Jordan, June, 1936-2002

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June Jordan was born in Harlem, New York on July 9, 1936. Jordan fostered a love of literature and writing poetry as a child. She attended Barnard College and University of Chicago. June Jordan married in 1955 and had one child. A poet, novelist, essayist, editor and children's author, Jordan published her first poetry collection, Who Look at Me, in 1969. Jordan was a visiting scholar/poet at many institutions, including MacAlester College, City College of the City University of New York, University of Pennsylvania and Yale University. The Prix de Rome Environmental Design Award, American Institute of Architecture Award, Best Young Adult Books Selection from the American Library Association, National Book Award Finalist, and a National Endowment for the Arts Fellowship are among her numerous accolades and awards. June Jordan died of breast cancer on June 14, 2002. E. Ethelbert Miller was born November 20, 1950 in New York, New York. He completed a BA from Howard University in 1972. A poet, essayist, editor and educator, Miller has published poetry collections and has edited several anthologies. Miller is a member of the PEN American Center, Associated Writing Program, Institute for Policy Studies, National Writers Union, Cultural Alliance of Greater Washington, Alliance of Greater Washington, Community Humanities Council of Washington, DC and is the director of African-American Resource Center at Howard University.

From the description of June Jordan and E. Ethelbert Miller correspondence collection, 1975-1999. (University of Minnesota, Minneapolis). WorldCat record id: 320188457

June Jordan (1936-2002) was a widely published African American writer whose works focused on civil rights, anti-war, and women's rights. She receieved a Rockefeller Grant in 1969, the New York Council of the Humanities award in 1977, and the lifetime achievement award from the National Black Writers' Conference in 1998. The identity of "Walter" is unknown.

From the guide to the June Jordan letter to "Walter" (MS 374), July 21, 1971, (University of Colorado at Boulder Libraries. Special Collections Dept.)

Award-winning author, poet, and social and political activist, June Jordan was born in Harlem, New York, to Granville Ivanhoe Jordan and Mildred Fisher Jordan, both immigrants from Jamaica. Jordan attended public schools in Brooklyn, graduated from Northfield School for Girls in 1953 at age sixteen, and entered Barnard College (1953-1955). There, she met Michael Meyer (a white student at Columbia University). The couple married in 1955 and moved to Chicago. Jordan enrolled in the University of Chicago but within a year returned to New York and re-entered Barnard but withdrew following the birth of her son (and only child), Christopher David, in 1958. She later enrolled in Hunter College (1962), but facing responsibilities of motherhood, left the college before completing her degree. While Jordan's long-distance marriage continued for several years, the couple filed for divorce in 1964 (finalized in 1965).

Shortly after she withdrew from college, Jordan became dedicated to urban development. She worked as a research for the Mobilization for Youth, Inc., on the lower East Side of Manhattan, and collaborated with R. Buckminster Fuller on an architectural re-design of Harlem. With Fuller's support, Jordan received an award for creative writing from the Rockefeller Foundation (1969), as well as a Prix de Rome in Environmental Design (1970).

Working as a freelance writer to supplement her income, she produced both fiction and nonfiction, and read her poetry at paid engagements. At the same time, Jordan embarked on her pedagogical career, working as a lecturer and adjunct faculty member at several institutions. By the early 1970s Jordan concentrated her efforts more fully on writing and teaching, using her talents to address issues of discrimination based on race and gender, as well other politically controversial issues. She accepted a tenured position at SUNY Stony Brook (1978-1989) where she also served as director of the Poetry Center and the Creative Writing Program. In 1988 she accepted a joint appointment as Professor of African American Studies and Women's Studies at the University of California, Berkeley (UCB). There, Jordan developed a program called "Poetry for the People" which conducted workshops at various community groups in the Berkeley area.

