Margaret Burroughs Papers

This series includes Margaret Burroughs’ correspondence with political and cultural figures, prison inmates, family, friends, and school children. Aside from letters, the series contains greeting cards, postcards, and invitations to community events. Notable figures present in the series include Langston Hughes, Gwendolyn Brooks, Frank Marshall Davis, Oprah Winfrey, and Chicago mayors Richard J. Daley, Michael Bilandic, Jane Byrne, Harold Washington, Eugene Sawyer, and Richard M. Daley.

This series contains poetry, speeches, lectures, handwritten notes, and artwork. Notable items include an edited manuscript of Jasper the Drummin’ Boy, galley prints of Did You Feed My Cow?, a transcript of an interview with Burroughs from 1973, and a manuscript of Burroughs’ biography written by Eugene Feldman. Some artistic prints and sketches are present, but overall, Burroughs’ artwork is not well represented. The series also includes writings by other authors, and manuscripts from Burroughs’ friends and colleagues that she edited.

Material in this series documents the operation and administration of the DuSable Museum of African American History. There are correspondence, meeting minutes, policy manuals, director and annual reports, calendars of events, program flyers, exhibition brochures, newsletters, financial documents, committee lists, member directories, and press releases. Major events that are well represented in the series include various fundraising efforts throughout the 1970s as the museum transitioned to its current location in Washington Park, the Writer’s Seminar and Poetry Festival from 1982-1985, the 1986 Teaching About Africa Seminar, and the 2003 Freedom Schooner Amistad exhibition.

This series documents the activities and interests of Burroughs beyond her role as director of the DuSable Museum of African American History. The bulk of material in “Personal” comes from events that Burroughs spoke at or attended. These include art exhibitions, memorial services, festivals, banquets, award dinners, and commencements. Other material relates to the South Side Community Arts Center, the Chicago Park District, and professional associations that Burroughs participated in, including the National Conference of Artists, the Frank London Brown Historical Association, and the National Council of Soviet Friendship. The series also includes press clippings and publicity about Burroughs, biographical material, datebooks, calendars, financial documents, handwritten notes, and material from Margaret’s personal travels. Of note in the collection are Margaret and Charles’ wedding vows. One box of personal material is restricted.

This series contains local and national publications pertaining to African American arts and culture. Local publications document the activities in Chicago related to African American art, history, literature, and dance from the 1950s to 2000s, while national publications primarily address social and political issues of the time period. “Publications” also contain corporate and government reports relevant to the operation of the DuSable Museum of African American History.

The photographs in this series are primarily from Burroughs’ travels and exhibits at the DuSable Museum of African American History. There are also photos of Burroughs’ house. Individual photographs are primarily unidentified.

Charles Burroughs married Margaret Burroughs in 1949. Margaret had previously been married to Bernard Goss from 1939 to 1947. This series contains writings and notes by Charles, some of which are in Russian, newspaper clippings, correspondence, biographical information, and certificates.

Neal Burroughs was Charles Burroughs’ brother. This series contains writings by Neal, some of which are in Russian, newspaper clippings, and correspondence.