Aaron Henry Papers
Collection
Identifier: UP000364
Scope and Content
Part 1:
Series 1: Correspondence, 1965-1970
Series 2: General files This material consists of reports, clippings, pamphlets, notes, and similar items.
Series 1: Correspondence, 1965-1970
Series 2: General files This material consists of reports, clippings, pamphlets, notes, and similar items.
Part 2:
Series 1: Correspondence
Series 2: General files
Series 1: Correspondence
Series 2: General files
Dates
- 1965 - 1969
Creator
- Henry, Aaron, 1922-1997 (Person)
Access
Collection is open for research.
Use
Refer to the Walter P. Reuther Library
Rules for Use of Archival Materials.Restrictions: Researchers may encounter records of a sensitive nature – personnel files, case records and those involving investigations, legal and other private matters. Privacy laws and restrictions imposed by the Library prohibit the use of names and other personal information which might identify an individual, except with written permission from the Director and/or the donor.
History
Aaron Henry was born in Coahoma County, Mississippi on July 2, 1922 and attended the public schools there, graduating from high school in 1941. From 1943 to 1946 he was in the armed forces. In 1950, Mr. Henry received
his degree in pharmacy from Dillard University in New Orleans. Then he returned to Clarksdale, Mississippi and established the Fourth Street Drugstore, which is now a center in the black community for a variety of programs and drives. In 1952 Mr. Henry helped to establish and became the first president of the Clarksdale branch of the NAACP. By 1959 he had risen to State President of the Mississippi NAACP. Among the positions held by Mr. Henry have been member of the National Board of the NAACP, Chairman of the Mississippi Voter Registration and Education Project, Chairman of the Democratic State Committee for Mississippi, President of the Mississippi Freedom Democratic Party and Delegate-at-Large for that group to the 1964 Democratic National Convention. In 1963 he ran for Governor in Mississippi, receiving more than 90,000 votes. The citizens of Mississippi declared April 12, 1970 as "Aaron Henry Day", whereupon Mr. Henry received the NAACP state award for twenty years of dedicated service. On July 2, 1970, he received the "Abraham Lincoln Award" from the National Education Association Center for Human Relations.
Extent
6.5 Linear Feet (13 MB)
Language of Materials
English
Abstract
Mr. Henry, a native of Mississippi, has been a leader in the struggle for civil rights in that state for many years. He has been president of the Clarksdale NAACP, state president of the Mississippi NAACP, chairman of the Mississippi Voter Registration and Education Project, president of the Mississippi Freedom Democratic Party and also its delegate to the 1964 Democratic National Convention. The collection deals with nearly every phase of the civil rights battle, Democratic politics, and various government poverty programs in Mississippi. Letters of Ramsey Clark, John Doar, Everett Dirksen, Charles Evers, Orville Freeman, Hubert Humphrey, Edward Kennedy, Robert Kennedy, Martin Luther King, James Meredith, Sargent Shriver, and nearly every leader in the field of civil rights appear in this collection.
Arrangement
Part 1:
Arranged in 2 series – Series 1 (Boxes 1-3), Series 2 (Box 4). Folders are arranged alphabetically.
Part 2:
Arranged in 2 series - Series 3 (Boxes 5-9), and Series 4 (Boxes 10-13). Folders are arranged alphabetically
Acquisition
The papers of Aaron Henry were deposited with the Labor History Archives in October 1969 and October 1970.
Processing History
Processed and finding aid written by W.P in December, 1969, and updated by P.H. in January, 1971-01.
Creator
- Henry, Aaron, 1922-1997 (Person)
- Title
- Guide to the Aaron Henry Papers
- Status
- Completed
- Author
- Processed by W.P.
- Date
- 1969-12
- Description rules
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Latin
- Language of description note
- English
Repository Details
Part of the Walter P. Reuther Library Repository
Contact:
5401 Cass Ave.
Detroit MI 48202 USA
5401 Cass Ave.
Detroit MI 48202 USA