TWENTY-FIFTH ANNIVERSARY CAMPAIGN

"A PENNY FOR EVERY NEGRO IN THE UNITED STATES"

NATIONAL ASSOCIATION FOR THE
ADVANCEMENT OF COLORED PEOPLE

69 FIFTH AVENUE, NEW YORK

Telephone: ALgonquin 4-6548

Official Organ: THE CRISIS

February 17, 1934

CAMPAIGN COMMITTEE

William Pickens, Chairman
Mary White Ovington, Treasurer

N.A.A.C.P. Executive Officers

Board of Directors

Branch Presidents

and

Robert S. Abbott
Archie A. Alexander
Claude A. Barnett
Charlotte A. Bass
Mary McLeod Bethune
Dr. M. O. Bousfield
Henry Allen Boyd
Charlotte Hawkins Brown
Frederick L. Brownlee
Harry T. Burleigh
Dorothy Canfield
Elmer A. Carter
Lieut. Col. Louis A. Carter
Bishop E. Cottrell
Otelia Cromwell
Countee Cullen
Clarence Darrow
Col. Benjamin O. Davis
Rev. William N. DeBerry
Hon. Oscar DePriest
John Dewey
Aaron Douglas
Roscoe Dunjee
Edwin R. Embree
Jessie Fauset
Dr. J. M. T. Finney
Meta Vaux Warrick Fuller
S. A. Furniss
C. A. Franklin
Bishop John A. Gregg
S. W. Green
Martha Gruening
Elizabeth Ross Haynes
Leslie Pinckney Hill
T. Arnold Hill
John Hope
Charles H. Houston
Jane E. Hunter
Rev. Wm. Lloyd Imes
Inez Haynes Irwin
Charles S. Johnson
Hall Johnson
Mordecai W. Johnson
Rosamond Johnson
B. L. Jordan
Bishop E. D. W. Jones
Laurence E. Jones
Father John LaFarge
Lawrence H. Lightner
E. M. Martin
Annie M. Malone
Arthur W. Mitchell
J. E. Mitchell
Fred R. Moore
Robert R. Moton
James E. Needham
C. F. Richardson
E. Washington Rhodes
Edythe S. Roache
Bill Robinson
Cecelia Cabaniss Saunders
W. A. Scott
Lucy D. Slowe
Florence Cole Talbert
Bishop Wm. P. Thirkfield
Channing H. Tobias
Robert L. Vann
Dr. J. E. Walker
Bishop W. J. Walls
Dr. Mary F. Waring
Sara Spencer Washington
Garnet C. Wilkinson
J. Finley Wilson
Francis M. Wood
P. B. Young

Mr. J. E. Spingarn
New York City
and

Mr. James Weldon Johnson
Nashville, Tenn.

Dear Friends:

We are having our 25th anniversary dinner at International House on Sunday evening, March 18th, as you know. I spoke to President Spingarn about being the toastmaster or presiding officer at the dinner. He seemed reluctant to do so unless we cannot secure another person to take the place.

Naturally I think of J. E. Spingarn and James Weldon Johnson in the same way when I think of this matter. I do not yet know whether Mr. Johnson can arrange to be at our dinner that time. If so, it would doubtless be gratifying to most of those who were present if we could have Mr. Johnson as our toastmaster or chairman. I am sure, also, that this would be as pleasing to President Spingarn as it would be to any of us.

I am therefore sending both of you a copy of this letter and hope to hear as soon as possible whether Mr. Johnson can be present. If not, we will try for a chairman in some other direction, holding Mr. Spingarn's name in reserve for use if necessary, as he so kindly permits us to do.

N.A.A.C.P. OFFICERS

President

J. E. Spingarn

Vice-Presidents

Hon. Arthur Capper
Bishop John A. Gregg
Rev. John Haynes Holmes
James Weldon Johnson
Arthur B. Spingarn
Oswald Garrison Villard

Treasurer

Mary White Ovington,

Walter White, Secretary

Roy Wilkins, Ass't Secretary

W. E. B. DuBois,
Editor of the Crisis

William Pickens, Field Sec'y

Daisy E. Lampkin,
Regional Field Sec'y

WP:ED

February 28, 1934

My dear Dean Pickens:

I have your letter of the seventh. I should, without
hesitation, answer the call to preside at the Twenty-
Fifth Anniversary Dinner of the National Association
for the Advancement of Colored People, on Sunday even-
ing, March 18, if I was now certain that I could make
it possible to be there. The date falls in the midst
of the closing period of the winter term and you as
an old college professor know how inconvenient that
makes it for me to get away.

