National Association for the Advancement of Colored People. Detroit Branch

Gloster Current Papers

drice — Mon, 27 Oct 2008 11:55:54 -0400

Minutes, reports, and financial statements of the Executive Board of the Detroit Branch of the NAACP. The bulk of the material is concerned with events in 1943.

Elvin Davenport Papers

drice — Fri, 03 May 2013 16:36:55 -0400

Elvin Lamoine Davenport (1899-1988) was the first African-American judge elected to the Recorder’s Court for the City of Detroit; he served on the bench for over 20 years. Davenport was born in Folly, Virginia, attended local schools, and received his undergraduate degree from Temple University and his law degree from Howard University Law School in 1929. After graduation he worked as a Pullman porter for the Canadian Pacific Railroad, and completed further graduate studies at McGill University. Davenport moved to Detroit, Michigan where he was appointed to the State Bar in 1931. He became associated with the law firm of Stowers, Bledsoe & Dent, later forming his own practice with Garvin, Osborne, Smith, and Fuller (1931-1945). Like many African-American lawyers practicing at the time, Davenport had difficulty attracting clients; to make a decent living he also sold life insurance. He became heavily involved in civil rights cases, serving as counsel for the NAACP in the Sojourner Truth housing project riots; the 1943 Detroit race riot inquest in police shootings; and the general court martial charges against Lt. Milton R. Henry. He was appointed as the Assistant Wayne County Prosecutor in 1945-1946 and 1948-1956. In 1956, Governor G. Mennen Williams appointed him to the Common Pleas Court for the City of Detroit, making Davenport again the first African-American to be appointed to the position. By 1957, he was elevated to the Recorder’s Court for the City of Detroit. Davenport sat on the bench until his retirement in 1977. Throughout his life, Elvin Davenport was a member of many professional and service organizations. Elvin Davenport died in June of1988.

The papers of Elvin Davenport primarily document his practice as an attorney and judge in the city of Detroit, from 1942-1977. Of particular note are correspondence files that demonstrate the integral role Mr. Davenport played in both the judicial profession and local community service organizations, as well as the relationships he cultivated as a result of his involvement.

Ernest C. and Jessie M. Dillard Papers

abarker — Wed, 17 Jun 2009 11:58:58 -0400

An active member of United Auto Workers Local 15, Ernest Dillard was the first African American elected to a succession of UAW leadership posts. Jessie Dillard was one of Detroit’s leading block club organizers and civil rights activists. Both Mr. and Ms. Dillard played prominent roles in the Detroit NAACP and held leadership positions in the Michigan Democratic Party.

Part I of the papers of Ernest and Jessie Dillard reflect the broad range of their professional and political activities in the labor and civil rights movements.

The papers in Part II consist of correspondence,reports, clippings, speeches, publications and other material related to their labor, political and publishing activities.

Damon J. Keith Papers

drice — Fri, 03 Sep 2010 14:20:02 -0400

Judge Damon Keith served in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan, and in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit. Judge Keith delivered several landmark rulings in civil rights and civil liberties cases and played an active role in various civic, cultural and educational associations, including the Detroit YMCA, the United Negro College Fund, and the Detroit National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP). He is the recipient of the NAACP’s Springarn Medal, the American Bar Association’s Thurgood Marshall Award, the Edward J. Devitt Award for Distinguished Service to Justice, and over thirty honorary degrees. Judge Keith’s papers document important milestones in his career, his precedent-setting judicial decisions, his role in ensuring equal justice for all Americans, and the many honors and awards bestowed upon him for his dedication to civil rights and to the City of Detroit.

James J. McClendon Papers

drice — Tue, 04 Nov 2008 13:57:15 -0500

An active member of the Detroit Branch, NAACP, Dr. McClendon was president of that group from 1938 to 1945. These papers include material on the fight against racial discrimination in Detroit and the armed services, and on fund-raising problems. The collection also has papers relating to Dr. and Mrs. William A. Thompson of Detroit, who were active supporters of the NAACP. Correspondents include Edward J. Jeffries, Jr., Henry L. Stimson, and Arthur H. Vandenberg.

NAACP Detroit Branch Records

drice — Mon, 10 Nov 2008 15:04:32 -0500

The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People was established in 1910 to help African-American citizens secure their rights, obtain legal justice and gain equal political, economic and social opportunity. The Detroit Branch was established in 1912 and has worked to improve conditions in housing, employment, education, and police-community relations and in doing so has received community-wide and national recognition. Their records reflect these accomplishments, including material on the Detroit race riot of 1943, scattered records concerning police brutality and discrimination in housing, employment, and education, civil rights complaints, membership campaigns, events and programming, and administrative materials.

