Beschreibung:

Negro City and County Directory 1936: Springfield, Mo., Greene County, Joplin, Carthage, Jasper County. [Springfield?, Missouri]: [publisher not identified], 1936. 8vo (6 x 9 in.). Original wrappers (Light cover stain and minor wear to extremities, former ownership signature and other writing, some small tears to edges, else fine). A 1936 African American directory for the major cities in southwest Missouri including Springfield (Greene County), Joplin, and Carthage (both Jasper County). Includes demographics of African Americans in Missouri and a directory of both individual households and businesses. This edition was published the same year as the first Negro Motorist Green Book, and the directory serves some of the same purposes. The Joplin and Carthage Classified page declares, “This Service of a Negro Directory is a Service of a Demand, and a Just Demand, because Negroes are often times placed in embarrassing and uncouth position.” They do not list that these positions would also often be dangerous, but the black reader of 1936 would indeed be acutely aware and understand the deliberately coded language. Directories and guides such as these were invaluable resources for African Americans during the Jim Crow era and fascinating primary resources. Quite scarce. Condition: Light cover stain and minor wear to extremities, former ownership signature and other writing, some small tears to edges, else fine.