| Dates: | circa 1937-circa 1987, undated |
| Size: | 5.75 linear feet in 6 boxes, includes 112 photographs |
| Repository: | Chicago Public Library, Harold Washington Library Center, Special Collections, 400 S. State St., Chicago, IL 60605 |
| Collection Number: | spe-nhrc-oqc |
| Immediate Source of Acquisition: | Donated by John W. And Cleodia D. O’Quinn in February 1985. This collection overlaps that of Bethel New Life Records in provenance. Original contact between Special Collections and the O’Quinn Family was made through Bethel New Life, but the Bethel material was accessioned into Special Collections and cataloged independently of the O’Quinn Family Papers. |
| Conditions Governing Access: | Materials are open without restrictions. |
| Conditions Governing Use: | Please consult staff to determine ability to reuse materials from collection. |
| Preferred Citation: | When quoting material from this collection the preferred citation is: O’Quinn Family Papers [Box #, Folder #], Special Collections, Chicago Public Library. |
| Finding Aid Author: | Original author unknown, 1985. Updated and ingested into ArchivesSpace by Michelle McCoy, 2022 |
Abstract
The O’Quinn Family Papers document their participation in Chicago’s Lawndale community that includes Boy Scouts of America, O’Quinn Royal Gladiators Drum and Bugle Corps and West Side Negro Women's League.
Biographical/Historical
The O’Quinn Family is known for the O’Quinn Royal Gladiators Drum and Bugle Corps, which they founded in 1962. The Corps “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’Quinn’s in 1953. The Academy offered cultural education and a community studio for young people in the Lawndale community, 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 was 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 Silver 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 was 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. He died in 1996.
In 1940, he married Cleodia Lyndon Dawkins.
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 was involved with the Drum and Bugle Corps, the Fine Arts Academy, the American Legion and scouting. She 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 included leadership education, the Lawndale Women’s League, the Lawndale Professional Matrons and the Maxwell Street YMCA. She died around 2011.
Scope and Contents
The Cleodia D. and John W. O’Quinn Family Papers consists of documents and photographs that document the O’Quinn’s lifelong participation in Chicago’s Lawndale community and youth organizations.
The collection includes awards, biographical data, correspondence, news clippings, photographs, programs, schedules, speech drafts and testimonials. Dates range from around 1949 to 1984. The documents the O’Quinn Family activities with Boy Scout Troop #3365, Conference of Women of Africa and African Descent, Lawndale Professional Matrons, O’Quinn Fine Arts Academy, O’Quinn Royal Gladiators Drum and Bugle Corps, Sears Annual Westside Art Fair and West Side Negro Women’s League.
Arrangement
The collection is arranged into two series:
- Series 1: Family Papers, circa 1937-1984, undated
- Series 2: Community Organizations and Events, 1940-circa 1987, undated
Subject Headings
- Boy Scouts of America
- Drum and bugle corps -- Illinois -- Chicago
- North Lawndale (Chicago, Ill.)
- O’Quinn, Cleodia Lyndon Dawkins
- O’Quinn, John William
- Parades -- Illinois -- Chicago
- Royal Gladiators Drum and Bugle Corps
- South Lawndale (Chicago, Ill.)
Related Materials
- Bethel New Life Records
- Chicago Public Library Archives, Toman Branch
- Girl Scouts of America #427 Records
- Lawndale-Crawford Community Collection
- Lawndale-Crawford Historical Association Records
- North Lawndale Community Collection
- O’Quinn Family Papers
- Faith Rich Papers
- South Lawndale Community Collection
- John Toman Scrapbooks
Collection Inventory
Series 1: Family Papers, circa 1937-1984, undated
Scope and Contents
Series 1 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. Awards, certificates and testimonials earned by Milton O’Quinn, for Cleodia L. Anderson Dawkins (Cleodia’s mother) and Councilman Walter Shumpert are also included in Series 1.
