Found 5 collections related to African American civic leaders

An African American educator, Doxey A. Wilkerson made significant contributions to early childhood education and the education of secondary school teachers. The Doxey A. Wilkerson papers reflect Wilkerson's activities at the Jefferson School for Social Science and Yeshiva Universsity; as an educational consultant; and as a board member for many Connecticut-based civic organizations. less

The Walter White Papers consists of writings, letters, contracts, printed matter, reports and financial records. The bulk of the collection consists of White's writings, including two published articles "Negro Segregation Comes North" (1925) and the "Negro and the Supreme Court" (1931), and two manuscripts entitled "Crossing the Color Line" and "Over the Color Line," which focus on "passing." There is also an unpublished manuscript, research material, notes and character sketches for "Blackjack" a work of fiction that deals with African Americans in the sport of boxing; and a description of the tableaux scenes for "Batoula", possibly based on the novel by René Maran, which was cast in Dahomey. There are also poems written by White's friend, Grace Mott Johnson (1928-1929). less

The Andrew J. Chambers papers consist primarily of letters Chambers received that provide an account of his activities on behalf of the Richard Allen Monument, his attempt to secure congressional passage of a bill to establish a commission to study African-American life, and related efforts. Additionally, there is a scrapbook containing letters regarding the construction of the Allen Monument, pledges of support, and acceptances to attend the unveiling, 1874- 1876. There are also testimonials from several prominent African Americans, including Fredrick Douglass and Henry Highland Garnett, and a petition signed by Mifflin W. Gibbs, Garnett, Robert Brown Elliott, John Mercer Langston, William Grant Still, Henry McNeal Turner, and James T. Rapier on behalf of the Allen Monument. Also included are a drawing of the monument and a map of the park. The second part of the scrapbook contains letters in support of the Colored Commission bill from President Chester A. Arthur, congressmen and other officials, 1877-1881. less

James Weldon Johnson was a publisher, educator, lawyer, composer, artist, diplomat, and civil rights leader. Together with his brother, J. Rosamond Johnson, he wrote the song "Lift Every Voice and Sing", which came to be known as the "Negro National Anthem", as well as a large number of popular songs for the musical stage of the early twentieth century. Johnson also served as consul of the United States to Venezuela and Nicaragua. He wrote several books and served as editor of the New York Age. From 1920-1931, Johnson was field secretary, then secretary, of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People. In 1930, he became chair of Creative Literature and Writing at Fisk University. The James Weldon Johnson collection consists primarily of programs honoring Johnson following his death in 1938, including those sponsored by the NAACP, Yale University Library, Virginia Union University, and Hampton Institute. Two programs printed during his lifetime provide information about subjects for his lectures and work with students at Fisk University. News clippings discuss a marker erected, in 1972, at the site of his home in Jacksonville, Florida. An obituary marks the passing of his widow, Grace Nail Johnson, in 1976, and two towels with their embroidered initials complete the collection. less

The collection contains documentation relating to Tobias' involvement with the Phelps-Stokes Fund and the Young Men's Christian Association (YMCA), as well as other items. Files for the Phelps-Stokes Fund consist of minutes of Trustees' meetings (1940-1944), and files from two Trustees' committees on which Tobias served: the Committee on Negro Americans in Defense Industries (1941-1942) and the Committee on Africa, the War and Peace Aims (1941-1943). Materials pertaining to the YMCA consist of three printed speeches Tobias delivered concerning the YMCA and African Americans in the workplace (1940-1946), and a publication about the contributions of African Americans to the YMCA. Other items in the collection are three letters Tobias wrote to W.E.B. DuBois. The collection also includes an autobiographical sketch in "Thirteen Americans: Their Spiritual Autobiographies" (1953), and some material related to Tobias following his death (1974). less