American Historical Ephemera and Photography, Featuring African Americana

2 typewritten drafts of a flyer for "Malcolm X Day," held on 19 May 1968. 8 1/2 x 11 in. (toning, dampstaining, creasing chipping to edges and corners). Text on both drafts identical, though one includes a pencil inscription, "Moon" in the left margin, likely indicating that an illustration of a moon should appear there in the final printed version. Drafts feature pencil drawings and inscriptions on verso, one having Arabic characters to the left and various drawings of chimneys along with what could be a cornfield or some other vegetation in the upper portion; the other having a sketch of the front and back of a shirt or jacket at center. -- Malcolm X Day / May 19, 1968. 8 1/2 x 11 in. printed flyer (minor toning, creasing). Features a halftone portrait of the leader at the top and text outlining details of the event below (some of which is identical to text on drafts referenced above). The OAAU seal, an illustration representing phases of the moon with Arabic text, is featured to the bottom left. -- Together 3 papers related to the OAAU-sponsored Malcolm X Day.

Marcus Aurelius Garvey 83rd Birthday Commemoration Day. N.p.: ca 1970. 8vo unfolded program (minor toning/spotting). Featuring a portrait of OAAU President Ella Collins, schedule of events and speakers on second page, list of speakers' topics, and advertisement for Zakariah H. Shabazz's work, Portrait of a Poet.

Organization of Afro-American Unity Inc. Fall Open Forum. N.p.: ca 1965. 8 1/2 x 11 in. printed flyer (minor staining, toning and some wear to edges and corners). Featuring details for the event, including date (31 October) and location (Hotel Theresa in New York), and a list of speakers including Ella Collins, William Epton, and Clifton DeBerry. Text at center asks: "Does the Black Man in America Need a Revolution? IN a time such as this when revolutions of one kind of another are taking place all over the globe, what then is the solution which offers the brightest hope to the black masses in America in the shortest period possible?? Do you know? Have any ideas?"

Malcolm X Educational Center, Inc. San Francisco: Julian Richardson Associates, n.d. 11 1/4 x 8 7/8 in. Original wrappers (toning, soiling, wear to page edges and corners). Booklet features photographs of the educational center and its students by Paul Cantrell, with typewritten captions to add humor and personality.

Provenance: Items purchased at the estate sale held at the home of Malcolm X's half-sister Ella Little-Collins, from her son, Rodnell Collins (Boston), ca late 1990s.

Shortly after parting ways with the Nation of Islam in March of 1964, Malcolm X formed the OOAU, announcing its establishment in June of that year. Inspired by the African continent's intergovernmental coalition, the Organization of African Unity (OAU), Malcolm X sought to connect the millions of non-Muslim African Americans to their African heritage. To keep the organization pure to its intentions, one of which was to further black control over black communities, the OAAU denied membership to whites and only sought donations from African sources.

After the assassination of Malcolm X on 21 February 1965, his half-sister Ella Collins took over leadership of the OAAU, but the organization soon collapsed without the charismatic leadership of its founder.