Negro Actors Guild of America

The Negro Actors Guild was established in 1936 in New York City as a welfare and benevolent organization for black performers. The Guild was composed of six committees: finance, administrative, membership, entertainment, sick and welfare, with an executive board to oversee the activities of the committees.

The finance committee kept records of all expenditures accrued; the administrative committee's duties were to oversee all office procedures; the membership committee sponsored drives, promoted goodwill among the members and was responsible for raising funds; and the entertainment committee organized and sponsored a wide variety of benefits and programs whose proceeds were used primarily to assist needy entertainers. Two other core committees were the sick committee which oversaw visitations of the sick in homes and hospitals, and the distribution of gifts; and the welfare committee, which carried out the primary aim and purpose of the Guild: to give financial aid to entertainers. The Negro Actors Guild also published a quarterly journal, "The Negro Actor" from 1938-1940, which was superceded by a monthly newsletter. The Guild collapsed in 1981 due to the mishandling of funds and factional infighting.

From the description of Negro Actors Guild of America records, 1904-1982, 1937-1982 (bulk). (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 122615787

The Negro Actors Guild was established in 1936 in New York City as a welfare and benevolent organization for black performers. The Guild was composed of six committees: finance, administrative, membership, entertainment, sick and welfare, with an executive board to oversee the activities of the committees.

The finance committee kept records of all expenditures accrued; the administrative committee's duties were to oversee all office procedures; the membership committee sponsored drives, promoted goodwill among the members and was responsible for raising funds; and the entertainment committee organized and sponsored a wide variety of benefits and programs whose proceeds were used primarily to assist needy entertainers. Two other core committees were the sick committee which oversaw visitations of the sick in homes and hospitals, and the distribution of gifts; and the welfare committee, which carried out the primary aim and purpose of the Guild: to give financial aid to entertainers. The Negro Actors Guild also published a quarterly journal, "The Negro Actor" from 1938-1940, which was superceded by a monthly newsletter. The Guild collapsed in 1981 due to the mishandling of funds and factional infighting.

From the guide to the Negro Actors Guild of America records, 1904-1982, 1937-1982, (The New York Public Library. Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture, Manuscripts, Archives and Rare Books Division.)