Biographical Note

The O'Quinns are perhaps best known for the O'Quinn Royal Gladiators Drum and Bugle Corps, which they founded in 1962. The Corps have "posted the colors" in numerous community and city events, won awards, and traveled nationwide, while providing recreation and training for hundreds of boys and girls. The Drum and Bugle Corps evolved out of the Fine Arts Academy organized by the O'Quinns in 1953. The Academy offered cultural education and a community studio for young people in Lawndale, including drama, music, dance, talent shows, parades, tutoring, counseling, job placement, and arts and crafts.

John William O'Quinn was born in Larmon, Mississippi and attended Southern Christian College and Alcorn College before coming to Chicago. He served with the Navy in World War II. He graduated from the Chicago Barber College and is the owner and manager of the Triple Q Barbershop at 1218 S. Central Park Avenue in Lawndale. He served as scoutmaster for Boy Scout Troop #3365 and participated extensively in other scout-related activities, earning a Distinguished Sivler Beaver Award in 1973. In addition to his involvement with Boy Scouts, the Fine Arts Academy, and the Drum and Bugle Corps, Mr. O'Quinn has been active in numerous community and youth organizations, including American Legion Posts #896 (Robert Brooks) and #1268 (Crispus Attucks), the American Boys Commonwealth, the Maxwell Street YMCA, the O’Quinn Community Center, the Boys Brotherhood Republic, Reading is Fundamental, and the Westside Citizens Organization. He was chairman of the Sears Art Festival parade committee and taught Sunday school. Mr. O'Quinn was the first black to run for Alderman of the 24th Ward.

Cleodia Lyndon Dawkins O'Quinn's community involvement has been equally extensive. Born in Sedalia, Mississippi, she attended Herzl Junior College and the Chicago Teachers College, holds a doctorate in theology, and is a licensed evangelist. Like her husband, she has been heavily involved with the Drum and

Bugle Corps, the Fine Arts Academy, the American Legion, and scouting. She has served as director of teacher training for the Boy Scouts of America. In 1960 she was elected vice-mayor of Lawndale, a post she held for ten years. She represented Lawndale at the Conference of Women of Africa and African Descent
(Ghana, 1960). Her activities have included leadership education, the Lawndale Women's League, the Lawndale Professional Matrons, and the Maxwell Street YMCA.

Scope and Content

The Cleodia D. and John w. O'Quinn Collection (OQC) consists of papers and photographs which reflect the O'Quinn's lifelong participation in Lawndale Community affairs and youth organizations.

Papers in the OQC include biographical data, correspondence, speech drafts, awards, testimonials, programs, certificates, schedules, news clippings, and other printed materials. Dates range from around 1949 to 1984. The documentation of Boy Scout Troop #3365 and the O'Quinn Royal Gladiators Drum and Bugle Corps is the most complete, and the correspondence of Cleodia D. O'Quinn is relatively extensive. The rest of the record, however, is spotty and categories often contain only a few scattered items. Important subjects in the manuscript collection include:

Boy Scouts of America
Conference of Women of Africa and African Descent
Lawndale Professional Matrons
O'Quinn, Cleodia D.
O'Quinn Fine Arts Academy
O'Quinn, John W.
O'Quinn Royal Gladiators Drum and Bugle Corps
Sears Annual Westside Art Fair
West Side Negro Women's League

One hundred and six photographs dating from the early 1940s to 1984 have been removed from the manuscript portion of the OQC and placed in the OQC audiovisual file. Particularly plentiful are the photographs documenting the activity of the Boy Scouts and of the O'Quinn Royal Gladiators Drum and Bugle Corps. Although photographs of the O'Quinn and the children they worked with dominate the collection, the following persons, among others, appear: Susie Arrington, Clarence Cash, George Collins, Richard Daley, Ishmail Florey, Sugar Hampton, (Governor) Otto Kerner, Benjamin Lewis, Cecil O'Quinn, Milton O'Quinn, Cecil Partee, Sylvester Rim, Dorothy Sardegon, O. B. Saryman, Niles Sherman, Walter Shumpert, Benjamin Simon, Oburn Simons, Ruth Watson, and Bill Willis.

Series I: Personal Papers, 1957-1984
This series consists of biographical data on Cleodia D. and John W. O'Quinn, as well as correspondence, speech drafts, and other materials relating to their activities. Also included are awards earned by Milton O’Quinn, testimonials for Cleodia L. Anderson Dawkins (Cleodia’s mother) and Councilman Walter Shumpert, and various certificates. The series is arranged into the following subseries: Cleodia D. O'Quinn, John W. O'Quinn, Milton O'Quinn, Certificates, and Testimonials.

Series II: Clubs and Events, 1949-1984
This series contains programs, correspondence, schedules, news clippings, and other printed materials from clubs and from Sears Annual Westside Art Fair. Most extensive records from the Royal Gladiators Drum and Bugle Corps and from the Boy Scouts of America Troop #3365. Materials are arranged alphabetically by name of club.

