Summary Information
Percival L. Prattis Papers
AIS.2007.01
Prattis, Percival Leroy, 1895-1980
Bulk, 1936-1964
1916-2011
3.75 linear feet (3 boxes, 4 volumes)
Language: English
Abstract: This collection contains documents relating to the life and career of journalist, Percival L. Prattis, executive editor of the
Pittsburgh Courier newspaper. The material dates between 1916 and 1980, with the majority of material dating from 1936 to 1964. The materials in this collection are correspondence, financial reports of the
Courier, drafts of articles and stories, scrapbooks, and photographs.
ULS Archives Service Center
University of Pittsburgh Library System
7500 Thomas Boulevard
Pittsburgh, PA, 15260
412-648-3232
archives-ref@mail.pitt.edu
May 2010
Finding aid prepared by Wendy Pflug.
February 2011:
The finding aid was revised by Wendy Pflug to include new materials added to the collection in January 2011.
Biography
Percival Leroy (P.L.) Prattis was born on April 27, 1895 in the Germantown section of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He was the only son of Alexander and Ella (Spraggins) Prattis. He attended grade school at the Christiansburg Industrial Institute in Cambria (now Christiansburg), Virginia, from 1908 to 1912. For further education, he attended the Hampton Institute (now Hampton University) in Hampton, Virginia, from 1912 to 1915. He later graduated in 1916 from the Ferris Institute, which was a preparatory academy for low income children in Big Rapids, Michigan.
Prattis served in the U.S. Army during World War I. He was a Battalion Sergeant Major, headquartered in the Company 813 Pioneer Infantry. He was stationed in France from September 15, 1918 to July 13, 1919, and was honorably discharged from his duties on July 23, 1919.
P.L. Prattis began his career in 1919 as the editor of the newly formed
Michigan State News in Grand Rapids, Michigan. In 1921 he moved to Chicago, Illinois, to become the city editor of the
Chicago Defender, which was the most influential African American weekly newspaper in the country at the beginning of World War I. The
Chicago Defender often used sensationalistic headlines and graphic images to capture the reader’s attention and convey the horror of lynching and other atrocities affecting African Americans. It was the first African American newspaper to have a circulation over 100,000. Prattis held this position until May 1923. In June 1923 he was hired as the city editor of the
Associated Negro Press in Chicago, which included articles that were syndicated by other African American newspapers. He also traveled on assignment and reported on international stories, such as the activities of the Moton Commission on Education in the Republic of Haiti; he even interviewed the Emperor of Ethiopia, Haile Selassie in England. He moved to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, in 1936 to take a position with the highly influential African American newspaper the
Pittsburgh Courier.
The
Pittsburgh Courier, which was the leading African American newspaper by 1926, came from relatively inauspicious beginnings. The paper was founded by Edwin E. Harleston, a guard for the H.J. Heinz Company, as an outlet for his poetry. The first issue in 1907 was two pages in length and featured Harleston’s poetry. Robert L. Vann, an attorney, drew up incorporation papers and assisted Harleston in finding investors. As one of the few African American lawyers in the city and a friend of Harleston, Vann was retained as legal counsel. Since the
Courier could not afford to pay Vann, “he was given ten shares of stock valued at five dollars each in lieu of a fee" (Bunie, p. 44). Vann also was a regular editorial contributor to the
Courier. In the fall of 1910 Edwin Harleston quit the paper due to creative differences and financial disagreements with the other investors. The remaining partners offered the editorship to Vann due to his experience as editor of
, a student literary publication at the Western University of Pennsylvania (now the University of Pittsburgh). He was the
Courier’s editor, treasurer, and legal counsel and held these positions until his death in 1940.
The
Pittsburgh Courier became a force for social change. Editorials by Robert Vann and others stressed that the policy of the
Pittsburgh Courier was to “uplift of the Negro race…through the medium of the columns (Brewer, p. 24).” Editorials at the
Courier called attention to improvements needed in housing, health care, education, job opportunities, political awareness, crime, Jim Crow, and misrepresentation in the white press. When Prattis was hired as a city editor in 1936, the
Pittsburgh Courier was the most influential African American newspaper in the country, with a circulation over "250,000" (Bunie, p. 222). Prattis also had duties as reporter and was dispatched on international assignments to the Middle East, Far East and post-World War II Europe. During World War II, he traveled extensively covering the African American Armed Forces.
