June Vanleer Williams papers

June Vanleer Williams papers, 1875-1984

Overview of the Collection

Creator: Williams, June Vanleer.
Title: June Vanleer Williams papers
Dates: 1875-1984 (inclusive)
18751984

1930-1984 (bulk)
19301984
Quantity: 10.66 cubic feet (24 boxes)
Collection Number: 08587
Summary: June Vanleer Williams was an African American journalist, actress, and playwright. This collection contains scripts, newspapers, correspondence, and publicity relating to Williams’ personal and professional life.
Repository: American Heritage Center, University of Wyoming
American Heritage Center
University of Wyoming
1000 E. University Ave.
Dept. 3924
Laramie, WY
82071
Telephone: 3077663756
ahcref@uwyo.edu
Access Restrictions: Access Restrictions
There are no access restrictions on the materials for research purposes, and the collection is open to the public.
Languages: English

Historical NoteReturn to Top

June Vanleer Williams was an African American journalist and editor for a number of newspapers in Ohio (Call and Post, Cleveland Gazette), a playwright (“The Face of Job”, “A Bit of Almsgiving”, “The Eyes of the Lofty”, and “The Meek Won’t Inherit S#-*!!”), poet ("Moments in Repose" and Will the Real You Please Stand Up), actress (aka Jay Vanleer on Serpico, Harry and Tonto, and The Taking of Pelham One Two Three) and casting director (Claudine).

Content DescriptionReturn to Top

The June Vanleer Williams collection contains awards, plaques and certificates; biographical information; family records; and photographs from the early 1900s-1980s. The collection also contains personal and professional correspondence concerning Williams' involvement in the Karamu House (the oldest African American theater in the United States) in Cleveland, Ohio. Other materials in the collection include books, newspaper and magazine clippings, pamphlets, periodicals, programs, written works, and miscellaneous items related to June Vanleer Williams, her columns, the Karamu House, and photos and resumes of various actors.

This collection contains language that may be offensive or harmful, which was used by the people and organizations that created the material. It does not represent the views of the University of Wyoming and the American Heritage Center. Language that comes from the original archival material can provide information about the people who created it.

Use of the CollectionReturn to Top

Restrictions on Use

The researcher assumes full responsibility for observing all copyright, property, and libel laws as they apply.

Preferred Citation

Item Description, Box Number, Folder Number, Collection Name, Collection Number, American Heritage Center, University of Wyoming.

Administrative InformationReturn to Top

Related Materials

There are no known other archival collections created by June Vanleer Williams at the date of processing.

Acquisition Information

The collection was received from June Vanleer Williams in 1983-1984 and the Estate of June Vanleer Williams in 1991.

Processing Note

Processing Information

The collection was processed by Abaigeal Eagen in October 2019 and by Annie Stratton and Sara Davis in June 2020. Parts of the collection (largely photographs) were discarded due to mold damage. Social Security numbers have been redacted.

Detailed Description of the CollectionReturn to Top

Series I. Biographical InformationReturn to Top

Container(s)	Description	Dates
Box
18	Address and Telephone Books	undated
18	Biographical Information - Charles Loeb	1905-1978
18	Biographical Information - J. Newton Hill	1966
19	Biographical Information - June Vanleer Williams	1941-1942, 1949-1950, 1952-1953, 1955-1957, 1965, 1968-1976, 1979-1982, 1984
19	Biographical Information - Lila Williams	1942-1950
18	Biographical Information - Martha Elizabeth Morford	1937-1940, 1942-1945
18	Biographical Information - Mary and Howard Baker	1955, 1958-1959, 1963, 1974, 1978, 1982
18	Biographical Information - Robert Love	1880-1973
18	Biographical Information - William O. Walker	1896-1981
19	Biographical Information - Williams Family	1875-1954
19	Certificates - Appreciation as Guest Speaker	1962-1982
19	Certificates - June Vanleer Williams	1970, 1982, undated
19	Index Cards of June Vanleer Williams's Contacts	undated

Series II. CorrespondenceReturn to Top

Container(s)	Description	Dates
Box
1	Correspondence	1971-1984
1	Correspondence: Cahill, Private John	1951
1	Correspondence: Call and Post	1971
1	Correspondence: City of Cleveland	1975
1	Correspondence: Forte, Roland	1973-1974
1, 2	Correspondence: Furfey, Paul Hanly	1943-1982
2	Correspondence: Jelliffe, Russell and Rowena - Founders of Karamu House	1965-1970
2	Correspondence: June Vanleer Williams's Career	1976
2	Correspondence: Karamu Foundations	1966-1980
2	Correspondence: Karamu Theater	1966-1969
2	Correspondence: Ohio Arts Council	1981
2	Correspondence: Personal	1938-1982
3	Correspondence: Saperstein, Abe	1952-1965
3	Correspondence: Saperstein, Abe - With Newspaper Clippings	1952-1965
3	Correspondence: Walker, William D.	1961-1974
3	Correspondence: Wright, Arthur	1981
3	Greeting Cards	1942, 1963, 1974-1980, 1983, undated
3	Interoffice Memorandums	1976
3	Letters of Approval and Rejection	1967-1981
3	Memorandums: Office Supplies	1976
3	Postcards: From Abe Saperstein - Globetrotters World Tour	1955-1956

Series III. PhotographsReturn to Top

Primarily publicity photographs of African American actors

Container(s)	Description	Dates
Box
4	Actors: Children, Boys, Under 14 Years	undated
4, 5	Actors: Males, 16-35 Years	undated
6	Actors: Males, Over 35 Yes	undated
6	Actresses: Children, Girls, Under 14 Years	undated
7	Actresses: Female, 16-35 Years	undated
8	Actresses: Female, Over 35 Years	undated
8	Family Portraits	undated
8	Movie Stills and Photographs	1951-1977
8	Paramount Press Photos and Information	1975
9	Photographs of Karamu Theater Alumni	1957-1974

