Indiana Historical Society - Manuscripts & Archives
User information
Historical Sketch
Scope and Content Note
Folder Listing
Cataloguing Information
Processed by:
Wilma L. Gibbs
30 May 1995
VOLUME OF COLLECTION: 4 folders
COLLECTION DATES: Inclusive 1951-1983; Bulk 1970s
PROVENANCE: Mary Tandy, Indianapolis, Indiana, 6 August 1984
RESTRICTIONS: None
REPRODUCTION RIGHTS: Permission to reproduce or publish material in this collection must be obtained in writing from the Indiana Historical Society.
ALTERNATE FORMATS: None
RELATED HOLDINGS: None
ACCESSION NUMBER: 84.0809
NOTES:
Opal Tandy (25 March 1917-13 June 1983) was born in Hopkinsville, Kentucky. At an early age, he moved to Indianapolis where he attended school, graduating from Crispus Attucks High School. He attended Indiana University extension in Indianapolis (now Indiana University, Purdue University at Indianapolis) where he studied journalism and political science. A World War II veteran, he served as a Marion County deputy coroner for 22 years. In 1956, he unsuccessfully sought election to the Indiana House of Representatives.
Tandy started his newspaper career during the 1930s. He wrote editorials and crime stories for the Indianapolis Recorder. He wrote for the Hoosier Herald during the 1950s. Gaining control of the paper in 1960, he changed its name to the Indiana Herald. His widow, Mary Bryant Tandy continues to run the newspaper.
An active member of Mount Zion Baptist Church, Opal Tandy was a member of numerous fraternal organizations. He was also a member of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) and the Indianapolis Urban League. His professional affiliations included the National Publishers Association, the National Negro Publishers Association and the Indiana Democratic Editorial Association.
Source: Materials in the collection; birth and death date information from widow, Mary Bryant Tandy, 1 June 1995.
The collection (1950-1983) consists of four folders of material related to newspaper man, Opal Tandy. The first folder contains a small amount of correspondence dated from 1951-1983. The first letter, written on Madam C. J. Walker stationary, is from Willard Ransom, State President of the Indiana chapter of the NAACP, to the editor of the Chicago Defender thanking him for Tandy's column regarding Indianapolis news. There are two other letters from the 1950s, both are in reference to Tandy's affiliation with the Marion County Democratic Committee. The bulk of the letters are from the 1970s-- a thank-you and congratulatory note from United Senator Birch Bayh; a thank-you note from Pat South, news director at WTLC, a local black radio station; and an invitation from Mayor William Hudnut III to join the board of directors of the Greater Indianapolis Progress Committee. Two 1971 letters to and from personnel at the United States Army War College at Carlisle, Pennsylvania pertaining to Tandy's participation in an annual National Strategy Seminar are of special interest.
Folder 2 contains two certificates--one presented to the Indiana Herald for its support of a 1983 Hearing Fair and a second awarded to Opal Tandy for community services by the Federation of Associated Clubs, Inc. Opal Tandy was slated by the Marion County Democratic Party to run for state representative in 1956. Most of the newspaper clippings relate to the 1956 primary election. There are four photographs in the collection--three appear to represent social occasions. There is a fourth photograph that includes Opal Tandy and two other unidentified individuals.
1: Correspondence, 1951-1983
2: Certificate and award, 1971, 1983
3: Newsclippings, 1956, 1983
4: (VC) Photographs (One photograph includes Opal Tandy, et.al.; House of Lords Dance with Mr. & Mrs. Milt Nixon; ATX Sorority (27 October 1956); NBG Club (28 October 1967)
MAIN ENTRY: Tandy, O. L. (Opal L.), 1917-1983
SUBJECT ENTRIES: Tandy, O. L. (Opal L.), 1917-1983
Bayh, Birch, 1928-
Army War College (U.S.)
Greater Indianapolis Progress Committee
Democratic Central Committee (Marion County, Ind.)
Afro-American newspapers--Indiana--Indianapolis
Afro-Americans--Indiana--Indianapolis
Afro-American journalists--Indiana--Indianapolis
Afro-Americans in the newspaper industry--Indiana--Indianapolis
Afro-American press--Indiana--Indianapolis
Newspaper publishing--Indiana--Indianapolis
Indiana Herald (Indianapolis, Ind.)
Indianapolis (Ind.)--Newspapers
END