Collections : [University of Michigan Bentley Historical Library]

Professor of history, civil rights activist, scholar of African American history. Family and professional correspondence, newspaper clippings, articles, reviews, and printed material reflecting her political activism, her interest in black history, the case of Robert Williams, and her scholarly interests.

The Gwendolyn Midlo Hall Papers, 1939-1998, are comprised of materials documenting the professional and personal life of a historian and civil rights activist. The collection is divided into four series: Personal and Biographical, Academic Career, and Writings.

Federal judge and former professor of law at the University of Michigan. Professional files relating to membership on board of directors of Amtrak, his work as chairman of the rules and credentials committee of the National Women's Conference, 1975, and as member of the executive committee of the Association of American Law Schools; also other files concerning his interest in labor arbitration cases, and his involvement in problems of affirmative action and minority rights at the University.

The Harry T. Edwards papers primarily document his tenure ad a board member and chairman of the board of AMTRAK. There are also files on University of Michigan Law School affairs and several labor arbitration cases in which Edward's participated. Other activities documented include his work as chairman of the rules and credentials committee of the National Women's Conference, 1975, and as member of the executive committee of the Association of American Law Schools; also other files concerning his interest in labor arbitration cases, and his involvement in problems of affirmative action and minority rights at the University.

Henry J. Meyer was a social worker and University of Michigan professor of sociology. Suzanne M. Meyer was secretary of the Ann Arbor Human Relations Commission, also assistant to the director of student activities and organizations at the University of Michigan. She was also involved both in the Tutorial and Cultural Relations Project and the Opportunity Awards Program. The collection includes professional papers and files relating to their travels and activities abroad.

Henry J. Meyer and Suzanne M. Meyer Papers include some material on his student days at the University of Michigan, files on his work for and controversial dismissal from the Washtenaw County Welfare Agency and his research and foreign travels. Suzanne Meyer's papers relate largely to he work with the Ann Arbor Human Relations Commission and her travels in Europe n 1950 and 1972. The Meyer Family collection is divided into three series: Henry Meyer, Travels and Foreign Activities, and Suzanne Meyer.

Bishop of the African Methodist Episcopal Church. Scattered correspondence, and clippings detailing his career, church programs and printed material; also photographs.

The papers of Bishop Hubert N. Robinson are divided into six series: biographical, correspondence, clippings and scrapbooks, programs, A.M.E. printed material, and photographs.

Newspaper articles and columns by Detroit News Washington correspondent, include extensive comment on national politics and foreign relations, particularly as they relate to Michigan

Scrapbooks, 1916-1965, of Jay G. Hayden, Washington correspondent for the Detroit News, contain extensive comment on national politics and foreign relations, particularly as they relate to Michigan. Personal subjects include: Sherman Adams, Smith W. Brookhart, Prentiss M. Brown, William Jennings Bryan, James F. Byrnes, Benjamin N. Cardozo, James Couzens, George Creel, Charles DeGualle, Edwin Denby, Lewis Douglas, John Foster Dulles, Dwight D. Eisenhower, James A. Farley, Henry Ford, Felix Frankfurter, John Glenn, James Hoffa, Herbert Hoover, Lyndon B. Johnson, John F. Kennedy, Nikita Khrushchev, Robert M. LaFollette, Douglas McArthur, Joe McCarthy, Andrew Mellon, James Meredith, Billy Mitchell, Frank Murphy, Truman H. Newberry, Richard M. Nixon, Sam Rayburn, Owen J. Roberts, Nelson A. Rockefeller, Franklin D. Roosevelt, Frank L. Smith, Joseph Stalin, Harlan F. Stone, Harry S. Truman, Arthur H. Vandenberg, William S. Vare, Henry A. Wallace and Leonard Wood.

African Methodist Episcopal pastor with churches in Albion and Ann Arbor, Michigan. Collection includes sermons, biographical materials, materials related to history of the church, scattered minutes of meetings, newspaper clippings, and photographs.

The John A. Woods papers measure 1.75 linear feet. The majority of the collection consists of sermons (1.5 linear feet). Because most of the sermons are undated, their original order has been retained. Other significant files concern Bethel AME Church. An audio cassette captures the groundbreaking ceremonies for the new church in 1971, and a program documents the Burn the Mortgage Celebration service in 1989. Also found in the collection are miscellaneous church meetings minutes, dated 1982 and 1987.

