| Dates: | 1939-1999 |
| Size: | 25 linear feet, in 19 boxes including 28 photographs, 1 videocassette tape, and 92 compact discs |
| Repository: | Chicago Public Library, Carter G. Woodson Regional Library, Vivian G. Harsh Research Collection of Afro-American History and Literature, 9525 S. Halsted St., Chicago, IL 60628 |
| Collection Number: | 1998/02 |
| Immediate source of acquisition: | Donation of Clarice Durham in June, November and December 1998. 91 CDs containing broadcast reproductions were donated by J. Fred MacDonald in March 2009. |
| Conditions governing use: | Please consult staff to determine ability to reuse materials from collection |
| Conditions governing access: | Materials are open without restrictions |
| Preferred citation: | When quoting material from this collection, the preferred citation is: Richard Durham Papers, [Box #, Folder #], Vivian G. Harsh Research Collection of Afro-American History and Literature, Chicago Public Library. |
| Finding aid author: | Mapping the Stacks Staff: Melissa Barton, Doron Galili, Moira Hinderer, Celeste Day Moore, Traci Parker, Christine Petersen, Marcia Walke, August 2007 |
Abstract
In the mid-twentieth century, journalist and writer Richard Durham created Destination Freedom, a series of radio shows dramatizing the Black experience in America. He went on to edit the Muhammad Speaks newspaper, create a television show in 1971 and assisted in the writing of Muhammad Ali’s autobiography, The Greatest. The collection contains transcripts and recordings of the radio plays, manuscripts, interviews, photographs and other audiovisual material.
Biographical/Historical Note
Richard Durham was born on September 6, 1917, in Raymond, Mississippi and moved with his family to Chicago when he was 7 years old. Durham attended Hyde Park High School and Northwestern University. While at Northwestern, Durham joined the Federal Writers Project of the Works Progress Administration and received training and experience as a radio scriptwriter. When this project ended, Durham joined the staff of the Chicago Defender. Durham’s first major experience with radio came between 1946 and 1948 when he wrote scripts for a series on Black achievement, Democracy U.S.A., which aired on WBBM, a CBS station. Durham created and wrote all the scripts for Here Comes Tomorrow, a Black soap opera that aired on WJJD. After, Destination Freedom, a dramatic radio series on WMAQ in Chicago, premiered on June 27, 1948, bringing the freedom struggles of African Americans to listening audiences for nearly two years. Durham’s prolific writing career would span four decades and would extend far beyond radio: he edited the official publication of the Nation of Islam, Muhammad Speaks in the 1960s; created the television series Bird of the Iron Feather in the early 1970s; co-authored The Greatest, the 1977 autobiography of boxer Muhammad Ali; and wrote numerous speeches for Chicago’s first African American mayor, Harold Washington, in the 1980s.
Richard Durham met Clarice Davis in the early 1940s while both were volunteering with the National Negro Congress. Clarice was born in Mobile, Alabama and moved to Chicago when she was eleven years old. She attended Wendell Phillips High School until it was temporarily closed because of a fire. She graduated from DuSable High School where she was the valedictorian of her class. The couple married in 1942. Richard and Clarice Durham have one son, Mark Durham.
Richard Durham died on April 27, 1984, while on a business trip in New York. Mayor Harold Washington delivered the eulogy at his memorial service and several famous Chicagoans including historian and businessman Dempsey Travis, entertainer and former Destination Freedom cast member Oscar Brown Jr. and Congressmen Charles Hayes and Gus Savage attended the service. In August 2007, Richard Durham was selected for induction into the National Radio Hall of Fame.
Scope and Contents
The Richard Durham Collection is comprised mostly of manuscripts and primarily includes scripts written for the Destination Freedom and Bird of the Iron Feather series. Additional manuscript material includes scripts written for Democracy, U.S.A. as well as the page proofs for the autobiography of Muhammad Ali, The Greatest, published in 1977. The collection also contains clippings, correspondence, photographs and serials.
Arrangement
The collection is arranged into 4 series: Manuscripts, Photographs and Audiovisual, Serials and Addendum
Container Inventory
Series 1: Manuscripts, 1939-1978
Scope and Contents
Boxes contain Destination Freedom and scripts for other projects such as Democracy, U.S.A. and Bird of the Iron Feather as well as some correspondence and newspaper clippings and research notes. Proof pages from Durham’s Ali biography are included.
