Research Catalog

Lester Walton Papers,

Title
Lester Walton Papers, 1905-1977.
Author
Walton, Lester A., 1882-1965.
Supplementary Content
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23 Items

StatusContainerFormatAccessCall NumberItem Location
Box 23Mixed materialUse in library Sc MG 183 Box 23Schomburg Center - Manuscripts & Archives
Box 22Mixed materialUse in library Sc MG 183 Box 22Schomburg Center - Manuscripts & Archives
Box 21Mixed materialUse in library Sc MG 183 Box 21Schomburg Center - Manuscripts & Archives
Box 20Mixed materialUse in library Sc MG 183 Box 20Schomburg Center - Manuscripts & Archives
Box 19Mixed materialUse in library Sc MG 183 Box 19Schomburg Center - Manuscripts & Archives
Box 18Mixed materialUse in library Sc MG 183 Box 18Schomburg Center - Manuscripts & Archives
Box 17Mixed materialUse in library Sc MG 183 Box 17Schomburg Center - Manuscripts & Archives
Box 16Mixed materialUse in library Sc MG 183 Box 16Schomburg Center - Manuscripts & Archives
Box 15Mixed materialUse in library Sc MG 183 Box 15Schomburg Center - Manuscripts & Archives
Box 14Mixed materialUse in library Sc MG 183 Box 14Schomburg Center - Manuscripts & Archives
Box 13Mixed materialUse in library Sc MG 183 Box 13Schomburg Center - Manuscripts & Archives
Box 12Mixed materialUse in library Sc MG 183 Box 12Schomburg Center - Manuscripts & Archives
Box 11Mixed materialUse in library Sc MG 183 Box 11Schomburg Center - Manuscripts & Archives
Box 10Mixed materialUse in library Sc MG 183 Box 10Schomburg Center - Manuscripts & Archives
Box 9Mixed materialUse in library Sc MG 183 Box 9Schomburg Center - Manuscripts & Archives
Box 8Mixed materialUse in library Sc MG 183 Box 8Schomburg Center - Manuscripts & Archives
Box 7Mixed materialUse in library Sc MG 183 Box 7Schomburg Center - Manuscripts & Archives
Box 6Mixed materialUse in library Sc MG 183 Box 6Schomburg Center - Manuscripts & Archives
Box 5Mixed materialUse in library Sc MG 183 Box 5Schomburg Center - Manuscripts & Archives
Box 4Mixed materialUse in library Sc MG 183 Box 4Schomburg Center - Manuscripts & Archives

Details

Additional Authors
  • Barclay, Edwin, 1883-
  • Firestone, Harvey Samuel, 1898-
  • Jones, Thomas Jesse, 1873-1950.
  • Minton, Henry M., -1946.
  • O'Neal, Frederick, 1905-1992.
  • Roosevelt, Franklin D. (Franklin Delano), 1882-1945.
  • Swope, Herbert Bayard, 1882-1958.
  • Tubman, William V. S., 1895-1971.
Description
11.2 lin. ft.
Summary
The Lester A. Walton Papers document his diversified careers as a journalist, diplomat and civic leader and consist of personal papers, material on his entertainment and journalistic careers, his tenure as the American representative to Liberia, his political activities, general correspondence and printed matter.
Donor/Sponsor
Schomburg NEH Automated Access to Special Collections Project.
Subjects
Note
  • Phonograph records transferred to Moving Image and Recorded Sound Division.
  • Five boxes of photographs transferred to Photographs and Prints Division.
  • Artifacts transferred to Art and Artifacts Division.
Source (note)
  • Rochester, Walton
  • Rochester, Walton
  • Rochester, Marjorie
Biography (note)
  • Lester Aglar Walton enjoyed a multi-faceted career in the entertainment field, as a journalist, American ambassador to Liberia, and civic leader.
Processing Action (note)
  • Processed
Call Number
Sc MG 183
Author
Walton, Lester A., 1882-1965.
Title
Lester Walton Papers, 1905-1977.
Biography
Lester Aglar Walton enjoyed a multi-faceted career in the entertainment field, as a journalist, American ambassador to Liberia, and civic leader. Born in St. Louis, Missouri in 1882 he was awarded three honorary degrees: Master of Arts from Lincoln University in Chester, Pa. (1927), LL.D. from Wilberforce University (1945), and the University of Liberia (1958).
Walton began his journalistic career with the "St. Louis Star" in 1902, later wrote for the "New York Age" and "New York World." He also served as arbitrator in a labor dispute between the Newspaper Guild of New York and the "New York Amsterdam News" (1957-1959). Walton's involvement in the entertainment field included his roles as manager of Harlem's Lafayette Theatre and chairman of the Coordinating Council for Negro Performers.
An active Democrat, Walton served as director of publicity of the Colored Division of the Democratic National Campaign Committee in 1924, 1928 and 1932. President Franklin Roosevelt appointed Walton as Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary to Liberia in 1933, a position he held until 1946. Among his accomplishments, he concluded significant treaties between the United States and Liberia, including the terms under which the American government established a United States Army base. He also negotiated with the Liberian government for the construction of a port in Monrovia and concluded commerce, navigation and aviation treaties.
Walton concluded his career as commissioner for the Commission on Intergroup Relations, a New York City agency founded in 1955 which later became known as the Commission on Human Rights. Until his retirement in 1964, Walton worked with the Commission in the fields of civil rights and civil liberties, especially fair housing practices. His death occurred in 1965.
Finding Aids
Inventory available.
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Added Author
Roosevelt, Franklin D. (Franklin Delano), 1882-1945.
Barclay, Edwin, 1883-
Tubman, William V. S., 1895-1971.
Firestone, Harvey Samuel, 1898-
Jones, Thomas Jesse, 1873-1950.
Minton, Henry M., -1946.
Swope, Herbert Bayard, 1882-1958.
O'Neal, Frederick, 1905-1992.
Research Call Number
Sc MG 183
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