Search

Walter J. Taylor (1934-2002) was a Black man from California who was incarcerated multiple times from the 1950s through the 1970s, including a period at San Quentin and Folsom prisons (1968-1973). During this latter period in jail, Taylor founded the Sisters of Motivation and the Community Concern for Prisoners organizations to help Black Americans convicted of crimes. Collection consists largely of materials from Taylor's time in prison and later as a community activist in Berkeley, California. Most of the materials comprise Taylor's incoming correspondence during his incarcerations in the 1950s through the 1970s, which includes letters from a variety of people, especially women participating as pen pals in the Sisters of Motivation organization. Other frequent writers are Taylor's wives, girlfriends, family members, and community organizations that he had contacted regarding his imprisonment and the general condition of Black men in prison. Other materials include personal items documenting Taylor's life, as well as writings and creative works by Taylor. Acquired as part of the Human Rights Archive at Duke University.

Member of Board of Trustees at Duke University; senior vice-president of Shell Companies Foundation, Inc. Collection spans the years 1841-1977, with the bulk dating from 1930-1977, and contains personal correspondence among members of the Upchurch family, including correspondence between Upchurch and his brother during World War II, when they were both serving in the U.S. Navy; professional correspondence concerning Duke University administrative affairs; genealogical materials for the Upchurch, Daniel, and Meadows families of North Carolina; commemorative material on Upchurch's mother, Minnie Gertrude (Daniel) Upchurch; and photographs, clippings, programs, and school materials. Much of the personal materials reveals the life of a middle-class North Carolina family during the first half of the 20th century. One personal letter is from John Steinbeck's sister, Beth Ainsworthy, and contains comments on Steinbeck and relationships in the Steinbeck family. Another group of materials relates to the world premiere of Samuel Barber's opera, ANTONY AND CLEOPATRA, at the Lincoln Center in N.Y. on Sept. 16, 1966. Included are invitations, commemorative programs and booklets, and the opera libretto. Other materials include Shell Development Company records on personnel issues such as labor relations and salary administration; and Shell Companies Foundation records (1963-1974), chiefly relating to the foundation's endowments, scholarships, and grants, as well as the company's donation budgets from 1969-1974.