Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies records, 1966-2024
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Summary
- Creator:
- Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies (U.S.)
- Abstract:
- The Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies (JCPES) is a nonprofit American research and public policy institution, or think tank, founded in 1970 to aid black elected officials in creating effective policy and successfully serve their constituents. The collection includes subject files, writings, publications, photographs, audiovisual materials, and electronic records pertaining to JCPES events, programs, and projects especially of concern to African Americans in the late 20th century. Collection acquired as part of the John Hope Franklin Research Center for African and African American History and Culture.
- Extent:
- 247 Linear Feet
96.17 Gigabytes - Language:
- Materials in English
- Collection ID:
- RL.11552
Background
- Scope and content:
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The collection is comprised of administrative records for the Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies, and includes correspondence, memoranda, budgets, funding reports, publications, policy research studies, conference materials, photographs, audiovisual media, and electronic records. Areas of study include healthcare, HIV/AIDS, minority business, television violence, young fathers, education, and minority community representation.
Among its many publications, JCPES published FOCUS magazine from 1972 to 2011, which covered national issues for an audience largely comprised of black elected officials (BEOs). The collection also includes oral histories of Joint Center founders and influencers, interview transcripts, an extensive history of JCPES, materials from the The Joint Center South Africa office which provided post-Apartheid political assistance activities, and original Southern Regional Council publications.
Other materials include interviews/oral histories with founders Louis Martin, educator Kenneth B. Clark who was the first African American president of the American Psychological Association; and McGeorge Bundy, who served as United States National Security Advisor to Presidents John F. Kennedy and Lyndon B. Johnson on foreign and defense policy from 1961 through 1966. Interviews and transcripts that add historical perspective to African American issues are conversations with Southern black mayors; African American architect and social activist Carl Anthony; and Ernest Green, one of the Little Rock Nine.
Conferences included forums, roundtables, and speeches from notable figures, elected officials, and congressional members including Maya Angelou, Joe Biden, Cory Booker, Edward Brooke, Ron Brown, Carol Moseley Braun, George H.W. Bush, Barbara Bush, Henry Cisneros, Shirley Chisholm, Bill Clinton, Hillary Clinton, Charles Diggs, John Hope Franklin, Jesse Jackson, Maynard Jackson, Valerie Jarrett, Barbara Jordan, Vernon Jordan, Jack Kemp, Coretta Scott King, John Lewis, Eleanor Holmes Norton, Barack Obama, Colin Powell, Charles Rangel, Ronald Reagan, Kasim Reed, Condoleezza Rice, Susan Rice, Donna Shalala, Rodney Slater, Doug Wilder, and Andrew Young. Joint Center historical notes compiled by Darlene Clark Hine are included, as well as Juan Williams' historical publication The Joint Center: Portrait of a Black Think Tank. The files and speeches of Joint Center past presidents Eddie N. Williams; Togo West, Jr.; Ralph Everett, Esq.; and past vice president Eleanor Farrar add insight to the Joint Center's mission of illuminating concerns and trends affecting 20th century African Americans to the legislative influencers most able to effect change.
The Printed Materials and Publications series was added to the collection in 2021 by former JCPES employee Margaret Simms. Some of these titles are duplicated elsewhere in the collection.
- Biographical / historical:
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The Joint Center for Political Studies and Economic Studies (JCPES) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization based in Washington, DC that creates policy and programs that improve the socioeconomic status and civic engagement of African Americans. The think tank was founded in 1970 as the Joint Center for Political Studies (JCPS) to aid black elected officials create effective policy and successfully serve their constituents. Founders included the social psychologist Dr. Kenneth B. Clark, and newspaper editor Louis E. Martin. The organization later became the Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies (JCPES) 1990.
Joint Center scholars, researchers and analysts studies, conducted projects, and programmed forums and conferences covering increased political participation, job creation, workforce development, and health care strategies. Each of the events produced booklets, reports and booklets of use to government officials and the general public. These conversations included the Congressional Black Caucus, African American mayors, and state and local legislators. Interactions with presidential cabinet members, journalists, and foreign policy ambassadors represented the full spectrum of the American political system.
- Acquisition information:
- The Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies Records were received by the David M. Rubenstein Rare Book Manuscript Library as a gift in 2014.
- Processing information:
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Processed by Leah M. Kerr and Meggan F. Cashwell, June 2018.
Description for electronic records added by Paula Jeannet, June 2020.
Updated with new accessions by Meghan Lyon and Matthew Farrell in October 2021.
Updated with new accession by Matthew Farrell in 2023.
Accession(s) described in this collection guide: 2014-0141, 2021-0047, 2021-0079, 2023-0170, 2024-0048, and 2024-0108.
- Arrangement:
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The Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies Records (JCPES) are arranged into these series: Center Leadership and Administration; Center Offices; Center Institutes; Printed Materials and Publications; and Electronic Records. Each of the series have been further arranged into subseries. The contents of each series or subseries are arranged hierarchically to reflect the Joint Center's original order.
- Rules or conventions:
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Subjects
Click on terms below to find related finding aids on this site. For other related materials in the Duke University Libraries, search for these terms in the Catalog.
- Subjects:
- African American historians
African American intellectuals -- Correspondence
African American political activists
African American women -- Political activity
African Americans -- Civil rights
African Americans -- Medical care
African Americans -- United States -- History
Drug abuse -- United States
Economics -- Societies, etc.
Elections -- United States -- History
Energy economics and policy
Health care -- United States
HIV (Viruses)
Minorities -- Employment -- United States
Minority business enterprises -- Government policy -- United States
Racism -- Political aspects -- United States
Welfare economics
Women, Black
United States. Congress -- Elections - Format:
- Audiocassettes
electronic records (digital records)
Negatives (photographs)
Optical disks
Oral histories
Photographic prints
Videocassettes - Names:
- Williams, Eddie N.
Martin, Louis, 1912-1997
Height, Dorothy I. (Dorothy Irene), 1912-2010
Farrar, Eleanor, 1939-2005
Overton, Spencer
West, Togo D., 1942-
Williams, Juan
Jordan, Vernon E. (Vernon Eulion), 1935-
Jackson, Maynard, 1939-2003
Chisholm, Shirley, 1924-2005
King, Coretta Scott, 1927-
Hine, Darlene Clark
McFate, Katherine
Clinton, Bill, 1946-
Franklin, John Hope, 1915-2009
Clark, Kenneth Bancroft, 1914-2005
Jackson, Jesse, 1941-
Bush, George, 1924-2018
Bush, Barbara, 1925-
Leigh, Wilhelmina - Places:
- United States -- Congresses -- Senate
Contents
Using These Materials
- Using These Materials Links:
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Using These Materials
- Restrictions:
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Access to original audiovisual materials is restricted. Contact the Rubenstein Library in advance to request access to or the production of a use copy.
Some materials in this collection are electronic records that require special equipment. Contact Research Services with questions.
- Terms of access:
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The copyright interests in this collection have not been transferred to Duke University. For more information, consult the copyright section of the Regulations and Procedures of the David M. Rubenstein Rare Book & Manuscript Library.
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- Please consult our up-to-date information for visitors page, as our services and guidelines periodically change.
- Preferred citation:
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[Identification of item], Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies Records, David M. Rubenstein Rare Book & Manuscript Library, Duke University.
- Permalink:
- https://idn.duke.edu/ark:/87924/m1dw67