Archives Center, National Museum of American History

Guide to the Program in African American Culture Collection

Summary

Collection ID:
NMAH.AC.0408
Creators:
Maltsby, Portia
Smithsonian Institution. Program in African American Culture
Dates:
1850-2004, undated
Languages:
English
.
Physical Description:
100 Cubic feet
309 boxes
Repository:
The collection primarily documents the activities of the National Museum of American History's Program in African American Culture (PAAC) dating from 1979 through 2004. The Program in African American Culture (PAAC) created public programs documenting the black experience in the United States, as well as, other countries. Archival materials include photographs, programs, administrative files, magnetic tape, audiocassettes, U-matic and VHS video cassettes.

Scope and Contents

Scope and Contents
The collection consists primarily of administrative files, audio, video, and photographic documentation of the programs presented by the Program in African American Culture (PAAC) from 1979 through 2004. There is a substantial amount of material documenting research conducted by the Program in African American Culture (PAAC) for its programming. In addition, administrative paperwork relating to the day-to-day activities of the Program in African American Culture (PAAC) are also included in the materials.
The collection is divided into four series. Series one consists of the material created for each program and is arranged in chronological order. Series two contains background materials and publications relating to subjects of program interest and is arranged in alphabetical order. Series three includes correspondence, contracts, resumes of presenters and performers and other forms of administrative files. Series four are materials relating to Smithsonian Institution or outside programs and performances.

Arrangement

Arrangement
The collection is arranged into four series.
Series 1, Programs Files, 1979-2004, undated
Series 2, Research Files, 1850-1995, undated
Series 3, Administrative Files, 1850-1995, undated
Series 4, Interviews, Speaking Engagements and Performances, 1964-2000, undated

Biographical / Historical

Biographical / Historical
The Program in African American Culture (PAAC) is a Smithsonian Institution research and programming office located in the National Museum of American History that was created as an outgrowth of the African Diaspora component of the 1975 and 1976 Festival of American Folklife. Founding director, Bernice Johnson Reagon, developed the Program in Black Culture, as the PAAC was originally, as a center for researching and presenting topics of interest to the study of African American history and culture. Reagon is a song leader, composer, scholar, and social activist, who was a founding member of the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC) Freedom Singers in the Albany Movement in Georgia. The Program, which was transferred to the National Museum of American History in 1983, provided, and continues to provide, a forum for the presentation of traditional and historical forms of African American cultural expression. To accomplish this, Program in African American Culture (PAAC) staff conducted thorough research, which resulted in public programs including conferences, concerts, colloquia, and seminars on a wide range of topics.

Administration

Author
Vanessa Broussard-Simmons, Bryanna Bauer, Stacey Coates, Kendra Doyle, Sarah Gould, Ida Jones, Melissa Kauffman, and Wendy Shay
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Collection created by the Program in African Amerian Culture at the Smithsonian Institution from 1979-1986.
Processing Information
The collection was processed by Bryanna Bauer, intern, 2018; Stacey Coates, intern, 1992; Vicki Crawley, intern, 1990?; Kenya Doyle, intern, 2004; Julia S. Gibson, intern, 2019; Sarah Gould, intern, 1997; Ida Jones, archivist, 1997; Melissa Kaufman, intern, 2004; Danielle Snyder, intern, 2002; Justine Thomas, intern, 2018; Wendy A. Shay, archivist, 2004; and Vanessa Broussard- Simmons, archivist, 2019.

Digital Content

More …

Using the Collection

Conditions Governing Access
Collection is open for research. Access and use of audiovisual materials available in the Archives Center reading room or by requesting copies of audiovisual materials at RightsReproductions@si.edu
Preferred Citation
Program in African American Culture Collection, Archives Center, National Museum of American History.
Conditions Governing Use
Copyright restrictions exist. Collection items available for reproduction Other intellectual property rights may apply. Archives Center cost-recovery and use fees may apply when requesting reproductions.

Related Materials
Archives Center, National Museum of American History
Duke Ellington Collection (NMAH.AC0301)
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Eugene D. Smallwood Gospel Music Collection (NMAH.AC0456)
Wade in the Water Radio Series Collection (NMAH.AC0516)
Moses Moon Civil Rights Movement Audio Collection (NMAH.AC0556)
Bernice Reagon Johnson Collection of African American Sacred Music (NMAH.AC0653)
Edward and Gaye Collection of Duke Ellington Materials (NMAH.AC0704)
Ruth Koenig Mississippi Summer Collection (NMAH.AC0558)
Ed King Collection of Civil Rights Material (NMAH.AC0559)
Smithsonian Institution
Ralph Rinzler Folklife Archives and Collections
Smithsonian Folklife Festival records: 1969 Festival of American Folklife (CFCH.SFF.1969)
Smithsonian Institution Center for Folklife and Cultural Heritage, June 25-July 6, 1997 (CFCH.SFF.1997)
Diana Davies Photographs (CFCH.DAVIE)
Smithsonian Institution Archivesemph>
Oral History Interview with Bernice Reagon Johnson, 1986 (Accession 009612)
National Museum of American History, Program in African American Culture, 1982-2002 (Accession 05-116)
National Museum of American History, Program in African American Culture, 1983-2004 (Accession 06-002)
National Museum of American History, Program in African American Culture, 1972-1999 (Accession 08-107)
National Museum of American History, Program in African American Culture, 1975-2000 (Accession 12-102)
National Museum of American History, Program in African American Culture, 1976-1999 (Accession 12-358)
National Museum of American History, Program in African American Culture, 1980-1992, 1961 (Accession 96-147)
Duke Ellington Collection Records, circa 1985-1993 (Accession 98-129)
National Museum of American History, Program in Black American Culture, circa 1976-1987 (Accession 98-136)
Smithsonian Institution. Division of Performing Arts (Accession 84-012)

Keywords

Keywords table of terms and types.
Keyword Terms Keyword Types
Civil rights Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
African American history Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
African American religion Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Gospel music Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
African Americans -- Music Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Civil rights movements Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Audiocassettes Genre Form Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Audiotapes Genre Form Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Jazz Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Videotapes Genre Form Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Photographs -- 1980-2000 Genre Form Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid

Archives Center, National Museum of American History
P.O. Box 37012
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