I am coming North during our spring vacation, that is,
I shall be in Boston to speak on Sunday, March 25, but
that fact, at present does not help me with the date of
March 18. If I can arrange to be away at the beginning
of the week, I shall certainly attend the dinner, but I
think it too much of a risk to count upon me as the
toast master.

When are the prizes to be announced and when will you
want Mrs. Johnson's check for her prize? I am thinking
that you have in mind making the announcement at the
dinner, but, at any rate, let me know so that the amount
can be sent in time.

With kindest regards and best wishes for the success
of the campaign, I am

Always cordially yours,

Mr. William Pickens
National Association
for Advancement of Colored People
New York, New York

JWJ:fhm

NATIONAL OFFICERS

PRESIDENT
J. E. SPINGARN

VICE-PRESIDENTS

HON. ARTHUR CAPPER
BISHOP JOHN A. GREGG
REV. JOHN HAYNES HOLMES
JAMES WELDON JOHNSON
ARTHUR B. SPINGARN
OSWALD GARRISON VILLARD

TREASURER

MARY WHITE OVINGTON

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Baltimore
Carl Murphy
Boston
Joseph Prince Loud
Charleston, W.Va.
T. G. Nutter
Chicago
Jane Addams
Clarence Darrow
Cleveland
Hon. Harry E. Davis
Detroit
Hon. Ira W. Jayne
Hon. Frank Murphy
Emporia, Ks.
William Allen White
New York
Lillian A. Alexander
Rev. Hutchens C. Bishop
Marion Cuthbert
Hubert T. Delany
Rachel Davis Du Bois
Dr. W. E. B. DuBois
Lewis S. Gannett
Rev. John Haynes Holmes
James Weldon Johnson
Hon. Herbert H. Lehman
James Marshall
Lucy R. Mason
Mary White Ovington
Rev. A. Clayton Powell
Arthur B. Spingarn
J. E. Spingarn
Charles H. Studin
William English Walling
Dr. Louis T. Wright
Northampton, Mass.
Dr. William Allan Nellson
Orange, N. J.
Dr. Vernon F. Bunce
Philadelphia
Isadore Martin
Richmond
Maggie L. Walker
Topeka
Hon. Arthur Capper
Washington
Sterling A. Brown
Nannie H. Burroughs
Hon. James A. Cobb
Abram L. Harris
Charles Edward Russell

NATIONAL LEGAL COMMITTEE

Chairman
Arthur B. Spingarn
Chicago
Clarence Darrow
Edward H. Morris
Cambridge, Mass.
Felix Frankfurter
Charleston, W. Va.
T. G. Nutter
Columbia, S. C.
N. J. Frederick
New York
Morris L. Ernst
Arthur Garfield Hays
James Marshall
Herbert K. Stockton
Charles H. Studin
Pittsburgh, Pa.
Homer S. Brown
Toledo, Ohio
Jesse S. Heslip
Washington, D. C.
William H. Hastie
Charles H. Houston
Wilmington, Del.
Louis L. Redding

69 FIFTH AVENUE, NEW YORK

TELEPHONE: ALGONQUIN 4-6548

Official Organ: The Crisis

EXECUTIVE OFFICERS

WALTER WHITE SECRETARY

ROY WILKINS
ASSISTANT SECRETARY

DR. W. E. B. DUBOIS
EDITOR OF THE CRISIS

WILLIAM PICKENS
FIELD SECRETARY

DAISY E. LAMPKIN
REGIONAL FIELD SECRETARY

March 12, 1934

Mr. James Weldon Johnson
Fisk University
Nashville, Tennessee

My dear Jim,

Many thanks for yours of February 28th. I am just getting back to the office today, and I find that the people have responded most heartily for our dinner so that it will be difficult for us to accommodate all of them. I certainly wish you could be our toastmaster, but if we cannot have that, I am still hoping that you will find it possible to drop in at seven o'clock at the International House.

Ask Mrs. Johnson to send along her $10.00 Dollars for the prizes at once. We wish to announce the prizes at the Dinner, if not earlier, but of course the essays will not be in or the prizes awarded before later in the spring. We hope to give out the prizes at our Annual Conference, if not before, but we will be very pleased to have the money in hand now so that we can make definite announcements concerning it.

When I was in Chicago I heard some summer students boasting of the fact that they were going to have the privilege of having James Weldon Johnson with them next summer. Hereafter I can admit you have friends among all races.

Very truly yours,

William Pickens
Field Secretary

WP:EL

How do your Senators and Congressmen stand on federal legislation against lynching?

