This is for TWO COPIES (buyer gets both copies) of:

NEGRO CIVIL RIGHTS IN CALIFORNIA: 1850, by David L. Snyder.

Keepsake printed by Roger Levenson at the TAMALPAIS PRESS for the members of the Sacramento Book Collectors Club 1969. Small-press fine-printing,"Special Publication No. 10", limited to only 300 copies.

Fine-printing pamphlet, white rag paper covers, red title lettering, side-stapled, 7x10 inches, 12 pages.

A brief history and vivid example of the limited legal rights of Negroes in California to testify against white men. This situation lasted until the testimony law was repealed in 1863. Included in this keepsake is a holograph reproduction of the 1850 sworn testimony of Sarah Carroll who claimed that William H. Potter stole jewelry and money from her. The keepsake also has a transcript of her testimony, as well as the results of her testimony (William Potter was arrested). Sarah Carroll was a brave woman.

Both keepsakes are in VERY GOOD or better condition, one has some light creasing to its top edge, else tight, bright, clean and unmarked.

About this keepsake (from WorldCat):

*******Sarah Carroll, a "free woman of color" brought a complaint against W.H. Potter on the charge of grand larceny for the theft of $700 and other articles of value. The documents of the case appear in this publication in both type and facsimile.******

Negroes and the War by Chandler Owen. A scarce wartime propaganda piece seeking Black support for the war effort.

Published by United States Office of War Information, Washington, D.C., 1942. First and only edition. Photography by Eliot Elisofon (1911-1973). Softcover, printed on newsprint, side staple bound, 13" x 10", 72 pages, richly illustrated with 140 b&w photographs documenting African American opportunities and achievement, showing the activities of professional Black men and women, including the Tuskegee Airmen and boxer Joe Louis in his army fatigues. FAIR CONDITION: the spine fold is scraped, tender, and some pages are pulling from the staples but still firmly attached, the horizontal mailing fold has some small scrapes and tears on the front cover and a long closed tear on rear cover, the inner pages are somewhat fragile, have light wear and age-toning, but overall complete, bright, clean, and unmarked. Scarce.

In 1942, the US Office of War Information (OWI) was created. A government propaganda bureau, they commissioned Chandler Owen to create a work that presented arguments rallying Black support for the war and telling African Americans what they stood to lose should Germany win the war. Although the publication literally brought Blacks into the national war time framework with visible evidence of official recognition and inclusiveness for African Americans, prominent Black leaders quickly and loudly objected. Their overriding criticism was that it failed to make any assurances about future progress in breaking down the barriers of racial inequality.

CHANDLER OWEN (1889-1967) writer, editor, socialist, republican, early activist for African American Civil Rights, and co-founder of radical journal of the New Negro Movement, The Messenger (with A. Philip Randolph).

NEW HOMES FOR TODAY Remodeling, Interiors, Duplexes, Ranch Houses.

Paul Williams. Published by [Murray and Gee, Inc], [Hollywood, CA] [1946]. Illustrated wrappers, 80 pages.

This appears to be a smaller paper bound issue from the original publisher using a cut down version of the original dustjacket as the wrapper, with the same architectural plans. A seminal book of small house plans and designs by famed Southern California architect Paul R. Williams. Very Good Condition: spots of foxing to the covers, title page and inside front cover has off-setting from laid-in paper, otherwise, tight, bright, clean and unmarked.

Paul Revere Williams, FAIA (1894-1980) Legendary, trailblazing Black architect known as the "Architect to the Stars." Over his 50 year career, he designed more than 3,000 buildings, primarily in Southern California, and broke monumental racial barriers in the field of architecture. He designed the homes of numerous celebrities, such as Frank Sinatra, Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz, Lon Chaney, Barbara Stanwyck, and Charles Correll. He also designed many commercial, institutional and civic buildings.

EXTREMISTS RIGHT AND LEFT

Concern: A Discussion Series. Published by Silver Burdett Company, Morristown, NJ, 1970. Softcover, illustrated wraps, side staple bound, 10" x 6", 56 pages, illustrated throughout with evocative b&w photographs and bold red and blue graphics. VERY GOOD CONDITION: former owners name stamp on the inside of front and rear covers, light bookplate remnants on inside front cover, light edgewear, some age toning and light signs of use and wear, overall tight, bright, clean and unmarked.

Scarce 1970 work addressing the radical counterculture, race and extreme political polemics. The "Concern" series was a set of discussion booklets aimed at engaging students in critical thinking and discussion around various social issues. They were used in school settings to promote dialogue and understanding of complex topics like violence, poverty, and civil rights.