Arrangement
Mostly chronological by type
| Box 1 | Folder 1 | Radio log, list of programs airing on Destination Freedom between 1948 and 1950 | 1948-1950 |
| Box 1 | Folder 2 | Script for program on Crispus Attucks | 1948 June 27 |
| Box 1 | Folder 3 | Script for program, "Railway to Freedom, The Story of Harriet Tubman" | 1948 July 4 |
| Box 1 | Folder 4 | Script for program on Negro explorers | 1948 July 11 |
| Box 1 | Folder 5 | Script for program on Denmark Vesey | 1948 July 18 |
| Box 1 | Folder 6 | Script for "The Making of a Man" program on Frederick Douglass | 1948 July 25 |
| Box 1 | Folder 7 | Script for Part II of Frederick Douglass program | 1948 August 1 |
| Box 1 | Folder 8 | Script for "The Heart of Geo. Cotton," The Story of Dr. U.G. Dailey and Dr. Daniel Hale Williams | 1948 August 8 |
| Box 1 | Folder 9 | Script for "Truth Goes to Washington," The Story of Sojourner Truth | 1948 August 15 |
| Box 1 | Folder 10 | Script for "Arctic Autograph," The Story of Matthew Henson | 1948 August 22 |
| Box 1 | Folder 11 | Script for "The Story of 1875," The Life and Death of Senator Charles Caldwell | 1948 August 29 |
| Box 1 | Folder 12 | Script for "Poet in Pine Mill," The Story of James Weldon Johnson | 1948 September 5 |
| Box 1 | Folder 13 | Script for program on W.C. Handy | 1948 September 12 |
| Box 1 | Folder 14 | Script for "Boy with a Dream," The Story of Dr. J. Ernest Wilkins | 1948 September 19 |
| Box 1 | Folder 15 | Script for program on Langston Hughes | 1948 September 26 |
| Box 1 | Folder 16 | Script for program on Langston Hughes | 1948 October 3 |
| Box 1 | Folder 17 | Script for program on Joe Louis | 1948 October 10 |
| Box 1 | Folder 18 | Script for program, "The Boy Who Was Traded for a Horse," The Story of George Washington Carver | 1948 October 17 |
| Box 1 | Folder 19 | Script for "Echoes of Harlem," The Story of Duke Ellington | 1948 November 7 |
| Box 1 | Folder 20 | Script for "One Out of Seventeen," The Story of Mary McLeod Bethune | 1948 November 14 |
| Box 1 | Folder 21 | Script for "The Rime of the Ancient Dodger," The Story of Jackie Robinson | 1948 November 21 |
| Box 1 | Folder 22 | Script for "Investigator for Democracy," The Story of Walter White | 1948 November 28 |
| Box 1 | Folder 23 | Script for "Autobiography of a Hero," The Story of Dorie Miller | 1948 December 5 |
| Box 1 | Folder 24 | Script for "The Pied Piper vs. Paul Revere," The Story of Albert Merritt | 1948 December 12 |
| Box 1 | Folder 25 | Script for "Choir Girl from Philadelphia," The Story of Marian Anderson | 1948 December 19 |
| Box 1 | Folder 26 | Script for program on Willard Motley | 1948 December 26 |
| Box 2 | Folder 1 | Script for "Maiden Speech," The Story of Oscar DePriest | 1949 January 2 |
| Box 2 | Folder 2 | Script for "The Boy Who Beat the Bus," The Story of William H. Hastie | 1949 January 9 |
| Box 2 | Folder 3 | Script for "The Chopin Murder Case," The Story of Hazel Scott | 1949 January 16 |
| Box 2 | Folder 4 | Script for "World’s Fastest Human," The Story of Jesse Owens | 1949 January 23 |
| Box 2 | Folder 5 | Script for "Last Letter Home," The Story of the 332nd Fighter Group | 1949 January 30 |
| Box 2 | Folder 6 | Script for "Search for History," The Story of W.E.B. Du Bois | 1949 February 6 |
| Box 2 | Folder 7 | “Death of Aesop” | 1949 February 13 |
| Box 2 | Folder 8 | "Peace Mediator," The Story of Dr. Ralph J. Bunche | 1949 February 20 |
| Box 2 | Folder 9 | Script for "The House that Paul Built," The Story of Paul Williams | 1949 February 27 |
| Box 2 | Folder 10 | Script for "Do Something-Be Somebody," The Life of Canada Lee | 1949 March 6 |
| Box 2 | Folder 11 | Script for "Up from Slavery," The Story of Booker T. Washington | 1949 March 13 |
| Box 2 | Folder 12 | Script for "Black Boy," The Autobiography of Richard Wright | 1949 March 20 |
| Box 2 | Folder 13 | Script for "Transfusion," The Story of Dr. Charles R. Drew | 1949 March 27 |
| Box 2 | Folder 14 | Script for "Pagan Poet," The Story of Countee Cullen | 1949 April 3 |
| Box 2 | Folder 15 | Script for "Woman with a Mission," The Story of Ida B. Wells | 1949 April 10 |
| Box 2 | Folder 16 | Script for "Before I Sleep," The Story of Paul Lawrence Dunbar | 1949 April 17 |
| Box 2 | Folder 17 | Script for program on Richard Allen | 1949 April 24 |
| Box 2 | Folder 18 | "Help the Blind," The Story of Josh White | 1949 May 1 |
| Box 2 | Folder 19 | Script for "The Ballad of Satchel Paige" | 1949 May 15 |
| Box 2 | Folder 20 | Script for "The Secretary of Peace," The Story of Benjamin Banneker | 1949 May 22 |
| Box 2 | Folder 21 | Script for "The Saga of Melody Jackson," The Story of Henry Armstrong | 1949 May 29 |
| Box 2 | Folder 22 | Script for "Anatomy of an Ordinance," The Story of Reverend Archibald Carey | 1949 June 5 |
| Box 2 | Folder 23 | Script for "Negro Cinderella," The Story of Lena Horne | 1949 June 12 |
| Box 2 | Folder 24 | Script for "Ghost Editor," The Story of Roscoe Dunjee | 1949 June 19 |
| Box 2 | Folder 25 | Script for "The Story of the Negro in American History" | 1949 June 26 |
| Box 2 | Folder 26 | Script for "Norfolk Miracle," The Story of Dorothy Maynor | 1949 July 3 |
