This collection documents the Atlanta Student Movement during the Civil Rights Era. It highlights student activism in the Atlanta University Consortium (AUC); Clark College, Morris Brown, Morehouse College, Atlanta University, and Spelman College. The collection includes newspaper and journal articles, flyers, reports, photographs, and correspondence by and about students from the AUC schools. Of note are copies of An Appeal for Human Rights written by student leaders, which set forth the student's grievances, rights, and aspirations as well as their dissatisfaction with the status quo conditions of segregation and discrimination and the slow pace at which inherent human and civil rights were being meted out to African Americans. The Appeal was published as a full-page ad in the March 9, 1960 editions of the Atlanta Constitution, Atlanta Journal, and Atlanta Daily World. It was subsequently published in the New York Times, providing national awareness of student activism in the civil rights struggle in Atlanta. The issuance of the Appeal was followed by sit-ins and pickets at specifically targeted businesses, government and transportation facilities in Atlanta and Fulton County, Georgia, and kneel-ins at churches. The participants in the Atlanta student movement organized commemorative reunions, 1990 and 2000 to re-examine the civil rights movement and discuss current efforts and projections for the future. Programs, minutes, correspondence, and news articles from the reunions are included in the collection. 

At the AUC Robert W. Woodruff Library, we are always striving to improve our digital collections. We welcome additional information about people, places, or events depicted in any of the works in this collection. To submit information, please contact us at DSD@auctr.edu.
Aug 24, 2023

Atlanta Student Movement Collection

This collection documents the Atlanta Student Movement during the Civil Rights Era. It highlights student activism in the Atlanta University Consortium (AUC); Clark College, Morris Brown, Morehouse College, Atlanta University, and Spelman College. The collection includes newspaper and journal articles, flyers, reports, photographs, and correspondence by and about students from the AUC schools. Of note are copies of An Appeal for Human Rights written by student leaders, which set forth the student's grievances, rights, and aspirations as well as their dissatisfaction with the status quo conditions of segregation and discrimination and the slow pace at which inherent human and civil rights were being meted out to African Americans. The Appeal was published as a full-page ad in the March 9, 1960 editions of the Atlanta Constitution, Atlanta Journal, and Atlanta Daily World. It was subsequently published in the New York Times, providing national awareness of student activism in the civil rights struggle in Atlanta. The issuance of the Appeal was followed by sit-ins and pickets at specifically targeted businesses, government and transportation facilities in Atlanta and Fulton County, Georgia, and kneel-ins at churches. The participants in the Atlanta student movement organized commemorative reunions, 1990 and 2000 to re-examine the civil rights movement and discuss current efforts and projections for the future. Programs, minutes, correspondence, and news articles from the reunions are included in the collection.

At the AUC Robert W. Woodruff Library, we are always striving to improve our digital collections. We welcome additional information about people, places, or events depicted in any of the works in this collection. To submit information, please contact us at DSD@auctr.edu.

