crippsthomas Inventory of the Thomas Cripps Film Collection, 1898-1976 and undated Processed by: Karen Glynn, Katy Terrell; machine-readable finding aid created by: Paula Jeannet Mangiafico, Katy Terrell David M. Rubenstein Rare Book & Manuscript Library Duke University Durham, N.C., USA

2009 Duke University. All Rights Reserved.

Aleph Number: 003979547

 Machine-readable finding aid derived from XML authoring program. Date of source: March 2009Processed by Karen Glynn, Katy Terrell, February 2009; finding aid encoded by Paula Jeannet Mangiafico, Katy Terrell, David M. Rubenstein Rare Book & Manuscript Library, Duke University, February 2009 Description is in English Finding aid was prepared using DACS and local Style Guide Inventory of the Thomas Cripps Film Collection, 1898-1976 and undated David M. Rubenstein Rare Book & Manuscript Library Duke University Durham, North Carolina 27708-0185 USA

2009 Duke University. All Rights Reserved.

 Descriptive Summary David M. Rubenstein Rare Book & Manuscript Library, Duke University Cripps, Thomas Thomas Cripps Film Collection, 1898-1976 and undated Material in English 5.5 Linear Feet About 975 Items For current information on the location of these materials, please consult the Library's online catalog. Retired professor of history at Morgan State University, scholar of the history of African Americans in the motion picture industry, prolific author of books and articles on the subject, and script writer. The Thomas Cripps Film Collection dates from approximately 1898 to 1976, and is arranged into two divisions: films, and official studio publicity photographic stills of African American actors and productions. The thirty-seven reels of film, which have been transferred to VHS viewing copies, are mainly film shorts, clips from feature films, newsreels, "Soundies," and television commercials, and were collected by Thomas Cripps for their portrayals of African Americans, performance by African Americans, or production by African Americans from the turn of the century into the late 1960s and 1970s. He also collected materials reflecting other racial and ethnic stereotypes. The photographic prints, of which there are several hundred, consist of publicity stills and other images taken from U.S. and British feature films with African American actors from the silent film era through the 1970s. One significant group contains stills from the movies of pioneer African American director Oscar Micheaux (1884-1951). Administrative Information Access Restrictions

Collection is open for research.

However, collection may contain materials to which the Acknowledgment of Legal Responsibilities and Privacy Rights form applies. Patrons must sign this form before using this collection.

In addition, original audiovisual materials are closed to patron use. Use copies are available in the collection.

All or portions of this collection may be housed off-site in Duke University's Library Service Center. Consequently, there may be a 24-hour delay in obtaining these materials.

Please contact Research Services staff before visiting the David M. Rubenstein Rare Book & Manuscript Library to use this collection.

 Copyright Notice

The copyright interests in this collection have not been transferred to Duke University. For more information, consult the copyright section of the Regulations and Procedures of the David M. Rubenstein Rare Book & Manuscript Library.

 Preferred Citation

[Identification of item], Thomas Cripps Film Collection, David M. Rubenstein Rare Book & Manuscript Library

 Provenance

The Thomas Cripps Film Collection was received by the David M. Rubenstein Rare Book & Manuscript Library as a gift in 2003.

Processing Information

Processed by Karen Glynn, Katy Terrell, February 2009

Encoded by Paula Jeannet Mangiafico, Katy Terrell, February 2009

Updated by Neale Stokes, April 2010

Accession 2003-0098 is described in this finding aid.

Descriptive sources and standards used to create this inventory: DACS, EAD, NCEAD guidelines, and local Style Guide.

This finding aid is NCEAD compliant.