| Box 2 | Folder 27 | Script for "The Story of the Negro Paul Bunyan" | 1949 July 17 |
| Box 2 | Folder 28 | Script for "The Legend of the Famous Steel Driver" | 1949 July 24 |
| Box 2 | Folder 29 | Script for "The Story of Louis Armstrong, King of the Trumpeters" | 1949 July 31 |
| Box 3 | Folder 1 | Script for "The Long Road: The Story of Mary Church Terrell" | 1949 August 7 |
| Box 3 | Folder 2 | Script for "Black Hamlet," The Story of Henri Christophe, Part I | 1949 August 14 |
| Box 3 | Folder 3 | Script for "Black Hamlet," The Story of Henri Christophe, Part II | 1949 August 21 |
| Box 3 | Folder 4 | Script for "Segregation-Incorporated" | 1949 August 28 |
| Box 3 | Folder 5 | Script for "The Saga of Blanche K. Bruce," United States Senator from Mississippi | 1949 September 4 |
| Box 3 | Folder 6 | Script for "The Tiger Hunt," The Story of the 761st Tank Batallion | 1949 September 11 |
| Box 3 | Folder 7 | Script for "Poet in Bronzeville," The Story of Gwendolyn Brooks | 1949 September 18 |
| Box 3 | Folder 8 | Script for "A Garage in Gainesville," # 1 in a series of two on prejudice | 1949 September 25 |
| Box 3 | Folder 9 | Script for "Execution Awaited," Number Two in a Series of Two on Prejudice | 1949 October 2 |
| Box 3 | Folder 10 | Script for "Father to Son," The Story of A. Clayton Powell, Senior & Junior | 1949 October 9 |
| Box 3 | Folder 11 | Script for "Of Blood and the Boogie," The Story of Albert Ammons | 1949 October 16 |
| Box 3 | Folder 12 | Script for "Diary of a Nurse," The Story of Jane Edna Hunter | 1949 October 23 |
| Box 3 | Folder 13 | Script for "Keeper of the Dream," The Story of Captain Hugh Mulzac | 1949 October 30 |
| Box 3 | Folder 14 | Script for "The Man Who Owned Chicago," The Story of Jean Baptiste Point DuSable | 1949 November 6 |
| Box 3 | Folder 15 | Script for "Blind Alley Symphony," The Story of Dean Dixon | 1949 November 13 |
| Box 3 | Folder 16 | Script for "The Tale of the Tobacco Auctioneer," The Story of the Election of the Reverend Kenneth R. Williams to the City Council of Winston-Salem, North Carolina | 1949 November 20 |
| Box 3 | Folder 17 | Script for "Joe Rainey vs. the Status Quo," The Story of Judge Joseph Homer Rainey | 1949 December 4 |
| Box 3 | Folder 18 | "The Birth of a League," The Story of the Urban League | 1950 January 15 |
| Box 3 | Folder 19 | Script for "Lawyer of Liberty," The Story of William Henry Huff | 1950 January 22 |
| Box 3 | Folder 20 | Script for "Portrait of Bill Robinson," The Story of Bojangles Robinson | 1950 January 29 |
| Box 3 | Folder 21 | Script for "Housing: Chicago," including interview with Dr. Frank S. Horne, Assistant to Fed. Housing Adm. | 1950 February 5 |
| Box 3 | Folder 22 | Script for "Recorder of History," The Story of Dr. Carter G. Woodson, Founder of "Negro History Week" | 1950 February 12 |
| Box 3 | Folder 24 | Script for "Brotherhood Begins at Home," celebrating the start of Brotherhood Week | 1950 February 19 |
| Box 3 | Folder 25 | Script for "The Umfundisi of Ndotsheni," The Story of Todd Duncan | 1950 February 26 |
| Box 3 | Folder 26 | Script for "Atlanta Thesis," The Story of E. Franklin Frazier | 1950 March 5 |
| Box 3 | Folder 27 | Script for "Premonition of a Panther," The Story of Sugar Ray Robinson | 1950 March 12 |
| Box 3 | Folder 28 | Script for "The Making of a Balladier," The Story of the Guitarist-Singer Lonnie Johnson | 1950 March 19 |
| Box 3 | Folder 29 | Script for "The Liberators," Part I, The Story of Abolitionist Lloyd Garrison | 1950 March 26 |
| Box 4 | Folder 1 | Script for "The Liberators," Part II, The Story of Abolitionist Wendell Philipps | 1950 April 2 |
| Box 4 | Folder 2 | Script for "The Buddy Young Story" | 1950 April 9 |
| Box 4 | Folder 3 | Script for "The Fifth District Story" | 1950 April 16 |
| Box 4 | Folder 4 | Script for "The Katherine Dunham Story" | 1950 April 23 |
| Box 4 | Folder 5 | Script for "The Judge Jane Bolin Story" | 1950 May 7 |
| Box 4 | Folder 6 | Script for "The Story of Spirituals" | 1950 May 14 |
| Box 4 | Folder 7 | Script for "The John Hope Story" | 1950 May 21 |
| Box 4 | Folder 8 | Script for "The Isaac Murphy Story" | 1950 June 4 |
| Box 4 | Folder 9 | Script for "The Fats Waller Story" | 1950 June 11 |
| Box 4 | Folder 10 | Script for "The Case of the Congressman’s Train Ride," Richard Westbrooks | 1950 June 18 |
| Box 4 | Folder 11 | Script for "The Angel of Federal Street . . . ," Ruth Blue | 1950 June 25 |
| Box 4 | Folder 12 | Script for "Kansas City Phone Call," Nat King Cole | 1950 July 2 |
| Box 4 | Folder 13 | Script for "Mr. Jerico Adjusts a Claim," William Nickerson, Jr | 1950 July 9 |
| Box 4 | Folder 14 | Script for "Test by Fire," Charlotte Hawkins | 1950 July 16 |
| Box 4 | Folder 15 | Script for "Sing a Song for Children," Pruth McFarlin | 1950 July 23 |
| Box 4 | Folder 16 | Destination Freedom memorabilia; announcements; programs; WMAQ matchbook | 1949 June 6; undated |
| Box 5 | Folder 1 | Great Artists Series, WGN radio, Script on the life and work of Auguste Rodin by Frederick Lawton | 1940 December 18 |
| Box 5 | Folder 2 | Great Artists Series, WGN radio, Script for "The Black Chip" | 1940 December 18 |
