Description: E. Edward Clark, a ninety-two-year-old African American man, speaks to a racially integrated class at the Hennigan Elementary School. The son of slaves, Clark tells vivid stories about his family's experiences in the south following emancipation and about growing up in Cambridge. He stresses the importance of a good education and respect for people of all races. The students ask Mr. Clark questions. Tape 1 of 2.
1:00:00: Visual: E. Edward Clark speaks to a racially integrated class at the Hennigan school. Clark describes the lives of his parents, who were slaves. Clark's father bought his freedom eight years before emancipation. His father bought the freedom of his mother, then the two were married. Clark's parents had 13 children. Clark describes the schools he attended as a boy, and the good education he received from New England missionaries who traveled south to teach former slaves. Clark describes race relations in the south after the Civil War. Clark says that his family moved to a cold-water flat at 143 Erie Street in Cambridge in 1898. Clark talks to the students about the importance of a good education and respect for others; about his impressions of how the world has changed. Clark warns the students that an education will prepare them to make a living later on. He reminds the students that the teachers are there to help them. Clark describes growing up in Cambridge in the early part of the century. He describes how the city has changed and how little things cost back then. 1:18:32: V: Clark invites the students to ask him questions. One student asks him about the secret to long life. Clark says that his parents were healthy; that he does not drink or smoke; that he does not believe in hate or violence. Clark stresses again that an education is necessary for success in life. Another student asks Clark if he was ever married.
Collection: Ten O'Clock News
Date Created: 04/27/1977
Description: E. Edward Clark, a ninety-two-year-old African American man, speaks to a racially integrated class at the Hennigan Elementary School. The son of slaves, Clark answers questions from the students, and tells them vivid stories about his family's experiences in the south following emancipation and about growing up in Cambridge. Clark talks about his family and authenticating information about his family's history. He encourages the students to get a good education while they're in school. Tape 2 of 2. The original tape was damaged, and has been copied in sections. There are several jump cuts on the tapes dubbed from the original.
1:00:01: Visual: E. Edward Clark speaks to a racially integrated class at the Hennigan school. A student asks Clark how he found out so much about his background in Wilmington, North Carolina. Clark says that his mother and father talked a lot about the family background; that he was born in Wilmington, North Carolina. Clark says that he and his daughter visited Wilmington to find out facts about his family. Shot of a white female student in the classroom; of another white female student in the classroom. Clark says that he found a US census from the nineteenth century. Clark says that he found a listing for a slave in Wilmington; that he found a listing for his mother. Clark talks to the students about the Boer War in South Africa. Clark says that part of his family came from an area near Capetown, South Africa. A young white male student asks how much Clark's father paid for his freedom. Clark says that his father paid between $400 and $650. Clark says that $650 back then is like $5,000 today. A young white boy asks if free black people could get the same jobs as white people. Clark says that African Americans could not get the same jobs as white people in North Carolina. Clark says that there are now state and federal laws which force employers to hire people regardless of their race, creed or color. Clark says that his daughter's husband is the only African American judge in the Boston Municipal Court system; that his son is a colonel in the US Army. Clark says that African Americans who are educated and qualified can get jobs anywhere. Clark says that the south is better than the north today; that there are fewer problems with school desegregation in the south. Clark tells the students to get a good education in school. Clark says that the students can be whatever they want if they get a good education. Clark tells the students that Martin Luther King Jr. (civil rights leader) and Frederick Douglass (abolitionist) were both "doctors." Clark says that his son-in-law has a doctorate of law from Boston University. Clark tells the students that they have to be ready. Clark recites the saying about "building a better mousetrap." Clark says that the students will succeed if they are ready. 1:06:05: V: An African American female student asks Clark how many children he has. Clark says that he has five children. Another African American female student asks Clark about his job as a cook and waiter. Clark says that most of the waiters in Boston are white; that waiters are looking for good tips. Clark says that waiters do not have to associate with their clientele. Shot of a female teacher in the room. A white boy asks why Clark was not a slave if his parents were slaves. Clark says that he was born after emancipation. Clark says that he was born nineteen years after emancipation. Another white male student asks Clark if he would live his life differently if given the chance. Clark says that he would live the same life again. Clark says that he would not have his wife and children if he had lived his life differently. Clark tells the student that nothing in life is free. Clark says that he worked and paid his dues. A white female student asks Clark how old he was when he started working. Clark says that he started to work when he was twelve. A white male student asks Clark if his father fought in the Civil War. Clark says that his uncle fought in the Civil War. Clark says that he has a citation from the US State Department saying that a member of the Clark family has fought in every major American war. Clark says that he fought in WWI; that his son fought in WWII; that another son fought in the Korean War and the Vietnam War. The student asks if the Clark family documents are worth money. Clark tells the students that a person is not educated if he or she does not understand tolerance. Shot of an African American male student. Clark tells a student that he needs to judge people by their abilities; that people should not be judged by their race, creed, or color. A white female student asks Clark how his family traveled from North Carolina to Boston. Shot of a white male student. Clark says that a steamship traveled between Wilmington and New York; that most shipping, trade, and commerce was done by ship.
