Mazey, Ernest, 1919-1979

Mel Ravitz Papers

cwesterman — Tue, 15 Dec 2015 15:22:23 -0500

Professor and Detroit community advocate Mel Ravitz held various posts in Detroit politics, including positions such as the Detroit City Plan Commission Director of Community Organization, on the Detroit City Council and as staff director of the Detroit-Wayne County Community Mental Health Services Board. As a professor at Wayne State University, Mr. Ravitz assisted in the formation of the University’s Department of Urban Planning.

Mr. Ravitz’s papers reflect his interests in community organizing and neighborhood revitalization, and serve to document the history of Detroit politics and the social and economic changes that the city faced during the later half of the twentieth century. In addition there are files relating to his activities to 2005.

The collection is in three parts.

Alan W. Mather Papers

drice — Mon, 16 Feb 2009 16:23:03 -0500

Alan Mather was an architect in New York, Detroit, and Chicago, working for various well-known firms. His papers reflect his architectural career and his interest and activity involving unionization of architectural employees.

Rolland R. O'Hare Papers

drice — Wed, 18 Feb 2009 14:47:10 -0500

Rolland R. O'Hare was a practicing attorney affiliated with both the local Detroit chapter and national American Civil Liberties Union. His papers reflect primarily his activities on behalf of the national organization.

UAW Local 199 Records

drice — Mon, 27 Apr 2009 16:18:35 -0400

United Auto Workers Local 199 was charted in 1936 in St. Catherines, Canada. It represented employees of McKinnon Industries, a subsidiary of General Motors. Records of the local reflect primarily the its financial, executive, and bargaining activities.

Coleman Young Papers

drice — Thu, 27 May 2010 16:14:06 -0400

With a background in labor activities and civil rights, Coleman Young captured a Michigan State Senate seat in 1964, representing an east side Detroit district, and rose quickly to leadership posts in the Lansing legislature. Michigan Democrats elected him in 1968 to become the first black member ever to serve on the Democratic National Committee. In 1973, pledging to restore peace between the people and police of Detroit, Coleman Young announced as a candidate for Mayor of Detroit. He defeated the City's former police chief, John Nichols, in a bitter election contest in January 1974 and was re-elected in 1977,
1981, 1985 and 1989. He was one of the first African-Americans to be elected mayor of
a major U.S. city and served a total of twenty years. He was considered by many of his
constituents as a champion of the disadvantaged and disenfranchised. During Young’s
mayoral years, the city of Detroit faced numerous economic, political and social
challenges.

The papers in Part I of this collection reflect the years of Young's state senatorial service. The materials in Part II of this collection represent a portion of Coleman A. Young’s
correspondence and other documents from his tenure as mayor of Detroit, 1973-1993.