 Biographical Note

Thomas Cripps is a retired professor of Morgan State University, an historian specializing in the portrayal of African Americans in film, and a published author. Cripps has written five books, including Slow Fade to Black: The Negro in American Film, 1900-1942 (Oxford, 1997), as well as many articles and television scripts. In addition, he has contributed to the production of several television series such as American Cinema, Hollywoodism: Jews, Movies and the American Dream, and Richard Wright: Black Boy. Cripps was awarded gold medals in international film festivals for his 1976 script, Black Shadows on a Silver Screen. In this collection of films and still photographs, Thomas Cripps documents African Americans and their cultural respresentations in the 20th century, and the developing cinematic industry in the U.S. and abroad.

 Collection Overview

The Thomas Cripps Film Collection dates from approximately 1898 to 1976, and is arranged into two divisions: films, and photographic stills from films.

The thirty-seven films, which have been transferred to VHS viewing copies, are film shorts, clips from feature films, newsreels, "Soundies," and television commercials, and were collected by Thomas Cripps for their portrayals of African Americans, performance by African Americans, or production by African Americans from the turn of the century into the late 1960s 1970s. He also collected materials reflecting other racial and ethnic stereotypes. The films can be used to study a variety of themes and subjects: African American artists; political and social events; educational institutions for African Americans; the Depression; television culture and advertising; and racial or ethnic stereotypes (chiefly African American, but also Jewish, Irish, and Asian). Many of the early films feature cityscapes of New York, Baltimore, and San Francisco, and other urban scenes, some from as early as 1898 and 1900. Some portray African Americans in several wars, including the Spanish-American War, World War II, and the Korean War. Other films document civil rights era events. Recorded political events include a Harry Truman speech concerning the Civil Rights Commission report, and a Lyndon Johnson speech on civil rights. Among the many notable actors and performers in the films are Duke Ellington, Jesse Owen, Louis Armstrong, Lincoln Perry ("Stepin Fetchit"), and Bert Williams. The entry for "Paisan - the Black Story" refers to Rossellini's film on the relations between Italians and American GIs during World War II, "Paisan," in which one episode centers on an African American GI and a Neapolitan street urchin.

Entries for original film reels include the approximate length of the film and other information when possible; titles are retained as found on Cripps' original labels or notes. Viewing copies for these films are available on VHS. Note: Viewing copy titles provide a more accurate account of content and running time.

The photographic prints, of which there are several hundred, consist of publicity stills and other images taken from U.S. and British feature films featuring African American actors from the silent film era through the 1970s. Many entries, which have been retained from the original envelope labels, carry titles from individual films, but other prints were arranged by Cripps into topical categories such as "Black Athletes," "Jungle Pix," "Silent Films," and "Exotic Primitives." One significant group contains images from the movies of pioneer African American director Oscar Micheaux (1884-1951). Arranged as received, in alphabetical order by film title or topical heading.

Acquired as part of the Duke University Archive of Documentary Arts.

 Subject Headings

These are searchable subject entries for this collection. Performing a search on these subjects in the Duke University Libraries online catalog will bring up other related research materials.

Cripps, Thomas. African American artists. African American soldiers. African Americans--Civil rights. African Americans in advertising. African Americans in mass media. African Americans in motion pictures. African Americans in the motion picture industry. African Americans--Pictorial works. Baltimore (Md.)--Pictorial works. Civil rights movements--United States. Documentary films--United States. Micheaux, Oscar, 1884-1951. Minorities in motion pictures. Motion picture journalism--United States. Motion pictures--United States--History. Newsreels--United States. New York (N.Y.)--Pictorial works. United States--Social conditions -- 20th century. Race in motion pictures. Race relations--United States--20th century. San Francisco Bay Area (Calif.)--Pictorial works. Silent films--United States. Motion pictures. Silent films. Black and white photographs. VHS (TM). Contents of Collection Films Series, circa 1898-1968 (40 reels or rolls)

Original films donated by collector Thomas Cripps. Films are primarily primarily black and white, silent, and 16mm. In some cases, rolls of film were found in one canister. Arranged as received.

[Original recordings are closed to use. Viewing copies are available for all films.]

