story, Harry Belafonte says no to interview 
(Aug 30, 1976 – Feb 1, 1977)

Folder 19

Ottley, Roi
Draft with corrections of article “Great Lovers” by Roi Ottley
(June 1, 1973)

Folder 20

Peterson, Franklyn
Correspondence between BB and FP re: Maya Angelou, Bobby Short and story ideas  (May 6, 1971 – May 21, 1977); letters from Abidjan, Ivory Coast (Dec 1977 – March 1978)

Folder 21

PR
Press reports re: Governor George Wallace as “America’s most dangerous racist,” “How Joe Louis Got ‘Hooked’ on Cocaine,” retrospective on “Black No More” with John Howard Griffin, holdings of the Black Muslims, adoption of black children by white families 
(undated)

Folder 22

Preece, Harold
Correspondence between HP and BB 
(July 13, 1971 – Sept 25, 1976)

Folder 23

Pringle, Bea & Edna Turner
Program from 20th Annual Celebrity Breakfast, articles on awards given to Bea Pringle and Edna Turner, correspondence to BP from BB; various correspondence including letters from Edna Turner and Franklyn Peterson (who will take over as editor of Sepia), letter re: incorrect listing of Sepia’s circulation as 160,000; announcement of Bea Pringle named as publisher of Sepia, article on BB’s assignment to gather material on black African countries
(1973 – 1978)

Folder 24

Reynolds, Barbara
Correspondence between BP and BB 
(May 19, 1972; May 16, 1972?)

Folder 25

Richmond, Al
Correspondence between BB and AR including letters re: writers Gene Marine and Dave Richmond, article ideas, writers and photographs for Sepia
(1970 – 1976)

Folder 26

Roberson, Mason
Correspondence between MR and BB
(Feb 4, 1971 – March 16, 1971; also includes undated materials)

Folder 27

Robinson, Major
Correspondence between MJ and BB 
(May 3, 1971, May 7, 1971)

Folder 28

Ross, Dorothy
Correspondence between BB and Victor O’Gilvie and BB and DR (includes program, “Musical Marbella”) 
(June 14, 1975 – July 8, 1975)

Folder 29

Rowan, Carl
Letter to CR from BB re: CR’s “price tag is much too rich for [Sepia’s] budget” 
(Oct 28, 1975)

Folder 30

Salaam, Yusef Abdul
Correspondence between YAS and BB 
(Aug 31, 1976; other letters are undated)

Folder 31

Salvo, Patrick
Correspondence between PS and BB 
(Oct 19, 1974 – Dec 15, 1976; several letters are undated)

Folder 32

Scott, Gilbert
Correspondence between GS and BB; includes GS’s letter to Bea Pringle (publisher of Sepia) and GS’ CV 
(June 24, 1976 – July 7, 1976)

Folder 33

Sepia
Jet article on death of George Levitan, owner of Sepia Publishing Co., correspondence including letters re: Sepia articles, information about Good Publishing Company magazines (Sepia, Bronze Thrills, Hep, Jive, Soul Confessions, Soul Teen), discontinuation of all operations on Sepia magazine, use of the expression “two coons” and BB’s concern about the material edited in Texas; BB’s leave of absence, BB’s position at Sepia
(1956 – 1985)

Folder 34

Sepia – Peterson 78
Correspondence between BB and FP re: BB’s travels to Africa and Europe and BB’s column, “Last Word”
(1977 – 1978)

Folder 35

Shay, Reg
Correspondence between RS and BB 
(March 11, 1975 – Feb 10, 1976)

Folder 36

Showell, Milton
Letter re: misunderstanding in the use of the word “motherfucker” compared to “muthafucka”

Folder 37

Stern, Phil
Correspondence between BB and PS re: photo work for Sepia
(1973)

Folder 38

Thomas, Jacqueline
Letter to BB from JT re: story on Holy Angels 
(undated)

Folder 39

Thomas, Leroy
Letter from BB to LT re: SLA column 
(June 1, 1974)

Folder 40

Tolbert, Frank
Correspondence between BB and FT
(May 31, 1974 – Oct 4, 1974)

Folder 41

Trubo, Richard
Thank you from Norman Lear to Richard Trubo for Sepia article 
(June 6, 1975)

Folder 42

Tubbs, Vincent
Correspondence between VT and BB re: photography, articles on Calvin Lockhart, “Hollywood’s New Beauties,” Jimmy Walker, and story ideas including “Hollywood’s Beautiful Black Divorcees” 
(Oct 5, 1972 – Dec 4, 1975)

