Summary Information
Frank E. Bolden Papers
AIS.2008.05
Bolden, Frank E., 1914-2003
1930-1967
2.5 linear feet (2 boxes)
Language: English
Abstract: This collection contains documents relating to the life and career of journalist, Frank E. Bolden, a reporter and city editor of the
Pittsburgh Courier newspaper and war correspondent for the U.S. military. The material in this collection, dating between 1930 and 1967, includes correspondence, drafts of articles, student notebooks, memos, photographs, and newspaper clippings.
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.
Biography
Franklin Eugene (Frank) Bolden, Jr., was born in 1914 in Washington, Pennsylvania. His family contributed several “firsts” to history. His father, Frank E. Bolden, Sr., was the first African American mail carrier in Washington. Bolden's grandfather also achieved a notable first in 1871 as the first African American in Nashville, Tennessee, to sit on a grand jury.
Frank Bolden graduated from Washington High School in 1930 and enrolled at the University of Pittsburgh. Bolden planned on becoming an attorney, but found an interest in science and switched to a major in biology. While at the University of Pittsburgh, he became the first African American member of the marching band playing the clarinet. He also joined the Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity. It was during this time as a student at Pitt that he wrote articles for the
Pittsburgh Courier. As a “stringer,” or a free-lance contributor, he wrote sports articles for extra money. Bolden graduated from the University of Pittsburgh in 1934 earning a Bachelor of Science degree. He then applied to Pitt's School of Medicine, but was turned down due to his race. Pitt, like many medical schools at the time, did not admit African Americans. He also applied to be a teacher with the Pittsburgh Public Schools, but at that time they did not hire African American teachers.
While pursuing graduate studies at Pitt, he was hired by the
Pittsburgh Courier and became a general assignment report and feature writer covering the cultural and social life of Wylie Avenue in the Hill District. Bolden covered the jazz clubs and once famously quipped, “Wylie Avenue: the only street in America that begins with a church and ends with a jail” (Love). He invented a unique lexicon to give colorful descriptions of the nightlife. He referred to prostitutes as the “sisterhood of the nocturnal order.” He also covered sports and wrote about the Negro Baseball League. He covered baseball legends Satchel Paige of the Pittsburgh Crawfords and Josh Gibson of the Homestead Grays. He also wrote a series that traced the complete genealogies of eight prominent African American families in Pittsburgh, tracking down all living relatives.
When the United States entered World War II, the editors at the
Pittsburgh Courier submitted Bolden’s name as a war correspondent. He was subsequently chosen by the U.S. War Department as one of the first two accredited war correspondents. Bolden's stories were filed with the National Negro Publishers Association, and appeared in Black newspapers across the United States like Chicago's
Defender, Baltimore’s
Afro-American, and the
Pittsburgh Courier. Due to racial segregation in the military, Bolden was only permitted to cover African American units. Through his articles which described the bravery of soldiers in the 92nd Infantry Division in Italy, he helped debunk the myth that African Americans could not handle the stress of combat. Bolden was also embedded with African American troops in Asia helping to build an air strip along the Burma Road. Many of the soldiers lost their lives in the brutal tropical conditions.
Bolden also had the opportunity to interview Mahatma Gandhi, who had read Bolden’s war articles. A two hour interview turned into a two week stay as a house guest. Bolden compared the Indian independence from Great Britain as similar to struggles of Blacks in the United States. Not wanting to be outdone by Gandhi, Indian leader Jawaharlal Nehru also invited Bolden to stay with him.
Bolden returned to the
Courier in 1945 as a features writer after declining offers from
Life Magazine and the
New York Times. The
Pittsburgh Courier was the leading African American newspaper in the country at the time. According to his obituary in the
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, “[Bolden] thought he would have less impact on civil rights at a white publication than at a black publication. Plus he felt a debt of gratitude toward the Courier, a weekly paper” (Rouvalis).
