Cullen, Countee, 1903-1946

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African-American poet, anthologist, translator, playwright and an important figure in the Harlem Renaissance. Cullen was graduated from De Witt Clinton High School in New York City and from New York University in 1925. While attending NYU he held a part-time job as a doorman at the Grolier Club, a New York City bibliophile society. He took post-graduate work at Harvard University and received an M.A.

From the description of TLS : Cambridge, Massachusetts, to Frederick B. Coykendall, New York City, 1925 Nov. 7. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 122624105

This collection was established in 1942 by Harold Jackman (b. 1901 d. 1961), a New York City teacher, theater director, and patron of the arts. Born in London, Jackman was educated in New York, where he began a lifetime friendship with Countee Cullen. Jackman received a B.A. degree from New York University in 1923 and then a master's degree from Columbia University. A dedicated teacher, Jackman was also active in many organizations including the Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, the NAACP, National Urban League and the American Society of African Culture. He was a life member and served on the executive board of the Negro Actors Guild. He was an editor of the Phylon from 1944-1961. Jackman was a friend of photographer Carl Van Vechten and helped him to build the James Weldon Johnson Memorial Collection of Negro Arts and Letters at Yale University, making donations and asking others to do so. At the encouragement of a friend, Jackman decided to establish a similar program at Atlanta University where the Harold Jackman Collection of Contemporary Negro Life was established. In 1961, at the death of Harold Jackman, the collection was renamed to honor both Cullen and Jackman.

From the description of The Countee Cullen/Harold Jackman Memorial Collection. 1880-1995. (Australian National University). WorldCat record id: 51769802

Countee Cullen was a major figure in the Harlem Renaissance. Primarily known as a poet, he also wrote children's books, plays, and a novel. Among his best known works are Color, Copper sun, and Ballad of the brown girl. William Fuller Brown, Jr. was a research physisist and an electrical engineering professor at the University of Minnesota from 1957-1973.

From the description of Correspondence, 1918-1939 <bulk 1918-1927> (University of Minnesota, Minneapolis). WorldCat record id: 62439399

Recognized at an early age for his poetic gift, Cullen became one of the leading lights of the Harlem Renaissance. Following the success of his volumes of poems, he studied in France on a Guggenheim Fellowship, married Yolande DuBois, the daughter of W.E.B. DuBois, and taught in the New York City school system.

From the guide to the Countee Cullen Collection, 1923-1946, (Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library)

The Countee Cullen Collection contains Correspondence and Writings, including "The Black Christ" and "One Way to Heaven."

From the description of Countee Cullen Collection 1923-1946. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 86131491

From the description of Countee Cullen Collection 1923-1946. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 702148303

African American poet.

From the description of Countee Cullen correspondence, 1923-1943. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 70984397

American author.

From the description of Letter, 1932 March 15, Detroit, Michigan, to "Dear Miss Gates" [manuscript]. (University of Virginia). WorldCat record id: 647828204

Countee Cullen--poet, columnist, editor, novelist, playwright, children's writer, and educator--was perhaps the most representative voice of the Harlem Renaissance.

From the description of Countee Cullen letter, ca. 1932. (Pennsylvania State University Libraries). WorldCat record id: 51101928

Born in 1903, Countee Cullen was a major figure in the Harlem Renaissance. Primarily known as a poet, he also wrote children's books, plays, and a novel. Born Countee Porter, he was adopted by Rev. Frederick Cullen, a Methodist minister, and attended DeWitt Clinton High School in New York City. He began writing poetry as a teenager and edited his high school newspaper and literary magazine. Cullen received degrees from New York University and Harvard. He married Yolande DuBois, daughter of W.E.B. DuBois, in 1928, but they divorced in 1930. He was a French teacher at Frederick Douglas Junior High School, where one of his students was James Baldwin. He married Ida Mae Roberson in 1940.

Cullen's poetry was in the lyric romantic tradition of Keats and Shelley, though he often (but not exclusively) touched upon racial concerns. Among is best known works are Color, Copper Sun, and The Ballad of the Brown Girl. He was writing the book of the musical St. Louis Woman when he died in 1946.

William Fuller Brown, Jr. was born in Lyon Mountain, N.Y. in 1904 and received degrees from Cornell and Columbia Universities. He was a research physicist at several firms including Sun Oil Co. and 3M. He later served as an electrical engineering professor at the University of Minnesota from 1957-1973. He died in St. Paul, Minnesota in 1983.

