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THE COUNTEE CULLEN FOUNDATION President Ida M. Cullen Vice-President James A. McKay The Countee Cullen Foundation is a non-profit Corporation founded on May 5, 1950 by Countee Cullen's widow, Mrs. Ida M. Cullen. Born in the spirit of the humanitarian and moral value characterized in the life and works of Countee Cullen - a teacher, novelist, poet and playwright duing the 1920's, 30's and 40's, the Foundation was established to keep his literary writings alive and available to all people. The primary objectives of the Foundation are the following: • Prepare, collect, organize and maintain the literary, poetic, paintings, sketches, etchings and other artistic works of Countee Cullen. • Establish an institutional facility to permanently house the writings, literary and artistic collections, artifacts and other materials significant to the life of Countee Cullen, and the period in America's literary history which he lived. • Contribute to the advancement of students at Public School #139 in New York City where Mr. Cullen spent many years of his career teaching French, English Literature, and the Humanities. • Work to advance programs at the Countee Cullen Library at 136th Street in New York City. • Encourage and support the artistic expressions and contributions of individuals and groups for the betterment of society. Accordingly, the foundation works to expand opportunities for artists, writers, scholars and humanists research issues and participate in conferences and expositions concerning African-American Heritage. The Countee Cullen Foundation seeks tax deductible contributions and assistance from individuals, groups, corporations, and special government-funded projects. The Foundation also participates in fund-raising activities. LONG ISLAND 2 Stuyvesant Street Huntington, New York 11743 Tel: (516) 549-4554 NEW YORK CITY 520 Second Avenue-LB 83 New York, New York 10016 (212) 686-3857 SUPPORT INFORMATION [ ] I would like to support the activities and programs of the Countee Cullen Foundation. [ ] I would like to make available items concerning the Life and writings of Countee Cullen, and/or about the period of the Harlem Renaissance during which he lived. Name [[blank line]] Address [[blank line]] State [[blank line]] Zip [[blank line]] Telephone Area Code [[blank line]] Number [[blank line]] Contribution $ [[blank line]] Brief Description of Item(s) [[blank lines]] PLEASE MAKE CHECKS PAYABLE AND MAIL TO: COUNTEE CULLEN FOUNDATION 520 Second Avenue - LB83 New York, N.Y. 10016 (212) 686-3857 PAST PRESENT AND FUTURE PUBLICATION AND REPRINTING OF COUNTEE CULLEN'S WRITINGS Countee Cullen's widow, Ida M. Cullen, has devoted herself to keeping his writings alive and accessible to the public during the past thirty years. On These I Stand was his last book published. Other books were reprinted including: Caroling Dusk, Color, The Lost Zoo, and My Lives and How I Lost Them. Four recordings of his writings were performed by Ruby Dee and Ossie Davis, Sidney Portier [[Poitier]] and Folkway Records. In 1980, Harper and Row, Publishers, reported that the poetry of Countee Cullen was quoted in more books written in America than any other poets published by their company. And yet, many of Countee Cullen's writings remain unpublished and/or out of print. ANNUAL COUNTEE CULLEN MEMORIAL CELEBRATION May 30th is the birthday of Countee Cullen. A major Memorial Tribute to him will be presented every year in which poets, writers, former students, entertainers, government officials and hundreds of other friends come together in an exciting and enjoyable celebration....mark it on your calendar right now. COUNTEE CULLEN STUDENTS SCHOLARSHIP AWARDS As a teacher for more than twenty years, Countee Cullen would give awards to his students who achieved well academically in his classroom during the school year. The Foundation hopes to continue this tradition of rewarding academic excellence among students at Frederick Douglas Jr. High School (P.S. #139) and the Countee Cullen Elementary School (P.S. #194) in New York City as well as the Countee Cullen Elementary School in Chicago. COUNTEE CULLEN COLLECTIONS AND EXHIBITS Collections of Countee Cullen's writings, letters and artifacts are presently available at Atlanta University founded by Harold Jackman, Fisk University, James Weldon Johnson's Collection at Yale University, Sorbonne Uniersity in Paris, Amistad Research Center in New Orleans, Harvard University, and the Collection maintained by Mrs. Cullen. There is no existing central and permanent collections of his work anywhere. A major traveling exhibit entitled: "Countee Cullen - Bridge Between Worlds, and A Perspective of the Harlem Renaissance, " in which his writings and some of their artistic illustrations, historical documents and artifacts depicting the life and times of Countee Cullen is being developed with some possible support from the National Endowments for the Arts, and Humanities, and private contributions. The Exhibit will open at the Black History Museum in Hempstead, and trael to other museums in Huntington, New York City, Boston, Philadelphia, Washington, D.C., Baltimore, New Orleans, Atlanta and Chicago. This traveling exhibit will be the first step in gathering and organizing his materials to be housed in an institutional facility named in his honor, and opened to the public. EDUCATIONAL AND HUMANITIES RESEARCH ASSISTANCE Scholars and students of American Literature have been granted use of many of the writings and letters of Countee Cullen for writing Masters and Doctorate Theses. Special educational television and radio programs have used his works. His plays and other writings which have been put on stage include: St Louis Women at Malcolm X College; Medea in Atlanta and Howard Universities; One Way to Heaven at Bennet College; and recently, the Lost Zoo at the University of Vermont. The Foundation encourages and supports such scholarly interests and hopes to produce some of these works for much broader audiences. AFRICAN-AMERICAN CULTURAL DEVELOPMENT AND APPRECIATION "What is Africa to Me?"- was one of the first poems written bridging the identity of African-Americans. Current programs and activities will further develop that sense of self-pride and appreciation for the richness and value of the African-American experience in America. PROGRAMS AT THE COUNTEE CULLEN PUBLIC LIBRARY IN NEW YORK CITY The Countee Cullen Foundation welcomes the unique opportunities to encourage and support the programs of the Countee Cullen Library. We hope to develop special programs at the library in the near future. ANNUAL COUNTEE CULLEN AWARDS DINNER One of the dreams of Mrs. Cullen was to bring together some of the former students of Countee Cullen. The Annual Awards Dinner will be one of the Foundation's major events in which former students will actively support and participate in its development as a way to express their appreciation and respect for their former teacher. Also, the Awards Dinner will be highlighted by the presentation of the Annual Countee Cullen African-American Literary Awards to persons who have made outstanding contributions to African-American literature. *This play was adapted from the book, God Sends Sunday, by Arna Bontemps. 457
