A Tale of Two Cities

Published by

MelPat Associates, American, 1965 - 1986

Created by

Patrick, C. Melvin, American, died 1985

Subject of

Vice President Rockefeller, Nelson Aldrich, American, 1908 - 1979

Improved Benevolent and Protective Order of the Elks of the World, American, founded 1898

Bryant, Joyce, American, born 1928

Lindsay, John V., American, 1921 - 2000

Jazzmobile, American, founded 1964

Weaver, Robert C., American, 1907 - 1997

Motley, Constance Baker, American, 1921 - 2005

Jones, J. Raymond, American, 1899 - 1991

Booth, William H., American, 1922 - 2006

Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, American, founded 1913

Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, American, founded 1920

Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc., American, founded 1906

Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated, founded 1908

Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, American, founded 1914

National Urban League, American, founded 1910

Order of the Eastern Star, American, founded 1850

Shriners International, American, founded 1870

Morehouse College, American, founded 1867

The Afro-American, American, founded 1892

New York Giants, American, founded 1925

Cosby, Bill, American, born 1937

Ashe, Arthur Jr., American, 1943 - 1993

Bradley, Tom, American, 1917 - 1998

Medium

ink on paper

Dimensions

H x W x D: 12 × 1 × 3/16 in. (30.5 × 2.5 × 0.5 cm)

Type

magazines (periodicals)

Classification

Documents and Published Materials-Published Works

Place made

Harlem, New York City, New York, United States, North and Central America

Place depicted

Martha's Vineyard, Oak Bluffs, Dukes County, Massachusetts, United States, North and Central America

Los Angeles, Los Angeles County, California, United States, North and Central America

Springfield, Hampden County, Massachusetts, United States, North and Central America

Date

1966

Description

A promotional publication titled [A Tale of Two Cities] published by MelPat Associates. The cover of the magazine is white. At the top of the front cover is the Seal of New York City. At the bottom of the front cover is the seal of the city of Los Angeles. In the center is a black strip with pink text reading [A Tale of Two Cities]. The magazine contains promotional content about the cities of New York and Los Angeles as well as profiles of prominent people within the African American community including black and white photographs.

The magazine’s content begins with a page of several photographs of African American community leaders with New York state Governor Nelson Rockefeller, including Jackie Robinson, the IBPOE of W and singer Joyce Bryant. Also on this page is the text [all photos by Bert Smith]. The publication continues with a story about New York mayor John Lindsey and profiles of Robert C. Weaver, Constance Baker Motley, New York County Democratic Leader J. Raymond Jones, and Chairman of New York City’s Commission on Human Rights, William H. Booth. There’s a schedule of performances for Jazzmobile taking place around the city.

Throughout are portraits, profiles, and short articles about business organizations such as the National Distillers, the National Association of Market Developers, and the National Dental Association as well as fraternity and sorority events for Delta Sigma Theta, Zeta Phi Beta, and Alpha Phi Alpha, Alpha Kappa Alpha, and Phi Beta Sigma, and articles on events such as the National Conference of the Urban League, International Conference of Grand Chapters of the Order of the Eastern Star, and the Convention of the Nobles of the Mystic Shrine.

There are also profiles on Lincoln Center, Morehouse College; the Afro-American Newspaper; appointments of African Americans to the administration of President Johnson; the Democratic Party; debutant balls; weddings; the New York Giants; Oak Bluffs in Martha’s Vineyard, Massachusetts; the city of Springfield, Massachusetts; Bill Cosby and other entertainment stars; the Mount Morris Park area of Harlem; Arthur Ashe; Los Angeles city council member Thomas Bradley; and notable African American business leaders, labor leaders, community leaders, political leaders, doctors, nurses, artists, and activists from across the United States.

There are approximately 89 pages, with black and white photographs and advertisements, and several color advertisements. The back cover has an advertisement for Black & White scotch.

Topic

Associations and institutions

Business

Communities

Fraternities

Government

HBCUs (Historically Black Colleges and Universities)

Journalism

Labor

Mass media

Men

Political organizations

Politics (Practical)

Professional organizations

Religious groups

Social life and customs

Societies

Sororities

United States--History--1961-1969

Urban life

Women

Credit Line

Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, Gift of Anne B. Patrick and the family of Hilda E. Stokely

Object number

2012.167.2

Restrictions & Rights

Public domain