JACKIE ROBINSON'S POCKET BASEBALL GAME

Published by Advertising Services Division, Inc., New York City, 1950. Offset lithograph on paper board, printed in red, green and black ink, with metallic dials, slide indicators and scoring spools, 6.5" x 4.5" card that folds open to reveal 6.5" x 9" baseball game field. The cover shows Jackie Robinson at the plate waiting for a pitch, the inside shows rotating playing wheel and pointer to indicate innings, balls, strikes, outs, and score for visiting and home teams, and the back cover shows game instructions and Jackie Robinson's facsimile signature. EXCELLENT CONDITION: stored away for 75 years and probably never played, all wheels, arrows and sliders function and move freely, none are seized or bound, just light signs of age, including a bit of light toning to the margins, a touch of rust on the metal dials and light offsetting from the rust. A complete, solid, bright and unmarked copy, very uncommon, especially so in this condition.

On April 15, 1947, Jackie Robinson (1919-1972) broke the color barrier and became the first African American athlete in modern history to play for a major league baseball team. Once he slipped on jersey # 42 for the Brooklyn Dodgers, he became a civil rights icon and one of the most integral figures in American sports history, Robinson won the National League MVP and Rookie of the Year awards during a 10 year career that led to a first ballot induction into the National Baseball Hall of Fame. After he retired from baseball, Robinson became more active in the civil rights movement.

Robinson served as a second lieutenant in the U.S. Army during World War II, he was drafted into military service in 1942 and eventually joined the 761st Tank Battalion, also known as the Black Panthers. He was court-martialed in July 1944 after refusing an order by a driver to move to the back of an Army bus. Robinson was acquitted and coached Army athletics teams until his honorable discharge in November 1944. Robinson remains an icon in MLB and every year on April 15 the league celebrates Jackie Robinson Day, honoring his debut with the Dodgers.

Souvenir Program, published by the Council of Organizations, Meridian, Mississippi, 1974. First edition, first printing. Organized by C. E. Oatis, Jr. Softcover, illustrated paper wrappers, side staple bound, 11" x 8.5", 110 pages, illustrated throughout with historic b&w photographs, portraits and advertisements of members of Meridians Black Social and Fraternal Clubs and many Black community business advertisers. GOOD CONDITION: covers pulling/tearing from the staples but still attached, covers have wear, light creasing, small spotting and penned contact info, internally, some penned name and addresses, and light signs of wear from age and use, overall a respectable copy of this historic documentation of the Black urban and cultural landscape in 1974 Mississippi. Scarce, none in OCLC collections worldwide.

The African American Business District provided services that Meridian's Black community could not otherwise receive. Jim Crow laws that were passed across the country from 1876 to 1965 kept most of Meridian's businesses segregated. Many white owned businesses either refused to serve Black customers or served them on a limited basis. Beginning around the turn of the 20th century, pioneering African American businesspeople stepped forward to fill the needs of their community. The Council of Organizations formed in 1972 to promote the social, cultural, and educational interests of the African American community in Meridian. With representation from Black civic, social, business, professional, fraternal, and educational clubs, the Council provides scholarships and hosts the celebrated Meridian Picnic each year in Meridian or host regions. Long time Black Community leader and educator C. E. Oatis, Jr. (1925-2011) served as President of the National Council of Meridianiates for 30 years.

THE DOWN OF A THISTLE Selected Poems, Prose Poems, and Songs by Margaret Esse Danner

SIGNED & INSCRIBED by African American Poet MARGARET ESSE DANNER

" For Al Birdsong / Margaret / Esse / Danner " in blue ink on the blank free front endpaper.

Published by Country Beautiful, Waukesha, Wisconsin, 1976. First edition. Hardcover in dustjacket, 144 pages. NEAR FINE CONDITION BOOK, un-price-clipped dustjacket has some small edge chips and the spine is lightly sunned.

In 1976 Margaret Esse Danner (1915-1984) published her final major work, The Down of a Thistle, which she dedicated to Black Poet Robert Hayden. Much of her poetry is about the relationship between Black Africa and Black America. Some poems are a homage to Langston Hughes, who also displayed a strong connection to his African heritage and inspired and influenced Danner throughout her life. Her message is one of hope but she did not trivialize the difficulty of being Black in America.

NEGRO PRESS Rare 1938 AFRICAN AMERICAN Thesis BLACK NEWSPAPERS Racism POLITICS

Written by a Black Scholar earning his Master thesis in 1938, this one of the earliest and most thorough studies of the African American Press and Black Newspapers that were published between 1876 and 1936. It identifies the racism and politics that affected Black newspapers, explores the lack of coverage for Black social issues, and examines troubles with white newspapers. The Black press was critical in expanding the sphere of influence for Black leaders and increasing awareness of the Black experience.

