Gertrude Banks collection

This collection includes a small amount of correspondence, newsletters, clippings from the Chicago press mainly, church bulletins (especially for the Church of the Good Shepherd (Chicago, IL), and obituaries. An item of interest is the 1956 commencement program for the Poro College in Chicago that was founded by Annie M. Malone. She was president of the institution that trained beauticians with a primary focus on the Black client. The letters include the first official letter written by the Reverend David E. Chambers as pastor of the Church of the Good Shepherd in Chicago and one written by Orestes T. Wilson, chairman of the Installation Committee in charge of arrangements of the September 13, 1987 installation services for the newly arrived pastor of the church. The letter is dated August 19, 1987.

Numerous clippings are included within the collection; many are obituaries for such notables as Harold Washington, Mayor of Chicago; musician Clifton Chenier of zydeco fame; artist Clementine Hunter; jazz great Woody Herman, and others. Some of the clippings are articles about persons of instant name recognition, such as Gwendolyn Brooks and Oprah Winfrey. Other clippings include a group of articles on Black history for 1988 from the Chicago Defender. Numerous persons and subjects are covered in the collection; however, a large number of persons included were residents of Chicago, or they had a Chicago connections, exhibitions, or performances in the city. Items on a variety of subjects, such as one about Marjorie Shaw Joyner who once worked with Madame C. J. Walker, the cosmetic entrepreneur, another about Lena Horne, still another about a planned tribute for Paul Robeson. Items about international figures are also included.

Other personages featured in the clippings include Adam Clayton Powell, Reginal Veljohnson, Dick Gregory, and Oprah Winfrey.