Meeting of the Executive Committee, 1967-1978

This series contains the bulk of the material in the John H. Wheeler collection documenting his extensive work throughout Durham, North Carolina and the nation as a Black businessman and civil rights leader. After graduating from Morehouse College in 1929, he left Atlanta for Durham, North Carolina where he was employed at the Mechanics and Farmers Bank, a sister institution to the North Carolina Mutual Trust. He became the president of Mechanics and Farmers Bank in 1952 and under Wheeler's direction, the bank became an instrument for social change, making possible the purchase of decent homes and the acquisition of federal loans for housing projects, while serving as the financial institution for many civil rights organizations.

Beyond his presidency at Mechanics and Farmers Bank, Wheeler was involved in many civic organizations that ranged from civil rights groups, and national organizations, to personal interests such as the American Tennis Association. Wheeler worked throughout his life as a leader and member of many of these organizations in his quest for racial equality in all areas of life. Along with several others, Wheeler helped to found the Durham Committee on Negro Affairs, a Black political organization that became one of the South's most effective local movements in the struggle for civil rights and economic justice. He served on the committee until his death in 1978. He also worked to integrate universities, public education, health care and housing through various organizations both locally and nationally, such as the Commission on Race and Housing, the Committee for Economic Development, Durham County Hospital Commission, Health Planning Council, the National Corporation for Housing Partnership, the NAACP Legal Defence Fund, and the National Urban Coalition.In 1961, President John F. Kennedy appointed Wheeler to the President's Committee on Equal Employment and he later served as the President of the Southern Regional Council from 1963-1968. Wheeler's civil rights work and business acumen, garnered him national recognition. In 1964 he became North Carolina's first black delegate to the National Convention of the Democratic party. He also worked internationally as part of the United States-South Africa Leadership Exchange Program.

Wheeler continued to demonstrate his support for higher education as a board member of Atlanta University and Morehouse College, and earned several honorary degrees from various colleges and universities throughout his career.

This series contains correspondence from notable figures such as President John F. Kennedy, President Lyndon B. Johnson, Benjamin Mays (President of Morehouse College), Arthur Ashe and many others. It also includes meeting minutes, organizational founding documents, by-laws, legal information, reports, financial records, press releases, and newsletters, along with other printed materials and ephemera produced by the various organizations.