The Black Entertainers collection (approx. early 1900s-2017), donated by Mildred S. Kershaw, is a one-box collection that highlights the legacy of Black Entertainment. This collection contains professional correspondence, newspaper articles, publications, miscellaneous objects, promotional photographs, and programs that document the profound history and culture of Black people. This
collection embodies the powerful themes of Black liberation, Black expression, Black representation, and Black ownership to demonstrate the strong control Black people have over their culture. The locations associated with this collection are: Tallahassee, Florida; Ocala, Florida; Charleston, West Virginia; Jacksonville, Florida; Chicago, Illinois; Washington, D.C.; New York, New York; Johannesburg, South Africa; and New Orleans, Louisiana. Although this collection has a strong foundation in documenting the history and culture of Black entertainment, many of its items are undated and unnamed, which limits the collection’s ability to accurately contextualize each item and folder.

Location: AC.6.B.1.2.1

The Harper’s Magazine Collection consists of one box of materials spanning the years 1876 to 1965, documenting a significant portion of one of America’s oldest and most influential general-interest monthly publications. Founded in 1850 by the New York publishing firm Harper & Brothers, Harper’s Magazine quickly gained national prominence, with its early issues achieving widespread circulation and establishing the publication as a leading forum for intellectual and cultural discourse.

This collection reflects the magazine’s longstanding commitment to exploring the issues that shape American society through long-form journalism, essays, fiction, and critical commentary. Emphasizing fine writing and original thought, Harper’s Magazine has historically provided readers with insightful perspectives on politics, social conditions, the environment, and cultural life. The materials within this collection illustrate the breadth of topics addressed in the magazine and its role in fostering national conversation across generations.

The collection includes a selection of issues and related materials that highlight contributions from both emerging writers and prominent literary figures. Known for publishing influential voices in American letters, the magazine has featured authors such as Annie Dillard, Barbara Ehrenreich, Jonathan Franzen, Mary Gaitskill, David Foster Wallace, and Tom Wolfe.

Collectively, this collection offers valuable insight into the evolution of American journalism, literary expression, and public discourse from the late nineteenth century through the mid-twentieth century.

Location: AC.7.B.

The Black Entertainers Collection (approximately early 1900s–2017), donated by Mildred S. Kershaw, is a one-box collection that documents the legacy, cultural impact, and historical significance of Black entertainment across local, national, and international contexts. The materials within this collection reflect the breadth of Black artistic expression and professional achievement, highlighting themes of Black liberation, representation, ownership, and cultural preservation. Geographic locations associated with the collection include Tallahassee and Jacksonville, Florida; Ocala, Florida; Charleston, West Virginia; Chicago, Illinois; Washington, D.C.; New York, New York; New Orleans, Louisiana; and Johannesburg, South Africa, illustrating the widespread influence of Black entertainers and cultural production.

The collection consists of professional correspondence, newspaper articles, publications, promotional photographs, programs, and miscellaneous objects that collectively document the careers, public reception, and cultural contributions of Black entertainers. These materials provide insight into performance history, media representation, and community engagement, while also preserving evidence of the social and political contexts in which Black entertainers operated. Although the collection offers a strong foundation for understanding the history and evolution of Black entertainment, many items are undated and lack clear identification, which limits the ability to fully contextualize specific individuals, events, and materials.

Items within the collection are arranged in series according to the type of communication object they represent, such as correspondence, printed materials, and visual media. Within each series, materials are organized in alphanumeric order to maintain a consistent and accessible structure. Attachments associated with individual items are arranged chronologically by year to preserve original context and sequencing. All documents have been placed in protective sleeves and any original hardware has been removed to support long-term preservation.

Special Message on Civil Rights to the Congress of the United States

Location: AC.8.B.1.6.2

This file documents the life, military service, and posthumous recognition of Chester Lee Davis, Sr., one of the pioneering African American Marines trained at Montford Point during World War II. Spanning the years 1942 to 2017, this collection provides valuable insight into both Davis’s individual experiences and the broader historical significance of African American service members who served under segregated conditions in the United States Marine Corps.

Chester Lee Davis, Sr. (1923–1981) was born in Quincy, Florida, to Tommie and Iola Davis and was raised in a large farming family. Prior to the outbreak of World War II, his family relocated to Orlando, Florida. In 1943, at the age of eighteen, Davis enlisted in the United States Marine Corps, becoming part of the first generation of African American Marines admitted into service. Due to racial segregation, he trained at Montford Point Camp in North Carolina, a facility established specifically for Black Marines and located near Camp Lejeune, where white Marines trained. Despite facing systemic discrimination and harsh conditions, Davis served with distinction as a member of the 2nd and 3rd Marine Depot Companies. His responsibilities included transporting ammunition and supplies to troops on the frontlines, and he later participated in combat operations throughout the Pacific theater, including assignments in New Caledonia, Guadalcanal, the Solomon Islands, the Marshall Islands, Guam, and Okinawa. After completing his service, Davis returned home as a corporal and lived in Gadsden County, Florida, where he raised a family. He passed away in 1981 at the age of 58. In 2011, his service, along with that of fellow Montford Point Marines, was formally recognized when the United States Congress awarded them the Congressional Gold Medal, a distinction signed into law by President Barack Obama.

