Angelou, Maya, 1928-2014

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Maya Angelou (b. Marguerite Annie Johnson, April 4, 1928, St. Louis, MO–d. May 28, 2014, Winston-Salem, NC) was an American poet, singer, memoirist, and civil rights activist. She published seven autobiographies, three books of essays, several books of poetry, and was credited with a list of plays, movies, and television shows spanning over 50 years.

She became a poet and writer after a series of occupations as a young adult, including fry cook, sex worker, nightclub dancer and performer, cast member of the opera Porgy and Bess, coordinator for the Southern Christian Leadership Conference, and journalist in Egypt and Ghana during the decolonization of Africa. She was an actor, writer, director, and producer of plays, movies, and public television programs. In 1982, she was named the first Reynolds Professor of American Studies at Wake Forest University in Winston-Salem, North Carolina.

She was active in the Civil Rights Movement and worked with Martin Luther King Jr. and Malcolm X. In 1993, Angelou recited her poem "On the Pulse of Morning" (1993) at President Bill Clinton's inauguration, making her the first poet to make an inaugural recitation since Robert Frost at the inauguration of John F. Kennedy in 1961.

Archival Resources
Role Title Holding Repository
referencedIn Lerner, Gerda, 1920-. Papers, 1941-2001 (inclusive). Arthur and Elizabeth Schlesinger Library on the History of Women in America‏
creatorOf Fisher, M. F. K. (Mary Frances Kennedy), 1908-1992. Typed letter signed : Last House [Glen Ellen, California], to David Pleydell-Bouverie, 1991 Oct. 28. Pierpont Morgan Library.
referencedIn Actors' Equity Association. Paul Robeson award ceremonies collection [sound recording], 1978-1996. New York Public Library System, NYPL
referencedIn Monterey Public Library. California History Room. Authors clippings : "A" [surname] folder 1913-1990 Monterey Public Library
referencedIn Harper's Magazine Records, 1847-1983, (bulk 1940-1983) Library of Congress. Manuscript Division
creatorOf Elisofon, Eliot. Papers, 1930-1988 (bulk, 1942-1973). Harry Ransom Humanities Research Center
referencedIn Records of, Sojourner, (inclusive), (bulk), 1920-2004, 1975-2002 Arthur and Elizabeth Schlesinger Library on the History of Women in America‏
referencedIn Patrick Kelly archive, 1982-1994, 1985-1989 Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture. Rare Books, Manuscripts, and Archives Section
referencedIn Smith, Charlotte. Papers of Charlotte Smith, 1961-1996. University of Iowa Libraries
referencedIn Dedication of new memorial at the African Burial Ground National Monument in New York City, New York, with keynote address by Secretary Dirk Kempthorne [and presentations by dignitaries including New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg, New York Senator Charles Schumer, General Services Administrator Lurita Doan, National Park Service Deputy Director for Operations Dan Wenk, African Burial Ground Superintendent Tara Morrison, New York Public Library Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture Director Howard Dodson, poet and novelist Maya Angelou, and actors Sidney Poitier and Avery Brooks.] National Archives at College Park
referencedIn Guide to the Ricardo Sánchez Papers, 1941-1995 Stanford University. Department of Special Collections and University Archives
creatorOf Fisher, M. F. K. (Mary Frances Kennedy), 1908-1992. Typed letter signed : Last House [Glen Ellen, California], to David Pleydell-Bouverie, 1975 Nov. 3. Pierpont Morgan Library.
referencedIn Tom Feelings artwork., 1958-2003 Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library
creatorOf Fisher, M. F. K. (Mary Frances Kennedy), 1908-1992. Typed letter signed with initials : Last House [Glen Ellen, California], to David Pleydell-Bouverie, 1981 Oct. 19. Pierpont Morgan Library.
contributorOf James Baldwin: The Price of the Ticket National Archives at College Park
