Gwendolyn Brooks Collection, 1909-2003 | Rare Book & Manuscript Library, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Title: Gwendolyn Brooks Collection, 1909-2003

Predominant Dates:bulk 1960-2000

ID: 01/01/MSS00086

Primary Creator: Brooks, Gwendolyn (1917-2000)

Extent: 200.0 Linear Feet

Date Acquired: 09/19/2013

Languages: English

Poet Gwendolyn Brooks was born to parents David Anderson and Keziah Wims Brooks on June 7, 1917 in Topeka, Kansas. A few weeks later, her family moved to Chicago where she would live for the rest of her life. Brooks began writing at an early age and was encouraged by her mother saying, "You are going to be the lady Paul Laurence Dunbar." When she was 13, her poem "Eventide" was published in the children's magazine American Childhood [1]. By the time she graduated high school, Brooks had published over one hundred poems in the "Lights and Shadows" poetry column of the Chicago Defender [2]. After high school, Brooks graduated from a two-year program at Wilson Junior College [3]. In 1939, she married Henry Blakely, Jr. whom she met after joining the Chicago NAACP Youth Council. They soon had their first child, Henry III, and later their daughter, Nora.

Early in her career, Brooks was encouraged by poet James Weldon Johnson and Harlem Renaissance writers Langston Hughes and Richard Wright [4]. In her work, Brooks drew inspiration from her life and surroundings in Chicago. Her first book of poetry, A Street in Bronzeville (1945), received praise for its authentic portraits of the Bronzeville neighborhood of Chicago. Her second collection of poems, Annie Allen (1949), chronicles the life of a young Black Bronzeville girl. It was for this book that Brooks won the 1950 Pulitzer Prize for poetry, making her the first Black person to win the award in any category [5].

In the 1960s, Brooks work became more overtly political as she became close with activists and writers involved in the Black Arts Movement, a group of artists whose work reflected the cultural side of the growing Black Power movement [6]. She became especially close with Haki Madhubuti, to whom she became both a mentor and a mother figure. Soon Brooks began working exclusively with Black publishers, especially Broadside Press, founded by her close friend Dudley Randall, and Third World Press, founded by Madhubuti. In the 1980s, Brooks also established her own imprint called The David Company.

Throughout her long career, Brooks published more than twenty books of poetry, including The Bean Eaters (1960), Selected Poems (1963), In the Mecca (1968), Riot (1969), Family Pictures (1970), Aloneness (1971), Beckonings (1975), To Disembark (1981), Black Love (1982), The Near-Johannesburg Boy and Other Poems (1986), Blacks (1987), Gottschalk and the Grand Tarantelle (1988), Winnie (1988), and Children Coming Home (1991). She also published one novel, Maud Martha (1953), as well as children's literature such as Bronzeville Boys and Girls (1956) and The Tiger Who Wore White Gloves (1974). Brooks also published two autobiographies, Report from Part One (1972), and Report from Part Two (1995).

In addition to her writing, Brooks taught poetry and creative writing at numerous colleges and universities. In 1990, the Gwendolyn Brooks Center for Black Literature and Creative Writing was founded at Chicago State University, where Brooks served as distinguished professor and writer-in-residence [7]. Brooks influenced generations of writers, not only with her words, but with her actions. For most of the year, she traveled the country to perform her poetry for children of all ages as well as at universities, public libraries, hospitals, and prisons. As she especially encouraged young poets, Brooks sponsored youth poetry awards for over thirty years. Renowned for her generosity, Brooks dedicated her life to promoting the value of poetry and inspiring young writers.

Brooks was the recipient of more than seventy-five honorary doctorates and countless accolades [8]. In 1968, she was appointed Poet Laureate of Illinois, a position which she held until her death in 2000 [9]. In 1985, Brooks was selected for an honorary one-year term as the Consultant in Poetry to the Library of Congress [10]. She received lifetime achievement awards from both the National Endowment for the Arts in 1989 and the National Book Foundation in 1994. Brooks then received the National Endowment for the Humanities' highest honor when she was named the 1994 Jefferson Lecturer. The next year, Brooks received the National Medal of Arts.

Today, Gwendolyn Brooks' legacy persists as one of the most significant poets of the twentieth century, because of both her contribution to American literature and her kindness and generosity, especially toward young poets and authors of color.

Repository: Rare Book & Manuscript Library, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Acquisition Source: Nora Brooks Blakely

Related Materials:

Celebrating Brooks @ 100

Gwendolyn Brooks Supplementary Materials

Finding Aid Revision History: This finding aid is experiencing ongoing revision, beginning in June 2023.

Box and Folder Listing

Series 2: Writings

Sub-series 1: Poetry Drafts - Individual Poems

Box 237

Folder 1: "A Farmer”, 1988

Folder 2: "Again He Did Not Return", undated

Folder 3: "A Girl", 1998

Folder 4: "Aloneness", undated

Folder 5: "An Afternote to the Progress", 1982

Folder 6: "An Aspect of Love, Alive in the Ice and Fire", undated

Folder 7: "Another Girl", undated

Folder 8: "Another Loss", 1999

Folder 9: Art, undated

Folder 10: Behind the Scenes, 1991

Folder 11: Black Poets Today, undated

Folder 12: Blackness: Chicago, undated

Folder 13: "Black Steel", undated

Folder 14: "Books Feed and Cure and Chortle and Collide", undated

Folder 15: "Boys, Black", undated

Folder 16-17: "Brelve, A Battered Woman", 1990, undated

Folder 18: "Brooke Maj, of Hawthorn South School", undated

Folder 19-20: "Captain Delores", 1991, undated

Folder 21: "Causes for Optimism", undated

Folder 22: "A Celebration: A Hymn to Chicago", undated

Folder 23-24: "Chicago, the I Will City", 1982, undated

Folder 25-26: "The Chicago Picasso", 1986, undated

Folder 27: "Chicago State University", 1991/1992

Folder 28: "Children", undated

Folder 29-30: "Collage", 1999

Folder 31: "Collage for Today", 1972

Folder 32: "Collage for Today – I. Aurora", undated

Folder 33-35: "Computer", 1983, undated

Folder 36: "Christmas Morning Comes Too Soon", undated

Folder 37: "Danse Africaine", undated

Folder 38: "A Daughter of Africa", 1939

Folder 39: "The Decision of Senator Simon", 1994

Folder 40: "Duke Ellington", 1998

Folder 41: "The Event Downtown", undated

Folder 42: "For Charlemae Rollins", undated

Folder 43: "For Dudley Randall", 1975

Folder 44: "For Jenny Rutland", 1985

Folder 45: "For Nora on Mother’s Day", 1995

Folder 46-47: "For Sara Miller, Sculptor", 1994

Folder 48: "Friends, Black Folk, Blood of Africa", undated

Folder 49: "Ghetto Cat", undated

Folder 50: "Hillary Rodham Clinton", 1997

Folder 51: "Horses Graze", 1973

Folder 52: "The Illinois & Michigan Canal. The Sesquicentennial", undated

Folder 53: "Infirm", undated

Folder 54: "In Honor of Bill Pinkney, Voyager Extraordinaire", 1992

Folder 55: "Introduction to Myself", 1989

Folder 56-59: "Jane Addams", 1989

Folder 58 includes "From Jane Addams."

Folder 60: "Jane Addams" and "To Fit In" fragments, undated

Folder 61: "Kitchenette Building", undated

Folder 62: "Lady Delores", undated

Folder 63-63: "Last Inauguration of Mayor Harold Washington", 1987, undated

Box 238

Folder 1-2: "Letter to Sister Anne", 1977

Folder 3: "The Maid of Malvaron", 1939-1940

Folder 4-5: "Martin Luther King Jr.", 1968, undated

Folder 6: "Mayor Harold Washington", undated

Folder 7: "Mayor Richard Gordon Hatcher", undated

Folder 8: "In Memory of Henry Carter", 1947

Folder 9: "A Mood of 1950", circa 1950

Folder 10: "My Grandmother Is Waiting for Me to Come Home", undated

Folder 11: "My Mother", 1975-1977

Folder 12: "Nothing Matters" and other poems, 1936, 1997

Includes "Some Eyes Do Not Bother," "Continuity," "Old Dreams," "Gypsy Girl," "April Fool’s Day," and "Moon Vision."

Folder 13: "Of Frank Parker", 1991

Folder 14: "Of the Young Dead", undated

Folder 15-17: "An Old Black Woman, Homeless and Indistinct", 1992

Folder 16 includes "Behind the Scenes." Folder 17 includes notes.

Folder 18: "Our Lady of the Angels", undated

Folder 19: "Patrick Bowie of Cabrini Green", 1986

Folder 20: "Primer for Blacks", undated

Folder 21: "Raymond Brooks II", 1990

Also titled "Pete."

Folder 22: "Sammy Chester Leaves 'Godspell' and Visits Upward Bound on a Lake Forest Lawn", undated

Folder 23: "Shadows", undated

Folder 24: "Speech to the Young, Speech to the Progress Toward", undated

Folder 25: "Studs Terkel", undated

Folder 26: "Telephone Conversations (After Discussing William Faulkner with George Kent)", 1980

Folder 27: "Thinking of Elizabeth Steinberg", 1987

Folder 28-29: "Thinking of Elizabeth Steinberg on Friday, November 13, 1987", 1987

Folder 30-32: "The Tiger Who Wore White Gloves", undated

Folder 33: "To Be Grown Up", 1991

Folder 34: "To Beautiful Black Man", undated

Folder 35: "To the Retiree", 1978

Folder 36: "To the South Side Community Art Center (With Affectionate Gratitude)", undated

Folder 37: "To Those of My Sisters Who Kept Their Naturals (Never to Look a Hot Comb in the Teeth)" and "Primer for Blacks", undated

Folder 38: "Where, Oh Where" fragment, undated

Folder 39: "White, Male, and Well-To-Do", 1993

Folder 40: "To Whitney Young", 1981

Folder 41-44: "Winnie" draft notebook, undated

Folder 45: "The Womanhood", undated

Includes "Beverly Hills, Chicago," "Riot: A Poem in Three Parts," "The Near- Johannesburg Boy," "Speech to the Young, Speech to the Progress-Toward," and "To the Young Who Want to Die."

Folder 46: "When You Have Forgotten Sunday: The Love Story", 1999

Folder 47: "Why I Keep Off Television", undated

Folder 48: "You Think of the Dead", undated

Folder 49: Poems grouping, 1988-1991

Includes "Superbe," "Merle," "Ole Fella," and "Jane Addams, September 6, 1860 – May 21, 1935."

Sub-series 2: Poetry Drafts - Compilations

Box 239

Folder 1: Aloneness, undated

Folder 2: Blacks, undated

Folder 3-6: Bronzeville Boys and Girls, undated

Folder 7-20: Children Coming Home, 1989-1991, undated

Box 240

Folder 1-2: Children Coming Home, 1993-1993, undated

Folder 1 includes an envelope.

File 3: Children Coming Home and other compilations

Folder 3.1: Children Coming Home, undated

Folder 3.2: In the Mecca, undated

Folder 3.3: Gottschalk and the Grande Tarantelle, undated

Folder 3.4: Illinois Poet Laureate Awards, 2000

Includes poems authored by reward recipients in elementary and high school.

Folder 3.5: Gottschalk and the Grande Tarantelle, undated

Folder 4: Children Coming Home (partial), undated

Folder 5: Introductory text for Family Pictures, 1994

Folder 6-9: Gottschalk and the Grand Tarantelle, 1987-1988, undated

Folder 10: In Montgomery (partial), 1998, undated

Folder 11: In Montgomery first correction, undated

Includes an envelope.

Folder 12: In Montgomery (New York University folder), undated

Includes an envelope, blank sheets of white paper, and a black “New York University” folder.

Folder 13: In Montgomery, undated

Includes an envelope.

Box 241

Folder 1: In Montgomery, undated

Includes photocopies of In the Mecca and an envelope.

Folder 2: In Montgomery “raw copy”, undated

Includes photocopies of In the Mecca and an “In Montgomery (Raw copy.)” envelope.

Folder 3: In Montgomery, undated

Includes a portion of Gottschalk and the Grande Tarantelle.

Folder 4: In Montgomery (partial), undated

Folder 5: In Montgomery “old uncorrected version”, undated

Includes an envelope.

Folder 6: In Montgomery “original”, undated

Includes a copy of Children Coming Home and an “Original of “In Montgomery” by Gwendolyn Brooks” envelope.

Folder 7: In Montgomery list of contents, undated

File 8: “Copies In Montgomery” envelope

Folder 8.1: Pages 1-137, undated

Folder 8.2: Pages 4-137, undated

Box 242

Folder 1: In Montgomery pages 1-137, undated

Box 242, Folder 8.3

Folder 2: “Copies of In Montgomery” envelope, undated

Box 242, Folder 8.4. Contains a separation slip.

Folder 3: In the Mecca galley proof, undated

Folder 4: Winnie and Gottschalk and the Grande Tarantelle proofs, 1988

Includes a letter from Mueller, L.W. (Harlo Printing Company) to Gwendolyn Brooks.

Folder 5: Contents for “New Book”, undated

Sub-series 3: Prose Drafts

Box 243

Folder 1: American Book Award speech, 1982

Folder 2: “Ann Smith”, 1996

Folder 3: “The Audre Lorde I Knew”, 1993

Folder 4: “Autobiography”, undated

Folder 5: “Ballad of Pearl May Lee” reflections, undated

Folder 6: “Basic Influences”, 1994

Includes “Beatrice Wims Stewart: May 1st, 1914-1994” (poem), a program for an event honoring Ralph Ellison at The American Academy of Arts and Letters, newspaper clippings, blank papers, loose magazine pages, and a file folder marked “National Book Foundation.” Contains separation sheets.

Folder 7: Biographical sketch, early 1990s

Folder 8-9: “The Black Family” speech, 1988?

Folder 10: “Blacks”, 1989

Folder 11-12: “Black Woman in Russia”, 1994?

Both folders include a letter from Beatty, Mary Lou (National Endowment for the Humanities) to Gwendolyn Brooks. Folder 12 includes an envelope labeled “Original galleys for “Black Woman in Russia” in Humanities Mag. Note w/marginalia.”

Folder 13: Black Writers Conference speech (Chicago State University), 1995

Folder 14: “Books. Reading. Libraries.”, undated

Folder 15-16: Broadside Press (Detroit) tenth anniversary statement, 1975

Folder 15 includes a card from Broadside Press to Gwendolyn Brooks.

Folder 17: “Broadside Treasury 1971-1975”, undated

Folder 18: “Candace”, undated

Includes a plastic bag.

