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Metadata types for Scottsboro Boys Letters
Q
The "Q" reference number from the Alabama Department of Archives and History (ADAH).
Q0000063083; Q0000063084
Address
Street address of the sender. More detailed than Coverage field.
Smith College, Northampton, MA
Mediator
The individual responsible to choosing a particular piece of text.
Margaret Sasser
Affiliation
Organizational Affiliation for Individuals
Department of Religion and Biblical Literature, Smith College
Stance
The sentiment of the letter - innocent or guilty.
Not guilty; move trial to Birmingham
Group
The type of group: organization, individual voices, or international locations
Individual Voices, Organization
Transcription
Transcribed or translated sound or text.
SMITH COLLEGE
NORTHAMPTON, MASSACHUSETTES
DEPARTMENT OF RELIGION AND BIBLICAL LITERATURE
NORTHAMPTON
MAR 24
2 30 PM
1933
MASS.
Governor Miller,
The Capitol,
Montgomery,
Alabama.
SMITH COLLEGE
NORTHAMPTON. MASSACHUSETTS
DEPARTMENT OF RELIGION AND BIBLICAL LITERATURE
March 24th, 1933.
Governor Miller,
The Capitol of Alabama,
Birmingham, Alabama.
My dear Governor Miller:
When Chief Justice Anderson made his heroic
report in the Scottsboro case, a host of American citizens felt that
Alabama might be saved from a stigma which centuries cannot wipe out.
Unfortunately it looks now as though the spirit
of race prejudice and mob law will again flood into the court room and
a legal lynching take place. The reports of the statements made by
the prosecution make countless American men and women who have
sympathy for that heroic band of Southern white men and women who have
been struggling to establish justice in place of injustice in the
Southern courts, seriously afraid that the spirit in which this trial
is about to be conducted is not one in which calm judgment will be
present, but, rather, hot and cruel blind emotion.
Had the trial been held in Birmingham I feel
that there might have been hope. Decatur has a record already stained
with mob violence. Its population is composed of the rural element,
uneducated and obsessed with a prejudiced for which they are not to
blame for they drank it with their mother's milk. Having lived in
the South, counting many of your outstanding leaders both of the white
and Negro race, among my friends, I know of what I write. But, you, Sir,
and the men of your class, know these things too, and the real responsi-
bility lies not with the poor and ignorant farmer and cotten grower,
but with the educated and enlightened men and women who hold high
positions of authority. If there is mob violence and the mob spirit
in the court room at Decatur the guilt lies with men like yourself,
who, for fear or favor, suffer such things to be.
Already in the minds of countless of your
fellow citizens and a larger hosts in the great nations outside our
land the state of Alabama has suffered great and lasting shame. The
treatment of the boys during these long months of imprisonment has
caused those of us who know to blush for America. The Nazi treatment
of the Jew is less harsh and cruel than what is being endured in
many any American prison camp and on many a chain gang. To the men who
have the courage and the fairness to help right these great wrongs
may not come popular acclaim among their own community, but men and
women who love justice will acclaim them and the future will enshrine
their names as pioneers of the better day.
Respectfully yours,
S. Ralph Harlow
S. Ralph Harlow
Professor, Smith College
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
SB_L_1933.03.24_0752
Source
A related resource from which the described resource is derived
Alabama Governor, Scottsboro Case appeals to the Governor, SG004237, Folder 18, Alabama Dept. of Archives and History
Title
A name given to the resource
Letter from S. Ralph Harlow in Northampton, Massachusetts, to Governor Miller in Birmingham, Alabama.
