Clarence B. Jones, Ph.D. Oral History Interview: Museum Object and Cultural History

The object in the museum catalogue

The oral history consists of twelve digital files: 2011.174.84.1a, 2011.174.84.1b, 2011.174.84.1c, 2011.174.84.1d, 2011.174.84.1e, 2011.174.84.1f, 2011.174.84.1g, 2011.174.84.1h, 2011.174.84.1i, 2011.174.84.1j, and 2011.174.84.1k, 2011.174.84.1l.

Dr. Clarence B. Jones shares memories from his work as a legal advisor and speechwriter for Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. In particular, he describes his significant contributions to the "I Have a Dream" speech, which King delivered at the March on Washington in 1963. Jones also describes his early life living in a Philadelphia home for indigent black orphans and foster children, because his parents, who were both domestic workers, could not afford to provide for him. Jones talks about his education at Columbia University, his training as a classical clarinetist, and some of his early encounters with leftist politics while in New York. Jones discusses the death of his mother and the profound effect it had on him. He describes his time spent in the military during the Korean War. Other topics discussed in the interview include Jones's marriage to Anne Norton, his studies at Boston University Law School, and his move to California to become an entertainment lawyer.

Materials, dates and provenance

• Date: April 15, 2013
• Created by: Civil Rights History Project, American, founded 2009
• Interview of: Clarence B. Jones Ph.D., American, born 1931
• Interviewed by: David P. Cline Ph. D., American, born 1969
• Subject of: Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., American, 1929 - 1968
• Subject of: March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom, American, founded 1963
• Subject of: Columbia University, American, founded 1754
• Subject of: Anne Aston Warder Norton, American, 1928 - 1977
• Subject of: Boston University School of Law, American, founded 1872
• Type: video recordings
• Type: oral histories
• Type: digital media - born digital
• Medium: digital
• Dimensions: Duration: 2 hr., 43 min., 8 sec.
• Dimensions: Total: 298.98 GB
• Place collected: Palo Alto, Santa Clara County, California, United States, North and Central America
• Place depicted: Washington, District of Columbia, United States, North and Central America
• Place depicted: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States, North and Central America
• Place depicted: New York, United States, North and Central America
• Place depicted: Boston, Suffolk County, Massachusetts, United States, North and Central America
• Place depicted: California, United States, North and Central America
• Topic: African American
• Topic: Children
• Topic: Civil Rights
• Topic: Education
• Topic: Instrumentalists (Musicians)
• Topic: Korean War, 1950-1953
• Topic: Law
• Topic: Military
• Object number: 2011.174.84.1a-l
• Credit Line: Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture in partnership with the American Folklife Center, Library of Congress
• Data Source: National Museum of African American History and Culture

Sources and reuse

Catalogue descriptions and facts adapted from National Museum of African American History and Culture through the Smithsonian's official Open Access dataset. This record explicitly marks its metadata CC0 1.0; formatting and selection have been changed. The underlying object's rights statement is: © Smithsonian National Museum of African American History & Culture and The American Folklife Center, Library of Congress Permission required for use. Proper usage is the responsibility of the user.