W.E.B. DuBois
The Papers of W.E.B. DuBois, 1877-1965
As one of the earliest and most influential spokesmen for African-American liberation, W.E.B. DuBois pioneered many of the strategies and programs of the American civil rights movement. This unique microfilm collection of DuBois’s papers documents the private thoughts and public achievements of this radical leader for students of African-American studies, American history, and political science.
This comprehensive collection reveals the many aspects of DuBois’s illustrious career: As the nation’s first black sociologist, DuBois dispelled the popular myths of racial inferiority through his scientific research. He later became the leading proponent of black separatism, calling for direct civil rights action as the only means of achieving social, political, and economic equality. He became one of the first leaders of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) in 1910 DuBois was a historian and a prolific writer with 21 books and countless journal articles to his credit. Most famous of his books was The Souls of Black Folk (1903), and its lasting impact on both white and black consciousness is well documented in this collection. As an internationally known author and activist DuBois corresponded with some of the most important figures of his era. Researchers can trace the changes in DuBois’s political and social philosophy over the years as he shifted more and more toward radicalism and eventually became a member of the Communist Party of America at the age of 93 (89 reels).
FINDING AID: The Papers of W.E.B. DuBois, 1788-1965
FBI File on W.E.B. DuBois
NAACP founder W.E.B. DuBois was investigated by the FBI for suspected Communist ties. In 1951, the Peace Information Center he was running was indicted as a suspected Communist “front” organization. The file contains coverage on this event and spans the entire decade. The last section of the file consists of newspaper clippings about Du Bois (1 reel).
FINDING AID: FBI File on W.E.B. DuBois