Donated to the Meek-Eaton Black Archives by Chester L. Davis, Jr. on June 13, 2017, the collection reflects a deliberate effort to preserve and share the legacy of Davis and other Montford Point Marines. The materials within the collection collectively document Davis’s military career, his contributions during World War II, and the national, state, and local recognition he received posthumously. The collection includes correspondence, legislative recognitions from the United States Congress, the State of Florida, and the City of Quincy, news articles, photographs depicting medals, military service, and commemorative events, as well as official service records and cassette tapes. These materials not only highlight Davis’s individual achievements but also situate his experiences within the broader narrative of African American military service and the struggle for equality within the armed forces.

At the time of processing in February 2017, the collection lacked an original order. As a result, the materials were organized by subject matter and date, then arranged alphabetically and housed in acid-free folders within a single archival storage box. Where applicable, items within individual files have been arranged chronologically to preserve contextual relationships. The collection was processed and cataloged by Dr. Murell Dawson, Senior Archivist, with assistance from undergraduate intern Shaarnè Morris, and is currently stored in the archival storage area on the third floor. As a cohesive body of records, this collection provides an important resource for understanding the experiences of Montford Point Marines and the enduring legacy of their service, sacrifice, and recognition within American military and social history.

Box 10 of the Rosewood Massacre Collection contains materials dating from 1920–1995 and is arranged alphabetically by claimant surname. The folders primarily consist of individual claim files related to the Rosewood Claims Bill and associated legal, personal, and historical documentation submitted by survivors and descendants.

This box includes files for individuals such as Bryant, Elaine; Brown, Terriss; Brown, Richard E.; Brown, Pelham M. Jr.; Brown, Dorthy Jean Monroe; Bradley, Mark A.; Brown, Charlene; Blocker, Qualonda; Blocker, Gussie; and others.

Records found in this box include, but are not limited to, correspondence between claimants and representatives such as Gregory Durden and the Office of the Attorney General; Rosewood Claims Bill checklists, notes, and claims information forms; property affidavits; land deeds and land descriptions; family trees and lists of descendants; vital records such as birth and death certificates; military discharge papers and service summaries; identification documents including passports and driver’s licenses; news articles such as “Wiped Off the Map”; maps of Rosewood and Levy County; census records; business directories; fax cover sheets; handwritten notes; and envelopes.

Collectively, these materials provide detailed insight into the documentation, verification, and personal narratives involved in the Rosewood compensation claims process, while also preserving genealogical, legal, and historical evidence connected to the descendants of the Rosewood community.

Box 17 contains materials from the Rosewood Massacre Collection dating from 1905–1995 and is arranged by subject and record type. The folders primarily consist of legal case files, census and property records, and claimant documentation related to the Rosewood Claims process.

This box includes folders such as Case Notes and Other Information; Census Data and Property Records for Levy County (including 1921–1922 records and family name indexes); Court Case Files: Goins vs. Florida (Rosewood) Volumes I–II; and individual claimant files such as Hall, Thiddle; Hall, Shirley; and Hall, Shaundra.

Records found within these folders include, but are not limited to, census data and general listings of Rosewood families; legal documents including deeds, land grants, and notarized property records; court filings such as interrogatories, requests for production of documents, certificates of service, notices of hearings, and motions; correspondence between claimants, attorneys, and state officials; facsimile cover sheets; memoranda; handwritten notes; and legislative materials related to Florida House of Representatives proceedings, including witness lists, statements, and hearing notices.

Collectively, these materials document the legal, historical, and evidentiary foundations of the Rosewood claims, highlighting the use of genealogical records, property documentation, and court proceedings in establishing eligibility and supporting compensation cases.

Location: AC.7.B.1.2.2 - AC.7.B.1.2.3

The Afro-American Life Insurance Company was a pioneering African American–owned business founded in 1901 in Jacksonville, Florida, by Abraham Lincoln Lewis and a group of associates. Established during a time of widespread racial discrimination and segregation in the United States, the company emerged in response to the limited access Black Americans had to essential financial services. Many mainstream insurance companies either denied coverage to Black individuals or offered policies at unaffordable rates, leaving Black communities without the financial protection that life insurance could provide.

In addition to offering life insurance policies, the Afro-American Life Insurance Company played a vital role as a financial institution within the African American community. It provided opportunities for economic stability through services such as mortgages and financial planning, helping to build wealth and security for families who were otherwise excluded from traditional banking systems. The company’s influence extended beyond finance; it was instrumental in the development of American Beach, a recreational resort established in 1935 as a safe and welcoming destination for Black Americans during the era of segregation.

Throughout the early and mid-20th century, the Afro-American Life Insurance Company stood as a symbol of Black entrepreneurship, resilience, and self-sufficiency. However, increasing competition from larger insurance companies in the latter half of the 20th century contributed to its eventual closure in 1990. Despite this, the company’s legacy endures as a significant example of African American economic empowerment and community development. The historic building that once housed the company at 101 East Union Street in Jacksonville has since been renovated and repurposed, continuing to serve the community in new ways. https://unfdhi.org/earthawhite/items/show/49