From the guide to the Countee Cullen correspondence, 1918-1939, (bulk 1918-1927), (University of Minnesota Libraries Givens Collection of African-American Literature, Special Collections and Rare Books [scrbg])

Archival Resources
Role Title Holding Repository
creatorOf Cullen, Countee, 1903-1946. Typed letter signed Countee Cullen to: Mr. Palmer March 10, 1926. Wellesley College
creatorOf Cohen, Cecil, 1894-1967. Epitaph for a poet / words by Countee Cullen ; music by Cecil Cohen. University of Pennsylvania Libraries, Van Pelt Library
creatorOf Manny, Frank Addison, 1868-1954. Frank Addison Manny papers, 1890-1955. Bentley Historical Library
creatorOf Cullen, Countee, 1903-1946. Countee Cullen correspondence, 1923-1943. Library of Congress
creatorOf Walker, George, 1922-. Lament / poem by Countee Cullen ; [music by] George Walker. University of Pennsylvania Libraries, Van Pelt Library
creatorOf Cullen, Countee, 1903-1946. Typed letter signed Countee Cullen to: "My dear Miss Bates" June 12, 1926. Wellesley College
creatorOf Cullen, Countee, 1903-1946. Correspondence, 1918-1939 <bulk 1918-1927> University of Minnesota, Minneapolis
referencedIn Alexander Gumby Collection of Negroiana, [ca. 1800]-1981 Columbia University. Rare Book and Manuscript Library
referencedIn The Moldenhauer Archives at Harvard University: Manuscript music compositions, 1880-1985. Houghton Library
creatorOf Cullen, Countee, 1903-1946. Letter, 1926, Oct. 22, New York, to Mrs. Wyman. Brown University Archives, John Hay Library
referencedIn Idella Purnell Stone Personal Papers and Records of, Palms, Magazine TCRC98-A24., 1922-1960 Harry Ransom Humanities Research Center
referencedIn Johnson, Charles Spurgeon, 1893-1956. Charles Spurgeon Johnson records, 1858-1956. John Hope and Aurelia E. Franklin Library. Special Collections & Archives
creatorOf Cullen, Countee, 1903-1946. Resquiescam [manuscript]. University of Virginia. Library
referencedIn Gumby, L. S. Alexander, 1885-1961,. Alexander Gumby collection of Negroiana, [ca. 1800]-1981. Columbia University in the City of New York, Columbia University Libraries
referencedIn West, Dorothy, 1909-. Papers, 1914-1985 (inclusive). Arthur and Elizabeth Schlesinger Library on the History of Women in America‏
referencedIn Mary Margaret, Sister. Sister Mary Margaret Countee Cullen research materials, 1952-1961. Campbell University, Wiggins Memorial Library
creatorOf Cullen, Countee, 1903-1946. Autograph letter signed Countee Cullen to: Miss [Elizabeth] Manwaring October 15, [19]30. Wellesley College
creatorOf Cullen, Countee, 1903-1946. Autograph letter signed Countee Cullen to: Frances April 26, 1936. Wellesley College
creatorOf Cullen, Countee, 1903-1946. TLS : Cambridge, Massachusetts, to Frederick B. Coykendall, New York City, 1925 Nov. 7. Grolier Club
creatorOf Spivak, John Louis, 1897- . Papers, 1929-1948 (bulk 1929-1933). Harry Ransom Humanities Research Center
creatorOf Cullen, Countee, 1903-1946. Autograph letter signed Countee Cullen to: Miss Manwaring November 14, 1930. Wellesley College
creatorOf Lawrence, William, 1895-1981. The freedom song / words by Countee Cullen ; music by William Lawrence. University of Pennsylvania Libraries, Van Pelt Library
creatorOf Cullen, Countee, 1903-1946. Letter to Wilma Seavey : Paris : ALS, 1929 Dec. 5. UC Berkeley Libraries
creatorOf Sterling, George, 1869-1926. Papers of George Sterling, 1895-1927. Huntington Library, Art Collections & Botanical Gardens
creatorOf Locke, Alain LeRoy, 1886-1954. Papers, 1841-1983 (bulk 1898-1954). Moorland-Spingarn Research Center, Howard University
referencedIn Wright, Richard, 1908-1960. Untitled speech, on African-American literature [manuscript] / by Richard Wright, undated. University of Virginia. Library
referencedIn James Weldon Johnson and Grace Nail Johnson papers, circa 1850-2005, 1900-1976 Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library
referencedIn McKay, Claude, 1890-1948. Claude McKay collection, 1853-1990 (bulk 1922-1948). Yale University Library