Folder 19: “Chicago, 2999”, undated

Folder 20: Chicago Renaissance speech, 1998

Includes two envelopes addressed to Gwendolyn Brooks, one from 1994.

Folder 21: Chicago State University commencement speech, undated

Folder 22: Chicago State University statements, 1996, undated

Includes a “Chicago State University” folder.

Folder 23: “Children of the Poor” reflections, undated

Folder 24: “The City of Many Faces, a Chicago Collage” speech, undated

Folder 25: “Congratulations—always—to Sokoni Karanja…”, 1996

Folder 26: “The Day of the Gwendolyn”, 1985

Includes a list of “Poets to Be Recorded,” a list of poets for “One-Day Poetry Festival” (1986), and a partial letter from Galbraith, Nancy (Library of Congress) to Gwendolyn Brooks.

Folder 27: “Departing from your homes is no small matter…”, undated

Folder 28: “D.H. Melhem”, undated

Folder 29: “‘Ebonical’ Improvement”, 1997

Includes a newspaper clipping on the Atlanta Black Arts Festival (1996).

Folder 30: Ethelbert Miller introduction, undated

Folder 31-32: Family Pictures speech, 1994

Folder 31 includes a biographical sketch. The copies in folder 32 are in large print.

Box 244

Folder 1-2: Family Pictures, 1994

Folder 1 includes a speech for the Jefferson Lecture series (National Endowment for the Humanities), “Black Woman in Russia” galleys and correspondence, a TV Guide clipping, and a FedEx mailer and receipt.

Folder 3: “Familyhood”

Folder 4: “For Autobiog.”, undated

Folder 5: “For Autobiog. Part II”, undated

Folder 6: Foreword for The Voice and Other Short Stories (Brooks, Keziah C.), 1974

Folder 7: Frank Wills speech, circa 1970s

Written on “Aurora” broadside (Broadside Press (Detroit)).

Folder 8: “Furious Flower” speech, 1994

Folder 9: “Garrison Keillor”, undated

Folder 10: “Chapter Four: Little Mom”, undated

Folder 11: “The Good Neighbor. Brooks Boswell: born 1898, died 1980”, 1980

Folder 12: “Goodbye to Walter Bradford”, 1997

Folder 13: Gordon Lish statement, undated

Folder 14: Graduation speech, undated

Folder 15: Grinnell College speech, undated

Folder 16: Harold Washington statement, undated

Folder 17: “Hillsdale Lecture”, 1998

Includes “Alive in the Ice and Fire,” “I am still free verse and rhyme…,” and envelopes.

Folder 18: “I am sensible of this honor…”, undated

Folder 19: “If hope is a concept…”, undated

Folder 20: “If I were to write…”, undated

Folder 21: Illinois Poet Laureate Awards introductory speech, 2000?

Folder 22: Illinois Poet Laureate Awards ceremony cues, 1989

Folder 23: Illinois State Library dedication speech, 1990

Folder 24: “I met Margaret Walker…”, 1998

Folder 25: “Inauguration—Poets”, undated

Includes “It Is Our Business to Be Bothered” torn from The Chicago Guide.

Folder 26: “Infirm”, 1997

Folder 27: “In Ghana”, undated

Folder 28: “In Re: Hillary Clinton”, 1996

Folder 29: “Intro: to poem ‘Jane Addams’”, undated

Folder 30: Introduction for Harold Washington at Columbia College Chicago event, undated

Includes statements on Paul Pearsall and Robert Wrigley.

Folder 31: Introduction to The Columbia Book of Poetry: The Top 500 Poems, 1992?

Folder 32: Introduction of children at the inauguration for an Illinois governor, undated

Folder 33: “It Is 2000”, undated

Folder 34: “Jack Mitchell”, undated

Folder 35: “James Baldwin”, 1985

Folder 36: “James Hill”, undated

Folder 37: Jane Addams speech, undated

Written on the back of the schedule of events for the 1993 Critical Issues Symposium.

Folder 38: Jane Addams Park dedication speech, 1996

Folder 39: John Trutter speech, undated

Folder 40: “Keziah”, undated

Folder 41: “Langston Hughes”, undated

Folder 42: Langston Hughes Society address, 1982

Includes a meeting program.

Folder 43: “The Last Poets”, 1990

Folder 44: “Leadership, Leadership”, 1979

Folder 45: Leon Forrest remembrance speech, 1996

Includes an event invitation.

Folder 46: “Libraries”, 1992

Box 245

Folder 1: Lisa Steinberg speech, undated

Folder 2: Literary Awards speech, undated

Folder 3: Long program speech, undated

Folder 4: “Molly Peacock”, undated

Folder 5: “Most Workers In The Wild…”, undated

Folder 6: “Movies”, undated

Folder 7: “Much is said in this time about The Children…”, undated

Folder 7a: “My mother, who always encouraged me to write, is herself…”, undated

Folder 8: “My Tribute to President Johnetta Cole…”, 1986?

Written on an order form for The David Company. Includes an “Important Letters” envelope.

Folder 9: The Nation speech, undated

Folder 10: “Nice to Everybody”, undated

Folder 11: “Notes: Chicago State University”, undated

Includes an envelope.

Folder 12: “Notes on Nancy Galbraith”, undated

Folder 13: “Of My Mother”, 1977

Folder 14: On Brooks Press, undated

Written on a schedule for the Writing and Publishing Colloquium.

Folder 15: On Lord of the Flies (Golding, William), undated

Folder 16: On George Orwell, undated

Folder 17: On the “viewpoint woman” in “A Bronzeville Mother Loiters in Mississippi. Meanwhile, a Mississippi Mother Burns Bacon”, undated

Folder 18: On “We Real Cool”, undated

Folder 19: “One of the Indelibles”, undated

Folder 20: “A Piece of the Homeless”, undated

Folder 21: “Poetry Class”, 1996

Folder 22: “Poetry is not always nice…”, undated

Includes an envelope.

Folder 23: Powerful Littles speech, undated

Folder 24: “The Progress”, undated

Folder 25-26: Report from Part One, undated

Folder 26 includes “Parts of: Afterword, Day of the Gwen, “I’m Here,” (etc.)” envelope.

Folder 27-28: Report from Part Two, 1994, undated

Folder 27 includes “Working Papers. “Report from Part Two,” “The Day of the Gwendolyn,” (I’m Here”), & Preliminary Matter” envelope. Folder 28 includes an envelope.

Folder 29: Report from Part Two original typescript, undated

Includes blue facial tissues and an “Original typed manuscript for Report from Part 2” plastic mailer.

Box 246

Folder 1: Report from Part Two corrected manuscript, undated

Includes a brochure for a speaking event at Lake Michigan College and a “Done. Report from Part II. This goes to Brenda & Nora for computering. (all corrected.)” envelope.

Folder 2: Report from Part Two, 1992, undated

Includes a letter from Ridland, John (University of California, Santa Barbara) to Gwendolyn Brooks, a “Sift through later” envelope, and a “Report from Part Two (wildly disorganized. Needs much work) –Gwendolyn Brooks” accordion file.

Folder 3: Report from Part Two, undated

Includes an “Originals: (“Report from Part Two” material.) envelope.

Folder 4: Report from Part Two “Original. Incomplete”, undated

Folder 5: Report from Part Two “Copy I”, undated

Folder 6: Report from Part Two reference materials, undated

Includes calendar pages from April and May 1986; a letter from Blakely, Henry to Randall, Dudley; and a “Report from Part Two (reference material). (Also, a sheet of plans for a little book, “Keziah.”) envelope.

Folder 7-8: Report from Part Two complete manuscript with edits, undated

Box 247

Folder 1: Report from Part Two complete manuscript with edits, undated

Includes a “Report from Part Two” envelope.

Folder 2: Report from Part Two early printings, undated

Includes “Report from Part II. (Early printings to be corrected.)” envelope.

Folder 3: Report from Part Two floppy disk, 1995

Includes a 3.5” micro floppy disk mailer.

Folder 4: Report from Part Two “extras”, undated

Includes an “Extras (Report from Part Two) envelope.

Folder 5: “Requiem Before Revival”, 1980?

Photocopy from Primer for Blacks.

Folder 5a: “The Rise of Maud Martha: Theme”, undated

Folder 6: Senior Adventure speech, undated

Folder 7: “She Was Raised in the Slums”, undated

Folder 8: “Six Chicano Poets”, undated

Includes a grouping of statements on various modern poets.

Folder 9: “So Bright the Day”, undated

Includes “Tradition” (poem) and “Vacation” (poem). Contains a plastic bag.

Folder 10: Southern Illinois University at Carbondale speech, 1998

Includes business cards.

Folder 11: “Speech at George Kent’s Funeral”, 1982?

Folder 12: Speeches grouping, undated

Includes “For newsletter (Randall),” “How Martin Luther King…” (on August Wilson), “A nuclear blast would abolish everything…,” “To You,” and “I am grateful to everyone… It is exciting to be honored.”

Folder 13: “A Study of the Store-Front Church”, undated

Folder 14: “To Fit In”, 1987

Folder 15: “To Fit In”, 1993

Includes a commencement program for Carleton College and “Collage for Today.”

Folder 16-17: “To Fit In”, undated

Folder 18: To Involve You with Poetry speech, undated

Folder 19: “To the Pro-Lifers”, undated

Folder 20: Tribute Night speech, undated

Folder 21: Turning 80 speech, 1997?

Folder 22: University Students speech, undated

Folder 23: Val Gray Ward speech, 1998

Folder 24: “Useful ‘References’”, undated

Folder 25: “WE”, undated

Box 248

Folder 1: “What Price Cowardice”, circa 1953

Folder 2: “Winnie Mandela”, undated

Folder 3: “Words”, 1992, undated

Folder 4: Short biographies for Wright Morris and Dudley Randall, undated

Folder 5: “Yes!—Jane Addams would have wanted to be remembered…”, undated

Folder 6: “You young people…”, undated

Possibly a portion of “To Fit in.”

Folder 7: Zebra Stripes speech, 1983

Folder 8: Editorial comments on multiple poems, undated

Includes “Kingdom of Heaven,” “Negro Hero,” “Lago,” “Furlougher(?) Report,” “A Bet for A Levy(?) Lady,” “The Specimens,” “Death of the Dinosaur,” “The Kingdom of Heaven,” and “Lost Deare(?)”.

Sub-series 4: Interviews

Box 249

Folder 1: Angle, Paul (corrected typescript), 1967

Includes correspondence between Gwendolyn Brooks, Paul Angle, and W. Ronald Sims.

Folder 2: Angle, Paul, We Asked Gwendolyn Brooks About the Creative Environment in Illinois (booklet published by Illinois Bell Telephone Company), undated

Folder 3-5: Brooks, Gwendolyn (photocopies of self-interview with edits), undated

Folder 4 includes a newspaper clipping and an “Agenda for Gwendolyn Brooks.” Folder 5 includes a 1984 excerpt published in The Tri-Quarterly (Chicago).

Folder 6: Fox, Robert and Egejuru, Phanuel, “My Address Has Changed”, 1984

Includes copy of Gwendolyn Brooks letter to Philip L. Gerber (English Department, State University College).

Folder 7-8: Hawkins, B. Denise, 1998-1999

Folder 7 includes correspondence with Joanne Gabbin (Honors Program, James Madison University) and a note addressed to Edward Richardson. Folder 8 includes an edited composite copy.

Folder 9: Madhubuti, Haki (Black Books Bulletin), 1974

Folder 10: Miller, E. Ethelbert and Bourne, St. Clair, “Gwendolyn Brooks on Langston Hughes”, 1985

Folder 11: Scheele, Roy (Poets & Writers), undated

Completed in manuscript by Gwendolyn Brooks.

Folder 12: Unknown, undated

Includes questions on personal qualities, likes, dislikes, and values.

Folder 13: Unknown, undated

Includes questions that seek opinions on the fields of contemporary art and literature.

Folder 14: Unknown, undated

Includes questions that seek opinions on the field of contemporary Black poetry, insight into Gwendolyn Brooks’ poetic process and literary interests, and advice for other writers.

Sub-series 5: Notes/Jottings

Box 250

Box 251

Box 252

Box 253

Box 254

Sub-series 6: Notebooks

Box 255

Folder 1: G.B. small blue spiral notebook, early undated

Folder 2: Writings inserted into small blue spiral notebook, early undated

Includes "Love Is Blind" and "Belulah."

Folder 3: "Class Autographs - Scholarly Memories of G.B. Class of '29, 7A", 1929, 1970

Folder 4: "Poems by G.B." booklet, circa 1936

Item 1: "Contents", undated

Item 2: “Clouds”, undated

Item 3: “The Postman Has Passed”, undated

Item 4: “Gypsy Girl”, undated

Item 5: “Winter Singer”, undated

Item 6: “Old Dreams”, undated

Item 7: “Some Eyes Do Not Bother”, undated

Item 8: “April Fool’s Day (April 1, 1936)”, 1936

Item 9: “Over”, undated

Item 10: “Continuity”, undated

Item 11: “My Books”, undated

Item 12: “I Wish That God Would Come”, undated

Item 13: “Since There Is Always Poetry”, undated

Item 14: “Prayer”, undated

Item 15: “To A Baby”, undated

Item 16: “Home”, undated

Item 17: “It Is The Same”, undated

Item 18: “Daisy”, undated

Item 19: “Star Love”, undated

Item 20: “Of Flesh Death-Glorified”, undated

Item 21: “Reunion”, undated

Item 22: “Nothing Matters”, undated

Item 23: “I Won’t Go By The Cemetery Anymore”, undated

Item 24: “The Story-Book Queen”, undated

Item 25: “You Need Not Bring Me Roses”, undated

Item 26: “Shadows”, undated

Folder 5: "Poetry Book by Gwendolyn Elizabeth Brooks", c. 1932-1933

Inscription on back of book states "Ended in January 1933."