ENDORSED BY THE NATIONAL INFORMATION BUREAU, 215 FOURTH AVENUE, NEW YORK

Date March 17, 1934

No. B 28770

25th Anniversary Year, 1909-1934

Mrs. Grace Nail Johnson -

The National Association for the Advancement
of Colored People acknowledges with appreciation
receipt of $ 10.00
for 25th Anniversary prize

HEADQUARTERS: 69 FIFTH AVENUE
NEW YORK

Treasurer

NATIONAL OFFICERS

PRESIDENT
J. E. SPINGARN

TREASURER
MARY WHITE OVINGTON

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Baltimore
Carl Murphy
Boston
Joseph Prince Loud
Charleston, W.Va.
T. G. Nutter
Chicago
Jane Addams
Clarence Darrow
Cleveland
Hon. Harry E. Davis
Detroit
Hon. Ira W. Jayne
Hon. Frank Murphy
Emporia, Kas.
William Allen White
New York

Dr. Louis T. Wright
Northampton, Mass.
Dr. William Allen Neilson
Orange, N. J.

NATIONAL LEGAL COMMITTEE

Chairman
Arthur B. Spingarn

69 FIFTH AVENUE, NEW YORK

TELEPHONE: ALGONQUIN 4-6548

Official Organ: The Crisis

EXECUTIVE OFFICERS

WALTER WHITE SECRETARY

March the 26th, 1934

Mrs. Grace Nail Johnson
Fisk University
Nashville, Tennessee

My dear friend,

Many thanks for your letter and the ten dollars for the prize. Enclosed is our treasurer's receipt.

We had a grand 25th Anniversary Dinner of which you may have heard. I missed seeing you and Mr. Johnson terribly. It just seemed that you both should have been there. However you were not forgotten and Mr. Johnson's telegram of greetings was read.

Be sure to give my best love to Jim and my regards to any other friends of mine whom you may come in contact with.

WP: EL
Enc.

ALL MESSAGES TAKEN BY THIS COMPANY ARE SUBJECT TO THE FOLLOWING TERMS:

To guard against mistakes or delays, the sender of a message should order it repeated, that is, telegraphed back to the originating office for comparison. For this, one-half the unrepeated message rate is charged in addition. Unless otherwise indicated on its face, this is an unrepeated message and paid for as such, in consideration whereof it is agreed between the sender of the message and this company as follows:

1. The company shall not be liable for mistakes or delays in the transmission or delivery, or for non-delivery, of any message received for transmission at the unrepeated-message rate beyond the sum of five hundred dollars; nor for mistakes or delays in the transmission or delivery, or for non-delivery, of any message received for transmission at the repeated-message rate beyond the sum of five thousand dollars, unless specially valued; nor in any case for delays arising from unavoidable interruption in the working of its lines; nor for errors in cipher or obscure messages.

2. In any event the company shall not be liable for damages for mistakes or delays in the transmission or delivery, or for the non-delivery, of any message, whether caused by the negligence of its servants or otherwise, beyond the sum of five thousand dollars, at which amount each message is deemed to be valued, unless a greater value is stated in writing by the sender thereof at the time the message is tendered for transmission, and unless the repeated-message rate is paid or agreed to be paid, and an additional charge equal to one-tenth of one percent of the amount by which such valuation shall exceed five thousand dollars.

3. The company is hereby made the agent of the sender, without liability, to forward this message over the lines of any other company when necessary to reach its destination.

4. Domestic messages and incoming cable messages will be delivered free within one-half mile of the company's office in towns of 5,000 population or less, and within one mile of such office in other cities or towns. Beyond these limits the company does not undertake to make delivery, but will, without liability, at the sender's request, as his agent and at his expense, endeavor to contract for him for such delivery at a reasonable price.

5. No responsibility attaches to this company concerning messages until the same are accepted at one of its transmitting offices; and if a message is sent to such office by one of the company's messengers, he acts for that purpose as the agent of the sender.

6. The company will not be liable for damages or statutory penalties in any case where the claim is not presented in writing within sixty days after the message is filed with the company for transmission.

7. It is agreed that in any action by the company to recover the tolls for any message or messages the prompt and correct transmission and delivery thereof shall be presumed, subject to rebuttal by competent evidence.

8. Special terms governing the transmission of messages according to their classes, as enumerated below, shall apply to messages in each of such respective classes in addition to all the foregoing terms.

9. No employee of the company is authorized to vary the foregoing.

THE WESTERN UNION TELEGRAPH COMPANY

INCORPORATED

R. B. WHITE, PRESIDENT

CLASSES OF SERVICE

TELEGRAMS

A full-rate expedited service.