Folder 43

Tubbs, Vincent -- Paris Phone List, 1973
Letter to Michael Flug re: phone list sent to BB in 1973 from Vincent Tubbs (who was married to Mamie Hansberry; phone list (1997)

Folder 44

Turner, Edna 76
Program from 20th Annual Celebrity Breakfast, articles on awards given to Bea Pringle and Edna Turner, correspondence to BP from BB 
(1975 – 1977)

Correspondence between BB and ET and between BB and Eunice Wilson re: articles (including Mahogany and Diana Ross, Lou Rawls, Black Muslims, John Howard Griffin), corrections, printing and quality issues pertaining to the magazine
(1971 – 1978)

Folder 45

Turner, James
Correspondence between JT and BB re: bi-centennial issue; includes JT’s essay, “Colonial Black New England” 
(March 22, 1975 – May 8, 1975)

Folder 46

Van Sertima, Ivan
Thank you to BB from IVS for article in Sepia 
(Jan 20, 1977)

Box 6

Folder 1

Walton, Hanes
Correspondence between HW and BB re: bicentennial issue and articles focusing on black historical sites and black fashion; includes abstracts and ads for works by HW including: “Black Republicans: The Politics of the Black and Tans,” “The Political Philosophy of Martin Luther King, Jr.,” “Black Political Parties: A Historical and Political Analysis and an ad for Black Politics: A Theoretical and Structural Analysis”
(Jan 30, 1976 – April 27, 1976)

Folder 2

Wesley, Richard
Correspondence between RW and BB about article in Sepia 
(Jan 13, 1977; Jan 26, 1977)

Folder 3-4

White, Al (2 folders)
Correspondence between AW and BB re: Florence Mills story 
(Aug 8, 1975 – May 9, 1977)

Folder 5

Writers/Names and Addresses
Mark Harris’ bibliography (Feb 6, 1997), letters from and to Marion Kaplan (April 28, 1992, May 14, 1992), letter asking for cartoon material from cartoonists, list of writers and photographers, list of proposed articles for pilot issue of Sepia
(1971 – 1997)

Folder 6-7

Young, Doc  (2 folders)
Letters re: articles by Doc Young, disagreements over BB’s methods, his “Great White Fatherism,” disappointment with the black press, article assignments, dispute over article on Muhammad Ali/Frazier fight, resuscitation of Sepia, open areas within the magazine field (teen, women’s interest, New South, Negro detective field), ways to improve Sepia
(July 30, 1970 – June 28, 1977)

Folder 8

Young, Masco
Correspondence between MY and BB; article about Young’s column, “On the Town”
(Dec 9, 1957 – Oct 7, 1971)

Subseries D.  Nitty-Gritty Correspondence

Box 7

Folder 1

Academics
Correspondence with Bill Mullen re: his book, Popular Fronts: Chicago and African American Cultural Politics: 1935-1946, request to quote two letters from Nitty-Gritty, requests for information from BB from academics (including Eric Arnesen), “Following the Color Line of Labor: Black Workers and the Labor Movement before 1930” by Eric Arnesen, “Popular Fronts: Negro Story Magazine and the African American Literary Response to World War II” by Bill Mullen
(1996 – 1998)

Folder 2

Ads, etc.
Ads for Nitty-Gritty
(1996 - )

Folder 3

Agents
Correspondence between BB and prospective literary agents, evaluations of Nitty-Gritty, letters of rejection from literary agents; pamphlet from Scott Meredith’s literary agency, BB’s biographical statement
(1988-1991)

Folder 4

Agents – Elmo/Cohen
Rejection letters from literary agents, BB’s disappointment at lack of interest from publishers and literary agents’ lack of success in placing the manuscript
(1991-1992)

Folder 5

Algase, Gertrude
Correspondence re: conceptualization of BB’s book (including possible titles), creating a book contract, BB’s decision not to publish the book and later reconsideration, Putnam’s rejection of manuscript (unsure about timing of book given problems of racial segregation); BB’s biographical statement
(1953 – 1955)

Folder 6

BB – Personal
Correspondence between BB and Bill Edwards re: Sammy Davis pictures from Duke magazine and Modern Man articles; correspondence between BB and Laura Washington re: Chicago Reporter and BB’s induction into Medill School of Journalism Hall of Achievement

