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.

For:
  • Decade = 1960-1969
This document is a reprint of the first edition of "The Atlanta Inquirer" newspaper, dated August 7, 1960. The front page highlights three legal suits filed by students seeking an end to racial bias in a cafeteria located on tax-supported premises. The document also features an appreciation letter from the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee, expressing their support for establishing "The Atlanta Inquirer" as a means of open communication and appeals within the African American community. Additionally, the document announces a historical marker dedication event commemorating the 40th anniversary of the Atlanta University Center Student Movement for Civil Rights and the Appeal for Human Rights, scheduled for March 31, 2000. 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
The essay highlights the significance of passive resistance and non-violence as potent strategies in the struggle against racial segregation and discrimination in the South, emphasizing the effectiveness of withstanding violence without retaliation and understanding the motivations behind the oppressors' actions to subdue their attacks, ultimately countering the emotional-driven violence resulting from racial hatred and discrimination. 2 pages.
The correspondence was addressed to the Transfer Board of Local Board No. 5 of the Selective Service System in New York. Parham reports his compliance with their directive to appear for an examination which concluded on May 24, 1962. He acknowledges omitting information that he was recently arrested on April 21, 1962, for trespassing in Charles County, Maryland, and is currently released on bail. The letter is a belated notification of his legal situation. 1 page.
In "Broken by Love", Robert E. Jones Felder explores the maturing determination of the African-American community for freedom, tracing the evolution from passive acceptance to active engagement through the contrasting lenses of Christianity and the emerging Black Muslim movement, emphasizing the importance of love and nonviolence in dismantling deeply rooted traditions of segregation and discrimination. 2 pages.
Atlanta Student Movement Collection
This report provides an overview of various organizations that supported the student protest movement in the United States. The first sit-in in February 1960 sparked the movement at Greensboro, N.C., involving Black college students. The report highlights the widespread endorsement and backing of local and national organizations. The summary concludes by underscoring that the extent of support from these diverse organizations, in terms of active participation, financial aid, public statements, and resolutions, reflects the significant impact of the sit-in protests on the collective American conscience during that period. 4 pages.
"The Young Negro Rebels" provides an in-depth exploration of the thoughts, motivations, and actions of young African American students involved in the Southern civil rights movement. The author, Charlotte Devree, reflects on her experiences traveling with these students on Freedom Rides and interacting with them during sit-ins and protests. The students' approach to rebellion and social change challenges conventional notions of political action. Devree emphasizes the students' Christian revolutionary spirit, restraint in the face of adversity, and rejection of hatred. Despite diverse backgrounds and limited education, these students are driven by a purpose to end segregation and attain personal identity and pride. The narrative reveals the complexity of their attitudes toward rebellion, challenges stereotypes, and highlights their unique forms of resistance and determination. 6 pages.
Atlanta Student Movement Collection
"The Atlanta Story", an excerpt from The Courier, discussing  Sweet Auburn Avenue and Herman E. Perry. Perry, a pioneer in Atlanta's development, played a significant role in shaping the city's growth by sparking progress in various fields. His contributions to Atlanta's development and his dedication to progress have left an enduring impact on the city's history. 4 pages.
Atlanta Student Movement Collection
This "New South" issue delves into the ongoing student sit-in movement that began over a year ago in Greensboro, North Carolina, and has shown little sign of fading. The movement has evolved to include what is now known as the "Freedom Rides," which recently reached a climax with the Alabama riots. The magazine provides a brief overview of the movement's origins and its current forms of protest. 9 pages.
Atlanta Student Movement Collection
This document is a civil action complaint filed in the United States District Court, Northern District of the State of Georgia, Atlanta Division. The plaintiffs, members of the Committee on Appeal for Human Rights, including Benjamin M. Brown, Miss Herschelle S. Sullivan, Charles F. Lyles, and Lonnie C. King Jr.., are taking legal action against the City of Atlanta, Georgia, and other individuals involved in the city's management. The plaintiffs allege that under color of law, the defendants have engaged in racial segregation and discrimination in public facilities owned, operated, maintained, or subsidized by the City of Atlanta. The lawsuit seeks declaratory and injunctive relief to abolish racial segregation and discrimination in various public facilities, including parks, swimming pools, tennis courts, and other buildings. 8 pages.
