Vivian Henderson Papers

This audio recording is a 1976 episode of the radio program Martin Luther King Speaks. The episode is a tribute episode to Dr. Vivian Wilson Henderson and reproduces a speech given by Henderson at the 18th Annual Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC) Convention in 1975. Dr. Henderson discusses the economic situation facing the United States and how it affects African Americans as well as the working poor. He argues for improved public policies, including a drive for a policy of full employment. Henderson closes by urging that economic class distinctions, and not just race relations, need to be considered more by organizations such as the SCLC.

This audio recording contains the celebration of the National Bureau of Economic Researchs 50th anniversary. Multiple speakers each take thirty minutes to speak on the success of the bureau as well as the guest of honor. The first speaker is Mr. Wassily Leontief who speaks on the changes and improvements made in the economic world because of the presence of the National Bureau of Economic Research. The second speaker, George P. Schultz, speaks on different techniques and products that have changed over the past fifty years. Schultz also speaks on Burns Laws. The last speaker is John R. Meyer. Meyer discusses the advances of the bureau in the past 25 years such as their new international program and launch of new studies programs.

This audio recording, dated circa 1971, consists of a speech delivered at the Atlanta University Center by Swedish economist Karl Gunnar Myrdal. Dr. Myrdal had recently published his book The Challenge of World Poverty: A World Anti-Poverty Program in Outline.

This audio recording contains speeches delivered at a conference focused on the understanding of and the solutions to the issue of poverty. Dr. Vivian Henderson begins by introducing and discussing the purpose of the conference. The conference is focused on addressing the problems of Southern economic development, primarily human resource problems and adjustment. Mr. Leon Kaiserling discusses the necessary dimensions for change and economic progress. Lyle Carter then discusses new improvements that need to be made in the economic American system in order to achieve progress as a nation. Mrs. Camille Jefferson outlines the findings of a study she conducted on poverty in a District of Columbia housing project. She also shares some of the pre- and post-experiences of her study, in which she moved to the project for 15 months. Mr. Homer Cooper declares the necessity of mobilizing the research tools that are available to aid in the war on poverty. Dr. George Wiley delineates the steps needed to be taken in order to truly eradicate poverty. Dr. Houseman argues for the reduction of welfare tax rates to get more people into the labor market and to continue supporting them once they are working.

This audio recording consists of five different speakers from various fields speaking on ideas to improve the welfare system in order to better help the poor. The first speaker is Ed Sparrow. Sparrow speaks on the legal rights of the poor. He discusses how the welfare department holds all the power when it comes to the life and death of the poor because their lives depend on the amount of welfare assistance they receive. The second speaker is Dr. Green who discusses the idea of adopting a negative income tax. He explains how it would work as well as who would be eligible. The third speaker is Dr. Vivian Wilson Henderson, 18th president of Clark College. Dr. Henderson discusses the unbalanced occupational structure of the Negro labor force and argues that income maintenance programs such as the negative income tax will not actually solve the problems with welfare. The next speaker, John Fields, discusses inter-government relationships and how they affect the solution process of welfare needs. He urges the different government officials to work together to solve problems. The last speaker is the Honorable Charles L. Weltner, former US congressman. Weltner argues that minimum wage puts people out of work. He begs institutions and agencies to work harder to create a better means of teaching skills today for the tasks of tomorrow. The recording ends with a question and answer session with the speakers and members of the audience.

This audio recording contains a series known as What Must be Done. The series contains a panel and covers issues of the ghetto and the black community. This particular session deals with how to obtain the funding to solve the problems of the nearby urban areas. The panel discusses the widening of gap between the haves and the have-nots as well as how economics has become a branch of politics.