Bolden was promoted to city editor, a position he held from 1956 to 1960. In this position, he often traveled between
Courier branch offices for extended stays in cities such as Detroit and Cleveland. In the 1960s the
Pittsburgh Courier ran into financial difficulties. Many African American newspapers lost circulation during this time period as mainstream white newspapers gave coverage to the Civil Rights’ Movement. Bolden married Nancy Travis in 1960 and in 1962 he left for a brief stint as a reporter for the
New York Times and then a position at NBC-radio and NBC-TV. In 1964 he returned to Pittsburgh to become assistant director of information and community relations for the Pittsburgh Board of Education. He retired in 1981 and spent his days as the “unofficial historian of Pittsburgh’s African American community" (Brennan). Despite his attention to African American history and writing about the lives of countless others, Bolden never wrote about his own life. When asked why, he would shrug and say: "I feel like a mosquito in a nudist camp. I don't know where to begin” (Rouvalis).
Bolden died on August 28, 2003 at age 90 in Pittsburgh.
Sources: Brennan, Carol. “Frank E. Bolden.” Contemporary Black Biography. Gale Group, Inc, 2006
Rouvalis, Cristina. “Reporter, raconteur Frank Bolden dies at 90.” Pittsburgh Post-Gazette August 29, 2003.
Frank Bolden: the man behind the words. Produced, written, and directed by Daniel Love. Narrated by David Early. Daniel Love, 2001. Videocassette
Collection Scope and Content Notes
The Frank E. Bolden Papers contain correspondence, writings, newspaper clippings, memos and student notebooks that date between 1930 and 1967. The collection contains material from his time as a student at the University of Pittsburgh, records relating to his journalism career with the
Pittsburgh Courier and the U.S. Military, along with materials on his personal and family life. Each series contains a scope note detailing the content found within the records.
Arrangement
The collection is arranged into the following four series:
Series I. University of Pittsburgh, 1930-1937
Series II. Journalism Career, 1942-1965
Series III. Correspondence, 1931-1961
Series IV. Personal, 1933-1967
Subject Terms
- African American journalists -- Pennsylvania -- Pittsburgh
- African American newspapers -- Pennsylvania -- Pittsburgh
- African American soldiers
- Journalists -- Pennsylvania -- Pittsburgh
- Newspapers -- Pennsylvania -- Pittsburgh
- World War, 1939-1945 -- Journalists
- University of Pittsburgh.
- Bolden, Frank E., 1914-2003
- Prattis, Percival Leroy, 1895-1980
- Vann, Jessie, 1885-1967
- Courier (Pittsburgh, Pa. : City ed.)
- Courier (Pittsburgh, Pa. : National ed.)
- Correspondence
- Memorabilia
- Personal papers
- Photographs
- Social action
- University of Pittsburgh
Access and Use
No restrictions.
Gift of Nancy Travis Bolden in 2008.
Frank E. Bolden Papers, 1930-1967, AIS.2008.05, Archives Service Center, University of Pittsburgh
This collection was processed by Wendy Pflug in May 2010.
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.
National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) Pittsburgh Branch Records, 1940-1966, 1974, AIS.1964.38, Archives Service Center, University of Pittsburgh
Percival L. Prattis Papers, 1916-1980, AIS.2007.01, Archives Service Center, University of Pittsburgh
Urban League of Pittsburgh Records, 1915-1963, AIS.1981.11, Archives Service Center, University of Pittsburgh
Collection Inventory
Series I. University of Pittsburgh, 1930-1937
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Scope and Content Notes: This series documents Frank Bolden’s time as a student at the University of Pittsburgh. Bolden entered the university in 1930 intending to be an attorney, but switched his major to Biology. He graduated in 1934 with a Bachelor of Science degree and went on to take graduate courses and function as Teaching Assistant in Biology. The material in this series includes numerous laboratory notebooks dedicated to biological study. There are a few pieces of ephemera that document his time in the Pitt Marching Band, such as a concert program and a photograph of a marching band formation. Of particular interest in this series is a short story written by Bolden called “The Gray Seal,” and a card indicating that he took a pledge of silence for the day as a pledge member of the Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity. The material in this series dates from 1930 to 1937 and is arranged by year.