Collection: Ten O'Clock News
Date Created: 04/27/1977
Description: Grand lobby, interior of Music Hall. Ornate chandelier, marble columns, heavenly mural. Gilded architectural details — carved moldings, capitals, medallions, angels. Interview with Harry Lodge, who gives history of Music Hall (formerly Metropolitan Theater), originally designed in 1920s by Clarence Blackhall for Vaudeville and movies. Describes the proposed restoration program to be completed in fall 1980 if lease secured and funds raised. In order to bring the Metropolitan Opera to Boston, the theater needs deeper stage for performing arts, updated communication systems, ventilation systems, and a renovated auditorium (seats 4,300). The theater is used for ballet, concerts, movies. Lodge states that this renovation with revitalize Boston as a major center for the performing arts. Lodge shows a drawing of the proposed plan.
Collection: Ten O'Clock News
Date Created: 06/21/1977
Description: Some deteriorated sound quality and some video corruption. Staff meeting on the revitalization of Massport. Meeting leader briefly mentions an accident of a cargo ship approaching Boston. He provides an update on the current business and port operations. Multiple other speakers. Massport Mystic container terminal in Charlestown. Rows of shipping containers stacked upon each other.
Collection: Ten O'Clock News
Date Created: 11/30/1976
Description: Waterfront environs. Exterior of the New England Aquarium. Harbor seals.
Collection: Ten O'Clock News
Date Created: 10/24/1977
Description: Norfolk County House of Correction exteriors. Courtroom sketches of school committee member Paul Ellison, attorney Monroe Inker, Judge Walter McLaughlin. The Norfolk County House of Correction is a minimum security prison. It is considered the cleanest, and one of the oldest in the Commonwealth. It is overcrowded, like many other correctional institutions. Its capacity is 72 inmates, while the current population is 126. The facility has a work release program, a welding class, educational programs, and maintenance crews. Recently convicted, Paul Ellison was previously a history teacher in the Boston Public School system.
Collection: Ten O'Clock News
Date Created: 11/15/1976
Description: Many camera moves on Hancock tower. Pan from top of older Hancock building to newer one. Close-up on sheer plane of windows. Glass monolith isolated against sky. At street level, Trinity Church and Copley Square concrete park.
Collection: Evening Compass, The
Date Created: 10/23/1975
Description: B-roll of clerical workers. Women using Royal electric typewriters. Sound effects of key strokes and carriage return bell. Rotary dial telephone. Row of desks. Rubber stamp, rolodex, stapler, adding machine.
Collection: Ten O'Clock News
Date Created: 03/02/1977
Description: Home heating oil delivery by Gibbs truck. Driver pulls hose from truck, connects to intake pipe on house. Meter in truck reads 146 gallons. Hose retracts and rewinds. Delivery slip is generated from meter, placed in mailbox. Truck drives away. Exteriors of houses and apartment buildings.
Collection: Ten O'Clock News
Date Created: 10/24/1979
Description: Oil tankers and cargo ships in Boston harbor. Sunlight reflects off of oil tanker. Snow on pier. Woman reports that approximately a week prior, the Grand Zenith, a 642 foot tanker disappeared, or perhaps sunk.
Collection: Ten O'Clock News
Date Created: 01/05/1977