Guide to the Hickerson Family Papers, circa 1920-2005

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Summary

Creators:
Harris, Dorothy Hickerson. and Hickerson, Joseph William.
Abstract:
The Hickerson Family Papers includes photographs, newspaper clippings, cards, programs, certificates, and musical scores related to the Hickerson and Swayzee families and their friends. The papers also document the Hickerson Family's involvement with the Oakland, CA First African Methodist Episcopal (First A.M.E.) Church and other Christian and civic organizations. The papers are arranged in five series: Dorothy Harris Hickerson, Joseph W. Hickerson, Religious Activities, Assorted Print Material and Publications. The photographs are arranged in four subseries: Dorothy Hickerson Harris, Family Portraits, First African Methodist Episcopal (1st AME) Church, and Assorted.
Extent:
2.5 linear feet (3 boxes + 1 oversized box)
Language:
Languages represented in the collection: English
Preferred citation:

Hickerson Family Papers, MS 167, African American Museum & Library at Oakland, Oakland Public Library. Oakland, California.

Background

Scope and content:

The Hickerson Family Papers includes photographs, newspaper clippings, cards, programs, certificates, and musical scores related to the Hickerson and Swayzee families and their friends. The papers also document the Hickerson family's involvement with the First African Methodist Episcopal (First AME) Church of Oakland, California and other Christian and civic organizations. The papers are arranged in five series: Dorothy Harris Hickerson, Joseph William Hickerson, Religious Activities, Assorted Print Material and Publications. The photographs are arranged in four subseries: Dorothy Hickerson Harris, Family Portraits, First African Methodist Episcopal (1st AME) Church, and Assorted. A substantial part of the papers are related to the First AME Church, specifically service programs from 1944 to 1988, a small set of administrative documents, and activity reports and rosters. Dorothy Hickerson Harris kept music scores for spirituals and church choir hymns, as well as programs and membership material that record her involvement in youth and civic organizations. Joseph William Hickerson's employment at the United States Mint in San Francisco is represented by a photograph, commemorative plaque and newspaper clippings noting his retirement. His personal documents include the certificate of his marriage to Florence Hickerson (née Swayze) and burial records for Emma Hickerson. Other noted materials he collected are related to freemasonry, specifically from the Acacia Lodge no. 7 of the Prince Hall Masonic Lodge. The photographs are primarily of Dorothy Hickerson Harris, family members and 1st AME Church members.

Biographical / historical:

Joseph William Hickerson (1883-1971) was born Wilkesboro, North Carolina. His first wife Florence Hickerson (née Swayze) (1888?-1944) was born sometime in Louisiana between 1888-1890. They married in 1912 and had two daughters, Emma Hickerson (1913-1918) and Dorothy Hickerson Harris (1916-1989). Emma died of pneumonia at the age of 5. Both Joseph and Florence were members of the First African Methodist Episcopal (First AME) Church of Oakland, California and of the Acacia Lodge no. 7 of the Prince Hall Masonic Lodge. In 1944 Florence died, however the family papers include no documentation as to the cause of her death. Joseph later married Vivian A. Hickerson. Again, the family papers do not include documentation of Vivian's maiden name or the date of the marriage. Vivian was married to Joseph at the time of his retirement in 1948. Joseph worked for the United States Mint in San Francisco, California retiring in 1948. In interviews with local newspapers, he expressed a desire to spend more time on his hobbies which included fishing and fixing toys for neighborhood children. His memorial service took place at the First AME Church in 1971, and his pallbearers were members of the Brothers of the Acacia Lodge. During her youth, Dorothy was an active participant in the First AME church and the YWCA. She later became a member of the California Association of Colored Women and the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP). In 1950 she married Louis Harris at the First AME Church. Throughout her life, Dorothy remained a member of the First AME Church.

Acquisition information:
The collection was donated to the African American Museum Library at Oakland.
Processing information:

Processed Mia Jaeggli, Volunteer. April, 2014.

Arrangement:

Series I: Photographs Series II: Dorothy Harris Hickerson Series III: Joseph William Hickerson Series IV. Religious Activities Series V. Assorted Print Material Series VI. Publications

Rules or conventions:
Finding aid prepared using Describing Archives: a Content Standard

Access and use

Restrictions:

No access restrictions. Collection is open to the public.

Materials are for use in-library only, non-circulating.

Terms of access:

Permission to publish from the Hickerson Family Papers must be obtained from the African American Museum & Library at Oakland.

Preferred citation:

Hickerson Family Papers, MS 167, African American Museum & Library at Oakland, Oakland Public Library. Oakland, California.

Location of this collection:
659 14th Street
Oakland, CA 94612, US
Contact:
(510) 637-0198
aamlo@oaklandlibrary.org
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