During her tenure at UCB, Jordan wrote and published prolifically, her writings continuing to address themes of discrimination, equality, economic and social disparities caused by race and gender, global poverty, religious intolerance, and American foreign policy. An outspoken bisexual, Jordan increasingly championed the rights of lesbians, gays, and bisexuals. Over the course of her career she received many honors, including the Yaddo Fellowship (1979), NEA grant in Creative Writing (1982), National Association of Black Journalists Achievement Award (1984), and the PEN American Center's Freedom to Write Award (1991). Jordan died of breast cancer in Berkeley, California, in 2002. For a more detailed biography, see the finding aid for the June Jordan Papers, MC 513.

From the description of Audio collection of June Jordan [sound recording]. 1970-2000. (Harvard University). WorldCat record id: 426124290

Award-winning author, poet, and social and political activist, June Jordan was born in Harlem, New York, to Granville Ivanhoe Jordan and Mildred Fisher Jordan, both immigrants from Jamaica. Jordan attended public schools in Brooklyn, graduated from Northfield School for Girls in 1953 at age sixteen, and entered Barnard College (1953-1955). There, she met Michael Meyer (a white student at Columbia University). The couple married in 1955 and moved to Chicago. Jordan enrolled in the University of Chicago but within a year returned to New York and re-entered Barnard but withdrew following the birth of her son (and only child), Christopher David, in 1958. She later enrolled in Hunter College (1962), but facing responsibilities of motherhood, left the college before completing her degree. While Jordan's long-distance marriage continued for several years, the couple filed for divorce in 1964 (finalized in 1965).

Shortly after she withdrew from college, Jordan became dedicated to urban development. She worked as a research for the Mobilization for Youth, Inc., on the lower East Side of Manhattan, and collaborated with R. Buckminster Fuller on an architectural re-design of Harlem. With Fuller's support, Jordan received an award for creative writing from the Rockefeller Foundation (1969), as well as a Prix de Rome in Environmental Design (1970).

Working as a freelance writer to supplement her income, she produced both fiction and nonfiction, and read her poetry at paid engagements. At the same time, Jordan embarked on her pedagogical career, working as a lecturer and adjunct faculty member at several institutions. By the early 1970s Jordan concentrated her efforts more fully on writing and teaching, using her talents to address issues of discrimination based on race and gender, as well other politically controversial issues. She accepted a tenured position at SUNY Stony Brook (1978-1989) where she also served as director of the Poetry Center and the Creative Writing Program. In 1988 she accepted a joint appointment as Professor of African American Studies and Women's Studies at the University of California, Berkeley (UCB). There, Jordan developed a program called "Poetry for the People" which conducted workshops at various community groups in the Berkeley area.

During her tenure at UCB, Jordan wrote and published prolifically, her writings continuing to address themes of discrimination, equality, economic and social disparities caused by race and gender, global poverty, religious intolerance, and American foreign policy. An outspoken bisexual, Jordan increasingly championed the rights of lesbians, gays, and bisexuals. Over the course of her career she received many honors, including the Yaddo Fellowship (1979), NEA grant in Creative Writing (1982), National Association of Black Journalists Achievement Award (1984), and the PEN American Center's Freedom to Write Award (1991). Jordan died of breast cancer in Berkeley, California, in 2002. For a more detailed biography, see the finding aid for the June Jordan Papers, MC 513.

From the description of Videotape collection of June Jordan [videorecording]. 1976-2002 (inclusive). (Harvard University). WorldCat record id: 426124294

Award-winning author, poet, and social and political activist, June Jordan was born in Harlem, New York, to Granville Ivanhoe Jordan and Mildred Fisher Jordan, both immigrants from Jamaica. Jordan attended public schools in Brooklyn, graduated from Northfield School for Girls in 1953 at age sixteen, and entered Barnard College (1953-1955). There, she met Michael Meyer (a white student at Columbia University). The couple married in 1955 and moved to Chicago. Jordan enrolled in the University of Chicago but within a year returned to New York and re-entered Barnard but withdrew following the birth of her son (and only child), Christopher David, in 1958. She later enrolled in Hunter College (1962), but facing responsibilities of motherhood, left the college before completing her degree. While Jordan's long-distance marriage continued for several years, the couple filed for divorce in 1964 (finalized in 1965).

