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Wally Amos Papers

 Collection
Identifier: harsh-1979-01

Scope and Contents

This collection consists of materials related to Wally Amos and the Famous Amos Chocolate Chip Cookie Corporation. Materials include biographical and historical documents, manuscript drafts, photographs, memorabilia, and an audio recording. This collection includes handwritten manuscripts authored by Wally Amos. Also included are typed drafts of his autobiographical book, The Cookie Never Crumbles: The Wally “Famous!” Amos Story.

Dates

  • Creation: 1975-1996, undated

Creator

Conditions Governing Access

Materials are open without restrictions

Conditions Governing Use

Please consult staff to determine ability to reuse materials from collection

Biographical / Historical

Wallace Amos Jr., known as Wally Amos, was born July 1, 1936. Amos served in the United States Air Force before joining the William Morris Agency in New York City. Amos became the agency’s first African American talent agent. In 1975, Wally Amos founded and incorporated the Famous Amos Chocolate Chip Cookie Corporation. His new company expanded. Eventually, “Famous Amos” chocolate chip cookie bags were distributed nationwide. Amos went on to have guest star spots on a number of television sitcoms and author several books.

Extent

4 Linear Feet (in 5 boxes, including 3 photographs and 1 45-rpm record)

Language of Materials

English

Abstract

Wally Amos, entrepreneur, speaker, actor and writer from Tallahassee, Fla., is the founder of the Famous Amos chocolate chip cookie brand. The collection consists of correspondence, draft copies of manuscripts, memorabilia, awards and book chapters.

Arrangement

This collection is organized by type of material; manuscripts, audiovisual materials, and then memorabilia. Within each type of material, items are listed alphabetically by title

Immediate Source of Acquisition

Donated by the Famous Amos Chocolate Chip Cookie Corporation in September 1978 and Wally Amos in May 2000

Related Materials

  • Amos Collection at the National Museum of American History Archives Center, Smithsonian Institution

Title
Guide to the Wally Amos Papers
Author
Elizabeth Loch, Archival Specialist, April 2021
Date
April 2021
Description rules
Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Language of description
English
Script of description
Latin
Language of description note
Finding aid written in English

Repository Details

Part of the Vivian G. Harsh Research Collection Repository

Contact:
Woodson Regional Library
Chicago Public Library
9525 S. Halsted Street
Chicago IL 60628 United States
(312) 745-2080