The HistoryMakers® Video Oral History Interview with Margaret Taylor Burroughs




Overview of the Item

Repository: The HistoryMakers
1900 S. Michigan Avenue
Chicago, Illinois 60616
(312) 674-1900
info@thehistorymakers.com
http://www.thehistorymakers.com
Interviewer: Julieanna Richardson
Videographer: Matthew Hickey
Title:Video Oral History Interview with Margaret Burroughs
Dates:June 12, 2000
Abstract: (ABSTRACT)
Quantity: 5 Betacam SP videocassettes, 1 half-Hollinger box containing (NUMBER) folders of accompanying materials.
Identification: A2000.012
Language: The interviews and records are in English

Biographical Note

Artist, educator and institution builder Margaret Burroughs was born on November 1, 1917, in Saint Rose, Louisiana. Always passionate about learning, Margaret moved north to Chicago in order to earn her elementary teacher's certificate, which she received in 1937 from Chicago Normal College. She continued her education first at Chicago Teachers College and later at the Art Institute of Chicago, where she earned her B.A. in art education in 1946 and her M.A. in 1948.

Burroughs made the first of her many contributions to African American arts and culture when she founded - at age twenty-two - the South Side Community Art Center, a community organization that serves as a gallery and workshop studio for artists and students. Burroughs continues to serve on the board of the Center, which remains active more than sixty years after its formation.

During the mid-1950s, Burroughs married Charles Burroughs. After extended travels together, the Burroughs' made the best-known contribution to African American posterity in 1961 when they founded the DuSable Museum of African American History on the ground floor of their Chicago home. The museum, which has since moved to its own buildings in Chicago's Washington Park, has become an internationally recognized resource for African American art. The DuSable Museum also hosts various educational programs and houses a permanent collection of more than thirteen thousand artifacts, artworks and books.

Although Burroughs has worked in sculpture, painting and many other art forms throughout her career, it is her exceptional skill as a printmaker that has earned her a place within the history of art. For many years, she has worked with linoleum block prints to create images evocative of African American culture. Burroughs' work has been featured in exclusive shows at the Corcoran Art Galleries in Washington, D.C., and at the Studio Museum in New York. She has served as art director for the Negro Hall of Fame and has illustrated many books, including What Shall I Tell My Children Who are Black?. Burroughs has also published several volumes of her own poems, illustrated a number of children's books, and exhibited her own artwork all over the world. In 1975 she received the President's Humanitarian Award and in 1977 was named one of Chicago's Most Influential Women by the Chicago Defender. February 1, 1986, was proclaimed "Dr. Margaret Burroughs Day" in Chicago by late Mayor Harold Washington. Today, she remains active in the institutions that she has created in her lifetime.

Biographical Note by The HistoryMakers®


Scope and Contents

This life oral history interview with Margaret Burroughs was conducted by Julieanna Richardson on 2000-06-12 in DuSable Museum, Chicago, Illinois and is recorded on 5 30-minute Betacam SP videocassettes. Access copies exist on Betacam SP, VHS, DVD and MPEG-1. The interview contains information on (COMPLETE ONE SENTENCE DESCRIPTION OF INTERVIEW). Accompanying materials in the collection include Margaret Burroughs's correspondence with The HistoryMakers® related to the interview; a copy of the signed release form and the production report; the biographical information used by the interviewer to prepare for the interview (DETAILS); paper copies of the interview transcripts, 3 1/2" floppy disks with electronic copies of the transcripts; selected quotes for video clips; photocopies of photographs captured on video; XML files with metadata created in editing and cataloguing the interview for The HistoryMakers Digital Video Library; and paper copies of these XML files.


Restrictions

Restrictions on Access

Access to paper records is restricted. Other restrictions may be applied on a case-by-case basis.

Restrictions on Use

All use of materials must be pre-approved by The HistoryMakers® and appropriate credit must be given. All use credits must be pre-approved by The HistoryMakers®. Copyright is held by The HistoryMakers®.


Index Terms

This record series is indexed under the following controlled access terms.
Contributors:
Burroughs, Margaret Taylor, 1917-
Hickey, Matthew
Richardson, Julieanna
Persons:
(PERSONS)
Corporate Bodies:
(CORPORATE BODIES)
Family Names:
Burroughs
Places:
(PLACES)
Subjects:
(SUBJECTS)
Document Types:
Video oral history interview
Titles:
The HistoryMakers® Video Oral History Interview with Margaret Taylor Burroughs


Related Material

Accompanying materials: Accompanying materials are filed in (NUMBER) folders in a half-Hollinger box and shelved at The HistoryMakers® Archives and Collection Library by accession number, separately from the videos.


Administrative Information

Location of Originals

Betacam, VHS, DVD and MPEG-1 access copies are held for in-house use at The HistoryMakers®; Betacam SP, VHS and DVD playback hardware is provided for in-house viewing of the access copies; MPEG-1 copies are searchable and viewable via a digital video database.

Preferred Citation

The HistoryMakers® Video Oral History Interview with Margaret Taylor Burroughs, June 12, 2000. The HistoryMakers® African American Video Oral History Collection, 1900 S. Michigan Avenue Chicago, Illinois.


Detailed Description/Tape Listings

Video Oral History Interview with Margaret Burroughs, Tape 1, June 12, 2000, TRT: 00:29:22.

Margaret Burroughs talks about her parents' family backgrounds in Louisiana and her family's migration to Chicago in the 1920s. She shares memories of growing up during the Depression. Burroughs then recalls her personality as a child and her mother's encouragement of her artistic talent. She then details her career aspirations and those who helped her along her career path. Lastly, Burroughs talks about her experiences in high school and at the Art Institute of Chicago.



Video Oral History Interview with Margaret Burroughs, Tape 2, June 12, 2000, TRT: 00:05:51.

Margaret Burroughs talks about how she inspires her students to achieve their career aspirations, and the founding of Chicago's South Side Community Arts Center in 1941.



Video Oral History Interview with Margaret Burroughs, Tape 3, June 12, 2000, TRT: 00:29:39.

Margaret Burroughs talks about the rarely discussed Chicago Renaissance, which coincided with the Harlem Renaissance. Burroughs then discusses her artwork and why she views herself as a "People's Painter." She then talks about her marriages and her family. Margaret Burroughs discusses her encounter with and admiration for Paul Robeson. Burroughs explains her youthful outspokenness about her politics, and the scrutiny she encountered during the McCarthy Era of the 1950s. She then details her trip to Mexico in 1952 and her friendship with artists Elizabeth Catlett-Mora and Charles White. Lastly, Burroughs talks about her late husband, Charles Burroughs.



Video Oral History Interview with Margaret Burroughs, Tape 4, June 12, 2000, TRT: 00:31:02.

Margaret Burroughs summarizes the origin of the DuSable Museum of African American History from its earliest years, and how she obtained funding from Chicago businesses to support the museum. Burroughs then discusses the Black Arts Movement and the ways it has changed over the past half century. She then talks about the future she envisions for the DuSable Museum, hoping that there will be expansion and a cultural center integrated into the institution. Lastly, Burroughs shares her travel experiences in Africa.



Video Oral History Interview with Margaret Burroughs, Tape 5, June 12, 2000, TRT: 00:13:41.

Margaret Burroughs discusses her views on the African Diaspora and the need for unity across continents. Burroughs talks about the influential persons in her life, including artists who were her contemporaries, such as Elizabeth Catlett and Charles White. She then explains her personal philosophies on life and creativity, stressing the importance of arts education. Lastly, Burroughs comments on her legacy and how she would like to be remembered.