Fairs and Expositions

Photograph of Panama-Pacific Exposition
Panorama of the Panama-Pacific Exposition, 1915, Stephens Family papers, MS 5, African American Museum & Library at Oakland, Oakland Public Library.
Portrait of Blakeney family at the Panama-Pacific International Exposition
Portrait of Blakeney family at the Panama-Pacific International Exposition, 1915, African American Museum & Library at Oakland Photograph collection, MS 189, African American Museum & Library at Oakland, Oakland Public Library.

Prepare for a visit to AAMLO with these special topic resource guides.

This resource guide is intended to help users locate holdings at AAMLO related to the role African Americans played in World's Fairs and Expositions.

It highlights holdings in the following areas:

● Selected Library Material at AAMLO
● Selected Archival Collections at AAMLO

Other collections may contain relevant materials. Please contact AAMLO (aamlo@oaklandlibrary.org) with any questions or to schedule an appointment to view materials in person.

Selected Library Materials

All the World Is Here! the Black Presence at White City by Christopher Robert Reed

Negro Building : Black Americans in the World of Fairs and Museums by Mabel O. Wilson

The Industrial History of the Negro Race of the United States (Jamestown Exposition) by Giles B. Jackson

The Negro Trail Blazers of California by Delilah L. Beasley. (includes "The Negro at the Panama Pacific International Exposition in San Francisco")

Selected Archival Collections

Stephens Family Papers. At the age of twelve, Virginia Stephens Coker (1903-1986), entered a competition sponsored by the San Francisco Call-Post to name the 1915 Panama-Pacific International Exposition. Her name, "Jewel City," was selected as the winner over 13,000 entries. Her papers include the letter of congratulations she received from Charles C. Moore upon winning the naming contest.

Girl standing next to Fountain of Western Waters at the Golden Gate International Exposition
Girl standing next to Fountain of Western Waters at the Golden Gate International Exposition, 1939, Joseph (E. F.) photograph collection, MS 126, African American Museum & Library at Oakland, Oakland Public Library.

Rousseau Family Papers. Beginning in the 1910s, the Rousseau family began performing as the ‘World’s Most Famous Rousseau Family of Musicians’ and the ‘Silver Star Musical Family’ at church and vaudeville theater venues throughout California, including a four month long performance at the Panama-California International Exposition in San Diego, California in 1915-1916.

Justitia Davis Papers. Justitia Davis Scott (1918-1976) was active in Elmer Keeton’s Bay Area Negro Chorus and performed in The Swing Mikado production held at the Golden Gate International Exposition at Treasure Island. Included in her papers are two scrapbooks related to Davis' performances in The Swing Mikado.
 
Eudora C. Proctor Papers. In 1939, Proctor landed a role in the Golden Gate International Exposition ’s production of The Swing Mikado. While performing in the The Swing Mikado, Proctor and three other members of the production, Milton Lovett, Harry Villa, and Eloise Clay, formed their own song and dance group Lovett, Villa, and the Rhythm Queens.
 
Maxine and Roy C. Blackburn Papers. Includes newspaper clippings regarding Roy C. Blackburn's appointment as Director of Negro Publicity for the proposed 1939 Los Angeles World's Fair.
 

Annette Starr Bruce Hudson Papers. Charm and etiquette instructor Annette Starr Bruce Hudson (1920-2002) worked as a waitress during the 1939 Golden Gate International Exposition held at San Francisco's Treasure Island. The Hudson Papers include various photographs of wait staff, maids, and baggage handlers at the Golden Gate International Exposition, as well as a photograph of the fair's production of Hall Johnson's Run, Little Chillun.

Roberts Family Papers. Includes a letter from the San Francisco Negro Day World's Fair Committee to Pearl Roberts regarding her upcoming concert at the Golden Gate International Exposition's "Negro Day " (July 25, 1940). 

Thelma Gibson Radden Papers. Includes an aluminum recording made by Maude Esther Gibson at the Golden Gate International Exposition.

Ruth Beckford Papers. Includes an interview with Tom W. Anderson, Dining Car Cooks' and Waiters' Union Local 456, discussing his work advocating for African American cooks and waiters to be hired at the Golden Gate International Exposition. Also includes a photograph of Cora Beckford and Felix Beckford posing in studio portrait at Panama-Pacific International previous Exposition.

Sellers Family Papers. Includes a photograph album documenting the Sellers family attending the Golden Gate International Exposition.

Royal E. Towns Papers. Includes performance photographs of the Count Basie Orchestra, the Hi-Hatters, and others, at the Golden Gate International Exposition.

Joshua Rose Papers. Includes a photograph of Joshua Rose at the Golden Gate International Exposition.

Louis J. Avelino Papers. Includes a photograph of William Bill Davis and Mary Jane Davis standing in a portrait gallery at the Panama–Pacific International Exposition.

African American Museum & Library at Oakland Vertical File Collection. Includes ephemera collected at the 1915 Panama-Pacific International Exposition in San Francisco, California and the 1915 Panama-California Exposition in San Diego, California.

Historic image of Frenchie Linsey, Mary and Marie, and Joe Jones attending the Golden Gate International Exposition,
Frenchie Linsey, Mary and Marie, and Joe Jones attending the Golden Gate International Exposition, Royal E. Towns papers, MS 26, African American Museum and Library at Oakland, Oakland Public Library.

Additional Information

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Consult AAMLO's finding aids in the Online Archive of California.

We are working to create new resource guides. Have an idea for a new guide? Contact us at aamlo@oaklandlibrary.org.