creatorOf Nance, Ethel Ray, 1899-1992. A man most himself : typescript, 1922-1997. UC Berkeley Libraries
creatorOf Gorecki, Thaddeus. Osawatamie Brown / poem by Countee Cullen (after a visit to the grave of John Brown) ; music by Thaddeus Gorecki. University of Pennsylvania Libraries, Van Pelt Library
referencedIn Larsen, Nella. Nella Larsen Letters, 1928. New York Public Library System, NYPL
referencedIn Free Library of Philadelphia Collection of Literary Manuscripts, 1666-1990 Free Library of Philadelphia: Rare Book Department
referencedIn Autograph File, C Houghton Library
creatorOf Barbara Mae Watson papers, 1929-1984 Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture. Rare Books, Manuscripts, and Archives Section
creatorOf Cullen, Countee, 1903-1946. Papers. 1921-1979. Tulane University, Amistad Research Center
referencedIn Manny, Frank Addison, 1868-1954. Papers, 1890-1955 Bentley Historical Library
creatorOf Spencer, Anne, 1882-1975. Papers of Anne Spencer and the Spencer family [manuscript], 1829, 1864-2007. University of Virginia. Library
referencedIn Sister Mary Margaret Countee Cullen research materials, 1952-1961 Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture. Rare Books, Manuscripts, and Archives Section
referencedIn Nella Larsen Letters, 1928 Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture. Rare Books, Manuscripts, and Archives Section
referencedIn Madgett, Naomi Cornelia Long. Naomi Long Madget papers, 1932-1993. John Hope and Aurelia E. Franklin Library. Special Collections & Archives
creatorOf Countee Cullen Collection, 1923-1946 Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library
referencedIn Lawrence, William, 1895-1981. William Lawrence papers, ca. 1919-1988. College of Charleston, Marlene and Nathan Addlestone Library
referencedIn Childers, James Saxon, 1899-1965. James Saxon Childers papers, 1789-1941 [manuscript]. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
creatorOf Cullen, Countee, 1903-1946. To a brown girl / Countee Cullen. SUNY Geneseo, Milne Library
referencedIn Braithwaite, William Stanley, 1878-1962. William Stanley Braithwaite collection, 1899-1939. Morgan State University
creatorOf Madgett, Naomi Cornelia Long. Naomi Long Madgett and Lotus Press papers. 1937-2004 (bulk 1970-2003). University of Michigan
creatorOf Cohen, Cecil, 1894-1967. I have wrapped my dreams in a silken cloth / words by Countee Cullen ; music by Cecil Cohen. University of Pennsylvania Libraries, Van Pelt Library
referencedIn Arna Bontemps Papers, 1927-1968 Syracuse University. Library. Special Collections Research Center
creatorOf Cullen, Countee, 1903-1946. Letter, 1932 March 15, Detroit, Michigan, to "Dear Miss Gates" [manuscript]. University of Virginia. Library
referencedIn Jean Wagner papers, 1945-1983 (inclusive), 1957-1963 (bulk). Houghton Library
referencedIn Van Vechten, Carl, 1880-1964. Photograph of Countee Cullen, 1941?. University of Virginia. Library
creatorOf Delaney, Sadie P., 1889-1958. Sadie P. Delaney papers, 1921-1958. Campbell University, Wiggins Memorial Library
referencedIn Carrington, C. Glenn, 1904-1975. C. Glenn Carrington papers, 1923-1965. Emory University. Special Collections and Archives
creatorOf Cullen, Countee, 1903-1946. Autograph letter signed Countee Cullen to: Miss Bates June 24, 1926. Wellesley College
referencedIn The Virgil Thomson Papers, 1804-1990 (inclusive) Irving S. Gilmore Music Library
referencedIn J. B. Matthews Papers, 1862-1986 and undated David M. Rubenstein Rare Book & Manuscript Library
creatorOf Bontemps, Arna, 1902-1973. St. Louis woman : script, 1945-1946. UC Berkeley Libraries
creatorOf Cullen, Countee, 1903-1946. Typed letter signed Countee Cullen to: Mrs. Burgess May 21, 1926. Wellesley College
creatorOf Anderson, Robert Earle. For a poet / [words by] Countee Cullen ; [music by] Robert Earle Anderson. University of Pennsylvania Libraries, Van Pelt Library
referencedIn Barbara Mae Watson papers, 1929-1984 Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture. Rare Books, Manuscripts, and Archives Section