| Box 5 | Folder 3 | Great Artists Series, WGN radio, Script for "Goya: The Disasters of War" | 1941 February 11 |
| Box 5 | Folder 4 | Great Artists Series, WGN radio, Script for "Jose C. Orozco" | 1941 November 4 |
| Box 5 | Folder 5 | Great Artists Series, WGN radio, Script for "Matisse in Morocco" | 1942 January 6 |
| Box 5 | Folder 6 | 3 scripts from series, "Art for Our Sake" | 1942-1943 |
| Box 5 | Folder 7 | 3 scripts from series, "Art for Our Sake" | 1943 |
| Box 5 | Folder 8 | Script for "Mormon Miracle," part of "Legends of Illinois" series | 1940 June 23 |
| Box 5 | Folder 9 | Clipping, Chicago Defender, "Crump Thinks Negroes Given Fair Treatment" | 1944 April 8 |
| Box 5 | Folder 10 | Clipping, Chicago Defender, "Biggest Text Book Buyer Never Got to College," by Richard Durham | 1944 July 22 |
| Box 5 | Folder 11 | Clipping, Chicago Defender, "Jailer Flogs East St. Louis Bellboy, Claims He’s Not Really ’Brutal Type’" by Richard Durham | 1944 August 5 |
| Box 5 | Folder 12 | Two clippings, Chicago Defender, "Texas Revolution of Lily-Whites is Short-Lived" (8/19/44), and "FDR Favors Ban on Army Jim Crow-Dawson" [n.d.] | 1944 August 8; undated |
| Box 5 | Folder 13 | Clipping, Chicago Defender, "Dewey Home Town Lily White -- Mother Anti-Semitic," by Richard Durham | 1944 August 22 |
| Box 5 | Folder 14 | Clipping, Chicago Defender, "Barbados Natives Find U.S. Strange Indeed," by Richard Durham | 1944 August 26 |
| Box 5 | Folder 15 | Clipping, Chicago Defender, "It’s True What They Say About Peoria: Kluxer’s Kin Defies Jim Crow, Sets Town on Ear," by Richard Durham | 1944 October 7 |
| Box 5 | Folder 16 | Clipping, Chicago Defender, "Toussaint Author Favors Race Inter-Marriage," by Richard Durham | 1944 October 14 |
| Box 5 | Folder 17 | Clipping, Chicago Defender, "Dunbar Outgrows New Building in Two Years," by Richard Durham, in the Chicago Defender | 1944 October 21 |
| Box 5 | Folder 18 | Clipping, Chicago Defender, "Europe’s Skies Prove Jim Crow’s Graveyard," by Richard Durham | 1945 January 8 |
| Box 5 | Folder 19 | Clipping, Chicago Defender, "War or No War, East . . . Keeps its No-Negro. . . ," by Richard Durham | 1945 February 3 |
| Box 5 | Folder 20 | Clipping, Chicago Defender, "Millionaire Plots Tighter Noose on ’Black Ghetto,’" by Richard Durham | 1945 February 24 |
| Box 5 | Folder 21 | Clipping, Chicago Defender, Four Seabees Flogged; Navy Outs Commander | 1945 april 14 |
| Box 5 | Folder 22 | Clipping, Chicago Defender, "Delegates Juggle Colonial Question; White, Du Bois Ask Equality of Races," by Richard Durham | 1945 May |
| Box 5 | Folder 23 | Clipping, Chicago Defender, "Soviet Demand Wins Okay for Amendments" | 1945 May 12 |
| Box 5 | Folder 24 | Clipping, Chicago Defender, "Full Independence Opposed by Parley" | 1945 May 26 |
| Box 5 | Folder 25 | Clipping, Chicago Defender, "White Writers Duck Negro Issue -- But Lahey Loves It" | 1945 June 2 |
| Box 5 | Folder 26 | Clipping, Chicago Defender, "Gary Strikers Like their Equality White," by Richard Durham | 1945 October 6 |
| Box 5 | Folder 27 | Clippings, Chicago Defender, "Talk, Songs Win Applause But Walkout Still on," by Richard Durham | 1945 November 10 |
| Box 5 | Folder 28 | Clipping, Chicago Defender, "First Century’s The Hardest: Negro Needs Atom Bomb More Than Russians, Says Ex-Slave" | 1946 January 9 |
| Box 5 | Folder 29 | Chicago Defender clipping | undated |
| Box 5 | Folder 30 | Clipping, Chicago Defender, "Chinese Leader Invites Negroes to China, Hits American Jim Crow," by Richard Durham | undated |
| Box 5 | Folder 31 | Clipping:, Chicago Defender, "Truman’s Stand on Jim Crow Told Defender Scribe" | undated |
| Box 5 | Folder 32 | Booklet, "Action against Jim Crow," UPWA Anti-Discrimination Dept | circa 1952 |
| Box 6 | Folder 1 | Reports on Crispus Attucks and the Boston Massacre | undated |
| Box 6 | Folder 2 | Published and Unpublished Essays; "Sounds at Night," published in Pittsburgh Courier (6/1/38); Review of "How to Win Friends and Influence People," by Dale Carnegie, published in Northwestern Review, (9/1/38); "Churches and Poverty"; "Lincoln Steffens’ View of Education"; "Free Speech and Propaganda"; "Prejudice and People" |
1938 June 1 |
| Box 6 | Folder 3 | Earl B. Dickerson speech for ASP Negro Rights Forum; Notes on reaction to A. Philip Randolph and Dickerson’s speeches Dickerson speech for ASP Negro Rights Forum |
1940s |
| Box 6 | Folder 4 | "A History and Analysis of Destination Freedom" by Hugh Cordier for a seminar, "Problems in Radio," at Northwestern | 1949 |
