Race discrimination

Letter from Simon Wolf to Theodore Roosevelt

Simon Wolf is part of a movement to send a petition to Emperor Nicholas II and Russia regarding discrimination against Jews. Wolf is willing to stop the petition if it would damage the Roosevelt administration or the country’s interests. He believes Russia is actively working to prevent the petition, including attempts to sway public opinion by bribing journalists. Wolf warns that Russia is masquerading as a friend but is aiming to “absorb China and the Eastern trade.”

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1903-07-03

The nation and the negro

Newspaper article denouncing southerners for doing nothing about recently revealed African American peonage in Alabama. The article calls for the whole nation to do its duty and prevent these abuses.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1903-06

The purpose of the agitators

Newspaper article suggesting that the goal of disenfranchising African Americans is to remove them as a powerful voting bloc in northern states. Without these northern votes, southern politicians will be able to elect the president and control all national legislation.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1903-06

The pulpit on the negro

Sermon extracts from Rev. Dr. Dean R. Babbitt, Rev. Dr. David Gregg, and Rev. Dr. Newell Dwight Hillis regarding discrimination against African Americans in the south.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1903-06

The negro

In a recent speech, Representative Humphreys suggested that some Southerners would be willing to accept a reduction of their representation in Congress in return for a repeal of the Fifteenth Amendment to the Constitution. Humphreys portrayed the amendment as an “incubus” that was sapping the South’s liberties. The article’s creator faults Humphreys for his ignorance and states that the Fifteenth Amendment will never be repealed.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1903-06

Letter from Lawrence F. Abbott to Theodore Roosevelt

Lawrence F. Abbott has spoken with Booker T. Washington on the race problems of the South. Abbott also sends the latest comments from The Outlook about President Roosevelt’s racial policies.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1903-01-31

Letter from Lawrence F. Abbott to George B. Cortelyou

Lawrence F. Abbott sends his thanks for the information regarding the “colored officials” at the White House Judicial Reception.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1903-01-31

Negro office-holders

Magazine article on President Roosevelt’s appointments of African Americans to government positions.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1903-01-24

The Indianola case

Magazine article supporting Minnie M. Geddings Cox and her continued service as postmaster in Indianola, Mississippi.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1903-01-24

The nation vs. Indianola

Newspaper article supporting President Roosevelt’s position in the Indianola post office case. Complaints were raised against Indianola’s postmaster, Minnie M. Geddings Cox, due to her race. Roosevelt supported Cox and federal authority to appoint postmasters.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1903-01-27

Summary of letter from William H. Brawley

William H. Brawley understands President Roosevelt’s position regarding the marshalship and agrees with him. He does not believe that people of color have the capacity to hold public office and opposes the appointment of William Demos Crum as Collector of the Port of Charleston.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1902-12-09

Letter from William H. Brawley toTheodore Roosevelt

William H. Brawley has a low opinion of the Republican Party in South Carolina. He agrees with President Roosevelt regarding the Marshalship and he approves of not appointing William D. Crum to the Collectorship. Brawley expresses his belief that Crum’s standing in the community would not suggest such an appointment and that that no one would “consider him for the place if he were not a colored man.” Brawley disclaims racism and mentions fighting against the Ku Klux Klan while a solicitor in the 6th Circuit, but he also states that the efforts to improve the political rights of African Americans are “hindered rather than helped” by appointing them to jobs that “awaken resentments.”

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1902-12-09

To the white voters and the wives and daughters of Richmond

Election pamphlet supporting the Democratic Party and white supremacy. The primary focus of the pamphlet is to repudiate President Roosevelt for having dinner with Booker T. Washington at the White House.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1902

Letter from Booker T. Washington to Theodore Roosevelt

Booker T. Washington gives his opinion of Dr. William Demos Crum, who has been suggested for Collector of the Port of Charleston in South Carolina. Several white men oppose Crum’s appointment, saying that he bartered his vote in the 1888 Republican convention. However, Washington supports Crum in the face of white opposition to his appointment, saying that when an African American appointment was required in Charleston previously, both races supported Crum.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1902-12-01

Letter from Jeter Connelly Pritchard to Theodore Roosevelt

Senator Pritchard would like to speak with President Roosevelt about his efforts to promote the Republican Party in North Carolina. Pritchard believes he has built an effective Republican organization in North Carolina. He points out that some African Americans were denied admittance to the Greensboro Convention because they were not elected by qualified voters and were there to stir up trouble. He says that he is a Roosevelt supporter, but that he will resign from the National Committee if forced to appoint African Americans to prominent positions. Pritchard argues that these appointments would undermine Republican efforts at a time when more white voters supported the Republicans.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1902-11-21

The President on the appointment of Negroes

Magazine article supporting President Roosevelt’s appointment of William Demos Crum as Collector of the Port of Charleston and his policy of appointing African Americans to government positions.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1902-12-06

Letter from J. C. Hemphill to Theodore Roosevelt

J. C. Hemphill lays out his reasoning as to why William D. Crum should not be appointed Collector of the Port of Charleston. His main reasoning is racially based. Hemphill believes having a “colored man” in the position would be “obnoxious” to most businessmen. He mentions Crum’s race extensively but also mentions that Crum is not engaged in business. Hemphill suggests that a white Republican could be given the position with little problem.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1902-11-11

Letter from James Adger Smyth to George B. Cortelyou

Mayor Smyth objects to the appointment of Dr. Crum as collector for the Port of Charleston on the basis of lack of qualifications and race. Smyth points out that Crum switched his vote at the Republican convention from James G. Blaine to Benjamin Harrison with the promise of a political office. Smyth argues that Crum does not have the business experience to handle the job. He also argues that an African American should not be in the position, especially in light of the Reconstruction era.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1902-11-10

Telegram from Booker T. Washington to George B. Cortelyou

Booker T. Washington does not want the Thompson appointment held up. He requests that John S. Webb be appointed as postmaster at Tuskegee, Alabama. Washington will provide further advice after his meeting with James Sullivan Clarkson. He also believes the opposition to William Demos Crum is based on color, not character, and that white support would be helpful.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1902-11-07

Letter from R. Goodwyn Rhett to George B. Cortelyou

R. Goodwyn Rhett disapproves of the appointment of William Demos Crum as collector of the Port of Charleston. He claims that since Reconstruction, white people have been in “political bondage” and that appointing an African American to a position of office would be disastrous not only to Charleston, South Carolina, but also “to the South, and, possibly, the whole Nation.” Furthermore, such an appointment would be a “stigma” upon the white population. As such, he hopes his admiration and the admiration of the other white individuals in the area for President Roosevelt will succeed in preventing the appointment.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1902-11-07