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Guide to the Barbara E. Allen Papers, 1915-2005
Processed by:
Traci Parker, Mapping the Stacks, University of Chicago
Supervised by:
Michael Flug, Senior Archivist, Chicago Public Library, Carter G. Woodson Regional Library, Vivian G. Harsh Research Collection of Afro-American History and Literature
| Title: | Barbara E. Allen Papers |
|---|---|
| Dates: | 1915-2005 |
| Size: | 9 linear feet |
| Repository: |
Chicago Public Library |
Access
No restrictions.
Citations
When quoting material from this collection the preferred citation is:
Barbara E. Allen Papers [Box #, Folder #], Chicago Public Library, Carter G. Woodson Regional Library, Vivian G. Harsh Research Collection of Afro-American History and Literature
Note on the Provenance
Collection donated by Barbara E. Allen, 2005.
Biographical Note
Barbara E. Allen directed, produced, edited, and wrote the 2005 Emmy-winning documentary, Paper Trail: 100 Years of the Chicago Defender. The film was hosted by Harry J. Lennix and featured such notables as Earl Calloway, Robert Sengstacke, and then Senator Barack Obama. It celebrates the centennial of the Chicago Defender and skillfully chronicles the pivotal role this groundbreaking newspaper played in African American life not only in Chicago but throughout the United States during the twentieth century. Beginning with the story of Robert Abbott, the Chicago Defender’s founder and editor, Paper Trail examines the paper’s tremendous influence on the Great Migration and the Civil Rights Movement – a period when its readership reached its height, the loss of readers beginning in the 1960s as the Civil Rights Movement grew more militant and the Defender held a conservative position on black politics and issues, and the paper’s present goal of regaining its position as the number one African American newspaper.
A graduate of Columbia College, Allen began her career as a film editor for WNBC-TV in New York. She later moved to NBC affiliate WMAQ-TV in Chicago and then to the Chicago Public Broadcasting Station, WTTW, as engineer/editor/producer. In addition to producing the three-time Emmy Award winning documentary, Paper Trail: 100 Years of the Chicago Defender, Allen has produced the critically acclaimed DuSable to Obama: Chicago’s Black Metropolis in 2010, Morning Due in 2007 (a film she not produced but directed; it was screened at the 2008 Cannes Film Festival, the Chicago International Film Festival, and won the Jury Prize for Best Film at the 2008 Langston Hughes Festival), and the 2006 Emmy nominated documentary, Standing on Common Ground: My Spring Break in New Orleans with her son Evan Allen Gessesse.
Allen also founded and serves as executive director of Middle Passage Productions, Inc., a non-profit media cooperative that promotes and produces multi-cultural programming. In this role, Allen has produced Urban Suite, a home-decorating for budget conscious city dwellers, and D-Tours, a cultural travel series highlighting the African Diaspora. In addition to these accomplishments, Allen has created and produced the Emmy nominated children’s program, TechKnow Kids, and co-produced and edited the award winning short film, 12 Minutes, and the cable award winning series, Inside Issues.
Sources
- Paper Trail: 100 Years of the Chicago Defender. DVD. Directed by Barbara E. Allen; Chicago, IL: WTTW/Chicago, 2005.
Scope and Content
The Barbara E. Allen Papers document the making of the Emmy-winning documentary, Paper Trail: 100 Years of the Chicago Defender (2005). The collection includes research materials, original uncut video interviews, audio interviews, and interview transcripts (however, in some cases, only portions of the interviews have been transcribed). Interviews were conducted with such notables as Timuel Black, Earl Calloway, Joslyn DiPasalegne, Tom Picou, Robert Sengstacke, Doris Saunders, Nathan McGill, III, and then Senator Barack Obama. The Barbara E. Allen Papers also contains DVD and VHS versions of Paper Trail: 100 Years of the Chicago Defender and other documentaries by Allen including DuSable to Obama: Chicago’s Black Metropolis (2010) and Standing on Common Ground: My Spring Break in New Orleans (2006), a film collaboration with her son Evan Allen Gessesse.
Related Papers at the Harsh Collection include the Abbott-Sengstacke Family Papers, the Ben Burns Papers, the Chester Commodore Papers, the Richard Durham Papers, the Majorie Stewart Joyner Papers, and the Doris E. Saunders Papers.
INVENTORY
Box 1
A/V 001
Audiocassette
Interviews with Emil Jones (Side A) and Valerie Jarrett (Side B), [n.d.]
Box 1
A/V 002
Audiocassette
Interview with Tom Picou, [n.d.]
