Book collection is more than just a hobby to me, it is an art form which helps me to preserve the many works of perhaps one of the most radical organization during the late 1960s. Organized in October 1966 by Bobby G. Seale and Huey P. Newton, the Black Panther Party For Self-Defense has remained one of the most controversial organizations in the late 1960s. Its paramilitary stance, inflammatory rhetoric, protest, social and political activities have been the focus of debates that have centered on its leadership, organizational structure and legacy. In 1970, FBI Director J. Edgar Hoover considered the Black Panther Party the “greatest single threat” to the internal security of the United States government. I have spent the last six years gathering a collection of Black Panther Party works to examine some of the many reasons justifying and challenging such a conclusion. I hope to later publish my findings in my dissertation entitled, “The Greatest Single Threat, A Study Of The Black Panther Party.”

In 1997, I began writing to the FBI requesting information through the Freedom Of Information Act. In 1999, the FBI released to me 10,000 pages of declassified pages on the organization in accordance with Freedom Of Information Act guidelines. My FBI collection features FBI agent reports, newsclips, daily and travel itineraries of Black Panther Party leaders and members. My interest in the Black Panther Party has guided me to Oakland California where I scoured local bookstores in search of out of print books and materials published by the Party. Through such a trip, I acquired two out of print first edition copies of the works of George Jackson, a Black Panther Party member killed in 1971 after an alleged prison escape attempt. I also interviewed the Black Panther Party’s “Revolutionary Artist” responsible for almost all of the Black Panther Party’s artwork.

I have also traveled to New York City, Washington D.C and Detroit to collect pamphlets published by the Black Panther Party, including court documents, autobiographical accounts and oral interviews with former Black Panther Party leaders and members. Most of my autobiographical works are signed by the Black Panther Party’s leaders David Hilliard, Bobby Seale, and Elaine Brown. I also have more than one copy of original works of Black Panther Party members because I like to collect different editions of the same work. Perhaps my greatest acquisition is a complete collection of The Black Panther Party’s newspaper from 1974 to 1977. I have a total number of 114 consecutive copies of the Black Panther Party’s newspaper documenting the leadership of Elaine Brown, the only black woman to serve as the Chairwoman of the Black Panther Party.

I have endeavored to track researchers around the country researching the Black Panther Party and I obtained a copy of the latest work on the Black Panther Party by Charles E. Jones. Although the work is a collection of essays, I have acquired almost all the signatures of the contributors to the Jones volume. My collection also features general works on the Black Panther Party including periodicals containing interviews and editorials by Black Panther Party members and leaders. I have documentaries and films which capture the Black Panther Party during its prime. I enjoy preserving the historical legacy of the Black Panther Party and will continue scouring book shelves around the country to acquire their many works.

Brown, Elaine. A Taste of Power, A Black Woman’s Story. New York: Pantheon Books, 1992.

Signed Copy By Elaine Brown and David Hilliard. This book is the autobiographical account of Elaine Brown, the only Chairwoman of The Black Panther Party. She led the organization from 1974 to 1977.

Cleaver, Eldridge. Soul On Ice. New York: Dell Publishing Inc. 1970, First Printing This book is an autobiographical account and social commentary by Eldridge Cleaver, a convicted rapist who later worked for Ramparts magazine and also became the Minister Of Information Of The Black Panther Party. Over one million copies of the book was sold in the U.S by 1970. The book was also required reading for all Black Panther Party members and was also the subject of Black Panther Party political education classes.

_____Soul On Fire, Texas: Word Books, 1978.
First Edition
This book chronicles the experiences of Eldridge Cleaver after he left the U.S in 1968 to escape from pending criminal charges against him. Cleaver detailed his experiences in Cuba, Algiers, North Korea and France. This book was written after Cleaver denounced the Black Panther Party because of his religious conversion to Christianity.

_____Eldridge Cleaver Post Prison Writings And Speeches Edited And With An Appraisal By Robert Scheer. New York: Random House, 1969.
2 copies of First Printing
This book is a collection of Eldridge Cleaver’s speeches as the Minister Of Information Of The Black Panther Party.

Hilliard David and Lewis Cole. This Side Of Glory The Autobiography Of David Hilliard And The Story Of The Black Party. Boston, Little Brown And Company, 1993.
Signed Copy By Elaine Brown and David Hilliard. This book is the autobiographical account of
David Hilliard The Chief Of Staff Of The Black Panther Party.

Jackson, George. Soledad Brother, The Prison Letters Of George Jackson, Introduction By Jean Genet. New York: Bantam Books 1972. George Jackson a member of the Black Panther Party began a chapter of the Black Panther Party in prison. He was shot and killed at San Quentin prison on August 21, 1971. This book documents his prison experience and political beliefs.

_____ Soledad Brother, The Prison Letters Of George Jackson, Foreword By Jonathan Jackson Jr. Chicago: Lawrence Hill Books, 1994.

_____ Blood In My Eye. Stronghold Consolidated Productions. 1972. This book is the autobiographical account of George Jackson, it is a first edition published by Stronghold Consolidated Publications, Huey P. Newton’s business company in 1972. It was required reading for all Black Panther Party members and was also the subject of Black Panther party education classes. Prior to Jackson’s death in 1971, he stipulated that all proceeds from the sale of this book go to The Black Panther Party.