Creator
An entity primarily responsible for making the resource
Harlow, S. Ralph
Subject
The topic of the resource
Scottsboro Trial, Scottsboro, Ala., 1931; African Americans--Civil rights--Alabama; African Americans--Imprisonment--Alabama; Miller, Benjamin Meek, 1864-1944; Smith College; Anderson, John C.; Nazism
Description
An account of the resource
S. Ralph Harlow writes to Governor Miller that he had hoped Chief Justice Anderson's report on the Scottsboro case might have changed the course of things, but is disappointed that their trial will still take place in Decatur, instead of Birmingham, where prejudice may take hold of the courtroom. He believes that men like Governor Miller, who are educated and hold positions of power, not the "poor and ignorant" workers, are ultimately responsible for decisions such as these. He adds that treatment in prison camps and on chain gangs is worse than Nazis' treatment of Jewish people.
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
1933-03-24
Coverage
The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant
United States--Massachusetts--Northampton
Language
A language of the resource
English
Type
The nature or genre of the resource
Text
Format
The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource
Letter
Rights
Information about rights held in and over the resource
This material is a government record from the records of the Governor's Office of the State of Alabama and are subject to the provisions of 36-12-40 Code of Alabama, Rights of citizens to inspect and copy public writings.
Educators
Universities and colleges
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fce70fcc0555101a0e47e563954b235c
Text
Metadata types for Scottsboro Boys Letters
Q
The "Q" reference number from the Alabama Department of Archives and History (ADAH).
Q0000063051
Address
Street address of the sender. More detailed than Coverage field.
Tuskegee Institute, Tuskegee, Alabama
Mediator
The individual responsible to choosing a particular piece of text.
Margaret Sasser
Affiliation
Organizational Affiliation for Individuals
Tuskegee Institute
Stance
The sentiment of the letter - innocent or guilty.
Not guilty; takes no stance in regards to retrial or release
Group
The type of group: organization, individual voices, or international locations
Individual Voices, Organization
Transcription
Transcribed or translated sound or text.
TUSKEGEE INSTITUTE, ALABAMA
ROBERT R. MOTON
April 14, 1931.
Dear Governor:
I am writing to thank you for the promptness
and effectiveness of your action looking toward
the prevention of a horrible tragedy at Scottsboro
which, I am sure, had it transpired, would have
shocked the moral sense of the whole country, and
placed a stigma on out great state, wholly unde-
served for law and order which has been maintained
now for many years by her citizens.
The prompt and orderly process of punishing
crime meets with the hearty approval of all wor-
thy citizens in both races; but the end of the
law is justice and I am confident that in this
case you will see that such protection as the
courts can give will be meted out to the humblest,
the poorest - yes, and the blackest member of our
commonwealth.
Very sincerely yours,
R.R. Moton
c/
Hon. B.M. Miller
Governor of Alabama
State Capitol
Montgomery, Alabama
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
SB_L_1931.04.14_0606
Source
A related resource from which the described resource is derived
Alabama Governor, Scottsboro Case appeals to the Governor, SG004236, Folder 1, Alabama Dept. of Archives and History
Title
A name given to the resource
Letter from Robert R. Moton in Tuskegee Institute, Alabama, to Hon. B. M. Miller, in Montgomery, Alabama.
Creator
An entity primarily responsible for making the resource
Moton, Robert R.
Subject
The topic of the resource
Scottsboro Trial, Scottsboro, Ala., 1931; African Americans--Civil rights--Alabama; African Americans--Imprisonment--Alabama; Miller, Benjamin Meek, 1864-1944; Tuskegee Institute
Description
An account of the resource
Tuskegee Institute president Robert R. Moton writes to the Governor of Alabama on the school's letterhead, applauding the orderly punishment of crime, but stating that he hopes the courts will be equally just with African Americans as with whites.
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
1931-04-14
Coverage
The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant
United States--Alabama--Tuskegee
Language
A language of the resource
English
Type
The nature or genre of the resource
Text
Format
The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource
Letter
Rights
Information about rights held in and over the resource
This material is a government record from the records of the Governor's Office of the State of Alabama and are subject to the provisions of 36-12-40 Code of Alabama, Rights of citizens to inspect and copy public writings.
