B4NDDR4SBCX Vol. XXXIII No. 4 Jamaica, Queens York College of the City University of New York December 1989/January 1990 Archive Preserves Queens History And Promotes York College By John Crow tional goals as the college," said Paisner. Photo Editor "The archive is a mecca. A thing of both York College and The Black American local and national significance." Heritage Foundation, Inc. (BAHF) have "Clarence doesn't take no for an collaborated to create The York College- answer," said Milton Bassin, President Black American Heritage Foundation of York College. "He is a dynamic Music History Archive. The archive is individual. I am very pleased that Mr. for the works of African-American Irving came to us and offered us the musicians and composers who have lived opportunity to house the archive." in Queens. President Bassin organized a task force The archive material will be housed and an advisory search committee. It is in the York College library. It will include specifically responsible for making the musical manuscripts, memorabilia, video archive a reality. The members come tapes, and any other materials pertaining from several disciplines in the college and to the musical careers of African- also from BAHF. The co-chairs are Dr. American musicians and composers. Parmet and Clarence Irving. They will "It could be York College's greatest look at the historical significance and attraction," said Clarence Irving Sr., validity of the materials submitted. founder and Chairman of The Black Other members of the advisory com- American Heritage Foundation, Inc. mittee, from York College, include J. Irving is also the originator of the idea Kevin Barry, chief librarian of York of the Archive at York. College; Dr. Celestine Anderson, Coor- "If promoted correctly, it could be one dinator of the Afro-American Studies; of the most viable institutions in the Venis Marsh, Dean of Academic Affairs; country," said Irving. Dr. Dennis Moorman, associate profes- Archive Advisory Committee: Clarence Irving, Kevin Barry, Claire Paisner, Hoover Burroughs, Irving, an African-American, says that sor of Music; Claire Paisner, director of Estella Williams, Venis Marsh, President Bassin, Rev. Gensel, Dennis Moore, Robert Parmet. he is driven by disappointments and Public Information; and Dr. Jacqueline archive wUl be administered by the York tion," said Celestine Anderson. "Wil- denials. Ray, associate professor of Psychology. College library staff. bur Buck Clayton, the interna- "After years and years of neglect and The archive's advisory committee also "The person must have a degree in tionally known trumpeter, composer and omission, and getting the royal run- includes Hoover Burroughs, saxophonist library science and be certified as a arranger, has already donated his original around from Queens College, I was and administrative assistant to Assembly professional archivist," said Barry. works to the archive." determined not to let it happen again," woman Barbara Clark; Rev. John G. confided Irving. Gensel, associate pastor, St. Peter's Barry hopes that once the archive is Anderson also pointed out that Clay- "The 10-15% of African-Americans Lutheran Church, who is known as "Jazz up and running, the art gallery, set to ton has agreed to serve as a member of that made up the population of this area Minister of the World"; Dr. Joseph open early in 1990, will be utilized to the advisory committee to the newly (at the time) were ignored by Queens McLaren, professor of English and the fullest to showcase many of the created archive. College," Irving said. Humanities, Mercy College; Betty Smith, exhibitions created by the archive. He "The Archive will not be a place to African-Americans were left out of the manager of Urban affairs at Con Edison, explained that the archive is just one of drop off things that are cleaned out of only public college situated in the middle and Queens advisory board chair of the the colleges many community out-reach the attic," said Anderson. "It's going to of the community. When he learned of New York Urban League; Estella Wil- projects. be a professional operation. A lot of the liams, singer/pianist who is the daughter the plans for York College, he decided "It would be an archive available to donations will come from the private of the late Fess Williams, jazz pioneer to make sure that African American other libraries and individuals," said libraries of the sons and daughters (of and one of the original big band leaders. citizens would receive better treatment at Barry. "It's for the community as well these musicians) who still live in Queens." York. Since the marriage of BAHF and Many student senators were questi- as the college." Among the musical greats who once York College, the cooperation has been oned about the Music History Archive. The Black American Heritage Foun- lived in this