Duke magazine first issue

Collection — Box: 1, Folder: 1

Identifier: MS-0827

Staff Only

Scope and Contents

This collection includes a first edition copy of the first issue of Duke magazine, which was published in June 1957 and cost fifty cents. The magazine cover features an image of a mannequin dressed in a collared shirt and hat in front of a red backdrop, and advertises fiction by Chester Himes, Ray Bradbury, Langston Hughes, and Erskine Caldwell. The cover also includes a colored photograph of the issue's centerfold model, Eleanor Crews. The text and images within the magazine are in black and white. The magazine consists of seventy pages, and features content divided into the following sections: fiction, humor, features, pictorial, fashion, poetry and "departments." The articles are accompanied by photographs and cartoon sketches.

Dates

Creation: 1957 June

Creator

Duke Publishing Company (Publisher, Organization)
Himes, Chester B., 1909-1984 (Author, Person)
Bradbury, Ray, 1920-2012 (Author, Person)
Hughes, Langston, 1902-1967 (Author, Person)
Burley, Dan, 1907-1962 (Author, Person)
Caldwell, Erskine, 1903-1987 (Author, Person)

Conditions Governing Access

This collection is housed off-site and requires 48-hours' notice for retrieval. Contact Special Collections for more information. This collection is open for use.

Conditions Governing Use

Single copies may be made for research purposes. Researchers are responsible for determining any copyright questions. It is not necessary to seek our permission as the owner of the physical work to publish or otherwise use public domain materials that we have made available for use, unless Johns Hopkins University holds the copyright.

Biographical / Historical

Duke was a men's magazine published by Duke Publishing Company, formed by former employees of the Johnson Publishing Company. The magazine is notable as an early upscale adult periodical for Black American audiences, edited by musician and journalist Dan Burley. The company only published six issues, the first of which was published in 1957, and featured the work of notable writers such as Chester Himes, Langston Hughes, Erskine Caldwell, and Ray Bradbury. The magazine's centerfold models were known as "Duchess of the Month." The first model featured was Eleanor Crews.

Extent

.167 Cubic Feet (1 legal sized folder)

Language of Materials

English

Additional Description

Abstract

This collection includes a first edition copy of the first issue of Duke magazine, published in June 1957. Duke was publised by the Duke Publishing Company and ran for six issues.