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Box 1
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1 |
"The Gray Seal," short story 1930
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2 |
Constitution and By-Laws of the Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, 1930
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3 |
Photographs of Bolden as a student, ca.1930
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4 |
Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity membership certificate, 1931
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5 |
Alpha Phi Alpha pledge of silence card, 1931
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6 |
Pharmacy Notebook, ca.1931
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8 |
University of Pittsburgh Band Concert Program, 1933
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7 |
Excused absence note from Assistant Dean of Men, 1933
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9 |
Vertebrate Zoology typewritten notes, 1934
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10 |
Zoology Notebook, 1934
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11 |
Alpha Omicron Lambda Constitution, By-Laws, and new member selections 1935
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12 |
Vertebrate Zoology Notebook, 1935
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13 |
Cell drawings for Zoology History course, 1935-1936
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14 |
Zoology Histology Graduate Lab Notebook, 1935-1936
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15 |
"The Individuality of the Chromosome" Term paper for Cytology, 1935-1936
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16 |
Handwritten notes for Zoology Histology course, 1935-1936
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17 |
Seminar report on "Ancient Medicine," 1936
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18 |
Physiology Seminar notes and lab notebook, 1936
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19 |
Notes on techniques in Protozology, 1936
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20 |
Zoology Histology Final Exam, 1936
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21 |
General Micrology and Histology, notes and workbook, 1936-1937
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22 |
Biology Bacteriology Department, notes and lab notebook, 1937
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23 |
Bacteriology Lab, workbook, undated
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24 |
Bacteriology Report, undated
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25 |
Crythropaiesis in Avian Marrow notes, undated
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26 |
French Vocabulary notes undated
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27 |
Term paper on Henderson-Hasselbalch Equation, undated
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28 |
Pitt Band formation photograph, undated
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Series II. Journalism Career, 1942-1965
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Scope and Content Notes: The material in this series includes drafts of articles, some with editorial mark-ups, handwritten notes, memos, and newspaper clippings of the articles on the various subjects Bolden coved in his career. The series dates from 1942 to 1965 and is further divided into three subseries;
Pittsburgh Courier; War Department Correspondent; Other News Agencies.
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Subseries 1. Pittsburgh Courier 1945-1963
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Scope and Content Notes: This subseries includes documents from Bolden’s tenure at the
Pittsburgh Courier covering the years 1945 to 1963. The material in this series includes drafts of articles, memos, notes, newspaper clippings of articles written by Bolden for the
Courier, and research files of subjects that later appeared as articles in the paper. The subseries is arranged chronologically.