Provenance

The O'Quinn papers were donated by John W. And Cleodia D. O'Quinn to the Special Collection Division of the Chicago Public Library in February, 1985. This collection overlaps that of Bethel New Life in provenance. Original contact between Special Collections and the O'Quinns was made through Bethel New Life, but the Bethel material was accessioned into Special Collections and cataloged independently of the O'Quinn Collection. Nevertheless, the two collections are complementary and should be considered in tandem.

Access

The O'Quinn Family Papers are available to the public for research in the Special Collections and Preservation Division Reading Room on the 9th floor of the Harold Washington Library Center, 400 South State Street, Chicago, Illinois, 60605. The collection does not circulate although photocopy and photoreproduction services are available depending upon the condition of the original materials. First time patrons to Special Collections must present a photo identification and complete a Reader Registration Form. Telephone inquiries on this collection and other Special Collections holdings can be directed to 312-747-4875.

Box and Folder Inventory

BOX 1

Series I: Personal Papers, 1957-1984

Cleodia D. O'Quinn
1. Biographical Data
2. Conference of Women of Africa and African Descent
3. Correspondence
4. Mayoral campaign
5. Speeches

John W. O'Quinn
6. Biographical data

Milton O'Quinn
7. Awards
8. Testimonials
9. Certificates

Series II: Clubs and Events, 1949-1984
10. Art Fair, Sears Annual Westside

Boy Scouts of America
11. Awards, certificates, and membership cards
12. Correspondence
13. Newsclippings
14. Fine Arts Academy
15. Lawndale Professional Matrons
16. Miscellaneous Clubs

BOX 2

O'Quinn Royal Gladiators Drum and Bugle Corps
1. Construction and by-laws
2. Correspondence
3. Historical sketches
4. Newsclippings
5-6. Printed material
7. Programs
8. West Side Negro Women's League

PHOTOGRAPHS Business Establishments

1.1 A. Pod Stock Holders' meeting, 1950s
1.2 Buddy Bear Food Center parade float, c. 1981
1.3 Holiday Magic pageant, c. 1968 (also 1.4)
1.5 O'Quinn Fine Arts Academy, c. 1969
1.6 Sears & Roebuck Art Fair project, 1976
1.7 Triple Q Barber Shop, 1218 S. Central Park, c. 1950 (also 1.8, 1.9)

Churches
1.10 St. Agatha, c. 1955

Clubs and Organizations

1.11 American Boys Commonwealth, Pack 3365
1.12 American Legion, Robert Parks Post #896, c. 1948
1.13 Cub Scout Troop #3365 (see also: 1.11; also 1.14, 1.15)
1.16 Boy Scouts (also 1.17-1.28a)
1.29 Conquerors Baseball Team, c. 1960
1.30 Green Donkeys Social Club, c. 1976
1.31 Lakers Basketball Team, c. 1950
1.32 Lawndale Education and Civic Organization, c. 1985
1.33 Lawndale Youth Commission
1.34 Carey Tercentenary (Methodist Church)
1.35 O’Quinn Royal Gladiators Drum & Bugle Corps, 1966-1982 (see also 1.36-1.52)
1.53 West Side Citizens Organization, c. 1950 Municipal Agencies
1.54 Department of Human Services
1.55 Department of Human Services: Voter Registration
1.56 Poverty Program Workshop (also 1.57)

Parks
1.58 Douglas Park, c. 1967

Portrait and Family Photos
1.59 No photo for this number
1.60 Rev. Helen Crafte, pastor West Side Center of Truth
1.61 Richard Daley (1902-1976) with Santa Claus and others
1.62 Leonard Hoover
1.63 Lilly Howard, c. 1960, in Ghana
1.64 Benjamin Lewis (alderman, d. 1960s); also 1.65
1.66 Mattie Moore
1.67 Cleodia O'Quinn (also: 1.68-1.80)
1.81 John W. O'Quinn (also 1.82-1.85)
1.86 John W. and Cecil O'Quinn
1.87 John W. and Cleodia O'Quinn (also 1.88-1.95)
1.96 John W., Cleodia and Milton O'Quinn
1.97 *
1.98 O'Quinn family
1.99 Sylvester Rim
1.100 Dorothy Sardegon
1.101 Walter Shumpert
1.102 Rev. Mrs. Shuttleworth
1.103 Oberon Simons
1.104 Lacy L. And Leola A. Tyree
1.105 Bill Willis

Street Scenes
1.106 Congress Avenue, c. 1954

Addenda
1.107 Eagles Baseball Team, c. 1940 (SEE Clubs & Organizations)
1.108 Eagles Baseball Team, 1940 (SEE Clubs & Organizations)
1.109 Richard Daley presents Eagle Scout Award to Milton O'Quinn (SEE Portraits & Family Photos: Daley, R.)