Robert Sedler Papers

drice — Mon, 30 Aug 2010 11:18:05 -0400

Robert A. Sedler is a Professor of Law at Wayne State University where he teaches courses in constitutional law and conflict of laws. Mr. Sedler has litigated a large number of civil rights and civil liberties cases, has published extensively on constitutional law, and has received several awards for his work in these areas. The materials in these papers consist of documents related to the Detroit Branch, NAACP, et al. v. City of Dearborn, a case brought by the NAACP and the ACLU to overturn a City of Dearborn ordinance that restricted the use of its parks to Dearborn residents. Mr. Sedler acted as counsel for the ACLU in the case.

Thomas W. Stephens Papers

drice — Mon, 09 Mar 2009 15:18:20 -0400

Thomas Stephens was a founder of the Evergreen Alliance, the Michigan Environmental Justice Coalition and chaired the National Lawyer's Guild's Toxics Committee in his fight for environmental justice in the Detroit area. His papers reflect his interest and legal work in this arena and related issues, particularly lawsuits involving incinerators in Detroit and Flint, MI.

Walter P. Reuther Library Vertical Files Collection

aorchard — Thu, 21 May 2015 09:21:10 -0400

The Vertical Files Collection is comprised of newspaper clippings, articles, pamphlets, public relations materials, and other ephemera related to the Reuther Library’s urban affairs and labor collections.

Juneteenth - A celebration of freedom since 1865

srafferty — Mon, 18 Jun 2018 11:01:29 -0400

President Lincoln is popularly given credit for freeing enslaved people in the United States with the Emancipation Proclamation. Though he personally did not support the use of slavery, his reasons for creating this proclamation were seen as more political and military than out of an advocacy for human and civil rights. His order, given as President and Commander in Chief of the military, did free people being held as slaves, but only in states that were in active rebellion against the Union. The Emancipation Proclamation gave military forces the authority and power to liberate slaves as they continued to gain ground in the South states.

But what does this have to do with Juneteenth? What is Juneteenth you might ask? read more »

NAACP Detroit Branch Records - An addition to a long history of fighting for civil rights and community improvement

srafferty — Tue, 27 Feb 2018 14:11:00 -0500

The Walter P. Reuther Library is happy to announce an addition to the NAACP Detroit Branch Records collection.

The Detroit Branch of the NAACP was established in 1912, making it one of the oldest branches in the country. Over the past century, this organization has worked to support and improve the lives of African Americans, particularly in areas of housing, employment, education, police-community relations, and voting. read more »

Reuther Library Acquires Horace Sheffield Jr. Collection

ageraci — Wed, 21 Jun 2023 14:19:11 -0400

The Walter P. Reuther Library, Archives of Labor and Urban Affairs, is pleased to announce the acquisition of an archival collection documenting the life and work of Horace Sheffield Jr.

The Sheffield Collection will give insight into the life and work of a labor and community trailblazer through personal and family papers, correspondence, images, and ephemera collected over a life of leadership: as an official in UAW Local 600, founding member of the Coalition of Black Trade Unionists (CBTU), President of the Detroit CBTU, founder of the politically influential Trade Union Leadership Council (TULC) and Detroit Association of Black Organizations (DABO), director of the Detroit NAACP, and administrative assistant to UAW President Douglas Fraser. read more »

Subject Focus: NAACP

jruss — Thu, 05 May 2011 11:58:47 -0400

The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) was formed in early 1909. It held its first convention in May of that year. This May, 102 years later, we showcase collections related to the history of this vital civil rights organization.

The Reuther holds the papers of NAACP founding member Mary White Ovington. Her papers reflect the development of the organization and the civil rights movement generally. Also documenting the growth of the national organization are the papers of NAACP stenographer Carrie Burton Overton, civil rights leader Rosa Parks, and NAACP historian Charles F. Kellogg. read more »

(24860) NAACP, Members, Fight for Freedom Dinner, 1960

eclemens — Tue, 10 May 2011 14:46:10 -0400

Members of the NAACP pose for a picture during the Fight for Freedom Dinner at the Latin Quarters, Detroit, Michigan.

Left to right, Front: Dr. Wendall Cox; Harry Golden; Mrs. Marguerite Belefonte; Dr. DeWitt Burton

Left to right, Back: Damon J. Keith; Governor G. Mennen Williams

(DN_1119) NAACP, Pickets, Housing Discrimination, Detroit, 1963

eclemens — Wed, 11 May 2011 09:10:05 -0400

Members of the NAACP picket the apartment building at 647 W. Warren for discriminative housing practices, Detroit, Michigan.

(DN_1119_1) NAACP, Pickets, Housing Discrimination, Detroit, 1963

eclemens — Wed, 11 May 2011 09:05:56 -0400

Members of the NAACP picket the apartment building at 4762 Second Street for discriminative housing practices, Detroit, Michigan. At right is Jackson (Jackie) Vaughn, III.

(DN_1122) NAACP, Pickets, Housing Discrimination, Detroit, 1963

eclemens — Wed, 11 May 2011 09:26:51 -0400

Demonstrators picket the General Motors Building to protest discriminative hiring practices, Detroit, Michigan.