NIGHT MESSAGES

Accepted up to 2:00 A.M. at reduced rates to be sent during the night and delivered not earlier than the morning of the ensuing business day.

Night Messages may at the option of the Telegraph Company be mailed at destination to the addressees, and the Company shall be deemed to have discharged its obligation in such cases with respect to delivery by mailing such night messages at destination, postage prepaid.

DAY LETTERS

A deferred day service at rates lower than the standard telegram rates as follows: One and one-half times the standard night letter rate for the transmission of 50 words or less and one-fifth of the initial rates for each additional 10 words or less.

SPECIAL TERMS APPLYING TO DAY LETTERS:

In further consideration of the reduced rate for this special Day Letter service, the following special terms in addition to those enumerated above are hereby agreed to:

A. Day Letters may be forwarded by the Telegraph Company as a deferred service and the transmission and delivery of such Day Letters is, in all respects, subordinate to the priority of transmission and delivery of regular telegrams.

B. This Day Letter is received subject to the express understanding and agreement that the Company does not undertake that a Day Letter shall be delivered on the day of its date absolutely, and at all events; but that the Company's obligation in this respect is subject to the condition that there shall remain sufficient time for the transmission and delivery of such Day Letter on the day of its date during regular office hours, subject to the priority of the transmission of regular telegrams under the conditions named above.

NIGHT LETTERS

Accepted up to 2:00 A.M. for delivery on the morning of the ensuing business day, at rates still lower than standard night message rates, as follows: The standard telegram rate for 10 words shall be charged for the transmission of 50 words or less, and one-fifth of such standard telegram rate for 10 words shall be charged for each additional 10 words or less.

SPECIAL TERMS APPLYING TO NIGHT LETTERS:

In further consideration of the reduced rates for this special Night Letter service, the following special terms in addition to those enumerated above are hereby agreed to:

Night Letters may at the option of the Telegraph Company be mailed at destination to the addressees, and the Company shall be deemed to have discharged its obligation in such cases with respect to delivery by mailing such Night Letters at destination, postage prepaid.

FULL RATE CABLES

An expedited service throughout. Code language permitted.

DEFERRED HALF-RATE CABLES

Half-rate messages are subject to being deferred in favor of full rate messages for not exceeding 24 hours. Must be written in plain language.

CABLE NIGHT LETTERS

An overnight service for plain language communications, at one-third the full rate, or less. Minimum of 25 words charged for. Subject to delivery at the convenience of the Company within 24 hours.

SHIP RADIOGRAMS

A service to and from ships at sea, in all parts of the world. Plain language or code language may be used.

March 27, 1934

Prizes and Donors in the N. A. A. C. P. Nation-Wide Essay Contest

For undergraduates in college:

First Prize, $25 - "The J. E. Spingarn Prize", donated by Mrs. Amy E. Spingarn

Second Prize, $15 - "The Sarah N. Cleghorn Prize", donated by Mrs. Dorothy Canfield Fisher.

Third Prize, $10 - "The Robert L. Vann Prize" donated by the editor of the Pittsburgh Courier.

There will be three prizes for honorable mention in this group.

The high school students prizes --

First Prize, $25 - "The Richard B. Harrison Prize" donated by the star of *The Green Pastures*.

Second Prize, $15 - "The Sadie Warren-Davis Prize" donated by the owner of the Amsterdam News.

Third Prize, $10 - "The Grace Nail Johnson Prize" donated by James Weldon Johnson.

There will be an extra honor prize of $15 contributed by southern white friends of the Association and of the Negro race. This prize may go to one of those who win one of the other prizes, or to one of those who win honorable mention or some other prize in the list, according to the selection of a special list of judges.

Only one essay will be accepted from any school or college. After several essays are submitted they must be gifted to one by some local committee of the institution, and the best essay in the judgment of this local committee sent to this office on or before May 15, 1934. No essay should contain less than one thousand or more than two thousand words.

Winning essays will be published from month to month in the *Crisis*.

N.A.A.C.P. QUARTER-CENTURY ESSAY CONTEST

On February 12, 1934, The N.A.A.C.P. will be 25 years old!

We are offering six prizes for the best essays:

1. Three prizes (first, second and third) for the best essays written by undergraduates in college. The subjects for those essays shall be any topics relating to the history, aims and achievements of the N.A.A.C.P.—such as

(a) The struggle against segregation

(b) The fight for the right to vote

(c) Does the White or the Negro college prepare the Young Negro Better for life?

(d) An Ideal Programme for the N.A.A.C.P.

(e) The Goal of the Young Negro.