 1 Reel 1, 16 mm positive print(100')

North Star on Morgan State University News; Man walking down street

Use Copies: VHS use copy available. See viewing copy 1

 1 Reel 2, 16 mm positive print(75')

March on Washington crowds, 1963

Use Copies: VHS use copy available. See viewing copy 1

 1 Reel 3, 16 mm positive print(50')

Black cavalry marching home from Spanish-American War

Use Copies: VHS use copy available. See viewing copy 1

 1 Reel 4, 16 mm positive print(25')

Madison Square, NYC, 1898

Use Copies: VHS use copy available. See viewing copy 1

 1 Reel 5, 16 mm negative(150')

Truman on Civil Rights Commission report and News in Brief (negative)

Use Copies: VHS use copy available. See viewing copy 1

 1 Reel 6, 16 mm positive print(150')

Los Angeles Riots, 1968; Selma March

Use Copies: VHS use copy available. See viewing copy 1

 1 Reel 7, 16 mm positive print(600')

Footage of various historically black colleges (Morgan Footage)

Use Copies: VHS use copy available. See viewing copy 1

 1 Reel 8, 16 mm positive print(450')

Baltimore fire of l904; vote against Daylight Savings; volunteer information for WWII

Use Copies: VHS use copy available. See viewing copy 1

 1 Reel 9, 16 mm positive print(100')

World War II footage with African American soldiers; Newsreel footage ­"Mrs. Roosevelt helps dedicate Negro Boys Club"; "Robot Cotton Picker"

Use Copies: VHS use copy available. See viewing copy 2

 1 Reel 10, 16 mm positive print(300')

Street scenes ­1900s; black soldiers disembarking, Spanish-American War; Eisenhower/Kennedy/LBJ plead for race equality

Use Copies: VHS use copy available. See viewing copy 2

 1 Reel 11, 16 mm positive print(350')

Duke Ellington and his Symphony in Black

Use Copies: VHS use copy available. See viewing copy 2

 2 Reel 12, 16 mm positive print(500')

Uncle Tom's Cabin (Edison)

Use Copies: VHS use copy available. See viewing copy 2

 2 Reel 13, 16 mm positive print(600')

St. Louis Blues

Use Copies: VHS use copy available. See viewing copy 3

 2 Reel 14, 16 mm positive print(550')

Jesse Owens Footage; Signal Corps; Unidentified speaker with several takes; Living conditions ­ Great Depression, l930s

Use Copies: VHS use copy available. See viewing copy 3

 2 Reel 15, 16 mm positive print(150')

Students at Booker T. Washington Institute; WWII: Tuskegee Airmen

Use Copies: VHS use copy available. See viewing copy 3

 2 Reel 16, 16 mm positive print(600')

Various Scenes from New York City: Military Procession; Arrival of Immigrants, Ellis Island; Panorama from the Times Building, NYC: Sorting Refuse at an incinerating plant, NYC; Union Iron Works; Harlem Street Scenes; Elevated Railroad, NYC; Bargain day, 14th St.; Dick Croker leaving Tammany Hall; Cardinal Gibbons.

Use Copies: VHS use copy available. See viewing copy 4

 2 Reel 17, 16 mm positive print(800')

Ethnic Films:The Black Hand (Biograph); Romance of a Jewess (Or A Jewish Tragedy) (Biograph); The Heathen Chinese and the Sunday School Teacher (Biograph); Cohen's Fire Sale; Alfonse and Gaston Helping an Irishman

Use Copies: VHS use copy available. See viewing copy 4

 2 Reel 18, 16 mm positive print(800')

His Trust and His Trust Fulfilled

Use Copies: VHS use copy available. See viewing copy 5

 2 Reel 19, 16 mm positive print(900')

"Soundies": Ellington, Fats Waller, Wingy Manone, Jimmy Rushing, Count Basie, Satchmo

