UUnniivveerrssiittyy ooff TTeexxaass aatt EEll PPaassoo SScchhoollaarrWWoorrkkss@@UUTTEEPP Finding Aids Special Collections Department 11-17-2015 GGuuiiddee ttoo MMSS447744 AArrcchhiiee WWaatteerrss PPaappeerrss Abbie Weiser University of Texas at El Paso, [email protected] Follow this and additional works at: https://scholarworks.utep.edu/finding_aid This Article is brought to you for free and open access by the Special Collections Department at ScholarWorks@UTEP. It has been accepted for inclusion in Finding Aids by an authorized administrator of ScholarWorks@UTEP. For more information, please contact [email protected]. Guide to MS 474 Archie Waters papers Span Dates: 1939 – 2001 Bulk Dates: 1970 – 2000 46 feet 6 inches (linear) Processed by Abbie Weiser November 17, 2008; July 30, 2015 Donated by Onilaja Waters and Jean Penny Waters Citation: Archie Waters Papers, 1939 – 2001, MS 474, C.L. Sonnichsen Special Collections Department. The University of Texas at El Paso Library. C.L. Sonnichsen Special Collections Department University of Texas at El Paso Biography or Historical Sketch Archie Waters (1918 – 2001), journalist, author, and chess expert, moved to El Paso in 1980. Born in Brooklyn, Waters served in World War II in New Guinea as a battalion sergeant-major of personnel. After the war, Waters returned to New York and worked as a clerk-typist and journalist as well as taught chess professionally. During the 1950s and 1960s Waters worked as a reporter for the People’s Voice, the Harlem Daily, the Long Island Daily Press, and later wrote a civic affairs column for the New York Daily News. He received a medal and cash prize from Columbia University’s School of Journalism for the series, “Black Long Island,” which he co-wrote. Waters married Elizabeth Josephine Waters in 1952 and had two daughters. After relocating to El Paso, Waters worked as a publicist in the public affairs office at William Beaumont Army Medical Center and then as a clerk-typist for El Paso Police Department headquarters. He also wrote several letters-to- the-editor and short articles for the El Paso Herald-Post during the 1980s. In 1988 Waters was hit by a drunk driver after attending an El Paso Jesse Jackson for President Campaign meeting and was not expected to survive. He eventually recovered after several months, but retired from his job with the El Paso Police Department after the accident. Two years later Waters joined the staff of the El Paso Times, where he wrote a weekly column from 1990 – 2001. Waters’ columns discussed various current events and social issues, such as presidential politics, drugs, drunk driving, popular culture, and domestic violence, though he primarily focused on El Paso and its African-American community. Waters was also an active and dedicated member of the Black El Paso Democrats. An enthusiastic chess player, Waters became the first African-American to be admitted to the prestigious Marshall Chess Club in New York. Waters co- wrote two books on Spanish pool checkers during the late 1940s and wrote columns on chess during the 1960s that were published in several New York community newspapers. During the late 1950s Waters became a mentor to chess prodigy Bobby Fischer in New York. In 1972 Waters traveled with Fischer to Iceland for Fischer’s world title match against Boris Spassky of Russia. Waters also briefly appeared in the 1993 movie Searching for Bobby Fischer in a chess scene. (Sources: Archie Waters papers) Series Description or Arrangement The Archie Waters papers are arranged in seven series: Series I. Biographical information Series II. Photographs Series III. Articles by Archie Waters Series IV. Story Proofs Series V. Topical files Series VI. Chess and checkers materials Series VII. Publications by others Scope and Content Notes The Archie Waters papers date 1939 – 2001, bulk 1970 – 2000. Types of records include correspondence, clippings, publications and other printed material, notes, story proofs, and photographs. Arranged in seven series (Biographical information, Photographs, Articles by Archie Waters, Story proofs, Topical files, Chess materials, and Publications by others), these papers document Waters’ personal life, career as a journalist, community and political activism, and interest and expertise in chess. The Biographical information series provides information on Waters’ journalism career, education, army service, awards, and family life. The Photographs series contains photographs from unions and social life in New York during the 1950s, various chess matches, buffalo soldiers, family events, and the Million Man March. The Articles by Archie Waters series includes articles and letters by Waters published by the El Paso Herald Post in the 1980s and the El Paso Times from 1990 – 2001. The Story proofs series consists of samples of the story proofs Waters generated when writing his column for the El Paso Times. Many of these proofs contain detailed notes and revisions to his text. The Topical files series contains research notes, various