Guide to the Black Arts Association records
1972-1980
Collection number: HMC-0070.
Creator: Black Arts Association.
Title: Black Arts Association records.
Dates: 1972-1980.
Volume of collection: 1.7 cubic feet.
Language of materials: Collection materials are in English.
Collection summary: Records of an organization promoting artistic engagement for African Americans in Anchorage.
Organizational history:
The Black Arts Association (BAA) was organized in 1972 for the purpose of promoting the cultural, artistic, and social expansion of black people and the underprivileged. The activities of the association included producing plays, musicals, and other cultural events; and training black people and others in theater arts and other artistic fields. The association also operated the Mountain View Neighborhood Community Center (MVNCC). The Black Arts Association was closed down in 1979 due to financial problems.
Collection description:
The collection consists of administrative records including the association’s bylaws, constitution, and meeting minutes; operations records such as correspondence, contracts, grant application files, and personnel records; financial records; and photographs. The collection contains some materials related to the Older Persons Action Group and the Mabel T. Caverly Senior Center due to the interaction between the Black Arts Association and those organizations.
Arrangement: The collection is arranged into the following series:
Series 1: Administrative records
Series 2: Operations records
Series 3: Financial records
Series 4: Photographs
Digitized copies: Selected items from the collection have been digitized and can be viewed on Alaska’s Digital Archives. For information about obtaining copies please contact Archives and Special Collections.
Rights note: Copyright to materials in the collection is not held by Archives and Special Collections.
Preferred citation: Black Arts Association, Archives and Special Collections, Consortium Library, University of Alaska Anchorage.
Acquisition note: The collection was presented to the archives by James Chase, the last president of the association. More materials were added in 1983. No deed of gift was signed.
Processing information: This collection was initially sorted by Dennis Walle in 1980. The collection was further arranged and described by Sally Moeller in 1981. The collection guide was revised to meet current standards by Arlene Schmuland in 2014. At that time, some description was expanded and materials removed. Materials removed included personnel records identifying social security numbers, payroll records, and published materials unrelated to the Black Arts Association.
Container list:
Series 1: Administrative records; 1972-1978. 0.2 cubic feet.
| Box/Folder | Description | Dates |
| 1/1 | Bylaws and constitution | undated, 1977, 1978 |
| 1/2 | Purpose and objectives, committee duties | undated |
| 1/3-5 | Minutes | 1972-1978 |
| 1/6 | Membership lists | 1978 |
| 1/7 | Executive Board membership list | undated |
| 1/8 | “The Scope” newsletter | 1978 |
Series 2: Operational records; 1973-1980. 0.4 cubic feet.
Generally arranged by type of record or activity, chronological within. Financial records relating to the grant records may be found in Series 3.
| Box/Folder | Description | Dates |
| 1/9 | Calendars | 1975 |
| 1/10 | Correspondence | 1973-1975 |
| 1/11 | Correspondence | 1976 |
| 1/12 | Correspondence | 1977 |
| 1/13 | Correspondence | 1978 January-March |
| 1/14 | Correspondence | 1978 April-June |
| 1/15 | Correspondence | 1978 July-September |
| 1/16 | Correspondence | 1978 October-December |
| 1/17 | Correspondence | 1979-1980 |
| 1/18 | Correspondence | undated |
| 1/19 | BAA and MVNCC telephone messages | 1978 |
| 1/20 | Arts Affiliation agreement | 1973 August 14 |
| 1/21 | Service contract | 1974 March 27 |
| 1/22 | Older Persons Action Group contract | 1976-1977 |
| 1/23 | Emergency Energy Conservation Plan contract | 1978 |
| 1/24 | BAA-MVNC grant application | 1974 |
| 1/25 | OEO grant agreement | 1974 |
| 1/26 | BAA-MVNC grant application | 1978 |
| 1/27 | BAA-MVNC personnel forms | undated |
| 1/28 | Executive director job description | undated |
| 1/29 | Property inventories | 1974-1977 |
| 1/30 | “No place for somebody” theatre production records | undated |
| 1/31 | Notes and memos | undated |
| 1/32 | Charts | undated |
| 1/33 | Notes | undated |
Series 3: Financial records; 1974-1980. 0.8 cubic feet.
