circa 1915

Edwards, Jack, fl. 1915

Printed document

Title: [Instructions for house managers for the showing of David W. Griffith's "The Birth of a Nation"]

Contains spaces for house managers to fill in information, including performance or film dates, company arrival and departure times, and manager names. Jack Edwards, a Southern Representative of the performance or film, instructs theater house managers regarding technical details, such as oiling the projection machines and tuning house pianos. States "Please bear in mind that NEGROES MUST NOT BE ADMITTED TO 'THE BIRTH OF A NATION' under any circumstances." The back of this document includes a list of names and mathematical calculations written in pencil. Edwards' permanent address is…

GLC05091

1934

Haywood, Harry, 1898-1985

Book

Title: The Road to Negro Liberation

One book entitled, "The Road to Negro Liberation" written by Harry Haywood dated 1934. Contains analysis of anti-lynching laws, the ineffectiveness of the NAACP, W.E.B. du Bois, Liberian movement, and leadership in the black community.

GLC09640.345

1881

Smith, James L., fl. 1816

Book

Title: Autobiography of James L. Smith

One book entitled Autobiography of James L. Smith dated 1881. Smith writes about his life being enslaved as well as his escape, service in the Civil War and life after the war. The book is broken into twelve chapters.

GLC09945

27 November 1919

Grimké, Francis J., 1850-1937

Pamphlet

Title: The race problem, as it respects colored people and the Christian Church, in the light of the developments of the last year.

Signed on title page by C.G. Neall. Reverend Grimke, the son of a wealthy white planter and a slave, delivers a discourse at a Thanksgiving service held at the Plymouth Congregational Church in an unspecified city. Examines the unrest following World War I. Discusses African Americans' lack of civil rights, stating "we are here also, not only as American citizens, but as colored American citizens- as citizens, and yet not citizens- citizens with rights guaranteed to us in the Constitution, but with those rights but very imperfectly recognized" (p. 3). Argues that African Americans should…

GLC06122

30 September 1962

Hughes, Langston, 1902-1967

Book signed

Title: Fight for freedom: the story of the NAACP

Published by W. W. Norton & Company. Signed on the front flyleaf by Hughes, who inscribed the copy to Raymond Johnson. Signed and inscribed 30 September 1962 on the inner back cover by Evangeline Upshur Truman in Little Rock, Arkansas. Foreword provided by Arthur B. Spingarn, then-President of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, who highlights the longstanding relationship Hughes has had with the organization and its magazine, The Crisis. Hughes discusses the formation of the NAACP, African American organization efforts before the NAACP, the interwar years,…

GLC06123

14 December 1872

Chase, Thomas N., fl. 1872

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Charles Sumner with Sumner's autograph endorsement signed

Chase, a professor at Atlanta University, updates Sumner on the condition of African Americans in Georgia. States that "[t]he opposition to the elevation of the colored people is becoming more & more intense. 'I don't want a nigger to know more than I do' is the general sentiment." Reports that in Georgia, African Americans are excluded from the benefit of agricultural scrip. States that Joseph Emerson Brown, Chairman of the Atlanta Board of Education, does not support African American schools as much as he supports white schools. He indicates that black students only get female…

GLC07202.02

circa 1872

Eliot, William Greenleaf, 1811-1887

Autograph note signed

Title: to Charles Sumner

Eliot, a social activist and clergyman, writes to Sumner, a United States Senator from Massachusetts (recipient inferred from collection). Encloses newspaper clippings asserting they prove the necessity of a civil rights bill. The first clipping, attached to the note, relates that Frederick Douglass was recently denied service at the Planters' House, a St. Louis, Missouri inn. The article notes, "This is the first difficulty of the kind he has received on his present lecture trip, and it is a shameful reflection on St. Louis' hospitality..." The other clipping offers a similar version of…

GLC07202.06

1920

Grimke, Angelina W., 1880-1958

Book

Title: Rachel. A play in three acts

First play written, produced, and acted by African-Americans, attempting to dramatize racial inequities. The program notes call the play "the first attempt to use the stage for race propaganda in order to enlighten the American people relative to the lamentable condition of ten millions of colored citizens in this free republic." Printed by the Cornhill Company. Brown boards. Angelina Weld Grimke was the daughter of Archibald Grimke, nephew of the Grimke sisters.

GLC06859

1953

United States. Supreme Court

Pamphlet

Title: [Supplemental brief from the United States Supreme Court regarding Brown v. Board of Education]

Brief prepared on behalf of the United States for reargument by Attorney General Herbert Brownell, J. Lee Rankin, Philip Elman, and other attorneys at the Justice Department. Devoted to information regarding the case of Oliver Brown, et. al. v. Board of Education of Topeka, Shawnee County, Kansas, et. al. Title mentions four other cases. Includes a preface discussing the Fourteenth Amendment with respect to its effect on racial segregation in public schools. Contains five sections exploring the limits of judicial power in deciding the constitutionality of racial segregation in public…

GLC05160

December 11, 1874

Smith, Gerrit, 1797-1874

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Ulysses S. Grant

Smith, a prominent abolitionist, philanthropist, and political reformer, transmits a circular (not included) which contains an extract from one of President Grant's recent speeches (not included, but possibly on the topic of civil rights).

GLC02448.14

12 December 1874

Smith, Gerrit, 1797-1874

Broadside

Title: Will the American people never cease to oppress and torture the helpless poor?

Begins with an excerpt from the New York "Tribune" indicating that thirty-five black children were ejected from public schools in Brazil, Indiana, by order of local trustees. Smith criticizes the children's ejection and urges the Republican Party to pass a pending Civil Rights Bill.

