Contents
- Descriptive Summary
- Biographical Note
- Arrangement note
- Scope and Contents note
- Related Archival Materials note
- Conditions Governing Access note
- Processing Information note
- Preferred Citation note
- Indexed Terms
- Inventory
Collection Access
Eugene Feldman papers
Descriptive Summary
- Title
- Eugene Feldman papers
- Identifier
- BMRC.DUSABLE.FELDMAN
- Repository
- DuSable Museum of African American History
- Language
- English
- Size
- 11.0 Linear feet
- Dates
- 1942-2002
- Abstract
- Eugene Pieter Romayn Feldman (1915-1987) was one of the founders of the DuSable Museum of African American History and fulfilled a number of roles in his 26 years at the museum, including Director of Research and Publications, Public Relations Officer, and Chief Archivist. The Eugene Feldman papers span from 1942-2002 with the bulk of material from 1969-1986. The papers provide a perspective of the DuSable Museum operations and administration, Feldman’s teaching career, and his personal life. The papers contain extensive correspondence, both personal and professional. The papers are arranged in six series. Eugene Pieter Romayn Feldman (1915-1987) was one of the founders of the DuSable Museum of African American History. Feldman was born in Sheboygan, Wisconsin and received a Bachelors of Arts degree in journalism from the University of Wisconsin. He served as editor of the Southern Newsletter from 1956-1961 before moving to Chicago where he began working at the DuSable Museum of African American History. Feldman fulfilled a number of roles in his 26 years at the museum, including Director of Research and Publications, Public Relations Officer, and Chief Archivist. While in Chicago, Feldman taught Social Studies at the Britannica Academy of Chicago, and African American History at Joliet Junior College and Columbia College. In 1969, he established a Black Studies program at the Pontiac Correctional Center in conjunction with Lewis University and the DuSable Museum. Feldman’s writings about African American history have appeared in Ebony, Sepia, Chicago Daily News, and Negro History Bulletin. His books, published by DuSable Press, include Black Power in Old Alabama: The Life and Stirring Times of James T. Rapier, Black Congressmen from Alabama; An Introduction to Black History, a Textbook; and The Birth and the Building of the DuSable Museum. Feldman also volunteered at the Illinois Masonic Home Health and Hospice.
- Language of Materials note
- Materials entirely in English.
Biographical Note
Eugene Pieter Romayn Feldman (1915-1987) was one of the founders of the DuSable Museum of African American History. Feldman was born in Sheboygan, Wisconsin and received a Bachelors of Arts degree in journalism from the University of Wisconsin. He served as editor of the Southern Newsletter from 1956-1961 before moving to Chicago where he began working at the DuSable Museum of African American History. Feldman fulfilled a number of roles in his 26 years at the museum, including Director of Research and Publications, Public Relations Officer, and Chief Archivist. While in Chicago, Feldman taught Social Studies at the Britannica Academy of Chicago, and African American History at Joliet Junior College and Columbia College. In 1969, he established a Black Studies program at the Pontiac Correctional Center in conjunction with Lewis University and the DuSable Museum. Feldman’s writings about African American history have appeared in Ebony, Sepia, Chicago Daily News, and Negro History Bulletin. His books, published by DuSable Press, include Black Power in Old Alabama: The Life and Stirring Times of James T. Rapier, Black Congressmen from Alabama; An Introduction to Black History, a Textbook; and The Birth and the Building of the DuSable Museum. Feldman also volunteered at the Illinois Masonic Home Health and Hospice.
Arrangement note
The Eugene Feldman papers are arranged into six series: 1. Personal Correspondence, 1956-1986. 2. Writings,1966-1986. 3. DuSable Museum of African American history administration, 1967-1986. 4. African American History correspondence course, 1971-1978. 5. Oral histories, circa 1975. 6. Personal, 1942-2002.
Scope and Contents note
The Eugene Feldman papers span from 1942-2002 with the bulk of material from 1969-1986. The bulk of material is correspondence, both personal and professional, which provides perspective of the operation of the DuSable Museum of African American History, as well as insight into Feldman’s personality and private life. The papers also reflect Feldman’s teaching experience, specifically his creation of “African American History,” a correspondence course that was used as part of the Black Studies program at the Pontiac Correctional Center in Illinois. Other materials throughout the papers include journals, poems, lesson plans, flyers, newspaper clippings, and various Civil Rights publications. Those interested in the history of the DuSable Museum of African American History, the Civil Rights Movement, or education within prisons will find this collection useful.
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
Processing Information note
Processed by CLIR funded Black Metropolis Research Consortium “Color Curtain Processing Project.” Processors: T.J. Szafranski and Elise Zerega.
Preferred Citation note
When quoting material from this collection, the preferred citation is: Eugene Feldman papers, [Box #, Folder #], DuSable Museum of African American History, Chicago, Illinois
Indexed Terms
- Burroughs, Margaret Taylor, 1915-2010
- Dean, Harry, 1864-1935
- Feldman, Eugene , 1915-1987
- Inman, Will
- Rapier, James T. , 1839-1883
- African American--History
- Prisons
Inventory
The Personal correspondence is arranged chronologically by correspondence date.
The Personal correspondence series contains correspondence between Feldman and his family and friends. The letters give insight into Feldman’s private life and his work at the DuSable Museum of African American History. The series includes substantial correspondence between Feldman and his father, Sam, his sister Phyllis and her husband Jerry, and poet Will Inman. Of note in the series are two letters from Martin Luther King Jr. regarding Feldman’s writings on James T. Rapier, an African American Congressman from Alabama during Reconstruction. Note: Box 29 is additional material that was found after the collection had been processed.
- Title
- Personal correspondence,
- Dates
- 1956-1986
- Title
- Personal correspondence,
- Dates
- 1974-1978
The Writing series contains personal and professional documents authored by Feldman. The professional documents include his published articles and books, historical research on James T. Rapier, an African American Congressman from Alabama during Reconstruction, and informational brochures and pamphlets about the DuSable Museum of African American History that Feldman produced as Director of Research and Publications. Additionally, there are journals, poems, personal reflections, and a partial autobiography that illustrate Feldman’s dedication to civil rights and overall outlook on life.
- Title
- Writings
The DuSable Museum of African American History administration series includes material related to Feldman’s work at the DuSable Museum of African American History. Feldman helped found the museum in 1961 and held a variety of positions until his death in 1987, including Director of Research and Publications, Public Relations Officer, and Chief Archivist. The series includes Feldman’s professional correspondence, invoices and purchase orders, community flyers, and material regarding the relocation of the museum from 3806 South Michigan to Washington Park.
- Title
- DuSable Museum administration
The African American history correspondence course series contains material associated with the 20-lesson correspondence course in African American history that Feldman helped create. The course was part of a Black Studies program established in conjunction with Lewis University and the DuSable Museum of African American History for prisoners at the Pontiac Correctional Center in Illinois. Included are complete copies and drafts of the course plan, individual lessons, student assignments, correspondence between Feldman and prisoners who took the course, and an account of his experience working with prisoners, titled “Stories from Prison.”
- Title
- African American history correspondence course
The Oral histories series contains 20 cassette tapes with interviews that were collected by Feldman. An inventory of the tapes is included, though not all of the content on the tapes have been identified.
- Title
- Oral histories
The Personal series contains personal items Feldman collected, primarily with regards to Civil Rights. It includes publications addressing civil rights issues, his military documents from World War II, biographical information, and personal artifacts.
- Title
- Personal