Arranged into groupings: by type of record or activity, chronological within.
| Box/Folder | Description | Dates |
| 1/34 | Meaux and Strand audits | 1974 |
| 1/35-36 | Bigler, Hawkins, Obendorf audits | 1975-1976 |
| 1/37-38 | Peat Marwick, Mitchell and Company audit and accounting manual | 1978 |
| 1/39 | Brady Associates fundraising prospectus | 1974 |
| 1/40 | Income tax records | 1975-1977 |
| 1/41 | Balance sheets | 1974 July-December |
| 1/42 | Balance sheets | 1975 |
| 1/43 | Balance sheets | 1976 |
| 1/44 | Balance sheets | 1977 |
| 1/45 | Financial journal sheets | 1974 September-December |
| 1/46 | Financial journal sheets | 1974-1977 |
| 3 | Financial journal for the Black Arts Association and the Mabel T. Caverly Senior Center | 1976 |
| 1/47 | OEO grant statement | 1974 |
| 1/48 | OEO budget summary | 1975 |
| 1/49 | OEO budget summary | 1976 |
| 1/50 | OEO budget summary | 1977 |
| 1/51 | OEO budget summary | 1978 |
| 1/52 | Grant federal cash transaction report | 1977 |
| 1/53 | Grant in-kind contributions | 1976-1977 |
| 1/54 | Bank reconciliation | 1977 |
| 2/1 | Disbursement records | 1974 September-October |
| 2/2 | Disbursement records | 1974 November-December |
| 2/3 | Disbursement records | 1975 January-April |
| 2/4 | Disbursement records | 1975 May-July |
| 2/5 | Disbursement records | 1975 August-December |
| 2/6 | Disbursement records | 1976 January-March |
| 2/7 | Disbursement records | 1976 July-December |
| 2/8 | Disbursement records | 1977 January-May |
| 2/9-12 | Receipts and bills | 1976-1978 |
| 2/13 | Lawsuit records | 1979-1980 |
| 2/14 | Car expenses | 1977 |
| 2/15 | Long distance phone call notes | 1977 |
| 2/16 | Blank forms | undated |
Series 4: Photographs; undated, 1972-1975. 0.3 cubic feet.
| Box/Folder | Description | Dates |
| 2/17 | Members: 69 black and white prints, 3 color prints, 2 contact print sheets, 73 black and white 35mm negatives | undated, 1972-1973 |
| 2/18 | Art Fair: 12 color prints | 1974 |
| 2/19 | Jesus Christ Super Star production cast and rehearsal: 6 black and white prints, 1 black and white contact print sheet, 14 120mm black and white negatives | undated |
| 2/20 | Purlie production cast and rehearsal: 11 black and white prints, 8 black and white contact print sheets, 97 black and white 35mm negatives, 12 black and white 120mm negatives | undated |
| 2/21 | Fashion show: 1 black and white print, 1 black and white contact print sheet, 40 black and white 35mm negatives | undated |
| 2/22 | Fort Richardson variety show: 35 black and white prints, 20 color prints, 1 black and white contact print sheet, 12 color 35mm negatives, 30 black and white 35mm negatives | 1975 |
| 2/23 | Talent show: 1 black and white print, 2 black and white contact print sheets, 12 black and white 120mm negatives | undated |
| 2/24 | Miss US Teen Pageant and Revue: 2 black and white prints, 2 black and white contact print sheets, draft of program | 1974 |
| 2/25 | Unidentified photographs: 18 black and white prints, 47 color prints, 6 black and white contact print sheets, 118 black and white 35mm negatives, 8 color 35mm negatives, 12 black and white 120mm negatives | undated |