referencedIn William Grant Still Papers, 1877-1992 David M. Rubenstein Rare Book & Manuscript Library
referencedIn William Stanley Braithwaite Papers, 1916-1962 Syracuse University. Library. Special Collections Research Center
referencedIn Claude McKay collection, 1853-1990, 1922-1948 Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library
referencedIn Richard Wright papers, 1927-1978 Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library
referencedIn Witter Bynner papers, 1829-1965. Houghton Library
creatorOf Stone, Idella P., 1901- . Idella P. Stone Personal Papers and Records of Palms, 1922-1960. Harry Ransom Humanities Research Center
referencedIn Frank, Nino. Bifur archive 1921-1930. The University of Tulsa, McFarlin Library
referencedIn Sadie P. Delaney papers, 1921-1958 Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture. Rare Books, Manuscripts, and Archives Section
referencedIn Johnson, Charles Spurgeon, 1893-1956. Papers. 1866-1965. Tulane University, Amistad Research Center
creatorOf Martin, Charles Douglass, 1873-1942. Charles D. Martin collection, 1889-1942. North Carolina Central University, James E. Shepard Memorial Library
creatorOf Cullen, Countee, 1903-1946. Countee Cullen letter, ca. 1932. Pennsylvania State University Libraries
creatorOf Karamu House. Karamu House records, 1914-1979. Western Reserve Historical Society, Research Library
creatorOf Cullen, Countee, 1903-1946. The Countee Cullen/Harold Jackman Memorial Collection. Atlanta University Center, Robert W. Woodruff Library
referencedIn John L. Spivak Papers TXRC93-A6., 1929-1948 Harry Ransom Humanities Research Center
referencedIn Gumby, L. S. Alexander, 1885-1961,. Collection of Negroiana, [ca. 1800]-1981, [microform]. Columbia University in the City of New York, Columbia University Libraries
creatorOf Cullen, Countee, 1903-1946. Autograph letter signed Countee Cullen to: Miss [Elizabeth] Manwaring November 4, 1930. Wellesley College
creatorOf Cullen, Countee, 1903-1946. TLS, 1941 September 7 : New York, N.Y. to Jessica Smith. Haverford College Library
creatorOf Countee Cullen correspondence, 1918-1939, (bulk 1918-1927) University of Minnesota Libraries. Givens Collection of African-American Literature, Special Collections and Rare Books [scrbg]
creatorOf Marsh, Chas. H. (Charles Howard), 1885-1956. If you should go / poem by Countee Cullen ; music by Charles H. Marsh. University of Pennsylvania Libraries, Van Pelt Library
creatorOf Lawrence, William, 1895-1981. Dear friends and gentle hearts / words by Countee Cullen ; music by William Lawrence. University of Pennsylvania Libraries, Van Pelt Library
referencedIn Caliver, Ambrose, 1894-1962. Ambrose Caliver collection, 1912-1938. John Hope and Aurelia E. Franklin Library. Special Collections & Archives
creatorOf Carpenter, Margaret Haley. Papers of Margaret Haley Carpenter [manuscript], 1898-1985, bulk 1953-1985. University of Virginia. Library
Role Title Holding Repository
Relation Name
associatedWith Anderson, Robert Earle. person
associatedWith Baldwin, James, 1924-1987. person
associatedWith Bates, Katharine Lee, 1859-1929. person
associatedWith Bearden, Romare, 1911-1988. person
associatedWith Bethune, Mary McLeod, 1875-1955. person
associatedWith Bontemps, Arna Wendell, 1902-1973. person
correspondedWith Braithwaite, William Stanley, 1878-1962. person
associatedWith Brown, Sterling Allen, 1901-1989. person
correspondedWith Brown, William Fuller, 1904- person
associatedWith Bruce, Roscoe Conkling, 1879-1950. person
associatedWith Buck, Pearl S. (Pearl Sydenstricker), 1892-1973. person
correspondedWith Bynner, Witter, 1881-1968 person
correspondedWith Caliver, Ambrose, 1894-1962. person
associatedWith Carpenter, Margaret Haley. person
associatedWith Carrington, C. Glenn, 1904-1975. person
associatedWith Childers, James Saxon, 1899-1965. person
associatedWith Cohen, Cecil, 1894-1967. person
associatedWith Coykendall, Frederick B., person
associatedWith Cullen, Charles, 1903-1946. person
associatedWith Cullen, Frederick Asbury. person
associatedWith Cullen, Ida. person
associatedWith Delaney, Sadie P., 1889-1958. person