community are the late Count exceptional on both sides. The majority of them were hearing about dation is the same group which co- Basie, Fess Williams, Fats Waller, James it for the first time — including the "The way we dominate it," Irving sponsors, with York College, the annual P. Johnson, Billie Holiday, Bessie Smith, president of Student Government, explained, "is by putting something in Duke Ellington Memorial concert. They Sidney Bechet, Clarence Williams and, Donald Vernon. there that represents us; something that have done it successfully for the last six most recently, Smokey Robinson. we could identify with." A venture like an archive takes money, years. The most recent concert took place "Perry Bradford is known as the first Claire Paisner is director of public lots of it. So, the committee members in October of 1989, and featured Dr. to record an African American female information at York College and has are in search of funds to finance the Aaron Bell and other Jazz greats. singer," said Irving. "Mamie Smith worked as a volunteer, with BAHF, on running and maintainace of the archive. recorded a song entitled "This Thing several projects. It was while doing one The Grants Office at York, headed by The Memorial concert is one of the Called Love" with Bradford. They were of these projects that the idea was Ronald Paige, and the BAHF, are many joint projects between York and both residents of Jamaica, Queens." presented to her. deligently at work.They are speaking to BAHF. Dr. Parmet is credited as the "It's a concept they (BAHF) had," said individuals, corporations, foundations, force behind that success. Bradford was a composer and a "song Paisner. "And I worked with them to and other funding sources, about the "That's because of the partnership that plugger" (producer) of the 1920's. He was develop the idea." importance of such an institution in our now exists between York College and a native of Atlanta, Georgia and a band She felt it was a natural thing to bring community. BAHF," said Pamet. leader in New York between 1910 and to York College. Dr. Robert Parmet, of J. Kevin Barry supports the archive Paisner thinks that because of 1928. the History and Philosophy department, because of its potential and historical Parmet's expertise as a historian and his Everyone involved with this project was also working as a volunteer with importance. He heads the search com- respect for the music, a respect they both seems very excited about it. Parmet and BAHF. Both saw the archive as some- mittee for an expert archivist. The share, the projects will continue to be Irving share the notion that this area, thing "very much needed." archivist will be responsible for running successful. Jamaica, should get its rightful place in "The concept shares the same educa- the operation, while the affairs of the "I am'very excited about this collec- continued on page 11 page 2 PANDORA'S BOX December 1989/January 1990 Letters To The Editor CUNY Listens Learning Center Success Story Dear Editor: Dear Editor: year, she decided to go back to school Thanks Again On November 19, Freida James, a and obtain her GED. The City University Of New York is Dear Editor, student at the York College Learning presently conducting a study of student Freida came to the York College On behalf of the York College Student Center was honored by the National attitudes designed to help the University Learning Center to make her dreams of Government, 1 would like to thank Council of Negro Women (NCNW) at improve its services for students. a better life for herself and her children everyone who contributed to making the a luncheon held at Antun's. One thousand students at each of the come true. She started at the Learning recent Blood Drive a success. CUNY campuses were randomly selected James was one of several young people Center as a student in one of the Adult Special thanks goes out to students, and a confidential questionaire was to receive the prestigious Young Black Basic Education classes. staff, and faculty who gave blood. I also mailed1'to these students. Achiever's Award at a reception held in Now, she is in the City Works program thank those who really wanted to give, their honor. The survey questionaire included at the center. After she completes the but, for one reason or another, could not. questions that focused on the college Councilman Archie Spigner and classes and obtain her GED, Freida experiences (including courses, teachers, Queensborough President Claire Shul- wishes to go to college. Freida is a very Sincerely, financial aid, social activities, etc.) man were among the dignitaries who talented young woman and will defin- Charlene Greenridge It is important that each of the one honored our young people with speeches inately achieve her dreams and thousand York students who received the of encouragement.