Doris E. Saunders papers

Biographical note

On August 8, 1921 in Chicago, Illinois Doris Elaine Evans Saunders was born to John Alvesta Stewart Evans and Thelma Camille Rice Evans. After her father died in 1935, Doris and her family moved in with her maternal grandmother and step-grandfather at 5542 South Lafayette Avenue. Doris Saunders graduated from Englewood High School in Chicago in 1938. After graduating high school, Doris attended both Northwestern University (1938-1940) and Central YMCA College (1940-1941). She earned a Bachelor of Arts Degree from Central YMCA College, now Roosevelt University. In 1942, after graduating from Central YMCA College, Doris completed the Chicago Public Library Training Class.

In May 1942, she became a Junior Library Assistant and shortly thereafter she passed the Civil Service examination for Senior Library Assistant. She was first assigned to the Book Selection Department, was later transferred to the Hill Branch Library, and then moved to the George M. Pullman Branch Library. While at Pullman, Saunders was appointed the first African American reference librarian to work in the Social Science and Business Division of the main library.

In January 1949 Saunders wrote a letter to John H. Johnson, who had just purchased a building that he was renovating for Ebony magazine offices. She suggested that he establish a special library for his editorial and advertising staff and clients. Saunders envisioned that the library would document African American experience in the United States. Saunders was quickly called in for an interview and on February 1, 1949 she became responsible for starting the library at Johnson Publishing Company. She was promoted to the Director of the Book Publishing Division between 1960 and 1961. During her time with Johnson Publishing, Doris Saunders edited The Day They Marched (1963), The Kennedy Years and the Negro (1964), and compiled the Negro Handbook (1966).

On October 28, 1950 Doris Saunders married Vincent E. Saunders, Jr. The couple had two children, Ann C. Saunders Vivian (February 23, 1952- ) and Vincent E. Saunders, III (January 28, 1954- ). Doris and Vincent E. Saunders, Jr. divorced on August 20, 1963.

In 1966, following a policy disagreement, Saunders left Johnson Publishing Company and established her own public relations firm, Plus Factor and Information. In addition to running Plus Factor and Information, Saunders also wrote a food column and two social columns for the Chicago Daily Defender from 1966-1968. One of her social columns was titled, “Confetti.” She also was a columnist for the Chicago Courier from 1968 to 1970. In addition, Saunders had a local radio show on WBEE, “The Doris Saunders Show,” where she interviewed guests at lunchtime at Lake Meadows Restaurant and Lounge. She later wrote and served as Associate Producer for Our People on WTTW-TV, a magazine-format television program that ran from 1968 to 1970.

In 1968, Saunders became the Director of Community Relations for Chicago State University and later added the duties of Acting Director of Institutional Development. From 1970 to 1972, she was Staff Associate in the Office of the Chancellor at the University of Illinois, Chicago. She left this job, at John H. Johnson’s request, to return to her former position as Director of the Book Division at Johnson Publishing Company.

In 1976, after Saunders’ children had completed college, she attended Boston University and completed a Master of Science in Journalism from the School of Public Communication, and a Master of Arts in Afro-American Studies; graduating with both degrees in 1977. From 1983 to 1984 she studied toward a Ph.D. in history at Vanderbilt University in Nashville, Tennessee. At the same time she commuted to Chicago on weekends, at John H. Johnson’s expense, to continue working on book editing, co-writing and layout design. One of Saunders’ works was "Black Society," co-written with Geraldyn Major and published in 1976.

Saunders began working at Jackson State University in Jackson, Mississippi in January 1978 for a one-semester writer-in-residence position. When the University then offered her a permanent position as Professor and Coordinator of Print Journalism, she left Johnson Publishing Company and moved to Jackson, Mississippi. She was Professor and Chair of the Department of Mass Communications at Jackson State University until her retirement in 1991.

In 1982, Saunders founded Ancestor Hunting, a genealogical research company, and appointed her children as officers for the business. She spent several years building the business through mail order genealogy kits, publication of the company’s newsletter "Kith and Kin," and attendance at genealogy events and conferences. Saunders continued these efforts throughout the 1980s and after her retirement from Jackson State University in 1991.

Saunders also continued her work with Johnson Publishing after her official retirement from Jackson State. In 1999, Saunders edited, "Special Moments In African-American History, 1955-1996: The Photographs of Moneta Sleet, Jr.," published by Johnson Publishing Company.

In addition to her diverse professional career, Saunders was involved in a number of professional organizations. She served as a board member of the Black Academy of Arts and Letters and as board member of the American Civil Liberties Union Illinois Chapter. She was also a member of the Chicago Leadership Resource Program, National Association of Media Women, Chicago Publicity Club, Alpha Gamma Pi Sorority, and Black Advisory Commission for the 1980 census in Washington, D.C.