| Box 6 | Folder 5 | Various correspondence including: letter and article re: John Dunning, authority on old-time radio, May 17, 1982; Durham was interviewed on his show; Invitation to speak to the National Association of Media Women (September 18, 1969); Letter from Muhammad Ali re: producing a video program on Ali’s career (March 10, 1982); Letter from Alderman Ralph Metcalfe re: crime in black community (Sept 2, 1970); Letter to Mrs. Roscoe C. Beach supporting her petition to demand the removal of J. Edgar Hoover (August 13, 1970); Letter from the Chicago Committee of Black Churchmen re: arranging a meeting with Elijah Muhammad (Sept 11, 1970); Letter from Jacob Lawrence re: biographical information (May 12, 1949); Letter from Robert Waters at Profile Public Relations re: marketing Destination Freedom and Democracy U.S.A. programs to companies that want to reach the Negro market (Feb 22, 1967); Copies of letters from Mamie Till Bradley to Office of the Secretary of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, the Department of Defense and the Director of the FBI re: obtaining a copy of all documents re: Emmett Till’s father, Louis Till (March 29, 1982); Louis Till had been executed on charges of rape; Letter from Elijah Muhammad re: Nation of Islam’s paper; Letter to Rick Cluchey requesting copy of a script of "The Cage," a prison drama (Oct 2, 1969); Letter to Robert Hunt, assistant circulation director of the Chicago Tribune, re: being called "boy" and "Rich" by a Tribune salesman (April 14, 1970); Letter to Luther James re: possible submissions to "On Being Black" (Dec 28, 1969) | 1949-1982 |
| Box 6 | Folder 6 | Letter from G. Ashanti Witherspoon dated May 24, 1981 re: personal profile and an appeal for his sentence to be reduced by the Louisiana Board of Pardons | 1981 May 24 |
| Box 6 | Folder 7 | Letter to Homer Heck, re: Negro characterizations; letter from Charles Chignbard (?) of NBC praising Durham’s writing | 1948 |
| Box 6 | Folder 8 | Various correspondence between RD and Robert Weaver (and Weaver’s secretary, Georgine Lovesky) (April 25, Sept 21, Aug 28, April 12, March 23, Feb 13, 1951; June 20, 1950) to RD from Robert Weaver (April 25, 1951) re: Opportunity Fellowship; essay on RD’s credentials; John Hay Whitney Foundation, 1951 | 1950-1951 |
| Box 6 | Folder 9 | Clippings including: "Soul Soap Opera" on Durham’s Bird of the Iron Feather , "Birth of the Bird: New soap opera ’will be blacker and more soulful than anything else of TV,’" "Demise of TV ’Soul Series’ is Explained" Clippings including: newspaper poetry clippings, photograph of Mrs. Chanie Durham, Durham’s mother, viewing a photography display featuring Durham’s work, awards won by Durham and "Destination Freedom," an article by Durham including "Negro Needs Atom: First Century the Hardest, Ex-Slave Finds." |
1950-1981 |
| Box 6 | Folder 10 | "Notes on the Union: Conflicts, Characters…”; Script for "The Unions: The Hot and the Cold," and series of notes including: "Of Travis Sange," "The Union Inner Group," "The Poker Ritual," "The Chief," "Issues and Contradictions in Fight." Also includes a memo to all Swift Chain Locals from Swift Local #28, UPWA-AFL-CIO re: the nomination of Sidney Johnson for vice president of UPWA-AFL-CIO to replace Russell Lasley | undated |
| Box 6 | Folder 11 | "Notes on Characters" Various notes on characters and scripts |
undated |
| Box 6 | Folder 12 | Various poems by Durham; copy of Opportunity magazine that includes poem by Isadore (Richard) Durham; correspondence from New Masses re: acceptance of Durham’s poem, "Hell’s Kitchen," booklet labeled Verne Durham with clippings in German and note from Langston Hughes about how he would like the poems in English as he cannot read German | late 1930s |
| Box 7 | Folder 1 | "Democracy, USA" script, The story of Harry B. Deas, the only Negro police captain in Chicago | 1946 August 31 |
| Box 7 | Folder 2 | "Democracy, USA" script, The story of Walter White | 1946 September 29 |
| Box 7 | Folder 3 | "Democracy, USA" script, "Dr. Dailey and the Living Human Heart" | 1946 October 13 |
| Box 7 | Folder 4 | "Dr. J. Ernest Wilkins – Master Mathematician” | |
| Box 7 | Folder 5 | "Democracy, USA" script, "Colonel B.O. Davis, Commander of the 332nd Fighter Squadron" | 1946 December 22 |
| Box 7 | Folder 6 | "Democracy, USA" script, "Albert W. Williams -- President of the Unity Mutual Insurance Company" | 1947 January 12 |
| Box 7 | Folder 7 | "Democracy, USA" script, Dr. Charles Wesley, president of Wilberforce University | 1947 February 9 |
| Box 7 | Folder 8 | "Democracy, USA" script, The story of Rabbi Jacob Weinstein of the K.A.M. Temple | 1947 March 30 |
| Box 7 | Folder 9 | "Democracy, USA" script, The story of artist Charles Dawson | 1947 August 17 |
| Box 7 | Folder 10 | "Democracy, USA" script, The story of Melvin Walker, Olympic athlete and international high jump champion | 1947 August 31 |
| Box 7 | Folder 11 | "Democracy, USA" script, The story of Charles Drew | 1947 November 16 |
| Box 7 | Folder 12 | "Democracy, USA" script, The story of Indiana’s Albert Merrit | 1948 February 15 |
| Box 7 | Folder 13 | Biographical material about subjects of "Democracy, USA" | undated |
| Box 7 | Folder 14 | "Democracy, USA" Mayor Kelly script drafts | undated |
| Box 7 | Folder 15 | Bird of the Iron Feather-Characters list | undated |
| Box 7 | Folder 16 | Description of the storyline of Bird of the Iron Feather | undated |
| Box 7 | Folder 17 | Bird of the Iron Feather, Chapter 1: "Prescription for a Pallbearer" | undated |
| Box 7 | Folder 18 | Bird of the Iron Feather, Chapter VI: "Speaking of Dreams" | undated |
| Box 7 | Folder 19 | Bird of the Iron Feather, Chapter IX: "The Hard Way to Play the Blues" | undated |
| Box 7 | Folder 20 | Bird of the Iron Feather, Chapter VIII: "Theme for Unfinished Faces" | undated |