creatorOf Fisher, M. F. K. (Mary Frances Kennedy), 1908-1992. Collection of typed letters signed (184), autograph letters signed (19), autograph and typed postcards signed (15), and autograph notes signed (7) : St. Helena, California, Last House [Glen Ellen, California], and Aix-en-Provence, to David Pleydell-Bouverie, 1968-1992. Pierpont Morgan Library.
creatorOf Angelou, Maya. Caged bird / by Maya Angelou. University of Minnesota, Minneapolis
referencedIn Papers of M.F.K. Fisher, 1860-1995 (inclusive) 1929-1992 (bulk) Arthur and Elizabeth Schlesinger Library on the History of Women in America‏
referencedIn Sam Ragan Papers, 1948-1996 University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Library. Southern Historical Collection
referencedIn Maya Angelou collection [ca.1928-ongoing]. Museum of Performance & Design
referencedIn Rogers, Fred. WTTW golden apple award : completed text : speech (document) Saint Vincent College, Saint Vincent Library
referencedIn Angelou, Maya Gerald R. Ford Library
creatorOf Fisher, M. F. K. (Mary Frances Kennedy), 1908-1992. Typed letter signed with initials : Last House [Glen Ellen, California], to David Pleydell-Bouverie, 1983 Jan. 16. Pierpont Morgan Library.
referencedIn October 1995 (#4063) Gerald R. Ford Library
referencedIn Audio Recordings of the White House Communications Agency (Clinton Administration). 1/20/1993 - 1/20/2001. Audio Recordings Relating to William J. Clinton . 1/20/1993 - 1/20/2001. Digital Audio Recording of Inaugural Swearing-In and Address by William Jefferson Clinton William J. Clinton Presidential Library & Museum
referencedIn Julian Mayfield papers, 1949-1984 Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture. Rare Books, Manuscripts, and Archives Section
referencedIn Paul Robeson award ceremonies collection [sound recording], 1978-1996 The New York Public Library. Rodgers and Hammerstein Archives of Recorded Sound.
creatorOf Fisher, M. F. K. (Mary Frances Kennedy), 1908-1992. Typed letter signed with initials : Last House [Glen Ellen, California], to David Pleydell-Bouverie, 1982 Nov. 2. Pierpont Morgan Library.
referencedIn Papers of M.F.K. Fisher, 1860-1995 (inclusive) 1929-1992 (bulk) Arthur and Elizabeth Schlesinger Library on the History of Women in America‏
referencedIn Highlights from] dedication of new memorial at the African Burial Ground National Monument in New York City, New York, with keynote address by Secretary Dirk Kempthorne [and presentations by dignitaries including New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg, New York Senator Charles Schumer, General Services Administrator Lurita Doan, National Park Service Deputy Director for Operations Dan Wenk, African Burial Ground Superintendent Tara Morrison, New York Public Library Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture Director Howard Dodson, poet and novelist Maya Angelou, and actors Sidney Poitier and Avery Brooks] National Archives at College Park
creatorOf Julian Mayfield papers, 1949-1984. New York State Historical Documents Inventory
referencedIn September 1994 (#4050) Gerald R. Ford Library
referencedIn Fayetteville State University. Photographs, 1880-1990 (bulk 1960-1990). Fayetteville State University, Charles W. Chesnutt Library
referencedIn University of Alabama at Birmingham. Creative Services. Photographs 1950-1989. Mervyn H Sterne Library, University of Alabama at Birmingham, UAB Sterne Library
referencedIn Angelou, Maya National Archives at College Park
contributorOf Kindred Spirits: Contemporary African-American Artists National Archives at College Park
contributorOf Justice and the Citizen: Celebration of the Life of Martin Luther King, Jr. National Archives at College Park
referencedIn Papers of Gerda Lerner, 1924-2006 Arthur and Elizabeth Schlesinger Library on the History of Women in America‏
referencedIn Fales Portrait/Subject Collection, ca. 1800-Present Fales Library & Special Collections
referencedIn Every Woman 139 National Archives at College Park
