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Samuel C. Jackson papers

 Collection
Call Number: RH MS 557

Overview

Samuel C. Jackson was a lawyer and active civil rights leader, serving many organizations as an advocate throughout his lifetime. The Samuel C. Jackson papers largely consist of speeches and articles given by Jackson as a representative of various organizations, as well as awards and certificates received by Jackson for his many years of service.

Dates

  • Creation: 1947 - 1994

Creator

Conditions Governing Access

No access restrictions.

Conditions Governing Use

Spencer Library staff may determine use restrictions dependent on the physical condition of manuscript materials.

Biography of Samuel C. Jackson

Samuel Charles Jackson, born in Kansas City, Kansas in 1929 and a product of Kansas public schools, was a lawyer and active civil rights leader. Upon earning his law degree from the Washburn University Law School, Jackson served as Deputy General Counsel of the Kansas State Department of Social Welfare, working on many civil rights cases. While practicing law independently until 1965, Jackson was also an active member of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), serving at the national level as well as at the local Topeka Branch, of which he was President in the early 1960s.

In June of 1965, Jackson was appointed by President Lyndon B. Johnson as one of the original members of the United States Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC). In 1969, President Richard M. Nixon appointed Jackson Assistant Secretary of the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). In this role, he promoted quality housing for all races, performing special housing studies in several African countries.

Upon his resignation from HUD in 1973, Jackson served as an attorney at the Washington, D.C. branch of the New York-based law firm Strook, Strook, and Lavin, though he continued to promote the participation of African-Americans in politics by founding the Republican Party's Council of 100, and acting in the service of other similar groups.

Samuel C. Jackson married Judith Jackson, with whom he had two daughters, Brenda and Marcia. Samuel Jackson passed away from cancer at the age of 53 in 1982.

Extent

9.5 Linear Feet (8 cubic foot boxes, three document cases, 10 oversize boxes, 2 oversize folders)

Language of Materials

English

Scope and Contents

The Samuel C. Jackson collection is comprised of materials related to Jackson's work as a representtive of various organizations and numerous recognitions for his years of service. The collection contains such items as correspondence; clippings; educational, career, and institutional information; biographical information; autographed papers; printed papers and documents; black and white and color photographs; an audio tape; pamphlets, books and reports; keys to cities; medals and medallions; badges and pins; photograph albums; artwork; memorials and obituaries; organizational memorabilia; plaques and certificates; and diplomas. The collection includes a number of letters and documents signed by U.S. Presidents Nixon, Johnson, and Reagan. The collection also includes a document signed by George H.W. Bush.

Throughout the collection's finding aid, Samuel C. Jackson may be referred to as SCJ.

Arrangement

The Samuel C. Jackson papers are arranged into six series: Biography, National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), Housing and Urban Development (HUD), Other Affiliations, and Awards and Certificates. Oversize materials and artifacts have been housed separately and are located at RH MS Q88, RH MS Q386, RH MS R70, and RH MS R71. Some artifacts are also located at RH MS 557 Box 8. Unless otherwise stated, photographs and oversize materials are not divided into subs-series and are arranged at the top level of the series.

Photographs from the collection have been housed separately and are located at RH MS-P 557. Intellectual arrangement mirrors the series found in the manuscript materials. Oversize photographs are located at RH MS-P 557 (f).

Papers for the Biography series are divided into three sub-series: General Papers, Clippings, and the papers of Judy Jackson.

Papers for the NAACP series are divided into three sub-series: General Papers, Writings and Reports, and Speeches and Drafts.

Papers for the EEOC series are divided into three sub-series: General Papers, Reports and Articles, and Speeches and Drafts.

Papers for the HUD series are divided into four sub-series: General Papers, Correspondence, Speeches and Drafts, and Writings and Reports.

Papers for the Other Affiliations series are divided into eleven sub-series by organization: American Arbitration Association, Council of 100, Council of Black Appointees, Council of Human Concerns, National Conference of Black Lawyers, President's Commission on Housing, Private Law Practice, Republican National Committee/Republican Party, and United States Air Force.

Papers and artifacts in the Awards and Certificates series are arranged chronologically.

Physical Location

RH MS 557

Physical Location

RH MS-P 557

Physical Location

RH MS R71

Physical Location

RH MS Q88

Physical Location

RH MS Q386

Physical Location

RH MS R70

Physical Location

RH MS-P 557 (f)

Immediate Source of Acquisition

Gifts, Judith (Mrs. Samuel C.) Jackson, 1996, 1997, 1999, 2013, 2014.

Processing Information

Materials originally framed and housed in boxes were unframed, foldered, and filed into the collection in 2016. Alterations to the collection include:

RH MS 557: Objects were unframed, foldered, and refiled. Box 9 removed from the collection

RH MS 557 (oversized): The call number was eliminated and the object re-housed as RH MS Q386 box 2

RH MS-P 557 (f): Objects were unframed, foldered, and filed into RH MS-P 557 (f) box 4. Removed box 5 from location

RH MS 1326: The call number was eliminated and the folders interfiled at the back of RH MS 557 with newly accessioned material in 2016

RH MS Q87: This call number was eliminated and the folders re-housed at RH MS Q386

RH MS R70: Objects were unframed, foldered, and refiled. Two oversize boxes (boxes 2 and 3) were eliminated.

Title
Guide to the Samuel C. Jackson Collection
Subtitle
Samuel C. Jackson papers
Author
Finding aid prepared by adm, 2004. Finding aid encoded by bkm, 2007; mrk, 2009; skt, 2010; awo, 2014; het, 2016.
Date
2004
Description rules
Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Language of description
Finding aid written in English.
Sponsor
Support for the processing of this Collection was provided by the Dana and Sue Anderson African American Collecting Program Endowment Fund.
Finding aid permalink
http://hdl.handle.net/10407/4470989788
Preferred citation
Samuel C. Jackson papers, RH MS 557, Kenneth Spencer Research Library, University of Kansas.

Repository Details

Part of the University of Kansas. Kenneth Spencer Research Library Repository

Contact:
1450 Poplar Lane
Lawrence KS 66045-7616 United States
785-864-4334