Item 1: “April,” “Fire Fancies,” and “A Window View”, undated

Item 2: “Forgive and Forget” and “Lamentation for a Pet”, undated

Item 3: “Life and Death” and “The Song of the Robin”, undated

Item 4: “Rain and Sunshine,” “The Busy Clock,” and “The Baker’s Bread”, undated

Item 5: “Stream” and “Autumn Leaves”, undated

Item 6: “Autumn,” “Halloween,” and “Graduation Wishes for a Boy”, undated

Item 7: “Grandmother” and “When at Last the Winter’s Over”, undated

Item 8: “A House” and “Two Lives”, undated

Item 9: “Grandfather” and “The Substitute”, undated

Item 10: “Pleasure,” “Christmastime Kindness,” “The Carol Singers,” and “The Treasure Hunt”, undated

Item 11: “The Forest Song,” “Farewell to Summer,” and “Summer”, undated

Item 12: “The Song of Victory,” “An Easter Song,” and “Mary Nell”, undated

Item 13: “Lullabye,” “The Easter Rabbit,” and “The Four Gossiping Winds”, undated

Item 14: “Ambition,” “The Seed,” and “Trying”, undated

Item 15: “The Sleepy Boy” and “The Mistake”, undated

Item 16: “Jake,” “Life,” and “March Wind”, undated

Item 17: “A Star,” “Fairies,” “I Will,” and “Night”, undated

Item 18: “Dawn of Spring,” “Best Wishes,” and “Day”, undated

Item 19: “A Wish,” “An Artificial Rose,” and “The Bird Who Brought Life”, undated

Item 20: “To a Child” and “The Christmas Snow”, undated

Item 21: “Mary Lee,” “Mother,” and “Repentance”, undated

Item 22: “The Last Opportunity,” “Bark,” and “Wait”, undated

Item 23: “The Fountain,” “Afternoon and Evening,” and “Friends”, undated

Item 24: “Escape,” “Nature,” and “Morning”, undated

Item 25: “Marjorie Bell” and “Hail to the Flag”, undated

Item 26: “Two Mothers,” “The Hose,” and “Never Today”, undated

Item 27: “Past and Future,” “Vacation Time,” and “Vacation”, undated

Item 28: “The Unsung Fathers” and “The Blessing”, undated

Item 29: “Death,” “Colors,” and “The Unbeliever”, undated

Item 30: “Heat,” “Heart Wound,” “Baby,” and “Music + Beauty”, undated

Item 31: “Seasons,” “A Better Road,” and “One Source”, undated

Item 32: “My Picture,” “Ink,” and “Magic Minutes”, undated

Item 33: “Bedtime,” “Champlain By Rainlight,” and “Harsh Words”, undated

Item 34: “Road Accident” and “Four Sons”, undated

Item 35: “Sunshine and Smiles,” “My Aunt,” and “Riches and Poverty”, undated

Item 36: “Playtime” and “Sonny Boy”, undated

Item 37: “Today,” “Passing Time,” and “Kindness”, undated

Item 38: “Abroad” and “Dreams”, undated

Item 39: “Equality,” “Time,” and “Song of a Schoolboy”, undated

Item 40: “Chicago” and “Smoke”, undated

Item 41: “In and Out” and “Solange”, undated

Item 42: “A Sabbath Prayer” and “Norma”, undated

Item 43: “A Halloween Riddle,” “The Phantom,” and “Puppies”, undated

Item 44: “The Fated Fowl,” “Christmas Rejoicing,” and “Light”, undated

Item 45: “The Patriot,” “Flower + Thorn,” and “Dawn + Dusk”, undated

Item 46: “To Reverend J.C. Nicholson” and “Thanksgiving”, undated

Item 47: “Amusement” and “Mood Music”, undated

Item 48: “Friends,” “Snow,” and “Falling Snow”, undated

Item 49: “Laura,” “The Wise Little Boy,” and “Rainfall”, undated

Item 50: “The Christmas Spirit,” “Two Little Girls,” and “Christmas Time”, undated

Item 51: “The Birth of a Storm” and “In Heaven”, undated

Item 52: “Green Christmas,” “Conquered,” and “Celebration”, undated

Item 53: “Gossip” and “Madame Sun”, undated

Item 54: “The World of Nature” and “Work”, undated

Item 55: “To a Bird” and “Rich Girl, Poor Girl”, undated

Item 56: “A Wanderer”, undated

Folder 6: 3 ring black notebook, G.B. poems from 1933-1936

Item 1: “Clouds”, 1933

Item 2: "Wealth", 1934

Item 3: “Another Girl", 1935

Item 4: “Myself", 1936

Item 5: “It Is The Same” and “Letter", 1936

Item 6: “Mothering Mothers” and “Braver Than They Think", 1936

Item 7: “Continuity", 1936

Item 8: “Southern Lynching", undated

Item 9: “Blend momently with human blood", 1936

Item 10: “Shadows", 1935

Item 11: “A Thousand Cheers", 1935

Item 12: “For My Friend” and “Wish", 1936

Item 13: Incomplete poem, 1936

Item 14: Incomplete poem, 1936

Item 15: “Exaltation", 1935

Item 16: “Mention Of Your Name” and “My Heart Is In My Eyes", 1935

Item 17: “Always” and “Relief", 1936

Item 18: “Lesson” and “Past", 1936

Item 19: “Mouse” and “In All This World", 1935

Item 20: “Shut Out” and “Gas", 1935

Item 21: “Now Every Hour” and “Let Them Laugh", 1936

Item 22: “Eternal” and “Do Not Pull Her Hand Away", 1936

Item 23: “Banner” and “When Death Comes", 1934-1935

Item 24: “Thinking of You Tonight” and “Escape", 1935-1936

Item 25: “Banner", 1936, 1964

Includes annotation from Gwendolyn Brooks in 1964.

Item 26: “Province” and “On Future Lose, Through Death Of Parental Love", 1936

Item 27: “Drab", 1936

Item 28: “Hidden Memories” and “Strength Evanescent", 1936

Item 29: “Old Dreams", 1935

Item 30: “Fever", 1935

Item 31: “A Little Kindness", 1935

Item 32: “Darling", 1935

Item 33: “Kismet", 1935, 1964

Includes annotation from Gwendolyn Brooks from 1964.

Item 34: “The Poison Plant", 1935

Item 35: “Selfish” and “Stare Tonight", 1935

Item 36: "Decay” and “Love Will Find A Way", 1935

Item 37: “The Empty Cup", 1935, 1964

Includes annotation from Gwendolyn Brooks from 1964.

Item 38: “Sonnets For Beatrice Abbott", 1935

Item 39: “One Thing Belongs To Me", 1935

Item 40: “Escape", 1935

Item 41: “Ice – quiet", 1935

Item 42: “Winter Warmth", 1935

Item 43: “Star Testimony” and “A Thousand Aches", 1935

Item 44: “Negroid” and “Resignation", 1935

Item 45: “In Quest Of Joy", 1935

Item 46: “Let It Pass", 1936

Item 47: “Disintegration", 1935

Item 48: “Plea For Another Girl” and “More Than You Believe", 1935

Item 49: “To My Parents” and “The Selfish One", 1935

Item 50: “Spring", 1935

Item 51: “Now I Know” and “I Lit A Match", 1935

Item 52: “Completion", 1935

Item 53: “Prison", 1933

Item 54: “Compassionless and Harsh", 1935

Item 55: "They Came With Smiling Lips To Me", 1935

Item 56: “Music and Clouds", 1935

Item 57: “Genius", 1935

Item 58: “Sunday In April” and “Beauty", 1935

Item 59: “Aftergloom” and “Pruce", 1935

Item 60: “Words for Mussolini", 1935

Item 61: “Padlocked” and “Plaint", 1935

Item 62: “Nocturne", 1935

Item 63: “Fan’(?) Gertrude (For Gertrude Price)”, 1935

Item 64: “The Supplication (A Ballad)", 1935

Item 65: “Strange Gift", 1935

Item 66: “The Smallest Things", 1935

Item 67: “Majority” and “I Cannot See Your Heart", 1935

Item 68: “Faith” and “Picnic", 1935

Item 69: “One Hundred And Fifty Years", 1936

Item 70: “Let Me Not Be Resigned", 1936

Item 71: “Floors", 1935

Item 72: “Alteration", 1935

Item 73: “Through All My Life", 1935

Item 74: “Teachers", 1936

Item 75: “The Little Flowers", 1935

Item 76: “Riches In The Morning", 1935

Item 77: “Imperfections", 1935

Item 78: “All Of My Works Will Die” and “I Would Not Have It Change", 1936

Item 79: “With Trees After Storm, 1936

Item 80: “A Hundred Times", 1935

Item 81: “April", 1935

Item 82: “Possession", 1935

Item 83: “The Bright Star", 1935

Item 84: “Dawn", 1935

Item 85: “Beauty", 1935

Item 86: “Snowdrop", 1935

Item 87: “Dusk", 1935

Item 88: “Need", 1935

Item 89: “Two Years Now", 1935

Item 90: “A Country Place", 1935

Item 91: “World End” and You Say I Am In Love", 1935

Item 92: “I Was Not Born For Happiness", 1936

Item 93: “Enough” and “Letter", 1936

Item 94: “A Picture Of Joseph S. Cotter, Jr", 1936

Item 95: “City Sidewalks” and “A Patriot, To His Flag", 1936

Item 96: “Regret” and “Paradox", 1936

Item 97: "Shut In A Prison Cell", 1936

Item 98: “People", 1936

Item 99: “So Much Of Bitterness", 1936

Item 100: “Today and Yesterday” and “Keep Faith", 1935

Item 101: “Her Last” and “Four Hours", 1935

Item 102: “This Present Dark,” and “Not In The Face Of Failure", 1936

Item 103: “April Fool’s Day", 1936

Item 104: “Now I Live", 1936

Item 105: “Prospect Of Fall” and “For Myrtle Wilson", 1936

Item 106: “The Assassin", 1935

Item 107: “Theories", 1935

Item 108: “Forgotten Possession", 1935

Item 109: “What Shall I Do” and “Hour", 1935

Item 110: “Afraid” and “Crippled", 1936

Item 111: “A Brown Girl", 1936

Item 112: “A Christmas Story” and “Evanescent", 1934-1935

Item 113: “The Last Visit", 1935

Item 114: “Omnipresent", 1935

Item 115: “Music Is Not Music", 1934

Item 116: “Transformation", 1934

Item 117: “Now Shall I Fear", 1935

Item 118: “Second Altar", 1935

Item 119: “Nocturne", 1935

Item 120: “Sonnet", 1935

Item 121: “The Story Book Queen", 1935

Item 122: “After", 1935

Item 123: “Put On Your Little Red Sweater", 1935

Item 124: “I won’t Go By The Cemetery Anymore", 1935

Item 125: “Dimness” and “Uncertain Love", 1935

Item 126: “Dark and Light” and “Sunshine Fades", 1935

Item 127: “Old Age", 1935

Item 128: “A Smile", 1935

Item 129: “Faith", 1935

Item 130: “Belief", 1935

Item 131: “Never Enough", 1934

Item 132: “Journey To A Far Realm", 1934

Item 133: “Margy Is A Brilliant Girl", 1934

Item 134: “In Memory of Mme. Ezella Mathis Carter", 1934

Item 135: “Alone In Twilight” and “Night Beauty, August", 1934

Item 136: “Snow", 1934

Item 137: “Commencement” and “Snowdrops and Sunbeams", 1934

Item 138: “Sally” and “What’s In A Frown", 1934

Item 139: “Ignorance Is Bliss", 1934

Item 140: “Postscript To Suffering", 1934

Item 141: “Virgils’ Aeneid Book III", 1934

Item 142: “Stars” and “Christmas Sentiment", 1934

Item 143: “Franklin Delano Roosevelt", 1934

Item 144: “Friend” and “Secret", 1934

Item 145: "Come Spring", 1934

Item 146: “To The Hinderer", 1933

Item 147: “Storm” and “There Is No Spirit", 1934

Item 148: “I Would Not Love You As I Do” and “Stars Tonight", 1935

Item 149: “Decay", 1935

Item 150: “Hope” and “Shell", 1935

Item 151: “Before Dawn", 1935

Item 152: “A Twilight Hour” and “Love Will Find A Way", 1935

Item 153: “Baby” and “How Many Times", 1934

Item 154: “You Keep Returning", 1934

Item 155: Baby Wisdom” and “Bottom", 1935

Item 156: “Love’s Dawn", 1934

Item 157: “Gift", 1934

Item 158: “He Loved Me Once” and “Christmas Morning", 1934-1935

Item 159: “Noon Vision” and “Description", 1933

Item 160: “Warm Light Peers Down", 1936

Item 161: “Two Paths", 1936

Item 162: "First Acquaintance", 1935

Item 163: “Infatuation", 1935

Item 164: “How Little", 1935

Item 165: “December", 1935

Item 166: “Let Her Not Mean So Much To You", 1936

Item 167: “Wise” and “College Whimsy", 1936

Item 168: “We All Are Trackmen In A Race", 1935

Item 169: “An Falstaff: Humor In Tragedy (After skimming King Henry II)” and “We", 1935-1936

Item 170: “No Second Love", 1935

Item 171: "Questions", 1935

Item 172: "Jingling Judy’s Journal", 1935

Item 173: "Song For Father’s Day", 1936

Item 174: "The Dark Lover” and “The Four Walls", 1935

Item 175: "“Red Tape", 1935

Item 176: “Midnight", 1935

Item 177: “Fragment” and “A Piece of Music and A Piece Of Joy", 1935

Item 178: “Twilight Observation” and “Change"

