Southern Christian Leadership Conference records, 1958-2019

The Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC) records consist of three subseries: President Martin Luther King Jr. files, 1958-1968; President Ralph David Abernathy files, 1967-1977; and President Joseph E. Lowery files, 1960-2019, 1977-1997 (bulk).

President Martin Luther King Jr. files contain materials produced during the time King was president of SCLC (1958-1968). Administrative files include Citizenship Education Program files, the history of SCLC, and annual national convention files from 1963-1967. Of particular note are outgoing telegrams (1964) sent from King to his nine-year-old daughter, Yolanda King and to Betty Shabazz (1965) after the assassination of Malcolm X. The sub-series is arranged in alphabetical order.

President Ralph David Abernathy files include correspondence, administrative files, speaking engagements, writings and subject files from 1967-1977. General correspondence is related to activities, events, marches and meetings of the organization. Administrative files contain materials related to the daily operations of SCLC. Of particular note are the constitution and by-laws of SCLC (1968), annual national convention files from 1968 through 1976, and the Poor People’s Campaign (1968-1969) materials including demands, schedules, and other planning documents. Correspondence related to the logistics of Abernathy’s speaking engagements is also included. Writings contain statements, speeches and other writings by Abernathy including political issues, addresses at colleges, conventions and other organizations. Also included is a speech by Juanita Abernathy, Abernathy’s wife, after his jailing in 1969. Subject files include materials kept during Abernathy’s tenure as president. Of particular note are Abernathy’s biographical sketches, and Vietnam files. Also included are files from West Hunter Street Baptist Church, where Abernathy served as the church’s pastor for thirty years.

Correspondence is arranged chronological order by folder. Administrative files are arranged in alphabetical order. Speaking engagements in arranged in chronological order by folder. Writings is arranged in alphabetical order by title. Subject files are arranged in alphabetical order.

The bulk of President Lowery’s files include correspondence, administrative files and speaking engagements during his tenure as president from 1977-1997. General correspondence is related to activities, events, marches and meetings of the organization. Administrative files contain materials related to the daily operations of SCLC. Of particular note are materials related to the history of SCLC, and annual national convention files from 1977 through 2007. Correspondence related to the logistics of Lowery’s speaking engagements is also included. This subseries also includes some correspondence, SCLC records, and speaking engagement files kept by Lowery before and after his tenure as president.

Correspondence is arranged in chronological order by folder. Administrative files are arranged in alphabetical order. Speaking engagement files are arranged in chronological order by folder.