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  • Document Type = text
In this letter dated January 5th, 1990, Julian Bond writes to Johnny Parham, sharing various topics. He mentions receiving Johnny's call during the holidays and his unsuccessful attempts to get a response from Vincent Fort. He discusses the King Papers Project and proposes the Atlanta Project, which could involve academic research on the Atlanta Student Movement, depositing collected documents and interviews in an archive at the Woodruff Library. Julian speculates about potential financial support for the project and its impact on encouraging students, especially history and political science majors, to explore the relevance of this history. He advises Johnny, likely the chair, to maintain pressure for a more scholarly tone in their efforts. Julian also shares his experience attending a similar 30th-year reunion in Nashville, where memories were recorded and artifacts collected, suggesting that such an approach could benefit CAU and other Black colleges in distinguishing themselves from their white competitors. 2 pages.
This program booklet commemorates the 30th Anniversary Salute to the Atlanta University Center (AUC) Civil Rights Movement, celebrating the city of Atlanta's progress as an international city and its position as the economic, political, and social capital of the New South. The booklet includes an introduction outlining the historical significance of the AUC student movement in the 1960s, which played a pivotal role in the desegregation of lunch counters and paved the way for subsequent civil rights victories. It also features the event program, listing the schedule of activities, performances, and the presentation of awards to community leaders, professors, and students who were key figures in the civil rights movement. 5 pages.
This memo serves as a reminder for the upcoming meeting of the Planning Committee for the 30th Anniversary Salute to the former AUC Student Organizers of the Committee on the Appeal for Human Rights. Brenda H. Cole, Co-Chair of the Planning Committee, expresses gratitude for their participation and outlines the meeting details. Committee Chairs are requested to prepare brief oral reports and submit written statements. The office contact information for Clark Atlanta University is also provided. 1 page.
Atlanta Student Movement Collection
This document summarizes the Planning Committee meeting held on September 19, 1990, to organize the 30th-anniversary celebration of the Atlanta University Center (AUC) Civil Rights Movement. The meeting's attendees included various committee members responsible for different aspects of the event. The Corporate Sponsorship Committee reported securing funding from several organizations and proposing grants to others. The Awards Banquet Committee updated on interviews with CNN for the documentary and prepared the invitations. The Research Committee collaborated with the Atlanta Journal-Constitution for a photo exhibit at the AUC Woodruff Library. The Hospitality and Memorial Service Committee made progress in arranging transportation, logistics, and program details. The Public Relations/Publicity Committee drafted press releases, and the Workshop Committee prepared the workshop program. The Printing/Awards/Memorabilia Committee discussed design options and timing for materials. The next meeting was scheduled for October 10. 3 pages.
This document is a report of the AUC Civil Rights Memorial Service Committee meeting held on September 19, 1990, at Emory University, Georgia. The meeting was focused on organizing a memorial service to salute Atlanta's civil rights activists of the 1960s. The agenda included discussions on the theme of the service, program format, participant confirmations, dress code, start time, memorial decoration, program editing, reception, and other logistical details. The report highlights decisions made during the meeting, including confirming the theme, reviewing the program format, securing approvals, editing the program, and coordinating various aspects of the event. The attendees discussed items of interest such as rehearsal schedules, student performers, ushers, and other planning details. The report provides insights into the organizational efforts and considerations for the successful execution of the memorial service. 3 pages.
This progress report, dated September 19, 1990, provides an update on the Subcommittee on Printing/Awards/Memorabilia's activities for the 30th Anniversary Salute to the AUC Civil Rights Movement. The report confirms the acceptance of the official logo, designed by Georgette Baker, for the event. Georgia Power is handling the printing of the invitation package, including the outer envelope, response card, and response envelope, as well as the award banquet program and the community leader's frameable award. The report also discusses the need to submit copies and ideas for other printed materials, like recognition certificates, posters, banners, invitations, and programs, by October 1. Charnell Holloway was approached to create a metal sculpture design for the honoree's awards, while Kathy Haper submitted several concepts for review. The budget for producing awards, memorabilia, and printing must still be solved. 2 pages.
This document provides minutes from the Planning Committee meeting held on September 6, 1990, to organize the 30th-anniversary celebration of the Atlanta University Center (AUC) Civil Rights Movement. The meeting's attendees included prominent members such as Delores Aldridge, Brenda Cole, Julia Bond, and Mary Ware. The committee reports on various aspects of the event, including the Memorial Service, Workshops, Corporate Sponsorship, Awards Banquet, and Public Relations. The Symposium's outline is presented, featuring a series of activities, workshops, and a closing session to honor and reflect on the historical significance of the AUC Civil Rights Movement. The document also includes plans for inviting participants and suggestions for publicity and musical involvement. The next meeting is scheduled for September 19, 1990. 5 pages.
This progress report provides an overview of the activities and decisions made by the Printing/Awards/Memorabilia Subcommittee during the 30th Anniversary Salute to the AUC Civil Rights Movement event planning. The subcommittee members include Toni D. O'Neal (Co-Chair), a Student Co-Chair (vacant), Tina Dunkley (Art Gallery Curator, CAU), Lev Mills (Chair, Fine Arts, Spelman), and Art Robinson (Project Officer, CDC). The report outlines the consideration of logo designs and the incorporation of the Human Rights Appeal into framed awards for community honorees. The subcommittee also explores using glass sculptures for the awards, seeking input from a local glass blower, Kathy Harper. Additionally, the report mentions the need to submit rough drafts for printed materials, such as recognition certificates, posters, banners, invitations, and programs. The report highlights the unresolved matter of awaiting a budget for designing and producing awards, memorabilia, and printed materials.  1 page.
These minutes document the planning committee meeting for the 30th Anniversary Salute to the AUC Civil Rights Movement, held at Holly Hill on February 21, 1990, at 6:00 p.m. Mrs. Brenda Cole presided over the meeting and provided background information on the civil rights movement activities at the AUC. The committee's main objective is identifying and saluting the movement's student leaders. The event is planned for two days, with workshops, an awards dinner, and a memorial service. Various committees were formed to organize the event, each having co-chairs representing the planning committee and students from the AUC institutions. Committee members and their respective roles are listed in the minutes. The next meeting is scheduled for March 21. Gwen Callaway submitted the minutes. 3 pages.
