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James G. Spady papers, 1920-2020 (inclusive) 1980-2020 (bulk)

Extent:

12.5 linear feet (21 boxes and 10 3.5 inch floppy disks, 3 dvds, 54 compact disks.) and 2.0 gigabyte(s)

Abstract:

James Garland Spady (1944-2020) was a writer, activist, journalist, and historian, and is credited for being one of the first scholars to document and study the evolution of Hip Hop. Broadly speaking, this collection reflects Spady's expansive interest in Black history and culture, particularly music, and is comprised of both his own writing and material that he collected on these topics. The collection contains notepads and notebooks, correspondence, manuscripts, photographs, newspapers, books, a large variety of articles and essays, interview transcripts, periodicals, audio compact discs, digital media, and ephemera. The collection primarily documents his professional and intellectual work from roughly 1980 until the end of his life, but very little is revealing of his personal life.

Held at: University of Pennsylvania: Kislak Center for Special Collections, Rare Books and Manuscripts [Contact Us]

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Leandre K. Jackson photographs, 1974-2008 (inclusive)

Extent:

3 linear feet (3 boxes)

Abstract:

Leandre K. Jackson (born 1951) is a photographer living in and documenting Black life in Philadelphia, who is best known for his images of musicians and singers; authors and poets; journalists; political activists; educators; attorneys and judges; doctors; actors; scientists; ministers; dancers; athletes; and visual artists. This collection consists of negatives and prints documenting Leandre Jackson's career as a photographer and photojournalist. These negatives and prints also document his collaborations with historian and activist James Spady (1944-2020).

Held at: University of Pennsylvania: Kislak Center for Special Collections, Rare Books and Manuscripts [Contact Us]