Pacific Northwest

Afro-American Project, University of Washington Special Collections. Begun in 1964 with the gift of NAACP Seattle Branch papers, this collection has grown with the addition of more personal papers and organizational archives, and taped interviews with over two dozen longtime residents of the Black community, primarily Seattle. A description of the Afro-American Project and summaries of its contents can be found in The Comprehensive Guide to the Manuscripts Collection and to the Personal Papers in the University Archives, compiled by Marilyn Priestley. Seattle: University of Washington Libraries, 1980. Contact the division for more information.

Nettie J. Asberry Papers, 1898-1968. One of the founders of the Tacoma Branch, NAACP, Asberry was an active Black pioneer and civic leader.

Beatrice Cannady Scrapbook, 1929-1936. Cannady and her husband E.D. Cannady published the Portland Advocate. Some materials date from 1918-1929. Original scrapbook at the Oregon Historical Society, microfilm at University of Oregon.

Gayton Family Papers, 1900-1960. Early African American family in Seattle, active in church and civic affairs. John T. Gayton founded the First African Methodist Episcopal Church.

Benjamin F. McAdoo, Papers, 1952-1966. 250 items, held in Special Collections, document McAdoo's presidency of the Seattle Chapter of the NAACP.

Tyree Scott Papers, ca. 1970-1995. Scott worked against discrimination in the PNW construction industry and the Alaska canneries. Also included are the personal papers of his wife, Beverly Sims, who worked on issues concerning women s rights, developing country and indigenous peoples issues.

National Resources

Who's Who Among African Americans, 15th edition. New York: Gale Research, 2001/03. The premier resource among "who's who" reference tools for Black Americans, this publication also has a geographic index by state and municipality.

Black Women in America; an Historical Encyclopedia. New York: Carlson Publishing, Inc., 1993. 2 vol. Includes essays on major topics and personal name entries. A classification by significance/activity is included as well as a subject index. No geographic access however.

Notable Black American Women, ed. Jessie Carney Smith. Detroit: Gale Research Inc., 1992. 2 vol. This set includes a geographical index, making it useful for identifying significant African American women by state.