Use Copies: VHS use copy available. See viewing copies 5, 6

 2 Reel 20, 16 mm positive print(1200')

Sunday on the River

Use Copies: VHS use copy available. See viewing copy 6

 3 Reel 21, 16 mm positive print(700')

Mr. Blabbermouth

Use Copies: VHS use copy available. See viewing copy 7

 3 Reel 22, 16 mm positive print(50')

Misc. Seventies TV commercials

Use Copies: VHS use copy available. See viewing copy 7

 23 Reel 23, 16 mm positive print(1300')

Misc. Seventies TV commercials

Use Copies: VHS use copy available. See viewing copies 7, 8

 24 Reel 24, 16 mm positive print(1400')

The Negro Soldier

Use Copies: VHS use copy available. See viewing copies 8, 9

 25 Reel 25, 16 mm positive print(1700')

Black Shadows on a Silver Screen

Use Copies: VHS use copy available. See viewing copies 9, 10

 3 Reel 26, 8mm(length unknown)

A Natural Born Gambler

 3 Reel 27, 16 mm positive print(350')

Spying the Spy (l9l9) - silent

Use Copies: VHS use copy available. See viewing copy 10

 3 Reel 28, 16 mm positive print(50')

Thurgood Marshall joining the Supreme Court (newsreel); Selma - Montgomery March (Universal Newsreel); LBJ speech

Use Copies: VHS use copy available. See viewing copy 10

 3 Reel 29, 16 mm positive print(200')

Sidney Poiter accepts Oscar; Negro Youth Administration footage, l930s

Use Copies: VHS use copy available. See viewing copy 10

 3 Reel 30, 16 mm positive print(150')

LBJ greets troops; News in Brief ­ Social Security; Black troops, Korean War

Use Copies: VHS use copy available. See viewing copies 10, 11

 3 Reel 31, 16 mm positive print(300')

City Scenes: New York City scenes, circa l900; Star theater; NY skyscrapers from North River; 1st Avenue - Seattle, Washington; San Francisco from balloon; Battery Park, NY; Cotton spinning

Use Copies: VHS use copy available. See viewing copy 11

 3 Reel 32, 16 mm positive print(400')

Paisan - The Black Story

Use Copies: VHS use copy available. See viewing copy 11

 3 Reel 33, 16 mm positive print(200')

Watermelon Contest, Gator and the Picka-ninnie, A Bucket of Cream Ale, silent

Use Copies: VHS use copy available. See viewing copy 11

 3 Reel 34, 16 mm positive print(350')

Open the Door, Richard, with Lincoln Perry ("Stepin Fetchit")

Use Copies: VHS use copy available. See viewing copy 11

 3 Reel 35, 16 mm positive print(250')

Panorama, Union Square, San Francisco; Cardinal Gibbons; Cake Walk; Cavalry Troops; NY Street Scene; Gesture Fight on Hester Street (Part 1)

Use Copies: VHS use copy available. See viewing copies 11,12

 3 Reel 36, 16 mm positive print(150')

Panorama, Union Square, San Francisco; Cardinal Gibbons; Cake Walk; Cavalry Troops; NY Street Scene; Gesture Fight on Hester Street (Part 2)

Use Copies: VHS use copy available. See viewing copies 11,12

 3 Reel 37, 16 mm positive print(300')

The Fights of Nations, silent

Use Copies: VHS use copy available. See viewing copy 12

 3 Reel 38, 16 mm positive print(350')

Rhapsody in Black and Blue with Louis Armstrong (Satchmo), directed by Aubrey Scotto

Use Copies: VHS use copy available. See viewing copy 12

 3 Reel 39, 16 mm positive print(500')

Buck Dance, Broken Doll, silent

Use Copies: VHS use copy available. See viewing copy 12

 3 Reel 40, 16 mm positive print(300')

(unfinished) Spying the Spy,

Use Copies: VHS use copy available. See viewing copy 12

 Still Photographs Series, 1902-1976(3 boxes)

Consists of hundreds of black and white publicity stills and other images collected by Thomas Cripps over many years, taken from films featuring African American actors or African American producers and directors from the silent film era through the 1970s. Almost all derive from American-made films, but there is also a large group of stills originating from British films. One significant group contains images from pioneer African American director Oscar Micheaux's movies. Titles refer either to individual films, or to broad subjects. To improve housing, contents of original envelopes have been refoldered, but Cripps' content lists which provide fuller descriptive access to individual images have been photocopied and placed in each folder with its corresponding group of stills. A few folders include other film publicity or correspondence. Arranged as received, in alphabetical order by film title or topical heading. Original folder titles were retained. Dates added by archivist are in brackets.

