Civil Rights Era

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Questions and Answers

What type of correspondence does the General Correspondence series include?

All letters received from prominent individuals and the general public. (correct)

Only greeting cards and children's drawings.

Only letters from Rosa Parks's family members.

Only letters from organizations and event planners.

What materials are documented in the Miscellany series?

Insurance, employment records, and medical records among other documents. (correct)

Only appointment calendars and address books.

Only financial records and biographical material.

Primarily printed materials related to civil rights events.

What is the primary arrangement method used for the Writings, Notes, and Statements series?

Chronologically by date of writing.

Alphabetically by type of material. (correct)

By topic and type of material.

By the name of the person addressed.

Which series includes materials pertaining to Rosa Parks's speaking engagements?

Events. Signup and view all the answers

How are the books owned by Rosa Parks organized within their collection?

Alphabetically by title or author’s name. Signup and view all the answers

What event marked Rosa Parks's arrest in 1955?

Refusal to give her seat to a white passenger Signup and view all the answers

Which organization did Rosa Parks found to promote youth development?

Rosa and Raymond Parks Institute for Self Development Signup and view all the answers

What year did the Library formally open Parks's collection to researchers?

2015 Signup and view all the answers

What is the majority of the material in Rosa Parks's collection documented from?

1955 to 2000 Signup and view all the answers

Which major civil rights event did Rosa Parks participate in during 1964?

Mississippi Freedom Project Signup and view all the answers

What was the primary goal of the Civil Rights Act of 1964?

To prohibit discrimination based on various characteristics Signup and view all the answers

During which time frame was the exhibition commemorating the Civil Rights Act of 1964 held?

September 10, 2014 - January 2, 2016 Signup and view all the answers

What type of content was featured in the audiovisual stations throughout the exhibition?

Archival footage and contemporary interviews Signup and view all the answers

Which foundation provided a generous grant for the Civil Rights Act of 1964 exhibition?

Newman’s Own Foundation Signup and view all the answers

What aspect of society did the Civil Rights Act of 1964 significantly impact?

Education, employment, and public accommodations Signup and view all the answers

What was the outcome of the Brown v. Board of Education decision?

It overturned the doctrine of 'separate but equal'. Signup and view all the answers

What action did Rosa Parks take that ignited the Montgomery Bus Boycott?

She refused to give up her bus seat to a white man. Signup and view all the answers

What strategy did Southern states employ after the Brown decision?

They sought to evade school desegregation. Signup and view all the answers

What was the focus of the Mississippi Freedom Summer organized by the NAACP?

To increase voter registration and education. Signup and view all the answers

What role did Herbert Hill hold within the NAACP?

Labor secretary. Signup and view all the answers

What significant action did Harry T. Moore undertake in 1937 with NAACP support?

He filed a pay equalization lawsuit. Signup and view all the answers

Which strategy did Robert L. Carter recommend for the Brown v. Board of Education case?

Employing social science research to prove segregation's effects. Signup and view all the answers

What tragic event occurred on Christmas night in 1951 involving Harry T. Moore?

He and his wife were killed by a bomb placed by the Ku Klux Klan. Signup and view all the answers

What was the primary goal of the NAACP's 'Fight for Freedom' campaign initiated in 1953?

To raise one million dollars annually until 1963. Signup and view all the answers

Who succeeded Walter White as the NAACP executive secretary in 1955?

Roy Wilkins Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Rosa Parks Papers Collection

The Rosa Parks papers span 1866-2006, with most material from 1955-2000.
The collection consists of approximately 7,500 items in the Manuscript Division and 2,500 photographs.
The collection documents Parks's private life and civil rights activism.
The collection was a gift from the Howard G. Buffett Foundation in 2016.
The Library received the materials in late 2014, opened them to researchers in 2015, and digitized them.

Family Papers

Include correspondence with husband, mother, and brother.
The largest number of letters in the collection are from Parks to her husband and mother.
Letters from her brother, Sylvester McCauley, primarily concerned moving to Detroit.

Key Events Documented

Papers detail events surrounding Parks's 1955 arrest and the Montgomery Bus Boycott.
Descriptions of her work for Congressman John Conyers.
Records of major civil rights events like the Prayer Pilgrimage for Freedom (1957), March on Washington (1963), Mississippi Freedom Project (1964), and the Poor People's Campaign (1968).
Materials related to Parks's Presidential Medal of Freedom and Congressional Gold Medal.
The collection documents the Brown v. Board of Education decision, the Montgomery Bus Boycott, and the Civil Rights Movement.

Affiliations Documents

The collection details Parks's connection with the Rosa and Raymond Parks Institute for Self Development (founded by Parks and Elaine Eason Steele), Hampton Institute, Highlander Folk School, Martin Luther King, Jr. Center, NAACP, SCLC, and Saint Matthew AME Church.

Digitization and Access

The vast majority of the collection is digitized.
Researchers can access materials in the Manuscript and Prints and Photographs reading rooms.
Approximately 6% of the manuscript items are not yet digitized due to copyright or rights clearance issues.
Children's greeting cards have a representative sample.

Organization of the Collection

The collection is divided into eleven series.
Several series focus on specific types of materials (e.g., Family Papers, General Correspondence, Subject File, Writings, Notes, Statements).
Other series chronicle events, resolutions/honors, and various aspects of Parks's life (e.g., printed matter, books she owned, or medals she received).
One series focuses on oversize material (larger items).

Transcription and Crowdsourcing

Some items were transcribed by volunteers from the By the People crowdsourcing project.
Transcriptions can be accessed through the "Image w/Text" or "Text" options.
A full transcript for all images in a given object record can be seen by choosing "Text (all pages)."
Transcription datasets are available online.

Extra Information

A 2014-2016 exhibition commemorated the 50th anniversary of the 1964 Civil Rights Act.
This act prohibited discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, or national origin in various areas (voting, public accommodations, facilities, education, federally funded programs, employment).
The exhibition illustrated this period using archival footage and contemporary interviews.
The exhibition was supported by the Newman's Own Foundation and HISTORY®.
NAACP played a crucial role in the Civil Rights Movement, with key figures like Thurgood Marshall, Roy Wilkins, and Medgar Evers.
Organizations like the NAACP Youth Council and the NAACP Legal Defense Fund were involved and highly active in the struggle.
Key events and legislation include the Brown v. Board of Education ruling, the Montgomery Bus Boycott, the March on Washington, Mississippi Freedom Summer, and major civil rights legislation like the Civil Rights Act of 1957, 1964, the Voting Rights Act of 1965, and the Fair Housing Act of 1968.
The NAACP faced resistance, including attempts to ban the organization and threats against its members by white supremacist groups such as the Ku Klux Klan.
Key NAACP members fought for school desegregation, voter registration, and the end of segregation and discrimination.
The NAACP had a significant fundraising campaign called "Fight for Freedom" in the 1950s.
The Brown v. Board of Education decision was unanimous and overturned the "separate but equal" doctrine.
Brown v. Board of Education involved several cases, hearings, and a rehearing.

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Description

Explore the Rosa Parks Papers Collection, which spans from 1866 to 2006, with a focus on her civil rights activism and personal letters. This extensive collection includes photographs and documents that highlight key events such as the Montgomery Bus Boycott. It offers a glimpse into Parks's life and the significant moments in the fight for civil rights. Also explore other prominent aspects of the civil rights era. Quiz questions are based on assigned readings