This document comes from the Research Committee of the 30 Anniversary Planning Committee. Committee members met on March 6th, 1990. The report showed that members looked at materials and objects from the archives relevant to the Civil Rights Movement. The committee suggested 7 ideas for the 30th Anniversary Planning Committee. Some suggestions were to obtain photographs from the Atlanta Journal/Constitution, prepare biographies, ask honorees and others for photographs and memorabilia, reserve space, advise the Atlanta public library of the event and potential cooperation, examine newspaper indexes, and obtain copies of videos of the SNCC reunion.  1 page.
Atlanta Student Movement Collection
This brochure is from the 30th Anniversary Salute to the Atlanta University Civil Right Movement held at the AUC Robert Woodruff Library. The brochure provides a summary of the history of the movement in Atlanta. The brochure described in 1990, Atlanta was on the verge of fulfilling its potential as an international city, solidifying its position as the economic, political, and social capital of the New South. The city's successful bid for the 1996 Olympics is the culmination of efforts made in the past thirty years. These efforts can be directly traced back to March 15, 1960, when Atlanta University Center students began occupying seats at segregated lunch counters in various locations, leading the way for positive changes in the city. The students' innovative protests, such as conducting bus trips to test segregated facilities before the "freedom rides", had a national impact and may have influenced John F. Kennedy's election victory. The Atlanta student movement of the early 1960s played a crucial role in the desegregation of lunch counters and formed an invaluable link between the past and the future. Without their groundbreaking actions, subsequent victories in places like Birmingham and Selma would not have been possible. 2 pages.
Atlanta Student Movement Collection
The document "An Appeal For Human Rights" is a historic manifesto written by students from the Atlanta University Center, including Clark, Morehouse, Morris Brown, Spelman Colleges, Atlanta University, and the Interdenominational Theological Center. The appeal represents their united effort to demand the recognition of their inherent human rights and equal treatment as citizens of the United States. They express their support for the larger civil rights movement and sit-down protests, emphasizing their dissatisfaction with the slow progress of desegregation and equality. The students highlight critical areas of discrimination in Atlanta, such as education, jobs, housing, voting, healthcare, public accommodations, and law enforcement, and assert that racial segregation goes against the principles of democracy and Christianity. They call for an end to discriminatory practices and pledge to use legal and non-violent means to secure their full citizenship rights. (2 pages)
Atlanta Student Movement Collection
The document is the constitution and articles of incorporation of the Committee on the Appeal for Human Rights, Incorporated. It outlines the purpose, membership, officers, executive committee, meetings, and the process for amending the organization's by-laws. The committee's purpose is to promote human and civil rights globally. Membership is open to individuals who actively participated in the civil rights movement in Atlanta, GA, between 1960 and 1965 and others who have shown an interest in promoting human and civil rights. The organization's officers include a chairperson, president, vice-president, secretary, and treasurer. An executive committee, comprising all officers and at least three other members in good standing, can conduct business between meetings. The constitution provides meeting guidelines and how amendments to the by-laws can be made. 2 pages.
Atlanta Student Movement Collection
This booklet shows the Atlanta University Center's campus markers during the 1960s student civil rights movement. 3 pages.
Atlanta Student Movement Collection
This journal article, titled "The University and Politics in Atlanta: A Case Study of the Atlanta University Center", authored by Robert A. Holmes, discusses the engagement of black colleges and universities in the social, economic, and political struggles of their communities. It addresses the criticism that these institutions remain detached from community issues by focusing on the Atlanta University Center (AUC) example. The article primarily examines the involvement of AUC's administrators, faculty, and students in the political life of Atlanta's black community during the post-World War II era. It highlights the need for practical engagement in addition to scholarly research and explores the dynamics of AUC's interaction with the local political landscape. The article acknowledges the limitations of a comprehensive analysis due to space constraints and focuses on the specified historical period. 18 pages.
Biography of Marian Wright Edelman, who participated in sit-ins in Atlanta. Atty. Edelman, a pioneering civil rights lawyer, founded the Children's Defense Fund (CDF) and played a key role in advocating for the rights and needs of marginalized children, further underscored by her leadership in related initiatives and organizations. 1 page.
Atlanta Student Movement Collection
This article revisits the impactful sit-in protests 20 years ago in Atlanta, focusing on the March 9, 1960, full-page ad titled "An Appeal for Human Rights" published in local newspapers. The appeal, drafted by students at the request of college presidents, declared their intent to use non-violent means to secure full citizenship rights and addressed inequalities in various sectors like education, employment, and public services. The sit-ins initiated a series of demonstrations, leading to arrests and, eventually, significant progress in civil rights. The article includes interviews with key leaders of the movement, such as Julian Bond, Ben Brown, Lonnie King, and Mary Ann Smith Wilson, who reflect on their experiences and the lasting impact of their activism. 2 pages.
Atlanta Student Movement Collection
A partial list of students and supporters who demonstrated in the struggle for civil rights in Atlanta. 1 page.
Atlanta Student Movement Collection
The first issue of the publication "Nitty Gritty", published in Atlanta, contains various articles discussing the paper's purpose, the conditions and challenges African American citizens face in Atlanta, and the need for political change. The paper aims to address the real issues affecting people in the "Nitty Gritty" areas of the city. It criticizes the city's politicians and government for not adequately addressing the needs of its citizens, particularly in terms of housing, education, and representation. The publication also highlights efforts by activists to address issues of slum housing, evictions, and poverty in Atlanta's marginalized communities. The paper calls for organized action and change to address the systemic inequalities faced by Black people in the city. 4 pages.
Atlanta Student Movement Collection
Various news clippings, including articles by Julian Bond and Ben Brown on student sit-ins and racial equality. 4 pages.
Atlanta Student Movement Collection