The University of Chicago Library > The Hanna Holborn Gray Special Collections Research Center > Finding Aids > Guide to the William M. Yoffee Collection 1789-1992
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Title: | Yoffee, William M. Collection |
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Dates: | 1789-1992 |
Size: | 6.5 linear feet (5 boxes) |
Repository: |
Hanna Holborn Gray Special Collections Research Center |
Abstract: | The William M. Yoffee Collection consists of print publications, audio and video recordings, and figurines, most of which are directly related to black culture in the United States and United Kingdom. Many of these items, including children’s books, comics, and figurines, reflect racist stereotypes perpetuated against black people in these countries throughout the 19th and 20th centuries. Other parts of the collection reflect the achievements of African-American cultural production, including musical records, narrative storytelling in audio format, and print publications. |
The collection is open for research.
When quoting material from this collection, the preferred citation is: Yoffee, William A. Collection, [Box #, Folder #], Hanna Holborn Gray Special Collections Research Center, University of Chicago Library
William “Bill” Morris Yoffee (1932-2018) graduated from the University of Chicago in 1952 and worked on the international staff of the Social Security Administration from 1962-1983. Yoffee and his wife Barbara opened the Children’s Book Adoption Agency in Silver Spring, Maryland, where they bought and sold out-of-print children’s books, with a special focus on books related to black culture in the United States and United Kingdom.
The William M. Yoffee Collection primarily consists of items directly related to black culture in the United States and United Kingdom. Many of these items, including children’s books, comics, and figurines, reflect racist stereotypes perpetuated against black people in these countries throughout the 19th and 20th centuries. Other parts of the collection reflect the achievements of African-American cultural production, including musical records, narrative storytelling in audio format, and print publications. Also included are other items related to American history or children’s literature, such as a copy of the first publication of the Bill of Rights from 1789 and a children’s bookshelf from 1971. The collection is organized chronologically and by item size.
Stereotypical, racist characters documented in this collection include “Little Black Sambo,” later changed to “Little Brave Sambo,” the subject of children’s books by Helen Bannerman beginning in 1899 in England (Box 1); “Pore Lil Mose,” appearing in comics by Richard F. Outcault beginning in 1899 in New York (Boxes 2-3); “Golliwogg,” created by Florence K. Upton and Bertha Upton in 1895 in England (Box 1); the related “Golly” character used widely in advertising from 1910-2002 by Robertson’s, a British marmalade and fruit preserves company (Box 1 Folder 1 and Box 4); and “Amos ‘n’ Andy,” the subjects of a popular but controversial radio show in the United States from 1928-1960 and television show from 1943-1955 (Box 5).
Items related to African-American cultural production include vinyl records by Mahalia Jackson, Josh White, and Freddie Mitchell (Box 2); cassette tapes that record “Gullah stories,” narratives told by South Carolina-born Tita Heins or “Aunt Tita” (Box 1); and a calendar related to Bert Andrews’ 1989 photo-essay “In the Shadow of the Great White Way: Images from the Black Theatre,” celebrating the achievements of black stage actors in New York City (Box 2).
Box 1 Folder 1 | Miscellaneous advertisements and pamphlets, 1884-1990s |
Box 1 Folder 2 | Little Black Sambo’s Jungle Band book and 2 vinyl records, 1939 |
Box 1 Folder 3 | “Dramatizing Little Black Sambo” pamphlet, 1940 |
Box 1 Folder 4 | Little Black Sambo book and vinyl record, 1941 |
Box 1 Folder 5 | Little Black Sambo stories photocopies, 1946 |
Box 1 Folder 6 | Little Brave Sambo vinyl record, 1949 |
Box 1 Folder 7 | Little Brave Sambo and Ten Little Indians vinyl record, 1949 |
Box 1 Folder 8 | “Roy Kisses Joe’s Bride,” Roy Campanella and Joe Louis photograph, 1955 |
Box 1 Folder 9 | Little Brave Sambo vinyl record and story book, 1958 |
Box 1 Folder 10 | Little Brave Sambo vinyl record and story book, 1958 |
Box 1 Folder 11 | “Ten Piccaninnies” card game, 46 playing cards, 1965 |
Box 1 Folder 12 | A Ride on High vinyl record, 1966 |
Box 1 Folder 13 | “Aunt Tita’s Gullah Stories” 2 cassette tapes, 1986-1987 |
Box 1 Folder 14 | “Kate Greenaway: The Cadence of Childhood,” article by Catherine Calvert, Victoria Magazine, 1991 |
Box 1 Folder 15 | Kate Greenaway, photographs and notes, 1991 |
Box 1 Folder 16 | National Museum of American Art: African-American art exhibit pamphlets, 1991-1992 |
Box 1 Folder 17 | “Steiff Golliwogg Circa 1908,” paper dolls, 1992 |
Box 1 Folder 18 | Little Black Sambo 16mm film by Castle Films, Inc., n.d. |
Box 2 Folder 1 | “Gazette of the United States, Aug. 29, 1789,” “First Publication of the Bill of Rights as introduced in Congress, Aug. 24, 1789,” 1789 |
Box 2 Folder 2 | R. F. Outcault, “Lil’ Mose’s Pet Chicken,” print, ca. 1902 |
Box 2 Folder 3 | Josh White, “The Story of John Henry…A Musical Narrative,” LP Record, 1955 |
Box 2 Folder 4 | Freddie Mitchell and his Orchestra, “That Boogie Beat,” LP Record, 1956 |
Box 2 Folder 5 | “Storyland,” vinyl record, 1962 |
Box 2 Folder 6 | LIFE magazines, 1947 and 1968 |
Box 2 Folder 7 | Mahalia Jackson, “The Power and the Glory,” LP Record, 1969 |
Box 2 Folder 8 | “In the Shadow of the Great White Way: Images from the Black Theatre” Calendar, 1992 |
Box 2 Folder 9 | “Minty: A Story of Young Harriet Tubman” Poster, 1996 |
Box 3 | R. F. Outcault, “A True Ghost Story by Pore Lil’ Mose,” framed print, ca. 1902 |
Box 3 | R. F. Outcault, “Why Poor Lil’ Mose Left School, Poor Lil’ Mose,” framed print, ca. 1902 |
Box 4 | 7 “Robertson’s Golly Band” Figurines, n.d. |
Box 4 | “Robertson’s Golly Lollipop Man” Figurine, n.d. |
Box 4 | Robertson’s “Golden Shred Fun Eraser” with “Golly” figure, n.d. |
Box 4 | 5 small figurines, n.d. |
Box 5 | Peter Rabbit Book Shelf, 1971 |
Box 5 | “Amos ‘n’ Andy” 14 cassette tapes, 1977-1982 |