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Julian Bond papers

 Collection
Identifier: aarl96-012

Scope and Content Note

Julian Bond first donated the items in this collection in 1996. It is made up of speeches, correspondences, addresses, and interviews. This collection also includes poetry written by Mr. Bond, personal and business papers, organizational and institutional material such as The Voter Education Project; Political Associates; and The Southern Elections Fund. There are several news articles, political ephemera, serial publications such as; News, Texas Times, Poverty Law Report. Written proposals for Journal of Black Politics, and The 1974 Massachusetts Black Caucus Legislative Proposal.

Dates

  • 1969-1996

Creator

Restrictions on Use

There are no restrictions on research use of this collection.

Copyright Restrictions

Prior permission from the Research Library must be obtained in writing before any portion of this collection can be published or reproduced.

Historical Sketch

Civil Rights Leader, Educator, and former Georgia Politician, Julian Bond was born January 14, 1940 in Nashville, Tennessee. Son of Julia Louise Washington Bond and Horace Mann Bond. Julian began his career as an activist and civil rights leader in a setting that served as a crucible for much of the political energy and creativity that propelled the Civil Rights Movement in the early 1960's: (The Southern college campus). While studying at Morehouse College in 1960, Bond helped formed The Committee on Appeal for Human Rights (COAHR), a group inspired by the student-led Greensboro sit-ins. While working with (COAHR), Bond organized similar protests against segregated businesses and public buildings in the Atlanta area. In April, 1960, (COAHR) and other student groups met in Raleigh, North Carolina to form the Student Non-Violent Coordinating Committee (SNCC) as an alternative to Martin Luther King, Jr.'s Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC)

In 1965 the proportion rural Georgia Legislature was reapportioned under court order, Bond ran for one of the newly created seats in the Georgia House of Representatives. Bond won both the primary and the general election by wide margins and was poised to join five other victorious freshman as the first African Americans to enter the House since 1907.

In 1968 at the Democratic National Convention, Bond's activities at the Convention dramatized the plight of African Americans trying to achieve effective political representation in the South. Following the convention, Bond embarked on a career of extensive public speaking while continuing to serve in the Georgia House.

In 1975 Bond was elected to the Georgia Senate, where he served until 1986, when he gave up his seat to run for the U.S. Congress in Georgia's fifth district. Following this defeat Bond moved away from representative politics and began teaching the history and politics of the Civil Rights Movement at several Universities while continuing to speak out on political and social issues.

In addition to his work as a public servant Bond has helped found or has served on the boards of numerous Civil Rights and Peace organizations, including the Southern Poverty Law Center, The Voter Education Project, and the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), for which he served as National Director and President of the Atlanta Branch.

Extent

0.5 Linear feet

Language

English

Overview

The collection covers the period from 1969 to 1996 and contains correspondence, organizational and institutional material related to the Voter Education Project, Political Associates, and The Southern Elections Fund, stationery, clippings, newsletters, political ephemera, articles and a book written by Julian Bond as well as items relating to the African American political life and Constance Curry's history of race relations and integration in Sunflower County (Miss.), Silver rights.

Series

Arranged by type.

Title
Inventory of the Julian Bond Papers aarl96-012 aarl96-012
Author
Finding aid prepared by Finding aid prepared by Auburn Avenue Research Library on African American Culture and History
Date
2004 September 15
Language of description
English
Script of description
Latin

Repository Details

Part of the Auburn Avenue Research Library on African-American Culture and History Repository

Contact:
101 Auburn Avenue NE
Atlanta GA 30303
404-613-4032