Atlanta Student Movement Collection
This document offers an in-depth analysis of the changing dynamics of Negro leadership during the civil rights movement's desegregation crisis in Little Rock, Arkansas. It explores the emergence and interactions of various types of leaders within the racially charged environment, specifically focusing on the shift from traditional "accommodation-type" leadership to more assertive "protest leadership." The study examines the roles played by ministers, businessmen, educators, and other professionals within the Negro community, investigating their responses to the crisis, connections with white leaders, and resulting shifts in race relations. The analysis emphasizes the rise of protest leaders who challenged segregation and mobilized the community. Despite personal rivalries, unity among Negro leaders remained vital during the crisis. The document also highlights the impact of the crisis on interracial communication, noting strained contacts between white and Negro leaders. Overall, the study offers insights into the evolving leadership dynamics and the transformative effects on race relations, contributing to our understanding of the civil rights movement's influence on leadership paradigms. 11 pages.
The essay "Reflection on the Latest Reform of the South" discusses the sit-in demonstrations of the civil rights movement in the American South. The author explores various aspects of the movement, including its nature as a social movement, its principles of non-violence and desegregation, its origins in the Piedmont region, the role of educated Negroes, and the challenges of racial equality. The author highlights the significance of the movement's focus on lunch counter desegregation, the impact on Southern cities, and the emergence of new leaders. They also address potential challenges, such as organizational rivalry, and consider the broader implications of the movement for racial reform in the South and beyond. The essay underscores the importance of understanding the movement within the context of changing Southern dynamics and the complex problem of racial assimilation. It concludes by emphasizing the transformative role of the civil rights struggle amid a period of societal marking time, awaiting new meaningful causes. 5 pages.
A group of COAHR students in a living room.
Atlanta Student Movement Collection
This document succinctly outlines key historical events in the fight for civil rights: the Emancipation Proclamation of 1863 and the Non-Violent Desegregation Movement from 1960 to 1961. It highlights the ongoing success of the boycott in the Atlanta Negro community, leading to decreased sales in downtown stores. Quoting a department store executive's statement about declining sales, the document emphasizes the impact of the boycott. It underscores the collaborative efforts of various groups, including ministers, churches, and social organizations, in advocating for human dignity and equal opportunity. The document urges readers to continue the boycott, refuse to support segregation, and actively spread awareness among their friends. Issued by the Committee on Appeal for Human Rights and the Student-Adult Liaison Committee. 1 page.
Atlanta Student Movement Collection
Due to their segregation policies, this flier urges people to boycott several stores, including Woolworth's, McLellan's, Walgreens, Efird's, Kress', and Hudson-Belk's. The flier explains that these stores do not allow African Americans to sit at lunch counters while accepting their money elsewhere. It highlights that peaceful student demonstrators face violence and embarrassment and have even been jailed and convicted. The flier encourages readers to take action by refusing to buy from these stores, signing petitions against discrimination, supporting protesting students, and joining picket lines manned by students from St. Augustine�s College, Shaw University, and the Raleigh Citizens� Association. The message emphasizes that collective support is crucial for ending segregation and winning the fight for equality. 1 page.
Atlanta Student Movement Collection
These articles are interconnected through their focus on the civil rights movement and the efforts of young activists in the 1960s to achieve equal rights and social justice. The articles highlight different aspects of the movement, including the "sit-in" protests, the challenges faced by students advocating for integration and equal rights, and the legal implications of their actions. 3 pages.
Atlanta Student Movement Collection
A series of collected newspaper clippings about the Civil Rights Movement. 211 pages.
Atlanta Student Movement Collection
This account describes a sit-in protest in the Sprayberry Cafeteria, where a group of individuals demanded service but were denied due to their race. Despite an attempt by the cafeteria's owner to have them leave, the protesters insisted on staying. Police were eventually called, leading to their arrest for trespassing. The account reflects the determination and resilience of the protesters in their pursuit of equal rights. 3 pages.
Atlanta Student Movement Collection
A series of collected newspaper clippings pertaining to the Civil Rights Movement and the Atlanta Student Movement from the Atlanta Inquirer, an African American publication. 24 pages.
Atlanta Student Movement Collection