{"value"=>"<p>Series contains material documenting various aspects of Ashe's life including biographical information, invitations and programs, his honorable discharge from the Army, records of his trips to South Africa in 1973 and 1974, and information regarding his arrest in a 1992 demonstration supporting Haitian refugees and final illness.</p> <p>The biographical file contains genealogical material, profiles, and resumes listing Ashe's vital statistics, career highlights, awards, and other activities. Of note is a 1959 letter to tennis officials from his coach, Dr. R. Walter Johnson, which describes in detail the roadblocks he encountered in trying to enter the 16-year old Ashe in a tournament at the Congressional Country Club in Washington, D.C. There are also miscellaneous funeral programs, including that of Martin Luther King Jr., invitations to White House dinners and AIDS benefits, and several clippings about childhood friends.</p> <p>The South Africa sub-series contains manuscript and printed matter maintained by Ashe to document his 1973 and 1974 trips. The correspondence includes responses from political and cultural leaders to Ashe's request for their opinion as to the conditions under which he should visit South Africa in 1973 once he was granted a visa. They include Rep. Barbara Jordan, Rep. Andrew Young, Dennis Brutus, and Nikki Giovanni. There are also numerous clippings from the South African and American press covering the trips, as well as background reading material. Also of note are copies of poems by Don Mattera, a banned poet and journalist, given to Ashe in Johannesburg. They include one which Mattera wrote after meeting Ashe, \"Anguished Spirit - Ashe\". Additional clippings may be found in the Scrapbooks series.</p> <p>The 1992 Haitian refugee demonstration folder contains a copy of the form releasing Ashe from custody, newspaper clippings, and correspondence thanking him for his participation. The folder on his final illness includes a memorandum asking his assistant to postpone appointments and reflecting Ashe's optimism that he will recover, a few notes scribbled during his last hospital stay, and invitations to events he was planning to attend, such as the Riddick Bowe-Michael Dokes championship fight which occurred on the day he died.</p>"}