In 1947 he was unanimously granted membership in the Senate and House press galleries by the executive committee of the Periodical Correspondents Association, thus making him the first such permitted African American journalist. In 1948 he was promoted to managing editor, a position he held until 1956. While working at the
Courier, Prattis also wrote the column “The Horizon,” and was a correspondent for
Our World magazine. He was named executive editor of the
Pittsburgh Courier in 1956. During this time at the
Courier, he highlighted the struggles of African Americans for fair employment opportunities from teaching positions to major league sports. In the 1960s the
Pittsburgh Courier’s circulation fell as the paper began to lose money and was no longer profitable. Many African American newspapers lost circulation during this time period as mainstream white newspapers gave coverage to the Civil Rights’ Movement. Mr. Prattis retired from the
Courier in 1965 after it was bought by John Sengstacke, publisher and owner of the
Courier’s longtime competitor, the
Chicago Defender.
In retirement P.L. Prattis focused on community involvement and was very active in a number of organizations around Pittsburgh. He was the first African American officer on the Community Chest of Allegheny County Council; president of the Brashear Association; and vice-president of the Federation of Social Agencies of Allegheny County for six years. He sat on the boards of the Centre Avenue YMCA, the Pittsburgh branch of the N.A.A.C.P. and the Urban League. He was named “Community Leader of the Year” by the Jewish War Veterans Post 49. In 1962 he was awarded a medal as one of Hampton Institute’s most illustrious alumni and in 1965 was given the “Master of Men” award by the state of Pennsylvania YMCA.
P.L. Prattis married Helen Marie Sands in 1939 and their daughter, Patricia, was born in 1943. Prattis died February 29, 1980 at the Veterans Administration Hospital in Aspinwall, Pennsylvania.
Sources used:
Bunie, Andrew.
Robert L. Vann of the Pittsburgh Courier: Politics and Black Journalism. Pittsburgh: University of Pittsburgh Press, 1974.
Brewer, James Howard. "Robert Lee Vann and the Pittsburgh Courier." Thesis University of Pittsburgh, 1941.
Collection Scope and Content Notes
The Percival L. Prattis Papers contains correspondence, writings, and photographs from 1916 to 1980. The collection contains administrative and financial records of the
Pittsburgh Courier. There are also materials related to his career after retirement from the
Courier, including his personal and family life. Each series contains a scope note detailing the content found within the records.
In January 2011, Patricia Prattis Jennings, daughter of P.L. Prattis, donated additional materials. Included were professional and personal correspondence, photographs, and newspaper clippings. The new material has been added at the end of each existing series. Further scope notes are found after each series title.
Arrangement
The collection is arranged into the following three series:
Series I.
The Pittsburgh Courier, 1936-1969
Series II. Correspondence, 1935-1979
Series II. Personal, 1916-1980
Subject Terms
- African American journalists -- Pennsylvania -- Pittsburgh
- African American newspapers -- Pennsylvania -- Pittsburgh
- African Americans -- Civil rights -- Pennsylvania -- Pittsburgh
- Journalists -- Pennsylvania -- Pittsburgh
- Newspapers -- Pennsylvania -- Pittsburgh
- Centre Avenue YMCA (Pittsburgh, Pa.).
- Frontiers International.
- Pittsburgh Courier Publishing Co..
- Prattis, Percival Leroy, 1895-1980
- Vann, Jessie, 1885-1967
- Vann, Robert L., 1879-1940
- Courier (Pittsburgh, Pa. : Midwest ed.)
- Courier (Pittsburgh, Pa. : City ed.)
- Courier (Pittsburgh, Pa. : National ed.)
- Courier (Pittsburgh, Pa. : Pacific Coast ed.)
- Correspondence
- Financial records
- Memorabilia
- Personal papers
- Photographs
- Scrapbooks
Access and Use
No restrictions.
Gift of Patricia Prattis Jennings in December 2006.
Additional material received in January 2011.