Shortly after she withdrew from college, Jordan became dedicated to urban development. She worked as a research for the Mobilization for Youth, Inc., on the lower East Side of Manhattan, and collaborated with R. Buckminster Fuller on an architectural re-design of Harlem. With Fuller's support, Jordan received an award for creative writing from the Rockefeller Foundation (1969), as well as a Prix de Rome in Environmental Design (1970).

Working as a freelance writer to supplement her income, she produced both fiction and nonfiction, and read her poetry at paid engagements. At the same time, Jordan embarked on her pedagogical career, working as a lecturer and adjunct faculty member at several institutions. By the early 1970s Jordan concentrated her efforts more fully on writing and teaching, using her talents to address issues of discrimination based on race and gender, as well other politically controversial issues. She accepted a tenured position at SUNY Stony Brook (1978-1989) where she also served as director of the Poetry Center and the Creative Writing Program. In 1988 she accepted a joint appointment as Professor of African American Studies and Women's Studies at the University of California, Berkeley (UCB). There, Jordan developed a program called "Poetry for the People" which conducted workshops at various community groups in the Berkeley area.

During her tenure at UCB, Jordan wrote and published prolifically, her writings continuing to address themes of discrimination, equality, economic and social disparities caused by race and gender, global poverty, religious intolerance, and American foreign policy. An outspoken bisexual, Jordan increasingly championed the rights of lesbians, gays, and bisexuals. Over the course of her career she received many honors, including the Yaddo Fellowship (1979), NEA grant in Creative Writing (1982), National Association of Black Journalists Achievement Award (1984), and the PEN American Center's Freedom to Write Award (1991). Jordan died of breast cancer in Berkeley, California, in 2002.

From the description of Papers, 1936-2002 (inclusive), 1954-2002 (bulk). (Harvard University). WorldCat record id: 232008059

June Jordan was born in Harlem, New York on July 9, 1936. Jordan fostered a love of literature and writing poetry as a child. She attended Barnard College and University of Chicago. June Jordan married in 1955 and had one child. A poet, novelist, essayist, editor and children's author, Jordan published her first poetry collection, Who Look at Me, in 1969. Jordan was a visiting scholar/poet at many institutions, including MacAlester College, City College of the City University of New York, University of Pennsylvania and Yale University. The Prix de Rome Environmental Design Award, American Institute of Architecture Award, Best Young Adult Books Selection from the American Library Association, National Book Award Finalist, and a National Endowment for the Arts Fellowship are among her numerous accolades and awards. June Jordan died of breast cancer on June 14, 2002.

E. Ethelbert Miller was born November 20, 1950 in New York, New York. He completed a BA from Howard University in 1972. A poet, essayist, editor and educator, Miller has published poetry collections and has edited several anthologies. Miller is a member of the PEN American Center, Associated Writing Program, Institute for Policy Studies, National Writers Union, Cultural Alliance of Greater Washington, Alliance of Greater Washington, Community Humanities Council of Washington, DC and is the director of African-American Resource Center at Howard University.

From the guide to the June Jordan and E. Ethelbert Miller correspondence, 1975-1999, (University of Minnesota Libraries. Givens Collection of African-American Literature, Special Collections and Rare Books [scrbg])

