Contains the papers of actor and comedian Godfrey Cambridge, including scripts from productions and titled monologues, public service announcements and advertisements, and stand-up comedy performances (Series I). Some scripts are early drafts; many are annotated by Cambridge. Some production scripts were simply submitted to Cambridge and he was not further involved. Also contains correspondence (Series II), including professional correspondence relating to his acting, comedy, and other performances; contracts; legal and financial correspondence; as well as personal correspondence, including that with friends, fellow celebrities, and family members. In Series III, there are audiovisual recordings, including cassettes, reel-to-reel, and 16 mm film. These include recordings of productions, films, and television and radio interviews, as well as recordings of live comedy performances and rehearsals, recorded private conversation and notes, and then a sub-series of Cambridge’s collected recordings of other performers and musicians. Series IV contains press and publicity information, including biographies, as well as programs and other papers directly related to productions like schedules, and awards for both performances and activism. Series V includes photographs and negatives, both including those Cambridge took of friends, family, parties, and on-set (and exhibited occasionally) as well as photos by professionals and friends for publicity and promotion. Also includes many contact sheets and negatives. Featured amongst the photographs are many celebrities and activists, including Martin Luther King, Jr., Peter Sellers, Nina Simone, as well as a set of photos for a Ku Klux Klan satire in Esquire. In Series VI, one can find personal papers and collected publications, such as magazines, poetry books, and other publications, as well as a sizable collection of Cambridge’s personal books.
