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Civil Rights Heritage Center Institutional Records

Summary Information

Repository:

Indiana University South Bend Archives
1700 Mishawaka Ave. P.O. Box 7111
South Bend, Indiana 46634
Telephone: (574) 520 - 4392
Email:archiusb@iu.edu
Creator: Civil Rights Heritage Center
Title: Civil Rights Heritage Center Institutional records of the Civil Rights Heritage Center
Extent: Two bankers boxes at 2.5 cubic feet.

Abstract:

Formed in 2000, the Indiana University South Bend Civil Rights Heritage Center’s (CRHC) mission is, “to preserve the legacy of the Civil Rights Movement and the history of racial struggles and extraordinary achievements of local citizens.” First housed in IU South Bend’s Wiekamp Hall, CRHC student staff and volunteers conducted research on the African American civil rights experience in and around South Bend, Indiana. They began an extensive Oral History collection, produced several published thesis projects, and identified and acquired important archival materials of several prominent people, including Helen Pope (for whom a scholarship at IU South Bend is named after), Jesse Dickinson (African American Indiana state legislator), Dr. Bernard Streets (one of the first African American dentists), and others.

Perhaps the defining moment was re-opening the former Engman Natatorium, a once segregated swimming pool on the west side of South Bend, Indiana. Beginning circa 2005, the CRHC led various partners from IU South Bend, South Bend Heritage Foundation, and the City of South Bend to transform the dilapidated building into a new home for the Civil Rights Heritage Center. Opened in May 2010, the CRHC offers tours of local Civil Rights History, exhibitions (permanent and temporary), lecture series, and other programming.

There are a number of noted IU South Bend faculty and administrators responsible for the formation and continued operation of the CRHC, including Dr. Les Lamon, Dr. Monica Tetzlaff, Dr. Kevin Lamarr James (all former directors of the CRHC), Alfred Guillaume (former Executive Vice Chancellor of Academic Affairs), and the late David Healey (Master of Arts student).

This collection consists of the institutional materials related to the various projects and programs of the CRHC. For example, meeting notes, personal letters, e-mail print-outs, promotional materials, and articles covering the formation and continued efforts of the Civil Rights Heritage Center and the transformation of the Engman Natatorium. It also includes research papers on South Bend civil rights history by the late David Healey. The collection begins in 2000, and materials are continually added to it.

Scope and Content Note:

Material is arranged chronologically by project or event (when applicable), or by creation date (if not referring to a specific project) beginning in 2000 and continuing through this writing in November 2014. In addition to correspondence with subjects of the Oral History project, there are a number of materials related to various CRHC sponsored programs. There is a restricted folder contained in the collection that is available upon consultation with the Dean of Library Services. A folder with Civil Rights Heritage Center Event Flyers and Posters, 2003, 2004, 2006, and 2008 is located in the Flat Storage File, Drawer 6, Room 204A.

Administrative Information

Access Restrictions:

This collection is open for research.
Advance notice is required.

Usage Restrictions:

The donor(s) of this collection have transferred copyrights for their original materials to the Trustees of Indiana University.

The IU South Bend Archives respects the intellectual property rights of others and does not claim copyright for non-university records, materials in the public domain, or materials for which we do not hold a Deed of Gift. Responsibility for the determination of the copyright status of these materials rests with those persons wishing to reuse the materials. Researchers are responsible for securing permission from copyright owners and any other rights holders for any reuse of these materials that extends beyond fair use or other statutory limitations.

Digital reproductions of archival materials from the IU South Bend Archives are made available for noncommercial educational and research purposes only. If you are the copyright holder for any of the digitized material and have questions about its inclusion on our site, please contact the Indiana University South Bend Archivist.

Preferred Citation:

[Item], Civil Rights Heritage Center Institutional records of the Civil Rights Heritage Center, Indiana University South Bend Archives.

Processing Information:

Processed by IUSB Archive student worker Kristi J. Dunn in Fall of 2006, throughout 2007 and Spring 2008. Updated by Archive Student Worker Susan Jacobs in 2008, 2009 and 2010. Updated by Archives Student Worker Joshua Crain on January 27, 2012. Updated by Archive Intern Steven Stelzer in Fall of 2012 and Spring of 2013. Updated by CRHC Tours and Collections Coordinator George Garner in Spring of 2014. Materials previously cataloged with the “Civil Rights Heritage Center Collection” were consolidated into this collection beginning September 2014 by CRHC Tours and Collections Coordinator George Garner. Updated by Archives Worker Adrian Esselstrom on May 5, 2015. Updated by George Garner to reflect new naming structure in December 2015. New materials are continually added to this collection as they become available.

Note:

In Spring 2014, the following materials were de-accessioned from the collection. IU South Bend Dean of Library Services Vicki Bloom and CRHC Tours and Collections Coordinator George Garner consulted and determined that the materials were not a fit for the collection:

- Ralph M. Gilbert Civil Rights Museum Tour Activity guide; circa 2006.

- Justice for the Jena 6 Posters; circa 2006.

- “Photo of Charles Sherrod: Albany, Georgia civil rights pioneer” (photo was a poor digital reprint from an unknown photographer).

- “A Song for Howard” by Maurice Miller, Fundraiser; circa 2007. Program from an event. The program contains no information on the date, nor connection to the CRHC.

Note:

In Fall 2013, materials concerning Freedom Summer were consolidated into their own collection. This includes some materials previously contained in the CRHC collection. These materials were removed and placed with the Freedom Summer collection.

Note:

Beginning in March 2014, the Oral History collection, previously held together with the student works and institutional records, were separated into their own sub-collection.

Note:

In Spring 2014, additional materials previously stored in another archives room were located. Since most were related to CRHC Institutional Records and the Freedom Summer tours, beginning in Fall 2014, CRHC Tours and Collections Coordinator George Garner consolidated them into the aforementioned collections. A number of files related to Leadership Academy and 21st Century Scholars (which were affiliated with CRHC for a time, but are no longer) were given to student worker Chelsea Ray-Dye for consolidation into their respective collections. Additionally, the following files were no longer considered relevant fits for the collection and were de-accessioned:

- “Freedom Summer and ‘Abraham Lincoln: Myth and Image’ Brochures and Flyers, 2000-2002 (Folder 5/2).” Freedom Summer materials that were not duplicates were added to that collection, brochures for IU South Bend events (non-CRHC) were given to student worker Chelsea Ray-Dye for consolidation, and flyers for the Center for History’s 2000 exhibition “Picturing Lincoln” were destroyed after communications with CFH revealed they have duplicates in their institutional records.

- “Head of the Class: Teacher Karen Page Returns to Profession that Inspired Her,” a photocopy of an article from the South Bend Tribune, was destroyed because there was no connection to the CRHC’s.

- “Coming Together: 50 Years after the Brown Decision,” photocopies of a series of articles in the South Bend Tribune in 2004. An original is contained in this collection (see “Coming Together…” April 8, 2004).

- “Living History: A Civil Rights Journey,” photocopy of a series of articles in the South Bend Tribune in 2004. These are duplicates of items already stored in the IU South Bend CRHC’s Freedom Summer collection.

- “’Civil Rights Now’ Vol. 5, Issue II,” is a duplicate of an item already in the collection.

- “Church in the Movement IV…” is a duplicate of an item already in the collection.

- “Art Auction” from April 12, 2008 is a duplicate of an item already in the collection.

- “The Power of a Moment,” is an article from the Indiana Alumni Magazine and is already contained in the Freedom Summer collection.