Guichard Parris papers, 1910-1987

Collection context

Creator:
Parris, Guichard
Extent:
40 linear feet (91 boxes)
Language:
English .
Scope and content:

Guichard Parris papers consist of correspondence, diaries, manuscripts, notes and printed material from his personal files, his files on the history of the National Urban League, manuscript material for Blacks in the City; A History of the National Urban League, Boston, Little, Brown, 1971 (co-authored with Lester Brooks) and administrative files of the National Urban League. Parris' personal files include folders on his organizational affiliations outside the National Urban League; of particular interest are copies of his correspondence with Mary McLeod Bethune while he was affiliated with the National Youth Administration. Bethune is among the cataloged correspondence, as are Theodore Roosevelt and Ruth Standish Baldwin.

Biographical / historical:

Guichard Auguste Bolivar Parris was born in Guadeloupe, 1903. He graduated from DeWitt Clinton High School (Bronx, New York), Amherst College with magna cum laude, and later received an M.A. from Columbia University in 1932. He was a member of Phi Beta Kappa and a college instructor at Livingstone College, Lincoln University (Missouri), and Atlanta University, from 1929 to 1936. He served as the Director of the Negro Affairs at the National Youth Administration Region I from 1939 to 1942, the Director of Promotion and Publicity at the National Urban League in New York from 1944 to 1968, the consultant for urban affairs for Underwood Jordan Associates from 1968 to 1978, and the President of the Schomburg Corporation from 1984 to 1986. During his work at the National Urban League, he and Lester Brooks authored Blacks in the City; a History of the National Urban League (1971). In 1990, he died at the age of 87, New York.

Access and use

Restrictions:

This collection is located off-site. You will need to request this material at least three business days in advance to use the collection in the Rare Book and Manuscript Library reading room.

This collection has no restrictions.

Box CC1 is located on-site.

Terms of access:

Reproductions may be made for research purposes. The RBML maintains ownership of the physical material only. Copyright remains with the creator and his/her heirs. The responsibility to secure copyright permission rests with the patron.

Preferred citation:

Identification of specific item; Date (if known); Guichard Auguste Bolivar Parris papers; Box and Folder; Rare Book and Manuscript Library, Columbia University Library.

Location of this collection:
6th Floor East Butler Library
535 West 114th Street
New York, NY 10027, USA
Before you visit:
Researchers interested in viewing materials in the RBML reading room must must book an appointment at least 7 days in advance. To make the most of your visit, be sure to request your desired materials before booking your appointment, as researchers are limited to 5 items per day.
Contact:
rbml@library.columbia.edu