Resumes and biographical sketches, 1961-1976, undated

This collection includes the writings, publications, correspondence, transcripts and research materials documenting and supporting the opinions and ideological interests of Walter Earl Douglas.

1. Biographical Information includes resumes and brief sketches. Also contains several handwritten legal pads documenting Douglas' last days of life.

2. Writings contains numerous handwritten and typed drafts of manuscript essays by Douglas written in preparation for his syndicated newspaper columns. The essays are organized by topics and are divided in subseries. The essays relate to African-American social issues; societal ills in Harlem, New York; African-Americans living in South Carolina, many with a focus on Charlestonians during the 1970s; African-Americans in politics and government in South Carolina and the United States; general topic essays examining national and international issues including Blacks in South Africa; United States politics and government pertaining to elected officials (President Jimmy Carter, Senator Strom Thurmond and Governor James B. Edwards) with topics including Affirmative Action, the Equal Rights Amendment (E.R.A) the Republican Party and the military.

3. Publications contain Douglas' published articles (final typed manuscripts and photocopied newspaper clippings) in local and nationally syndicated newspapers. Subseries includes newspaper columns and editorials: "The Earl of Charleston," written for "The Chronicle," a Charleston, South Carolina periodical; the "W. Earl Douglas" column, a syndicated editorial published in the "Manchester (New Hampshire) Union Leader," "The Daily Advance" (Lynchburg, Virginia) and the "Charleston Evening Post" (South Carolina). Also included are Douglas' self published newsletter, "The Freedom Factor," and booklets/pamphlets regarding political and socioeconomic issues. Several booklets were published posthumously by his wife, Rosslee Green Douglas.

4. Speeches and Media Programing Transcripts contain Douglas' typed and handwritten speeches given at various South Carolina civic organizations. Of note is a transcript Douglas' talk delivered at the Republican Party State Convention in Columbia, South Carolina (1978). Also included are transcripts from Douglas' local television program, "Earl's Byline" broadcasted on WCBD-TV in Charleston, South Carolina. Transcripts include topics on African-American culture and race identity; Apartheid in South Africa; labor and unions; politics and government.

5. Personal Writings comprises Douglas' biographical drafts; draft essays on his fictional characters, "Willie and the Professor;" various themed short stories, poems and plays.

6. Correspondence includes letters mostly written to Douglas by newspaper publishers, political figures, and readers of his editorials and writings. A significant portion of letters is written by William "Bill" Loeb, III, the president and publisher of the Manchester (New Hampshire) Union Leader (1977-1979). Loeb writes of expanding Douglas' readership by promoting his work to nationally syndicated newspapers. He also expresses concern over Douglas' diagnosis of Perenoil Nerve Palsy which resulted in his declining health and ultimate death. The subseries also holds letters from United States Senators Storm Thurmond, Jesse Helms and Ernest F. Hollings, and Governor James B. Edwards. Letters sent by Douglas included replies to his editorial readers and to Thomas R. Waring, editor of the "Charleston Evening Post."

7. Civic Involvement includes Douglas' civic participation with the Charleston County Economic Opportunity Commission and the South Carolina Commission on Consumer Affairs. A subseries of Political Involvement includes conference materials reports and supporting documents pertaining to Douglas' citizen participation with the White House Conference on Balanced National Growth and Economic Development (1977-1978). Also holds letters and invitations from President Jimmy Carter and staffers.

8. Research Materials comprises reports, journal essays, newspapers and magazines articles written by others, and assembled by Douglas as reference sources for his writings.