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Captain Harry Dean papers

Descriptive Summary

Title
Captain Harry Dean papers
Identifier
BMRC.DUSABLE.DEAN
Repository
DuSable Museum of African American History
Language
English
Size
3.5 Linear feet
Predominant Dates
Bulk, 1909-1934
Dates
1817-1973
Abstract
The Captain Harry Dean papers spans from 1817-1973 with the bulk of material from 1909-1934. Dean was an African-American sailor who supported the Pan-Africanism movement. Dean spent the majority of his adolescent and adult years sailing throughout Europe and Africa. In 1900, he purchased a ship, “The Pedro Gorino,” which he captained before coming back to America, circa 1920. The collection largely consists of personal materials including Dean’s diaries from 1920-1934, personal correspondence and a partial autobiography. The collection also includes photographs, material related to Liberia, and secondary biographical information about Dean that was created after his death.

Biographical Note

Captain Harry Dean (1864-1935) was an African-American sailor who supported the Pan-Africanism movement. Born to a prominent family in Philadelphia in 1864, Dean was the great grandson of Paul Cuffee, an abolitionist and sea captain who helped colonize Sierra Leone. Dean spent the majority of his adolescent and adult years sailing throughout Europe and Africa. In 1900, he purchased a ship, “The Pedro Gorino,” which he captained before coming back to America, circa 1920. During the 1920s he set up a nautical school for African-Americans in San Francisco, California. Dean believed that mastery of nautical science and international shipping was a way for African-Americans to gain economic freedom.

Conditions Governing Access note

Access to the archival collections housed at the DuSable Museum is restricted; please contact the museum archivist at 773-947-0600 for more information. 2015 October 5 CAB

Scope and Content Note

The Captain Harry Dean papers spans from 1817-1973 with the bulk of material from 1909-1934. The collection documents the life of Dean through his own writings. Of note in this collection is his vast collection of diaries, his partial autobiography, and a few documents pertaining to Dean’s formation of the first all African-American nautical school. Other documents include official reports and documents regarding Liberia, newspaper clippings, photos, and research by John Burger concerning Captain Harry Dean.

Arrangement note

The Captain Harry Dean papers are arranged into seven series: 1. Diaries, 1920-1930. 2. Autobiography, undated. 3. Correspondence, 1815-1817. 4. Liberia, 1887-1950. 5. Photographs, undated. 6. Biographical Documents, 1965-1973, undated. 7. Nautical School, undated.

Preferred Citation note

When quoting material from this collection, the preferred citation is: Captain Harry Dean papers, [Box #, Folder #], DuSable Museum of African American History, Chicago, Illinois

Processing Information note

Processed by CLIR funded Black Metropolis Research Consortium “Color Curtain Processing Project.” Processors: T.J. Szafranski and Elise Zerega

Indexed Terms

Inventory

Series I: Diaries,
1920-1930
Arrangement note

The Diaries series is arranged chronologically.

Scope and Contents note

The Diaries series include 121 of Captain Harry Dean’s handwritten diaries. Folder 1 contains some typed excerpts from Dean’s diaries. The series also includes some of Dean’s personal books and maps. The diaries are fragile and should be handled with care.