Box 1
A/V 003
Audiocassette
Interview with Tom Picou (Side A) and Joslyn DiPasalegne (Side B), [n.d.]
Box 1
A/V 004
Audiocassette
Interview with Joslyn DiPasalegne, Part 1, [n.d.]
Box 1
A/V 005
Audiocassette
Interview with Joslyn DiPasalegne, Part 2, [n.d.]
Box 1
A/V 006
Audiocassette
Interview with Joslyn DiPasalegne, Part 3, [n.d.]
Box 1
A/V 007
Audiocassette
Interview with Joslyn DiPasalegne, Part 4; Dr. Clarence Nixon, Jr., [n.d.]
Box 1
A/V 008
Audiocassette
Interview with Dr. Clarence Nixon, Jr., [n.d.]
Box 1
A/V 009
Audiocassette
Interview with John Stroger, [n.d.]
Box 1
A/V 010
Audiocassette
Interview with Salim Muwakkil, April 3, 2005
Box 1
A/V 011
Audiocassette
Interview with Roland Martin, Part 1, April 10, 2005
Box 1
A/V 012
Audiocassette
Interview with Roland Martin, Part 2, April 10, 2005
Box 1
A/V 013
Audiocassette
Interview with Roland Martin, Part 3, April 10, 2005
Box 1
A/V 014
Audiocassette
Interview with Earl Calloway, Part 1, April 10, 2005
Box 1
A/V 015
Audiocassette
Interview with Earl Calloway, Part 2, April 10, 2005
Box 1
A/V 016
Audiocassette
Interview with Theresa Fambro-Hooks, April 10, 2005
Box 1
A/V 017
Audiocassette
Interview with Bobby Sengstacke, Part 1, April 10, 2005
Box 1
A/V 018
Audiocassette
Interview with Bobby Sengstacke, Part 2, April 10, 2005
Box 1
A/V 019
Audiocassette
Interview with Bobby Sengstacke, Part 3, April 10, 2005; Stephanie Davenport, Part 1, March 24, 2005
Box 1
A/V 020
Audiocassette
Interview with Stephanie Davenport, Part 2, March 24, 2005
Box 1
A/V 021
Audiocassette
Interview with Chris Manning, Part 1, March 24, 2005
Box 1
A/V 022
Audiocassette
Interview with Chris Manning, Part 2, March 24, 2005
Box 1
A/V 023
Audiocassette
Interview with Chris Manning, Part 3, March 24, 2005; Myiti Sengstacke, Part 1, March 24, 2005
Box 1
A/V 024
Audiocassette
Interview with Myiti Sengstacke, Part 2, March 24, 2005; Timuel Black, Part 1, March 24, 2005
Box 2
A/V 025
Audiocassette
Interview with Timuel Black, Part 3, March 24, 2005
Box 2
A/V 026
Audiocassette
Interview with Jim Grossman, Part 1, March 24, 2005
Box 2
A/V 027
Audiocassette
Interview with Jim Grossman, Part 2, March 24, 2005
Box 2
A/V 028
Audiocassette
Interview with Charles Whitaker, March 24, 2005; Cliff Kelly, Tape 1, [n.d.]
Box 2
A/V 029
Audiocassette
Interview with Cliff Kelly, Tape 2, [n.d.]
Box 2
A/V 030
Audiocassette
Interview with Doris Saunder, [n.d.]
Box 2
A/V 031
Audiocassette
Interview with Colonel Eugene Scott, [n.d.]
Box 2
A/V 032
Audiocassette
Interview with Lonnie Bunch, Tape 1, [n.d.]
Box 2
A/V 033
Audiocassette
Interview with Lonnie Bunch, Tape 2, [n.d.]
Box 2
A/V 034
Audiocassette
Interview with Laura Washington, [n.d.]
Box 2
A/V 035
Audiocassette
Interview with Irma P. Hall, [n.d.]
Box 2
A/V 036
Audiocassette
Interview with Desiree Rogers, [n.d.]
Box 2
A/V 037
Audiocassette
Interview with Tim Sammuelson, [n.d.]
Box 2
A/V 038
Audiocassette
Interview with Nathan McGill, III, [n.d.]
Box 2
A/V 039
Audiocassette
Interview with Sherry Williams, [n.d.]
Box 2
A/V 040
Audiocassette
Interview with Senator Barack Obama, [n.d.]
Box 2
A/V 041
Audiocassette
Interview with Michael Flug and Timuel Black, Tape 1, [n.d.]
Box 2
A/V 042
Audiocassette
Interview with Michael Flug and Timuel Black, Tape 2, [n.d.]