Percival L. Prattis Papers, 1916-1980, AIS.2007.01, Archives Service Center, University of Pittsburgh
This collection was processed by Wendy Pflug in 2010. Additional materials were intergrated into the collection in January 2011.
The University of Pittsburgh holds the property rights to the material in this collection, but the copyright may still be held by the original creator/author. Researchers are therefore advised to follow the regulations set forth in the U.S. Copyright Code when publishing, quoting, or reproducing material from this collection without the consent of the creator/author or that go beyond what is allowed by fair use.
Brashear Association Records, 1891-1978, AIS.1979.17, Archives Service Center, University of Pittsburgh
Frank E. Bolden Papers, 1930-1969, AIS.2008.05, Archives Service Center, University of Pittsburgh
Community Chest of Allegheny County Records, 1933-1960, AIS.1968.14b, Archives Service Center, University of Pittsburgh
National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), Pittsburgh Branch Records, 1964-1966, 1974, AIS.1964.38, Archives Services Center, University of Pittsburgh
Urban League of Pittsburgh Records, 1915-1963, AIS.1981.11, Archives Service Center, University of Pittsburgh
The Percival Leroy Prattis Papers, 1916-1980, Personal Papers, Moorland Spingarn Research Center, Howard University
The
Pittsburgh Courier, Pittsburgh Edition issues that were a part of this collection have been separated out and retained for preservation. Please consult the ASC for further information.
Collection Inventory
Series I. The
Pittsburgh Courier, 1936-2011
|
Scope and Content Notes: This series contains memos, financial reports and statements, story leads, and photographs created during Prattis’ tenure at the
Pittsburgh Courier and the period directly after, covering the years 1936 to 1969. It is further divided into five subseries: Administrative Materials, Financial, Photographs, Writings, and Recognition.
|
Subseries 1. Administrative Materials, 1936-1967
|
Scope and Content Notes: Administrative Materials are files that were created during Prattis’ tenure at the paper. Prattis was very involved in the day-to-day operations of the
Courier. He began as an editor in 1936 working his way from city editor to managing editor and later executive editor in 1948. Prattis retired from the
Pittsburgh Courier in 1965 after it was bought by John Sengstacke, owner and publisher of the
Chicago Defender. He also was a regular columnist for the paper. Included in this subseries are By-Laws of the Pittsburgh Courier Publishing Company and various press passes granted to Mr. Prattis. There is also information on the trust of Mrs. Vann’s estate and the management of the
Pittsburgh Courier. Recently added material can be found under the section "New Material Added." The subseries are arranged chronologically by year.
|
Box 1
| Folder |
1 |
Invitations and Press Passes, 1936, 1949, undated
|
|
| Folder |
2 |
By-Laws of the
Pittsburgh Courier Publishing Company, 1941
|
|
| Folder |
3 |
Newspaper clippings regarding P.L. Prattis, 1948
|
|
| Folder |
4 |
Press cards and Invitations from United Nations Conference on International Organization, San Francisco, 1945
|
|
| Folder |
5 |
U.S. State Department Credentials for United Nations Conference in San Francisco, 1945
|
|
| Folder |
6 |
Assorted
Pittsburgh Courier Materials, 1948, undated
|
|
| Folder |
7 |
Program for Birthday Testimonial in honor of Mrs. Robert L. Vann, 1953
|
|
| Folder |
8 |
Our World Publishing Company, Inc., Resolutions adopted by the Board of Directors, 1954
|
|
| Folder |
9 |
Publication of the
Cleveland Courier, 1957-1958
|
|
| Folder |
10 |
Pittsburgh Courier Memos and Envelope Letterhead, 1956-1958
|
|
| Folder |
11 |
P.L. Prattis Testimonial Banquet Program, 1961
|
|
| Folder |
12 |
Petition to Terminate Trust of Estate of Jessie M. Vann, 1967
|
|
| Folder |
13 |
Proposed Itinerary of P.L. Prattis, undated
|
|
| Folder |
14 |
Letter from Robert L. Vann (half-page torn) undated
|
|
Section: New Material Added, 2011
Box 2
| Folder |
69 |
"Race Newsman (at long last) Admitted to Senate and House Press Galleries," clipping, 1947
|
|
| Folder |
70 |
"Prattis' Column on Dr. DuBois Prompts Many
Courier Readers to Pen Letters" clipping, 1950s
|
|
Subseries 2. Financial, 1939-1964
|
Scope and Content Notes: Included in the Financial subseries are copies of the
Pittsburgh Courier Publishing Company stock certificates issued to P.L. Prattis. Mr. Prattis had invested his own personal money into the paper and was committed to its success. As the newspaper entered the 1960s, it began to lose money and was no longer profitable. Prattis made a series of personal loans to keep the Pittsburgh Courier solvent. Of particular interest, are a series of cancelled checks Prattis wrote to the
Pittsburgh Courier and Robert L. Vann's widow, Jessie, that document the loans. The Financial subseries is arranged chronologically by year and include comptroller's reports and financial statements that chart the fiscal health of the organization during this time period.