Folder 7

Book Expenses

Folder 8

Book Expenses/Contract
Publishing agreement with University Press of Mississippi, list of book expenses, tax returns, invoices to Chicago Public Library
(May 17, 1994 – June 8, 1998)

Folder 9

Book Jacket

Folder 10

Book Publishers/Stories
Letters from BB to publishers pitching Nitty-Gritty for publication; newspaper articles re: Haki Madhubuti, Jill Nelson’s Volunteer Slavery and other recently published books about the changing face of corporate America, multiethnic romance novels
(1992 – 1994)

Folder 11

Book Reviews – Dupes
Reviews of Nitty Gritty published in Chicago Defender, Daily Challenge, Publisher’s Weekly
(1996)

Folder 12

Copyright – Author’s Guild
Copyright information for Nitty Gritty; certificate of registration (May 29, 1996) and correspondence (April – November 1996)

Folder 13

Daily Northwestern – PR
Various articles/mentions of Nitty-Gritty, profile in Daily Northwestern
(1996 - )

Folder 14

Harsh and Schomburg Collections
BB’s donation of Nitty-Gritty to the Schomburg, talk at the Harsh (undated)
(May 1, 1996)

Folder 15

Indiana U Press
Correspondence, memos and contracts with Indiana U Press re:  consideration and withdrawal of offer to publish Nitty Gritty; Burns’ response to withdrawal of contract  (1993 - )

Folder 16

Jews
Correspondence re: BB’s request for a feature on Nitty Gritty in Jewish Star and BB’s article on his visit to Auschwitz, copy of “An Atheist at Auschwitz”
(1996)

Folder 17

Jewish Star
Copies of Chicago Jewish Star including an article on Burns, “White Jew, Black Media” (published in the August 30 – September 12, 1996 issue)
(1996 - )

Box 8

Folder 1

Miller, Wayne
Correspondence between BB and WM; postcards and flyers announcing WM’s exhibit, “Black Chicago: 1946 – 1948”
(1995 – 1996)

Folder 2

Miss – Business Contract
Correspondence with University Press of Mississippi re: royalties, list of University Press of Mississippi Bestsellers in 1996 (#20 is Nitty Gritty); reader evaluations and suggestions for revisions; publishing agreement
(1994 – 1998)

Folder 3

Miss – Hunter Cole
Correspondence re: promotion and marketing plans for Nitty-Gritty
(1995 – 1999)

Folder 4-5

Miss (Seetha)  (2 folders)
Correspondence between BB and Seetha A-Srinivasan (SS), Associate Director and Editor-in-Chief at University Press of Mississippi re: decision to reject manuscript on BB’s visits to Africa, readers who reviewed the Nitty Gritty manuscript, graphic designs and photographs for book cover, comments on editorial changes to manuscript, discussion of BB’s concerns about changes to manuscript, reader’s evaluations

Folder 6

The Nation
Review of Nitty Gritty and other articles about race published in The Nation (June 17, 1996); correspondence re: review of Nitty Gritty published in The Nation, copy of Pathways: A Minority Press Review (1995)
(1995 – 1996)

Folder 7

Northwestern
Short biography of BB, Correspondence re: BB’s article, “A Radical at Northwestern” (and a copy of the article), “The 1934 Review,” “Northwestern Remembrances: The War Years and NU’s Response” and other alumni and class reunion materials
(1989 – 1998)

Folder 8

Northwestern Awards
Correspondence with Laura Washington re: Chicago Reporter and BB’s induction into the Medill School of Journalism Hall of Achievement; list of Medill School of Journalism Hall of Achievement inductees, letter from Dean Michael C. Janeway inviting BB to become among the first alumni inductees into the Hall of Achievement; essay by Esther Burns nominating BB for National Association of Black Journalists (provides BB’s biography); handwritten copy also in folder; program for Medill awards ceremony (April 26, 1997)

Copies of the Northwestern Observer (April 14, 1997) and The Medillian (Fall 1996, Winter 1997, Summer 1997) and copy of Chicago Reporter (March 1, 1997)

Box 9

Folder 1

PR/Stories/Dupes/Announcements
Various articles/mentions of BB and publication of Nitty Gritty
(1996 - )

Folder 2

Prince, Richard – NABJ
Correspondence between Wayne Dawkins, BB and Richard Prince re: NABJ journal
(1996 - )

