Richard W. "Dick" Cowen Papers

Collection — Multiple Containers

Identifier: MSS-2017-007

Staff Only

Scope and Contents

This collection consists of the research of Richard W. "Dick" Cowen, Class of 1953, concerning the stories of the Black community of the Lehigh Valley from the 1800s to 2012. The majority of the research includes photocopies or printouts from local newspapers including the Morning Call. Also included is correspondence, and a resolution from the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission.

Dates

1846 - 2017

Creator

Cowen, Dick (Person)

Conditions Governing Access

The collection is open for research; access by appointment.

Conditions Governing Use

Much of the material in this collection consists of photocopied published newspaper articles. With the exception of those that fall in the public domain by virtue of their date of publication, copyright for this material remains with the publishers. It is the sole responsibility of the researcher to identify and satisfy any claims of copyright before making use of reproductions beyond the conditions of fair use, as described by the United States Copyright Law. Contact Trexler Library archives staff for additional information.

Biographical / Historical

Richard W. “ Dick” Cowen ‘53 was the only child of Rev. Walter and Marion Cowen. He was born in 1934 in Mt. Vernon, NY, and graduated from Muhlenberg College in 1953. Cowen remained in the Lehigh Valley and worked as a reporter, column author, and occasional photographer for the Morning Call newspaper for 42 years. He was interested in telling people’s stories and writing about local history including the book “Papa Raker’s Dream,” published in 1988, about the history of Good Shepherd Rehabilitation Network in Allentown. He made contributions to the Lehigh County Historical Society volumes recording the history of Allentown, and a Morning Call series about the local black community in 1958. Cowen was involved with the Lehigh Valley Black History Project which received recognition from the Allentown Human Relations Commission and the Allentown Arts Commission. Dick Cowen died on February 24, 2015, leaving behind his wife, Constance Cowen, five children, 11 grandchildren, and 6 great-grandchildren.

Extent

3 Linear Feet

Additional Description

Overview

This collection consists of Dick Cowen's research concerning the stories of the Black community of the Lehigh Valley from the 1800s to 2012.

Processing Information

The collection was originally housed in 15 three-ring binders by years or decades. The papers were taken out of the binders and put into folders, maintaining chronological order. For ease of use, binders were assigned numbers while processing to coordinate folders with binders. If there is an index for the binder, it is labeled on the folder housing it. The titles of the binders, as well as the folders, are Dick Cowen's. It is arranged as follows:

Binder 1 Black Stories - 1870s, 1880s, 1890s

Binder 2 Black Stories - 1900s

Binder 3 Black Stories - 1910s, 1920s

Binder 4 Black Stories - 1930

Binder 5 Black Stories - 1940s

Binder 6 Black Stories - 1950s

Binder 7 Black Stories - 1960-1967

Binder 8 Black Stories - 1968-1969

Binder 9 Black Stories - 1970s

Binder 10 Black Stories - 1975-1979

Binder 11 Black Stories - 1980s

Binder 12 Black Stories - 1990s

Binder 13 Blacks - 2000 - 12/2005

Binder 14 Blacks - 2006 - 2010

Binder 15 Unlabled 2011-2012