Box 1
Folder 1
Title
Typed exceprts from Harry Dean Diaries,
Dates
1920-1930
Box 1
Folder 2
Title
2 Diaries,
Dates
1920
Box 1
Folder 3
Title
3 Diaries,
Dates
1920
Box 1
Folder 4
Title
3 Diaries,
Dates
1920
Box 1
Folder 5
Title
2 Diaries,
Dates
1921
Box 1
Folder 6
Title
3 Diaries,
Dates
1921
Box 1
Folder 7
Title
3 Diaries,
Dates
1921
Box 1
Folder 8
Title
3 Diaries,
Dates
1922
Box 1
Folder 9
Title
3 Diaries,
Dates
1922
Box 1
Folder 10
Title
3 Diaries,
Dates
1922
Box 1
Folder 11
Title
2 Diaries,
Dates
1923
Box 1
Folder 12
Title
3 Diaries,
Dates
1923
Box 1
Folder 13
Title
3 Diaries,
Dates
1923
Box 1
Folder 14
Title
3 Diaries,
Dates
1923
Box 1
Folder 15
Title
3 Diaries,
Dates
1923
Box 1
Folder 16
Title
3 Diaries,
Dates
1924
Box 1
Folder 17
Title
3 Diaries,
Dates
1924
Box 1
Folder 18
Title
3 Diaries,
Dates
1924
Box 1
Folder 19
Title
2 Diaries,
Dates
1924
Box 1
Folder 20
Title
2 Diaries,
Dates
1924
Box 1
Folder 21
Title
3 Diaries,
Dates
1924
Box 2
Folder 22
Title
3 Diaries,
Dates
1925
Box 2
Folder 23
Title
3 Diaries,
Dates
1925
Box 2
Folder 24
Title
3 Diaries,
Dates
1925
Box 2
Folder 25
Title
3 Diaries,
Dates
1925
Box 2
Folder 26
Title
3 Diaries,
Dates
1925
Box 2
Folder 27
Title
3 Diaries,
Dates
1925
Box 2
Folder 28
Title
2 Diaries,
Dates
1926
Box 2
Folder 29
Title
3 Diaries,
Dates
1926
Box 2
Folder 30
Title
3 Diaries,
Dates
1926
Box 2
Folder 31
Title
3 Diaries,
Dates
1926
Box 2
Folder 32
Title
3 Diaries,
Dates
1927
Box 2
Folder 33
Title
3 Diaries,
Dates
1927
Box 2
Folder 34
Title
3 Diaries,
Dates
1927
Box 2
Folder 35
Title
4 Diaries,
Dates
1928
Box 2
Folder 36
Title
3 Diaries,
Dates
1928
Box 2
Folder 37
Title
3 Diaries,
Dates
1928
Box 2
Folder 38
Title
3 Diaries,
Dates
1929
Box 2
Folder 39
Title
4 Diaries,
Dates
1929
Box 2
Folder 40
Title
3 Diaries,
Dates
1930
Box 2
Folder 41
Title
3 Diaries,
Dates
1930
Box 2
Folder 42
Title
3 Diaries,
Dates
undated
Box 2
Folder 43
Title
2 Diaries,
Dates
undated
Box 2
Folder 44
Title
Maps,
Dates
undated
Box 2
Title
Unidentified book,
Dates
undated
Box 2
Title
Book-"The Mission of Death; A Tale of New York Penal Laws,"
Dates
186[3]
Bibliography

Walworth, Tracy Mansfield. The Mission of Death; A Tale of New York Penal Laws. New York: D&S Sadlier, 186[3?].

  • Book
Box 2
Title
Book-"Specifications for Steel Single-screw, Single-deck, Shelter-seck Cargo Steamer to be Built" by Bethlehem Shipbuilding Corporation, LTD. (Union Plant) San Francisco, Cal. for Emergency Fleet Corporation 1918 Hull Numbers 1682 to 1687, inclusive Yard Numbers 5275 to 5280,
Dates
1918
Bibliography

Kohn and Pollack, edited. Specifications for Steel Single-Screw, Single-Deck, Shelter-Deck Cargo Steamer to be Built by Bethlehem Shipbuilding Corporation, LTD. (Union Plant) San Francisco, Cal. for Emergency Fleet Corporation 1918 Hull Numbers 1682 to 1687, inclusive Yard Numbers 5275 to 5280. Baltimore: Kohn and Pollack Inc., 1918.

  • Book
Box 2
Title
Book-"The Commercial Relations of England and Portugal,"
Dates
1907
Bibliography

Chapman, Wallace and V.M. Shillington. The Commercial Relations of England and Portugal. New York: George Routledge and Sons LTD, 1907.

  • Book
Series II: Autobiography,
undated
Scope and Contents note

The Autobiography series includes a draft of Captain Harry Dean’s autobiography, “Pedro Gorino,” written by Harry Dean with the assistance of Sterling North.

