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JAMES O. POWELL PAPERS

Papers, ca 1949-1995
Manuscript Collection MC 1313
Information about James O. Powell
Information about the Collection
Contents of Collection (27 containers)
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JAMES O. POWELL

James O. Powell, born October 24, 1919, in Andalusia, Alabama, graduated from the University of Florida with Bachelor of Arts degree in Journalism in 1942. After three and a half years' service in the armed forces in World War II, he worked as a reporter for the Alabama Journal (Montgomery), the Tampa Tribune, and the Miami Herald. In 1955-1956 he served in Washington, D.C., as administrative assistant to Senator George A. Smathers of Florida. He returned to the Tampa Tribune in 1956 as editorial writer, and later became an associate editor. Powell joined the Arkansas Gazette in 1959 as Editor of the Editorial Page. He was named editorial director in 1973, in which capacity he remained until 1985 when he became a senior editor. Powell retired from the Arkansas Gazette in 1987, taught journalism at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock in 1988, and returned to the Arkansas Gazette in 1991 as a contributing weekly columnist until the Gazette's demise in October 1991. In 1992 he began writing a weekly column for the Jonesboro Sun, the Benton Courier, and the Warren, Arkansas, Eagle Democrat.

Powell is a member of the American Society of Newspaper Editors, the Committee on Foreign Relations, and Sigma Delta Chi, professional journalistic society. He has won awards for editorial writing from the National Conference of Christians and Jews, the National Education Association, the Arkansas Council on Human Relations, and the American Jewish Committee. He was honored as a Poynter Fellow at Yale University.

THE COLLECTION

Correspondence, newspaper and magazine clippings, and other papers were donated to the Special Collections Division by James O. Powell on November 13, 1994.

The collection includes correspondence, memoranda, announcements, brochures, bulletins, newspaper and magazine clippings, pamphlets, photographs, programs, speeches, travel itineraries, and other materials associated with Powell's career as a journalist, primarily with the Arkansas Gazette.

Processed by Vera Ekechukwu, September 1995. Special Collections Division, University of Arkansas Libraries, Fayetteville, Arkansas.

Series 1. Correspondence and Other Papers, 1949-1994. Boxes 1-24.