African Americans
Educators
Southern States
Universities and colleges
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Text
Metadata types for Scottsboro Boys Letters
Q
The "Q" reference number from the Alabama Department of Archives and History (ADAH).
Q0000063249; Q0000063250
Address
Street address of the sender. More detailed than Coverage field.
Meadville, PA
Mediator
The individual responsible to choosing a particular piece of text.
Margaret Sasser
Affiliation
Organizational Affiliation for Individuals
Superintendent, Meadville Public Schools
Stance
The sentiment of the letter - innocent or guilty.
Not guilty; stay of execution for Haywood Patterson if nothing else
Group
The type of group: organization, individual voices, or international locations
Individual Voices, Organization
Transcription
Transcribed or translated sound or text.
After 5 days, return to MEADVILLE, P.A.
SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS, JUN 19 1 - PM
High School Building, 1993
MEADVILLE, PA.
Hon. B. M. Miller,
State House,
Montgomery, Alabama
MEADVILLE PUBLIC SCHOOLS
WARREN P. NORTON, SUPERINTENDENT
MEADVILLE, PENN'A
June 19, 1933
Hon. B. M. Miller,
State House,
Montgomery, Alabama
Dear Governor Miller:
I wish to write in behalf of Heyward Patterson,
who, I understand, is condemned to die on June 24.
I appreciate the fact that the people of
Alabama feel that they are well able to take care of cases of this
kind without outside interference. I respect the feeling and am free
to say that I regret the fact that the International Labor Defense
people have assumed charge of the defense of the Scottsboro cases.
From the first, I had hoped that some association [not] communistic in it's
beliefs [would assume at large]. Unfortunately, however, the International
Labor Defense people got control of the defense. The face that they have
controlled the authorities of Alabama to show absolute justice to Heyward
Patterson and the other people who will come up for trial later.
If the [a] stay of execution on the part of the
Governor of the state becomes necessary, I feel certain that such a
stay will be granted. I have for years been interested in inter-racial
affairs, at the present time, being Chairman of the Inter-racial Committee
of the City of Meadville, Pa. I believe that we should all be striving
for justice for black and white alike. I have watched the Scottsboro
cases with a great deal of interest, and have hoped and still hope, that
justice will yet come.
Very truly yours,
Warren P. Norton
Warren P. Norton
WPN:NB
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
SB_L_1933.06.19_0998
Source
A related resource from which the described resource is derived
Alabama Governor, Scottsboro Case appeals to the Governor, SG004239, Folder 13, Alabama Dept. of Archives and History
Title
A name given to the resource
Letter from Warren P. Norton in Meadville, Pennsylvania, to Hon. B. M. Miller in Montgomery, Alabama.
Creator
An entity primarily responsible for making the resource
Norton, Warren P.
Subject
The topic of the resource
Scottsboro Trial, Scottsboro, Ala., 1931; African Americans--Civil rights--Alabama; African Americans--Imprisonment--Alabama; Miller, Benjamin Meek, 1864-1944; Patterson, Haywood, b. 1912; Communism; International Labor Defense; Interracial Committee (Meadville, Pennsylvania)
Description
An account of the resource
Warren P. Norton—the superintendent of public schools in Meadville, Pennsylvania—writes that although the communists of the International Labor Defense have control of the defense for the Scottsboro Boys, people should not keep from protesting Haywood Patterson's death sentence.
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
1933-06-19
Coverage
The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant
United States--Pennsylvania--Meadville
Language
A language of the resource
English
Type
The nature or genre of the resource
Text
Format
The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource
Letter
Rights
Information about rights held in and over the resource
This material is a government record from the records of the Governor's Office of the State of Alabama and are subject to the provisions of 36-12-40 Code of Alabama, Rights of citizens to inspect and copy public writings.
Educators
-
https://scottsboroboysletters.as.ua.edu/files/original/5f551f90c82a5f8280d0d529c9a14275.jpg
c513dfe70c933fd4f5bb9e2a723ace39
Text
Metadata types for Scottsboro Boys Letters
Q
The "Q" reference number from the Alabama Department of Archives and History (ADAH).
