Created by
Gunn, Louise Alexander, American
Subject of
Gunn, Bill, American, 1934 - 1989
Leon Sullivan, American, 1922 - 2001
Lincoln University, American, founded 1866
Waters, Ethel, American, 1896 - 1977
Baker, Josephine, American, 1906 - 1975
Waymon, Sam, American, born 1944
Date
1950s - 1970s
Medium
newsprint , ink on photographic paper , cardboard , metal and synthetic fiber
Dimensions
11 x 9 1/2 x 1 1/4 in. (27.9 x 24.1 x 3.2 cm)
Description
Cloth bound purple and green floral print spiral bound scrapbook containing black-and-white and color photographs along with newspaper clippings and other ephemera dating from the late 1950s to the late 1970s documenting the life of Louise Jackson Gunn in the Philadelphia area. Louise Gunn was an actress, beauty queen, and community activist. The contents of the scrapbook include newspaper clippings and photographs related to Gunn's church groups and activities, including the Zion Drama Workshop; her friendships with other women in the community and from her vaudeville past; and her travels to the Bahamas and Paris, France.
A large portion of the scrapbook is devoted to Gunn’s community work, including scholarship fundraising for Lincoln University, adult education programs, and volunteering at Philadelphia General Hospital. Gunn also documents work with Rev. Leon H. Sullivan and the Opportunities Industrialization Center (OIC), including efforts to provide school children with free breakfast and to fight housing discrimination.
There are several clippings, photographs, and programs related to her son, the actor and playwright Bill Gunn, including a performance with Ethel Waters and collaborations with musician Sam Waymon. There are also clippings related to performances by Alberta Hunter and Josephine Baker.
Place made
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States, North and Central America
Classification
Memorabilia and Ephemera
Type
scrapbooks
Topic
Activism
Actors
Blues (Music)
Christianity
Civil rights
Communities
Education
Entertainers
Families
Film
Health
Housing
Jazz (Music)
Motherhood
Musicians
Religion
Social life and customs
Social reform
Theatre
Travel
Vaudeville
Credit Line
Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture
Object number
2012.46.65.1
Restrictions & Rights
Unknown - Restrictions Possible
Rights assessment and proper usage is the responsibility of the user.
GUID
http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/fd5a4be3102-87bb-4837-be83-9b289afc727e

Cataloging is an ongoing process and we may update this record as we conduct additional research and review. If you have more information about this object, please contact us at NMAAHCDigiTeam@si.edu

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