African Americana

Don Gilbert was an enterprising and prolific businessman who operated out of Dallas, Memphis, Arkansas, and elsewhere. He graduated from Clark College in Atlanta and would study further at Brooklyn Law School and City College of New York. He is best remembered for compiling and publishing the Dallas, Texas Negro City Directory, his copy of the 1947-1948 edition of which is included here. He also was the founder and editor of Applause: The Magazine of Inspiration, a Dallas-based periodical for a Black audience, several issues are present in the archive, including the extremely scarce first issue. Housed in Gilbert's briefcase, the archive includes other items, manuscripts, and ephemera from his career.

GILBERT, Don, editor, his copy. Negro City Directory, 1947-1948. Dallas: Don Gilbert & T.W. Pratt; Dallas Negro Chamber of Commerce, 1947.

4to. Pictorial illustrations throughout. (Minor toning, light wear to page edges.) Original publisher's red cloth (lacking spine, cover cloth lacking board, rear board lacking cloth, creased).

FIRST EDITION, SIGNED "DG of Memphis TN" to interior rear board. The Directory features an illustrated guide of the city and highlights Dallas’s first black police officers, postal carriers, and others. A section of Dallas attorneys includes William J. Durham (1896-1970), a prominent leader in the civil rights movement who would try Sweatt v. Painter (1950) forcing the integration of the University of Texas School of Law. Illustrated throughout with advertisements of black-owned businesses as well as national brands including a decorative fore-edge advertisement for Bluebonnet Beer. The State Fair of Texas even advertises “Two Big Negro Achievement Days” and the white Texas League Dallas Rebels baseball team thank their “loyal Colored Fans who deserve the Best in Sports entertainment.” RARE, OCLC locates four copies.

[With:] Applause: The Magazine of Inspiration. Dallas, TX, 1944-1949. 9 issues (incomplete run). Dallas, TX: Applause Publishing Company, 1944-1949.

4to, 9 issues numbering: Vol. 1, No. 1, 1944, also a photocopy of one page of the article "Joe Louis Named the War" by Carl Byoir, signed "DG"; Vol. 1, No. 5, December 1946 (with erroneous April 1947 cover stapled); Vol. 1, No. 7, January 1947, also includes second cover framed; Vol. 1, No. 9, April 1947 (lacking cover wrappers), includes cover framed; Vol. 1, No. 12, July-August 1947; Vol. 2, No. 2, June 1948 (lacking cover wrappers); Vol. 2, No. 3, September 1948; Vol. 3, No. 4, November 1948; Vol. 4, No. 2, August 1949. (Creasing, wear.) Original pictorial wrappers (some creasing, minor soiling).

Includes the very first issue published in 1944 (month not specified) with the articles "Our Boys in Service" and "Service Men's Honor Roll" and a note on the title page, "Send a copy of this magazine to a boy in service - Let him know that you remember!" Danky-Hady lists the start of publication as 1946, however, it is clear that the first issue was issued in 1944 and that publication was on hiatus or sporadic throughout 1945 and 1946. Notably, Vol. 2, No. 2, June 1948 has extensive notes throughout, especially the prices paid for advertisements in pink marker, and pencil notes noting "Paid." Most issues include a photographic portrait of Don Gilbert on the masthead. RARE: Not in Potter or North Carolina Central University, Newspapers and Periodicals By and About Black People. Danky-Hady 475. Limited holdings in libraries recorded by Danky-Hady: Amistad Research Center, New Orleans (v.4, no.4), Howard University (v.2, nos, 3-4), Fisk University (v.1, no. 9-12, v. 2 no. 1-4), Dallas Historical Society (v.4, no. 1). No institution appears to have the first issue.

[Also with:] Samsonite briefcase with the initials "D" and "G" on latches. -- 16 business cards, club cards, and driver's licenses issued to Don Gilbert. (Worn, creases, soiling). -- 17 advertising contracts for Gilbert's Year Book. Numbered 370-371, 377-383, 389, 392-398. 8 5/8 x 5 3/4 in. most 2 pages with carbon copy. (Several with vertical crease). -- 1 advertising contract for Applause: The Magazine of Inspiration. No. 1490. (Creasing, tear at upper margin). -- 5 newspaper clippings. -- 9 additional pieces of miscellaneous ephemera. -- Zippo lighter engraved "D.G." -- Fountain pen with brass cap engraved "Don Gilbert."

[Also with:] HYCHEW, Elgin. Texas Editors' in Town for Mardi Gras. [New Orleans?], n.d. Appears to be an article draft that includes a biography of Gilbert and his publication CV. -- McGUIRE, Jada M. Typed letter signed ("Jada M. McGuire") as Executive Vice President of the Blytheville Chamber of Commerce. Blytheville, AR, 23 March 1964. 1 page, 4to, on Blytheville Chamber of Commerce letterhead, heavy creases, chips to edges. McGuire writes a letter on behalf of Gilbert: "This is to certify that Don Gilbert, Sr., executive director, National Community Improvement Association, has checked with the Chamber of Commerce and been approved for contacting firms." She adds, "I have personally known Don Gilbert for the past 10 years, and know that he is working to prevent violence in race relations." -- Deed of Trust. for Lot 66 in Shelby County, TN for Don Gilbert, Sr. and his wife Freddie H. Gilbert. 15 July 1977. -- Manuscript draft of Gilbert's resume. 10 x 12 in. ink manuscript on tissue (creases). He lists his "Preparation," "Achievements," and "Relationships." The lists includes his college education, sports participation, publications, and organizations he was a part of. -- Manuscript draft of Gilbert's resume. 12 pages, 4 3/8 x 4 3/16 in., creased. A similar listing on small notepaper.