2. Three Prizes (first, second and third) for the best essays written by high school students. The subjects for these essays shall be any topics relating to the history and work of various Branches, — such as

(a) The story of the Philadelphia Branch N.A.A.C.P.

(b) The Detroit Branch and the Sweet Case

(c) The Birmingham Branch and the Peterson Case.

(d) The Cleveland Branch and school segregation.

(e) The work of the Los Angeles Branch

Etc. The story of any Branch may be used.

The prizes in each set of essays shall be: first prize $25; second prize $15; third prize $10.

Essays may be submitted from any institutions, whether there be a local branch of the Association or not.

The essays submitted from any institution shall first be sifted by a committee representing either the local branch or the faculty of the institution. Only the best essay in the judgment of the local committee shall be sent to the N.A.A.C.P. National Office. The National Office will appoint a national committee to select the prize-winning essays and three additional essays in each set for honorable mention.

All essays sent to the National Office must reach the office (69 Fifth Ave., New York City) not later than May 15, 1934, so that the winners may be announced in the press in June and at the Annual Conference of the N.A.A.C.P.

Each of the six principal prizes will bear the name of some eminent person.

Other by-regulations for each local contest may be determined by the local committee.

William Pickens

April 10, 1936

Mr. William Pickens
Care of N.A.A.C.P.
69 Fifth Avenue
New York, N.Y.

My dear Dean:

I was glad to get your cheerful letter sent from the great American Desert. You were doing some great work; but how you could drive 350 miles in six hours with six stops, I don't know. Either you drove all the way down hill or the Ford is a better car than I ever imagined it was. Now, you are a seasoned driver, nevertheless, I give you a word of caution about going through life so fast as that. You ought, also to have someone go along with you whenever it is possible.

Thank you for sending me the program of the exercises held in El Paso. I judge it was a grand occasion. Of course, I am glad that you had them use "Lift Every Voice and Sing". The song seems to hold its place in the affections of our people. Let me, however, suggest to you that whenever our branches reprint the words of the song, they must make an acknowledgement of the copy-right; otherwise the publishers could have a just complaint. At the bottom there should always be printed: "Words by James Weldon Johnson, Music by J. Rosamond Johnson, copy-right by E.B. Marks Music Company, New York."

I suppose that within a short time you will be making your way back East. I hope you will keep up your good health and good spirits. Mrs. Johnson joins me in best regards to you.

JWJ:ew

NATIONAL OFFICERS

PRESIDENT
J. E. SPINGARN

CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD
DR. LOUIS T. WRIGHT

VICE-PRESIDENTS
NANNIE H. BURROUGHS
HON. ARTHUR CAPPER
BISHOP JOHN A. GREGG
REV. JOHN HAYNES HOLMES
JAMES WELDON JOHNSON
REV. A. CLAYTON POWELL
ARTHUR B. SPINGARN
OSWALD GARRISON VILLARD
WILLIAM ENGLISH WALLING

TREASURER
MARY WHITE OVINGTON

69 FIFTH AVENUE, NEW YORK

TELEPHONE: ALGONQUIN 4 3551

Official Organ: The Crisis

EXECUTIVE OFFICERS

WALTER WHITE SECRETARY

WILLIAM PICKENS
DIRECTOR OF BRANCHES

DAISY E. LAMPKIN
FIELD SECRETARY

CHARLES H. HOUSTON
SPECIAL COUNSEL

JUANITA E. JACKSON
SPECIAL ASSISTANT TO THE
SECRETARY

April 30, 1936

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

**Atlanta**
A. T. Walden

**Baltimore**
Carl Murphy

**Cambridge, Mass.**
Prof. Manley O. Hudson

**Charleston, W.Va.**
T. G. Nutter

**Chicago**
Clarence Darrow
Rev. Joseph W. Nicholson

**Cleveland**
Hon. Harry E. Davis
L. Pearl Mitchell

**Denver**
L. H. Lightner

**Detroit**
Hon. Ira W. Jayne
Hon. Frank Murphy

**Emporia, Kas.**
William Allen White

**Newark, N.J.**
Grace B. Fenderson

**New York**
Lillian A. Alexander
Rev. Hutchens C. Bishop
Marion Cuthbert
Hubert T. Delany
Rachel Davis Du Bois
Lewis S. Gannett
Rev. John Haynes Holmes
Dr. William Lloyd Imes
James Weldon Johnson
Hon. Herbert H. Lehman
Col. Arthur W. Little
James Marshall
Mary White Ovington
Arthur B. Spingarn
J. E. Spingarn
Charles H. Studin
Hon. Charles E. Toney
Frances Williams
Dr. Louis T. Wright