| Box 7 | Folder 21 | Bird of the Iron Feather, "Of Music and My Father," Part I, "One Man’s Hands, Another Man’s Soul" | undated |
| Box 7 | Folder 22 | Bird of the Iron Feather, "Piano Lesson" | undated |
| Box 7 | Folder 23 | Bird of the Iron Feather, "The Sermon" | undated |
| Box 7 | Folder 24 | Excerpts from script | undated |
| Box 8 | Folder 1 | Script draft fragments | undated |
| Box 8 | Folder 2 | Durham-Biog. Sketch and Works, written by Clarice Durham | 1999 |
| Box 8 | No folders | 4 black leather notebooks, "Transitions," various notes and script drafts, descriptions of people, conversations, letters of Lincoln Steffens, notes on psychology | undated |
| Box 9 | Folder 1 | Durham vs. NBC, Contract for Radio Show "Democracy USA" between the Chicago Defender and Durham; correspondence, memoranda, legal documents | 1946-1956 |
| Box 9 | Folder 2 | Durham vs. NBC, Correspondence between William Rossmoore (Durham’s lawyer) and Durham re: | 1948-1957 |
| Box 9 | Folder 3 | Durham vs. NBC, Press releases re: return of "Destination Freedom," Durham’s lawsuit against NBC | 1943-1978 |
| Box 9 | Folder 4 | clippings; notecards re: Durham’s programs, publications and awards; press release re: Durham’s lawsuit against NBC | 1947-1978 |
| Box 9 | Folder 5 | Durham vs. NBC | 1954-1955 |
| Box 9 | Folder 6 | Durham v. NBC, Destination Freedom scripts: Dorie Miller, Jackie Robinson and Jesse Owens | undated |
| Box 9 | Folder 7 | Durham v. NBC, Overview of Destination Freedom including discussion of "why your company should sponsor ’Destination Freedom’" | undated |
| Box 9 | Folder 8 | Durham v. NBC, Description of "Destination Freedom," and scripts: Canada Lee and Dr. V. G. Dailey and Dr. Daniel Williams | undated |
| Box 10 | Folder 1 | Birds of the Iron Feather, TV Scripts | undated |
| Box 10 | Folder 2 | Script: "Jonah and the Whales" | undated |
| Box 10 | Folder 3 | Script: "Prescription for Pallbearers" | undated |
| Box 10 | Folder 4 | Script: "Clients for the Castrated Crocodile," Part I & II | undated |
| Box 10 | Folder 5 | Script “Cry of the Silent” | undated |
| Box 10 | Folder 6 | Script: "Theme for the Unfinished Faces" | undated |
| Box 10 | Folder 7 | Script: "Day of the Exterminators" | undated |
| Box 10 | Folder 8 | Script: "Crossroads" | undated |
| Box 10 | Folder 9 | Script: "The Last Payment" | undated |
| Box 10 | Folder 10 | Script: "Tomorrow, in Name Only" | undated |
| Box 10 | Folder 11 | Script: "Cry of the Silent" | undated |
| Box 10 | Folder 12 | Script: "The Contract Prisoner" | undated |
| Box 10 | Folder 13 | Script: "Rotten Apples" | undated |
| Box 10 | Folder 14 | Script: "The Young Coffins" | undated |
| Box 10 | Folder 15 | Script: "The Hospital" Excerpt from Chapter 21 Titled: Crime, The Original |
undated |
| Box 10 | Folder 16 | Script: "One of the Worst Days in My Life" | undated |
| Box 11 | Folder 1 | "The Greatest," final typescript; Passage to insert, drafts of title, copyright, dedication and table of contents pages | undated |
| Box 11 | Folder 2 | Typescript of "Shorty is Waiting," pages 1-101 | undated |
| Box 11 | Folder 3 | Typescript continues, pages 102-199 | undated |
| Box 11 | Folder 4 | Typescript continues, pages 200-267B | undated |
| Box 11 | Folder 5 | Revised sample pages of "Shorty is Waiting;" typescript continues, pages 3- 34; typescript of "Archie-Am I Too Old," various pages | undated |
| Box 11 | Folder 6 | Typescript of "This Message is Not for the Coward," pages 368-511 | undated |
| Box 11 | Folder 7 | Typescript of "Preparations for the Second Coming," pages 513-653 and for "The Contract," pages 517-530 | undated |
| Box 12 | Folder 1 | "The Greatest," page proofs: chronology, copyright, acknowledgement and table of content pages; pages 3-57 | undated |
| Box 12 | Folder 2 | Page proofs: "The First Coming," pages 1-23 | undated |
| Box 12 | Folder 3 | Page proofs: "The Prophecy of Sell-Out Moe," pages 58-83; "The Induction," pages 84-106; "God Bless the Child," pages 107-133; "Old Friends and Dinosaurs," pages 134-183; "Dinosaurs in a Park," pages 167-183 | undated |
| Box 12 | Folder 4 | Page proofs: "Dinosaurs in a Park," pages 184-190; "Resurrection," pages 191-196; "Gyms Before Judgment," pages 197-214; "The Second Coming," pages 215-239 | undated |
| Box 12 | Folder 5 | Page proofs: "For the Victims," pages 240-250; "The Dinosaurs Meet," pages 251-261; additional pages, 261a-261p | undated |
| Box 12 | Folder 6 | Page proofs: "The Contract," pages 262-269; "The Bossman Comes," pages 270-283; "Bomaye," pages 284-304; "About Richard Durham" | undated |
| Box 12 | Folder 7 | Page proofs: table of contents, pages 17-181 | undated |
| Box 12 | Folder 8 | Page proofs: pages 182-303 | undated |
| Box 12 | Folder 9 | Page proofs: pages 304-405 | undated |
| Box 12 | Folder 10 | Page proofs: pages 268, 300, 413-414, dedication page, table of contents, pages 11-14, various pages | undated |
| Box 12 | Folder 11 | Untitled folder | undated |
| Box 12 | Folder 12 | Untitled folder Page proofs: various pages |
undated |
Series 2: Photographs and Audiovisual Materials, 1949, 1970, 1999, 2007
Scope and Contents
Series includes 29 photographs (including) reprints of publicity materials as well as 2 VHS tapes.
