Wilbert Tatum papers

Collection — Multiple Containers

Identifier: 8103

Scope and content

The Wilbert Tatum papers consists of personal and professional papers, including correspondence, photographic material, ephemera such as political broadsides and advertisements, audio recordings, videos, reports, and material related to Tatum's publishing of the New York Amsterdam News, circa 1960-2000. Within the collection are a scrapbook of material related to civil rights, a death-placard from the funeral of Martin Luther King, Jr., virulent broadsides and writings condemning Ed Koch as Mayor, a collection of photocopied amateur collage "press releases" mailed to Tatum's office containing handwritten allegations on a variety of topics, materials and correspondence related to the research of Malcolm X, photographs from Percy Sutton's funeral, and materials related to the anti-Apartheid movement and boycott. Individuals represented in the collection include Bill Clinton, Ed Koch, Abe Beam, David Dinkins, Rudy Giuliani, Donald Trump, Mario Cuomo, Jesse Jackson, Percy Sutton, Police Commissioner William Bratton, and Al Sharpton.

Dates

[ca. 1960-2000]

Creator

Tatum, Wilbert. (Person)

Conditions Governing Access

Access to Box 1: folder 11 is restricted due to the presence of personally identifiable information (PII) and protected health information (PHI). The medical records dated 1986 are subject to privacy protections under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), which restricts access to individually identifiable health information for 50 years following the individual's death. The bank checks dated 1981, 1982, and 1988 contain PII, including account numbers. Access is restricted to prevent potential misuse or identity exposure.

Biographical / Historical

Wilbert Tatum, January 23, 1933–February 26, 2009, was the editor of the New York Amsterdam News, one of the oldest African-American owned and run newspapers in the country. Beginning in 1982, Tatum edited the newspaper, maintaining its status as a major voice in the national African-American community. In 1996, Tatum turned control of the newspaper over to his daughter, Elinor Tatum, who remained the publisher and editor-in-chief through the 2000s. Tatum was active in documenting civil rights, major and marginal New York City and Harlem history, the Jewish community and diaspora, healthcare and housing in America, and broader municipal and policy history.