Mark Naison papers
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Abstract
The collection contains the papers of Mark Naison, including correspondence, typescripts, publications, student work, research files, organizational records, and photographs, dating from 1931 to 2011. On the whole, they document his life as a student, teacher, historian, writer, activist, and sports enthusiast. Naison, who was born and resided in Brooklyn for most of his life, is a professor of African and African American Studies at Fordham University.
Biographical note
Mark Naison is an educator, writer, historian, and community activist. He was born in 1946 to Jewish parents and spent his youth in the Crown Heights neighborhood of Brooklyn. He attended Columbia University, where he received his BA, MA, and PhD. He has been a professor at Fordham University since 1970 and was a founding faculty member of their African American studies program, where he remains to this day. He has been a member of numerous progressive and community-based organizations throughout his life, including the Congress of Racial Equality (CORE), Sports for the People, Save a Generation, and the Bad Ass Teachers Association. According to his Fordham University biography, " he is the author of six books and over 300 articles on African American politics, labor history, popular culture and education policy." He has two children and has lived in the Park Slope neighborhood of Brooklyn for over thirty years.
Sources:
"Mark Naison," Fordham University, accessed December 13, 2016. http://www.fordham.edu/info/22662/faculty/4489/mark_naison.
Arrangement
The papers are organized into seven series:
Series 1: Columbia University student papers document Naison's time as an undergraduate and graduate student, and includes his master's essay on the Southern Tenant Farmers' Union.
Series 2: Writings contains files relating to various works by Naison, including his memoir.
Series 3: Correspondence includes both professional and personal correspondence and touch upon many issues from the other series.
Series 4: Professional papers document Naison's role as a teacher and historian.
Series 5: Save A Generation records contains files relating to the Bronx-based community organization.
Series 6: Sports files document Naison's passion for athletics, and includess a number of organizations that he has been involved in, such as Sports for the People, the 78th Precinct Youth Council, C.A.R.E., F.A.N.S., and the Bonnie Youth Club. It also includes files on his children's youth sports careers.
Series 7: Personal photographs and papers includes Naison's bar mitzvah photographs and some papers relating to his activism in the Bronx.
Scope and Contents
The collection contains the papers of Mark Naison, including correspondence, typescripts, publications, student work, research files, organizational records, and photographs, dating from 1931 to 2011. On the whole, they document his life as a student, teacher, historian, writer, activist, and sports enthusiast.
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Conditions Governing Access
Student papers written by the recording artist Lana Del Ray in Box 12 are restricted for 75 years from their date of creation for privacy reasons (2083).
Copies of the CrossBronx Express newspaper are in fragile condition. Please use the preservation photocopies provided in place of the originals.
Conditions Governing Use
Mark Naison retains the rights to all his written work. The copyright status of photographs found in the papers has not been evaluated. Please consult library staff for more information.
Preferred Citation
Identification of item, date (if known); Mark Naison papers, 2016.021, Box and Folder number; Brooklyn Historical Society.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Gift of Mark Naison papers, 2016.
About this Guide
Processing Information
Newspaper clippings were photocopied for preservation purposes during processing. Naison sometimes annoted the folders in which his papers were held. In those cases, the portion of the folder that was annoted was retained. Naison's bar mitzvah photograph album was received in poor condition. The photographs that were held in the album were removed. The personalized album cover was retained and the rest of the album was disposed of.
Digital materials were donated on one 3.5 inch floppy disk. The disk was imaged using BitCurator-2.0.14. No viruses or personally identifying information were found during imaging.