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
referencedIn R. Buckminster Fuller Papers Stanford University. Department of Special Collections and University Archives
referencedIn Biography -- Meyer, June. Daughters of the Republic of Texas Library
creatorOf June Jordan letter to "Walter" (MS 374), July 21, 1971 University of Colorado at Boulder Libraries. Special Collections Dept.
creatorOf June Jordan and E. Ethelbert Miller correspondence, 1975-1999 University of Minnesota Libraries. Givens Collection of African-American Literature, Special Collections and Rare Books [scrbg]
referencedIn Hodges, Beth. Papers of Beth Hodges, 1972-1991 (inclusive). Arthur and Elizabeth Schlesinger Library on the History of Women in America‏
referencedIn Piven, Frances Fox. Papers 1957-1999. Smith College, Neilson Library
referencedIn Rose Graubart Ignatow Papers, 1937-1989 University of California, San Diego. Geisel Library. Mandeville Special Collections Library.
creatorOf Ammons, A. R., 1926-. The Little Magazine archive, 1965-1988. Harry Ransom Humanities Research Center
creatorOf Jordan, June, 1936-2002. Videotape collection of June Jordan [videorecording]. Arthur and Elizabeth Schlesinger Library on the History of Women in America‏
referencedIn Frances Fox Piven Papers MS 238., 1957 - 2011 [ongoing] Sophia Smith Collection
referencedIn Serpent's Tail/High Risk Archive, ca. 1990-1997 Fales Library & Special Collections
referencedIn The Serpent's Tail/High Risk archive, [ca. 1990-1997]. Churchill County Museum
creatorOf Harper, Michael S., 1938-. Office files : of The American Poetry Review, 1972-1983. University of Pennsylvania Libraries, Van Pelt Library
referencedIn Alice Walker papers, circa 1930-2014 Emory University. Special Collections and Archives
referencedIn Koolish, Lynda,. Portrait of June Jordan : photographic print. Stanford University. Department of Special Collections and University Archives
creatorOf Jordan, June, 1936-2002. Papers, 1936-2002 (inclusive), 1954-2002 (bulk). Arthur and Elizabeth Schlesinger Library on the History of Women in America‏
referencedIn Christian, Barbara, 1943-2000. Sound recordings from the Barbara Christian papers [sound recording]. UC Berkeley Libraries
referencedIn Records of, Little Magazine TXRC95-A96., 1965-1988 Harry Ransom Humanities Research Center
creatorOf Jordan, June, 1936-2002. 12 pages of poetry / by June Meyer. University of Minnesota, Minneapolis
creatorOf Jordan, June, 1936-2002. June Jordan and E. Ethelbert Miller correspondence collection, 1975-1999. University of Minnesota, Minneapolis
referencedIn Pietri, Pedro Juan, 1943-2004. Papers 1939-2004 ; bulk: 1970-2002. Centro de Estudios Puertorriquenos
creatorOf Jordan, June, 1936-2002. [Letter] 1986 March 14, Stony Brook, New York [to] Donald L. Ryan, Troy, N.Y. The Sage Colleges Libraries
referencedIn Felver, Christopher, 1946-. Christopher Felver portraits of poets, authors, and artists [graphic] / photographed by Christopher Felver. UC Berkeley Libraries
creatorOf Jordan, June, 1936-2002. Office files : of The American Poetry Review, 1974-1980. University of Pennsylvania Libraries, Van Pelt Library
creatorOf Jordan, June, 1936-2002. Audio collection of June Jordan [sound recording]. Arthur and Elizabeth Schlesinger Library on the History of Women in America‏
Role Title Holding Repository
Relation Name
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associatedWith Attica Defense Committee. corporateBody
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associatedWith City University of New York. City College corporateBody
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associatedWith Davis, Angela Y. (Angela Yvonne), 1944- person
associatedWith Davis, Regina. person
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correspondedWith Ignatow, Rose Graubart person
associatedWith Ingatow, David. person
associatedWith Jackson, Jesse, 1941- person
associatedWith Jackson, Patti Gayle. person
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associatedWith Johnson, Barbara, 1947-2009. person
associatedWith Kalu, Uchechi, 1978- person
associatedWith Karlin, Elizabeth. person
associatedWith Kay, Jackie, 1961- person
associatedWith Kay, Vincent. person
associatedWith Kelly, Stephanie. person
associatedWith Kinnell, Galway, 1927- person
associatedWith Knight, Brenda, 1958- person
associatedWith Koolish, Lynda. person
associatedWith Kostelanetz, Richard. person
associatedWith Lagarde, Charlotte. person
associatedWith Lerner, Gerda, 1920- person