|
Box 1
| Folder |
15 |
Pittsburgh Courier Publishing Company Stock Certificates and List of Shareholders, 1939-1941, 1955-1956
|
|
| Folder |
16 |
Checks written by P.L. Prattis to Robert L. Vann Memorial Fund, 1941
|
|
| Folder |
17 |
Checks written by P.L. Prattis to the
Pittsburgh Courier Publishing Company, 1941,1944,1946,1963-1964
|
|
| Folder |
18 |
Pittsburgh Courier Publishing Company Audit Report, March 31, 1944
|
|
| Folder |
19 |
Resolution to Dispose of Our World Publishing Company Stock, 1946
|
|
| Folder |
20 |
Shareholders of Our World Publishing Company Stock, 1947
|
|
| Folder |
21 |
Our World Publishing Company Financial Report, October 31, 1948
|
|
| Folder |
22 |
Checks written by P.L. Prattis to Jessie M. Vann, 1948-1949
|
|
| Folder |
23 |
Our World Publishing Company Stock Certificate, 1949
|
|
| Folder |
24 |
Pittsburgh Courier Publishing Company Financial Report, May 31, 1955
|
|
| Folder |
25 |
Pittsburgh Courier Publishing Company Financial Report, September 30, 1955
|
|
| Folder |
26 |
Pittsburgh Publishing Company Financial Report, October 31, 1955
|
|
| Folder |
27 |
Pittsburgh Courier Publishing Company Financial Report, November 30, 1955
|
|
| Folder |
28 |
Pittsburgh Courier Publishing Company Comptroller's Office Report, January 1956
|
|
| Folder |
29 |
Pittsburgh Courier Publishing Company Comptroller's Office Report, April 1957
|
|
| Folder |
30 |
Legal Resolution with Marshall S. Leff for Financial and Management Control, 1958
|
|
| Folder |
31 |
Pittsburgh Courier Publishing Company Comptroller's Office Report, January 1958
|
|
| Folder |
32 |
Pittsburgh Courier Publishing Company Comptroller's Office Report, February 1958
|
|
| Folder |
33 |
Pittsburgh Courier Publishing Company Comptroller's Office Report, March 1958
|
|
| Folder |
34 |
Pittsburgh Courier Publishing Company Comptroller's Office Report, April-June 1958
|
|
| Folder |
35 |
Pittsburgh Courier Publishing Company Comptroller's Office Report No. 9, September 14-19, 1959
|
|
| Folder |
36 |
Pittsburgh Courier Publishing Company Comptroller's Office Report No. 10, September 26, 1959
|
|
| Folder |
37 |
Pittsburgh Courier Publishing Company Balance Sheet, September 30, 1960
|
|
| Folder |
38 |
Pittsburgh Courier Publishing Company Financial Report, December 31, 1960
|
|
| Folder |
39 |
Pittsburgh Courier Publishing Company Financial Report, February 28, 1961
|
|
| Folder |
40 |
Pittsburgh Courier Publishing Company Financial Report, June 30, 1963
|
|
| Folder |
41 |
Pittsburgh Courier Publishing Company Balance Sheet, September 30, 1963
|
|
| Folder |
42 |
Pittsburgh Courier Publishing Company Financial Statement, June 30, 1964
|
|
| Folder |
43 |
Pittsburgh Courier Publishing Company Yearly Financial Statement, December 31, 1964
|
|
Subseries 3. Photographs, 1936-1961
|
Scope and Content Notes: This subseries contains the photographs of P.L. Prattis taken while traveling on assignment for the
Pittsburgh Courier. The subseries features images of the United States Armed Forces during World War II, which includes a photograph taken at a press conference with General George Marshall and Colonel Benjamin O. Davis. The Photographs subseries also features images of Prattis being honored at banquets, along with some photographs of Robert L. Vann, the
Pittsburgh Courier's long-time editor, and his wife Jessie. Recently added material can be found under the section "New Material Added." The subseries is arranged by year with many images undated.
