IUSB Civil Rights Heritage Center Collection

Box/ Folder

Title

Contents

1/1

Alma Powell Lecture Picture Negatives; March 26, 1999

Photograph negatives featuring Alma Powell at an unknown lecture.

1/2

The Black Women in the Middle West Project; 1986

Contains essays, oral histories, and documents from the “Black Women in the Middle West Project,” an effort by the Purdue Research Foundation to collect significant achievements made by selected African American women in Illinois and Indiana.

1/3

”Comparisons Between Blacks and Whites in Southwest Michigan”; circa 1986

Research from the Community Information System for Human Service out of Western Michigan University compiling statistical data from the 1980 census comparing white and African American residents in southwest Michigan.  

1/4

“Handbook of Profiles in the Contemporary Black History of South Bend”

Small booklet published by the St. Pierre Ruffin Club (an African American social club) in 1973. Includes brief biographical information on a number of prominent African Americans living in South Bend.

1/5

Indiana Civil Rights Commission Annual Report, 1976-77

Report published by the Indiana Civil Rights Commission in 1977 detailing their work for the previous year.  

1/6

Leadership Award, David Healey; ca. April 2005

Award from IU South Bend’s Project LEAD presented to CRHC’s David Healey on April 15, 2005.

1/7

Photographs, CRHC Students at the Naming of MLK Drive; December 2, 2005

Contains ten (10) photographs taken at events surrounding the renaming of part of Chapin Street to Martin Luther King Jr. Drive in downtown South Bend. Also includes a program from the dedication event. Also includes a recordable compact disc (CD-R) with digital photographs. Also contains an article from the South Bend Tribunefrom December 3, 2005 about the event.

1/8

Photograph, Mural on Western Avenue; circa 2010

Computer printed print (on plain paper) of a mural on a building on 526 Western Avenue in South Bend, Indiana, honoring migrant farm workers. The mural was painted over by the Granger Community Church. Photograph is from circa 2010. A digital copy is stored on the IU Box system.

1/9

Porter Rea Cemetery Historical Marker Commencement; September 13, 2003

Essay and photographs (unknown author or photographer) from the dedication of an historical marker at the Porter Rea Cemetery. Porter Rea featured burial grounds of both white and early African American settlers.  

1/10

Program, Mahalia Jackson in Concert

Program from a March 12, 1960 performance by famed gospel singer Mahalia Jackson held at the Morris Civil Auditorium (present-day Morris Performing Arts Center) and sponsored by the Olivet African Evangelical Methodist Church. Contains lists of Olivet AME officers and advertisements from local businesses.  

1/11

Program, MLK at University of Notre Dame; October 18, 1963

Souvenir program from the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King’s visit to the Stepan Center at the University of Notre Dame. Also includes a receipt from the Southern Christian Leadership Rally (SCLC) certifying that Linda D. Rowe “has invested $2.00 in the Freedom Struggle in the South.” Note:Originally housed in a modern grey folder from 1^stSource Bank with Linda Row Regelean’s name and phone number written in marker on the inside. Folder was discarded.

1/12

Program, Olivet AME 132nd Anniversary Celebration; May 4, 2003

Features a list of events and local advertisements. Olivet African Methodist Episcopal (AME) church is the oldest African American church in South Bend.

1/13

Program, Olivet AME 140th Anniversary Celebration; May 2, 2010

Program from the 140^thcelebration of Olivet African Methodist Episcopal (AME) church. Contains a list of events, with speakers including former CRHC Interim Director Alma Powell. Also includes a history of the church, the oldest African American church in South Bend. Program is a gift of John Charles Bryant.

1/14

Program, Our Day Together Club Presents Rosa Page Welch; March 31, 1946

Program from a concert held on March 1, 1946 at Hering House featuring mezzo-soprano Rosa Page Welch and sponsored by the Our Day Together Club.

1/15

Program, Our Day Together Club Christmas Dinner; December 8, 1996

Program from the Our Day Together Club’s Christmas dinner held at Olivet AME Church. Ms. Helen Pope was President at the time.

1/16

South Bend Community Development Program; circa 1970s

Contains notes, correspondence, and documents from the North East Concerned Citizens and the South Bend Community Development Program. In the 1970s, South Bend, facing declining population and increasing economic challenges in the face of a changing manufacturing climate post-Studebaker, engaged in aggressive actions to spark positive change. Jesse Dickinson was involved in this effort, and several pieces here are addressed specifically to him.

1/17

South Bend Community School Corporation Equal Employment Policy; December 13, 1978

Memo from Willie Green, Executive Director, containing a proposed equal employment policy from Donald Dake, Superintendent of the South Bend Community School Corporation.