Arrangement
By material
| Box 13 | Durham 001 | Destination Freedom cast | 1949 |
| Box 13 | Durham 002 | Destination Freedom, Community Program, [Vivian G. Harsh on left] | 1949 |
| Box 13 | Durham 003 | "Bird of the Iron Feather" interview | 1970 |
| Box 13 | Durham 004 | "Bird of the Iron Feather" interview | undated |
| Box 13 | Durham 005 | Louise Pruitt, actress, Destination Freedom | 1949 |
| Box 13 | Durham 006 | Destination Freedom, Fred Pinkard | 1949 |
| Box 13 | Durham 007 | Destination Freedom, "Community Coffee Sip" | 1949 |
| Box 13 | Durham 008 | Destination Freedom, Technician | 1949 |
| Box 13 | Durham 009 | Oscar Brown, Jr., Destination Freedom | 1949 |
| Box 13 | Durham 010 | Destination Freedom, Janice Kingslow | 1949 |
| Box 13 | Durham 011 | Destination Freedom set, NBC Studio | 1949 |
| Box 13 | Durham 012 | Richard Durham writing "Destination Freedom," [digital version can be seen here: https://cdm16818.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/cr/id/22/rec/19] | 1949 |
| Box 13 | Durham 013 | Destination Freedom Technician | 1949 |
| Box 13 | Durham 014 | Destination Freedom "Community Coffee Sip" | 1949 |
| Box 13 | Durham 015 | Destination Freedom publicity | undated |
| Box 13 | Durham 016 | "Destination Freedom Coffee Cooler" | undated |
| Box 13 | Durham 017 | Destination Freedom musician | undated |
| Box 13 | Durham 018 | Destination Freedom, Richard Durham | |
| Box 13 | Durham 019 | Janice Kingslow, Destination Freedom | |
| Box 13 | Durham 020 | Destination Freedom, Homer Heck | |
| Box 13 | Durham 021 | Louise Pruitt (?), Destination Freedom | |
| Box 13 | Durham 022 | Destination Freedom actors | undated |
| Box 13 | Durham 023 | Ida B. Wells-Barnett | undated |
| Box 13 | Durham 024 | Ida B. Wells-Barnett | undated |
| Box 13 | Durham 025 | Destination Freedom, Janice Kingslow behind the camera | 1949 |
| Box 13 | Durham 027 | Harriet Tubman script, page 2 | undated |
| Box 13 | Durham 028 | Honorable withdrawal card, American Newspaper Guild | undated |
| Box 13 | VHS tape | "The Sound of Freedom," by Afaf Qayyum, Chicago Metro History Fair | 1999 |
| Box 13 | CD | Interview with Clarice Davis Durham and Charles Davis recorded by StoryCorps Griot | 2007 July |
Series 3: Serials, 1964-1975
Scope and Contents
This series includes bound and unbound issues of Muhammad Speaks.
Arrangement
Unbound and bound
| Box 14 | Muhammad Speaks, Vol. 1, No. 1 | 1975 April 18 |
| Muhammad Speaks bound volumes: V September 1964-September 1965, February 1966-March 1967, March-April 1967) | 1964-1967 |
Series 4: Addendum 1948-1987
Scope and Contents
This series includes 91 compact discs of the radio series Destination Freedom , donated by J. Fred MacDonald.
Arrangement
Chronologically by airdate of the radio broadcast
| Box 15 | 1 | Destination Freedom show recorded on compact disc | 1948 June 27 |
| Box 15 | 2 | Destination Freedom show recorded on compact disc | 1948 July 4 |
| Box 15 | 3 | Destination Freedom show recorded on compact disc | 1948 July 11 |
| Box 15 | 4 | Destination Freedom show recorded on compact disc | 1948 July 18 |
| Box 15 | 5 | Destination Freedom show recorded on compact disc | 1948 July 25 |
| Box 15 | 6 | Destination Freedom show recorded on compact disc | 1948 August 1 |
| Box 15 | 7 | Destination Freedom show recorded on compact disc | 1948 August 8 |
| Box 15 | 8 | Destination Freedom show recorded on compact disc | 1948 August 15 |
| Box 15 | 9 | Destination Freedom show recorded on compact disc | 1948 August 22 |
| Box 15 | 10 | Destination Freedom show recorded on compact disc | 1948 August 29 |
| Box 15 | 11 | Destination Freedom show recorded on compact disc | 1948 September 5 |
| Box 15 | 12 | Destination Freedom show recorded on compact disc | 1948 September 12 |
| Box 15 | 13 | Destination Freedom show recorded on compact disc | 1948 September 19 |
| Box 15 | 14 | Destination Freedom show recorded on compact disc | 1948 September 26 |
| Box 15 | 15 | Destination Freedom show recorded on compact disc | 1948 October 3 |
| Box 15 | 16 | Destination Freedom show recorded on compact disc | 1948 October 10 |
| Box 15 | 17 | Destination Freedom show recorded on compact disc | 1948 October 17 |
| Box 15 | 18 | Destination Freedom show recorded on compact disc | 1948 November 7 |
| Box 15 | 19 | Destination Freedom show recorded on compact disc | 1948 November 14 |
| Box 15 | 20 | Destination Freedom show recorded on compact disc | 1948 November 21 |
| Box 15 | 21 | Destination Freedom show recorded on compact disc | 1948 November 28 |
| Box 15 | 22 | Destination Freedom show recorded on compact disc | 1948 December 5 |
| Box 15 | 23 | Destination Freedom show recorded on compact disc | 1948 December 12 |
| Box 15 | 24 | Destination Freedom show recorded on compact disc | 1948 December 19 |
| Box 15 | 25 | Destination Freedom show recorded on compact disc | 1948 December 26 |
| Box 16 | 1 | Destination Freedom show recorded on compact disc | 1949 January 2 |
| Box 16 | 2 | Destination Freedom show recorded on compact disc | 1949 January 9 |
| Box 16 | 3 | Destination Freedom show recorded on compact disc | 1949 January 30 |
