Explore Black History

1983

Founded by Pittsburgh Courier journalist C. Melvin Patrick, each yearly-issue of Delegate contains hundreds of photographs providing coverage of African American professional and fraternal organizations, special events, award recognitions, individuals of note, and newsworthy situations. The magazine was a virtual year in review of African American life in the United States during the 1960s and 1980s. Delegate magazines were distributed free of charge by African American organizations at their conferences and meetings.

A 1983 issue of Delegate magazine published by MelPat Associates. The cover of the magazine features a blue ribbon badge that reads [1983 / DELEGATE] against a grid of black and white portrait photographs. The top two (2) and bottom two (2) rows of photographs are tinted a bright yellow. Thirty-two (32) men and women are pictured, with the last name of everyone printed under his or her picture in black. The spine of the magazine is white with black text that reads [DELEGATE, 1983 - The 7th Year of the 3rd Century].
The magazine’s content opens with a masthead, set in white text against a black background reading [DELEGATE, 1983], and a table of contents, followed by an untitled editorial note recounting political wins and losses over the last year, including the election of Harold Washington as Mayor of the city of Chicago.
The content then continues with profiles of African American business organizations, business leaders, events, community organizations, sororities, fraternities, doctors, dentists, politicians, actors, and journalists. This includes the Jackie Robinson Awards Dinner, United Negro College Fund, Billy Dee Williams and Eugene McCabe, National Association for Equal Opportunity in Higher Education, Interracial Council for Business Opportunity, National Urban Affairs Council, National Association of Market Developers, Bottle and Cork Club, ITT Continental Baking Company, Ciba-Geigy, Chesebrough-Pond, John Hunter Camp Fund, Prince Hall Grand Lodge, Opportunities Industrialization Centers of America, Harold Washington, National Newspaper Publishers Association, Top Ladies of Distinction, NAACP, Lambda Kappa Mu Sorority, Iota Phi Lambda Sorority, Chi Eta Phi Sorority, National Medical Association, National United Church Ushers Association, Morehouse College, Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Carats, National Bar Association, National Urban League, A.M.E. Zion Church, National Association of Negro Business and Professional Women’s Clubs, Ancient Egyptian Arabic Order Nobles of the Mystic Shrine, Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Dawson Art Guild Annual Memorial Concert, Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, National Pharmaceutical Association, Phi Delta Kappa, One Hundred Black Men, Chums, Inc., Association of National and Regional Convention Planners, Benjamin Ashburn, Olive Bowles, Edgar Dale golf tournament, Arthur Ashe, Congressional Black Caucus, Bishop Emerson J. Moore, 369th Veterans’ Association, Black Broadway, Eubie Blake, Dance Theatre of Harlem, National Black Nurses Association, The Edges Group, 100 Black Women, Communications Excellence to Black Audiences, Push, Inc., The Secret Friends, Harlem Commonwealth Council, The Moles, Association for the Study of Afro-American Life and History, The Council of Concerned Black Executives, WAABI, Beaux Arts Ball, Dr. Herby Cave. There are also several obituaries and wedding announcements, as well as short features on Oak Bluffs, Houston, and the Bahamas. The issue concludes with a special feature titled “Atlanta 1926 to Present.”
There are approximately 479 pages with black and white photographs and advertisements throughout, as well as a few advertisements in color. The back cover of the magazine features a full page advertisement for Kool cigarettes.

Transcribed by digital volunteers

National Museum of African American History and Culture Collection

Books and Published Materials

Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, Gift of Anne B. Patrick and the family of Hilda E. Stokely

National Museum of African American History and Culture

2012.167.17

magazines (periodicals)

Public domain
Proper usage is the responsibility of the user.

ink on paper

H x W x D: 10 13/16 × 8 7/16 × 1/2 in. (27.5 × 21.4 × 1.3 cm)

Title • Delegate

nmaahc_2012.167.17

NMAAHC

DELEGATE

National Museum of African American History and Culture

CC0

1980s

Dance Theatre of Harlem • National Coalition of 100 Black Women • Delta Sigma Theta Sorority • Top Ladies of Distinction, Inc. • National Medical Association • National Sorority of Phi Delta Kappa, Inc. • Chi Eta Phi Sorority, Inc. • National United Church Ushers Association of America, Inc. • National Association of Negro Business and Professional Women's Clubs, Inc. • Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc. • United Negro College Fund • Opportunities Industrialization Center of America, Inc. • National Newspaper Publishers Association • Williams, Billy Dee • MelPat Associates • National Bar Association • Shriners International • Morehouse College • Prince Hall Freemasonry • National Association for the Advancement of Colored People • Carats, Inc. • Patrick, C. Melvin • African Methodist Episcopal Church • Ashe, Arthur • Washington, Harold • One Hundred Black Men, Inc. • National Association for Equal Opportunity in Higher Education • Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. • Blake, Eubie • People United to Save Humanity • 369th Veterans Association • Lambda Kappa Mu Sorority, Inc. • National Pharmaceutical Association • Association for the Study of African American Life and History • National Association of Market Developers • National Urban Affairs Council • Iota Phi Lambda Sorority, Inc. • National Urban League

United States • Martha's Vineyard • Oak Bluffs • Bahamas • New York City • Harlem • Atlanta • North and Central America • Massachusetts • Texas • Fulton County • Harris County • Georgia • Dukes County • Caribbean • Houston

Black Press • Communities • African Methodist Episcopal • HBCUs (Historically Black Colleges and Universities) • Sororities • The Black Church • Women's organizations • Professional organizations • Journalism • Associations and institutions • Political organizations • Urban life • Advertising • U.S. History, 1969-2001 • Business • Description and travel • Women • Government • Religion • Fraternal organizations • Labor unions • Politics • Fraternities • Mass media • Society

Locale • Harlem • City • New York City • State • New York • Country • United States • Continent • North and Central America • Locale • Martha's Vineyard • City • Oak Bluffs • County • Dukes County • State • Massachusetts • Country • Bahamas • Subregion • Caribbean • City • Houston • County • Harris County • State • Texas • City • Atlanta • County • Fulton County • State • Georgia

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