Michael J. Bowen Collection of Black Exploitation Film Posters and Director Photographs
Scope and Contents of the Collection
The Michael J. Bowen Collection of Black Exploitation Film Posters and Director Photographs consists of 52 Black film posters and 25 press photographs of noteworthy Black filmmakers, from 1968-2000. While the collection primarily focuses on “Blaxploitation” films, an ethnic subgenre of the exploitation film that emerged in the early 1970s, the collection also represents other Black-oriented concert films, comedies, and dramas. Notable films represented in the collection include: Uptight (1968), The Great White Hope (1970), Watermelon Man (1970), Blacula (1972), Shaft's Big Score! (1972), Super Fly T.N.T. (1973), and Cleopatra Jones and the Casino of Gold (1975). Press photos include notable directors and filmmakers such as Spike Lee, Sidney Poitier, and Melvin Van Peebles.
Dates
- Creation: 1968-2000 and undated
Language of Material
Languages represented in the collection: English.
Access
Collection open for research.
Publication Rights
All requests for permission to reproduce or to publish must be submitted in writing to Special Collections.
Biography / Administrative History
Materials in the collection were acquired by Michael J. Bowen, a film historian and instructor of American film history in New York City.
Extent
6.2 Linear Feet (2 oversize map folder boxes, 1 slim legal document box)
Abstract
This collection consists of 52 Black film posters and 25 press photographs of noteworthy Black filmmakers, from 1968-2000. While the primary focus is “Blaxploitation” films, the collection also represents other Black-oriented concert films, comedies, and dramas.
Organization and Arrangement
This collection has been organized into the following series and subseries:
- Series 1: Film posters, 1968-1986
- Series 2: Director photographs, 1971-2000 and undated
Physical Location
Please consult repository.
Provenance/Source of Acquisition
Library purchase from Michael J. Bowen, 2023.
Accruals
No additions to the collection are anticipated.
Processing Information
Posters were housed in acid-free print folders and stored flat in large archival boxes. Photographs were sleeved in mylar, housed in acid-free folders, and stored in an archival document box.
Cultural context
Genre / Form
Occupation
Temporal
Topical
- Title
- Michael J. Bowen Collection of Black Exploitation Film Posters and Director Photographs
- Status
- Completed
- Author
- Sean Stanley
- Date
- 2024
- Description rules
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Latin
- Language of description note
- English
Repository Details
Part of the 01 - Special Collections & Archives, The Claremont Colleges Library Repository
800 North Dartmouth Ave
Claremont CA 91711 United States
Email: specialcollections@claremont.edu