THE NEGRO PRESS OF KANSAS by Rashey B. Moten, Jr. Includes "Chronological List of Negro Newspapers In Kansas from 1876 to 1938." Unpublished Master's Thesis, University of Kansas, written in 1936, approved 1938. Softcover, 8.5" x 11", velo bound document, 130 photocopied pages printed on one side only. NEAR FINE Condition: the vintage photocopied pages have the usual copy machine marks, smudges, and variations in brightness, as well as light signs of age and use, overall tight, bright, clean, and unmarked. Scarce.

Rashey Burial Moten, Jr. (1913-2000) the first African American to lead a Catholic Charities organization, Executive Director at Catholic Charities Kansas City Saint Joseph from 1970 to 1981. President Carter appointed Moten to the Advisory Committee for the White House Conference on Families. Moten was instrumental in launching Head Start in 1965 under President Lyndon B. Johnson.

The Patent Wood Box Blacking Songster, circa 1876

Rare unrecorded Songster with song lyrics, illustrated quack medicine and household polishing product advertisements. What makes this piece exceptional is the diabolically racist reconstruction era advertisement for a mousetrap, depicting a caricaturized Black man holding a Catch-Em Alive Mouse Trap with mouse tails dangling from it and on the bottom of his shoe is written 15 Amendment. The 15th Amendment to the US Constitution, ratified in 1870, granted African American men the right to vote. Its appearance on the sole of his shoe coupled with the offensive caricature reflects the social and political climate of the Reconstruction era writ large, mocking Blacks newly acquired voting rights highlights the challenging racial dynamics of the time. I could not find another copy of the Songster, the ad, or a trading card depicting the ad.

With the emphasis on blacking polish, and requests for agents to sell their wares, perhaps published by the American Chemical M'F'G Co., Rochester, New York, manufacturers of the Patent Wood Box Stove Blacking Polish Paste for leather, furniture and stoves (cakes of black-leading or graphite-based blacking and polishing paste in a patented, paddle-shaped, wooden box with swivel lid), circa 1876. Lacking its wrappers (4 pages: the front cover, inside front cover, (unnumbered), inside rear cover, and rear cover (numbered pages 29 and 30)), 5.5" x 4.5", 28 pages (of 30), single thread sewn stitched binding. CONDITION: Imperfect, lacking wrappers, edgewear, edge chips, soiling, tearing, toning, creasing, and mouse gnawed at the bottom edge, page 12 containing the racist ad has a 1" closed edge tear, tiny stab hole in the upper margin, mouse gnawing in the lower margin, and age toning but remains solid and bright. Unrecorded and scarce.

Hand SIGNED by African American Composer and Blues Musician W. C. HANDY in ink on the ffep.

UNSUNG AMERICANS SUNG Edited by W. C. HANDY. Published by Handy Brothers Music Co., Inc. New York City [rubber stamped], 1944. First edition, First printing. Hardbound in original dark blue textured cloth with gilt printing on the front cover, 11" x 7.5", 236 pages, illustrated with a photographic frontispiece portrait of Handy, two full page photographic illustrations, and eight full page illustrations of African Americans from sketches by Beauford De Laney, and musical scores. VERY GOOD CONDITION: a few droplet stains and light wear to the covers, internally, toning to the pastedown and a penned gift inscription from the former owner Kitty Dalton, a chorus girl for Billy Rose on the ffep, otherwise tight, bright, clean and unmarked.

Handy's important musical and cultural collection of song tributes to outstanding African Americans, explores the different dimensions of musical development that exist within Black culture, while also highlighting the struggle and triumph that exist for people of color. Includes poetry, illustrations, children's songs, choral works, scenes from major works, and art songs. Handy, the "Father of the Blues" composed the music for Phillis Wheatley poetry, and collaborated with Langston Hughes on a number of his poems as did Margaret Bonds, there are over 30 contributors including jazz luminaries Eubie Blake, James P. Johnson, Andy Razaf, Luckey Roberts and Ismay Andrews.

William Christopher Handy (1873-1958) born to former slaves, W. C. Handy was one of the first to compose, play and publish a steady stream of blues, spiritual arrangements, marches, hymns, and miscellaneous songs. His collections include Blues: An Anthology (1941), and A Book of Negro Spirituals (1938). His books include: Negro Authors and Composers of the United States (1936), Father of the Blues (1941), and Unsung American Sung (1944).

Beauford De Laney (1901-1979) Noted African American Artist.