|
| Folder |
44 |
P.L. Prattis at Professional Events, 1936-1940s, undated
|
|
| Folder |
45 |
Organizing Committee of the War Bond Savings Club, ca.1942
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|
| Folder |
46 |
Blair House Press Conference for Edwin Barclay, President of Liberia, 1943
|
|
| Folder |
47 |
P.L. Prattis and Robert L. Vann with unidentified man, 1940s
|
|
| Folder |
48 |
P.L. Prattis with African American Soldiers in Army Mess Hall, 1940s
|
|
| Folder |
49 |
The
Pittsburgh Courier's Frank Bolden as a War Correspondent, 1940s
|
|
| Folder |
50 |
Colonel Benjamin O. Davis, Sr., and Benjamin O. Davis, Jr., at Press Conference for African American Press, 1940s
|
|
| Folder |
51 |
General George Marshall addressing the African American Press, 1940s
|
|
| Folder |
52 |
P.L. Prattis and Jessie M. Vann with group, 1950s
|
|
| Folder |
53 |
P.L. Prattis in group with President Eisenhower, 1950s
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|
| Folder |
54 |
P.L. Prattis in Tel Aviv, 1954
|
|
| Folder |
55 |
P.L. Prattis as speaker for National Insurance Convention, Durham, North Carolina, 1954
|
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| Folder |
56 |
Wilhelmina Butler, Jessie M. Vann, P.L. Prattis, Patricia Prattis, Ethel Ramos, and Paquita Harris, 1960s
|
|
| Folder |
57 |
Testimonial dinner in honor of P.L. Prattis, 1961
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|
| Folder |
58 |
Roy Wilkins and P.L. Prattis, undated
|
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| Folder |
59 |
Lester Granger, Reba Schinault, and P.L. Prattis at Press Conference, undated
|
|
| Folder |
60 |
P.L. Prattis at a shrine in Jerusalem, Israel, undated
|
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| Folder |
61 |
P.L. Prattis in Europe while on assignment for the
Pittsburgh Courier, undated
|
|
| Folder |
62 |
P.L. Prattis with unidentified men, undated
|
|
| Folder |
63 |
P.L. Prattis, Rev. Toliver, Dr. Eugene Younge, Jr., and two other unidentified men, undated
|
|
Section: New Material Added, 2011
Box 2
| Folder |
71 |
P.L. Prattis and unidentified man (possibly related to Community Chest and Councils of America), 1960s
|
|
Subseries 4. Writings, 1945-1969
|
Scope and Content Notes: The Writings subseries features story leads and drafts of articles, notes, and journal entries. Prattis wrote for the Pittsburgh Courier and other publications during this time period. Recently added material can be found under the section "New Material Added." The subseries is arranged chronologically.