Box 3
Folder 45
Title
Outline for Book: “Pedro Gorino,”
Dates
undated
Box 3
Folder 46
Title
Preface for Book: “Pedro Gorino,”
Dates
undated
Box 3
Folder 47
Title
Manuscript for autobiography, chapter 1,
Dates
undated
Box 3
Folder 48
Title
Manuscript for autobiography, chapter 1,
Dates
undated
Box 3
Folder 49
Title
Manuscript for autobiography, chapter 2,
Dates
undated
Box 3
Folder 50
Title
Manuscript for autobiography, chapter 3,
Dates
undated
Box 3
Folder 51
Title
Manuscript for autobiography, chapter 4,
Dates
undated
Box 3
Folder 52
Title
Manuscript for autobiography, chapter 5,
Dates
undated
Box 3
Folder 53
Title
Manuscript for autobiography, chapter 6,
Dates
undated
Box 3
Folder 54
Title
Manuscript for autobiography, chapter 7,
Dates
undated
Box 3
Folder 55
Title
Manuscript for autobiography, chapter 8,
Dates
undated
Box 3
Folder 56
Title
Manuscript for autobiography, chapter 9,
Dates
undated
Box 3
Folder 57
Title
Manuscript for autobiography, chapter 10,
Dates
undated
Box 3
Folder 58
Title
Manuscript for autobiography, chapter 11,
Dates
undated
Box 3
Folder 59
Title
Manuscript for autobiography, chapter 12,
Dates
undated
Box 3
Folder 60
Title
Manuscript for autobiography, chapter 13,
Dates
undated
Box 3
Folder 61
Title
Manuscript for autobiography, chapter 14,
Dates
undated
Box 3
Folder 62
Title
Manuscript for autobiography, chapter 16,
Dates
undated
Box 3
Folder 63
Title
Manuscript for autobiography, chapter 18,
Dates
undated
Box 3
Folder 64
Title
Manuscript for autobiography, chapter 19,
Dates
undated
Box 3
Folder 65
Title
Manuscript for autobiography, chapter 20,
Dates
undated
Box 3
Folder 66
Title
Manuscript for autobiography, chapter 21,
Dates
undated
Box 3
Folder 67
Title
Manuscript for autobiography, chapter 22,
Dates
undated
Box 3
Folder 68
Title
Manuscript for autobiography, chapter 23,
Dates
undated
Box 3
Folder 69
Title
Manuscript for autobiography, chapter 26,
Dates
undated
Box 3
Folder 70
Title
Manuscript for autobiography, chapter 27,
Dates
undated
Box 3
Folder 71
Title
Manuscript for autobiography, chapter 28, incomplete,
Dates
undated
Series III: Correspondence,
1815-1817, 1915-1934
Arrangement note

The Correspondence series is arranged chronologically.

Scope and Contents note

The Correspondence series includes photographs of letters written by Paul Cuffee, Dean’s great-grandfather, as well as other general correspondence to and from Dean. Some of the material is original and some is photocopied.

Box 3
Folder 72
Title
Photographs of Paul Cuffee letters,
Dates
1815, 1816
Box 3
Folder 73
Title
Letter dated 6 mo. 5, 1817 from Samuel R. Fischer,
Dates
1817
Box 3
Folder 74
Title
Correspondence,
Dates
1915
Box 3
Folder 75
Title
Correspondence,
Dates
1919
Box 3
Folder 76
Title
Correspondence,
Dates
1920
Box 3
Folder 77
Title
Correspondence,
Dates
1921
Box 3
Folder 78
Title
Correspondence,
Dates
1922
Box 3
Folder 79
Title
Correspondence,
Dates
1923
Box 3
Folder 80
Title
Correspondence,
Dates
1924
Box 3
Folder 81
Title
Correspondence,
Dates
1925
Box 3
Folder 82
Title
Correspondence,
Dates
1926
Box 3
Folder 83
Title
Correspondence,
Dates
1927
Box 3
Folder 84
Title
Correspondence,
Dates
1928-1929
Box 3
Folder 85
Title
Correspondence with Harold Ickes (Lawyer),
Dates
1929-1930
Box 3
Folder 86
Title
Correspondence,
Dates
1930-1931
Box 3
Folder 87
Title
Correspondence,
Dates
1933
Box 4
Folder 88
Title
Correspondence,
Dates
1933
Box 4
Folder 89
Title
Correspondence (Envelopes 1929-30)-Rent Receipts,
Dates
1934
Box 4
Folder 90
Title
Correspondence,
Dates
1934
Series IV: Liberia,
1887-1950
Arrangement note

The Liberia series is arranged chronologically.