Folder 3

Radio-TV
Correspondence re: discussion of Nitty-Gritty on WBEZ on April 18, 1997; letter to Oprah from Esther Burns re: BB and EB’s life experiences; thank you notes from BB to Studs Terkel and others who invited him to discuss Nitty Gritty on their programs
(1997 -)

Folder 4

Safire, William
Two letters re: origins of the expression “nitty-gritty”
(1991, 1996)

Folder 5

University Presses
Correspondence re: finding an agent and a publisher for Nitty-Gritty; rejection letters from university presses  (Wayne State, University of Missouri, University of North Carolina and others)
(1991 – 1994)

Folder 6

Various Nitty Gritty materials
BB’s essay on Era Bell Thompson (editor at Ebony), letters to Kup and Ron Grossman re: Nitty-Gritty, Chicago Jewish Star article featuring BB, press junket for Nitty-Gritty, Nitty-Gritty news releases, talks given at book signings
(1996 – 1997)

Folder 7

WEB
Copies of reviews of Nitty-Gritty printed from Barnes and Noble’s website
(July 26, 1999)

Subseries E.  Various Topics
This subseries contains numerous clippings that reflect the wide variety of topics that interested Burns including: will be arranged alphabetically and will include a variety of topics that interested Burns including:  affirmative action, anti-Semitism, assimilation, black English, black politics, Communism, Jews, prejudice, segregation, sex and white supremacy and word origins.

Box 26

Folder 1-2

Affirmative Action  (2 folders)
Various clippings (including some book reviews)  re: ethnic studies and Ward Connerly; "Breaking Thurgood Marshall's Promise" by A. Leon Higginbotham; background on Ward Connerly; "The Failure of Racial Preferences" by Ward Connerly and Newt Gringrich;  excerpts from Dole's address on affirmative action; "Taking Affirmative Action Apart" by Nicholas Lemann; white man rage; "Planet of the White Guys" by Barbara Ehrenreich; BB's letter to the editor (NY Times), "Why all the fuss about affirmative action?"
(1991 – 1998)

Handwritten notes (undated)

Folder 3-4

Africa (2 folders)
Various clippings (and book reviews) re:  Mauritania's 90,000 slaves; French forces in Africa; dictators in Africa; Mandela; U.S. proposal for all-African peacekeeping force; "A Few Good Reasons to Start Caring about Africa;" "How Europeans Cut Up Africa;" "On Slavery, Africans Say the Guilt is Theirs, Too;" material by Beryl Markham; "Out of Africa and into the Living Room" (collecting African art); black journalists writing about Africa; "Our Africa" by Jeffrey Goldberg; "Seeing South Africa as the U.S.A., 1954"
(1992 - 1998 )

Folder 5

Africa Books
Reviews (undated)

Folder 6

Africa -- General
Encyclopedia par L'image Les Colonies Francaises; newspaper articles; "Aggrey of Africa;" correspondence with Al White

Folder 7

Africa – Restrictions on the Press
Ray Moseley, "Africa:  Where a Free Press Suffers from Wawa"

Folder 8

Ali, Muhammed
"Age Hasn't Cooled the Fire Inside Ali" by Ira Berkow
(April 28, 1985)

Folder 9

Arabs
Various newspaper clippings

Box 27

Folder 1

Anti-Semitism
Quotes on anti-Semitism by Jesse  Jackson, the ADL and Andrew Young; articles in the New Yorker (re: anti-Semitism as an "unfortunate result" of the civil rights movement and Jackie Mason) ; editorial by Jesse Jackson published in the Chicago Jewish Star, "Common Tears, Shared Destinies," (Jan 22 - Feb 4, 1993, published in honor of Martin Luther King Day); newspaper articles and editorials on Louis Farrakhan and anti-Semitism in Chicago; "A New Jesse? Rev. Jackson Says He Wants to Reach Out to the Jewish Community.  But Many are Wary," by James Besser published in JUF News (April 1993)
(1988 – 1994)

Folder 2

Assimilation
Quote by Barbara Jordan: "Assimilation was never the goal of the diverse ethnic groups in America.  Inclusion without discomfort is now and ever will be the goal…The idea of a melting pot was and remains a myth;" clipping from New Yorker re: Walt Whitman applauding the state constitution of Oregon that excluded blacks ("Who believes that the Whites and Blacks can ever amalgamate in America?..."); article on Barbara Jordan (includes above quote) in Stagebill
(undated)