|
Box 1
| Folder |
64 |
Journal entries for the United Nations Conference on International Organization in San Francisco, 1945
|
|
| Folder |
65 |
Writings by P.L. Prattis while on assignment in India, 1949
|
|
| Folder |
66 |
"Statement to General Lucius D. Clay," 1949
|
|
| Folder |
67 |
"Issues: Good and Bad." Draft for article in
Associated Negro Press, 1954
|
|
| Folder |
68 |
Report on
Courier Caravan, October 2- December 1957
|
|
| Folder |
69 |
Draft of the
Courier Church Supplement, 1958
|
|
| Folder |
70 |
"The People of the Earth: History Special for Children," 1968-1969
|
|
| Folder |
71 |
Writing Assignment on Josephine Baker, undated
|
|
| Folder |
72 |
Story Lead on Draft of Constitution of Latin-Bloc Countries, undated
|
|
| Folder |
73 |
Book review on "The First Circle," undated
|
|
| Folder |
74 |
"Homewood- Brushton- Belmar Boomtown, '68," undated
|
|
| Folder |
75 |
"The Horizon," Writing Assignment from the ship Argentina, undated
|
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| Folder |
76 |
Writing Assignment on Gaston Monnerville from Paris, undated
|
|
| Folder |
77 |
"Must We Surrender?" undated
|
|
| Folder |
78 |
"Over the Shoulder History," Lead for
Pittsburgh Courier series, undated
|
|
| Folder |
79 |
"Poverty of the Negro, Prosperity of the Whites," undated
|
|
| Folder |
80 |
Profile of Virginia Paris, undated
|
|
| Folder |
81 |
"Road to Freedom," undated
|
|
| Folder |
82 |
"Reference to Maso Tse," undated
|
|
| Folder |
83 |
Story Lead on Wilkinsburg Coalition, undated
|
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| Folder |
84 |
Writing Assignment from Cairo, undated
|
|
| Folder |
85 |
Writing Assignment from London, undated
|
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| Folder |
86 |
Writing Assignment from Paris, undated
|
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| Folder |
87 |
"Peace Prospects in the Holy Land," undated
|
|
| Folder |
88 |
"Thirteen Years under Nazi Terror: as told to P.L. Prattis," Third and Final Drafts, undated
|
|
| Folder |
89 |
"Truth is Delight," Review for the Pittsburgh Courier, undated
|
|
| Folder |
90 |
Story Lead on the death of Jessie M. Vann, undated
|
|
| Folder |
91 |
Story Lead on Dr. Euguene Younge, undated
|
|
| Folder |
92 |
Untitled Writing, undated
|
|
| Volume |
1 |
United Nations International Conference, San Francisco, Scrapbook, 1945
|
|
Section: New Material Added, 2011
Box 2
| Folder |
72-73 |
"The Horizon" newspaper clippings of column, 1943-1944
|
|
Box 2
| Folder |
85 |
"Autobiography", fragmentary undated
|
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Subseries 5. Recognition, 2011
Box 3
| Folder |
1 |
New Pittsburgh Courier Centennial, Program, 2011
|
|
| Box |
3 |
New Pittsburgh Courier Centennial, P. L. Prattis Award [Glass Sculpture by Edward Kachurik], 2011
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Series II. Correspondence, 1935-1979
|
Scope and Content Notes: The Correspondence series consists of letters written and received by P.L. Prattis. It is divided into two subseries, professional and personal.
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Subseries 1. Professional Correspondence, 1935-1979
|
Scope and Content Notes: The correspondence in this subseries chronicles issues relating to Prattis’ career at the
Pittsburgh Courier and after his retirement his involvement with organizations such as Frontiers International, YMCA, and the Yorkfellows. Of particular interest is a folder of correspondence from famous people which contains a handwritten letter from Lena Horne in 1971. Also found in this subseries is a copy of a letter Prattis wrote to then Senator John F. Kennedy on August 18, 1950. The letter is regards to a previous meeting the two had and developing possible series of articles on Kennedy’s efforts on behalf of African Americans. Recently added material can be found under the section "New Material Added." The correspondence is arranged by year.
|
Box 1
| Folder |
93 |
Correspondence from Notable People, 1935-1979
|
|
| Folder |
94 |
Correspondence regarding the financial situation of the
Courier, 1950, 1958, 1965
|
|
| Folder |
95 |
Correspondence, 1945-1954
|
|
| Folder |
96 |
Correspondence, 1955-1957
|
|
| Folder |
97 |
Correspondence, January- July 1958
|
|
| Folder |
98 |
Correspondence, August-December 1958
|
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| Folder |
99 |
Correspondence, 1959-1966
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|
| Folder |
100 |
Correspondence, 1967-1968
|
|
| Folder |
101 |
Correspondence, 1969-1979, undated
|
|
Section: New Material Added, 2011
Box 2
| Folder |
74 |
Correspondence from Notable People; Richard J. Daley and W.E.B. DuBois, 1957-1958
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Subseries 2. Personal Correspondence, 1919-1976
|
Scope and Content Notes: The Personal Correspondence subseries consists of letters and postcards Prattis wrote to his wife and daughter during frequent trips while on assignments for the
Pittsburgh Courier in the 1940s. There is also a folder of letters between Prattis and Rudolph Dunbar, a close friend and an African American symphony conductor living and working in Europe. The letters offer a glimpse into race relations in Europe and the United States. The personal correspondence subseries offers insight into Prattis’ feelings regarding the issues of the day. He was a voluminous correspondent and often candid in expressing his feelings. Recently added material can be found under the section "New Material Added." The subseries is arranged chronologically.