publications, correspondence, clippings, articles, information about the activities of the Black El Paso Democrats, and other research materials for his columns. The Chess materials series includes clippings, notes on chess and chess moves, score sheets, and correspondence. The Publications by others series consists of various publications on math, chess and other subjects. Of particular note are many issues of Chess Life magazine and Players’ Chess News from the 1970s – 1980s. Provenance Statement Donated by Onilaja Waters and Jean Penny Waters on November 16, 2001. Restrictions One folder [Victor Gomez] in the Topical files series is restricted. Literary Rights Statement Permission to publish material from the Archie Waters papers must be obtained from the C. L. Sonnichsen Special Collections Department, the University of Texas at El Paso Library. Citation should read, Archie Waters papers, MS474, C. L. Sonnichsen Special Collections Department, the University of Texas at El Paso Library. Notes to the Researcher Some of the Archie Waters papers are fragile and brittle. Please handle with care. Photocopying of materials in poor condition might be restricted. Due to the large volume of the collection in the Topical files series, only topics dealing with local El Paso subjects, chess, and materials handwritten by Archie Waters were kept. Original folder titles were kept when present. Additional notes by the archivist are in brackets. Publications not by Archie Waters were primarily kept in the topical files to provide context. In the Chess materials series only clippings on chess players and articles by Archie Waters were kept. Also due to the large volume of the collection, all series except Biographical information, Photographs, and Other publications were arranged to the series level only. Original order may have been a combination of alphabetical and chronological order. Some clippings of Archie Waters’ articles were copied onto acid-free paper, and many were digitized from a later accretion. Additional copies that were in his topical files were kept in their respective folder to give context to his research and notes. Only samples of Story proofs were kept. Researchers should also see: Conrey Bryson papers, C.L. Sonnichsen Special Collections Department, the University of Texas at El Paso Library. El Paso Herald Post files, C.L. Sonnichsen Special Collections Department, the University of Texas at El Paso Library. El Paso Times files, C.L. Sonnichsen Special Collections Department, the University of Texas at El Paso Library. Planned Parenthood of El Paso records, C.L. Sonnichsen Special Collections Department, the University of Texas at El Paso Library. Eva Ross Women’s History Collection, C. L. Sonnichsen Special Collections Department, the University of Texas at El Paso Library. Leona Ford Washington photograph collection, C. L. Sonnichsen Special Collections Department, the University of Texas at El Paso Library. Container List Series I. Biographical information Box # Folder # Title Date Map Folder 2 Certificate and papers of incorporation 1943 Drawer for The Kingsman, Inc. W1 1 1 U.S. Chess Federation Lifetime 1984 – 1999 membership certificate, other certificates for participating in career weeks and other talks 1 2 Article about Archie Waters being hit March 13, 1988 by drunk driver, Lowell Eugene Miller 1 3 Resumes and biographies about 1980s – 1990s 1 4 Barbara Funkhouser columns on January 1990, Archie Waters February 1990 1 5 Writing history, personal short 1991 – 1993 biographies, clippings, flyer for talk at UTEP 1 6 Clipping on Black History Month February 21, 1993 parade with Archie Waters chosen as a Grand Marshall 1 7 Clippings on Archie Waters as Martin January – Luther King, Jr. Banquet Award winner February 1994 1 8 El Paso Times clipping, Black History February 15, 1994 Month salute – profile on Archie Waters 1 9 Other writings and graduation program 1997 – 1998 for Jean Waters 1 10 Cards sent to Archie Waters 1997, about 1999 1 11 Card and writings by Jean Waters 1998 1 12 Jennifer Cushing Smith, clippings and 1998 engagement notice form 1 13 Birthday cards about 1990s Map Folder 1 Archie Waters Grand Marshall sign about 1990s Drawer W1 42 1 Tribute to Archie Waters by Judy Soles about November McMillie 2001 42 2 Tribute and book sale article January 25, 2002 Series II. Photographs Box # Folder # Title Date Map Folder 2 1958 Debutantes’ Ball, 1959 1952 – 1959 Drawer Conference of the Joint Board of Fur W1 Dressers and Dyers Union, 1954 International Chess Match at Hotel Roosevelt New York City, 1952 Delegates to the 8th Annual Conference of the Joint Board of Fur Dressers and Dyers Union 1 14 Photograph of Bobby Fischer playing about 1950s chess [possibly taken of Fischer on television] 1 15 Possible group family photograph, about 1960s, chess photograph [possible Bobby about 1980s Fischer] 1 16 Chess tournament photographs, 1 of 4 1974 1 17 Chess tournament photographs, 2 of 4 1974 1 18 Chess tournament photographs, 3 of 4 1974 1 19 Chess tournament photographs, 4 of 4 1974 1 20 Photographs