 1Bojangles As Butler, 1935-1936 Jim Comes to Jo'burg, 1949 Island in the Sun, 1957 Jungle Pix, 1930 Joanna, 1968 (2 folders) The Joe Louis Story, 1953 Jungle Drums of America (12-episode serial), 1953 Key Largo, 1947 Lilies of the Field, 1963 Lydia Bailey, 1952 Mark of the Hawk, 1957 Message Movies, 1949-1952 Bright Victory (or Lights Out), 1951 Stars In My Crown, 1950 Home of the Brave, 1949 The Intruder [1962] Lost Boundaries, 1949 Detective Story, 1951 Intruder [1962] Five, 1951 Moan and Groan [1929] Maps, Cartouches, 1971-1976 and undated Moonrise, circa 1948 Muse, Misc., 1933 and undated Network, 1976 Nothing But A Man, 1960 Odds Against Tomorrow, 1959 Our Daily Bread, 1933 Oxford, Volumes 1a-1c, 1 (foreign), undated(9 folders) Panther Girl of the Kongo, 1955 The Pawnbroker, 1965 A Raisin in the Sun, 1960 Race Pix (Reinkens Films), undated

Includes two negative slides and letter to Thomas Cripps from Sharon Reinkens.

St. Louis Blues, 1957 The Set Up, 1949 Shaft, 1971-1972 Simba, undated Song of the South, 1944 Sounder, 1972 Stormy Weather, 1943 Topsy and Eva, 1928 Trader Horn, 1929 To Live In Peace [1947; TV version, 1951] Take a Giant Step, 1959 2Uncle Tom's Cabin, 1903 Watermelon Man, 1970 The Well, 1951 The World, The Flesh, and The Devil, 1958(2 folders) Young Man with a Horn, 1950 The Young One (Great Britain title: Island of Shame), 1960 Eddie "Rochester" Anderson, 1940-1945 Black Athletes, 1940s-1960s and undated Jack Johnson, undated The Joe Louis Story [1953] Easy Living, 1949 The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, 1960 This is the Army, 1943 Kenny Washington, undated None But The Brave, 1965 The Fiercest Heart, 1961 Satchel Paige on Rutledge Set Black Performers As Selves, 1930-1965 Blackface Cycle, Post-Sound, 1930 Blackface Roles and Routines, 1920s-1950s and undated Blaxploitation Pix, 1960s-1970s(2 folders) Pre and Blaxploitation Misc., undated

[Oversize film "While Thousands Cheer" poster with Kenny Washington removed to Ovsz. Box 136.]

 Blaxploitation Misc. TV, undated Jim Brown, 1960s-1970s, undated British Overseas Productions, 1930s-1960s and undated(2 folders) Orfeo Negro, 1959 Tamango, 1959 Flame in the Streets, 1961 Pennywhistles Blues [1952] Cairo, 1960s Sapphire, 1959 Sea Wyf [Sea Wife, 1957?] Dingaka, 1965 Stanley Baker, undated Woman of Straw [1964] Men of Two Worlds [1946] Calvert and Adams, undated Guns at Batasi [1964] Young and Willing [1943?] Voice of the Hurricane [1964?] Sanders, 1935 Simba, 1955 Zulu [1964] The Outcast of the Islands [1952] Rhodes of Africa, 1938 Jew Suss, 1935 Tiger Bay, 1934 Proud Valley, 1940 Timbucktoo, 1937 Men of Two Worlds, 1946 Guns at Batasi [1964] Integrationism, mid-1960s Kung Fu Movies, 1973 Mantan Moreland, 1940s Oscar Micheaux Films, 1920s-1930s(2 folders)

Includes promotional brochure and negative images of brochure.