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Box 2
| Folder |
1 |
Post cards to family, 1941-1954
|
|
| Folder |
2 |
Correspondence to family, 1941
|
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| Folder |
3 |
Correspondence to family, 1942-1943
|
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| Folder |
4 |
Correspondence to family, 1944-1945
|
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| Folder |
5 |
Correspondence with Rudolph Dunbar, 1946-1971
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| Folder |
6 |
Correspondence to family, 1956-1975
|
|
| Folder |
7 |
Helen Prattis Correspondence and notes, 1963, 1998, 2004
|
|
| Folder |
8 |
Condolence Letters to Helen Prattis, 1980
|
|
| Folder |
9 |
Correspondence, 1939-1964
|
|
| Folder |
10 |
Correspondence, 1965-1967
|
|
| Folder |
11 |
Correspondence, 1967-1976, undated
|
|
Section: New Material Added, 2011
Box 2
| Folder |
75 |
Correspondence in French, 1919
|
|
| Folder |
76 |
Courtship letters between Prattis and wife, Helen (Sands) Prattis, 1937-1939
|
|
| Folder |
77 |
Correspondence to Helen Prattis on board the S.S. Argentina on the way to Paris, 1945
|
|
| Folder |
78 |
Correspondence from P.L. Prattis to Helen Prattis, 1948-1966
|
|
| Folder |
79 |
Correspondence to Patricia Prattis while at Deerwood Music Camp in the Adirondacks, 1956-1957
|
|
| Folder |
80 |
Correspondence to Patricia Prattis while atthe Marlboro (Vt.) Festival, 1962
|
|
| Folder |
81 |
Correspondence to Patricia Prattis during the Pittsburgh Symphony's tour of Europe and the Middle East, 1964
|
|
Series III. Personal, 1916-1980
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Scope and Content Notes: This series contains an assortment of materials that document P.L. Prattis’ life and career outside the
Pittsburgh Courier. Included in the Personal Series is his 1916 yearbook from the Ferris Institute, an honorable discharge certificate from the Army, and the Prattis family’s World War II war rations stamp book. There are biographical materials such as his Last Will and Testament, along with obituaries. Also present is assorted writings and copies of speeches, scrapbooks, and photographs of Prattis and his family. Recently added material can be found under the section "New Material Added." The series is arranged by date.
