Content Description Clifford V. Johnson is the former Vice President for Development at Dillard University and Director of Development at the Amistad Research Center. He has also written short stories. His papers include three letters, one card, and a poem, entitled "The Backlash Blues" sent to Johnson from Langston Hughes. Johnson developed an acquaintance with Hughes in the mid 1960s when Johnson's short story "Old Blues Singers Never Die" was published in the anthology ...

Scope and Contents A collection of six typescript poems with a title page "Saga of Shine: Various Folk Versions of a Rhymed Negro Folk Poem as Collected by Langston Hughes, 1952-1955." Variously known as "Shine and the Titanic," "Shine on the Titanic," "Shine and the Great Titanic," or simply "Shine," this African American vernacular poem or toast, typically rhymed and often bawdy, involves a Black deckhand who swims to safety amidst the sinking of the ...

Content Description The papers primarily document the life of Howard Swanson and his contribution to classical music history. The papers are of interest for studying African American composers and more specifically Black scholars of operatic and classical music. Formats in the collection include correspondence, financial records, memorabilia and programs of Swanson’s performances. The bulk of the collection consists of sheet music manuscripts, including several unpublished works. Additionally, the papers...