The Biographical Materials folder includes biographical information about Reverend Woods, as well as letters of recommendation and/or appreciation, and tributes. Of importance are old school records, pastoral certificates and the program from Reverend Wood's funeral service on November 14, 1989. The Newspaper Clippings folder also contains a wealth of biographical information about Reverend Woods. Photographs date from circa 1930 and include images of Reverend Woods from a young man onwards, and pictures of groundbreaking and the completed Bethel AME Church. The Services folder contains programs of various services that took place in different AME churches. Miscellaneous material includes printed religious texts and a heavily annotated 1979-80 DBC Student Directory.

Executive director of the Detroit Urban League. Correspondence, scrapbook, photographs, and miscellanea concerning personal matters, the work of the Urban League, and the concerns of the black community of Detroit.

The collection consists of personal correspondence, a scrapbook documenting in part his career as executive director of the Detroit Urban League, and scattered photographs. There is also the transcript of an oral history interview of John Dancy made in 1964.

Historian and administrator at University of Michigan and Tuskegee Institute. Minutes, reports and correspondence relating primarily to enrollment of black students at University of Michigan, including material concerning his work with the Steering Committee for the Development of Academic Opportunities, the Opportunity Award Program, and the Exchange Program with Tuskegee Institute.

The collection contains material relating primarily to Chavis' University of Michigan appointments, and his committee work and interest in equal opportunities in higher education for minority students. The bulk of the collection dates from 1969 to 1971. Memoranda and reports from his work on the Governor's Task Force on Equal Opportunity in Higher education, and the Steering Committee for the Development of Academic Opportunity comprise the bulk of the collection. Also well documented is the Opportunity Awards Program. Several folders on minority enrollment and university recruitment efforts are also in the collection, as well as information on the summer research program for undergraduates and the Fresh Air Camp.

Chavis' non-university activities and interests are also documented. Articles and reports gathered by Chavis' are located in the collected information file, and Chavis' own writings are found in the Writings folder. One folder of information relating to Chavis' curator position at the Detroit Historical Museum is found in the Non-University series, as well as newsletters and correspondence from his involvement with the Detroit based social and scholarly organization, The Moors.

Executive secretary to Detroit Mayor Frank Murphy, 1930-1933, chairwoman of the Mayor's Unemployment Committee, later director of the Detroit Housing Commission, candidate for Detroit public office, and director of women personnel at the Willow Run Bomber Plant during World War II. Correspondence and diaries concerning the Murphy mayoralty, Clarence Darrow and the Ossian Sweet Murder Trial of 1925, and local Detroit politics; and photographs.

The Josephine Gomon papers have been divided into the following series: Correspondence; Clippings/Scrapbooks; Notebooks of news items; Diaries; Biographical/Personal; Materials concerning Frank Murphy; Materials related to Gomon's projected biography of Frank Murphy; Ford Motor Company materials; Photographs.

Detroit (Mich.) businessman and chairman of New Detroit Committee, organization established after the 1967 Detroit Riot to investigate and remedy the causes of that civil disturbance. Correspondence, reports, speeches, articles, photographs, and printed material relating to the riot and to his work with New Detroit.

The papers of Joseph L. Hudson, Jr., date from 1967 to 1983 and measure 6 inches. The collection consists entirely of material relating to the New Detroit Committee, which Hudson chaired during its first year of existence.

The collection includes correspondence relating primarily to the composition of the Committee; membership lists; notes made by Hudson; speeches and articles by Hudson and by Kent Mathewson, who was chief executive officer of New Detroit; press releases and periodic progress reports of New Detroit; photographs; and newspaper clippings about the, riot and about New Detroit. Most of the material dates from the period 1967 to 1969, but a few progress reports from the 1970s and 1980s and a 1983 General Fact Book regarding New Detroit are also included.

The papers reflect the difficulties faced by Hudson and the Committee in trying to create an organization that included representatives of the white "establishment" and grass roots black organizations. It was necessary for the Committee to be responsive to the needs of various sectors of the community ranging from prominent white businessmen to militant blacks. A folder entitled "Important Considerations" contains a frank assessment--apparently by Hudson--of the credibility problems the Committee would face within the black community and outlining steps to be taken to mitigate such problems. The collection is also useful in documenting attitudes and divisions within the black community over the direction that should be taken in rebuilding Detroit. Included is correspondence of the Federation for Self-Determination, a militant black organization that rejected a grant from New Detroit and severed its relations with the committee early in 1968 because it found unacceptable the stipulation that a New Detroit Committee member oversee the project. Also included is correspondence of the more moderate Detroit Council of Organizations, which accused the New Detroit Committee of catering to militant blacks and ignoring the desires of moderate blacks.

Several photographs of the July 27, 1967 meeting of community leaders are contained in the collection.