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Box 2
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12 |
Certificate from the Ferris Institute with Prattis' final credit in spelling, 1916
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13 |
Civil Service Exam Results, 1921
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| Folder |
14 |
Contracts with Holt Construction for the Prattis Home, 1939
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15 |
Assorted newspaper clippings on P.L. Prattis, 1943, 1966, 1975, 1980
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| Folder |
16 |
War Ration Stamp Book for the Prattis Family, 1945
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| Folder |
17 |
Loendi Club 50th Anniversary Exercises Program, 1947
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| Folder |
18 |
Tuskegee Institute material on Rural Housing in the South, 1947
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| Folder |
19 |
Renunciation, a short story written by P.L. Prattis, 1948
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| Folder |
20 |
H-M Club of America Membership materials, 1948
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| Folder |
21 |
Observation of Jews in the International Scene, speech given before the NCJW Pittsburgh, 1949
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| Folder |
22 |
Certificate presented by the Group Work Division, Health and Welfare Federation of Allegheny County, 1951
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| Folder |
23 |
Schlitz Beer Ad featuring P.L. Prattis, 1951
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| Folder |
24 |
Journey to the Soviet Union, 1959
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25 |
Appointment to Board of Trustee of Pennsylvania Training School at Morganza, 1959
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| Folder |
26 |
Honorable Discharge Certificate, 1960
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| Folder |
27 |
Newspapers clippings on Banquet Honoring P.L. Prattis, 1961
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| Folder |
28 |
Budget for Pittsburgh Chapter of Frontiers International, 1963
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| Folder |
29 |
Prattis Household expenses and family budget, 1964-1964, 1968-1969
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| Folder |
30 |
Writings and Newspaper clippings on YMCA Youth Corps, 1965
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31 |
Friends or Foes? Forward or Backward? Speech delivered at the Annual Convention of Frontiers International, 1966
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| Folder |
32 |
The Newcomen Society in North America, memos and correspondence, 1966
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| Folder |
33 |
Department of Health, Education, and Welfare letter regarding Employment Opportunities Unlimited booklet, 1967
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| Folder |
34 |
Employment Opportunities Unlimited booklet authored by P.L. Prattis, 1967
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| Folder |
35 |
Frontiers International, 1967
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| Folder |
36 |
Draft of story on Martha Brown, Prattis' Aunt, 1967
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37 |
YMCA Leaders' Fellowship Certificate, 1967
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38 |
Certificate of "Outstanding Civic Leaders of America," 1967
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39 |
"Cabbie's Honesty Pays Off," Newspaper clipping, 1967
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40 |
Diary pages and handwritten notes, 1967-1968
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41 |
"William A. Arvin: A man without gall- without guile," speech delivered at Arvin Testimonial Reception, 1969
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42 |
Certificate from Central Baptist Church for work as Black History Instructor, 1969
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43 |
Certificate of Honor from the U.S. Selective Service, 1969
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44 |
Certificate of Appreciation from the Moorland-Springarn Research Center, Howard University, 1974
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45 |
Last Will and Testament and Veterans Administration Benefits, 1975, 1978,1980
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46 |
Funeral Service Program, 1980
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47 |
Biographical Information and Obituary, 1980 and undated
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48 |
Condolence Proclamation from the State of Pennsylvania, 1980
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49 |
Trees for Israel Certificates, undated
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50 |
"At the Crossroads," undated
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51 |
"Profile of Robert T.McEnheimer, District Manager with Unity Mutual Life Insurance Company, undated
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52 |
"Social Justice is the Battle Cry," written for Frontiers International, undated
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53 |
Assorted handwritten notes, undated
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54 |
Notebook, undated
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55 |
"Insurance and Integration," speech delivered at National Negro Insurance Association, undated
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56 |
"Some Things to Think About for Economic Advancement," speech delivered to Unnamed Chamber of Commerce, undated
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57 |
Assorted Writings, undated
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58 |
"Complacency, Concern, Frustration, Opportunity," undated
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59 |
Untitled writings, undated
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60 |
Personal Photographs, 1919-1960s
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61 |
Helen Prattis at Cheyney State Teachers College, ca.1930
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62 |
P.L. Prattis aboard the Queen Mary, 1936
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63 |
Pennsylvania Master of Men Award Presentation Photograph, 1938
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64 |
Patricia Prattis photographs, ca.1943
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| Folder |
65 |
YMCA Centre Avenue Board of Directors Photograph, ca.1945
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66 |
YMCA Centre Avenue Kickoff Event Photograph, 1947
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67 |
P.L. Prattis with wife, Helen and daughter, Patricia on front porch of home, undated
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| Folder |
68 |
Photograph at a dinner in Nashville, Tennessee, undated
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| Volume |
2 |
Scrapbook, 1940s-1970
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| Volume |
3 |
"History: Day by Day," 1945-1968
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| Volume |
4 |
Crimson & Gold Ferris Institute Yearbook, 1916
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Section: New Material Added, 2011
Box 2
| Folder |
82 |
Army Registration Certificate, 1917
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| Folder |
83 |
P.L. Prattis in Army Uniform, 1918
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| Folder |
84 |
Inscriptions in books (photocopies) from W.E.B. DuBois, Nehru, and Langston Hughes, 1940s
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