associatedWith Dewitt Clinton High School (New York, N.Y.) corporateBody
associatedWith Dodson, Owen, 1914-1983. person
associatedWith Douglas, Aaron, 1898- person
associatedWith DuBois, W. E. B., 1868-1963. person
associatedWith Dunbar, Paul Laurence, 1872-1906. person
correspondedWith Frank, Nino. person
associatedWith Free Library of Philadelphia. corporateBody
associatedWith Gorecki, Thaddeus. person
correspondedWith Greenway, Cornelius person
associatedWith Grolier Club. corporateBody
associatedWith Gumby, L. S. Alexander, 1885-1961, person
associatedWith Handy, W. C. (William Christopher), 1873-1958. person
associatedWith Harold Jackman Memorial Committee. corporateBody
associatedWith Horne, Frank, 1899-1974. person
associatedWith Hughes, Langston, 1902-1967. person
associatedWith Hunter, Alberta, 1895-1984. person
associatedWith Hurston, Zora Neale. person
correspondedWith Johnson, Charles Spurgeon, 1893-1956. person
associatedWith Johnson, Georgia Douglas, 1886-1966. person
associatedWith Johnson, James Weldon, 1871-1938. person
associatedWith Johnson, James Weldon, 1971-1938. person
associatedWith Karamu House. corporateBody
associatedWith Larsen, Nella person
associatedWith Larsen, Nella. person
associatedWith Lawrence, Jacob, 1917- person
associatedWith Lawrence, William, 1895-1981. person
associatedWith Locke, Alain LeRoy, 1886-1954. person
correspondedWith Madgett, Naomi Cornelia Long. person
associatedWith Manny, Frank Addison, 1868-1954. person
associatedWith Manwaring, Elizabeth Wheeler, b. 1879. person
associatedWith Marsh, Chas. H. (Charles Howard), 1885-1956. person
associatedWith Martin, Charles Douglass, 1873-1942. person
associatedWith Mary Margaret, Sister. person
associatedWith Matthews, J. B. (Joseph Brown), 1894-1966 person
associatedWith McKay, Claude, 1890-1948. person
associatedWith Mencken, H. L. (Henry Louis), 1880-1956. person
associatedWith Moldenhauer, Hans person
associatedWith Nance, Ethel Ray, 1899-1992. person
associatedWith Nelson, Alice Dunbar, 1875-1935. person
associatedWith O'Brian, Mr. person
associatedWith Ovington, Mary White, 1865-1951. person
associatedWith Palmer, George Herbert, 1842-1933. person
associatedWith Pound, Ezra, 1885-1972. person
associatedWith Robeson, Paul, 1898-1976. person
associatedWith Seavey, Wilma. person
associatedWith Smith, Jessica, 1895- person
associatedWith Spencer, Anne, 1882-1975. person
associatedWith Spivak, John L., 1897-1981 person
associatedWith Spivak, John Louis, 1897- . person
associatedWith Sterling, George, 1869-1926. person
associatedWith Still, William Grant, 1895-1978 person
associatedWith Stone, Idella Purnell, 1901- person
associatedWith Thomson, Virgil, 1896- person
associatedWith Van Vechten, Carl, 1880-1964. person
associatedWith Voorhees, Lillian Welch, 1896-1972. person
associatedWith Wagner, Jean, 1919- person
associatedWith Walker, George, 1922- person
associatedWith Walker, Margaret, 1915-1998. person
associatedWith Waller, Fats, 1904-1943. person
associatedWith Washington, Fredi, 1903-1994. person
associatedWith Watson, Barbara Mae, 1918-1983. person
associatedWith West, Dorothy, 1909- person
associatedWith Whipper, Leigh. person
associatedWith Woodruff, Hale, 1900-1980. person
associatedWith Wright, Richard, 1764-1836. person
associatedWith Wright, Richard, 1908-1960. person
associatedWith Wyman, John C., Mrs., person
associatedWith Young Women's Christian Association of the U.S.A. corporateBody
Place Name Admin Code Country
New York (State)--New York
American
Subject
African American authors
African American authors
African American authors
African American novelists
African American poets
African American poets
African Americans in the performing arts
Authors, American
American poetry
Poets, American
Harlem Renaissance
High school students' writings, American
Sheet music
Occupation
African
Poets, American
Poets
Activity

Person

Birth 1903-05-30

Death 1946-01-09

Americans

Latin,

English,

French

Information

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Ark ID: w6s1833x

SNAC ID: 20380748