Folder 3

Atheists
Clippings and article in the Chicago Reader re: atheists
(April 5, 1985)

Folder 4

Bauman Rare Books
Ads and catalog

Folder 5

Being Black
Quote by Eddy Harris: "What black men do to other black men is no better than what white men do, and no better because it is done by blacks," various articles re: Jamaica Kincaid, book on William F. Buckley, Glenn Loury, talking about race, Soul Train, Spike Lee's movie "Malcolm X," The Southern Review, the "underclass," review of Marian Wright Edelman's book, The Measure of Our Success, article about Julian Bond -- "A lot of liberals are tired of black people.  We're not as hip as we used to be," Jackie Robinson, list of quotes on "Being Black"; two typed pages with corrections to a text (?)
(1972 – 1996)

Folder 6

 Bias – Foreign
Various articles re:  Miss Italy - Dominican immigrant, integration in France, black Britons, Brazil and ancestral lands, racial hatred in Europe, anniversary of abolition in Brazil, State Department attache, Frank Snowden, Mexico's denial of racism, Black London (by Henry Louis Gates)
(1956 – 1996)

Folder 7

Bigotry
Articles including:  "Hate Story: Farrakhan's still at it," (New Republic, May, 30, 1988); "Academic Freedom and Racial Theories," (New York Times, May 3, 1990); "Sweden's Nasty, Sexist, Racist Genius," (New York Times Book Review, Sept. 1, 1985, on August Strindberg); "Nakasone's World-Class Blunder," (Time, Oct. 6, 1986); one page of Response (includes articles on David Duke and stereotyped Jews in New Testament video)
(1985 – 1990)

Box 28

Folder 1

Black Books and Writing by Author
Various articles and book reviews of books by black authors
(1990 – 1996)

Folder 2

Black Bookstores
Article on black bookstores, listings of black book publishers and book stores
(1996)

Folder 3

Black English
"A Fear of Metaphors," (New York Times Magazine, July 14, 1985); "Guide explores secret language of black slang," (Marin Independent Journal, March 20, 1994 -- with handwritten note at top: "Ben--For inspiration in case you decide to publish a reference book of quotes or whatever and for your general interest in the language -- Judi"
(1985, 1994)

Folder 4-5

Blacks in the Arts (2 folders)
Various clippings re:  multicultural books; theatrical production of Black No More; book reviews on books on affirmative action; "The Beauty of Black  Art;" "Sexism, Racism and Black Women Writers" by Mel Watkins; "A Black Panther's Long Journey" (about Elaine Brown); Stanley Crouch; (assorted articles about black television and film stars, musicians, intellectuals -- Lena Horne to Amos 'n Andy to Stanley Crouch; book reviews about Local People and the civil rights movement; reviews of key books on black history (Local People, and contemporary books like Makes Me Wanna Holler; Trouble in Mind)
(1991 – 1998)

Folder 6

Blacks in Business
Articles including: “The Big Three and Black America,” “Fast Food Workers Allowed to Wear Braids,” “Pool of Qualified Blacks Expands, but Very Few Sit on Corporate Boards,” “Between Two Worlds” (about the black middle class)
(1989 – 1997)

Folder 7-8

Black Politics  ( 2 folders)
Various articles re:  affirmative action debate, black men barred from voting (portrait of the electorate); GOP courts black vote; conservative blacks; Harold Washington, Kweisi Mfume
(1991 – 1997)

Folder 9

Black Stereotypes - Words - Language
Various clippings re: Martin Lawrence, Aunt Jemima's makeover; Bert Williams; relics of racism; Japanese racial attitudes; shift to term "African American"
(1988 – 1997)

Box 29

Folder 10

Black Studies
“Race, Revolution and Cricket,” a review of the C.L.R. James Reader in the New York Times Book Review
(undated)

Folder 11

Black Upper Class in Chicago
Excerpt from Our Kind of People: Inside America's Black Upper Class by Lawrence Otis Graham
(January 24, 1999)

Folder 12

Brazil
"Many Blacks Shut Out of Brazil's Racial 'Paradise,'" New York Times  (June 5, 1978)

Folder 13

British -- Race & General
Various newspaper clippings; "Life in America -- as seen by visiting Europeans”

Folder 14

Business
"80-Year Tide of Migration by Blacks Out of the South Has Turned Around" (New York Times); "Capital Rally to Recall Dr. King and His Dream" (New York Times); quote by Rev. Joseph Lowery: "We won the battle to sit on the customer's side of the lunch counter, but we are still fighting the battle to get on the cash register side of the counter."
(1988, 1989)