**Northampton, Mass.**
Dr. William Allan Nellson

**Oklahoma City**
Roscoc Dunjee

**Philadelphia**
Isadore Martin

**St. Louis**
Sidney R. Redmond

**Springfield, Mass.**
Rev. William N. DeBerry

**Topeka, Kas.**
Hon. Arthur Capper

**Waco, Texas**
R. D. Evans

**Washington**
Sterling A. Brown
Charles Edward Russell

NATIONAL LEGAL COMMITTEE

**Chairman**
Arthur B. Spingarn

**Chicago**
Clarence Darrow
Edward H. Morris

**Cambridge, Mass.**
Felix Frankfurter

**New York**
N. J. Frederick
Morris L. Ernst
Arthur Garfield Hays
Charles H. Houston
Karl N. Llewellyn
James Marshall
Herbert K. Stockton
Charles H. Studin

**Pittsburgh, Pa.**
Homer S. Brown

**Toledo, Ohio**
Jesse S. Heslip

**Washington, D.C.**
William H. Hastie

**Wilmington, Del.**
Louis L. Redding

Dear Jim:

Thanks for your of April 10.

I know the branches should acknowledge
the publisher and copyright of our song,
"Lift Every Voice." Sometimes, however, they
get the printing done before we arrive or
have any chance to make corrections. I'll do
my best to inform them where I observe the
error.

Always best wishes,

Mr. James Weldon Johnson
Fisk University
Nashville, Tenn.

WP: EEL

27th ANNUAL CONFERENCE, BALTIMORE, MD., JUNE 29th - JULY 5th, 1936

How do your Senators and Congressmen stand on the Costigan-Wagner Anti-Lynching Bill?

NATIONAL OFFICERS

PRESIDENT
J. E. SPINGARN

TREASURER
MARY WHITE OVINGTON

69 FIFTH AVENUE, NEW YORK

TELEPHONE ALGONQUIN 4-3551

Official Organ: The Crisis

EXECUTIVE OFFICERS

WALTER WHITE SECRETARY

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

**Atlanta**
A. T. Walden

**Baltimore**
Carl Murphy

**Denver**
L. H. Lightner

**Emporia, Ks.**
William Allen White

**Oklahoma City**
Roscoe Dunjee

**Topeka, Ks.**
Hon. Arthur Capper

**Waco, Texas**
R. D. Evans

NATIONAL LEGAL COMMITTEE

**Columbia, S. C.**
N. J. Frederick

**New York**
Morris L. Ernst
Arthur Garfield Hays
Charles H. Houston
Karl N. Llewellyn
James Marshall
Herbert K. Stockton
Charles H. Studin

**Washington, D.C.**
William H. Hastle

May 5, 1936---
4108 Central Ave.,
Los Angeles, Calif.
(Until last of May).

Dr. James W. Johnson,
Fisk U.,
Nashville, Tenn.

Dear Jim:-

Notice the enclosed note of a foolish letter
from Chicago Branch about our song being a
"Jim-Crow" affair. Since when was real art
jim-crowed,-- a real song least of all.

But don't you worry, Song® Maker: Your great
song, "Lift Every Voice,"-- has long ago conquered
all Negro America (except perhaps the Chicago
Branch officer), and it is my prediction that
when you are dead, it will become the TRIUMPH SONG
of the Strugglers of all races.

Please excuse haste-

DAILY MAIL

April 29, 1956

Mr. Wilkins

6205 Isadore Martin, Philadelphia

Please include following question in broadcast: "How can those of radio audience help in this work."

6212 Isadore Martin, Philadelphia

Requesting verifications in broadcast script; requesting protest to railroad for use of "colored" and "white" signs in cars coming into New York.

6213 Walter White, Chicago

Notes on "Beat Borah" meeting on April 26.

6215 A.C. McNeal, Chicago

In re: National Negro Anthem, reports that Chicago branch objects to Jim-crow anthem.

6215 A.C. McNeal, Chicago

Attaching suggestion for putting color into cover page of Crisis. (suggestion not attached)

6215 A.C. McNeal, Chicago

Funds for Scottsboro will be raised by Chicago branch directly.

