Collection context
Summary
- Creator:
- Smith, Mary Perry, 1926-2015 and Black Filmmakers Hall of Fame, Inc.
- Abstract:
- This series contains human resource files and miscellaneous files generated by the BFHFI's staff members and volunteers that are not clearly related to one of the other series (e.g., reports on BFHFI supported conference trips, BFHFI-related grant applications, personal files, etc.).
- Extent:
- 3 Boxes
- Language:
- Materials are in English
- Preferred citation:
[item], Mary Perry Smith Black Filmmakers Hall of Fame Archives Collection, Special Collection COL 5, Black Film Center & Archive, Indiana University, Bloomington.
Background
- Biographical / Historical:
The Black Filmmakers Hall of Fame, Inc. (BFHFI) was founded in Oakland, California in 1974. The BFHFI began as a collaboration among Roy Thomas from the Afro-American Studies Department at UC-Berkeley, Mary Perry Smith, who was the co-chairperson of the Cultural and Ethnic Affairs Guild and at the Oakland Museum, and Sonny Buxton of the San Francisco Bay Area station KGO-TV.
The BFHFI identified itself as an organization "dedicated to influencing Black images portrayed in film and television through education, the nurturing of current independent filmmakers and the preservation of contributions by Black artists" (BFHFI 20th Anniversary Celebration Program). Throughout its existence the BFHFI presented award ceremonies honoring contemporary and historic figures in black filmmaking. Notable programs established by the BFHFI include the Oscar Micheaux Awards Ceremony, the International Black Film, Video & Screenplay Competition, the Black Filmworks International Film Festival, and the Sidney Poitier Fellowship. Additionally, educational programs, various symposia, and lecture series on black film were conducted throughout the life of the organization.
The BFHFI initially operated in partnership with the Oakland Museum, later incorporating itself as an independent, non-profit organization in 1978. Attempts to establish a dedicated museum and permanent home for the BFHFI were ultimately unsuccessful, although the BFHFI did begin acquisition of collections for this proposed museum.
The final Oscar Micheaux Awards ceremony was held in 1993, the 20th anniversary of the founding of the event. The BFHFI continued to present the Black Filmworks International Film Festival and Black Independent Film, Video & Screenplay Competition through 2003.
For a more detailed administrative history, a biography for Mary Perry Smith, and a listing of other series, please see collection overview (http://purl.dlib.indiana.edu/iudl/findingaids/bfca/VAD4347).
- Scope and Content:
This series contains human resource files and miscellaneous files generated by the BFHFI's staff members and volunteers.
Subseries 10.1 contains files related to the BFHFI's volunteer base including applications, procedural and training documents, job descriptions, and files on various volunteer programs.
Subseries 10.2 includes applications and résumés for the BFHFI's hourly staff and consultants as well as contracts, timesheets, and payroll information. This latter set of categories is restricted.
Subseries 10.3 contains general office documents such as sample form letters and mailing procedures while Subseries 10.4 contains documents related to BFHFI staff meetings.
Subseries 10.5-10.7 contain staff working files related to projects that are not clearly related to one of the other series in this collection such as staff reports on BFHFI-supported conference trips, BFHFI-related grant applications, personal files, proposals for internship projects, etc.
- Acquisition information:
- The material in this series is part of a collection donated by Mary Perry Smith to the Indiana University Black Film Center Archive in January 2014.
- Processing information:
Processed by Ronda L. Sewald.
Completed in 2016.
- Arrangement:
This collection is arranged into the following series with this series containing seven subseries:
- Collection overview
- Series 1. Publicity Materials
- Series 2. Oscar Micheaux Awards Ceremony and Gala
- Series 3. Film Lecture Series and Symposiums
- Series 4. Black Filmworks and Independent Film, Video & Screenplay Competition
- Series 5. Sidney Poitier Fellowship Competition
- Series 6. Miscellaneous BFHFI events files
- Series 7. BFHFI event recordings
- Series 8. Board and committee documents
- Series 9. General correspondence
- Series 10. HRMS, volunteer, and staff documents
- -- Subseries 10.1. Volunteers and interns, approximately 1978-1990s
- -- Subseries 10.2. Staff and consultants, 1970s-2000s
- -- Subseries 10.3. Office, general, approximately 1976-1986
- -- Subseries 10.4. Staff meetings, 1987-1992
- -- Subseries 10.5. Cheryl Fabio-Bradford's working files (CFB), 1989-1993
- -- Subseries 10.6. James Shabazz's working files (JS), 1982-1988
- -- Subseries 10.7. Miscellaneous staff working files, approximately 1984-1993
- Series 11. General financial, fundraising, and legal documents
- Series 12. Memorabilia and artifacts
- Series 13. Third party publications
- Series 14. Research files
- Series 15. Mary P. Smith's files
- Series 16. Miscellaneous
- Series 17. Phil Moore Collection (Inventoried as if separate collection due to size)
- Series 18. Photographs (undergoing processing)
- Series 19. Born-digital materials (undergoing processing)
- Accruals:
2016 accruals stored in AC 2.
- General note:
In 2022, the Black Film Center/Archive (BFC/A) transitioned to its current name, the Black Film Center & Archive (BFCA). This finding aid was created under the organizational name Black Film Center/Archive. Upon this organizational name change, all previous references to the BFC/A were updated in this finding aid to match the current name, Black Film Center & Archive.
Indexed Terms
Access
- RESTRICTIONS:
-
Although much of the material in this series is open to the public, a significant number of human resource files are restricted or require redaction before viewing.
- TERMS OF ACCESS:
-
Materials may be used in-house at the BFCA except for restricted items; duplication permitted only with permission of the Archivist.
- PREFERRED CITATION:
-
[item], Mary Perry Smith Black Filmmakers Hall of Fame Archives Collection, Special Collection COL 5, Black Film Center & Archive, Indiana University, Bloomington.
- CAMPUS:
- Indiana University Bloomington
- LOCATION OF THIS COLLECTION:
-
1320 East Tenth StreetHerman B Wells Library, Room 044Bloomington, Indiana 47405-7000, United States
- CAMPUS:
- Indiana University Bloomington
- CONTACT:
-
812-855-6041bfca@indiana.edu