Arrangement
Series 1 is arranged into two subseries: Subseries A: Documents, 1953-1984, undated and Subseries B: Photographs, circa 1937-circa 1984, undated
Subseries A: Documents, 1953-1984, undated
Arrangement
Subseries A is arranged alphabetically by name and by description within.
| Box 1 | Folder 1 | O’Quinn, Cleodia D., biographical notes, programs, resume, 1964-1965, 1973-1974, circa 1984, undated |
| Box 1 | Folder 2 | O’Quinn, Cleodia D., Conference of Women of Africa and African Descent, 1957, 1960 |
| Box 1 | Folder 3 | O’Quinn, Cleodia D., correspondence, 1957-1984 |
| Box 1 | Folder 4 | O’Quinn, Cleodia D., Mayor of Lawndale campaign, 1960 |
| Box 1 | Folder 5 | O’Quinn, Cleodia D., speeches, 1978, undated |
| Box 1 | Folder 6 | O’Quinn, John W., biographical notes, correspondence, news clippings, 1953, 1960, 1969-1971, 1977, 1982, undated |
| Box 1 | Folder 7 | O’Quinn, Milton, awards, 1958, 1978, undated |
| Box 1 | Folder 9 | O’Quinn, Family, awards and certificates, 1960-1984 |
| Box 1 | Folder 8 | O’Quinn Family, testimonials for Cleodia L. Anderson Dawkins, Walter M. Shumpert, 1971, 1973, 1982 |
Series 2: Family Papers, circa 1937-1984, undated
Subseries B: Photographs, circa 1937-circa 1984, undated
Arrangement
Subseries B is arranged alphabetically by name and by description within. The number of images with the same description is indicated in parentheses.
| Box 4 | Photograph 1.59 | No photo for this number |
| Box 4 | Photograph 1.60 | Crafte, Rev. Helen, pastor West Side Center of Truth, 1982 |
| Box 4 | Photograph 1.61 | Daley, Richard J. (1902-1976) with Santa Claus and others, circa 1965-1973 |
| Box 5 | Photograph 1.109 | Daley, Richard presents Eagle Scout Award to Milton O’Quinn, 1956 |
| Box 4 | Photograph 1.62 | Hoover, Leonard, undated |
| Box 4 | Photograph 1.63 | Howard, Lilly, in Ghana, circa 1960 |
| Box 4 | Photograph 1.64 | Lewis, Benjamin (alderman), and Cleodia O’Quinn, circa 1963 |
| Box 4 | Photograph 1.65 | Lewis, Benjamin, circa 1963 |
| Box 4 | Photograph 1.66 | Moore, Mattie, circa 1973 |
| Box 4 | Photograph 1.67 | O’Quinn, Cleodia D., circa 1947 |
| Box 4 | Photograph 1.68 | O’Quinn, Cleodia D., circa 1947-1948 |
| Box 4 | Photograph 1.69 | O’Quinn, Cleodia D., circa 1953 |
| Box 4 | Photograph 1.70 | O’Quinn, Cleodia D., 1959 |
| Box 4 | Photograph 1.71 | O’Quinn, Cleodia D., Mayor of Lawndale Inaugural Ball, 1960 |
| Box 4 | Photograph 1.72 | O’Quinn, Cleodia D., 1960 |
| Box 4 | Photograph 1.73 | O’Quinn, Cleodia D., 1960 |
| Box 5 | Photograph 1.74 | O’Quinn, Cleodia D., 1962 |
| Box 5 | Photograph 1.74a | O’Quinn, Cleodia D., 1960 |
| Box 5 | Photograph 1.75 | O’Quinn, Cleodia D., circa 1974 |
| Box 5 | Photographs 1.76-1.77 | O’Quinn, Cleodia D. (2), circa 1983 |
| Box 5 | Photographs 1.78-1.79 | O’Quinn, Cleodia D. (2), circa 1984 |
| Box 5 | Photograph 1.80 | O’Quinn, Cleodia D., undated |
| Box 5 | Photograph 1.81 | O’Quinn, John W., circa 1940 |
| Box 5 | Photograph 1.81a | O’Quinn, John W., circa 1937 |
| Box 5 | Photograph 1.82 | O’Quinn, John W., circa 1940 |
| Box 5 | Photograph 1.83 | O’Quinn, John W., 1943 |
| Box 5 | Photograph 1.84 | O’Quinn, John W., circa 1950 |
| Box 5 | Photograph 1.85 | O’Quinn, John W., circa 1976 |
