Southern Christian Leadership Conference Records

by Ryan Taylor, Project Archivist, MARBL

"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.

Though it is best known for working towards equality and the fight for civil rights, the Southern Christian Leadership Conference has also thrown its weight behind a number of other social and human rights causes. Most of this work has been conducted through SCLC’s Department of Direct Action. Direct action is the strategic use of immediately effective acts such as strikes, demonstrations (marches and rallies), and boycotts to achieve a political or social objective, and no one understood it better than Reverend Fred Taylor, a long-time employee of SCLC and Director of Direct Action from 1984 to at least 2005.

Fred Taylor began working for SCLC in 1969 as a staff member in the Department of Chapters and Affiliates.  In 1971 he became Office Manager for the organization, a position he held for two years.  In 1973 he was promoted to Director of Chapters and Affiliates, where he served until becoming Director of Direct Action in 1984. Though his primary focus was always furthering SCLC’s mission, he took an interest in working towards the abolition of the death penalty, serving as a volunteer for Amnesty International and a board member for the National Coalition to Abolish the Death Penalty. Under his leadership, SCLC became an outspoken and passionate voice in the fight against the death penalty.

By Sarah Quigley, Project Archivist, MARBL

"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.

Throughout its long history, The Southern Christian Leadership Conference used periodicals as a method of communicating with staff, affiliates, members and the general public.  By publishing newsletters, magazines and journals, SCLC was able to share information about itself and its activities.  Topics ranged from general updates, to news from efforts such as the Poor People's Campaign, to analysis of the ongoing Civil Rights Movement. 

by Michael R. Hall, Graduate Processing Assistant, MARBL

"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 two previous dispatches from the audiovisual material of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC) records, I have focused on "New Insights Into the Early Political and Philosophical Thought of Jesse L. Jackson" and "Civil Rights Activism and the Crisis in Health Care."  Both blog entries revealed the potential for new research offered by the substantial amount of audio source material in the SCLC collection.  In this third and final dispatch, I would like to discuss a few gems contained in the video sources in the collection.

By Brenda Tindal, Robert W. Woodruff Library Graduate Fellow, MARBL

"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.

"Its been a long, long time coming/but I know change gonna come/oh yes it will." These words sung by the late R&B crooner, Sam Cooke could very well be the soundtrack to the SCLC's organizational records, in general, but especially as it relates to the Programs Series. Here, researchers, students, and scholars alike, will have the unique opportunity to engage SCLC's arduous pursuit of the democratic ideals of justice and equality through their spectrum of community and church-based programs.

Above:  Anonymous man and woman, circa 1960s.

By Sarah Quigley, Project Archivist, Southern Christian Leadership Conference records, MARBL

"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.

It isn’t uncommon to have material in archival collections that is difficult for archivists to identify.  Removed as we are from the creation of the records, even our knowledge of the creators and their historical context can’t always help us name individuals in photographs, pinpoint events or recognize the voices on audio tapes.  When we’re lucky, the records creators are available to help us.

By Michael R. Hall, Graduate Student Processing Assistant, Southern Christian Leadership Conference records, MARBL

"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 first of three blog posts on the audio visual material contained in the SCLC collection, “New Insights into the Early Political and Philosophical Thought of Jesse L. Jackson,” I noted the wonderful range of media, from cassette tapes and reel to reels to VHS and DVDs, which offer insight into the many activities undertaken by SCLC.  In this second installment, I discuss audio material documenting SCLC’s historical engagement with exposing and combating healthcare problems in the U.S.

By Sarah Quigley, Project Archivist for the Southern Christian Leadership Conference records, MARBL

"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 Spring of 1968, SCLC launched the Poor People’s Campaign.  Though planning began prior to the assassination of Martin Luther King, Jr., the campaign itself did not officially begin until May.  The first major action was the construction of Resurrection City on the Mall in Washington, D.C.  Poor demonstrators traveled by mule train and bus from across the country to take up residence in the city and join SCLC in demanding food stamps, jobs and job training, and housing.  Resurrection City was intended to be the embodiment of SCLC’s vision for the nation:  a peaceful and loving community, fully integrated, free from greed, envy and want.  It was also meant to be a stark example of the plight of the poor in America.  As Ralph David Abernathy described it in his autobiography,