Wally Amos Papers
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 Materials include biographical and historical documents, manuscript drafts, photographs, memorabilia, and an audio recording.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
- 1975-1996, undated
Creator
- Amos, Wally (Person)
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
- African American businesspeople. Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
Creator
- Amos, Wally (Person)
- Famous Amos Chocolate Chip Cookie Corporation (Organization)
- 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
Woodson Regional Library
Chicago Public Library
9525 S. Halsted Street
Chicago IL 60628 United States
(312) 745-2080
harshcollection@chipublib.org