Guide to MS474 Archie Waters Papers

69 Pages·2017·1.63 MB·English

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Finding Aids Special Collections Department
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Abbie Weiser
University of Texas at El Paso, [email protected]
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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