| Box 5 | Photograph 1.86 | O’Quinn, John W. and Cecil O’Quinn, circa 1944 |
| Box 5 | Photograph 1.87 | O’Quinn, John W. and Cleodia D., wedding picture, 1940 |
| Box 5 | Photograph 1.88 | O’Quinn, John W. and Cleodia D., circa 1959-1965 |
| Box 5 | Photograph 1.89 | O’Quinn, John W. and Cleodia D., circa 1960 |
| Box 5 | Photograph 1.90 | O’Quinn, John W. and Cleodia D., circa 1962-1963 |
| Box 5 | Photograph 1.91 | O’Quinn, John W. and Cleodia D., 1970 January 23 |
| Box 5 | Photograph 1.92 | O’Quinn, John W. and Cleodia D., 1973 |
| Box 5 | Photograph 1.93 | O’Quinn, John W. and Cleodia D., circa 1980 |
| Box 5 | Photograph 1.94 | O’Quinn, John W. and Cleodia D., circa 1981 |
| Box 5 | Photograph 1.95 | O’Quinn, John W. and Cleodia D., undated |
| Box 5 | Photograph 1.96 | O’Quinn, John W., Cleodia D., and Milton O’Quinn, undated |
| Box 5 | Photograph 1.97 | O’Quinn, John W., and son, Milton, circa 1956 |
| Box 5 | Photograph 1.98 | O’Quinn family, 1960 |
| Box 5 | Photograph 1.99 | Rim, Representative Sylvester, undated |
| Box 5 | Photograph 1.100 | Sardegon, Dorothy, circa 1979 |
| Box 5 | Photograph 1.101 | Shumpert, Walter, circa 1979 |
| Box 5 | Photograph 1.102 | Shuttleworth, Mrs. Rev., undated |
| Box 5 | Photograph 1.103 | Simons, Oburn, circa 1979 |
| Box 5 | Photograph 1.104 | Tyree, Lacy L. and Leola A. Tyree, 1977 |
| Box 5 | Photograph 1.105 | Willis, Bill, circa 1950 |
Series 2: Community Organizations and Events, 1940-circa 1987, undated
Scope and Contents
Series 2 contains programs, correspondence, schedules, news clippings and other printed materials from community activities, including Boy Scouts of America Troop #3365, O’Quinn Royal Gladiators Drum and Bugle Corps and Sears Annual Westside Art Fair.
Arrangement
Series 2 is arranged into two subseries: Subseries A: Documents, 1949-1984, undated and Subseries B: Photographs, 1940-circa 1987, undated
Subseries A: Documents, 1949-1984, undated
Arrangement
Subseries A is arranged alphabetically by organization or event.
| Box 1 | Folder 16 | 16th Street Businessmen’s Association, Christmas Party flyers, 1975-1976 |
| Box 1 | Folder 11 | Boy Scouts of America, awards, programs, ribbons, training certificates, 1956-1980 |
| Box 1 | Folder 12 | Boy Scouts of America, Troop #3365 and O’Quinn Royal Gladiators Drum and Bugle Corps, correspondence, 1962-1983 |
| Box 1 | Folder 13 | Boy Scouts of America, Troop #3365 and O’Quinn Royal Gladiators Drum and Bugle Corps, news clippings, 1959, 1963-1964, undated |
| Box 1 | Folder 16 | Crispus Attucks Post No. 1268 of the American Legion, program to honor George W. Collins, 1971 |
| Box 1 | Folder 16 | Lawndale Interracial Missionary Baptist Church, cornerstone laying program and souvenir booklet, 1965 |
| Box 1 | Folder 15 | Lawndale Professional Matrons, programs, 1982, 1984 |
| Box 1 | Folder 16 | Lawndale Urban Progress Center, newsletter, circa 1969 |
| Box 2 | Folder 1 | Mid-America Drum & Bugle Corps Circuit, Inc., constitution and by-laws, undated |
| Box 1 | Folder 16 | New World Patriotism Day Coalition, correspondence, program, 1984 |
| Box 1 | Folder 14 | O’Quinn Fine Arts and Music School, enrollment, flyer, news clipping, schedule, 1969, 1971, 1975, 1979, undated |