This series includes official and semi-official correspondence with individuals, associations, corporations, institutions, law enforcement and government agencies, organizations, publishing houses, and religious bodies; announcements, brochures, minutes, newspaper clippings, office memoranda, programs, publications, reports, and travel itineraries. It also contains correspondence and other various documents pertaining to the American Society of Newspapers Editors. It is arranged by the name of the correspondent; some materials are divided by date.
Box 1
  1. A-Am.
  2. An-Az.
  3. ABSCAM.
  4. Accuracy in Media Report.
  5. Alcoholic Beverage Control Board, 1971.
  6. Alexander, Bill, Apr. 1977-Dec. 1985.
  7. Arkansas Education Association.
  8. American Committee on East-West Accord, 1980.
  9. American Jewish Committee, Sept. 1970-Sept. 1974.
  10. American Society of Newspaper Editors, ASNE, Jan. 1960-July 1983.
  11. ASNE, Annual Meeting, Apr. 7-13, 1978, Washington, D.C.
  12. ASNE, Board Correspondence, Jan. 1972-Apr. 1972, July 1976- July 1977, 1984.
  13. ASNE, Bulletin, June 1960-Sept 1977.
Box 2
  1. ASNE, Bulletin Project, 1965.
  2. ASNE, Conventions, 1961, 1963, 1966, 1979, 1984.
  3. ASNE, Convention, Apr. 13-19, 1975, Washington, D.C.
  4. ASNE, Convention, Apr. 12-16, 1976, Washington, D.C.
  5. ASNE, Convention, May 1-5, 1977, Honolulu.
  6. ASNE, Convention, Apr 1983, Denver, Colorado.
  7. ASNE, Ethics Committee, Apr. 1974-June 1976, Aug. 1980-July 1981.
  8. ASNE, Freedom of Information Committee, 1967-1968, 1971, 1976.
  9. ASNE, Membership Committee, 1962, July 1972-Apr 1973.
  10. ASNE, Membership Committee, Oct. 1983-Apr. 1985.
  11. ASNE, Nominating Committee, 1967-1968, 1977-1978. (Part 1 of 2).
  12. ASNE, Nominating Committee, 1967-1968, 1977-1978. (Part 2 of 2).
Box 3
  1. ASNE, Press Bar, 1970-1972.
  2. AMTRAK, June 1972-May 1982.
  3. Anti-Defamation League, Feb. 1965-June 1981.
  4. Arkansas Gazette, audit report, 1979.
  5. Arkansas Legislative Digest, 1983.
  6. Arkansas State Opera Company, 1962.
  7. Arts Festival.
  8. Ashmore, Harry S., 1966-1967, 1974.
  9. Associated Press, 1970.
  10. Association of American Colleges, 1982.
  11. The Atlantic Council of the United States, 1963-1964.
  12. Austin Headliners Club, 1972.
  13. Ba.
  14. Be-Bi.
Box 4
  1. Bl-Bo.
  2. Br-By.
  3. Bank Deposits, June 1961-Mar. 1965.
  4. Baptists, 1968.
  5. Benson, Dr. George (Harding College, Arkansas), 1961, 1965.
  6. Bethune, Ed, 1980.
  7. Birch Society, 1961, 1966.
  8. British Consulate, 1979, 1981.
  9. Broadcasting and Government Regulation in a Free Society, 1959.
  10. Brookings Institution, Washington, D.C., 1966, 1971.
  11. Buffalo River, 1962-1963.
Box 5
  1. Bumpers, Dale, Feb. 1974-June 1983.
  2. Ca-Cl.
  3. Co-Cu.
  4. Cancer.
  5. Caricatures.
  6. Carpenter, Leslie, Apr.1960-Mar. 1964.
  7. Carpenter, Warren D., 1984.
  8. Carter, Jimmy, 1971, 1985.
  9. Cartoonists.
  10. Center for Strategic and International Studies, Nov. 1980-May 1981.
  11. Chamber of Commerce, Little Rock, Arkansas, 1961-1962.
  12. Chanin, Dr. Abe, 1979.
  13. China-America Relations Society, Oct. 1972-Feb. 1976.
Box 6
  1. China-Atlanta Conference, 1968.
  2. China- newspaper clippings, 1973.
  3. China trip, 1973.
  4. Chronicle Features Syndicate, 1963.
  5. Churches United Against Gambling, 1964.
  6. Cincinnati Women's Club, Feb. 19, 1965.
  7. Civil Rights Bills.
  8. Civil Rights cases-desegregation.
  9. Clergy Conference, Sept. 21, 1965.
  10. Clinton, Bill and Hillary, 1979, 1984, 1987.
  11. Clinton newspaper clippings, 1994.
  12. Coffelt, Kenneth, July 23, 1962.
  13. Collings, Leroy, June 1960-Oct. 1986.
  14. Columbia University, New York, N.Y., WKCR Radio, 1965.
  15. Columbia Features, Inc., 1962.
Box 7
  1. Columnists (prospective).
  2. Community Concerts Inc., 1960-1965.
  3. Community Concerts Inc., 1966-1971.
  4. Complaints, 1960.
  5. Congressional Quarterly News Features, 1949-1951, 1981.
  6. Congressional ratings, 1981-1982.
