This collection is split into two sub-groupings to reflect the dual nature of the collection's provenance: one part contains Tidwell's research materials relating to Davis, and the other contains original materials by Frank Marshall Davis.

Tidwell's research materials include correspondence with colleagues, friends and family of Davis, as well as Davis himself; general research materials relating to Davis, his poetic style, and jazz; reproductions of original Davis materials, including correspondence, poetry, and FBI reports, many with annotations by Tidwell; research materials relating to Davis's contemporaries, such as Langston Hughes and Irma Wassall; and research and preparatory materials for specific Davis publications, including Black Moods, Livin' the Blues, and Writings of Frank Marshall Davis, as well as shorter talks and articles about Davis.

Original Frank Marshall Davis materials include Davis' personal and professional correspondence and interviews; poetry and prose manuscripts, including unpublished materials; newspaper clippings and fliers relating to Davis's poetry and journalism; and photographs, many of which were taken by Davis himself. A final series includes audiovisual materials relating to the overall collection, including audio interviews, a television special on Davis, and a short film about the Delta chapter of Phi Beta Sigma at Kansas State University.

Oversize materials have been physically separated from the rest of the collection and are stored at MS Q83 and MS Qa28. These materials are described at the end of each series, as appropriate. Audiovisual materials have also been physically separated at SC AV 22 and are described as their own series.

Tidwell's original folder titles have been preserved where possible. In the case of unlabeled folders or files of previously unfoldered items, titles are written in [brackets].

Please note that terms and language used in this collection are representative of when the records were created and have not been replicated in this finding aid, except when directly quoting.

John Edgar Tidwell's research materials on Frank Marshall Davis complement his collection of original Davis materials by providing background information and retrospective insight into Davis's life and work. The materials include candid correspondence with close friends and relatives of Davis, general research materials on Davis and contemporary issues, reproductions of original Davis correspondence and compositions with annotations by Tidwell, research materials on Davis's contemporaries including Irma Wassall and Langston Hughes, and research materials and preparatory drafts and documentation for publishing Black Moods: Collected Poems (2002), Livin' the Blues: Memoirs of a Black Journalist and Poet (1992), and Writings of Frank Marshall Davis: A Voice of the Black Press (2007).

Includes Tidwell's correspondence relating to Frank Marshall Davis research and the publication of Davis-related materials. His primary correspondents include Irma Wassall, a poet and lifelong friend of Davis; Helen Canfield Davis, Davis's second wife; Kathryn Takara, poet and friend of Davis; and Beth Charlton, Davis's daughter, all of whom provide insight into Davis's personal life and character. There is also a considerable amount of correspondence with a number of editors and publishers.

Oversize materials have been separated into appropriate housing and are listed at the end of the series.

This series comprises John Edgar Tidwell's research materials relating to Frank Marshall Davis more generally, as well as issues that aid in enhancing understanding of Davis's materials, such as jazz music, jazz poetry, freedom of information legislation (particularly in relation to Davis's FBI investigation), and the Phi Beta Sigma fraternity, among other subjects. Materials include annotated photocopies of newspaper articles, journal articles, and correspondence.

Oversize materials have been separated into appropriate housing and are listed at the end of the series.