referencedIn Paul Brown Collection, 1950-1999 University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Library. Southern Folklife Collection.
referencedIn Adams, Alice, 1926-1999. [North Carolina authors literary ephemera : A]. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
editorOf Maya Angelou National Archives at College Park
referencedIn Jones, Lois Mailou. Lois Mailou Jones papers, 1920-1998. Moorland-Spingarn Research Center, Howard University
creatorOf Angelou, Maya. I know why the caged bird sings notes. Chambers County Library System
contributorOf Maya Angelou: Rainbow in the Clouds National Archives at College Park
referencedIn Kelly, Patrick, 1954-1990. Patrick Kelly archive, 1982-1994 (bulk 1985-1989). New York Public Library System, NYPL
referencedIn Records of Temporary Committees, Commissions, and Boards. 1893 - 2008. Photographs of Meetings, Activities, and the National Women's Conference National Archives at College Park
creatorOf Fisher, M. F. K. (Mary Frances Kennedy), 1908-1992. Autograph note : [Glen Ellen, California], 1975 Jan. 29. Pierpont Morgan Library.
creatorOf Madgett, Naomi Cornelia Long. Naomi Long Madgett and Lotus Press papers. 1937-2004 (bulk 1970-2003). University of Michigan
referencedIn Bluefield State College. Administrative records, 1910-2000. Winston Salem State University, C.G. O'Kelly Library
referencedIn Arkansas History Commission. Maya Angelou [graphic]. Arkansas History Commission
referencedIn Arkansas History Commission. Maya Angelou, January 23, 1983 [graphic]. Arkansas History Commission
creatorOf Fisher, M. F. K. (Mary Frances Kennedy), 1908-1992. Typed letter signed : [Last House, Glen Ellen, California], to David Pleydell-Bouverie, 1992 Apr. 1. Pierpont Morgan Library.
creatorOf Fisher, M. F. K. (Mary Frances Kennedy), 1908-1992. Typed letter signed with initials : Last House [Glen Ellen, California], to David Pleydell-Bouverie, 1975 Oct. 12. Pierpont Morgan Library.
referencedIn Audiotape collection of the National Women's Conference, 1977 Arthur and Elizabeth Schlesinger Library on the History of Women in America‏
Role Title Holding Repository
creatorOf The HistoryMakers Video Oral History with Maya Angelou The HistoryMakers
Relation Name
associatedWith Actors' Equity Association. corporateBody
associatedWith Actors' Equity Association. Paul Robeson Award corporateBody
associatedWith Bluefield State College. corporateBody
associatedWith Brown, Paul, 1952- person
associatedWith Elisofon, Eliot. person
associatedWith Fayetteville State University. corporateBody
associatedWith Feelings, Tom. person
associatedWith Fisher, M. F. K. (Mary Frances Kennedy), 1908-1992. person
correspondedWith GERDA LERNER, 1920- person
associatedWith Harper's Magazine corporateBody
associatedWith Jones, Lois Mailou. person
associatedWith Kelly, Patrick, 1954-1990. person
associatedWith Lerner, Gerda, 1920- person
associatedWith Madgett, Naomi Cornelia Long. person
associatedWith Mayfield, Julian, 1928-1984. person
associatedWith M. F. K. (Mary Frances Kennedy) Fisher, 1908- person
associatedWith Monterey Public Library. California History Room. corporateBody
associatedWith National Women's Conference corporateBody
associatedWith Ragan, Sam, 1915- person
associatedWith Rogers, Fred. person
associatedWith Sánchez, Ricardo, 1941- person
associatedWith Smith, Charlotte. person
associatedWith Sojourner (Cambridge, Mass.) corporateBody
associatedWith University of Alabama at Birmingham. Creative Services. corporateBody
associatedWith University of Ghana corporateBody
employeeOf Wake Forest University corporateBody
Place Name Admin Code Country
Winston-Salem NC US
United States 00 US
Saint Louis MI US
Subject
Occupation
Authors
College teachers
Entertainers
Poet
Poets
Political activists
Activity

Person

Birth 1928-04-04

Death 2014-05-28

Americans

English

Information

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Ark ID: w6rp3xwh

SNAC ID: 83496372