Parker-Brown Papers

Urban Voices was created in July 1980, through the cooperative efforts of Anne Gadson Brown, Joanne Butler, and Marian Crewe (as listed in 1982 publication). Librarian James Brown and Hajjah Daphne Benyard are listed in their obituaries as founding members. Urban Voices was a group of poets and artists who shared their thoughts, ideas and experiences. Their goal was to reach out to individuals (including students, prisoners, and seniors) surrounding art and poetry. They held workshops and presentations and published material.

The Theater of Universal Images was a theater group which ran out of Symphony Hall during the 1980s. A Day in the Life of Newark was created in 1987 by two organizers, Eddie Johnson Jr. and Mansa K. Mussa. The project aimed to document “a day in the life of Newark”. They worked with various groups and community members in Newark and the project culminated with the publication of “Newark, a day in the city: a photo documentary” in 1988.

Henrietta Parker was born and raised in Newark. She worked as a film and television producer and is a longtime member of the Friends of the James Brown African American Room. Much of the material was given to her by Anne Gadson-Brown.

Anne Gadson Brown (later Anne Brown Cheatam) was a founder of Urban Voices. She was honored with a 1982 Positive Image Award.

Other names in the collection include Mansa K. Mussa who continues to be an artist and arts educator in the Newark area and Alma Flagg the first female African American principal in Newark.