  7. Conventions.
  8. Council on Human Relations (Arkansas), 1967-1968, 1973.
  9. Council on Foreign Relations.
  10. County Judge, 1966.
  11. Crackpots.
  12. Creger, Ralph, 1968.
  13. Crime Bill.
  14. The Cross and the Flag.
Box 8
  1. Cuba, Sept. 1962.
  2. Cuba visit, Jan 1975.
  3. D.
  4. Democratic National Convention, 1964.
  5. Democratic National Convention, 1968.
  6. Democratic platform, 1960.
  7. Democrats for Arkansas.
  8. Desegregation.
  9. Dhonau, Jerry F., 1978-1979.
  10. Drane, James F., 1965-1980.
  11. Drug Bill, 1963.
  12. E.
  13. Economic Workshops, 1964-1966.
  14. Editor-in-Residence, 1975-1984.
  15. Editor-in-Residence, Texas Tech University, TX, 1977.
  16. Editorial Research Reports, 1956-1975.
Box 9
  1. Elections, Arkansas Governor's Race, 1962.
  2. Elections, Democratic Primaries, 1966.
  3. El Salvador, 1981.
  4. Employment Security Division (Hatch Act Case), 1962.
  5. Equal Pay Act, 1963.
  6. Evolution, Don England, Harding College, Searcy , Arkansas, 1966.
  7. F.
  8. Facts on File, Inc., 1961-1962, 1968-1970, 1980-1981.
  9. Faculty salaries, 1963.
  10. Fair trade, 1968, 1971
  11. Faubus, Orval E.,
  12. Features.
  13. Fleschner, Paul A., 1963.
  14. Florida Anti-Communists, 1961.
  15. Foreign Policy Association, 1961.
  16. Foreign Relations Committee, Little Rock, Arkansas, 1976.
  17. Foreign Visitors, 1965.
  18. Freedom of Information Bill, 1967.
  19. French Quarter, 1967, 1971.
  20. French visitors, 1976.
Box 10
  1. Friday, Herschel, 1971.
  2. Frozen foods.
  3. Fulbright College, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville.
  4. Fulbright, J. William, 1960-1985.
  5. Ga-Gl.
  6. Go-Gw.
  7. Gambling, 1963.
  8. General Assembly Bills, 1963.
  9. George, Charles L., 1982.
  10. Georgia, University of, 1974.
  11. Germany, 1970.
  12. Governor's Council on Human Resources, 1967-1971.
  13. Governors, regional, 1963.
  14. Grant Cooper case, 1973.
  15. "Great Decisions...1963".
  16. Greenberg, Paul, 1963.
Box 11
  1. Green Thumb, Inc., 1984-1985.
  2. GROW (Great Rivers Outdoor Writers), James O. Powell speech, 1982.
  3. Guidance Center, Pulaski County.
  4. Guilds, Dr. John C., 1982-1984.
  5. Ha
  6. He-Hi.
  7. Ho.
  8. Hu-Hy.
  9. Harding College, 1974, 1977, 1979.
  10. Hargis, David M., 1983.
  11. Harris Survey (LA Times Syndicate), 1967.
  12. Hartley, Harry/Holmes, H.W., 1959, 1963, 1967.
  13. Hays, Brooks, 1962-1979.
  14. Heiskell, J. N., 1963.
  15. Hot Springs, Arkansas, 1965.
  16. Housing Authority, Little Rock, Arkansas, 1961.
Box 12
  1. I.
  2. Illiteracy.
  3. Income.
  4. Industry.
  5. Insurance, automobile, 1963, 1970.
  6. Insurance, property and casualty.
  7. Inter American Press Association, (1 of 2).
  8. Inter American Press Association, (2 of 2).
Box 13
  1. International Press Institute, 1977.
  2. Investigations, Congressional.
  3. Israel, 1971-1973, 1981.
  4. J.
  5. Johnson, Jim, 1976, no date.
  6. K.
  7. Kennedy, Edward M., 1969.
  8. Kennedy, John F., 1963.
  9. King Features Syndicate, 1970.
  10. Kiplinger Washington Letter, 1962-1963.
  11. Kraft, Joseph, 1973-1974.
  12. La.
  13. Le-Ly.
  14. Labor, minimum wage, 1965.
  15. Law-Layman Conference, Apr. 4, 1962.
  16. League of Women Voters, Pulaski County, Arkansas, 1964, 1966, 1971.
Box 14
  1. Letters to Editor (fake).
  2. Liquor.
  3. Little Rock Club, 1971-1975, 1982.
  4. Little Rock University, 1965.
  5. L.Q.L. Lamar Society, 1970-1971.
  6. Los Angeles Times Syndicate, 1963-1965.
  7. Los Angeles Times Syndicate, 1966-1971.
  8. Los Angeles Times Syndicate, 1972-1978.
  9. Luck, H. D. (Pamphlet on Arkansas Public Affairs).
  10. Ma.
Box 15
  1. Mc.
  2. Me.
  3. Mi-Mz.
  4. MacArthur, Gen. Douglas.
  5. Mailing List, editorial.
  6. McClellan, John L., 1962.
  7. McDonald, Dr. Erwin L., 1960, 1963, 1965, 1968.
  8. McGovern, George, 1972, 1976, 1978.
  9. McHaney, Mrs. C.R., 1968.
  10. McNeil-Lehrer correspondence, 1985.
  11. Medicare.
Box 16
