West, Dorothy, 1907?-1998

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West, a writer, was born in Boston. Her father had been a slave as a child and became a successful businessman. West began writing at 7 and first won a prize for a story at the age of 20. She moved to New York and became part of the Harlem Renaissance, publishing stories in N.Y. magazines and the Daily News and in the 1930s, editing Challenge and New Challenge, black literary quarterlies. She visited the U.S.S.R. with a group of black writers in 1933. Her novel, The Living is Easy, was published in 1948 and reprinted by The Feminist Press in 1982. Since about 1950 she has lived on Martha's Vineyard, writing a weekly column for the Vineyard Gazette as well as novels and stories. She was interviewed for the Schlesinger Library's Black Women Oral History Project.

From the description of Papers, 1914-1985 (inclusive). (Harvard University). WorldCat record id: 122521829

African American author and editor; d. 1991; sources vary on birthdate.

From the description of Dorothy West collection, 1927-1991. (Boston University). WorldCat record id: 70969767

Author.

From the description of Reminiscences of Dorothy West : oral history, 1978. (Columbia University In the City of New York). WorldCat record id: 122631829

Archival Resources
Role Title Holding Repository
creatorOf Jones, Lisa. The wedding : Teleplay / by Lisa Jones ; Based on the novel by Dorothy West. Ohio State University Libraries
referencedIn Black Women Oral History Project transcripts, 1976-1981. New York State Historical Documents Inventory
creatorOf West, Dorothy, 1909-. Papers, 1914-1985 (inclusive). Arthur and Elizabeth Schlesinger Library on the History of Women in America‏
creatorOf West, Dorothy, 1907-1998. Reminiscences of Dorothy West : oral history, 1978. Columbia University in the City of New York, Columbia University Libraries
creatorOf West, Dorothy, 1909-. Dorothy West collection, 1927-1991. Boston University. School of Medicine
Role Title Holding Repository
Relation Name
associatedWith Alexander, Margaret Walker, 1915- person
associatedWith Bennett, Gwendolyn. person
associatedWith Black Women Oral History Project. corporateBody
associatedWith Bontemps, Arna, 1902-1973. person
associatedWith Bordoni, Irene, 1893-1953. person
associatedWith Buck, Pearl S. (Pearl Sydenstricker), 1892-1973. person
associatedWith Burleigh, Henry T. (Henry Thacker), 1866-1949. person
associatedWith Cullen, Countee, 1903-1946. person
associatedWith Cunard, Nancy, 1896-1965. person
associatedWith Ellison, Ralph, 1914- person
associatedWith Guillén, Nicolás, 1902-1989. person
associatedWith Guinier, Genie, person
associatedWith Hayden, Robert Earl. person
associatedWith Hughes, Langston, 1902-1967. person
associatedWith Hunter, Alberta. person
associatedWith Hurst, Fannie, 1889-1968. person
associatedWith Hurston, Zora Neale. person
associatedWith Johnson, Helene. person
associatedWith Johnson, James Weldon, 1871-1938. person
associatedWith Jones, Lisa. person
associatedWith McKay, Claude, 1889-1948. person
associatedWith Minus, Marian. person
associatedWith Murray, Pauli, 1910-1985. person
associatedWith Robeson, Eslanda Goode. person
associatedWith Savage, Augusta, 1892-1962. person
associatedWith Thurman, Wallace, 1902-1934. person
associatedWith Van Vechten, Carl, 1880-1964. person
associatedWith White, Walter Francis, 1893-1955. person
associatedWith Williams, Blanche Colton, 1879-1944. person
Place Name Admin Code Country
Europe
New York (N.Y.)
Martha's Vineyard (Mass.)
Soviet Union
Subject
American literature
American literature
American literature
African American authors
African American authors
African Americans
African Americans
African American women authors
Harlem Renaissance
Periodicals
Occupation
Actresses
African American women authors
Authors
Editors
Activity

Person

Birth 1907-06-02

Death 1998-08-16

Americans

English

Information

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SNAC ID: 51962448