Guide to the Louis Overstreet papers
1972, 1981-1993
Collection number: HMC-0412.
Creator: Overstreet, Everett Louis.
Title: Louis Overstreet papers.
Dates: 1972, 1981-1993.
Volume of collection: 0.8 cubic feet.
Language of materials: Collection materials in English.
Collection summary: Records of an African American civil engineer, writer, and board member who served on educational, political, and religious committees.
Biographical note:
Everett Louis Overstreet was born in DeKalb, Mississippi on October 9, 1941, and attended public school in Cleveland, Ohio. He received his bachelors degree in civil engineering (Ohio University, 1967), a masters degree in civil engineering (Carnegie-Mellon University, 1973), and a Ph.D. in engineering (California Coast University, 1988). E. Louis Overstreet married JoAnn R. Gregory on June 28, 1970. They moved to Alaska in 1975, and he began work as a staff engineer for Alyeska Pipeline Service Company. He later worked for Contra-Tech Inc., the Anchorage School District, Construction Control Services Corporation, and Trigen-Peoples District Energy Company. Mr. Overstreet has been very active in Anchorage community affairs. He participated in several organizations and received numerous citations and awards. Some of his more notable activities include being an editorial columnist for the Anchorage Times (1981-1986) and the All Alaskan Weekly (1988-1989); president of the Alaska Black Caucus; chairman of the Municipality of Anchorage Martin Luther King, Jr. Tribute Committee; and a member of the Alaska Pacific University Board of Trustees, the First Christian Methodist Episcopal Church Trustees Board, the Common Sense for Alaska Board of Directors, and the University of Alaska, Anchorage Citizens Advisory Committee. He is also the author of the book Black on a Background of White: A Chronicle of Afro-Americans’ Involvement in America’s Last Frontier, Alaska (published in 1988). Louis Overstreet left Alaska in 1992.
Collection description:
The collection consists of papers related to E. Louis Overstreet’s work and community activities. The collection is divided into four series: Papers, Writings by E. Louis Overstreet, Writings about E. Louis Overstreet, and First Christian Methodist Episcopal Church. The Papers include his resume; reference letters, honors, and certificates or letters of appreciation; correspondence; school district memoranda; speeches; and Anchorage Martin Luther King, Jr. Tribute Committee materials. The second series includes copies of his book, editorial columns, and a screenplay. The third series consists of newspaper and magazine articles about Overstreet. The fourth series contains two programs from events sponsored by, or held at, the First CME Church in Anchorage. This collection is closely related to the Alaska Black Caucus collection.
Arrangement: Papers are arranged into four series according to type: personal papers, writings by E. Louis Overstreet, writings about E. Louis Overstreet, and First Christian Methodist Episcopal Church programs.
Digitized copies: This collection has not been digitized. For information about obtaining digital copies, please contact Archives and Special Collections.
Rights note: Archives and Special Collections owns copyright to collection materials produced by E. Louis Overstreet.
Preferred citation: E. Louis Overstreet papers, Archives and Special Collections, Consortium Library, University of Alaska Anchorage.
Separated materials: Black on a background of white: a chronicle of Afro-Americans’ involvement in America’s last frontier, Alaska, by E. Louis Overstreet has been separated from the collection and added to the Consortium Library’s Rare Books collection.
Related materials: E. Louis Overstreet was president of the Alaska Black Caucus. The Alaska Black Caucus, Inc. records (hmc-0003) are available for research at the Archives and Special Collections.
Acquisition note: This collection was presented to the archives by Everett Louis Overstreet in 1993. A deed of gift was signed in 1993.
Processing information: This collection was described by Michele Wellck in 1995. The collection description was reformatted by Mariecris Gatlabayan in 2010.
Container list:
Series 1. Personal papers; undated, 1984-1993.
| Box/Folder | Description | Date |
| 1/1 | Resume, biography and photograph. | circa 1993 |
| 1/2 | Reference letters. | 1990-1993 |
| 1/3 | Awards and honors | 1989, 1992 |
| 1/4 | Volunteer service: Certificates and letters of appreciation. | undated, 1987-1988 |
| 1/5 | Correspondence | 1984-1993 |
| 1/6 | Anchorage School District Memos | 1986-1992 |
| 1/7 | Speeches | 1986-1992 |
| 1/8 | Anchorage Martin Luther King, Jr. Tribute Committee | 1987-1989 |
Series 2. Writings by E. Louis Overstreet; 1980-1989.
| Box/Folder | Description | Date |
| 1/9 | Managing Change: Public School Administration in Alaska During the Decade of the 80s book outline | 1987-1988 |
| 1/10 | News columns | 1980 December-1982 June |
| 1/11 – 2/4 | Anchorage Times columns | 1982 January-1986 July; 1988 June-1989 April |
| 2/5 | Ghetto Goes to College screenplay | 1989 |
Series 3: Writings about E. Louis Overstreet; 1972, 1981-1992.
| Box/Folder | Description | Date |
| 2/6-7 | Articles | 1972, 1981-1992 |
Series 4: First Christian Methodist Episcopal Church programs; 1990, 1992.
| Box/Folder | Description | Date |
| 2/8 | Alaska Humanitarian Awards Banquet program. Banquet sponsored by the First CME Church in Anchorage. | 1990 May 19 |
| 2/9 | Alaska-Pacific Conference of the Christian Methodist Episcopal Church program. Conference convened at the First CME Church in Anchorage. | 1992 June |