  1. Meyer, Ben F., 1968, 1975, 1982.
  2. Mills, Wilbur, 1962-1963, 1967, 1971-1972.
  3. Mississippi, 1974.
  4. Missouri, University of, 1975-1976.
  5. Mixed Drink Bill, 1967.
  6. N.
  7. National Committee for Support of the Public Schools, 1963- 1964, 1969-1970.
  8. The National Conference of Christians and Jews, Inc., 1964- 1969.
  9. National Conference of Editorial Writers, 1959-1971.
  10. The National Education Program, 1964-1965.
  11. National Endowment for the Humanities, 1972, 1975, 1977-1978.
  12. National Planning Association, 1960-1962.
  13. Neil, Jerry, 1979.
  14. The Newspaper Fund, Inc., 1978.
  15. Newton, Hugh C., 1973, 1976.
  16. New York Herald Tribune Syndicate.
  17. New York Times News Service, 1960-1961, 1968.
  18. Nuclear disarmament movement and nuclear power, 1981.
Box 17
  1. Nut file.
  2. O.
  3. Oil and oil depletion.
  4. Oklahoma State University, 1974-1977, 1981-1982.
  5. Pa-Ph.
  6. Pi-Py.
  7. Parade Publications, Inc., 1959-1960.
  8. Patterson, Hugh B., 1963-1984.
  9. Pearson, Drew, 1963.
  10. Pettigrew, Richard A.
  11. Pharmaceuticals, 1981.
Box 18
  1. Pine Bluff, 1979.
  2. Poll Tax, 1962, 1964.
  3. Pollution.
  4. Population.
  5. Prayer Amendment, 1972.
  6. Press-Bar, 1971.
  7. Pulitzer Prizes in Journalism.
  8. Port Authority, 1964.
  9. Publishers Newspaper Syndicate, 1963, 1966, 1967.
  10. Pulaski County, Arkansas.
  11. Q.
  12. Quie Amendment, 1967.
  13. Ra-Ri.
  14. Ro-Ru.
Box 19
  1. Reprints.
  2. Republican candidates, 1968.
  3. Revenue.
  4. Right Wing.
  5. Rivers, Eleven Point Valley, Missouri and Arkansas.
  6. Robinson, Tommy, 1983.
  7. Rockefeller family, 1961-1973.
  8. Roy-Walker-Lyon-Fendler, 1980.
  9. Sa-Se.
  10. Sh-Sm.
  11. Sn-Sp.
Box 20
  1. St-Sw.
  2. Saline River, Arkansas, Dam, 1968.
  3. Schools and School Board, Little Rock, Arkansas.
  4. "Shield Law."
  5. Sigma Delta Chi, 1964-1965.
  6. Smith, Gerald L.K., 1965-1967.
  7. Smoot, Dan (report).
  8. Sons of American Revolution (essays).
  9. Southern Assembly, New Orleans, Louisiana, 1960-1961.
  10. Southern Regional Council meeting, 1983.
  11. Southern Regional Education Board, 1960-1968.
  12. Soviet Embassy, 1980.
Box 21
  1. Spain trip, 1966.
  2. Sprick, Dan. T. v. The Arkansas Gazette, 1971.
  3. State, Department of, 1961-1967.
  4. State of the Union Address, president Ronald Reagan, Jan 26, 1982.
  5. State Purchasing Preference Laws, 1966.
  6. Stephens, Wilton Robert, 1991-1993.
  7. Stroud, Joe, 1962-1963, 1966, 1974, 1979, 1987.
  8. Ta-To.
  9. Tr-Ty.
  10. Thomas, Reuben R., 1970-1975.
Box 22
  1. Tagashov, Victor, 1979.
  2. Television, 1962, 1973.
  3. Tennessee, University of, 1976.
  4. Thornton, Ray, 1984-1985.
  5. Tours-newspaper, 1964-1965.
  6. U.
  7. University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, journalism seminar, 1966.
  8. United Fund, 1960-1967.
  9. Urban Progress Association Inc., 1960-1967.
  10. Usury, 1978.
  11. V.
  12. Voter Registration.
Box 23
  1. Voting machines, 1963-1965.
  2. Wa-We.
  3. Wh-Wi.
  4. Wo-Wy.
  5. Walker, Maj.Gen. Edwin A., 1961-1962.
  6. Washington State Excellence in Journalism Contest, 1974-1975.
  7. Waterways, 1965-1966, 1976.
  8. Wells, John F., 1963.
  9. Westerfield, Roy E., 1966.
  10. West Helena, AR, 1981-1982.
Box 24
  1. Whitbeck, Frank L., 1968, 1975-1978.
  2. White House, Washington, D.C., 1977, 1979-1981.
  3. Williams, H.E., 1967.
  4. Williams, J. Mack, 1962-1969.
  5. Wilson, William R., 1985-1987.
  6. Wilton Park Conference, Wilton House, Steyning, Sussex, England, 1975-1976.
  7. Windsor, Gayle, 1962-1986.
  8. Winkleman, Thomas A., 1961-1964.
  9. Women's Press Club, contest, 1967.
  10. Woods, Henry (lecture).
  11. Workman's compensation (Initiated Act I).
  12. X, Y, Z.
  13. Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut (Dr. Robin Winks), 1977-1984.
  14. Ziffzer, Georgia, 1970.
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Series 2. Biographical and Personal Records, ca 1961-1995. Box 25.

