AHJ_ah08587 Inventory of the June Vanleer Williams Papers1875-1984 (Bulk 1930-1984) Williams (June Vanleer) papers Processed by Abaigeal Eagen, Annie Stratton, and Sara Davis University of Wyoming. American Heritage Center.
American Heritage Center Dept. 3924, 1000 E. University Avenue University of Wyoming Laramie, WY 82071 Phone: 307.766.2574 Fax:307.766.5511 Email:ahcref@uwyo.edu URL:http://ahc.uwyo.edu/
2020

University of Wyoming

 Finding aid encoded by Ann Mulfort and Sara Davis in June 2013 and June 2020, respectively. Finding aid is in English Collection Summary Williams, June Vanleer. June Vanleer Williams papers 1875-1984 1930-1984 08587 10.66 cubic feet (24 boxes) University of Wyoming. American Heritage Center. English 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. Biography of June Vanleer Williams

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).

 Scope and Content

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.

 Access Restrictions

There are no access restrictions on the materials for research purposes, and the collection is open to the public.

 Copyright Information

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

 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 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.

 Preferred Citation

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

 Access Terms Karamu House. Women journalists. Playwriting -- United States -- 20th century. Theater -- United States -- 20th century. Actresses -- United States -- 20th century. African American actors. African American poets. Performing Arts. Journalism. Women. African Americans. <?xm-replace_text {Title as Subject}?> Container List Series I. Biographical Information 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. Correspondence 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. Photographs

Primarily publicity photographs of African American actors

 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 Material 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 Artifacts 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