Finding aid for the Annetta Jefferson Papers


Repository: Western Reserve Historical Society
Creator: Jefferson, Annetta
Title: Annetta Jefferson Papers
Dates: 1970-1972
Extent: 0.10 linear feet (1 container)
Abstract: Annetta Jefferson narrated the two WVIZ television series, "The History of Black Americans", and "Reflections in Black" and prepared the teachers' guides which accompanied the programs. Jefferson taught English and drama at Glenville High School, Cleveland, Ohio, then became an education instructor at John Carroll University and a writer for the Educational Research Council of America. The collection consists of teaching guides and scripts for "The History of Black Americans," a WVIZ-TV series which aired in 1970, and "Reflections in Black" which aired on WVIZ-TV several years later. These programs highlighted the history of the black experience in America and the contributions of black authors to American literature.
MS Number MS 4162
Location: closed stacks
Language: The records are in English

Biography of Annetta Jefferson

Annetta Jefferson narrated the television series and wrote the teachers guides entitled "The History of Black Americans" and "Reflections in Black" for WVIZ-TV in Cleveland, Ohio, in the early 1970s. The programs were presented in an effort to highlight the contributions of African Americans through history and to promote understanding of the 1960s. Jefferson received her bachelor and master's degree from Western Reserve University. She taught English and Drama and served as chairperson of the English Department at Glenville High School in Cleveland, then worked as an Education instructor at John Carroll University and a writer for the Educational Research Council of America. In 1968 she became the writer of the WVIZ-TV evening series "Black Peoplehood" and later wrote for "Brotherman" and "Black Journal: Cleveland Response."


Scope and Content

The Annetta Jefferson Papers, 1970-1972, consist of teaching guides and scripts for "The History of Black Americans," a WVIZ-TV series which aired in 1970, and "Reflections in Black" which aired on WVIZ-TV several years later.

These papers pertain primarily to the history of the African American experience in America and black authors and literature. Those studying the history of public television in the 1970s, particularly in Cleveland, Ohio, will find this collection useful.


Statement of Arrangement

The collection is arranged alphabetically by program name in two folders.

Restrictions on Access

None.

Indexing Terms

The following terms have been used to index the description of this collection in the library's online public access catalog.

Subjects:

African American authors -- History and criticism.
African American women -- Ohio -- Cleveland.
African Americans -- History.
American literature -- African American authors -- History and criticism.
Jefferson, Annetta.
Television scripts.
United States -- History.

Preferred Citation

[Container ___, Folder ___ ] MS 4162 Annetta Jefferson Papers, Western Reserve Historical Society, Cleveland, Ohio

Acquisition Information

Annetta Jefferson, 1973.

Processing Information

Processed by Bari Oyler Stith in 1988.

Detailed Description of The Collection

Annetta Jefferson Papers 1970-1972

Box Folder
1 1 The History of Black Americans, teachers guide 1970
1 1 The History of Black Americans, WVIZ scripts, consisting of "Ancient African Kingdoms," "Conditions Before the Civil War," "Presidential Reconstruction," "Congressional Reconstruction," "The Populist Movement and Jim Crow," and "Protest Movements, I and II" 1970
1 2 Reflections in Black, Literature and Humanities, teachers guide ca. 1972
1 2 Reflections in Black, Literature and Humanities, WVIZ scripts, consisting of "Folk Literature of Paul Laurence Dunbar and James Weldon Johnson," "Short Story and Novel of Charles Waddell Chestnutt," "Survey of the 40s," "James Baldwin and Ralph Ellison: Two Prose Writers of the 50s," and "Contemporary Writers"; ca. 1972
1 2 Miscellaneous WVIZ-TV scripts consisting of "Can Do/ Can't Do," "Hear Ye! Hear Ye!," and "Just Joking" ca. 1972