| Box 2 | Folder 6 | O’Quinn Royal Gladiators Drum and Bugle Corps, athletic schedules, 1975 |
| Box 2 | Folder 2 | O’Quinn Royal Gladiators Drum and Bugle Corps, correspondence, 1967-1984, undated |
| Box 2 | Folder 6 | O’Quinn Royal Gladiators Drum and Bugle Corps, correspondence draft, undated |
| Box 2 | Folder 5 | O’Quinn Royal Gladiators Drum and Bugle Corps, flyers and promotional materials, 1964-1982 |
| Box 2 | Folder 6 | O’Quinn Royal Gladiators Drum and Bugle Corps, flyers, undated |
| Box 2 | Folder 3 | O’Quinn Royal Gladiators Drum and Bugle Corps, historical sketches, 1964, 1972, undated |
| Box 2 | Folder 4 | O’Quinn Royal Gladiators Drum and Bugle Corps, news clippings, 1958-1980 |
| Box 2 | Folder 6 | O’Quinn Royal Gladiators Drum and Bugle Corps, performance notes, 1967, undated |
| Box 2 | Folder 7 | O’Quinn Royal Gladiators Drum and Bugle Corps, programs, 1971-1972, 1980-1984 |
| Box 2 | Folder 7 | O’Quinn Royal Gladiators Drum and Bugle Corps, schedules, 1969, 1982-1983 |
| Box 2 | Folder 5 | O’Quinn Royal Gladiators Drum and Bugle Corps, standing committees list, 1967 |
| Box 1 | Folder 16 | Robert H. Brooks Auxiliary No. 896, White House tea, programs, 1949, 1952 |
| Box 1 | Folder 10 | Westside Art Fair [also called Lawndale or Sears Art Fair], correspondence, programs, 1969-1983 |
| Box 2 | Folder 8 | West Side Negro Women’s League, correspondence, 1963 |
Series 2: Community Organizations and Events, 1940-1987, undated
Subseries B: Photographs, 1940-circa 1987, undated
Scope and Contents
Subseries 2 contains photographs of the O’Quinn’s participation with community organizations and events including Boy Scouts of America, O’Quinn Royal Gladiators Drum and Bugle Corps, Poverty Program Workshop and Triple Q Barber Shop. The following persons, among others, also appear: Susie Arrington, Clarence Cash, George Collins, Richard Daley, Ishmail Florey, Sugar Hampton, 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.
Arrangement
Subseries B is arranged alphabetically by organization or event. The number of images with the same description is indicated in parentheses.
| Box 5 | Photograph 1.106 | 1500 Central Park (previously identified as “Congress Ave [sic]), circa 1954 |
| Box 3 | Photograph 1.1 | A. Pod Stock Holders’ meeting, circa 1950 |
| Box 3 | Photograph 1.11 | American Boys Commonwealth, Pack 3365, circa 1950 |
| Box 3 | Photograph 1.12 | American Legion, Robert Parks Post #896, circa 1948 |
| Box 3 | Photograph 1.13 | Boy Scouts of America, Cub Scout Troop #3365, circa 1950 |
| Box 3 | Photograph 1.14 | Boy Scouts of America, circa 1950 |
| Box 3 | Photograph 1.15 | Boy Scouts of America, circa 1954 |
| Box 3 | Photograph 1.16 | Boy Scouts of America, undated |
| Box 3 | Photograph 1.17 | Boy Scouts of America, circa 1956 |
| Box 3 | Photograph 1.18 | Boy Scouts of America, circa 1958 |
| Box 3 | Photographs 1.19-1.20 | Boy Scouts of America (2), circa 1964 |
| Box 3 | Photographs 1.21-1.22 | Boy Scouts of America (2), 1966 July 30 |
| Box 3 | Photograph 1.23 | Boy Scouts of America, 1966 October 15 |
| Box 3 | Photograph 1.24 | Boy Scouts of America, circa 1968 |
| Box 3 | Photograph 1.25 | Boy Scouts of America, circa 1968-1969 |
| Box 3 | Photograph 1.26 | Boy Scouts of America, circa 1969-1970 |
