Nell Irvin Painter letters to Jackie Bryant Smith, 1957-2004

Collection comprises letters written by Painter to Smith, Painter's childhood friend from Northern California. Painter became a professional historian, retiring from her position at Princeton University in 2004. The letters cover two date spans, 1959-1965 and 1979-2002, describing Painter's time spent as a student in Nigeria, Ghana, and France, as well as a student traveler in Europe, and later, as a professor at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, then Princeton. Primary topics include the women's friendship; other relationships, including Bryant's engagement and marriage; as well as Painter's travels and studies, textbook projects, and professional commitments and teaching. There are also 5 color photographs (1959-2004).

Organization of Collection:
Organized into the following series: letters and photographs. Arranged chronologically.

Biographical Sketch of Creators:
Jackie Bryant Smith is a Black American author and activist. She was born June 5, 1941 in Oakland, California.