 Wages of Sin [1929] Temptation, 1928 Chorus Line, Temptation, 1928 Underworld [1937] When Men Betray, 1925 Black King, 1931-1932 Unknown Title with Charlie Moore and Ethel Moses, 1929 Easy Street, 1931 Daughter of the Congo, 1927 Unknown Title with Pearl McCormick and Rex Ingram, 1920s Millionaire, 1928 The Notorious Elinor Lee [1940] Harlem After Midnight [1934] 1940s Conventional Themes and Roles(2 folders) Vanishing Virginian [1942] Four Jacks and a Jill, 1941 Belle Starr, 1940 Ziegfeld Follies, 1944-1946 Margie, 1947 Duel in the Sun, 1946 Texas, 1940 Johnny Come Lately, 1947 Panama Hattie, 1942 Free For All, 1949 Dakota, 1946 My Brother Talks to Horses, 1947 The Music Goes Round [1936?] Three Stooges, 1940s Heaven Can Wait, 1943 Major and the Minor, 1942 They Won't Belive Me, 1947 Duffy's Tavern, 1945 Monsieur Beaucaire, 1946 Gas House Kids, circa 1950 Born to Kill, 1946 High Barbaree, 1947 Senator Was Indiscreet, 1947 Cairo, 1940s Secret of Dr. Kildare [1939] Ghost Breakers, 1940 Gorgeous Hussy [1936] 1945-1949 Pre-Message Movie Intimations Of Orientals, 1917-1961 and undated(2 folders) Vietnam Newsshots [1960s-1970s?] 1960s Pre-Blaxploitation Pix(2 folders) Poitier, Sidney, 1954-1971 Production Crew Shots, 1929-1973 and undated(2 folders) Sammy Davis Jr., 1950s-1960s 1930s Deviant Pix European Ethnic and Immigrant Groups, 1920s-1960s Moulin Rouge, undated Abes's Irish Rose, 1946 Jazz Singer, undated The Golem, 1921 America, America [1963] The Last Hurrah [1958] Humoresque, 1947 Sherlock Holmes and Nazis?, 1941 Man They Could Not Hang [1939] Ride The Pink Horse, 1947 Ride Vaquero, 1953 Sweet Rosie O'Grady [1926 or 1943?] Straedy Company (or Cobble Stones), 1932 Potash and Perlmutter, 1923 3Exotic Primitives, 1929-1968(2 folders) Indians, 1930s-1950s Silent Pix, 1911-1925 and undated

Appears to be one still per film. Many but not all are captioned on the back.

 A Colored Girl's Love, 1915 Daughter of Mine, Goldwyn [1919] Peter Pan [1924?] Smith Baby's Birthday [also known as Baby's Birthday, 1929] Lady Rose's Daughter, 1920 Little Old NY, 1923 Black Wife (?), 192- Smith's Rodeo, undated Senor Jim [1936] What's Your Husband Doing? [1920] Kentucky Colonel [1920] Kentucky Derby [1922?] The Blind Goddess [1948] Day of Faith [1923] Al's Troubles [1926] His Trust, 1911 The Perfect Clown [1925] Seven Chances, 1925 Fable of the Galumptious Girl [1915] Swim Princess [1928] Token Integrationism, 1950s(2 folders) Trainers and Racetracks, 1945 and undated Van Peebles, undated Publicity One-Shots, undated(13 folders) Movies A-M(4 folders) Movies N-Z(2 folders) Performing(5 folders) Unknown(2 folders) Unidentified Films, undated(4 folders) Oversize Material Oversize 20While Thousands Cheer, 1940 [removed from the Blaxploitation miscellaneous folder]