Box 2
A/V 043
Audiocassette
Interview with Michael Flug and Timuel Black, Tape 3, [n.d.]
Box 2
A/V 044
Audiocassette
Interview with Clarice Durham, [n.d.]
Box 2
A/V 045
Audiocassette
Interview with James Kellum, Tape 1, [n.d.]
Box 2
A/V 046
Audiocassette
Interview with James Kellum, Tape 2, [n.d.]
Box 2
A/V 047
Audiocassette
Interview with Ernie Banks ("Mr. Cubs"), [n.d.]
Box 2
A/V 048
Audiocassette
Interview with Bobby Rush, [n.d.]
Box 2
A/V 049
Audiocassette
Interview with Unknown Woman, [n.d.]
Box 3
A/V 050
Videocassette
Interview with Emil Jones, [n.d.]
Box 3
A/V 051
Videocassette
Interview with Valerie Jarrett, [n.d.]
Box 3
A/V 052
Videocassette
Interview with Joslyn DiPasalenge, Tape 1, March 2005
Box 3
A/V 053
Videocassette
Interview with Joslyn DiPasalenge, Tape 2, March 2005
Box 3
A/V 054
Videocassette
Interview with Joslyn DiPasalenge, Tape 3, March 2005
Box 3
A/V 055
Videocassette
Interview with Joslyn DiPasalenge, Tape 4, March 2005
Box 3
A/V 056
Videocassette
Interview with Roland Martin, #2, April 10, 2005
Box 3
A/V 057
Videocassette
Interview with Roland Martin, #3, April 10, 2005
Box 3
A/V 058
Videocassette
Interview with Earl Calloway, Tape 1, April 10, 2005
Box 3
A/V 059
Videocassette
Interview with Earl Calloway, Tape 2, April 10, 2005
Box 4
A/V 060
Videocassette
Interview with Theresa Fambro-Hooks, April 10, 2005
Box 4
A/V 061
Videocassette
Interview with Stephanie Davenport, March 24, 2005
Box 4
A/V 062
Videocassette
Interview with Chris Manning, Tape 1, March 24, 2005
Box 4
A/V 063
Videocassette
Interview with Chris Manning, Tape 2, March 24, 2005
Box 4
A/V 064
Videocassette
Interview with Timuel Black, Tape 2, March 24, 2005
Box 4
A/V 065
Videocassette
Interview with Timuel Black, Tape 3, March 24, 2005
Box 4
A/V 066
Videocassette
Interview with Jim Grossman, Tape 1, March 24, 2005
Box 4
A/V 067
Videocassette
Interview with Jim Grossman, Tape 2, March 24, 2005
Box 4
A/V 068
Videocassette
Interview with Cliff Kelly, April 9, 2005
Box 4
A/V 069
Videocassette
Interview with Lonnie Bunch, Tape 1, April 2, 2005
Box 5
A/V 070
Videocassette
Interview with Lonnie Bunch, Tape 2, April 2, 2005
Box 5
A/V 071
Videocassette
Interview with Irma P. Hall, March 2005
Box 5
A/V 072
Videocassette
Interview with Nathan McGill, III, April 9, 2005
Box 5
A/V 073
Videocassette
Interview with Michael Flug and Timuel Black, Tape 1, April 15, 2005
Box 5
A/V 074
Videocassette
Interview with Michael Flug and Timuel Black, Tape 2, April 15, 2005
Box 5
A/V 075
Videocassette
Interview with Clarice Durham, April 15, 2005
Box 5
A/V 076
Videocassette
Interview with James Kellum, April 15, 2005
Box 5
A/V 077
Videocassette
Interview with Ernie Banks ("Mr. Cubs"), April 15, 2005
Box 5
A/V 078
Videocassette
Paper Trails: 100 Years of the Chicago Defender, June 2005
Box 5
A/V 079
Videocassette
Paper Trails: 100 Years of the Chicago Defender, June 2005
Box 6
A/V 080
DVD
Paper Trails: 100 Years of the Chicago Defender, June 2005
Box 6
A/V 081
DVD
Paper Trails: 100 Years of the Chicago Defender, June 2005
Box 6
A/V 082
DVD
Standing on Common Ground (Film by Evan Allen Gessesse), c. 2006
Box 6
A/V 083
DVD
Positively Trailer and Promo by Barbara Allen, [n.d.]
Box 6
A/V 084
DVD
DuSable to Obama, 2010
Box 7
Folder 1
Interview Transcript, Banks, Ernie, [n.d.]