1/18

Summary Manpower Indicators for South Bend; circa 1974

Copy of a computer printout for the Urban League of South Bend and St. Joseph County. Using 1970 Census data, contains information about employment by age and demographics.

1/19

Urban League, On-the-Job Training Project; circa November 24, 1962

Fact sheet from the Urban League of South Bend’s On-the-Job Training Project.

1/20

Women’s Council for Human Relations Institute; circa 1968

Contains two documents: a report of the Social Action Committee from February 13, 1968, and a list of people leading workshops on housing, education, and human relations in and around South Bend. No date on the second document, but presumed to be from the late 1960s.  

1/21

The Supreme Circle; no date

Two small booklets glued to a sheet of paper, one containing a hand-drawn logo and another containing the handwritten title, “The Supreme Circle.” Presumably, this is a South Bend chapter of the Supreme Royal Circle of Friends of the World, also known as the Royal Circle of Friends, which was an African American fraternal organization that began in Arkansas in 1909 and grew popular throughout the United States before the second World War. [1] The booklets contain a list of officers (including George Woolridge, John Frazer, and B.G. Smith). No date, but presumed to be circa 1920s to 1930s. This piece was originally donated by Ida Mitcham as part of the Hering House materials. (Carolyn Yancey Kent, “Supreme Royal Circle of Friends of the World,” Encyclopedia of Arkansas History, accessed December 17, 2014, http://www.encyclopediaofarkansas.net/encyclopedia/entry-detail.aspx?entryID=5861.)

1/22

Invitation, Sport Dance; circa May 28, 1937

Invitation for the first annual Sport Dance held at Erskine Country Club and sponsored by South Bend’s “Amusementers.” George Woolridge is listed as the Business Manager. No information yet found about the sponsoring group. Contains two identical invitations are glued to a piece of paper. This piece was originally donated by Ida Mitcham as part of the Hering House materials.  

1/23

Program, Youth Relations Sunday; February 1, 1939

Program from a youth relations event sponsored by the South Bend Youth Council and held at an unknown location. The Hering House Chorus provided music. This piece was originally donated by Ida Mitcham as part of the Hering House materials.

1/24

Program, 5th Annual Youth Conference Banquet

Program from a banquet held at the YWCA (121 N. Lafayette Blvd) in South Bend on June 12, 1937. Ida Mitcham is listed as the Toastmistress, and “Mrs. B.G. Smith” and Jesse Dickinson listed under “Pep Songs.” 

1/25

Program, 8th Annual Youth Conference; June 1 to 3, 1940

Program from a conference held at the Senate Avenue YMCA in Indianapolis, Indiana. Joe Henderson of South Bend was an officer. This piece was originally donated by Ida Mitcham as part of the Hering House materials.  

1/26

Program, Mid-West Youth Movement; June 16 to 18, 1939

From the seventh annual Mid-West Youth Movement conference held at the Colored Community Center in Anderson, Indiana. Ida Mitcham of the Hering House was a presenter. This piece was originally donated by Ms. Mitcham as part of the Hering House materials.

1/27

Program, Indiana-Michigan Youth Conference; June 8 to 30, 1935

Program from a conference held at an unknown location, likely in South Bend, Indiana, with some sessions taking place at Olivet AME Church. Includes presentations by Charles Ashe, C.H. Wills, B.G. Smith, J. Chester Allen, and others. This piece was originally donated by Ms. Mitcham as part of the Hering House materials.

1/28

“Directory of Negroes in Business”, “Negro History Week” Program; ca. 1960s

Two items donated by Bernita Johnson and Debra Smith-Phillips. The two ladies walked into the Natatorium to offer the donation – at the time, Natatorium staff did not have/use donation paperwork. They donation included two items – “Directory of Negroes in Business” and “Negro History Week” program. The Directory was published in April 1967 by the St. Joseph County Center for Economic Development and includes a list of businesses organized by business type, their addresses and phone numbers. The “Negro History Week” program was organized by the South Bend Human Relations and Fair Employment Practices Commission and held at the Morris Civic Auditorium on February 15, 1968. It includes remarks from Rev. Theodore M. Hesburgh from the University of Notre Dame, John Brademas (then Congressperson), among others.

1/29

Photograph, Alpha Kappa Alpha Cotillion; ca. 1960

Photograph of twelve women before a formal Alpha Kappa Alpha (African American sorority) cotillion, ca. 1960, held at the Oliver Pick Hotel in South Bend. Includes Rosa Williams, Judy Bell, Barbara Alfred, Anne Powell, Jan Donaldson, Sandra Graham, Sharon (?) McCullom, Maureen Lanier, Alma Nesbitt (later Powell), Arnetta Collins, Gwen Townsend, Marsha Denney. Of the women in this picture, four hold doctoral degrees.