Item 179: Oh, Lay It Roughly In The Cold, Cold Clay", 1935

Item 180: “Solitary” and “Rather That You Look All My Wealth", 1935

Item 181: "Too Near” and “Love and Friendship", 1935

Item 182: "Penitent", 1935

Item 183: “Silence” and “Resentment", 1935

Item 184: “Rose” and “Sunshine and Shade", 1935

Item 185: “Compensation", 1935

Item 186: “My Heart Is Not Enough” and “Lament", 1935

Item 187: “Your Love And A Dusty Wind", 1936

Item 188: “On Loving The World” and “For The Disclaimers(?)”, 1935

Item 189: “There Is No Rest", 1935

Item 190: "Cinquains", 1935

Item 191: “Mate", 1935

Item 192: "Off-Note", 1935

Item 193: “Bells” and “Faith", 1934

Item 194: “Life Without Love” and Inscription", 1934

Item 195: “First Requisite", 1935

Item 196: “Last Resort” and “I Have A Need For Tears", 1935

Item 197: “A Quiet Soul", 1935

Item 198: “Pulse", 1935

Item 199: “Tears", 1935

Item 200: “Flutterin’", 1935

Item 201: “A light", 1935

Item 202: “Who Dreads To Quit The Earth” and “How Can I Keep My Mind Away", 1935

Item 203: “Showers", 1935

Item 204: “She", 1935

Item 205: “Engagement” and “Definition Of Love", 1935

Item 206: “I Must Be As My Cat", 1935

Item 207: “The Tower” and “Words", 1935

Item 208: “Plaint", 1935

Item 209: “Return", 1935

Item 210: "Panacea” and “Tears For The Grass", 1935

Item 211: “Minutes and Seconds", 1935

Item 212: “Give Me The Sweet Belief In You” and “It’s All I Ask", 1935

Item 213: “Inheritance” and “Now What Light Is", 1935

Item 214: “Warm Weather Medley” and “Orison", 1935

Item 215: “If You Should See A Think, Dark Veil", 1935

Item 216: “Voice” and “Eyes and Ears", 1935

Item 217: "Bestow Some Token” and “It Used To Pain Me Much", 1935

Item 218: “Rejoice That You Have What You Have", 1935

Item 219: “The Quiet Room", 1935

Item 220: “Flesh", 1935

Item 221: “Reflection, August” and “August Mood", 1934

Item 222: “Song", 1934

Item 223: “Beggar Woman” and “Speed", 1934

Item 224: “Question", 1934

Item 225: “I Never Heard” and “Sudden Memory", 1934

Item 226: “Song For --- Louis", 1935

Item 227: “Flies” and “He Wasn’t Here", 1935

Item 228: “I Send My Heart, 1935

Item 229: "Clay Molder", 1934

Item 230: “Reflection", 1936

Item 231: “Teachers", 1936

Item 232: “Cold” and “After Christmas", 1934

Item 233: “Disillusionment", 1935

Item 234: “Hemlock” and “I Love You", 1934

Item 235: “A Pin", 1934

Item 236: “Life Is too Short", 1934

Item 237: “Thanksgiving Day", 1934

Item 238: “Song", 1934

Item 239: “Prayer” and “Wonder", 1934

Item 240: “Life and Death", 1934

Item 241: “Meditation", 1934

Item 242: “When Death Comes” and “Old Age", 1934

Item 243: “A Song For Thanksgiving Day", 1934

Item 244: “Two Sides To Every Story", 1934

Item 245: “Love (A)” and “Love (B)", 1934

Item 246: “Without You” and “I Loved You Best", 1934-1935

Item 247: “Dream Love” and “Semblance", 1934-1935

Item 248: “Knowledge", 1934

Item 249: “Love Quatrains", 1936

Item 250: “Flesh", 1935

Item 251: “Something Finer", 1936

Item 252: “Bitter Fruit” and “Star Love", 1935

Item 253: “Vacation” and “Keep Your Kiss", 1935

Item 254: “Song” and “Chill", 1935

Item 255: “My Heart Is Yours” and “Thriving Plant", 1935

Item 256: "Plaint” and “A Little Thing", 1935

Item 257: “An Answer” and “Quenched", 1935

Folder 7: 3 ring black notebook "Flexible", poems from 1938-1940

Item 1: “Last End", 1938

Item 2: “Why Poets Write Poems", 1938

Item 3: “To Herman Lawrence", 1938

Item 4: “Of Lavinia Chapman", 1938

Item 5: “To Bernard Goss", 1938

Item 6: “To Margaret Taylor", 1938

Item 7: “To One She Wishes She Did Not Love", 1938

Includes later annotation by Gwendolyn Brooks.

Item 8: “For Theries C. Lindsey – Flowers In The Road—", 1938

Item 9: “The Crazy Woman", 1938

Includes later annotation by Gwendolyn Brooks.

Item 10: “Bones", 1938

Item 11: “Sara-Beth", 1938

Item 12: “You Never Know When Love Is Coming", 1938

Includes later annotation by Gwendolyn Brooks.

Item 13: “Truth", 1938

Includes later annotation by Gwendolyn Brooks.

Item 14: “The Little Clock", 1938

Item 15: “The Time", 1938

Item 16: “Nothing To Say", 1938

Item 17: “Old Laughter", 1939

Item 18: “Bareness", 1939

Item 19: "November"

Item 20: “I Used To Play With Paper Dolls", 1938

Item 21: “I Like A Bit of Scantiness", 1939

Item 22: “Death And Sun And Air", 1939

Item 23: Lana Trail", 1939

Item 24: “Tradition", 1938

Item 25: “Gray Old Yesterdays", 1938

Item 26: “Lion. Robin.”, 1939

Item 27: “Dizziness", 1939

Item 28: “Elementals", 1939

Item 29: “I Weary of Confusion", 1939

Item 30: “It Is the Very Gold of Joy", 1939

Item 31: “She Has Wept For Love", 1939

Item 32: “I Shall Write No Letter", 1938

Item 33: “Life Hits and Runs", 1938

Item 34: “Failure", 1940

Item 35: “One Wonders At The Thoughts That Crawl", 1940

Item 36: “Road", 1938

Item 37: “Thinking", 1938

Item 38: “Some Eyes Do Not Bother", 1938

Item 39: “Since There Is Always Poetry", 1938

Item 40: “Chirp Again", 1939

Item 41: “Who Grants To Love", 1939

Item 42: “I Want You With Me Always", 1938

Item 43: “Time-Waste", 1938

Item 44: "Verjuice", 1938

Item 45: "Sung By A Negro Girl", 1938

Item 46: "He Died Last Evening, Mary", 1938

Item 47: “Autumn", 1938

Item 48: “For Armistice Day", 1938

Item 49: "Life Asks But Time", 1938

Item 50: “Beth", 1938

Item 51: “Relaxation", 1938

Item 52: “Fairies", 1938

Item 53: “Easter Day", 1938

Includes later annotation by Gwendolyn Brooks.

Item 54: “Poems – 1938 by Gwendolyn Brooks, 1938

Item 55: “Here Stands Convention In The Road", 1940

Item 56: “Saint Valentine’s Day", 1940

Item 57: “The Partial Physician", 1940

Item 58: “The Dying Flame", 1940

Item 59: “The New-Born Babe", 1940

Item 60: “Winter Singer", 1938

Item 61: “My Books", 1938

Item 62: “So Still The Winter Night", 1938

Item 63: “As You Are Drawn ----", 1938

Item 64: “Wish I Knew", 1938

Item 65: “Mr. And Mrs. Bernard Goss", 1938

Item 66: “For Kenyon Reid (By Request)", 1938

Item 67: “Not Every Sunday Morning", 1938

Item 68: “Snow Storm", 1938

Item 69: “The Winter’s Turning Into Spring", 1938

Item 70: “Three Talk About War", 1938

Item 71: “New", 1938

Item 72: “There Was A Little Negro Girl", 1938

Item 73: “For Robert J. McGee (Faithful Friend)", 1938

Item 74: “They Too", 1938

Item 75: “Frightened Young Soldier, Irritated By His Wife’s Farwell Tears", 1938

Item 76: “Hale Trees", 1938

Item 77: “Poet", 1938

Item 78: “Mrs. Corley And The Colored Maid", 1938

Item 79: “Possession", 1938

Item 80: “’Tomorrow I Shall See Him’”, 1938

Item 81: “High Spirits", 1938

Item 82: “Love", 1938

Item 83: “A Song For Negroes", 1938

Item 84: “Sun-Wrapped Rain", 1938

Item 85: “Is Love To You What Love’s To Me?", 1938

Item 86: “When Love All Broken", 1938

Item 87: “Because I’m Tired Of Fighting", 1938

Item 88: “Alteration", 1938

Item 89: “Over And Over", 1938

Item 90: “Night By The Lake", 1938

Item 91: “Appreciation", 1938

Item 92: “What Other Thing Is There To Tell", 1938

Item 93: “Paradise", 1938

Item 94: “I do Not Like A Palace", 1938

Item 95: “Life Is So Beautiful", 1938

Item 96: “Lord, You Have Given So Much Of Beauty", 1938

Item 97: “How Sickness Softens And Soothes A Man", 1938

Item 98: “The Ghost Girl", 1938

Item 99: “It Is A Disappearing Sun", 1938

Item 100: “Poems – 1939 By Gwendolyn Brooks", 1939

Item 101: “Romance Is Not In Old Madrid", 1939

Item 102: “To A Brown Madwoman", 1939

Item 103: “Dark Girl", 1939

Item 104: “I Want To Get Inside Your Mind", 1939

Item 105: “I Have Not Learned", 1939

Item 106: “Pick Up The Strap Again (Street Car)", 1939

Item 107: “Watermelon Man", 1939

Item 108: “Exhaust The Little Moment", 1939

Item 109: “To My Heart", 1939

Item 110: “When H Was Tender-Five", 1939

Item 111: “Booker Taliaferro Washington", 1939

Item 112: “Poem – 1940 By Gwendolyn Brooks", 1940

Item 113: “Peon", 1940

Item 114: “Perhaps", 1940

Item 115: “Little Brown Boy", 1938

Item 116: “There’s Merriment Knocking At My Door", 1938

Folder 8: Poems and Ephemera from Poems by Gwendolyn Brooks, 1938-1942

Item 1: “My Japanese Friend”, undated

Item 2: “Old Apartment House (Chicago)”, 1938

Item 3: “Ripeness”, 1938

Item 4: "Pride", 1938

Item 5: “Orison”, 1938

Item 6: “Old Age Has Beauty All Its Own”, 1938

Item 7: Scrap of paper with writing, undated

Item 8: Print of painting, undated

Item 9: “The New Bob Bale(?)”, 1940, 1942

Item 10: “Cradle Ballad”, 1941

Item 11: “Truth”, undated

Item 12: "the Ghost Girl", 1942

Folder 9: Tissue from "Flexible" 3 ring notebook

Folder 10: Poems from back cover of “Flexible” 3-ring notebook, c. 1939

Item 1: “Mrs. Corley and the Colored Maid”, undated

Item 2: “Gray Old Yesterdays”, undated

Item 3: “To A Brown Madwoman,” “Dark Girl, “ Lion. Robin.,” “Time Does Not Hesitate,” and “The Crazy Woman”, undated

Item 4: “Prayer,” “Verjuice,” “Autumn,” and “Life Hits and Runs”, undated

Item 5: “Nothing Matters,” “To A Brown Butcher Boy,” and “I Won’t go By The Cemetery Anymore”, undated

Item 6: “The Postman Has Passed,” “Some Eyes Do Not Bother,” and “Of Flesh Death-Glorified”, undated

Item 7: “Dreams” and “Bones”, undated

Item 8: “Pick Up The Strap Again (Street Car)” and “Old Age Has Beauty All Its Own”, undated

Item 9: "Truth", undated

Item 10: “Old Laughter,” “It Is The Very Gold Of Joy,” and “Exhaust The Little Moment”, undated

Folder 11: 1950 Day Planner (Pulitzer)

Folder 12: Published Verses (Defender) Notebook

Item 1: “One Little Quarrel” and “You Say I am In Love", 1934, 1936

Item 2: "Never Enough", 1934

Item 3: "Song", 1934

Item 4: “A Song of Thanksgiving", 1934

Item 5: "Destiny", 1934

Item 6: “Postscript To Suffering", 1934

Item 7: "Baby Wisdom", 1935

Item 8: “To The Hinderer", 1934

Item 9: “Life Is Too Short", 1934

Item 10: “Knowledge", 1934

Item 11: “Music Is Not Music", 1934

Item 12: “Negroid", undated

Item 13: “Gift” and “After Christmas", 1934

Item 14: “A Christmas Story", 1934

Item 15: “Life and Death” and “Rejoice That You Hae What You Have", 1935

Item 16: “I Loved You Best” and “Wealth", 1934

Item 17: “A Pin” and “Shadows", 1935

Item 18: “To My Parents", 1935

Item 19: “Corner In a Portrait Gallery", 1935

Item 20: “How Can I keep My Mind Away” and “Sonnet", 1935

Item 21: “Possession” and “The Bright Star", 1935

Item 22: “Journey To A Far Realm", 1935

Item 23: “Words For Mussolini", 1935

Item 24: “Genius” and “Kismet", 1935

Item 25: “Sonnets For Beatrice", 1936

Item 26: “Where Are They Now” by Ima Twin, undated

Item 27: “Don’t Pass Me By" by G. W. Tyus, 1936

Item 28: “Letter To Sharlie Norman” by Beatrice Abbott, 1936

Item 29: “The Power of Music” by Frank S. Ingram and “It’s Never Too Late” by Dan Burley, undated

Item 30: “A Fool’s Confession” by Arthur Sempey and “O, Live!", 1936

Item 31: “Through All My Life” and “Dreams” by Short Weight, 1936

Item 32: “Exaltation” and “Not guilty Says You” by C. Powell DeShong, undated

Item 33: “Olympic Valor” by Harold E. Grady, 1936

Item 34: “I’ll Furnish Them The Feet” by William Henry Huff and “Restlessness” by Kathryn Ervin, undated

Item 35: “At Night” by Lohn Henry Owens and “For Lemuel H. Randolph", 1936

Item 36: “Our Songs For Friends", 1936

Item 37: “For Many Different Eyes", 1936

Item 38: “Light and Shadows” column including “Plaint", undated

Item 39: “People,” “Hope,” and “Now I Live", 1937

Item 40: “Poems Printed Beginning August 1934", c. 1934

Box 256

Folder 1: 1950 Day Planner Cover and additions, 1950, 1985, 1993

Folder 2: Notes for: The Life of Lincoln West folder 1 of 2

Folder 3: Tissue from "The Life of Lincoln West" notebook folder 2 of 2

Folder 4: Notebook with drafts of sequel to "Maud Martha" folder 1 of 3

Folder 5: Items enclosed in "Maud Martha" notebook folder 2 of 3

Folder 6: Items enclosed in "Maud Martha" notebook folder 3 of 3

Box 257

Folder 1: "Preparation Book. Poems, Notes, and Pieces" folder 1 of 5

Folder 2: "Preparation Book. Poems, Notes, and Pieces" folder 2 of 5

Folder 3: "Preparation Book. Poems, Notes, and Pieces" folder 3 of 5

Folder 4: "Preparation Book. Poems, Notes, and Pieces" folder 4 of 5

Folder 5: "Preparation Book. Poems, Notes, and Pieces" folder 5 of 5

Folder 6: "Honorary Degrees (Partial List)" notebook folder 1 of 2

Folder 7: "Honorary Degrees (Partial List)" notebook folder 2 of 2

Folder 8: February 1969 Calendar

Folder 9: July 1969 Calendar

Folder 10: November 1971 Calendar

Box 258

Folder 1: Important: See back "October 1972 calendar"

