Dr Edward C Mapp

1929 - 2021
Edward Charles Mapp was on born August 17, 1929 in Harlem, New York, the son of Edward Cameron and Estelle Viola Mapp.
Dr Mapp has spent his career as an honored educator, writer, and celebrated collector of Black film memorabilia. He received his B.A. from the City College of New York in 1953, his M.S. from Columbia University in 1956, and his Ph.D. in Mass Communications from New York University in 1970 and Doctor of Humane Letters (honorary), St. Martin's College & Seminary, 2009.

Mapp served as Dean of Faculty at the Borough of Manhattan Community College, Vice Chancellor of the City Colleges of Chicago, and Professor of Speech and Communication at the City University of New York, from which he retired in 1998.

Mapp's interest and research in Black film culture has led to the publication of numerous books and articles, including a regular column in Movie/TV Marketing, the Directory of Blacks in the Performing Arts (Scarecrow, 1990), A Separate Cinema: Fifty Years of Black Cast Posters with John Kisch (Farrar, Straus & Giroux, 1992), and most recently African Americans and the Oscar (Scarecrow, 2003). Additionally, "Wednesday at Weeksville", 2005.

He amassed a personal collection of over 1,000 black cast film posters and memorabilia, which toured the country through 2005 as "Close Up in Black: African American Film Posters," under the auspices of the Smithsonian Traveling Exhibition. His work in this area earned him induction into the Black Collectors Hall of Fame in 1992. He gifted a significant portion of his collection to The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences Museum - approximately 1200 posters and 0.5 linear foot of manuscript material documenting African-American talent in films intended for black audiences worldwide as well as mainstream Hollywood productions.

Notable honors include appointment as Commissioner of the New York City Commission on Human Rights in (1987-1994) Mapp also served on the National Conference on Christians and Jews Brooklyn Board (1972 to 1982), Advisory Committee of the National Project Center for Film and the Humanities (1974 to 1975) and the United Nations NY Board of Directors (1975 to 1978). He has served on the Board of Directors of the Friends of THIRTEEN, Inc. (NYC public television station) since 2000, and was elected First Vice Chairman in 2003 and served as Chairman, 2005-2007. He was Co-Chair of THIRTEEN'S Legacy Society.

"The Good Doc" as he was fondly called by many - died peacefully on March 19, 2021 at home. He had an energetic and engaging personality. He adored the arts and travel and was loved by many. He will be remembered not only for his professional accomplishments, but as a generous mentor, friend and colleague.

He is survived by his three children, Andrew, Everett, Elmer, his four grandchildren, Joseph, Edward, Liam, Basil and nephew Ronald Frank.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations can be made to THIRTEEN /WNET (PBS) at https://secure2.convio.net/wnet/sit
e/Donation

Funeral service will be held at The Frank E. Campbell Funeral Chapel and interment will follow at The Woodlawn Cemetery.