| Box 3 | Photographs 1.27-1.28 | Boy Scouts of America (2), undated |
| Box 6 | Photograph 1.28a | Boy Scouts of America, outside Triple Q Barber Shop, circa 1950 |
| Box 3 | Photograph 1.2 | Buddy Bear Food Center, parade float, circa 1981 |
| Box 3 | Photograph 1.34 | Carey Tercentenary [African Methodist Episcopal Church], circa 1960 |
| Box 3 | Photograph 1.29 | Conquerors Baseball Team, circa 1960 |
| Box 4 | Photograph 1.54 | Department of Human Services, 1978 |
| Box 4 | Photograph 1.55 | Department of Human Services, Voter Registration, circa 1973 |
| Box 4 | Photograph 1.58 | Douglas Park, reopening of the fountain, circa 1967 |
| Box 5 | Photograph 1.107 | Eagles Baseball Team, circa 1940 |
| Box 5 | Photograph 1.108 | Eagles Baseball Team, 1940 |
| Box 3 | Photograph 1.30 | Green Donkeys Social Club, ball, circa 1976 |
| Box 3 | Photographs 1.3-1.4 | Holiday Magic pageant (2), circa 1968-1970 |
| Box 3 | Photograph 1.31 | Lakers Basketball Team, circa 1950 |
| Box 3 | Photograph 1.32 | Lawndale Education and Civic Organization, circa 1955 |
| Box 3 | Photograph 1.33 | Lawndale Youth Commission, circa 1968-1969 |
| Box 3 | Photograph 1.5 | O’Quinn Fine Arts Academy, circa 1969 |
| Box 3 | Photographs 1.35-1.36 | O’Quinn Royal Gladiators Drum and Bugle Corps (2), circa 1966 |
| Box 3 | Photograph 1.37 | O’Quinn Royal Gladiators Drum and Bugle Corps, 1966 July 12 |
| Box 3 | Photograph 1.38 | O’Quinn Royal Gladiators Drum and Bugle Corps, 1967 December |
| Box 3 | Photograph 1.39 | O’Quinn Royal Gladiators Drum and Bugle Corps, circa 1967-1969 |
| Box 3 | Photograph 1.40-1.41 | O’Quinn Royal Gladiators Drum and Bugle Corps, circa 1970 |
| Box 4 | Photograph 1.41 | O’Quinn Royal Gladiators Drum and Bugle Corps, circa 1970 |
| Box 4 | Photograph 1.42 | O’Quinn Royal Gladiators Drum and Bugle Corps, 1970 December |
| Box 4 | Photograph 1.43 | O’Quinn Royal Gladiators Drum and Bugle Corps, circa 1970-1973 |
| Box 4 | Photograph 1.44 | O’Quinn Royal Gladiators Drum and Bugle Corps, circa 1975-1983 |
| Box 4 | Photograph 1.45 | O’Quinn Royal Gladiators Drum and Bugle Corps, circa 1980 |
| Box 4 | Photograph 1.47 | O’Quinn Royal Gladiators Drum and Bugle Corps, circa 1981 |
| Box 4 | Photographs 1.48-1.49 | O’Quinn Royal Gladiators Drum and Bugle Corps (2), circa 1982 |
| Box 4 | Photographs 1.50-1.52 | O’Quinn Royal Gladiators Drum and Bugle Corps (3), circa 1983 |
| Box 4 | Photograph 1.46 | O’Quinn Royal Gladiators Drum and Bugle Corps, circa 1987 |
| Box 4 | Photograph 1.56 | Poverty Program Workshop, circa 1967 |
| Box 4 | Photograph 1.57 | Poverty Program Workshop, circa 1969-1970 |
| Box 3 | Photograph 1.6 | Sears and Roebuck Company, art fair project, circa 1976 |
| Box 3 | Photograph 1.10 | St. Agatha Church, circa 1955 |
| Box 3 | Photograph 1.8 | Triple Q Barber Shop, 1218 S. Central Park, exterior, circa 1969 |
| Box 3 | Photograph 1.9 | Triple Q Barber Shop, 1218 S. Central Park, interior, circa 1950 |
| Box 3 | Photograph 1.7 | Triple Q Barber Shop, 1218 S. Central Park, interior, staff, circa 1950 |
| Box 3 | Photograph 1.9a | Triple Q Barber Shop, interior, circa 1950 |
| Box 4 | Photograph 1.53 | West Side Citizens Organization, circa 1950-1955 |