Folder 2: "Illinois Wesleyan University Graduation Speech" May 1973 calendar

Folder 3: "For Mama, Love, from Gwendolyn" pale turquoise notebook

Box 259

Folder 1: January 1978 calendar

Folder 2: Silver notebook

Folder 3: Small monthly books for diet

Folder 4: Small monthly books for diet 1978-1979

Folder 5: Small monthly books for diet 1979

Folder 6: Small monthly books for diet 1979

Folder 7: Diet Notes

Folder 8: Small monthly books for diet 1979-1980

Box 260

Folder 1: Small monthly books for diet

Folder 2: Small monthly books for diet

Folder 3: Small monthly books for diet

Folder 4: Small monthly books for diet

Folder 5: "My Daily Journal"

Box 261

Folder 1: Green "Diary"

Folder 2: Small monthly books for diet

Folder 3: Small monthly books for diet

Folder 4: Notepad

Folder 5: Blue "Russia" notebook given for birthday

Folder 6: Small monthly books for diet

Folder 7: Small monthly books for diet

Box 262

Folder 1: Small monthly books for diet

Folder 2: Notepad

Folder 3: Small monthly books for diet

Folder 4: Small monthly books for diet

Folder 5: Small monthly books for diet

Folder 6: Small monthly books for diet (includes "Maud Martha")

Folder 7: Small monthly books for diet

Box 263

Folder 1: Notes, quotations (from "daily menus" envelope)

Folder 2: Diet notebooks (from "daily menus" envelope)

Folder 3: Diet notebooks (from "daily menus" envelope)

Box 264

Folder 1: Small monthly books for diet "1985 Date Book"

Folder 2: Small monthly books for diet

Folder 3: "Poems, Essayettes, Notes, Clippings, Ideas, etc." folder 1 of 3 (Includes "To Fit In" and "Thinking"

Folder 4: "Poems, Essayettes, Notes, Clippings, Ideas, etc." folder 2 of 3 (Inserts include "Letter not sent to Sonia Sanchez" and "correspondence with high schoolers")

Folder 5: "Poems, Essayettes, Notes, Clippings, Ideas, etc." folder 3 of 3 (Inserts include "Maud Martha" correspondence)

Folder 6: Yellow Flower "Monologue" Journal

Folder 7: Small monthly books for diet

Box 265

Folder 1: Small monthly books for diet, February 17 - July 23, 1989

Folder 2: Small monthly books for diet, July 23, 1989 - January 24, 1990

Folder 3: Notepad - notes on the death of Anthony Nash "Teen-age artist and drug dealer" 1989

Folder 4: Small monthly books for diet, includes "Children Coming Home" January 24 - December 19, 1990

Folder 5: Green notebook with inserts and small notebook (not diet, July-August 1990)

Folder 6: Notes, quotations, etc.

Folder 7: Black and orange poetry notebook 1991-1992

Box 266

Folder 1: Small monthly books for diet, includes other notes, note from Henry (1978)

Folder 2: Lake Forest Academy notebook and enclosures

Box 267

Folder 1: Diet books, calendar, quotes, etc., 1992; 1995

Folder 2: From Norelco box; includes diet, citation form, "RAP," 1992

Folder 3: From Norelco box; diet book with inserts, 1992-1993

Folder 4: Small monthly diet books from Norelco box, March 30 - December 4, 1993

Folder 5: Small monthly books for diet from Norelco box, 1994, undated

Box 268

Item 1: Norelco box

Box 269

Folder 1: Tree Notebook and items laid in front cover - 1993

Folder 2: "Poems-in-process (and notes)" and "Miscellaneous" with insers - 1994

Folder 3: Diet book - December 12, 1993-March 14, 1994; April 1-5 1994

Folder 4: Diet books with inserts, newspaper, clippings, and notepad - 1981-1982; January 1994-February 1995

Folder 5: Diet books and notepad with notes on Jefferson - June 1994-January 1995

Folder 6: "Hi, World!" Notebook - 1994

Box 270

Folder 1: Daily diet books - January 24-August 21, 1995

Folder 2: Daily diet books and Purdue University calendar with writing in March/April and insert - 1995

Folder 3: Daily diet books from 1995 with inserts from 1999 diet - 1995; 1999

Folder 4: Daily diet books - January 1, 1996-October 21, 1996

Box 271

Folder 1: Daily diet book with inserts (1996-1997)l Notes on Lerone Bennett June 1996; Daily diet book with inserts including clothing receipt (December 1996-January 1997)

Folder 2: Daily diet book (October-December 1998) with inserts including Fall 1997 African American Literature course information from Chicago State University - 1997-1998

Box 272

Folder 1: Daily diet books - January 19-March 20, 1977

Folder 2: Notepads and books with inserts - 1997-2000

Folder 3: Notepad with inserts, including "Behind the Scenes"; Haki Madhubuthi, self-interview, and newspaper clippings

Folder 4: Daily diet book, including "To Nora" letter and inserts - May 2-August 10, 1997

Folder 5: Notes to Beryl and IRS, Notepad - 1997-1998

Folder 6: Diet book with clipping, "Inflammation May Cause Heart Attacks" by Doug Levy, USA Today - August 11-Sept. 27, 1997

Folder 7: Address books and notes, including card from Bill and Susan - 1997-1998

Folder 8: Notepad and looseleaf notes - 1997-1998

Box 273

Folder 1: "Daily menus 1999" including inserts, shopping lists, and notes on Jasper, TX lynching

Folder 2: Diet book with inserts, including Chocolate Chips Theatre Company and annotated "Zora Neale Hurston: A Caution"

Folder 3: Address book with inserts on Gwendolyn Brooks Center, includes letter from Jean Hendricks

Box 274

Folder 1: Daily diet book and notepad with inserts

Box 275

Folder 1: Diet books and inserted notes - 1998

Folder 2: "Menus and notes beginning June 8, 1988" and including list of additions to 'Collected Poems'

Folder 3: Two notepads - 1998

Folder 4: Diet book with insert - 1998; Sept.-Nov. 1999

Folder 5: Address book with inserts, including correspondence from Pat Bell - 1998-1999

Folder 6: Notepad with inserts including "Of Haki Madhubuti" - 1998-2000

Box 276

Folder 1: Notebook with inserts, including event at The Contemporary Forum - 1998-2000

Folder 2: Diet books with inserts - 1999

Folder 3: Diet book with inserts - June 30-Aug. 22, 1999

Folder 4: Diet book with inserts including edited poetry - Nov. 6, 1999-Dec. 23, 1999

Box 277

Folder 1: Diet books including letter to Nora about Henry III for publication in "Notes Before Night Time" - 1998-2000

Folder 2: Diet books including Ranger workshop notes for Bradford - 2000

Box 278

Folder 1: Diet books with inserts - 2000

Folder 2: "The Campaign for the Latin School of Chicago" diet book - April 13, 2000-July 27, 2000

Folder 3: Notepad including Newsweek issue Oct. 7, 1996 - 1996, 2000

Folder 4: Notepad and spiral book - undated

Folder 5: Notebook on Chuck Berry - undated

Folder 6: Notepads on African language and cultures, diet, leopard in grass, and other notes - undated

Folder 7: Notepads including recipes, poetry, prose, flyer for 28th Annual Illinois Poet Laureate Awards, and poem on Nora - undated

Box 279

Folder 1: Notepads including contact info, food lists, and page from magazine - undated

Folder 2: "Notes on my next book of poems: Children Coming Home: And Other Poems, Third World Press" and diet book -  July 30-Sept. 7, 2000

Folder 3: Address book and binder on seminar "Twentieth-Century Influences" - undated

Folder 4: Spiral bounds includes poetry, notes on drama, and Hitler quote - undated

Box 280

Folder 1: Notebooks - undated

Folder 2: "Old" - undated

Folder 3: Notes on Africa and Mothers - undated

Folder 4: Address books - undated

Folder 5: Notebooks blank - undated

Box 281

Folder 1: Notebooks blank - undated, 1979

Folder 2: Blank - undated

Folder 3: Empty notebook with inscription - 1992

Folder 4: Blank - undated

Folder 5: Blank notebooks - undated

Folder 6: Blank notebooks - undated

Box 282

Folder 1: Blank notebooks - undated

Folder 2: Blank and paper – undated

Sub-series 7: Stationery

Box 283

Folder 1: Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts (Washington, D.C.). Israeli Lounge greeting card, 1973

Folder 2: Christmas card, undated

Shows two children spying on Santa Claus delivering gifts.

Folder 3: Sympathy card, undated

Includes an envelope.

Folder 4: Chicago landmarks greeting cards, undated

Includes paper and plastic envelopes.

Folder 5: Box of Caspari “Christmas and Holiday Cards”, undated

Includes an envelope.

Folder 6: Chicago State University. Gwendolyn Brooks Center notepad, undated

Folder 7: Paper with Vassar Collage Alumnae House letterhead, undated

Includes an envelope.

Folder 8: Springfield Hilton envelopes, undated

Includes a blank sheet of white paper.

Folder 9: Blank sheets of white paper, undated

Folder 10: Blank sheets of white paper, undated

Includes a sheet of paper embossed with floral trim.

Folder 11: Blank fragments of white paper, undated

Folder 12: Mixed envelopes in a cardboard box, undated

Folder 13: Postcards grouping

Item 1: Broadmoor Hotel (Colorado Springs, CO). Main building, undated

Item 2: Broadmoor West (Colorado Springs, CO), undated

Item 3: Broadmoor Hotel (Colorado Springs, CO). Aerial view, undated

Item 4: Broadmoor Hotel (Colorado Springs, CO). Aerial view from East golf course, undated

Item 5: Amtrak. California Zephyr train in Colorado, undated

Item 6: Northern Illinois University. Holmes Student Center, undated

Item 7: Northern Illinois University. Caulder statue, undated

Item 8: Gwendolyn Brooks (photo by Krementz, Jill), 1993

Folder 14: Postcards grouping

Item 1: St. Paul skyline, undated

Item 2: Old Federal Courts Building (St. Paul), undated

Item 3: Minnesota State Capitol. Senate Chamber, undated

Folder 15: Postcards grouping

Item 1: Hilton Inn (Durham, NC), undated

Obstructed view from parking lot.

Item 2: Hilton Inn (Durham, NC), undated

Item 3: The Vernon Manor Hotel (Cincinnati, OH), undated

Item 4: Holiday Inn (Ledgewood, NJ), undated

Item 5: The Exeter Inn (Exeter, NH), undated

Folder 16: Postcards grouping

Item 1: Winnie Mandela, undated

Item 2: Montana Sunset, undated

Item 3: The Homesteaders (artwork by Clymer, John), 1981

Item 4: Emperor’s Choice Herb Tea (artwork by Giusti, Bob), 1981

Folder 17: Mixed grouping

Item 1: Les Merveilles de Chartres greeting card, 1994

Item 2: Van Wickle Gates postcard, undated

Item 3: Card fragment depicting a cartoon snake with the text, “Relax!”, undated

Box 284

Folder 1: Mixed grouping

Item 1: Amtrak Cresent notepad, undated

Item 2: Season’s Greetings card, undated

Includes an envelope and a “Sample (1997) to keep” sticky note.

Item 3: Harbour Castle Westin postcards, undated

Includes Canadian postage stamps.

Item 4: Sheraton at Universal City paper, undated

Item 5: Blank fragment of white paper, undated

Item 6: Notepad cover with jottings on Breyer’s Ice Cream and Phyllis Theroux, undated

Item 7: Green sticky note, undated

Item 8: Yellow sticky notes, undated

Includes a draft introduction for Kendrick, Dolores.

Folder 2: Mixed grouping

Item 1: Sympathy greeting card, undated

Includes an envelope.

Item 2: Season’s Greetings cards (various), undated

Includes envelopes.

Item 3: Chicago landmarks greeting cards (various), undated

Includes envelopes.

Item 4: Village Festival greeting card (artwork by Alphonse, Inatace), undated

Item 5: The Ninety-Fifth restaurant (Chicago) postcard, undated

Item 6: Nairobi African Fauna postcard, undated

Item 7: “Woman” greeting card, undated

Shows a woman with her hair tied back by an African scarf.

Item 8: Pink floral arrangement greeting card (partial), undated

Item 9: Season’s Greetings cards (various)

Folder 3: Paper with Gwendolyn Brooks Blakely letterhead, undated

Includes blank sheets of white paper.

Folder 4: Personal stationery grouping

Item 1: Paper with Gwendolyn Brooks Blakely letterhead, undated

Item 2: “DVHS NEH GB 1993” notepad, 1993

Item 3: Envelope with The David Company letterhead, undated

Item 4: Blue cards, undated

Includes an envelope.

Item 5: White envelopes, undated

Item 6: Gray cards with an address for Gwendolyn Brooks, undated

Item 7: Paper with The Exeter Inn letterhead, undated

Item 8: Notepad with The Ritz-Carlton letterhead, undated

Sub-series 8: Published Works and Book Jackets

Box 285

Folder 1: “An Aspect of Love”, 1982

Words by Gwendolyn Brooks and music by D. Wayne Johnson.

Folder 2: “Andre”, undated

Folder 3: “Ann Smith” (poem on brochure), 1996

Folder 4: “Art Can Survive”, 1995

Folder 5: “The Assassination of John F. Kennedy,” published in the Chicago Sun-Times, 1963

Folder 6: “Aurora”, 1972

Folder 7: “Behind the Scenes,” in American Poet, 1999-2000

Folder 8: “Black Love”, 1982

Folder 9: “Books Feed and Cure and Chortle and Collide,” printed on bookmarks, undated

Folder 10: “Brelve. A Battered Woman”, 1991

Folder 11: “Chicago State University”, undated

Folder 12: “Elegy (Plain Black Boy)”, 1962

Words by Gwendolyn Brooks and music by Oscar Brown Jr.

Folder 12a: American Childhood, 1930

Includes “Evening” (also published as “Eventide”).

Folder 13: “For Illinois 1968: A Sesquicentennial Poem by Gwendolyn Brooks”, 1968

Folder 14: “A Hymn to Chicago” in New City, 1962

Includes a newspaper clipping.

Folder 15: “In Honor of David Anderson Brooks, My Father”, 1999

Folder 16: “Instructions to Myself”, 1989

Folder 17: “Jane Addams”, 1989

Folder 18: “Lady Dolores,” in The Exeter Bulletin, 1999

Folder 19: “Last Inauguration of Mayor Harold Washington,” in the Chicago Tribune

Folder 20: “Martin Luther King Jr.”, undated

Includes “Booker T. and W.E.B.” by Dudley Randall.

