Andrew J. Young Papers
Scope and Contents note
The Andrew J. Young Papers document his career and family life spanning more than 50 years, including his positions as a minister, civil rights activist, Congressman, Ambassador to the United Nations, Mayor of Atlanta, Co-Chair of the 1996 Atlanta Committee of the Olympic Games, and his involvement with Law Companies Group, Inc. and GoodWorks International.
The collection contains correspondence, speeches, press releases, calendars, books, minutes, reports, publications, articles, photographs, scrapbooks, artifacts, textiles, trophies and awards, artwork, posters, programs, campaign memorabilia, manuscripts, travel documents, notes, sermons, ephemera, and audio-visual material.
Dates
- 1910s-2007
Creator
- Young, Andrew, 1932- (Person)
Conditions Governing Access note
Audio-visual material does not include access copies for part or all of the material. Researchers will need to consult with staff before requesting audio-visual material.
Biographical/Historical note
Andrew Jackson Young was born in New Orleans on March 12, 1932, to Andrew Jackson Young, Sr., a dentist, and Daisy Fuller Young, a teacher. After graduating from Howard University in 1951 with a degree in biology, Young chose to become a minister. He attended Hartford Theological Seminary and was ordained in the United Church of Christ in 1955. On June 7, 1954, he married Jean Childs of Marion, Alabama, with whom he had four children, Andrea, Lisa, Paula, and Andrew "Bo" Jackson Young, III. Young married Carolyn Watson in 1996.
Young served in a variety of roles throughout his career. Starting as a minister in the 1950s, he joined the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC) in 1961, and eventually became a close assistant to Martin Luther King, Jr. From 1970-1972 he was the Chair of the Atlanta Community Relations Commission, and in 1972 he was elected to Congress. Young served as mayor of Atlanta from 1981-1989. After serving his two terms as mayor, Young ran for Governor of Georgia in 1990 but was defeated by Zell Miller. Young was the Co-Chair for the 1996 Atlanta Olympic Games and worked at Law Companies Group, Inc. In 1994, President Bill Clinton appointed him chairman of the Southern Africa Enterprise Development Fund. With Ambassador Carlton A. Masters, Young co-founded GoodWorks International in 1997.
Extent
474.0 Linear feet
Language
English
Arrangement note
The Andrew J. Young Papers are arranged into twelve series: Series 1, Church and Ministerial, 1951-2002; Series 2, Southern Christian Leadership Conference and Civil Rights, 1957-2003; Series 3, Community Relations Commission and Congress, 1964-1980; Series 4, Ambassador, 1975-1979; Series 5, Mayor, 1978-1989; Series 6, Gubernatorial Campaign, 1989-1990; Series 7, 1996 Atlanta Olympic Games, 1972-1996; Series 8, Private Career, 1977-2007; Series 9, Personal, 1941-2002; Series 10, Photographs, 1910s-2000s; Series 11, Audio-Visual, 1963-2005; Series 12, Awards and Artifacts, 1950s-2004.
Some topics and organizations are represented in more than one series and/or subseries, corresponding to the appropriate position held by Young.
Immediate Source of Acquisition note
The Andrew J. Young Papers were donated by Andrew J. Young in 2004.
- African American civic leaders -- Georgia -- Atlanta
- African American civil rights workers -- Georgia -- Atlanta
- African American clergy -- Georgia -- Atlanta
- African American mayors--Georgia--Atlanta
- African Americans--Civil rights--History--20th century.
- African Americans--Civil rights.
- African Americans--Politics and government--20th century.
- Ambassadors--United States
- Atlanta (Ga.)--Politics and government--20th century.
- Atlanta (Ga.)--Race relations.
- Atlanta Community Relations Commission
- Civil rights movements--United States--History--20th century
- Consulting firms--Georgia--Atlanta
- Economic development--Africa
- Economic development--Asia
- GoodWorks International.
- Governors--Georgia--Election.
- Humanitarian assistance
- Investments, Foreign--Africa
- Investments, Foreign--Asia
- Martin Luther King, Jr. Center for Social Change
- National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America
- Olympic Games (26th ) (1996 : Atlanta, Ga.)
- Refugees--Austria
- Southern Christian Leadership Conference
- United Church of Christ.
- United Nations -- Officials and employees
- United States -- Foreign relations -- 1977-1981
- United States -- Politics and government -- 1977-1981
- Young Ideas, Inc.
- Young, Andrew, 1932- -- Family
- Young, Andrew, 1932- -- Archives
- Title
- aarl98-005 aarl98-005
- Author
- Finding aid prepared by Finding aid prepared by Processed by Cheryl Oestreicher, Nicholas Fann, Brenda Tindal, and Michael Kaiser
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Latin
Repository Details
Part of the Auburn Avenue Research Library on African-American Culture and History Repository