Q0000063259
Address
Street address of the sender. More detailed than Coverage field.
Hartford, CT
Mediator
The individual responsible to choosing a particular piece of text.
Margaret Sasser
Affiliation
Organizational Affiliation for Individuals
State Board of Education, State of Connecticut, Division of Field Service
Stance
The sentiment of the letter - innocent or guilty.
Not guilty; release
Group
The type of group: organization, individual voices, or international locations
Individual Voices, Organization
Transcription
Transcribed or translated sound or text.
STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION
STATE OF CONNECTICUT
DIVISION OF FIELD SERVICE
MAUD KEATOR Hartford, Connecticut
Special Education and Standards
July 25, 1933
Governor B. M. Miller,
State Capitol,
Montgomery, Alabama.
Your Excellency:
I wish to add my plea to the countless others you have
doubtless received asking for the release of the Scottsboro negro
boys.
As a native of Alabama, having been born in Decatur near
the scene of the trial, I am sincerely interested in this case,
and I earnestly hope that the people of the state will not allow
such gross injustice as the electrocution of these innocent boys.
Such procedure must surely elicit the disapproval and scorn of
the entire nation, or at least those enlightened states which are
not so benighted by bigoted racial prejudice.
I have always deplored the motto of my native state "Here
We Rest" in comparing it with the motto of the state of my Alma
Mater (the University of Wisconsin) whose watchword is "FORWARD".
Alabama will not only "Rest" but will definitely go backward if
she tolerates the murder of these negro boys who, because of their
color, are unjustly discriminated against.
Having been a State Child Labor Inspector in the Alabama
Child Welfare Department, I know the benighted attitude prevalent
among the majority of white employers with regard to negro child
labor, and I am acquainted with some of the grace injustices that
had to be tolerated simply because public opinion in the state
was not educated to the fact that child labor laws were enacted
for the protection of the black as well as the white child.
It is quite obvious that if these nine Scottsboro boys
were white they would have been released long ago. The Civil War
is over and most of our grandparents who fostered this racial
intolerance among us of the South are dead and silenced. The
marked decrease in lynchings in the South over the past few years
shows that we have made progress in changing our attitudes.
Why not change the motto of our state from "HERE WE REST" to
"LET'S GO"!
Yours sincerely,
Ruth Pointer
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
SB_L_1933.07.25_1033
Source
A related resource from which the described resource is derived
Alabama Governor, Scottsboro Case appeals to the Governor, SG004239, Folder 17, Alabama Dept. of Archives and History
Title
A name given to the resource
Letter from Ruth Pointer in Hartford, Connecticut, to Governor B. M. Miller in Montgomery, Alabama.
Creator
An entity primarily responsible for making the resource
Pointer, Ruth
Subject
The topic of the resource
Scottsboro Trial, Scottsboro, Ala., 1931; African Americans--Civil rights--Alabama; African Americans--Imprisonment--Alabama; Miller, Benjamin Meek, 1864-1944; Connecticut, State Board of Education, Division of Field Service; Alabama, Child Welfare Department
Description
An account of the resource
Ruth Pointer, a woman born in Alabama, writes that she dislikes Alabama's motto, "Here We Rest," and that Alabama will not only "rest" but go backward if it allows the execution of the Scottsboro Boys. She offers that Alabama should change its motto to "Let's Go!"
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
1933-07-25
Coverage
The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant
United States--Connecticut--Hartford
Language
A language of the resource
English
Type
The nature or genre of the resource
Text
Format
The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource
Letter
Rights
Information about rights held in and over the resource
This material is a government record from the records of the Governor's Office of the State of Alabama and are subject to the provisions of 36-12-40 Code of Alabama, Rights of citizens to inspect and copy public writings.
Educators
Southern States
Women