Folder 21: “Martin Luther King, Jr.,” in Ave Maria National Catholic Weekly, 1969

Folder 22: “Michael, Young Russia”, 1982

Folder 23: “The Mother,” in Mother’s Underground Magazine, 1993

Folder 24: “The Near-Johannesburg Boy and Other Poems” (Chicago: The David Company), 1987

Folder 24a: “On Harold Washington”, 1988

Folder 25: “People Protest in Sprawling Lightless Ways,” in Poems, 1945: Prize-Winning Poems of the Midwestern Writers’ Conference at Northwestern University, 1945

Folder 26: “Power,” in Briefings, 1989-1990

Folder 27: “The Progress” (four copies), 1982

Folder 28: “Rising Star” (eight copies), 1994

Folder 29: “Riot” (Detroit: Broadside Press), 1970

Frontispiece by Jeff Donaldson.

Folder 30: “The Second Sermon on the Warpland”, 1978

Folder 31: “To Be Grown Up”, undated

Box 286

Folder 1: “To Be In Love”, undated

Folder 2: “Tommy,” photocopied from Bronzeville Boys and Girls, undated

Folder 3: “To Prisoners,” in Illinois Issues (three copies), 1981

Folder 4: “To the South Side Community Art Center with Affectionate Gratitude”, undated

Folder 5: “To Young Readers” (tied with blue ribbon), undated

Folder 6: “To Young Readers,” yellow bookmarks from the Chicago Public Library, undated

Folder 7: “To Young Readers,” blue and yellow bookmarks from the Chicago Public Library, 1979

Two copies are signed by Gwendolyn Brooks.

Folder 8: “Very Young Poets” (photocopy), 1983

Folder 9: “Vern,” in American Voices in Celebration of Black History Month, 1998

Folder 10: “The Wall” broadside, 1967

Folder 11: “We Real Cool” broadside designed by Cledie Taylor, 1966

Folder 12: “We Real Cool” from Voices: An Anthology of Poems and Pictures (photocopies), 1969

Folder 13: “Winnie,” in Poetry Magazine

Folder 14: “Winnie” photocopies (Chicago: Third World Press), 1988

Folder 15: “Ancient Letters to Margaret” (grouping of photocopies), 1938, 1982

Folder 16: “First Editions Given to My Mother”, 1971, 1988

Includes Very Young Poets (Chicago: The David Company, 1988) and The World of Gwendolyn Brooks (New York: Harper & Row, 1971).

Box 287

Folder 1: Brooks Library-“Pages Missing from These Books”, 1963, 1981, 1983

Includes Selected Poems (1963), To Disembark (1981), Primer for Blacks (1981), and Beckonings (1983).

Folder 2: Five Poems in Harper’s Magazine, 1945

Includes “The Preacher Ruminates Behind the Sermon,” “Southeast Corner,” “The White Troops Had Their Orders But the Negroes Looked Like Men,” “My Dreams, My Works, Must Wait Till After Hell,” and “Love Note: Surely.”

Folder 3: Poems in The Black Scholar, June 1975

Includes “The Boy Died In My Alley” and “To A Proper Black Man.”

Folder 4: Poems in Living, Learning and Literature: Classic and Contemporary Works, 1994

Includes “The Bean Eaters.”

Folder 5: Poems in Every Shut Eye Ain’t Asleep: An Anthology of Poetry by African Americans Since 1945 (Boston: Little, Brown and Company), 1994

Includes inserted manuscript notes.

Folder 6: Poems in Laurels: Eight Women Poets

Includes “In the Mecca.”

Folder 7: “Errata” (photocopies from American Poet), 1999-2000

Includes “Gang Girls,” “The Lovers of the Poor,” “I Am A Black,” “The Coora Flower,” and “We Real Cool,” as well as a report to acknowledge Gwendolyn Brooks’ receipt of the Fellowship for distinguished poetic achievement.

Folder 8: Multiple Poems, undated

Includes “Sadie and Maud,” “The Womanhood,” “To Be In Love,” “The Mother,” “A Song in the Front Yard,” and “The Rites for Cousin Vit.”

Folder 9: Poems in A Broadside Treasury from “Dudley Randall to G.B.” bag, 1971

Includes “The Life of Lincoln West,” “Young Africans,” and “Paul Robeson.” Inscribed by “Dudley” for “Gwendolyn” on 2/14/84.

Folder 10: Copy of The Black Poets (ed. Dudley Randall) from “Dudley Randall to G.B.” bag, 1971

Inscribed by “Dudley” for “Gwendolyn” on November 14, 1971.

Folder 11: “Broadside Press Broadside Series” brown folder, 1965-1967

Includes broadsides for “We Real Cool” and “The Wall,” “The Sea-Turtle and the Shark” by M.B. Tolson, and an event at Drum and Spear (Washington, D.C.) and Howard University.

Box 288

Folder 1: Beckonings (Broadside Press), 1975

Folder 2: Blacks (copy of corrections), 1991

Folder 3: The Black Position, no.1 (Gwendolyn Brooks, ed.), 1971

Folder 4: The Black Position, no.3 (Gwendolyn Brooks, ed.), 1973

Folder 5: “Black Steel” broadside, 1971

Folder 6: A Capsule Course in Black Poetry Writing with inserts, 1981

Folder 7: Book reviews in Chicago Sun-Times, 1963

Folder 8: “Chicago 2999”, undated

Folder 9: Children Coming Home (The David Company)

Folder 10: “Christmas Morning Comes Too Soon”, 1986

Folder 11: “The Circle Association’s Gwendolyn Brooks Page”, 1998

Folder 12: “The Darker Brother” book review, undated

Folder 13: 45 rpm “Elegy” Columbia record, “When Malindy Sings” by Oscar Brown Jr., undated

Folder 14: Gottschalk and the Grande Tarantelle and Children Coming Home, 1995

Folder 15: Gwendolyn Brooks, 1990s

Folder 16: Gwendolyn Brooks introduction and recommended readings, undated

Box 289

Folder 1: “Of Harold Washington,” in Chicago, 1988

Folder 2: “Henry Dumas: Perceptiveness and Zeal”, 1988

Folder 3: “How to Write a Poem”, 1993

Folder 4: “Hugh Chisholm’s ‘Cantata’ Exhibits Beauty and Power”, undated

Folder 5: “It Is Your Business to Be Bothered,” in The Chicago Guide, June 1973

Folder 6: “Langston Hughes,” in The Nation, July 1967

Folder 7: “Luther,” in Tan, 1952

Folder 8: “Home,” from Maud Martha, 1998

Folder 9: Mayor Harold Washington and Chicago, the I Will City (Brooks Press), 1983

Folder 10: “Mothers and Daughters,” in Land’s End

Folder 11: “Mothers and Daughters”, undated

Folder 12: Primer for Blacks (Black Position Press), 1980

Folder 13: “Poets Who Are Negroes,” in Phylon: The Atlanta University Review of Race and Culture, 1950

Folder 14: Multiple poems and Report from Part One excerpt, undated, 1973

Folder 15: “Poetry Is Siren”, 1996

Folder 16: Excerpts from Report from Part One (published in Black World) and Report from Part Two, 1972, undated

Folder 17: Report from Part One (first unbound copy), 1972

Folder 18: Report from Part Two, 1996

Includes inserted manuscript notes.

Folder 19: Selected Poems (cover and introduction pages, photocopies), 1997

Box 290

Folder 1: Selected Poems (copy for corrections), undated

Folder 2: Selected Poems with inscriptions, 1963

Folder 3: The Tiger Who Wore White Gloves, illustrated by Timothy Jones (two copies), 1974

Copy two marked “defective.”

Folder 4: Acknowledgement page for To Disembark(?), undated

Folder 5: “We Real Cool” in corrections for The Columbia Book of Poetry, circa 1992

Folder 6: The World of Gwendolyn Brooks (Harper & Row), 1971

Folder 7: Young Poet’s Primer (Brooks Press), 1981

Folder 8: Unknown manuscripts, undated

Folder 9: Order form for Broadside Press (Detroit, MI) featuring cover art and description for Aloneness, 1971

Folder 10: Book jacket for Maud Martha, undated

Folder 11: Book jacket for In the Mecca, undated

Folder 12: “Uncorrected Proof” slip for In the Mecca, undated

Folder 13: A Street in Bronzeville, undated

Folder 14: Book jacket for To Disembark, undated

Folder 15: To Gwen with Love: An Anthology Dedicated to Gwendolyn Brooks (Johnson Publishing Company), undated

Sub-series 9: Advertisements and Bibliographies, Contracts, and Copyright Documents

Box 291

Folder 1: University of Chicago press release for the Tenth Anniversary Poet Laureate Awards Contest, 1979

Folder 2: Maud Martha advertisement with notes, 1967

Folder 3: Selected Poems uncorrected proof, circa 1963

Folder 4: “Voices from the Ghetto” broadside, undated

Includes an advertisement by Nora Brooks Blakely.

Folder 5: “About the Author” and “On Getting a Natural” broadsides, undated

Folder 6: Broadsides and press releases featuring Beckonings and Children Coming Home and an Illinois Literary Publishers Association (ILPA) catalog, 1975, 1989, 1991, undated

Folder 7-8: “New Paperbacks from Gwendolyn Brooks”, 1992, undated

Folder 8 includes a bookmark featuring “Book Power.”

Folder 9: Central Arkansas Library System handouts, undated

Folder 10: “Gwendolyn Brooks. Poet Laureate of Illinois: A Selected Bibliography” (Harold Washington Library Center. Literature & Language Division), 1987

Folder 11: Third World Press advertisements, 1986

Includes a list of holdings at the Florida State University Library authored by Gwendolyn Brooks and a “Selected Poems by Gwendolyn Brooks” bookmark for Indiana University–Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI)

Folder 12: Third World Press catalogs and “Books for the Young”, 1992, 1996, undated

Folder 13: Copyright and contract papers, 1965, 1968, 1983

Folder 14: Form TX (blank or partially completed) and “The Nuts and Bolts of Copyright” (United States Copyright Office), undated

Sub-series 10: Gwendolyn Brooks Writings Files

Box 292

Folder 1: “A Livin’ Man” by Kenny Clarke lyrics from “An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge", undated

File 2: Black Glossy Folder

Folder 2.1: Poems

Item 1: “Aurora", 1972

Item 2: “Gang Girls", undated

Folder 2.2: Poems

Item 1: “SOS", undated

Item 2: “Rap", undated

Folder 2.3: Annotated magazine pages, 1997

Folder 2.4: “in Just” by E. E. Cummings, undated

Folder 2.5: “Behind the Scenes", undated

Folder 2.6: “The Preacher” notes, undated

Folder 2.7: Correspondence from West, Donda C., 1997

Folder 2.8: Financial notes, 1997

Folder 2.9: Public engagements, 1997, undated

Item 1: Caxtonian Issue, 1997

Includes article “Prize-Winning Poet Envisions Chicago in 2999 as ‘Senior Adventure.’”

Item 2: “Classic Black Literature from Gwendolyn Brooks” pamphlet by Third World Press, undated

Folder 2.10: “Black English Vernacular: The Ebonics Debate", 1997

Folder 2.11: D-Knowledge album photocopies, undated

Folder 2.12: “Important Copyright Information”, undated

Folder 2.13: Notes and work of others relating to poetry, undated

Folder 2.14: “Twenty-Eighth Annual Illinois Poet Laureate Awards", 1997

Folder 2.15: “African American” by Rabi Bouzou-Waziri, undated

Includes annotations by Gwendolyn Brooks.

Folder 2.16: Annotation selections from “The Poem in Motion", undated

Folder 2.17: Notes and works of others

Item 1: Notes regarding poem titles, undated

Item 2: “My City” by Ebony Tillman, undated

Folder 2.18: “Heartland” newspaper clipping, 1996

Folder 2.19: Correspondence from The Contemporary Forum, undated

Folder 2.20: “The Writing of Poetry (ENG 293)", circa 1997

Folder 2.21: Annotated writing primer “Questions And Answers", 1980

Folder 2.22: Anonymous review of Alain Robbe-Grillet, undated

Folder 2.23: Handwritten notes, undated

Folder 2.24: “An Evening With Gwendolyn Brooks", 1990

Folder 2.25: Handwritten notes, 1997

Folder 2.26: “Life Is For Us And Is Stunning!” event flyer, 1996

Folder 2.27: Patterned folder, undated

Folder 2.28: Black folder, undated

Folder 3: Correspondence and writings

Item 1: “Building” notes, 1985

Item 2: Correspondence from Jackson, C. E. to Wells, N., 1963

Item 3: “Building” envelope, undated

File 4: “For Poetry, In here: Some original mss”

Folder 4.1: Poetry drafts

Item 1: “A Modern Ballad", undated

Item 2: My Religion is Kindness” and “In Emanuel’s Nightmare", undated

Item 3: “Chapter 3, Ecclesiastes", undated

Item 4: “To A Proper Black Man", undated

Item 5: “Aurora", undated

Folder 4.2: Poetry drafts

Item 1: “Blackness", undated

Item 2: “Love Poem", undated

Item 3: "Out There", 1982

Item 4: "That Earth", undated

Item 5: “Comes this little thang…”, 1986

Item 6: Because our lives sing ballads, undated

Item 7: "All flat plateau", undated

Folder 4.3: Poetry drafts

Item 1: “In the middle of winter…”

Item 2: “Think of plants…”, 1980

Item 3: “And poets…”, undated

Item 4: “Every day the little new people come", undated

Item 5: “Direct the choir of makers", undated

Folder 4.4: Poetry drafts

Item 1: “Oh, so…(?)”, undated

Item 2: “Telephone Conversations", 1980

Item 3: “Aids to", 1983

Item 4: “God----”, undated

Item 5: “Of The Young Dead", 1985

Item 6: “Shorthand Possible", undated

On the back of a Kuumba “Book Party Sunday” invite.

