Andrew J. Young Papers

By Cheryl Oestreicher, Project Archivist, Auburn Avenue Research Library

"Working for Freedom: Documenting Civil Rights Organizations" is a collaborative project between Emory University's Manuscript, Archives and Rare Book Library, The Auburn Avenue Research Library on African American Culture and History, The Amistad Research Center at Tulane University, and The Robert W. Woodruff Library of Atlanta University Center to uncover and make available previously hidden collections documenting the Civil Rights Movement in Atlanta and New Orleans. The project is administered by the Council on Library and Information Resources with funds from the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation. Each organization regularly contributes blog posts about their progress.

The Auburn Avenue Research Library on African American Culture and History is pleased to announce that the Andrew J. Young Papers are now open for research.

"Working for Freedom: Documenting Civil Rights Organizations" is a collaborative project between Emory University's Manuscript, Archives and Rare Book Library, The Auburn Avenue Research Library on African American Culture and History, The Amistad Research Center at Tulane University, and The Robert W. Woodruff Library of Atlanta University Center to uncover and make available previously hidden collections documenting the Civil Rights Movement in Atlanta and New Orleans. The project is administered by the Council on Library and Information Resources with funds from the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation. Each organization regularly contributes blog posts about their progress.

From the moment Andrew and Jean Young moved to Atlanta in 1961, they made it their home. For decades, they dedicated much of their time and lives to improving the lives of the people and the city itself.

By Cheryl Oestreicher, Project Archivist, Andrew J. Young Papers, Auburn Avenue Research Library on African American Culture and History

"Working for Freedom: Documenting Civil Rights Organizations" is a collaborative project between Emory University's Manuscript, Archives and Rare Book Library, The Auburn Avenue Research Library on African American Culture and History, The Amistad Research Center at Tulane University, and The Robert W. Woodruff Library of Atlanta University Center to uncover and make available previously hidden collections documenting the Civil Rights Movement in Atlanta and New Orleans. The project is administered by the Council on Library and Information Resources with funds from the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation. Each organization regularly contributes blog posts about their progress.

Elected in 1981 and serving two terms, Andrew Young’s time as mayor is known as “The Young Years” and according to Nehl Horton’s report of the same title, it was “nearly a decade of unprecedented social, cultural and economic progress which defines the City of Atlanta in the 1980s.” Young did not accomplish everything by himself, but the vision and opportunities he provided allowed his staff and residents to develop culture, education, employment, housing, facilities, travel, and tourism in Atlanta.

by Brenda Tindal, Graduate Processing Assistant, Auburn Avenue Research Library and MARBL Woodruff Fellow

"Working for Freedom: Documenting Civil Rights Organizations" is a collaborative project between Emory University's Manuscript, Archives and Rare Book Library, The Auburn Avenue Research Library on African American Culture and History, The Amistad Research Center at Tulane University, and The Robert W. Woodruff Library of Atlanta University Center to uncover and make available previously hidden collections documenting the Civil Rights Movement in Atlanta and New Orleans. The project is administered by the Council on Library and Information Resources with funds from the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation. Each organization regularly contributes blog posts about their progress.

If the old adage “a picture is worth a thousand words” were of literal value, then, Andrew Young’s photograph collection far exceeds the American lexicon. Indeed, the Andrew J. Young, Jr. Papers at the Auburn Avenue Research Library on African American History and Culture consists of thousands of photographs. This generous catalog of images captures the tender moments he shared with his family and friends, and it traces his illustrious career as clergyman, civil and human rights advocate, congressman, UN ambassador, Mayor of Atlanta, gubernatorial candidate, and businessman. While the task of processing a series of such breadth was a challenge, it was, nonetheless “an easy burden.”

By Cheryl Oestreicher, Project Archivist, Andrew J. Young Papers, Auburn Avenue Research Library on African American Culture and History

"Working for Freedom: Documenting Civil Rights Organizations" is a collaborative project between Emory University's Manuscript, Archives and Rare Book Library, The Auburn Avenue Research Library on African American Culture and History, The Amistad Research Center at Tulane University, and The Robert W. Woodruff Library of Atlanta University Center to uncover and make available previously hidden collections documenting the Civil Rights Movement in Atlanta and New Orleans. The project is administered by the Council on Library and Information Resources with funds from the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation. Each organization regularly contributes blog posts about their progress.

Forty years ago, Andrew Young conducted his first political campaign by running for Congress in 1970. Though he lost that year to incumbent Fletcher Thompson, in 1972 Young was the first African-American from the Deep South elected to Congress since Reconstruction. Throughout his political career, Young conducted seven political campaigns: Congress in 1970, 1972, 1974, and 1976; Mayor of Atlanta in 1981 and 1985; and Governor of Georgia in 1990. His name lent to catchy slogans including “Think Young,” “Keep Young,” “I’ve Got Young Ideas,” “Young Ideas for Atlanta,” “Young for Atlanta,” “Andy Young Working for Georgia,” “Belafonte is a Young Believer,” and “I’m a Young Lover.”

By Cheryl Oestreicher, Project Archivist, Auburn Avenue Research Library

"Working for Freedom: Documenting Civil Rights Organizations" is a collaborative project between Emory University's Manuscript, Archives and Rare Book Library, The Auburn Avenue Research Library on African American Culture and History, The Amistad Research Center at Tulane University, and The Robert W. Woodruff Library of Atlanta University Center to uncover and make available previously hidden collections documenting the Civil Rights Movement in Atlanta and New Orleans. The project is administered by the Council on Library and Information Resources with funds from the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation. Each organization regularly contributes blog posts about their progress.

After winning the 1976 Presidential election, Jimmy Carter said he had one person in particular to thank – Andrew Young, and appointed him to United States Ambassador to the United Nations. Winning Senate approval with an 89-3 vote, on January 30, 1977, Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall swore him into his new position. As Carter joked Young was the first Cabinet member to receive more applause then the President, Young became the highest ranked and, at times, the most controversial African-American in the country.

By Cheryl Oestreicher, Project Archivist, Andrew J. Young Papers, Auburn Avenue Research Library on African American Culture and History

"Working for Freedom: Documenting Civil Rights Organizations" is a collaborative project between Emory University's Manuscript, Archives and Rare Book Library, The Auburn Avenue Research Library on African American Culture and History, The Amistad Research Center at Tulane University, and The Robert W. Woodruff Library of Atlanta University Center to uncover and make available previously hidden collections documenting the Civil Rights Movement in Atlanta and New Orleans. The project is administered by the Council on Library and Information Resources with funds from the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation. Each organization regularly contributes blog posts about their progress.

In the midst of President Lyndon Johnson’s “War on Poverty,” Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and the Southern Christian Leadership Conference addressed poverty and its effect upon civil rights. The Poor People’s Campaign (PPC) in 1968 was an effort to raise awareness of the variety of issues associated with poverty. Participants spoke with government departments and requested a living wage, secure income, access to land and capital, and a role in government programs for citizens.