GLC02448.20

20 May 1880

Turner, J. Milton, 1840-1915

Autograph document signed

Title: [Circular Letter re: Statement of support for the Nomination of Blanche Kelso Bruce as Vice President]

Turner and Bell are addressing the Republican Party with the intention of putting forth Blanche Kelso Bruce as a nominee for the Vice Presidency of the United States at the upcoming Chicago Convention. The two then discuss his consistent record as a Republican Senator in the south an area that the Republicans have been losing control over, as well as the fact that the population in the south is becoming disenfranchised. The two bring up his loyalty to the Republican Party, as well as his responsible conduct as a Senator. The statement also mentions the numbers of republican voters in…

GLC09400.133

5 May 1931

A.A. Signs, fl. 1931

Sign

Title: We Serve Colored, Carry Out Only

One sign dated May 5, 1931. Text says, "We Serve Colored Only, Carry Out Only." Printed by A.A. Signs.

GLC09779.02

1 August 1929

B & B Sign Co., fl. 1929

Sign

Title: Colored Seated in Rear

One sign dated August 1, 1929. Text says, "Colored Seated in Rear." Printed by B & B Sign Co.

GLC09779.03

1 August 1929

B & B Sign Co., fl. 1929

Sign

Title: Colored Seated in Rear

One sign dated August 1, 1929. Text says, "Colored Seated in Rear." Printed by B & B Sign Co.

GLC09779.04

14 July 1931

Ace Sign Company

Sign

Title: Colored Must Sit in Balcony

One sign dated July 14, 1931. Text says, "Colored Must Sit in Balcony." Printed by Ace Sign Company. According to the text on item, it was likely hung in the Grand Theater in Birmingham, Alabama.

GLC09779.05

14 July 1931

Sign

Title: Drinking Fountain, White, Colored

One sign dated July 14, 1931. Text says, "Drink Fountain, White, Colored." Image includes arrows where white and black people could drink water separately.

GLC09779.06

1929

Sign

Title: Restrooms, White, Colored

One sign dated 1929. Text says, "Restrooms, White, Colored." Image includes arrows where white and black people could use bathrooms separately at L&N Railroad stations in Louisville, Kentucky.

GLC09779.07

1919-1969

Various

Header Record

Title: [Photographs, ephemera and magazines dated 1919-1969][Decimalized .01-.14]

Collection of 14 items dated 1919-1969. Consists of photographs, cover images of Life magazines, tin advertisements and signs. Subjects pertain to Cream of Wheat, segregation in public spaces and covers from Life magazine featuring police brutality and civil rights movement figures.

GLC09779

17 August 1897

Graves, John T., 1856-1925

Newspaper clipping

Title: Replies to Ex-Governor Bullock-Some Fearless Facts on the Race Questions

Author Graves feels the race problem is indestructible and universal, not likely to ever go away even with the appointment of Black people in Southern offices. He cites several examples where Black people are discriminated against in the North. Small advertisement on bottom left. Backside includes articles about George land grants and company debts.

GLC02691.12.09

February 25, 1903

Hearst, William R., 1863-1951

Newspaper clipping

Title: Let the South Alone, Mr. Roosevelt

Author is upset at Roosevelt's attempts to put Black people in office in the South. He says Roosevelt has only succeeded in widening the gap between Black and White people and should stay out of the South. Second page includes advertisements and portions of articles.

GLC02691.12.11

November 1965

Marks, Frances, fl. 1965

Autograph letter signed

Title: [Account of a Ku Klux Klan meeting in North Carolina, November 1965]

One unaddressed and undated letter by Frances Marks related to attending a Ku Klux Klan meeting in North Carolina in November 1965. Letter mentions arriving to a meeting that was held for "white Methodists"only. One African-American was brought to a gathering and beaten because he corrected a grammatical error. Describes their garbs as ridiculous. Gives an estimate of 120 people who attended the meeting and marched in a circle with lit torches. Other elements of letters are involved with studies at Duke University.

GLC09703

February 1950

National Association for the Advancement of Colored People

Pamphlet

Title: NAACP: A Record of Leadership

One pamphlet entitled "NAACP: A Record of Leadership" dated February 1950. Details the NAACP's mission; lists the organization's goals towards social welfare, anti-lynching laws, voting rights, history against Jim Crow Law, combatting job discrimination and funding.

GLC09640.127

23 November 1887

Douglass, Frederick, 1818-1895

Autograph letter signed

Title: to unknown

Discusses equality of treatment for blacks in the South. Pleased that black lawyers are now allowed to practice, and says it "implies a wonderful revolution in the public sentiment of the Southern States." However, worries because some teachers of black students are paid less and seem disinterested. In some states laws state education must be equal, but the written law is not his only concern. States "Our wrongs are not so much now written in laws which all may see - but the hidden practices of a people who have not yet, abandoned the idea of Mastery and dominion over their fellow man."…

GLC08992

January 1927

National Association for the Advancement of Colored People

Pamphlet

Title: 17th annual report NAACP for the year 1926

Contains a list of NAACP officers for 1927, including President Moorfield Storey. Foreword states "More and more, has it been borne in upon the Association that for the present the avenue to affirmation and defense of the Negro's fundamental rights in America lies through the courts." Includes reports on the Sweet case, residential segregation in several cities, the Texas-White primary, mob violence, and the Dyer Anti-Lynching Bill, among other topics. Contains a report on finances. Closes with a report from the department of publications and research.

GLC06135.03