Folder 4.5: Poetry drafts

Item 1: “Whitney Young", 1981

Folder 2: “Of The Young Dead", undated

Folder 4.6: Poetry drafts

Item 1: “Patrick Bouie", 1986

Item 2: “I am against NEGATIVE charge, undated

Item 3: “Black Steel", 1971

Item 4: “Overweight!", undated

Item 5: “Such as love life respond to charge", undated

Folder 4.7: Poetry drafts

Item 1: “The Life of Lincoln West", undated

Item 2: “Martin Luther King” notes, undated

Folder 4.8: Poetry drafts

Item 1: Notes, undated

Item 2: “The Changing World In The 10-Year Period Ahead!”, undated

Item 3: “The Life of Lincoln West", undated

Folder 4.9: Poetry drafts

Item 1: “There is more to a life than its birth and a death", undated

Item 2: “There are spoiled in America", undated

Folder 4.10: Poetry drafts

Item 1: “Enabler", undated

Item 2: “A Picture – Running Bay", undated

Folder 4.11: Notes and jottings, undated

Folder 4.12: Notes and jottings

Folder 4.13: “The World of Gwendolyn Brooks” cover, undated

Folder 4.14: Time Magazine, 1977

Folder 4.15: “A Bitter and Insistent Plague” magazine clipping, undated

Folder 4.16: “Black Is – Negro Is” by Walter Hayes, undated

Folder 4.17: Notes and jottings, undated

Folder 4.18: Notes and jottings, 1998

Folder 4.19: “A Farmer", 1988

Folder 4.20: Notes and jottings, undated

Folder 4.21: “Important Original Poetry” envelope, undated

Folder 4.22: Envelope, undated

File 5: “If The Heart Is Young”

Folder 5.1: Composition notebook, 1935

Folder 5.2: Prose drafts

Item 1: “Arabella", 1934

Item 2: “The Orchid And The Daisy", 1934

Item 3: “Light in Darkness", 1934

Item 4: “The Silver Pendant", 1934

Item 5: “Love is Blind", 1934

Folder 5.3: Prose drafts

Item 1: “Cigarette", 1934

Item 2: “1934’s Greatest Vacation Combination… Chicago And A Century Of Progress", circa 1934

Folder 5.4: Prose drafts

Item 1: “The Prospective..”, undated

Item 2: “She’ll Not Be Missed", undated

Item 3: “Letter To A Civil War Widow", undated

Folder 5.5: Prose drafts, circa 1934

Box 293

Folder 1: Poetry Drafts

Item 1: “Blackness: Chicago", undated

Item 2: “Other Music", 1976

File 2: “Important”

Folder 2.1: Correspondence

Item 1: Correspondence to Alexandroff, Michael, undated

Item 2: Correspondence regarding Clifton, Lucille, undated

Folder 2.2: Prose drafts

Item 1: “James Baldwin", undated

Item 2: “Robert Ridley", undated

Folder 2.3: “Thinking of Elizabeth Steinberg On Friday, November 13, 1987", 1987

Folder 2.4: Notes and jottings, undated

Folder 2.5: “Important” Folder (folder 5 of 6), advertisements and publicity, 1978, undated

Folder 2.6: Newspaper and magazine clippings, 1971, 1979, 1987, undated

File 3: “Important Notes”

Folder 3.1: “State Street", undated

Folder 3.2: “Hoke Norris", undated

Folder 3.3: Notes and jottings, undated

Folder 3.4: Newspapers and magazines

Item 1: “Gwendolyn Brooks On Being black, shy, a success…,”, 1976

Item has been moved to Box 21 Oversized.

Item 2: “Important Notes” envelope, undated

Folder 4: “Interviewers and Interviewing", undated

Folder 5: “Judith” and other poems

Item 1: “Judith", undated

Item 2: "Hallowe’en", undated

Includes annotation by Gwendolyn Brooks.

Folder 6: “Kinko’s Only,” prose drafts

Item 1: Note to Brenda, undated

Item 2: “I’m Here” handwritten, undated

Item 3: “I’m Here” typed manuscript, undated

Two copies.

Item 4: “The Day Of The Gwendolyn", 1986

Item 5: “Kinko’s Only” envelope

File 7: “Lincoln Academy”

Folder 7.1: Correspondence and poems

Item 1: Correspondence to Billington, James H. (Library of Congress), 1989

Item 2: “Conducting", undated

Item 3: “To Fit In", undated

Item 4: “We", 1987

Folder 7.2: Speech drafts and poems

Item 1: Speech draft, undated

Item 2: Speech draft with “When handed a lemon, make lemonade” rhyme, undated

Item 3: Speech draft, undated

Item 4: “Familyhood", 1989

Item 5: Speech draft notes, undated

Folder 7.3: Notes and envelopes

Item 1: Notes and jottings regarding speech, undated

Item 2: “Lincoln Academy” envelope, undated

File 8: Manila Envelope

Folder 8.1: “To Disembark”

Item 1: Notebook with “To Disembark", undated

Item 2: Looseleaf notes on “To Disembark", undated

Folder 8.2-8.6: Prose drafts, circa 1930s

Folder 8.5 includes published copy of “An Old Appartment House,” undated.

Folder 9: “May 1994,” jottings and notes, undated

File 10: “More Notes + Original Pieces”

Folder 10.1: Correspondence to Dobbin, Mrs., undated

Folder 10.2: Poetry drafts

Item 1: “It is our business to be bothered", 1989

Item 2: “Brelve. A Battered Woman", 1990

Item 3: “Collage", 1987

Item 4: “To Readers", 1983

Folder 10.3: Poetry drafts

Item 1: “Jane Addams", 1989

Item 2: “Early Death", undated

Folder 10.4: Poetry drafts

Item 1: “To the Illinois Arts Council", 1985

Item 2: “On the Occasion of the Sarcastic Announcement Of A Clean Young Man…”, 1993

Folder 10.5: Prose drafts

Item 1: "First Humanitarianism", undated

Item 2: “To Fit In", undated

Item 3: “No matter what!”, undated

Folder 10.6: Prose drafts, undated, undated

Folder 10.7: “One of the Indelibles”, undated

Folder 10.8: Materials relating to Haki Madhubuti (folder 1 of 2), “Haki Madhubuti – Sonai Sanchez", undated

Folder 10.9: Materials relating to Haki Madhubuti (folder 2 of 2)

Folder 10.10: Notes and jottings, undated

File 11: “Nora’s Fina Perfected Copy of Children Coming Home”

Folder 11.1: Poetry Drafts, undated

Folder 11.2: Envelope, undated

Folder 12: Notes and fragments, 1985, undated

Folder 13: Notes on Chicago State University and Haki Madhubuti, 1998-1999, undated

File 14: “Old”

Folder 14.1: Poetry Drafts

Item 1: “Original Manuscripts” envelope, undated

Item 2: “Nora, 1989

Item 3: “If anything is translatable….”, undated

Item 4: “Building", undated

Item 5: “To A Black Giant who Said ‘Suicide Would Be A Way Out’”, 1976?

Item 6: “Now for the rigid recountings", undated

Item 7: “Music For Martyrs", undated

Item 8: “A Little Girls Poem On 1983", 1983

Item 9: “Old", undated

Item 10: “Old", undated

Item 11: “Song for Hughes", undated

Folder 14.2: Notepad, undated

Includes “Old” and “For Nora.”

Folder 14.3: Interviews

Item 1: Speech, Third World Press Anniversary, 1977

Item 2: “Old” envelope, undated

File 15: “Original Manuscript (typed + written) ‘Report from Part Two”

Folder 15.1: Correspondence regarding 1994 Jefferson Lecture for the National Endowment of the Humanities, 1993

Includes correspondence from Gwendolyn Brooks.

Folder 15.2: Prose drafts

Item 1: “Family Pictures", undated

Item 2: “The questioner is impatient", undated

Item 3: "Our People", undated

Item 4: "On Being An American", undated

Folder 15.3: “Family Pictures", undated

Folder 15.4: Prose drafts

Item 1: “Part Two Manuscript", undated

Item 2: “Familyhood", 1989

Folder 15.5: Prose drafts

Item 1: “Report From Part Two", undated

Item 2: “Warning to Children” by Robert Graves, undated

Folder 15.6: Prose Drafts

Item 1: “The newsman Paul Harvey…”, undated

Item 2: “What is a poet…", undated

Item 3: “There are wonderful white people…”, undated

Item 4: “Recovery? Repair? Revival?”, undated

Item 5: “I wish my people had not been ripped from Afrika…”, undated

Item 6: “Conservatism", undated

Item 7: “Notes for a future essay on Bad ‘Black’ Poetry", undated

Item 8: “Dolores Cross…”, undated

Item 9: “All these sly + slimy politicos use avoidance verbiage", undated

Item 10: “Henry Taylor, Haki of Chicago, Ishamel Reed, Joyce Joyce, Clara Claiborne Park", undated

Item 11: Then there’s lil Ms. Entrepreneur", 1994

Item 12: “The Poet Norman Jordan", undated

Item 13: “Guest List", undated

Item 14: “Comes the cry…", undated

Item 15: “Little speeches…”, undated

Item 16: “The Challenges of Freedom", undated

Item 17: Quote from “Riders to the Bloodred wrath", undated

Item 18: “These are the days", 1973

Item 19: “Blacks in general have long memories", undated

Item 20: “Nobody…”

Item 21: “The Poet Norman Jordan", undated

Item 22: “One of our Black Spokesmen listened…”

Item 23: “Boys boys", undated

Folder 15.7: Newspapers and magazine articles related to other subjects, 1991, 1994, undated

Folder 15.8: Works

Item 1: “Family Pictures” book, 1971

Framed Art 2: Folder, undated

Box 294

File 1: “Notes”

Folder 1.1: Correspondence

Item 1: Prettyman, John, undated

Includes only correspondence by Gwendolyn Brooks.

Item 2: Sinkler, Ms., 1991

Includes only correspondence by Gwendolyn Brooks.

Folder 1.2: Poetry drafts

Item 1: “I am Charles Stewart", undated

Item 2: “In Indianapolis, Indiana", undated

Item 3: "But you’ve still got God", 1991

Item 4: “Best Friends", 1991

Item 5: “Since There Is Always Poetry", undated

Item 6: “Easter Day", undated

Folder 1.3: Prose drafts

Item 1: “Carl Morse", undated

Item 2: “Most big strong men…”, 1990

Item 3: “Diversity", undated

Item 4: “In Memory of Roger Smith", 1979

Folder 1.4: Prose drafts

Item 1: “Must be", undated

Item 2: “Dr. psychiatrist?”, undated

Item 3: “My daughter dancing", undated

Item 4: “I have been interested…”, undated

Folder 1.5: Prose draft, “Your letter…”, undated

Folder 1.6: Prose draft, “Poets write about…”, undated

Folder 1.7-1.20: Notes and jottings, undated

Folder 1.21: Biography review, 1973

Folder 1.22: Funeral service program for Smith, Roger, 1979

Folder 1.23: “Gwendolyn Elizabeth” by Lambert, W.", 1990

Folder 1.24: Newspapers and magazine articles related to Gwendolyn Brooks, 1989, 1992, undated

One item removed to Box 521 OS.

Folder 1.25: Newspapers and magazine articles related to other subjects, 1986-1987, 1989, 1991-1992

Some items have been removed to Box 521 OS.

Folder 1.29: “Important Important,” Poetry drafts

Item 1: “2000 Haitians"

Item 2: “Snow is wet", undated

Item 3: “Alice Browning", 1985

Folder 1.30: "Important Important,” Prose drafts

Item 1: “Is war a viable?”, 1980

Item 2: “James Baldwin", undated

Folder 1.31: “Important Important,” notes and jottings, undated

Folder 1.32: “Important Notes for Autobiog.,” notes and jottings, undated

Folder 1.33: “Important Notes for Autobiog.,” McKinley & Pryor Vocal Duo business card, undated

Folder 1.34: “Important Notes for Autobiog.,” Amtrak’s Metropolitan lounge ticket, 1993

Folder 1.35: “Important Notes for Autobiog.,” financial records: receipts, undated

Folder 1.36: “Important Notes for Autobiog.,” Financial records: Bills, statements and invoices, 1992, undated

Folder 1.37: “Important Notes for Autobiog.,” Newspapers and magazine articles related to other subjects, 1993, undated

Folder 1.38: “Important Notes for Autobiog.,” “Sort”

Item 1: “Poetry – 367", 1993

Item 2: "Varied verse” by William Beyer, undated

Item 3: “How beautiful", undated

Item 4: "Important Notes For Autobiog.” envelope, undated

Folder 1.39: “Important Notes for Autobiog.,” Prose drafts, “The Black Family”, undated

Folder 1.40: “Important Notes for Autobiog.,” Prose drafts, "To The Young Graduates”, undated

Folder 1.41: “Important Notes for Autobiog.,” Prose drafts, notes and jottings", undated

Folder 1.42: “Important Notes for Autobiog.,” “About John Schultz’s Anthology”, undated

Removed for conservation.

Folder 1.43: “Maud Martha (Important)”, undated

Folder 1.44: Manila envelope, Correspondence by Gwendolyn Brooks, undated

Folder 1.45: Manila envelope, notes and jottings, undated

Folder 1.46: Manila envelope, undated

Folder 1.47: “Writing Plans", undated

Folder 1.48: Church notes, 1968

Folder 1.49: “Mouse", undated

Folder 1.50: Political notes and jottings, undated

Folder 1.51: Newspapers and magazine articles related to other subjects, 1989, undated

Folder 1.52: “Notes” envelope, undated

File 2: “Original Manuscript”

Folder 2.1: “The Clipping Club", undated

Folder 2.2: Poetry drafts

Item 1: “Johannesburg Boy", undated

Item 2: “Nelson Mandela", undated

Item 3: "Winnie", undated

Folder 2.3: Prose drafts

Item 1: “Raymond Brooks Jr.”, 1990

Item 2: “Robert Hayden", undated

Item 3: Paragraph from “Young Poets Primer", undated

Item 4: “Of Flowers and Fire and Flowers", undated

Folder 2.4: Prose drafts, undated

Item 1: “The last clean claim…”, 1987

Item 2: “As I…”, undated

Folder 2.5: Notes and jottings, undated

Box 295

File 1: “Notes + Clippings”

Folder 1.1: Correspondence to Blakely, Henry, undated

Folder 1.2: Poetry drafts, “R. P.”, undated

Folder 1.3: Prose drafts

Item 1: "Title: ‘Little Quick Pictures’”, undated

Item 2: Regarding poem “Sermon On The Warpland", undated

Item 3: “Blacks are always ahead of history…”, undated

Folder 1.4-1.8: Notes and jottings, undated

Folder 1.9: Return receipt for Saks Fifth Avenue, undated

Folder 1.10: Newspapers and magazine articles related to other subjects, 1994, 2000

Folder 1.11: Notes and jottings related to logistics, 1999, undated

Folder 1.12: Business cards related to logistics, undated

Folder 1.13: Social security card, undated

Folder 1.14-1.15: Notes and jottings, undated

Folder 1.16: Phone numbers and addresses, undated

Folder 1.17: Newspapers and magazine articles related to other subjects, undated

Folder 1.18: Poetry from The Song of Lawino by Okot p'Bitek, 1966

Folder 1.19: Poetry drafts

Item 1: “First School Days”, 2000

Item 2: “It’s School-Time!” and “We real cool", undated

Folder 1.20: Prose drafts, undated

Folder 1.21: Notes and jottings, undated

Folder 1.22: Gwendolyn Brooks event program from Morgan State University, 2000

Folder 1.23: Newspapers and magazine articles relating to Gwendolyn Brooks, undated

Folder 1.24: Prose draft, “Looking at me these days"

Folder 1.25: Prose drafts, notes and jottings, undated

Folder 1.26: “Why I Keep Off Television", undated

Folder 1.27: Empty envelope of Chocolate Chips theatre company addressed to Hicks, Shelley M., undated

Folder 1.28: Third World Press pamphlet, undated

Folder 1.29: Commune T-Shirt Company pamphlet, 2000

Folder 1.30: Manila envelope, undated

Folder 2: "Notes For Poetry", undated

Sealed envelope.