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| Folder |
29 |
Drafts of articles on India, 1945
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30 |
Articles on various subjects, 1945
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31 |
Overseas Subjects articles, 1945
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32 |
Copy and Telegrams from Courier Branch Offices, 1945-1946
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33-35 |
Newspaper clippings of articles by Bolden, 1947-1953, 1955
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36 |
Pittsburgh Courier and Branch Publications circulation report, 1949
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37-38 |
Scrapbook pages of newspaper clippings (loose pages), 1949-1951
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39 |
Notes on Supreme Court ruling in Henderson v. Commerce Commission and Southern Railway Co., 1950
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40 |
Pittsburgh Courier Count, Gross Run, Spoils, Net Run, and Difference, November 18, 1950
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41 |
Newspaper clippings of articles written by Bolden, 1951
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42 |
Handwritten notes on story leads, 1952
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43 |
Press Pass for Stevenson Rally, 1952
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44 |
Pittsburgh Courier Directory of Employees, 1952
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45 |
Newspaper clippings of articles written by Bolden, 1953
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46 |
Pittsburgh Courier Press Passes, 1954
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47 |
Research File: Chart of arrests by race for all Pittsburgh Police stations; newspaper clippings on Spaulding Inquest and crime, 1954
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48 |
Newspaper clippings of musical and theatrical reviews written by Bolden, 1954-1955
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49 |
"City Feature: Heroes in Blue" draft, 1955
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50 |
Newspaper Guild of Pittsburgh Page One Awards certificates, 1955
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51 |
Page One: Newspaper Guild of Pittsburgh Yearbook, 1956, 1959, 1961
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52 |
"It Happened in Pittsburgh," column drafts with editorial mark-ups, ca.1956
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53 |
Memos from the Cleveland Courier Branch Office, 1957
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54 |
Article draft with editorial mark-ups on NAACP dissatisfaction with Governor George M. Leader, 1958
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55 |
The Foreign Policy Association of Pittsburgh Reception Dinner for Adnan Menderes, Prime Minister of Turkey, 1959
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56 |
Newspaper clippings, "International Leaders at Pitt," 1959
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57 |
Invitation to luncheon for Nikita Khrushchev's visit to Pittsburgh, 1959
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58 |
Proposed Agreement between Pittsburgh Courier and Newspaper Guild of Pittsburgh, 1960
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Box 2
| Folder |
1 |
Story lead and comments on Daniel Gardner Kean, 1962
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2 |
Drafts of articles with Bolden's editorial mark-ups, 1963
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3 |
Handwritten notes on jazz performances, undated
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4 |
Typewritten note from P.L. Prattis, undated
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5 |
Pittsburgh Courier blank receipt form, undated
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Subseries 2. War Department Correspondent, 1942-1946
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Scope and Content Notes: The material in this subseries relates to Bolden’s time in the U.S. Army as a War Correspondent. The documents in this subseries cover his work stateside as a Press Officer at Fort Huachuca, Arizona. It includes drafts of articles, some that have editorial mark-ups, memos regarding African Americans in the military, and newspaper clippings of articles written by Bolden. The material in this subseries dates from 1942 to 1946 and is arranged chronologically.
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| Folder |
6 |
Frank Bolden in an Army Uniform photograph, ca.1942
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7 |
Leave of Absence from Department of Public Health for Service in the U.S. Army, 1942
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8 |
Receipts from Fort Huachuca, Arizona, 1942
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9 |
War Department Press Credentials for Fort Huachuca, Arizona, 1942
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10-11 |
Fort Huachuca, Arizona Public Relations photographs, 1942
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12 |
Article drafts with editorial mark-ups and Code of Wartime Practices for the American Press, ca.1942
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13 |
Fort Huachuca, Arizona assorted materials, 1942-1943
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14 |
Drafts of articles written while on assignment for U.S. Army, 1944
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| Folder |
15 |
Scrapbook pages with clippings of Bolden's articles on War Service, 1945
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16 |
Memos regarding African Americans in the Military, 1945
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17 |
War Correspondents Awards list, ca.1945
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18 |
Memo from War Department Bureau of Public Relations, 1946
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19 |
Overseas Press Club of America Award Dinner for War Correspondents, 1946
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Subseries 3. Other News Agencies, 1948-1963
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Scope and Content Notes: The Other News Agencies series dates from 1948 to 1963 and includes material Bolden wrote for publications other than the
Pittsburgh Courier or the U.S. War Department. Material in this subseries covers his work with the Newspaper Guild of America, stories written for
Our World Magazine, and reports for
Travel Guide, Inc.
