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Access to archives and manuscripts at the Research Center.

Elma Stuckey papers

Descriptive Summary

Title
Elma Stuckey papers
Dates
1895-2001,
Predominant Dates
bulk 1940s-1988
Creator
Stuckey, Elma, 1907-1988
Creator
Stuckey, Ples Sterling, 1904-1975 , Cook, Vivian E. Johnson , Johnson, Clifford , Johnson, Clifford, Mrs , Johnson, Evelyn V , Johnson, Fred , Johnson, Mollie Stafford , Johnson, Spencer , Thomas, James Thomas , Morrison, Delois Jean Stuckey, 1929-1979 , Johnson family
Size
9.5 linear ft. (23 boxes)
Size
1 oversize folder.
Size
8 sound tapes.
(Original).
Size
15 sound cassettes.
(Original).
Language
Material is in English unless otherwise noted.

Scope and Content

Autobiography; biography by her son, Sterling Stuckey; manuscripts of published and unpublished poetry by Elma Stuckey, and reviews and commentaries on her work; correspondence; incoming greeting cards, financial and medical records, and other papers of Stuckey, a Chicago resident who became famous for her poetry, which often dealt with slavery and its legacy in the United States. Correspondents include her son (especially while he served in the U.S. Army, 1956-1957); her daughter, Delois Jean Stuckey Morrison; her aunt, Vivian E. Johnson Cook, known as "Aunt Sweet," 1914-1977; her brother and sister-in-law, Mr. and Mrs. Clifford Johnson.

Also present are materials relating to her husband, Ples Sterling Stuckey; correspondence between Evelyn V. Johnson, James Thomas Johnson ca. 1920s-50s, and other relatives; and Sterling Stuckey's correspondence about his efforts to promote his mother's literary career and public renown, ca. 1970-2001. Some materials relate to Memphis, Tennessee, where Elma Stuckey was born and several Johnson family members resided. Includes items about the family's interest in Manassas High School (Memphis), which Elma Stuckey attended. The school was founded by African Americans, including Spencer Johnson, and celebrated its centennial in 1999.

Conditions for Access

For listening purposes, it is necessary to use a copy, not the original (and to have a listening copy made if one is not available).

Conditions Governing Use

Copyright owned by Sterling Stuckey was retained by him. The Rights & Reproductions Dept., Chicago History Museum, may make copies of collection items but may not authorize any person to reproduce, disseminate, or publish collection items.

Preferred Citation

A common citation for archives is as follows: Item, Folder number and/or title, Box number, Collection title, ID number, Repository name, location.

Custodial History

Gift of Dr. P. Sterling Stuckey (1998.0154; 2000.0091; 2005.0071; 2008.0012.1; and 2009.0108.1).

Biography or History

Elma Stuckey was born 1907 March 15 and died 1988 Sept. 25.

Other Descriptive Data

Correspondence with Vivian Cook is primarily in the form of photocopies.

Related Material

Related material at Chicago History Museum, Research Center, includes the Sterling Stuckey papers; the Elma Stuckey family photograph collection (1998.0154); the Elma Stuckey photograph collection (2005.0071); and publications cataloged separately. Artifacts related to Elma Stuckey also are in the collection of Chicago History Museum.

Descriptive inventory available online.

Indexed Terms