(8787) 1941 Ford Strike, NAACP, sound car, Dearborn, Michigan

eclemens — Wed, 19 Nov 2008 14:48:50 -0500

Men walking the picket line outside of the Ford Rouge plant and police officers on horseback pause to listen to the broadcast from the NAACP Detroit Youth Council sound car during the 1941 Ford Strike, Dearborn, Michigan. Horace Sheffield may be driving the car.

(DN_1127_1) NAACP, Pickets, Housing Discrimination, Detroit, 1963

eclemens — Wed, 11 May 2011 09:39:06 -0400

Members and supporters of the NAACP picket outside of the Open Occupancy Hearing at Cobo Hall, Detroit, Michigan.

(24839) NAACP, Demonstrations, State Capitol, Lansing, 1960

eclemens — Wed, 11 May 2011 09:13:24 -0400

Members of the Detroit Branch of the NAACP demonstrate on the steps of the State Capitol, Lansing, Michigan.

(24840) NAACP, Demonstrations, Housing Discrimination, Detroit, 1962

eclemens — Wed, 11 May 2011 09:13:24 -0400

Members of the NAACP’s Housing Committee create signs in the offices of the Detroit Branch for use in a future demonstration.

(24847) NAACP, Demonstrations, F.W. Woolworth, Detroit, 1960

eclemens — Wed, 11 May 2011 09:11:25 -0400

Members and supporters of the NAACP picket the F.W. Woolworth store at 6565 Woodward Ave. and West Grand Boulevard in an effort to force the store to allow integrated lunch counters, Detroit, Michigan.

(24841) NAACP, Demonstrations, Housing Discrimination, Detroit, 1962

eclemens — Wed, 11 May 2011 09:12:31 -0400

Members of the NAACP’s Housing Committee create signs in the offices of the Detroit Branch for use in a future demonstration.

(24842) NAACP, Demonstrations, State Capitol, Lansing, 1960

eclemens — Wed, 11 May 2011 09:12:31 -0400

Members of the Detroit Branch of the NAACP line up outside of their headquarters as they await the buses that will take them to a mass demonstration at the State Capitol in Lansing.

(24843) NAACP, Demonstrations, Arthur Johnson, State Capitol, Lansing, 1960

eclemens — Wed, 11 May 2011 09:12:31 -0400

Arthur Johnson addresses the crowd during a mass demonstration on the steps of the State Capitol, Lansing, Michigan.

Second from left is Rev. James E. Wadsworth, Jr., pastor of St. Mark's Community Church. Third from left is Rev. Nicholas Hood, pastor of Plymouth Congregational church. Fourth from left is Edward M. Turner, president of the Trade Union Leadership Council and future president of the Detroit NAACP. At front a woman holds a poster that reads "REMEMBER ... MACK PARKER," a reference to the lynching of Mack Charles Parker at Pearl River County, Miss., on April 24, 1959.

(24844) NAACP, Demonstrations, F.W. Woolworth, Detroit, 1960

eclemens — Wed, 11 May 2011 09:12:31 -0400

Members and supporters of the NAACP picket the downtown F.W. Woolworth store in an effort to force the store to allow integrated lunch counters, Detroit, Michigan.

(24845) NAACP, Demonstrations, F.W. Woolworth, Detroit, 1960

eclemens — Wed, 11 May 2011 09:11:25 -0400

Members and supporters of the NAACP picket the downtown F.W. Woolworth store in an effort to force the store to allow integrated lunch counters, Detroit, Michigan.

(24846) NAACP, Demonstrations, F.W. Woolworth, Detroit, 1960

eclemens — Wed, 11 May 2011 09:11:25 -0400

Members and supporters of the NAACP picket the Gratiot Ave F.W. Woolworths store in an effort to force the store to allow integrated lunch counters, Detroit, Michigan

Note: In the background the Gratiot Central Market is in view.

(24848) NAACP, Demonstrations, State Capitol, Lansing

eclemens — Tue, 10 May 2011 14:48:32 -0400

Demonstrators stand on the steps of the State Capitol in Lansing to celebrate the landmark Supreme Court decision of “Brown v Board of Education.” The event took place during the Michigan State Conference of NAACP Branches.

(24849) NAACP, Demonstrations, State Capitol, Lansing

eclemens — Wed, 11 May 2011 09:11:25 -0400

An unidentified speaker addresses demonstrators on the steps of the state capitol as they celebrate the landmark Supreme Court decision of “Brown v Board of Education,” Lansing, Michigan. The event took place during the Michigan State Conference of NAACP Branches. In the foreground a choir is visible.

(24861) NAACP, Fight for Freedom Dinner, Keith, Hart, 1961

eclemens — Tue, 10 May 2011 14:46:10 -0400

Attorney Damon J. Keith and Seantor Philip Hart share a laugh during the 1961 Fight for Freedom Dinner held at Cobo Hall, Detroit, Michigan.

(24862) NAACP, Fight for Freedom Dinner, Awards, 1960