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| Folder |
20 |
Newspaper Guild of Detroit, 1948
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| Folder |
21 |
Press Credentials for
Travel Guide, Inc. and Memos, 1948-1949
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22 |
Travel Guide Reports and entry slips, 1949
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23 |
Pittsburgh Newspaper Guild, Guild Galleys, 1952
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24 |
American Newspaper Guild Convention Committee Reports and Manual, 1952-1953
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25 |
American Newspaper Guild, CIO-CCL Manual, 1955
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26 |
Assignment from
Associated Negro Press to cover AMEZ Conference in Pittsburgh, 1956
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27 |
International Seminars Program for Resident Foreign Correspondents, 1962
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28 |
Articles prepared for publications, 1963
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29 |
Pittsburgh Profile "9 to Midnight," story lead for
Our World Magazine, undated
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Series III. Correspondence, 1931-1961
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Scope and Content Notes: The Correspondence series includes letters written and received by Bolden from 1931 to 1961. It is arranged chronologically by year.
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30 |
Professional Correspondence, 1931-1954
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31 |
Professional Correspondence, 1955-1956
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32 |
Professional Correspondence, 1957
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33 |
Professional Correspondence, 1958
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34 |
Professional Correspondence, 1959
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35 |
Professional Correspondence, 1960-1961, undated
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36 |
Personal Correspondence, 1938-1943
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37 |
Personal Correspondence, 1944
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38 |
Personal Correspondence, 1945
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39 |
Personal Correspondence, 1946-1954
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40 |
Personal Correspondence, 1955-1958
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41 |
Personal Correspondence, 1959-1960, undated
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42 |
Letters of Thanks, 1942-1962
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43 |
Letters of Commendation, 1943, 1946-1954
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Series IV. Personal, 1933-1967
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Scope and Content Notes: The Personal series features assorted material that documents Bolden’s life. Material includes ticket stubs to sporting events he attended, his War Rations stamp book, newspaper clippings on his announcement of marriage, and photographs of Bolden and his family. The series dates from 1933 to 1937.
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44 |
Sunday School Award, 1933
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45 |
War Rations Stamp Book, 1944
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46 |
"Mr. and Mrs. Bolden" stories, ca. 1946
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47 |
Ticket stubs to sporting events, 1946-1948
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48 |
Newspaper clippings on divorce from Helen Bolden, 1950-1951
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49 |
Frank Bolden Motor Vehicle Registrations and Operators' License, 1951-1958
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50 |
Photographs of Bolden with group at Detroit restaurants, 1951
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51 |
Urban League of Pittsburgh Minutes, 1954
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| Folder |
51 |
Urban League of Pittsburgh Committee materials, ca. 1954
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| Folder |
52 |
Westinghouse High School Career Conference and Bolden's written remarks, 1954
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| Folder |
53 |
Alpha Phi Alpha 50th Anniversary materials, 1956
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54 |
Alpha Phi Alpha Memorial Luncheon, 1956
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55 |
Urban League of Pittsburgh minutes, 1955
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56 |
Speeches from National Urban League Conference, Detroit, 1957
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57 |
Newspaper clippings on marriage to Nancy Travis, 1960
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58 |
Washington High School, 30th Class Reunion, 1960
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| Folder |
59 |
Franklin Eugene Bolden, assorted materials regarding death, life insurance, and benefits, 1961-1963
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60 |
Urban League of Essex, New Jersey Report on Newark Labor Market, 1963
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61 |
Urban league Radio and Television releases, 1963
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62 |
Department of State Application for Continuation of Federal Employment, 1963
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63 |
Pennsylvania School Administrators' Seminar on Human Relations Education, 1964
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64 |
Research File: University of Pittsburgh Civil Rights Practices, 1964
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| Folder |
65 |
Assorted material regarding career as Assistant for Community Relations for Pittsburgh Public Schools, 1965
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66 |
Program for Requiem Mass for Jessie M. Vann, 1967
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67 |
Bolden with tobacco pipe photograph, undated
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68 |
Family Tree, undated
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69 |
Foreign postage stamps collection undated
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70 |
Radio broadcast remarks on Duke Ellington, undated
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71 |
Telephone and Address Book, undated
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72 |
Untitled handwritten notes, undated
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73 |
Unidentified photographs of possible family members, undated
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