Scope and Contents note

The Liberia series primarily contains government documents and reports concerning the formation and politics of Liberia. The series is arranged chronologically.

Box 4
Folder 91
Title
Report to Robert M. McLane from T.F.Bayard of the Dept. of State (U.S),
Dates
March 22, 1887
Box 4
Folder 92
Title
Inaugural Address by President of Liberia,
Dates
1908
Box 4
Folder 93
Title
Letter from Daniel E. Howard, Sec. of Treasury, Liberia, to Dr. Blyden,
Dates
January 29, 1909
Box 4
Folder 94
Title
Diplomatic report from The American Legation, Monrovia, Liberia,
Dates
February 10, 12, and April 6 1909
Box 4
Folder 95
Title
Report to the U.S. Secretary of State on Crisis in Liberia by E. Lyon,
Dates
February 15, 1909
Box 4
Folder 96
Title
Republic of Liberia, Dept. of State, re: Mutiny at Camp Johnson,
Dates
February 24, 1909
Box 4
Folder 97
Title
The American Legation, Monrovia, Liberia, Reply to Cablegrams,
Dates
March 2, 1909
Box 4
Folder 98
Title
Diplomatic Report from The American Legation, Monrovia, Liberia,
Dates
March 3, 1909
Box 4
Folder 99
Title
History of the dispute “In the Matter of Anglo-Liberian Boundary,”
Dates
April 3, 1909
Box 4
Folder 100
Title
Liberian Railway System Concession,
Dates
March 6, 1910
Box 4
Folder 101
Title
Address of Paul Robeson to the National Labor Conference for Negro Rights,
Dates
June 10, 1950
Box 4
Folder 102
Title
“An Act Granting to Allen Forbes the Use of Alternate Blocks of Public Land,”
Dates
undated
Box 4
Folder 103
Title
Maps of Liberia,
Dates
undated
Series V: Photographs,
undated
Scope and Contents note

The Photographs series contains about 30 undated and unidentified photograph negatives and postcards.

Box 4
Folder 104
Title
Photographic Negatives,
Dates
undated
Box 4
Folder 105
Title
Postcards and Photographs,
Dates
undated
Series VI: Biographical material,
1965-1973, undated
Scope and Contents note

The Biographical material series contains primary documents about Captain Harry Dean, documents created by John Burger while writing his Master’s thesis at Roosevelt University in 1973, and correspondence related to the Captain Harry Dean Collection. Folder 115 is an inventory of the collection that was found within the collection. This inventory appears to be accurate.

Box 4
Folder 106
Title
Flyers for His [Captain Harry Dean] Lecture,
Dates
undated
Box 4
Folder 107
Title
Biography,
Dates
undated
Box 4
Folder 108
Title
Clippings,
Dates
undated
Box 4
Folder 109
Title
Thesis by J. Burger, Roosevelt U, An Introduction to Harry Dean pg. 1-50,
Dates
January 1973
Box 4
Folder 110
Title
Thesis by J. Burger, Roosevelt U, An Introduction to Harry Dean pg. 51-103 & Bibliography,
Dates
January 22, 1973
Box 4
Folder 111
Title
Thesis by J. Burger, Roosevelt U, An Introduction to Harry Dean pg. 1-20,
Dates
1973
Box 4
Folder 112
Title
An Introduction to Harry Dean by John Burger,
Dates
undated
Box 4
Folder 113
Title
Correspondence related to Collection,
Dates
1965
Box 4
Folder 114
Title
Collection Related Correspondence,
Dates
1965 June 17
Box 4
Folder 115
Title
Collection Inventory,
Dates
undated
Series VII: Nautical school,
undated
Scope and Contents note

The Nautical school series contains documents related to the Dean’s attempt to establish a nautical school in California. It contains documents relating to Dean’s life and some photocopied clippings from newspapers.

Box 4
Folder 116
Title
Nautical school and photocopies,
Dates
undated