Calvin F. Morrow Collection

1943, 2001
Manuscript Collection #908
Portions of this collection are digitized (1 item)
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Creator(s)
Morrow, Calvin F., 1924-
Physical description
0.006 Cubic Feet, 2 items
Preferred Citation
Calvin F. Morrow Collection (#908), East Carolina Manuscript Collection, J. Y. Joyner Library, East Carolina University, Greenville, North Carolina, USA.
Repository
ECU Manuscript Collection
Access
No restrictions

Collection (1943, 2001) consisting of a report entitled Profile of the Members of the B–1 U. S. Navy Band of World War II, 1942-2001, submitted by W. F. Carlson, Jr., B-1 Executive Treasurer and Calvin F. Morrow, B-1 Secretary of the U. S. Navy B-1 Band, the first all-African American Navy band during World War II, and a Servicemen's Map of the United States and Insignia of the Armed Forces, Published by Fred Harvey (Chicago, IL: Rand McNally and Company © [1943]) Folding map.

Biographical/historical information

Calvin F. Morrow (b. 1924) in Greensboro, North Carolina, was a member of the U. S. Navy B-1 Band, the first all-African American Navy band during World War II, 1942 – 1945, which was recruited in North Carolina; Morrow, a Musician 2nd Class, who played French horn, was one of 45 members of the unit. Prior to entering the service, Morrow was a student at North Carolina Agricultural and Technical College; after 21 months of service, returned to North Carolina and became a high school principal; he also served as secretary of the U. S. Navy B-1 Band Association. Morrow was one of the four surviving members of the Band who was able to attend, in May 2017, when the state erected a roadside marker in Chapel Hill to honor the unit.

Sources:

Greensboro News Record website: https://www.greensboro.com/life/historical-marker-honoring-the-b--navy-bandsmen-unveiled/article_fc3e4a65-7cf7-5c88-a4e5-196b4deb1a3f.html

https://yesweekly.com/we-broke-the-barrier-a21526/

All Hands Sharing the Navy Story website: https://www.navy.mil/ah_online/deptStory.asp?issue=3&dep=13&id=104267

Change.org website: https://www.change.org/p/national-museum-of-african-american-history-and-culture-nmaahc-join-us-to-bring-awareness-to-the-1st-all-black-b1-navy-band

Scope and arrangement

Calvin F. Morrow Collection, 1943, 2001, consists of two items: 1) a report entitled Profile of the Members of the B–1 U. S. Navy Band of World War II, 1942-2001, submitted by W. F. Carlson, Jr., B-1 Executive Treasurer and Calvin F. Morrow, B-1 Secretary of the U. S. Navy B-1 Band, the first all-African American Navy band during World War II. The report lists 44 band members and 4 replacements, it also includes a description of the band members' profession before and after their service; 2) the collection also includes a Servicemen's Map of the United States and Insignia of the Armed Forces, Published by Fred Harvey (Chicago, IL: Rand McNally & Company © [1943]. Printed. Folding map. Scale: 1:9,757,000. 1 = 154 miles. 14" x 22". The railroad route between California and North Carolina - probably in 1945 - is marked on the map; the map is also inscribed: "Calvin F. Morrow, Mus. 2/C". The verso of the map holds military insignia for all the services and their various military formations.

Administrative information
Custodial History

March 21, 2003, 1 item, 0.001 cubic feet, 3 pages; Collection (2001) consisting of a report entitled Profile of the Members of the B-1 U. S. Navy Band of World War II, 1942-2001, submitted by W. F. Carlson, Jr., B-1 Executive Treasurer and Calvin F. Morrow, B-1 Secretary of the U. S. Navy B-1 Band, the first all-African American Navy band during World War II. Donor: Calvin F. Morrow.

August 3, 2015, Addition #1, 1 item, 0.005 cubic feet; Servicemen's Map of the U.S. and insignia of the Armed Forces published by Fred Harvey. Donor: Calvin F. Morrow via Alex Albright.

Source of acquisition

Gift of Calvin F. Morrow

Gift of Calvin F. Morrow via Alex Albright

Processing information

Processing completed May 9, 2019 by Jonathan Dembo and Thomas Hall (intern)

Copyright notice

Literary rights to specific documents are retained by the authors or their descendants in accordance with U.S. copyright law.

Related material

For Related Collections see:

U.S. Navy B-1 Band Reunion Collection (#0971)East Carolina Manuscript Collection, J. Y. Joyner Library, East Carolina University, Greenville, NC USA

U. S. Navy B-1 Band Group Oral History Interview (#OH0213)East Carolina Manuscript Collection, J. Y. Joyner Library, East Carolina University, Greenville, NC USA

Simeon O. Holloway Oral History Interview (#OH0215)East Carolina Manuscript Collection, J. Y. Joyner Library, East Carolina University, Greenville, NC USA

Abe Thurman Oral History Interview (#OH0216)East Carolina Manuscript Collection, J. Y. Joyner Library, East Carolina University, Greenville, NC USA

John Gilmer Oral History Interview, (#OH0214)East Carolina Manuscript Collection, J. Y. Joyner Library, East Carolina University, Greenville, NC USA

Roy Lake Oral History Interview (#OH0231)East Carolina Manuscript Collection, J. Y. Joyner Library, East Carolina University, Greenville, NC USA

Wray Raphael Herring Collection (#0810)East Carolina Manuscript Collection, J. Y. Joyner Library, East Carolina University, Greenville, NC USA

Key terms
Corporate Names
United States Navy B-1 Band
United States. Navy--African American troops
United States. Navy--Registers
Topical
African American musicians
African American sailors