Newton, Huey P. Revolutionary Suicide. New York: Writers And Readers Publishing Inc. 1973.
Signed Copy By Elaine Brown and David Hilliard. This book is the autobiographical account of Huey P. Newton, founder of The Black Panther Party.

_____To Die For The People, The Writings Of Huey P. Newton Edited by Toni Morrison. New York: Writers And Readers Publishing Inc. 1973. Signed Copy By Elaine Brown and David Hilliard. This is a collection of the political speeches of Huey P. Newton. It contains the political ideologies of the Black Panther Party from 1966 to 1972.

_____ War Against The Panthers, A Study Of Repression In America. New York:
Harlem River Press, 1996.
Signed Copy By Elaine Brown and David Hilliard.
This book is the published doctoral dissertation of Huey P. Newton. It examines the effects of counterintelligence measures against the Black Panther Party throughout its history.

Seale, Bobby. Seize The Time , The Story Of The Black Panther Party and Huey P. Newton. New York:Vintage Books, 1970.
First Edition
This book is an autobiographical account of Black Panther Party founders and national leaders. It explains the rise of the Black Panther Party and documents its early activities from 1966 to 1971.

_____Seize The Time, The Story Of The Black Panther Party and Huey P. Newton.
Baltimore: Black Classic Press, 1991.
Signed Copy By Bobby Seale.

Shakur, Assata. Assata, An Autobiography. Connecticut: Lawrence Hill & Company, 1987.

GENERAL WORKS

Boyd, Herb Black Panthers For Beginners, New York: Writers And Readers Inc., 1995.

Foner, Philip S. ed., The Black Panthers Speak, The Manifesto Of The Party:
The First Complete Documentary Record Of The Panthers Program. New York:
J.B. Lippincott Company, 1970.
First Edition.

Hilliard David and Donald Weise, The Black Panther Party Reader, Selected Writings By Huey P. Newton. Published By The Dr. Huey P. Newton Foundation, 1998.
Signed Copy By Elaine Brown and David Hilliard.

Haskins, Jim. Power To The People, The Rise And Fall Of The Black Panther Party. New York: Simon & Schuster, 1997.

Jones, Charles. The Black Panther Party Reconsidered. Baltimore: The Black Classic Press, 1998.

Lockwood, Lee. Conversation With Eldridge Cleaver, Algiers. New York: Delta Book, 1970.
Second Printing.

Marine, Gene. The Black Panthers. New York: Signet Books, 1969.
First Edition.

Moore, Gilbert. Rage. New York: Carroll & Graf Publishers Inc., 1993.

Moore, Joe Louis. The Legacy Of The Panthers, A Photographic Exhibition, Project Of The Huey P. Newton Foundation. California: Desktop Publishing And Printing, 1995.
Signed Copy By Elaine Brown And David Hilliard
This is a photo album of the activities of the Black Panther Party. It contains photos of the Black Panther Party’s various programs throughout its history.

Pearson, Hugh. The Shadow Of The Panther, Huey P. Newton And The Price Of Black Power In America. New York: Addison-Wesley Publishing Company, 1994.

Rout, Kathleen. Eldridge Cleaver. Boston: Twayne Publishers,1991.

Sheehy, Gail. Panthermania, The Clash Of Black Against Black In One American City. New York: Harper & Row Publishers, 1971.
This book is an account of the New Haven trial of 1970 during which Black Panther Party Chairman Bobby Seale and Ericka Huggins were charged with the murder of fellow Panther Alex Rackley.

114 Copies of The Black Panther Intercommunal News Service From 1974 to 1977. I acquired a complete collection of the Black Panther Party’s newspaper under the leadership of Elaine Brown from 1974 to 1977.

FBI FILES Over 10,000 Pages Of Newly Declassified FBI Files on The Black Panther Party From 1968 to 1977.
Through the Freedom Of Information Act, I requested and purchased all information available on the Black Panther Party. This Collection includes Field Reports by FBI Agents, Copies and Photographs of Black Panther Party Members and Foreign and Domestic Articles About the Black Panther Party. Most important, this collection chronicles the activities of the Black Panther Party members and leaders on a daily basis.

MAGAZINES WITH INTERVIEWS OF BPP MEMBERS

Ramparts, 26 October 1968, Cover Story “Huey Newton, The Story Of A Black Man And The Gun.” This volume contains a feature story on Black Panther Party leaders and their color photographs.

Playboy, May 1973, “Playboy Interview: Huey P. Newton, A Candid Conversation With The Embattled Leader Of The Black Panther Party.”

Life, 11 September 1970, “The Making Of A Fugitive” Features Angela Davis on the Cover. Contains biographical Sketch Of Angela Davis and Details her association with the Black Panther Party.

Life, 6 February 1970, “Gordon Parks On The Panthers,”Features color posters Of Eldridge Cleaver and Kathleen Cleaver. Contains a Report on the Black Panther Party.

FILMS

Panther, Produced By Mario Van Peebles
This film is a Hollywood production glamorizing the Black Panther Party.

Framing The Panthers,
This documentary chronicles the plight of Richard Dhoruba Moore, a New York Black Panther Party member incarcerated for over a decade.

Berkeley In the 60s
This film chronicles protest movement on the University Of California at Berkeley campus including interviews with Black Panther Party leaders Bobby Seale and David Hilliard.

All Power To The People, Directed And Produced By Lee-Lew-Lee, 1998. This film contains interviews with former leaders and members of The Black Panther Party.