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associatedWith Levertov, Denise, 1923-1997. person
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associatedWith Meredith, William, 1919-2007. person
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associatedWith Mobilization for Youth, Inc. corporateBody
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associatedWith Moore, Honor, 1945- person
associatedWith Moore, Madeleine. person
associatedWith Morejón, Nancy, 1944- person
associatedWith Morgan, Andre E. person
associatedWith Morrison, Toni. person
associatedWith Mroue, Haas H. person
associatedWith Murray, Patricia J. person
associatedWith Near, Holly. person
associatedWith Nemiroff, Robert. person
associatedWith Okazawa-Rey, Margo. person
associatedWith Olds, Sharon. person
associatedWith Parmar, Pratibha. person
associatedWith Patterson, Raymond R. person
associatedWith Pietri, Pedro Juan, 1943-2004. person
associatedWith Pilpel, Harriet F. person
associatedWith Pinckney, Darryl, 1953- person
correspondedWith Piven, Frances Fox person
associatedWith Piven, Frances Fox. person
associatedWith Poetry for the People (Organization) corporateBody
associatedWith Poets & Writers, Inc. corporateBody
associatedWith Porter, Carolyn, 1946- person
associatedWith Prettyman, Alfred. person
associatedWith Randall, Margaret, 1936- person
associatedWith Reagan, Bridget. person
associatedWith Reagon, Bernice Johnson, 1942- person
associatedWith Reid, Inez Smith. person
associatedWith Rich, Adrienne Cecile. person
associatedWith Rios, Alberto. person
associatedWith Rivera O., Diana (Rivera Ottenberger) person
associatedWith Rizzo, Jeanne. person
associatedWith Robertson, Mary Beth. person
associatedWith Rothschild, Matthew. person
associatedWith Rushin, Kate, 1951- person
associatedWith Ryan, Donald L. person
associatedWith Sales, Ruby. person
associatedWith Sanchez, Sonia, 1934- person
associatedWith Scales, Ann. person
associatedWith Sellars, Peter. person
associatedWith Sembene, Carrie. person
associatedWith Semitsu, Junichi. person
associatedWith Shange, Ntozake. person
associatedWith Silko, Leslie, 1948- person
associatedWith Smith, Anna Deavere. person
associatedWith Smith, Barbara, 1946- person
associatedWith State University of New York at Stony Brook corporateBody
associatedWith Stromberg, Vivian. person
associatedWith Sundiata, Sekou. person
associatedWith Swan, Martha. person
associatedWith Tagliabue, John, 1923- person
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associatedWith Topham, Annie. person
associatedWith Torf, Adrienne. person
associatedWith Trinh, T. Minh-Ha (Thi Minh-Ha), 1952- person
associatedWith Troutt, David Dante. person
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associatedWith Wheatley, Phillis, 1753-1784. person
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associatedWith Williams, Sherley Anne, 1944- person
associatedWith Wiseman, Frederick. person
associatedWith Wong, Ling Chi. person
associatedWith Woods, Erwin Cho. person
associatedWith Yaddo (Artist's colony) corporateBody
Place Name Admin Code Country
Central America
California--Berkeley
California--Berkeley
Central America
Berkeley (Calif.)
California
New York (N.Y.)
South Africa
United States
South Africa
Israel
Mississippi
Nicaragua
California
South Africa
United States
United States
California--Berkeley
New York (State)--New York Metropolitan Area
Bedford-Stuyvesant (New York, N.Y.)
Israel
Africa, Southern
Lebanon
Nicaragua
Lebanon
Lebanon
Africa, Southern
Subject
American literature
American literature
Affirmative action programs
Affirmative action programs in education
African American families
African American poets
African Americans
African Americans
African American women
American poetry
American poetry
American poetry
Poets, American
Poets, American
Apartheid
Apartheid and society
Authors and publishers
Bisexual women
Bisexual women
Black arts movement
Black English
Breast
Child abuse
Children's writings
City planning
Feminism
Feminism and higher education
Feminist poetry
Gays
Lesbianism
Lesbians
Love poetry, American
Mothers and daughters
Multicultural education
Performance art
Persian Gulf War, 1991
Persian Gulf War, 1991
Pets
Poetry
Poetry
Women poets
Political activists
Racism
Racism
Sexism
Women
Women
Women and literature
Women artists
Women political activists
Occupation
Poets
Activity

Person

Birth 1936-07-09

Death 2002-06-14

Female

Americans

English

Information

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