Creator: Independent Weekly.
Collection number: 5319
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Abstract: The “Independent Weekly” is a free, alternative, weekly newspaper serving the Durham, Chapel Hill, Raleigh, and surrounding communities in central North Carolina. It was founded in 1983 in Durham by Steve Schewel, David Birkhead, and Katherine Fulton. The “Independent Weekly” is perhaps best known for its coverage of local music, film, visual arts, theater, dance, and pop culture, as well as for its strong focus on progressive politics and social activism. The collection is chiefly photographs, 1982-2004, from the “Independent Weekly,” including images published in the newspaper; unpublished production images of scenes, events, subjects, and organizations throughout North Carolina; images of individuals–chiefly politicians, artists, musicians, local activists, and civic leaders–such as Mike Easley, John Edwards, Harvey Gantt, Jesse Helms, Jim Hunt, Bill Bell, and others; images created by staff photographer Sadie Bridger; photographs of the newspaper’s staff; and other images. There is also one slide reel (with slides) and a transcript for an “Independent Weekly” promotional slideshow. The collection also contains papers relating to early efforts to establish a statewide progressive newspaper in North Carolina and the founding of the “Independent Weekly” (first as the “North Carolina Independent,” then as the “Independent”) in the early 1980s, along with correspondence, notes, clippings, and other business and financial materials of the paper. Also included are notes, clippings, printed material, correspondence, and other materials relating to local, state, and national elections, chiefly 1994-2004. In addition, there are photographs and other materials, 1950s-1980, relating to New York photojournalist Ruth Sondak. These items–many photographs of Sondak’s daughter, Cary Carmel; photographs taken by Sondak of people, street scenes, and celebrities; her journal, 1976-1980; a publicity scrapbook; and clippings featuring Sondak’s photography–may have been acquired by newspaper staff for an exhibit on Sondak and her work.
Repository: Southern Historical Collection
Collection Highlights: Several of the images in the collection are of leaders and activists in the community, many of them African American, such as Josephine Clement (Image Folder P-5319/2820),Howard Lee (Image Folder P-5319/1375), Jim Lee (Image Folder P-5319/1376), Valaria Lee (Image Folder P-5319/1379), Rebecca Clark (Image Folder P-5319/2815), and many others
The image files contain photos on various topics, such as “Black Achievement Program” (Image Folder P-5319/147), “University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill: Black Cultural Center” (Image Folder P-5319/532), “Black Cultural Issues” (Image Folder P-5319/609), “Black Men Cover” (Image Folder P-5319/610), ” Black Student Center at University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill” (Image Folder P-5319/2904);” ” 12 July 2000: Being While Being Black” (Image Folder P-5319/2137)