Miller, Donald L., 1974 - 1984

Item — Multiple Containers

Staff Only

Click here to access digital sound recordings

Scope and Contents

Painter and illustrator Don Miller lectured 5 times. The presentations can be found on 6 reels. 1st lecture was 11/5/1974 (2015-0002/RR59), the 2nd was 4/12/1977 (2015-0002/RR60), 3rd time was 4/4/1978 (2015-0002/RR61), 4th time was 10/30/1979 (2015-0002/RR62), and the 5th lecture was 4/17/1984 (2015-0002/RR63 reel 1) (2015-0002/RR318 reel 2).

It is unknown whether the 2 4/17/1984 lectures required 2 reels or if one of the recordings is a duplicate.

RR 62 [indistinquishable speaking until ~55s.] Miller addresses his career as commercial artist. Difficult to hear over the sound of the recording device.

RR 63 Edward O'Connor introduces visual artist Don Miller. Mr. Miller talks about his background found his calling at the age of 5 when he was presented with crayons.

RR 318 Edward O'Connor introduces visual artist Don Miller. Sound drops ~30s returns ~55s. Spoke about his interest in art from the age of 5 on. Although the labeled date is the same as RR63, it is similar but not the same lecture.

Dates

1974 - 1984

Conditions Governing Access

Links to digitized content are included in the finding aid.

Biographical / Historical

Donald Lloyd Miller was born in Jamaica and was brought to this country as an infant. He trained at Cooper Union and the Art Students League. His life's work was interpreting the black experience in the United States, the West Indies and Africa. His oils and watercolors were frequently exhibited in this country and in Jamaica and are in the permanent collections of the Newark Museum, Smithsonian Institution and other museums.

Much of Mr. Miller's work reflected the spirit of the emerging civil rights movement. His magnum opus, the King Mural, depicts the life and work of Dr. King. Seven feet high and 56 feet long, it was commissioned by the library and was unveiled in January 1986 for the first observance of Dr. King's birthday as a national holiday. The artist also produced illustrations for books at his studio in Montclair, which was called the Don Miller Studio.

Mr. Miller died in 7 February 1993 at the age of 69.

[https://www.nytimes.com/1993/02/10/obituaries/donald-l-miller-69-painter-and-illustrator.html / https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-xpm-1993-02-13-9303181882-story.html / https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/local/1986/11/18/artist-makes-african-culture-live/e4527f3a-d720-4fea-b0f4-67851e157835/]

Extent

6 Reels (Magnetic tape audio recordings ) : RR 59 1 reel, Side A-1:07:02, Side B-0:06:09; tape speed 3¾ IPS; track position ½-Track Mono; Substrate: Polyester. RR 60 1 reel, Side A-1:04:25, Side B-0:03:35; tape speed 3¾ IPS; track position ½-Track Mono; Substrate: Polyester. RR 61 1 reel, 0:57:31; tape speed 3¾ IPS; track position ½-Track Mono; Substrate: Polyester. RR 62 1 reel, 0:57:23; tape speed 3¾ IPS; track position ½-Track Mono; Substrate: Polyester. RR 63 1 reel, 1:16:40; tape speed 3¾ IPS; track position ½-Track Mono; Substrate: Polyester. RR 318 1 reel, 1:12:46; tape speed 3¾ IPS; track position ½-Track Mono; Substrate: Polyester.