Oral history interview with Theophilus Lewis, 1971.

Biographical Note

Theophilus Lewis (1981 - 1974) was a drama critic, writer, and editor during the Harlem Renaissance. He was born and raised in Baltimore, Maryland, where he attended public schools through seventh grade. Lewis moved to New York City in 1910 where he worked as a manual laborer and sold newspapers before serving the United States overseas in the American Expeditionary Forces (AEF) during World War I. Lewis was an avid reader, enjoyed the theatre, and began writing a monthly column for The Messenger during the 1920s. In that column, he voiced concern about the portrayal of black people in theater and white playwrights' portrayal of black citizens. He wrote about the need for development of a national theater which he believed would assist in developing African American playwrights, and argued against the perpetuation of stereotypes. During his career, Lewis wrote a column for The Messenger entitled "Shafts and Darts: A Page of Calumny and Satire" and wrote for The Smart Set, Opportunity, Inter-State Tatler, Amsterdam News, Catholic World, Commonweal, America, Pittsburgh Courier, People's Voice. For International Review, he wrote the column "Plays and Points of View", and championed the development of an African American Little Theatre. Lewis married in 1933; he and his wife had three children Selma Marie, Alfred Charles, and Lowell Francis. He died in 1974.

Scope and Contents

In this interview with Henry G. La Brie III, Theophilus Lewis (1891 - 1974) discusses his migration from Baltimore, Maryland, and his decision to settle in New York City, employment history, and his writing career. Lewis discusses his early means of supporting himself when first moved to New York in 1910. He recalls his work with The Messenger writing theater reviews and discusses his compensation. Lewis shares his views on the role, purpose, and future of the black press. He details the challenges facing the black press, as well as those of running a black daily newspaper. Lewis distinguishes The Messenger as a magazine and not a newspaper, and notes the new trend of foregrounding local news over national news in local newspapers. His discussion also points out the differences between the black and white press.

Subjects

• African American journalists.
• African American press.
• African Americans--Civil rights.
• Interviews.
• Journalism--Social aspects.
• Journalists--Interviews.
• La Brie, Henry G., interviewer.--http://id.loc.gov/vocabulary/relators/ivr
• Lewis, Theophilus, 1891-1974--Interviews.
• New York (N.Y.)--Newspapers.
• Newspaper publishing--Economic aspects--United States.
• Oral histories (literary works)
• United States--Race relations.