Folder 15

Clips Used for Books
Various clippings including articles re: "Waiting for Lefty," NYU, review of "Canarsie," Princeton tribute to Norman Thomas, the Ptolemies library in Egypt, obituary of Joseph Lash, review of "The Windsor Style," Suzanne de Passe, seltzer, Cuba, Chicago Tribune Sunday Magazine, "Remembering Nelson Algren"
1968 – 1989 (mostly 1984 – 1989)

Folder 16

Colleges
Various articles re: African American Studies at Harvard, low enrollment numbers of blacks at Northwestern, ethnic dorms at Cornell, hiring and tenure policies, admissions, whites at black colleges
(1981 – 1986)

Folder 17

Communists
Untitled article from Time magazine about race relations
(May 11, 1953)

Folder 18

Communists - People
Various articles about the Communist Party generally and people involved in the Communist party (including obituaries):  Louise Patterson (Harlem Renaissance figure), Al Richmond, Carl Bernstein's parents, Agnes Smedley, John Rossen and about books written about the Communist Party including:  Red: A Biography of Red Smith, Queen of Bohemia: The Life of Louise Bryant, Not Without Honor: The History of American Anticommunism
(1969 – 1996; but mostly from 1980s and 1990s)

Letter to "Lew and Lil" from BB that describes BB's relationship with the Communist Party after the war
(April 22, 1955)

Folder 19

CP Background
Program for "Writers as Workers: A 50-year Retrospective of the Illinois Writers Project, 1935 - 1939;" various clippings on Communist Party
(1975 – 1996)

Folder 20

Crime
Various articles including:  "Rise is Found in Hate Crimes Committed by Blacks," increasing violent crime statistics, black-on-black crime
(1985 – 1993)

Various articles re: OJ Simpson, shooting of a 17-year-old football star, LA riots
(1987 – 1997)

Folder 21

Ebony Clips
Various articles re: Linda Johnson Rice and her 1984 wedding to Andre Rice, John H Johnson, Robert Johnson (obituary), Moneta Sleet (obituary), Diane Montgomery (obituary), Johnson awarded with Medal of Freedom by President Clinton, Era Bell Thompson (obituary), Ebony's 50th anniversary
(1982 – 1998)

Folder 22

Ellison, Ralph
Article on pianist Andre Watts, various quotes on hatred
(1977 - )

Folder 23

Employment
Two quotes by Booker T. Washington: "Let down your bucket;" "The opportunity to earn a dollar in a factory…is worth infinitely more than the opportunity to spend a dollar in an opera house."
(undated)

Folder 24

Entertainment
Various articles re: "Amos 'n Andy," growing number of black stars in Hollywood, nostalgia for blaxploitation films, Lena Horne
(1995 – 1997)

Folder 25

Equality
Tocqueville quote: "I do not think that the white and black races will ever be brought anywhere to live on a footing of equality…" Cited in Time magazine article; quote by William Lloyd Garrison: "Wherever there is a human being, I see God-given rights inherent in that being, whatever may be the sex or complexion."
(1982 -)

Folder 26

Female Circumcision
Article published in Emerge, September 1996

Folder 27

Hatred
Article on pianist Andre Watts, various quotes on hatred
(1977 - )

Folder 28-29

History (2 folders)
Article about racial antipathies in Spain; review of book on the Know Nothings
(1987 - )

Various articles and book reviews -- Slave Counterpoint, comparing the suffering of Jews and blacks, Amistad, Slaves in the Family, King family disputes over archive, Reconstruction,  Detroit Museum of African American History, Monticello, Tulsa race riot, Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire, Underground Railroad, Medgar Evers, commemoration of civil rights movement in museums in Memphis, Atlanta and Birmingham
(1986 – 1998)

Folder 30

Horne, Lena

New York Times article, "Lena Horne: Aloofness Hid the Pain, Until Time Cooled Her Anger," (May 3, 1981)

Folder 31

Humor
Various clippings and article on Andrew Young and review of books in Penguin Lives of Modern Women volume
(1977 – 1993)

Folder 32

Inspiration
Articles re: Ralph Bunche and King's Dream ("America Still Haunted by Problems of Black Poor"
(1986 – 1988)

