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Creator
Coleman, John Milton, 1901-1961
Physical description
1 linear foot (9 volumes)
Preferred Citation
John Milton Coleman scrapbooks, Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture, The New York Public Library
Repository
Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture, Manuscripts, Archives and Rare Books Division
Access to materials
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There are nine scrapbooks documenting Coleman's achievements throughout his career. The scrapbooks contain minutes, newspaper clippings, letters, certificates, speeches, reports, press releases, and newsletters primarily related to his work outsite of his pastorate with St. Philip's Episcopal Church.

Biographical/historical information

Born in 1902 in Blackstone, Virginia, Reverend John Milton Coleman became the first African-American appointed to the New York City Board of Education. In 1933 Coleman succeeded Reverend C. Peterson Boyd as the rector of St. Philip's Episcopal Church in Brooklyn, New York. A decade later he became the first African-American appointed to the Executive Board of the National Council of St. Andrew of the Episcopal Church. In 1958 Mayor O'Dwyer appointed Coleman to the New York City Board of Education and he was subsequently reappointed to the board by Mayor Wagner, but had to resign after serving for three years due to ill health. He died in 1961.

Scope and arrangement

There are nine scrapbooks documenting Coleman's achievements throughout his career. The scrapbooks contain minutes, newspaper clippings, letters, certificates, speeches, reports, press releases, and newsletters primarily related to his work outsite of his pastorate with St. Philip's Episcopal Church.|||Of special interest are scrapbooks four and nine. Scrapbook four contains letters to Coleman as a member of the Police Brutality Investigation Committee. Scrapbook nine contains a report by the New York City Board of Education Commission on Integration. The report contains a list of members, a questionnaire, and a resolution for action. There are also subcommission reports on zoning, teachers' assignments, personnel, and community relations.

Administrative information

Source of acquisition

Gift, Ellen Coleman Brooks

Using the collection

Location

Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture, Manuscripts, Archives and Rare Books Division
515 Malcolm X Boulevard, New York, NY 10037-1801
Second Floor