Includes portraits of James O. Powell, newspaper and magazine articles about him and his endeavors, some personal and family correspondence, drafts of some of his editorial columns, and a publication summarizing his visit to China in 1973.
Box 25
  1. Personal correspondence, 1961-1978.
  2. Clippings.
  3. Drafts of editorial columns.
  4. Personal portraits.
  5. A Visit to The Peoples Republic of China.
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Series 3. Speeches and Clippings, ca 1967-1995. Boxes 26-27.

Includes James O. Powell speeches and his newspaper articles.
Box 26
  1. Speech, Florida State University, Feb. 1967.
  2. Speeches (1 of 3).
  3. Speeches (2 of 3).
  4. Speeches (3 of 3).
Box 27
  1. Arkansas Gazette, 1964, 1966, 1974, 1976, 1985-1987.
  2. Arkansas Gazette, 1991.
  3. Arkansas Gazette, no date.
  4. Arkansas Times, 1992.
  5. The Benton Courier, 1992.
  6. The Benton Courier, 1993.
  7. The Benton Courier, 1994.
  8. The Benton Courier, 1995, no date.
  9. The Eagle Democrat, 1992.
  10. The Eagle Democrat, 1993.
  11. The Eagle Democrat, 1994, 1995, no date.
  12. The Jonesboro Sun, 1992.
  13. The Jonesboro Sun, 1993.
  14. The Jonesboro Sun, 1994.
  15. The Jonesboro Sun, 1995.
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