Folder 1

Integration
Various articles re:  John Hope Franklin (reflections on his 80th birthday), "Years on the Road to Integration: New Views on an Old Goal," review of Studs Terkel's book Race: How Blacks and Whites Think and Feel about the American Obsession, Jesse Helms hires James Meredith as a domestic policy adviser
(1989 – 1995)

"Integration Has Had its Day," by Glenn Loury (editorial published in the New York Times)
(April 23, 1997)

Folder 2

Intermarriage
Quotes on intermarriage by Elijah Muhammad and Stokley Carmichael; article: "Blacks Found Lagging Despite Gains"
(1989 - )

Folder 3

Jackson, Jesse
Article on Jesse Jackson and corporate protests, two profiles of Jesse Jackson
(1992, 1996)

Folder 4-5

Jews (2 folders)
Two articles re: black-Jewish relations; quotes on black-Jewish relations by James Baldwin, Harry Belafonte, Leonard Dinnerstein, Louis Farrakhan, Lu Palmer, Richard Wright
(1990 - )

Folder 6

Memory
Various clippings re: memory
(1981 – 1987)

Folder 7 

Migration
Smithsonian article, "'Gone up North, Gone out West, Gone!,'" by Jon Cohen
(May 1987)

Folder 8

Movies/TV
Various articles re:  minority radio and television station owners, Spike Lee, Charles Burnett, Rosewood, Love Jones, Ossie Davis, reality and stereotypes on black television programs, John Singleton
(1991 – 1997)

Folder 9-10

Music (2 folders)
Pamphlets and information on music festivals, performances and entertainment, various articles re: rap, Sister Souljah, black critique of "hard core" rap lyrics, Suge Knight, black conductors
(1992 – 1996)

Folder 11

NAACP
Various articles re: Ben Chavis and NAACP, sexism and the NAACP
(1994 - )

Folder 12

Negroes
New Yorker article on Harry Belafonte; quote by Eleanor Roosevelt:  "We hope that the bright and cheerful faces of little Negroes, happy in their schools, may never be clouded by the knowledge that equality is not always as real as it sounds, even in this land of freedom;" article (editorial) by John Steinbeck on America's expectations of Negroes
(New Yorker article – 1996; other materials are undated)

Folder 13

People
Article on Frederick Douglass, selecting a new schools chancellor in New York (9/21/1995), Willie Brown, quote by Flannery O'Connor: "If James Baldwin were white, nobody would stand him for a minute" (New York Times Book Review, 8/21/88)
(other materials are undated)

Folder 1

PR
Clippings on PR and Ben Bentley, Jack O’Dwyer’s Newsletter (“The Inside News of Public Relations”)
(1986 – 1995)

Folder 2

Prejudice
Excerpt from Shylock's speech in The Merchant of Venice (I am a Jew.  Hath not a Jew eyes/  hath not a Jew hands, organs, dimensions….); article about military opposition to Truman's plans to desegregate (compared to Clinton's plan to lift ban on gays; quotes from Charlotte Bronte and Thoreau on prejudice
(1992 – 1993)

Folder 3

Press
Book review of The Federal Government's Investigation of the Black Press During World War II; letter to the editor re: John Russwurm and Samuel Cornish's newspaper, Freedom's Journal, which predated Douglass' North Star by 20 years; quotes about the press
(1986 – 1987)

Folder 4

Publishing/Writing (General) 
Clippings including:  Chicago Reader article, "Murdoch's Man in Chicago;"
Nicholas Tomalin, "A Career in Journalism: Stop the Press, I Want to Get On;" "Hugh Hefner: He achieved success by fulfilling his teenage fantasies;"
Chris Welles, "The Battle for Control of the Daily News"
(March 21, 1975 – Feb 24, 1984)

Folder 5

Quotes/Racial/Used/General
Quote from Bill Bradley; list of quotes for Africa, Anti-Semitism, Jews, Slavery; additional quotes; article, "The U.S. Negro, 1953;" Nat Hentoff, "Through the Racial Looking Glass," published in Playboy (July 1962); book review of The European Tribe by Caryl Philipps
(1962 -- )