File 3: “Notes on existing Brooks books”

Folder 3.1: Black record book, notes and jottings, undated

Folder 3.2: Black record book, undated

Contains recipes, phone number, and addresses.

Folder 3.3-3.11: Black record book, “Northeastern Black Literature", undated

Folder 3.12: Blue memo notebook

Item 1: “Children Coming Home", undated

Item 2: “Notes", undated

Item 3: “Old", 1990

Item 4: Notes and jottings, undated

Item 5: “Don’t deny the diagnosis…”, undated

Item 6: “For autobiog.”, undated

Folder 3.13: Blue memo notebook, newspaper and magazine article related to other subjects, undated

Removed to Box 521 OS.

Folder 3.14: Pocket calendar labeled “Ghana,” prose draft, 1974

Folder 3.15: Pocket calendar labeled "Ghana", 1974

Includes phone numbers, addresses, and prose drafts.

Folder 3.16: Pocket calendar labeled "Ghana,” contact information for others, 1974

Folder 3.17: Pocket calendar labeled "Ghana,” “Elnira", undated

Folder 3.18: Pocket calendar labeled "Ghana,” notes and jottings, undated

Folder 3.19: Pocket calendar labeled "Ghana,” phone number and addresses, undated

Folder 3.20: Poetry drafts

Item 1: “Old Woman’s Rap,” handwritten, 1990

Item 2: “Old Woman’s Rap,” typed, 1990

Folder 3.21-3.22: Old age prose drafts, undated

Folder 3.23: Red address book, 1982

Includes prose drafts.

Folder 3.24: Red address book, newspapers and magazine articles related to other subjects, undated

Box 296

File 2: “Notes on existing Brooks books” (cont.)

Folder 2.25: Prose draft, “Ellen", 1990

Folder 2.26: Prose draft, "Walston was determined to be a writer”, undated

Folder 2.27-2.29: Notes and jottings, undated

Folder 2.29: Notebook, “Blacks: Volume II : Short Fictions”, undated

Includes “Children, Coming Home.”

Folder 2.30: Newspaper and magazine articles related to other subjects, Mandela, Nelson, 1990

Folder 2.31: Correspondence, Parks, Carole A., 1987

Folder 2.32: Prose draft, “Seeds For the Coming Hell and Health Together”, undated

Folder 2.33: Record book, notes and jottings, undated

Folder 2.34: Record book, 1962

Includes prose drafts.

Folder 2.35: Yellow notebook, empty envelope, undated

Folder 2.36: Yellow notebook, 1989-1990

Includes “1989 resolutions,” recipes, and notes and jottings.

Folder 2.37: Poetry drafts

Item 1: “I can go right to the root", 1988

Item 2: “Peace and the anticipation of peace…”, undated

Item 3: “Soon forgotten…”, undated

Item 4: "Going to Aunt Gertie’s", undated

Folder 2.38: Prose drafts, 1985, 1988, undated

Folder 2.39: Prose drafts, undated

Folder 2.40-2.41: Notes and jottings, undated

Folder 2.42: Phone numbers and addresses, undated

Folder 2.43: Newspaper and magazine articles related to Gwendolyn Brooks, “A Remarkable Narrative Poem”, 1969

Folder 2.44: Floral notebook, 1981

Includes prose drafts relating to Mandela, Nelson and Mandela, Winnie.

Folder 2.45: Floral notebook, green bookmark, undated

Folder 2.46: “Notes on existing Brooks books” manila envelope, undated

File 3: Poems, Essays, and Speeches, undated

Folder 3.1: “In here: Poems ‘Chicago State University’ and “Captain Dolores.’ Also Haki’s latest salute to me”, undated

Includes prose by Madhubuti, Haki (Don L. Lee).

Folder 3.2-3.3: “May 5 Speech/Other Speeches", 1986, undated

Folder 3.4: “All done July 12-13,” Poetry drafts

Item 1: “The Assassination of John F. Kennedy”, 1968

Item 2: “Malcolm X", 1968

Item 3: “Kitchenette Building", 1968

Item 4: “Martin Luther King", 1968

Folder 3.5-3.6: “All done July 12-13,” prose drafts, 1968

Box 297

File 1: “Originals of Graduation Speeches”

Folder 1.1: Poem and prose drafts

Item 1: Correspondence, Illinois Founders Insurance Co., 1988

Includes only correspondence from Gwendolyn Brooks.

Item 2: 3 copies of “Collage", 1999

Item 3: “To Fit In", undated

Folder 1.2: Poem and prose drafts

Item 1: "Jane Addams,” handwritten, undated

Item 2: “Jane Addams,” typed, 1989

Item 3: “Survive", undated

Item 4: “To Fit In", undated

Folder 1.3: Poem and prose drafts

Item 1: “To Fit In", undated

Item 2: "We", 1987

Item 3: “There are thousands of little things to say to young people”, undated

Folder 1.4: Prose drafts

Item 1: “The Black Family", undated

Item 2: “Read: To Those Of My Sisters", undated

Folder 1.5: Prose drafts

Item 1: “Forrestville, Commencement Day”, 1968

Item 2: “You young people", undated

Item 3: "It Is Our Business To Be Bothered", undated

Folder 1.6: Prose drafts, Addams, Jane, 1993, undated

Folder 1.7: Prose drafts, “The Life and Works of Paul Laurence Dunbar", 1987

Folder 1.8-1.9: Prose drafts, undated

Folder 1.10: Prose drafts, Brooks Junior High School, 1994

Folder 1.11-1.12: Prose drafts, 1990, undated

Folder 1.13: Prose drafts, Edward Jenner Elementary School and University of Vermont, 1986, 1997, undated

Folder 1.14-1.17: Prose drafts, undated

Folder 1.18: Public engagements

Item 1: “Jane Addams", 1989

Item 2: Gwendolyn Brooks Junior High School Promotion Exercises program, 1997

Item 3: Lecture program at Illinois College, undated

Folder 1.19: Public engagements, Gwendolyn Brooks Center, undated

One item moved to Box 521 OS.

Folder 1.20: Published works, “to disembark", 1981

Folder 2: Paperclipped grouping, poetry drafts

Item 1: “Behind the Scenes", undated

Item 2: “Last Inauguration of Mayor Harold Washington", 1987

Item 3: “Tornado Near Talladega", 1984

File 3: “Parts + Sundries” envelope

Folder 3.1: Correspondence

Item 1: Pope, Rhonda, Mary Anerison?, Harold White, and Sheila Carson, 1972

Item 2: Shaw, Katie, undated

Folder 3.2: Correspondence, unidentified, undated

Folder 3.3-3.7: Notes and jottings, undated

Folder 3.8: Notebook, notes and jottings, 1978, undated

Folder 3.9: Blank stationary paper, undated

Folder 3.10: Public engagement: phone numbers and addresses, undated

Folder 3.11-3.12: Newspapers and magazines: articles related to other subjects, 1979, undated

Folder 3.13: “Notes” envelope, correspondence, Alexandroff, Mike, undated

Includes only correspondence by Gwendolyn Brooks.

Folder 3.14-3.15: “Notes” envelope, notes and jottings, undated

Folder 3.16: “Notes” envelope, public engagements, phone numbers, undated

Folder 3.17: Prose drafts, “Poetry And/Or Life, undated

Folder 3.18-3.19: Notes and jottings, undated

Folder 3.20: Newspapers and magazines, undated

Folder 3.21: Poetry drafts

Item 1: “Then Lullaby", undated

Item 2: “Poem", undated

Folder 3.22: Prose drafts, undated

Folder 3.23-3.2: Notes and jottings, undated

Folder 3.26: Newspapers and magazines: articles related to Gwendolyn Brooks, 1973

Folder 3.27: Newspapers and magazines: articles related to other subjects, undated

Folder 3.28: Yellow notebook, undated

Folder 3.29: Yellow notebook, newspapers and magazines: articles related to other subjects, undated

Folder 3.30: “Parts + Sundries” envelope, undated

Box 298

File 1: “Pieces of Poetry”

Folder 1.1: Correspondence, Bolsouer, Ann, 1983

Folder 1.2: Poetry drafts, “The bullets are in the skins of my people…”, undated

Folder 1.3-1.4: Prose drafts, undated

Folder 1.5-1.7: Notes and jottings, undated

Folder 1.8: Public engagements: advertisements for non-Gwendolyn Brooks events, Metropolitan Community Church Tidings, 1982

Folder 1.9-1.10: Blank envelope, notes and jottings, undated

Folder 1.11-1.12: Blank envelope, prose drafts, undated

Folder 1.13: Blank envelope, notes and jottings, undated

Folder 1.14: Advertisements, 1984 conference, undated

Folder 1.15: Newspapers and magazines: articles related to other subjects, undated

Folder 1.16: “Pieces of Poetry” envelope, undated

File 2: “Poems, Articles, Typed Letters, etc.”

Folder 2.1: “Typed copies of Poems, etc. (Gwendolyn Brooks),” correspondence, Mueller, Mr., 1986

Includes “The Near – Johannesburg Boy,” “Whitney Young,” “Blacks,” “Tornado at Talladega,” “The Good Man,” and “Infirm.”

Folder 2.2: “Typed copies of Poems, etc. (Gwendolyn Brooks),” correspondence, Bruckner, Don, 1986

Includes only correspondence by Gwendolyn Brooks.

Folder 2.3: “Typed copies of Poems, etc. (Gwendolyn Brooks),” correspondence

Item 1: Madhubuti, Haki (Don L. Lee), 1986

Includes only correspondence by Gwendolyn Brooks.

Item 2: Mueller, Mr., 1986

Includes only correspondence by Gwendolyn Brooks.

Item 3: “Building", undated

Folder 2.4: “Typed copies of Poems, etc. (Gwendolyn Brooks),” Poetry drafts

Item 1: “Early Death", undated

Item 2: “To The Young Who Want To Die", 1985

Item 3: “Life is fast enough!”, undated

Item 4: “The Good Man", 1965

Item 5: “In Nairobi", undated

Item 6: “Infirm", undated

Folder 2.5: “Typed copies of Poems, etc. (Gwendolyn Brooks),” Poetry drafts

Item 1: “Martin Luther King Jr.”, undated

Item 2: “To Michael Who Is Young Russia", 1982

Item 3: “To A Proper Black Man", undated

Item 4: “To The Young Who Want To Die", undated

Two copies.

Folder 2.6: “Typed copies of Poems, etc. (Gwendolyn Brooks),” published works

Item 1: “To Those Of My Sisters Who Kept Their Naturals", undated

Item 2: “Tornado At Talladega", undated

Item 3: “Whitney Young", 1981

Item 4: Review of “The Life of Langston Hughes” by Rampersad, Arnold, undated

Folder 2.7: “Typed copies of Poems, etc. (Gwendolyn Brooks),” published works

Item 1: Review of “The Life of Langston Hughes” by Rampersad, Arnold, undated

Item 2: “The Near-Johannesburg Boy and other poems” inside cover draft, 1986

Folder 2.8-2.9: “Typed copies of Poems, etc. (Gwendolyn Brooks),” notes and jottings, undated

Folder 2.10: “Typed copies of Poems, etc. (Gwendolyn Brooks),” Picasso

Item 1: “The Chicago Picasso", 1986

Four copies.

Item 2: "The Chicago Picasso", 1967

Item 3: "Trapped” by Davidson, Aurelia, 1980

Item 4: “Typed copies of Poems, etc. (Gwendolyn Brooks)” manila envelope, undated

Folder 2.11: “Poems, Articles, Typed Letters, etc.” manila envelope, undated

File 3: Poetry and prose drafts

Folder 3.1: Poetry and prose drafts, undated

Includes “For Incipient Suicides.”

Folder 3.2: Prose drafts, undated

File 4: Poems, scraps, and green notebook

Folder 4.1: Poetry drafts

Item 1: “Bring on the spot brassieres!”, undated

Item 2: “My Mother", 1975

Item 3: "Primer For Blacks", undated

Item 4: “What shall we do about and for the City?”, undated

Folder 4.2: Poetry drafts, 1973, undated

Folder 4.3: Poetry drafts regarding Salisbury, Harrison, 1993

Folder 4.4: Green notebook, poetry draft, undated

Folder 4.5: Green notebook, prose drafts, undated

Folder 4.6: Green notebook, notes and jottings, 1992, undated

Folder 4.7: Green notebook, undated

Includes unpublished poem “Morning.”

File 5: “Scraps + Repetitions”

Folder 5.1: Prose drafts

Item 1: “Family Pictures", undated

Item 2: “Blacks", undated

Folder 5.2: Prose drafts

Item 1: “Our Name", undated

Item 2: “had better get together…”, undated

Item 3: “Salute your siblings…”, 1994

Item 4: Prose regarding “Family Pictures", undated

Folder 5.3: Published works, “The Message", undated

Folder 5.4: “Scraps and repetitions” prose drafts, undated

Folder 5.5: “Scraps and repetitions” envelope, undated

File 6: “Special Notes”

Folder 6.1: Correspondence, Contemporary Forum, 1993

Folder 6.2: Correspondence, Gerety, Tom and Adelia Moore (Trinity College), undated

Folder 6.3: Poetry drafts, “Boy Breaking Glass", undated

Folder 6.4: Poetry drafts, "To The Young Student", undated

Folder 6.5: Prose drafts, “Most Workers In The Wild", undated

Folder 6.6: Prose drafts, undated

Folder 6.7: Prose drafts, “Most Workers In The Wild", undated

Folder 6.8: Notes and jottings, undated

Folder 6.9: Advertisements and publicity for non-Gwendolyn Brooks events, “The Black Bookworm Mail-Order Company, undated

Folder 6.10: Works of others, “You’re Special Gwendolyn Brooks” by McGaray, Lela, undated

Folder 6.11: “Special Notes” envelope, undated

Folder 7: “Speech Notes,” notes and jottings, 1998, undated

Includes “I am still free verse and rhyme.”

Box 299