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Summary
- Abstract:
- The NAACP Schenectady Branch Records document concerns for discrimination in housing and employment and for the recruitment of black professionals from colleges and universities to the area. The records also show the Branch's involvement with area social service providers, labor unions, and other community organizations, as well as with General Electric, as the area's major employer.
- Extent:
- 4 Reels
- Language:
- English .
- Preferred citation:
Preferred citation for this material is as follows:
Identification of specific item, series, box, folder, NAACP Schenectady (New York) Branch Records, 1949-1982. M.E. Grenander Department of Special Collections and Archives, University Libraries, University at Albany, State University of New York (hereafter referred to as the NAACP Schenectady Branch Records).
Background
- Scope and Content:
Records include Executive Committee minutes, 1949-1982 (missing December 1959-January 1963); membership meeting minutes, 1949-1980 (missing January 1963-1972, 1973 [only one meeting found], 1974, October 1975-April 1976); membership lists, 1949-1980; correspondence, 1949-1980; financial records, 1949-1979 (missing 1960-1962, 1966-1976).
The role of women in activist organizations and in civil rights work can be explored in these records through qualitative analysis of duties performed, often in membership drives and other outreach initiatives, fundraising events and organizational support. The Branch elected its first female President in 1959, Mrs. Malinda Myers.
- Biographical / Historical:
The Schenectady Branch of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People was founded in 1949 by an interracial group of men and women committed to the task of improving the status of Blacks in the Schenectady community. The first ten years of the Branch's activity were characterized by strong committee work in the areas of housing and employment. Committee work was focused on ameliorating discrimination in housing and hiring practices. At the National conventions of 1952 and 1953, the Branch was honored with the Thalheimer Award for outstanding performance in the elimination of discrimination in public housing.
The NAACP Schenectady (New York) Branch worked to eliminate discrimination against workers in local industry in a variety of ways, notably functioning as a clearinghouse for applicants and employers during the 1950s when many areas of employment were effectively closed to Blacks in Schenectady. At the same time, the Branch reached out to colleges and universities to recruit young Black professionals to the area. The 1970s saw the Branch reaching out into the community in new ways in order to keep interest in the group high. This activity included close contact with area social service providers and other community organizations. Internal branch problems surfaced at this time also, resulting in some dissipation of energies.
As a research source for investigating the status of race relations in a medium sized northern city, the records of the Schenectady Branch of the NAACP will be of some value. The presence of General Electric as a major employer in the city and a strong union presence sheds some light on race matters in labor as well as NAACP relations with socialist influenced groups. Systematic initiatives in housing and employment emanated from the local Branch from the time of its inception. Executive Committee files from the 1950s detail these initiatives.
The role of women in activist organizations and in civil rights work can be explored in these records through qualitative analysis of duties performed, often in membership drives and other outreach initiatives, fundraising events and organizational support. The Branch elected its first female President in 1959, Mrs. Malinda Myers.
- Acquisition information:
- The records were received from Joseph Allen, President of the NAACP Schenectady (New York) Branch. These records were lent to Dr. Gerald Zahavi as part of the Schenectady General Electric in the Twentieth Century Project with the understanding that the records would be microfilmed for addition to the Archives of Public Affairs and Policy of the University Libraries, M.E. Grenander Department of Special Collections and Archives. The records were received by the University Libraries in October 1994. The records were organized with funding support from the Schenectady General Electric in the Twentieth Century Project and microfilmed with funding support from the Capital District Black History Project. The original records were returned to Joseph Allen after microfilming was completed in October 1994.
- Processing information:
Processed in 1995 by Jeanne Manton.
- Arrangement:
The collection is organized into 6 topical series.
- Physical location:
- The materials are located onsite in the department.
Subjects
- Subjects:
- African Americans -- Civil rights -- History -- 20th century -- Sources.
African Americans -- Civil rights -- New York (State) -- History -- Sources.
African Americans -- Housing -- New York (State).
Civil rights -- New York (State).
African Americans -- New York (State) -- Schenectady.
African Americans -- Employment -- New York (State).
African Americans and Civil Rights Organizations
Ethnic Groups
Schenectady, New York
Social Activists and Public Advocates
Minutes
Letters
Registers
Reports - Names:
- National Association for the Advancement of Colored People. Schenectady Branch.
National Association for the Advancement of Colored People -- Archives.
Contents
Access
Using These Materials
- ACCESS:
- The archives are open to the public and anyone is welcome to visit and view the collections.
- RESTRICTIONS:
-
Access to this record group is unrestricted.
- TERMS OF ACCESS:
-
Per the microfilming agreement, the M.E. Grenander Department of Special Collections and Archives may allow research use of the filmed records and grant permission for the scholarly non-commerical publication of quotes from them. Rights to the materials still reside with the NAACP Schenectady (New York) Branch Records.
- PREFERRED CITATION:
-
Preferred citation for this material is as follows:
Identification of specific item, series, box, folder, NAACP Schenectady (New York) Branch Records, 1949-1982. M.E. Grenander Department of Special Collections and Archives, University Libraries, University at Albany, State University of New York (hereafter referred to as the NAACP Schenectady Branch Records).