NATIONAL OFFICERS

PRESIDENT

J. E. SPINGARN

CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD

DR. LOUIS T. WRIGHT

VICE-PRESIDENTS

NANNIE H. BURROUGHS

HON. ARTHUR CAPPER

BISHOP JOHN A. GREGG

REV. JOHN HAYNES HOLMES

JAMES WELDON JOHNSON

REV. A. CLAYTON POWELL

ARTHUR B. SPINGARN

OSWALD GARRISON VILLARD

TREASURER

MARY WHITE OVINGTON

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Atlanta A. T. Walden

Baltimore Carl Murphy

Cambridge, Mass. Prof. Manley O. Hudson

Chicago Clarence Darrow
Rev. Joseph W. Nicholson

Cleveland Hon. Harry E. Davis
L. Pearl Mitchell

Denver L. H. Lightner

Newark, N. J. Grace B. Fenderson

New York
Lillian A. Alexander
Rev. Hutchens C. Bishop
Marlon Cuthbert
Hubert T. Delany
Rachel Davis Du Bols
Lewis S. Gannett
Rev. John Haynes Holmes
Dr. William Lloyd Imes
James Weldon Johnson
Hon. Herbert H. Lehman
Col. Arthur W. Little
James Marshall
Mary White Ovington
Arthur B. Spingarn
J. E. Spingarn
Charles H. Studin
Hon. Charles E. Toney
Frances Williams
Dr. Louis T. Wright

Northampton, Mass. Dr. William Allan Nelson

Oklahoma City Roscoe Dunjee

Philadelphia Isadore Martin

St. Louis Sidney R. Redmond

Springfield, Mass. Rev. William N. DeBerry

Topeka, Kas. Hon. Arthur Capper

Waco, Texas R. D. Evans

Washington Sterling A. Brown
Charles Edward Russell

NATIONAL LEGAL COMMITTEE

Chairman Arthur B. Spingarn

Chicago
Clarence Darrow
Irvin C. Mollison
Edward H. Morris

New York
Morris L. Ernst
Arthur Garfield Hays
Charles H. Houston
Kari N. Llewellyn
James Marshall
Herbert K. Stockton
Charles H. Studin

Toledo, Ohio Jesse S. Heslip

Washington, D.C. William H. Hastie

69 FIFTH AVENUE, NEW YORK

TELEPHONE: ALGONQUIN 4 3551

Official Organ: The Crisis

EXECUTIVE OFFICERS

WALTER WHITE SECRETARY

December 24, 1936.

Mr. James Weldon Johnson
413 West 148th Street
New York City

Dear Jim:

I have an interesting letter signed by Mr. A. H. Gordon of the Georgia State College and who, I suppose, is an alumnus of Atlanta University, asking me to use whatever influence I may have toward promoting your chances for president of Atlanta University.

I am writing you, therefore, confidentially so that you may write me in the same confidential manner and give me any hints and suggestions of anything you think I might do that might really help. I know that good-hearted but inconsiderate zeal usually injures such a cause more than it helps it. I have my doubt of the good effect of any outside publicity: it causes people on the inside to think that undue pressure is being brought upon them. It might be better if some one could write a private and personal letter to certain individuals. If I knew who were the key individuals and whether they were people whom I might influence, I would be glad to write them.

I would certainly congratulate Atlanta University if they selected some person of your fine qualities to head up the institution.

Very best wishes to you and Grace for the
New Year.

WILLIAM PICKENS

How do your Candidates for the Senate and House of Representatives stand on Federal Anti-Lynching Legislation?

TRICO PUBLIC FORUM

Forum -- 1

Leader--William Pickens

CONTRIBUTIONS OF THE NEGRO TO AMERICA

I. Slavery:

White

Black

In Europe and in Africa.

In America.

(a) Slavery an economic institution.

(b) Change to free labor an economic process.

(c) The substitution of Mechanical for Muscle Power.

II. The History of the Negro in America Before Emancipation:

(a) In the days of discovery and colonization.

(b) In the Revolution.

(c) In the War of 1812.

(d) Anti-slavery agitation and Abolition Movements.

FREDERICK DOUGLASS

(e) The Mexican War.

(f) The Missouri Compromise.

(1) Conflict of slave and free labor interests.

(2) Constitutional foundation of secession policy.

III. The Negro in the Civil War:

(a) As southern laborer.

(b) As Confederate.

(c) As "free" Negro.

(d) As soldier and patriot.

"West" Virginia.

IV. The Negro in Reconstruction:

Freedmen

Planters

Carpet-baggers

Scalawags

(a) Forty acres and a Mule.

(b) In State Governments.

(c) In Congress.

"Extravagance", as illustrated by Mississippi, and by Virginia.

The old Ku Klux Klan. The return of statehood and the return
of the control of the planter element, plus the "poor whites."

The poor whites during slavery. The psychological and social
heritage.

