Micheaux, Oscar, 1884-1951
Variant names
Oscar Micheaux (b. Jan. 2, 1884, Metropolis, IL–d. March 25, 1951, Charlotte, NC) was born to Calvin and Bell Michaux, both former slaves. He started working as a teenager in various jobs (in stockyard, steel mills, as a shoe shiner, and eventually a Pullman porter) before buying a homestead in Gregory County, SD. While on his homestead he married Orlean McCracken although the marriage did not last. Micheaux started writing for The Chicago Defender urging black people to take advantage of the land grab out West and authored 7 novels. He adapted his novel "The Homesteader" into a film in 1919 and became a successful and provocative producer. Michaux opened offices for his production studio in Chicago and Harlem.
Archival Resources
| Role | Title | Holding Repository | |
|---|---|---|---|
| referencedIn | George P. Johnson Negro Film Collection, 1916-1977 | University of California, Los Angeles. Library Special Collections. | |
| referencedIn | Berry, Mike. Great Bend salutes a hometown hero : Oscar Micheaux honored / by Mike Berry. | Kansas State Historical Society | |
| referencedIn | Oscar Micheaux Society. Oscar Micheaux Society records, 1976-2004. | Duke University Libraries, Duke University Library; Perkins Library | |
| referencedIn | Cripps, Thomas. Thomas Cripps film collection, 1898-1976 and undated. | Duke University Libraries, Duke University Library; Perkins Library | |
| referencedIn | Johnson, George P., 1885-1977. Negro film collection 1916-1977. | University of California, Los Angeles | |
| referencedIn | Michele Wallace papers | New York Public Library System, NYPL | |
| referencedIn | Kenn Freeman papers, 1930-1988 | Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture. Rare Books, Manuscripts, and Archives Section | |
| creatorOf | Freeman, Kenn, 1917-1991. Kenn Freeman papers, 1930-1988. | New York Public Library System, NYPL | |
| referencedIn | Norman, R.E. mss., 1912-1954 | Lilly Library (Indiana University, Bloomington) | |
| referencedIn | Midnight Ramble | National Archives at College Park | |
| referencedIn | Thomas, Roy T. Roy Thomas collection on Black filmmaking, 1916-1987 (bulk 1970-1979). | UC Berkeley Libraries | |
| referencedIn | Oscar Micheaux : Black Cinema Pioneer | National Archives at College Park |
Bibliographic and Digital Archival Resources
| Role | Title | Holding Repository | |
|---|---|---|---|
| referencedIn | Wetlands and Wildlife Scenic Byway - Grave of Oscar Micheaux | National Archives at College Park | |
| referencedIn | Wetlands and Wildlife Scenic Byway - Oscar Micheaux | National Archives at College Park |
Filters:
| Relation | Name | |
|---|---|---|
| associatedWith | Berry, Mike | person |
| associatedWith | Chicago Defender | corporateBody |
| associatedWith | Cripps, Thomas. | person |
| associatedWith | Freeman, Kenn, 1917-1991. | person |
| associatedWith | Johnson, George P., 1885-1977. | person |
| associatedWith | Norman, Richard E. (Richard Edward), 1891-1961 | person |
| associatedWith | Oscar Micheaux Society. | corporateBody |
| associatedWith | Thomas, Roy T. | person |
| associatedWith | Wallace, Michele | person |
| Place Name | Admin Code | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gregory County | SD | US | |
| United States | 00 | US | |
| Metropolis | IL | US | |
| Charlotte | NC | US |
| Subject |
|---|
| Film industry |
| Occupation |
|---|
| Authors |
| Motion picture producers and directors |
| Activity |
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Person
Birth 1884-01-02
Death 1951-04-01
Americans
English
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