of scenes in Juarez 1979 [possibly by the bridge, Hipodromo] 1 21 Notes, contact sheet, and negatives about 1970s [found in envelope labeled “My pix from Frye.”] 1 22 Photographs of Archie Waters playing about 1970s chess 1 23 Photographs of Hudson’s Bay about 1981 Company meeting and friends [removed from letter sent to Archie Waters from Alton P. Smith] 1 24 Signed Jesse Jackson photograph 1988 sent to Archie Waters 1 25 Large head-shot of Archie Waters [on about 1990 cardboard backing] 1 26 Archie Waters’ birthday party pictures 1985 1 27 Photographs of Leon Blevins 1994 1 28 Million Man March [photographs by October 15 – 16, James Smash], 1 of 2 1995 1 29 Million Man March [photographs by October 15 – 16, James Smash], 2 of 2 1995 1 30 Buffalo Soldiers, [unidentified man about 1990s wearing uniform with medals] 1 31 Buffalo Soldiers, New York [prints and about 1990s negatives; close –up photograph of Archie Waters] 1 32 Prints and negatives, possible Archie about 1990s Waters in New York 1 33 Black Roots, photograph possibly of about 1990s one of Waters’ daughters 1 34 Unidentified man possibly stitching or about 1990s signing a large military flag [possibly the flag of the 9th or 10th cavalry] Series III. Articles by Archie Waters Box # Folder # Title Date Map 2 Articles, “Black Long Island”, Long June 1968 Drawer Island Press [series of articles] W1 42 3 Letters to editor, articles, other articles, about 1985 – 1 of 2 1990s 42 4 Letters to editor, articles, other articles, about 1985 – 2 of 2 1990s 2 1 Articles, drafts, and notes by Archie May 1986 Waters for El Paso Herald-Post article of May 2, 1986 2 2 Articles, drafts, and notes by Archie May 1986 Waters for El Paso Herald-Post article of May 7, 1986 2 3 Articles, drafts, and notes by Archie June 1986 Waters for El Paso Herald-Post article of June 25, 1986 2 4 Articles, drafts, and notes by Archie July 1986 Waters for El Paso Herald-Post article of July 16, 1986 2 5 Articles, drafts, and notes by Archie 1985 Waters for El Paso Herald-Post articles 2 6 Articles, drafts, and notes by Archie May 1986 Waters for El Paso Herald-Post article of May 15, 1986 2 7 Articles, drafts, and notes by Archie June 1986 Waters for El Paso Herald-Post article of June 10, 1986 2 8 Articles, drafts, and notes by Archie June 1986 Waters for El Paso Herald-Post article of June 17, 1986 2 9 Articles, drafts, and notes by Archie March 1986 Waters for El Paso Herald-Post article of March 12, 1986 2 10 Articles, drafts, and notes by Archie March 1986 Waters for El Paso Herald-Post article of March 18, 1986 2 11 Articles, drafts, and notes by Archie January 1986 Waters for El Paso Herald-Post article of January 29, 1986 2 12 Articles, drafts, and notes by Archie December 1985 – Waters for El Paso Herald-Post article January 1986 of December 31, 1985 2 13 Articles, drafts, and notes by Archie January 1986 Waters for El Paso Herald-Post article of January 7, 1986 2 14 Articles, drafts, and notes by Archie January 1986 Waters for El Paso Herald-Post article of January [?] 15, 1986 2 15 Articles, drafts, and notes by Archie January 1986 Waters for El Paso Herald-Post article of January 21, 1986 2 16 Articles, drafts, and notes by Archie February 1986 Waters for El Paso Herald-Post article of February 12, 1986 2 17 Articles, drafts, and notes by Archie about December Waters for El Paso Herald-Post article 1985 of December 18, 1985 2 18 Articles, drafts, and notes by Archie March 1986 Waters for El Paso Herald-Post article of March 26, 1986 2 19 Articles, drafts, and notes by Archie March 1986 Waters for El Paso Herald-Post article of March 4, 1986 2 20 Articles, drafts, and notes by Archie December 1985 Waters for El Paso Herald-Post article of December 10, 1985 [?] 42 5 Articles by Archie Waters for the El 1989 – 1990 Paso Times 3 Articles by Archie Waters for the El 1990 – 2001 Paso Times 4 Articles by Archie Waters for the El 1990 – 2001 Paso Times 5 Articles by Archie Waters for the El 1990 – 2001 Paso Times 6 Articles by Archie Waters for the El 1990 – 2001 Paso Times 7 Articles by Archie Waters for the El 1990 – 2001 Paso Times 8 Articles by Archie Waters for the El 1990 – 2001 Paso Times 42 6 Articles by Archie Waters for the El 1991 Paso Times 42 7 Articles by Archie Waters for the El 1992 Paso Times 42 8 Articles by Archie Waters for the El 1993 – 1994 Paso Times 42 9 I Have a Dream [notes, articles, about 1993, manuscript], 1 of 2 August 27, 1993 42 10 I Have a Dream [notes, articles, about 1993, manuscript], 2 of 2 August 27, 1993 42 11 Articles by Archie Waters for the El 1997 – 1998 Paso Times 42 12 Articles by Archie Waters for the El 2001 Paso Times Series IV. Story proofs Box # Folder # Title Date 9 1 Proofs of Archie Waters’ articles 1991 – 2001 9 2 Proofs of Archie Waters’ articles 1991 – 2001 9 3 Proofs of Archie Waters’ articles 1991 – 2001 9 4 Proofs of Archie Waters’ articles 1991 – 2001 10 1 Proofs of Archie Waters’ articles 1991 – 2001 10 2 Proofs of Archie Waters’ articles 1990 – 2001 10 3 Proofs of Archie Waters’ articles 1990 – 2001