| Box 16 | 4 | Destination Freedom show recorded on compact disc | 1949 February 20 |
| Box 16 | 5 | Destination Freedom show recorded on compact disc | 1949 February 27 |
| Box 16 | 6 | Destination Freedom show recorded on compact disc | 1949 March 6 |
| Box 16 | 7 | Destination Freedom show recorded on compact disc | 1949 March 13 |
| Box 16 | 8 | Destination Freedom show recorded on compact disc | 1949 March 20 |
| Box 16 | 9 | Destination Freedom show recorded on compact disc | 1949 March 27 |
| Box 16 | 10 | Destination Freedom show recorded on compact disc | 1949 April 3 |
| Box 16 | 11 | Destination Freedom show recorded on compact disc | 1949 April 10 |
| Box 16 | 12 | Destination Freedom show recorded on compact disc | 1949 April 17 |
| Box 16 | 13 | Destination Freedom show recorded on compact disc | 1949 April 24 |
| Box 16 | 14 | Destination Freedom show recorded on compact disc | 1949 May 1 |
| Box 16 | 15 | Destination Freedom show recorded on compact disc | 1949 May 15 |
| Box 16 | 16 | Destination Freedom show recorded on compact disc | 1949 May 22 |
| Box 16 | 17 | Destination Freedom show recorded on compact disc | 1949 May 29 |
| Box 16 | 18 | Destination Freedom show recorded on compact disc | 1949 June 5 |
| Box 16 | 19 | Destination Freedom show recorded on compact disc | 1949 June 12 |
| Box 16 | 20 | Destination Freedom show recorded on compact disc | 1949 June 19 |
| Box 16 | 21 | Destination Freedom show recorded on compact disc | 1949 June 26 |
| Box 17 | 1 | Destination Freedom show recorded on compact disc | 1949 July 3 |
| Box 17 | 2 | Destination Freedom show recorded on compact disc | 1949 July 17 |
| Box 17 | 3 | Destination Freedom show recorded on compact disc | 1949 July 24 |
| Box 17 | 4 | Destination Freedom show recorded on compact disc | 1949 July 31 |
| Box 17 | 5 | Destination Freedom show recorded on compact disc | 1949 August 7 |
| Box 17 | 6 | Destination Freedom show recorded on compact disc | 1949 August 14 |
| Box 17 | 7 | Destination Freedom show recorded on compact disc | 1949 August 21 |
| Box 17 | 8 | Destination Freedom show recorded on compact disc | 1949 August 28 |
| Box 17 | 9 | Destination Freedom show recorded on compact disc | 1949 September 4 |
| Box 17 | 10 | Destination Freedom show recorded on compact disc | 1949 September 119 |
| Box 17 | 11 | Destination Freedom show recorded on compact disc | 1949 September 18 |
| Box 17 | 12 | Destination Freedom show recorded on compact disc | 1949 September 25 |
| Box 17 | 13 | Destination Freedom show recorded on compact disc | 1949 October 2 |
| Box 17 | 14 | Destination Freedom show recorded on compact disc | 1949 October 9 |
| Box 17 | 15 | Destination Freedom show recorded on compact disc | 1949 October 16 |
| Box 17 | 16 | Destination Freedom show recorded on compact disc | 1949 October 23 |
| Box 17 | 17 | Destination Freedom show recorded on compact disc | 1949 October 30 |
| Box 17 | 18 | Destination Freedom show recorded on compact disc | 1949 November 6 |
| Box 18 | 1 | Destination Freedom show recorded on compact disc | 1950 January 15 |
| Box 18 | 2 | Destination Freedom show recorded on compact disc | 1950 January 22 |
| Box 18 | 3 | Destination Freedom show recorded on compact disc | 1950 February 12 |
| Box 18 | 4 | Destination Freedom show recorded on compact disc | 1950 February 19 |
| Box 18 | 5 | Destination Freedom show recorded on compact disc | 1950 March 12 |
| Box 18 | 6 | Destination Freedom show recorded on compact disc | 1950 March 26 |
| Box 18 | 7 | Destination Freedom show recorded on compact disc | 1950 April 2 |
| Box 18 | 8 | Destination Freedom show recorded on compact disc | 1950 April 9 |
| Box 18 | 9 | Destination Freedom show recorded on compact disc | 1950 April 16 |
| Box 18 | 10 | Destination Freedom show recorded on compact disc | 1950 April 23 |
| Box 18 | 11 | Destination Freedom show recorded on compact disc | 1950 May 7 |
| Box 18 | 12 | Destination Freedom show recorded on compact disc | 1950 May 14 |
| Box 18 | 13 | Destination Freedom show recorded on compact disc | 1950 June 4 |
| Box 18 | 14 | Destination Freedom show recorded on compact disc | 1950 June 11 |
| Box 18 | 15 | Destination Freedom show recorded on compact disc | 1950 June 18 |
| Box 18 | 16 | Destination Freedom show recorded on compact disc | 1950 June 25 |
| Box 18 | 17 | Destination Freedom show recorded on compact disc | 1950 July 2 |
| Box 18 | 18 | Destination Freedom show recorded on compact disc | 1950 July 9 |
| Box 19 | 1 | Destination Freedom show recorded on compact disc | 1957 August 4 |
| Box 19 | 2 | Destination Freedom show recorded on compact disc | 1957 August 4 |
| Box 19 | 3 | Destination Freedom show recorded on compact disc | 1987 February |
| Box 19 | 4 | Interview about Destination Freedom | 1975 February |
| Box 19 | 5 | Interview about Destination Freedom | 1975 February |
| Box 19 | 6 | Interview about Destination Freedom | 1975 Summer |
| Box 19 | 7 | Interview about Destination Freedom | 1980 June 13 |
| Box 19 | 8 | Interview about Destination Freedom | 1983 January 16 |