1/30

Photograph, Alma Powell and Lyn Coleman; circa September 1994

Color photograph of IU Alum and former CRHC Interim Director Alma Powell along with former South Bend Police Officer Lyn Coleman at an event at the Century Center.

1/31

Photographs, LeRoy Cobb

Recordable compact-disc (CD-R) containing digital scans of photographs from LeRoy Cobb Sr.

1/32

Photograph, Chalfant Heights; no date

Two photographs donated by Ms. Reva Moody of 710 and 722 North Twyckenham Drive, both of which are located in the Chalfant Heights neighborhood of South Bend. Chalfant Heights was a predominately African American neighborhood made so by the practice of “red-lining,” where real estate agents would encourage African Americans to buy homes there and discourage them from buying homes in predominately white areas. Ms. Moody donated this and other items to the CRHC on February 25, 2015. This folder also contains the Deed of Gift for items donated by Ms. Moody.

1/33

Commemorative Document; no date

From President Gerald Ford commemorating the loss of life and service of Grant Martin who served in the United States Armed Forces. Ms. Reva Moody donated this and other items to the CRHC on February 25, 2015. See box #2 for additional materials donated by Ms. Moody.

1/34

Property Title; circa 1922

Record of the title for lot 279, 3^rdplat of Park Place located in South Bend, Indiana. The record begins in 1922 and continues through circa 1978. Ms. Reva Moody donated this and other items to the CRHC on February 25, 2015. See box #2 for additional materials donated by Ms. Moody.

1/35

Father Theodore Hesburgh Received 2005 Trumpet Award; circa 2005

Contains photographs, a large program book, and correspondence between Representative Andrew Young of Georgia, Father Hesburgh, Jerry Hammes (major contributor to the University of Notre Dame), and others about Father Hesburgh’s acceptance of the 2005 Trumpet Awards on April 25, 2005 in Atlanta, Georgia. The Trumpet Awards, “acknowledges the accomplishments of…individuals and/or groups who augment the richness of this great global society by partnering with the cause of justice and equality of all.” (“Trumpet Awards.” Accessed April 8, 2015. http://trumpetfoundation.org/about/purpose/.)

2/1

Photograph; circa 1970s

Portrait of members of the Martin family including Grant and Melvan M. Martin, original owners of the home at 710 N. Twyckenham Drive located in the Chalfant Heights neighborhood of South Bend. There is no date on the photograph, however, from the style of dress and hair, it was presumably taken in the late 1970s. Ms. Reva Moody donated this and other items to the CRHC on February 25, 2015. See box #1 for additional materials donated by Ms. Moody.

2/2

Plaque, NAACP Life Membership, Rodney Grant Martin, Jr.; July 1985

Plaque with a laminated plaque acknowledging that Rodney Grant Martin Jr. is a life member of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) issued July 1985. Ms. Reva Moody donated this and other items to the CRHC on February 25, 2015. See box #1 for additional materials donated by Ms. Moody.

2/3

Plaque, NAACP Life Membership, Melvan Martin; June 1983

Plaque with a laminated plaque acknowledging that Melvan Martin is a life member of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) issued July 1985. Ms. Reva Moody donated this and other items to the CRHC on February 25, 2015. See box #1 for additional materials donated by Ms. Moody.

2/4

Blueprint; June 24, 1965

Blueprint from the William Morris Agency for the home of Mr. and Mrs. Grant Martin, dated June 24, 1963. Ms. Reva Moody donated this and other items to the CRHC on February 25, 2015. See box #1 for additional materials donated by Ms. Moody.

2/5

”Ghetto” Board Game

Board game entitled, “Ghetto,” from 1969. The game attempts to impart upon the player the difficulties of living in the inner city. Contains the game board, pieces, dice, game manual, score cards, and other needed pieces.

2/6

Photograph, South Bend Central High School Basketball; circa 1953

Black and white photograph of the 1953 South Bend Central High School basketball team and others in celebration. On a “post-it” note originally attached to the back: “Given to CRHC by John Charles Bryant 5/23/01”.

3/1

Luten Scrapbook

Scrapbook created by Alex W. Luten. Mr. Luten was an African American solider who served during World War II. The scrapbook contains photographs and comments of and from fellow soldiers. Note:The scrapbook is incredibly fragile and must be handled with extreme care.