Folder 6

Race
Various articles re: Clinton's race panel, Noel Ignatiev and the "abolition of whiteness," Kenneth Clark's article, "No. No. Race, Not Class, is Still at the Wheel," published in the New York Times (March 22, 1978), letter to the editor re: Darwin's discussion of slaves in Brazil, interview with Cornel West, review of book on Frederick Douglass, "The Tallest Fence: Feelings on Race in a White Neighborhood," interview with Colin Powell, interview with Mark Mathabane, article discussing the "predicaments of blacks and gays" by Henry Louis Gates,  ; quotes by Frederick Douglass, Edwin Embree, Winston Churchill, William Dawson
(1988 – 1998)

Folder 7

Race clippings -- various
Various articles and book reviews re: the black press, Encarta Africana, race and the military, ethnic categories, race and the media, the black middle class, “reverse discrimination,” list of ethnic/multicultural magazines, black newspaper index

(1976 - 1999)

Folder 8

Race - General
Various articles including:  John Hope Franklin and Clinton's national discussion on race; "Black Scholars View Society With a Prism of Race;" "Black Soldiers Wrestling with Questions of Race and Justice; "Grappling with the One-Drop Rule" (Tiger Woods); O.J. Simpson case; editorials on race; "Integration Turns 40: The New Segregation" by Juan Williams; afrocentrism; multiculturalism; "The New Black Suburbs;" Goetz; Sister Souljah
(1978 – 1997)

New Yorker, "Black in America"
(April 29 & May 6, 1996)

Eleanor Roosevelt, "If I Were a Negro, Freedom: Promise or Fact"
(1944 - )

Folder 9

Racism
Various articles including: Orlando Patterson on race, Melville Hersokovits on African heritage, racism and poverty
(1994 – 1997)

Folder 10

Religion - Muslims
Various clippings re: religion and Muslims, Ben Chavis joins Nation of Islam; Peter Gomes; Louis Farrakhan
(1977 – 1997)

Folder 11

Roosevelt, Eleanor, “If I Were a Negro”

Folder 12

Segregation
Various articles re: discussion about theater between playwright August Wilson and critic Robert Brustein, article on Kenneth Clark, "The Cult of Ethnicity, Good and Bad" by Arthur Schlessinger, MLK's "I Have a Dream" speech; quotes by Booker T. Washington
(1982 – 1997)

Folder 13

Sex
Review of Cornel West's Race Matters (New York Times Book Review, May 16, 1993)

Folder 14

Skin Color
Various articles on subjects including: Norton Anthology of African American Literature, theatrical adaptation of Delany sisters' "Having Our Say" starring Mary Alice, Mark Twain's racial attitudes, interrelatedness of blacks and whites in America, Louise Nevelson, Fannie Lou Hamer, "colorism" in black society, South Africa, James Baldwin's obituary in New York Times (Dec. 2, 1987)
(1985 – 1997)

Folder 15

Slavery
Review of August Wilson's "Seven Guitars;" quotes on slavery
(June 18, 2005)

Book reviews and articles re: slavery and slave trade; "African Slave Trade:  The Cruelest Commerce" in National Geographic (September 1992)
(1977 – 1993)

Folder 16

South
Various clippings re: Atlanta; progress of "New South"
(1994 – 1998)

Memo by Lerone Bennett re: trip south with Mike Shea (Jim Crow practices)
(1950s)

Folder 17

Sports
Excerpt of an article on sports (and "Hoop Dreams"?)
(Oct 9, 1994)

Various clippings re: boxing, basketball; Tiger Woods; Jackie Robinson; black swimmers
(1995 – 1997)

Folder 18

Statistics
Racial disparities in health care; multiracial census category; the economy; Newsweek cover story, "A World Without Fathers:  The Struggle to Save the Black Family;" (August 30, 1993)
(1993 – 1998)

Folder 19

Tolerance
Quotes by Whoopi Goldberg, Phil Collins and John Fowles
(undated)

Folder 20

Whites
Various articles re: Kenneth Clark, famous quotations, Claude McKay's poetry and quotes
(1992 – 1995)

Folder 21

White Supremacy
Time magazine article on Public Enemy
(Nov 11, 1991)

Folder 22

Word Origins
Various clippings re: language (including several of William Safire's column, "On Language"); article re: "Negro Termed an 'Uncle Tom' is Granted Libel Award in Ohio," article about removing the word "nigger" from the names of brooks, hills and islands in Maine, discussion of term "Afro-American," vs. "African American;" William Julius Wilson and "the underclass"; "creole," "jazz," "Chitling" Test in Jet magazine (1967); "Tasteful update: White lace collar replaces Aunt Jemima's bandanna;" (1989); Aunt Jemima (1963 – 1996)