Series IV. Printed MaterialReturn to Top

Container(s)	Description	Dates
Box
9	Articles: June Vanleer Williams as Her Pseudonym Jay Vanleer	1965-1966, 1968-1970, 1972-1975, undated
9	Asili by Alex Haley [Translation of Roots in Swahili]	1979
9	Book by June Vanleer Williams, Will the Real You Please Stand Up	1983
9	Call and Post, Vol 65, No 34	1976 August 26
9	Call and Post, Vol 65, No 35	1978 September 2
9	Call and Post, Vol 66, No 13	1981 March 28
9	Call and Post, Vol 66, No 45	1981 November 7
9	Call and Post, Vol 66, No 50	1981 December 12
10	Call and Post, Vol 66, No 51	1981 December 19
10	Call and Post, Vol 67, No 27	1980 July 5
10	Call and Post, Vol 67, No 39	1980 September 27
10	Call Sheets, Shooting Schedule Lists: Claudine [Movie]	1973-1974
10	Cleveland State University - Community Relations and Advisory Board	1980-1982
10	Columns and Articles by June Vanleer Williams, Including "One Woman's Opinion"	1952, 1963, 1968-1971, 1982-1983
10	Copies of News Articles	1968-1970, 1974-1977, 1979-1981
10	"Countdown at Kusini" Production Notes and Photos	1918-1974
11	Documents - Hicks vs Novack	1971-1977
11	Driver's Manuals, Logs, Maps	circa 1970, 1972
11	"The Face of Job" Script	undated
12	Finished Script - "A Bit of Almsgiving"	undated
12	Finished Script - "The Eyes of the Lofty"	undated
12	Finished Script - "The Face of Job"	undated
12	Finished Script - "The Meek Won't Inherit S#-*!!"	undated
12, 13	Fragmentations of Scripts	undated
13	Karamu Alumni, Cleveland, OH	undated
13	Karamu Golden Anniversary Files	1965
13	Karamu House - History, Articles, Programs, etc.	1950-1960
13	Karamu Theater Information	1967-1982
13	Karamu Theater Programs	1966-1980
14	"Leave Regulations" - American Red Cross	1948
14	Legal Documents	1969, 1972-1977, 1982
14	Lists of Karamu House Board of Trustees	1966-1968, 1980-1981
14	Miscellaneous Newspapers	1980-1981
14	Model City News	1973-1975
15	Newspaper Articles - Karamu Theater Clips	1950
15	Newspaper Clippings - "Fire in Rockefeller Tower"	1982
15	Newspaper Clippings - "Stanford Observer"	1982
15	Newspaper Clippings - Hicks vs Novack	1971-1977
15	Office Information	1976
15	Original Poems	undated
15	Original Script Fragments	undated
15	Pamphlets and Other Printed Material - Typesetting, Calpost	1954
15	Pamphlets and Other Printed Matter	1973, 1979, 1982-1984
16	Periodical - Community Development Fact Sheet, Black 70, Brilliant Corners	1967-1970
16	Periodical - Winterfest Boston - With Karamu Theater Ads	1966
16	Play and Book Reviews	1971, 1976-1981
16	Programs - National Playwrights Conference Plays	1974
16	Publication Orders	1975-1976
16	Publication Proposals	1975-1976
16	Publicity	1969-1984
16	Script Correspondence	1969-1973, 1976, 1978
17	Script Draft - "More Like White Folk"	undated
16	Script Draft - "The Face of Job"	undated
17	Script Fragmentations - Photocopies and Original With Annotations	undated
17	Theater Magazines	1973-1976
17	Time Schedule "Stanford University - Spring Quarter"	1969-1970
17	Time Sheets and Gas Mileage Records	1975-1976
18	"Voices of East Harlem"	1973
18	Will the Real You Please Stand Up? Manuscript	undated

Series V. Scrapbooks and ArtifactsReturn to Top

Container(s)	Description	Dates
Box
20	Autograph Book	1938
22	Cleveland State University - Community-University Relations Advisory Committee - Meritous Service Award	1982 October 8
20	Diary - Personal	1933-1936
24	Memory Book of Abe Saperstein from the Harlem Globetrotters- Correspondence, Cards, Clippings	circa 1950s
22	Ohio State Bar Association: Journalism Contest - First Place Individual Category	1968-1969
21	Orange Photo Album - Black and White Photographs	1942-1944, 1946, 1950, 1954, 1963-1964, 1968-1969, 1971-1972, 1975-1977, 1979-1980
20	Phonograph Record "By June V. Williams 6-25-55", 78 RPM	1955 June 25
22	Photographs (Rolled): Basic Training - USAFB Lackland, San Antonio, TX	1950
21	Red Photo Album - Color Photographs	undated
23	Scrapbook - Clippings, Cards, and Other Memorabilia	circa 1930s
22	Trophy: Bel-Air Civic Club - Citizens Award	1969
21	Yellow Photo Album - Black and White Photographs	1940s, 1950, 1954, 1956, 1958, 1961, 1968-1973, 1977-1980

Names and SubjectsReturn to Top

Subject Terms

Actresses -- United States -- 20th century.
African American actors.
African American poets.
Playwriting -- United States -- 20th century.
Theater -- United States -- 20th century.
Women journalists.

Corporate Names

Karamu House.

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