NATIONAL OFFICERS

PRESIDENT
J. E. SPINGARN

VICE-PRESIDENTS
NANNIE H. BURROUGHS
HON. ARTHUR CAPPER
CLARENCE DARROW
BISHOP JOHN A. GREGG
REV. JOHN HAYNES HOLMES
JAMES WELDON JOHNSON
REV. A. CLAYTON POWELL
ARTHUR B. SPINGARN
OSWALD GARRISON VILLARD

TREASURER
MARY WHITE OVINGTON

69 FIFTH AVENUE, NEW YORK

TELEPHONE: ALGONQUIN 4-3551

Official Organ: The Crisis

October 25, 1937.

EXECUTIVE OFFICERS

WALTER WHITE SECRETARY

ROY WILKINS
ASSISTANT SECRETARY
EDITOR, THE CRISIS

THURGOOD MARSHALL
ASSISTANT SPECIAL COUNSEL

TO BOARD MEMBERS AND EXECUTIVES WHO WERE PRESENT
AT OCTOBER BOARD MEETING (October 11):

The executives have no vote but usually have a
voice at meetings of the Board. I was absent in West
Virginia during the last Board meeting. I want to
express an opinion about one of its resolutions:

"SERVICE OF EXECUTIVES ON POLITICAL COMMITTEES: On motion duly seconded, it was

"VOTED, That no paid executive of the Association
shall accept service on a committee of any political party."

This resolution had been mentioned hurriedly at a
previous meeting of the Committee on Administration but
was neither debated nor formulated.

The problem of political activity by N.A.A.C.P.
officials for over a quarter-century has been so small
that such a resolution of restriction is bound to do more
harm than good. To save my mind, I can see no reason why
a paid worker of an organization like the N.A.A.C.P. should
have less of political and citizenship rights and privi-
leges than any unpaid worker; or why an officer's rights
should be inferior to those of a mere member of the organi-
zation. I am not thinking of professional politics but
of complete citizenship rights.

Since one of the great aims of the Association is
the enfranchisement, citizenization, and political free-
dom of colored people, I think that honest, open and above-
board political life and activity should be encouraged
rather than forbidden. As INDIVIDUALS, the officers of
the N.A.A.C.P. ought to be shining examples of clean poli-
tical participation. No political party should be taboo,
to say nothing of so-called "non-partisan" and independent"
political movements and committees.

As one individual member of the Association and as
an employee who has perhaps the smallest record of poli-
tical activity, and certainly no political ambitions, I
wish to register my belief that such a resolution will do all harm and
no good; that its evil precedent is far greater than any possible good
it can do; and that it is unnecessary.

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Amena, N. Y.      J. E. Spingarn
Atlanta            A. T. Walden
Baltimore          Carl Murphy
Cambridge, Mass.  Prof. Manley O. Hudson
Charleston, W.Va.  T. G. Nutter

Chicago Rev. Joseph W. Nicholson
Cleveland Hon. Harry E. Davis
             L. Pearl Mitchell

Denver L. H. Lightner

Emporia, Ks. William Allen White
Nashville, Tenn. Dr. N. C. McPherson

Dr. Walter Gray Crump
Marlon Cuthbert
Hubert T. Delany
Rachel Davis Du Bois
Lewis S. Gannett
Rev. John Haynes Holmes
Dr. William Lloyd Imes
Hon. Herbert H. Lehman
James Marshall
Hon. Caroline O'Day
Mary White Ovington
James H. Robinson
Arthur B. Spingarn
Charles H. Studin
Hon. Charles E. Toney
Frances Williams
Dr. Louis T. Wright

Oklahoma City Roscoe Dunjee

Philadelphia Isadore Martin

St. Louis Sidney R. Redmond
Topeka, Ks. Hon. Arthur Capper

Waco, Texas R. D. Evans

Washington Hon. William H. Hastie
Charles Edward Russell
Dr. Charles H. Thompson
Dr. Elizabeth Yates Webb

NATIONAL LEGAL COMMITTEE

Arthur B. Spingarn, New York, Chairman
Chicago

Nashville, Tenn. Z. Alexander Looby

New York
Morris L. Ernst
Arthur Garfield Hays
Charles H. Houston
Karl N. Llewellyn
James Marshall
Herbert K. Stockton
Charles H. Studin

Toledo, Ohio Jesse S. Hoslip

Wilmington, Del. Lepis L. Redging

William Pickens

Director of Branches

WP:LB ENDORSED BY THE NATIONAL INFORMATION BUREAU, 215 FOURTH AVENUE, NEW YORK

Have You Written Your Senators Urging Support of the Federal Anti-Lynching Bill?