Box 7
Folder 2
Interview Transcript, Black, Timuel, March 24, 2005
Box 7
Folder 3
Interview Transcript, Brown, Maggie, [n.d.]
Box 7
Folder 4
Interview Transcript, Bunch, Lonnie, April 2, 2005
Box 7
Folder 5
Interview Transcript, Burroughs, Margaret, [n.d.]
Box 7
Folder 6
Interview Transcript, Calloway, Earl, April 10, 2005
Box 7
Folder 7
Interview Transcript, Davenport, Stephanie, March 24, 2005
Box 7
Folder 8
Interview Transcript, DiPasalegne, Joslyn, [n.d.]
Box 7
Folder 9
Interview Transcript, Durham, Clarice, [n.d.]
Box 7
Folder 10
Interview Transcript, Fambro-Hooks, Theresa, April 10, 2005
Box 7
Folder 11
Interview Transcript, Flug, Michael and Timuel Black, [n.d.]
Box 7
Folder 12
Interview Transcript, Grossman, James, [n.d.]
Box 7
Folder 13
Interview Transcript, Hall, Irma P., [n.d.]
Box 7
Folder 14
Interview Transcript, Jarrett, Valerie, [n.d.]
Box 7
Folder 15
Interview Transcript, Jones, Emil, [n.d.]
Box 7
Folder 16
Interview Transcript, Kelley, Cliff, [n.d.]
Box 7
Folder 17
Interview Transcript, Kellum, James, [n.d.]
Box 7
Folder 18
Interview Transcript, Manning, Chris, March 24, 2005
Box 7
Folder 19
Interview Transcript, Martin, Roland, April 10, 2005
Box 7
Folder 20
Interview Transcript, McGill, Nathan, III, [n.d.]
Box 7
Folder 21
Interview Transcript, Muwakkil, Salim, April 3, 2005
Box 7
Folder 22
Interview Transcript, Nixon, Clarence, Jr., [n.d.]
Box 7
Folder 23
Interview Transcript, Obama, Barack, [n.d.]
Box 8
Folder 1
Interview Transcript, Picou, Tom, [n.d.]
Box 8
Folder 2
Interview Transcript, Rogers, Desiree, [n.d.]
Box 8
Folder 3
Interview Transcript, Rush, Bobby, [n.d.]
Box 8
Folder 4
Interview Transcript, Sammuelson, Tim, [n.d.]
Box 8
Folder 5
Interview Transcript, Saunders, Doris, [n.d.]
Box 8
Folder 6
Interview Transcript, Scott, Colonel Eugene, [n.d.]
Box 8
Folder 7
Interview Transcript, Sengstacke, Bobby, April 10, 2005
Box 8
Folder 8
Interview Transcript, Sengstacke, Myiti, March 24, 2005
Box 8
Folder 9
Interview Transcript, Stroger, John, [n.d.]
Box 8
Folder 10
Interview Transcript, Washington, Laura, [n.d.]
Box 8
Folder 11
Interview Transcript, Watkins, James Nugie, [n.d.]
Box 8
Folder 12
Interview Transcript, Whitaker, Charles, March 24, 2005
Box 8
Folder 13
Interview Transcript, Williams, Sherry, [n.d.]
Box 9
CD Headline: Birth of A Nation Kicked Out of Ohio, October 2, 1915
Box 9
CD Headline: Family Driven From South by Mob, September 4, 1920
Box 9
CD Headline: A Recapitulation of 25 Years Work, May 3, 1930
Box 9
CD Headline: Ike Award Kicks Off Defender Anniversary, May 7, 1955
Box 9
CD Headline: 250,000 View Slain Youth's Body, September 10, 1955
Box 9
CD Headline: Defender Tracks Down Mystery Till 'Witness', October 8, 1955
Box 9
CD Headline: King Murdered!, April 6-12, 1968
Box 9
CD Headline: Nation Mourns Jackie; Funeral Rites Set Friday, October 25, 1972
Box 9
CD Headline: To Our Readers (75th Anniversary Edition), May 3, 1980
Box 9
CD Headline: Religious Council…Plea: Epton! Halt Racist Ads!, April 2, 1983
Box 9
CD Headline: We Are a Family, February 26, 1986
Box 9
CD Headline: City Mourns Death of John H. H. Sengstacke, May 29, 1997
Box 10
2005-2006 Chicago/Midwest Emmy Awards - Outstanding Achievement for Documentary Programs -Documentary of Historic Significance - Paper Trails: 100 Years of the Chicago Defender, Barbara Allen, Producer, WTTW