The Papers and Correspondence of the Urban League of Greater Cincinnati

f.* 1 A ' #$ 12 Ek ' f-' %« , 3. j* 7. \ .. &*/ Slti, ' b j , ' 5» 9 «'. 11,44't ' : 4% S r 4. k f t h 15», t„ fl»b 41} r:.#: ..# f:: P ff t r: 5/ 3, 1.5» S I WELFARE ASSOCIATION liu 80 FOR THE COLORED, RACE Incorporated Under the L44* 6/ JOhil:, ' j », M S, k 4 1 1 Cincinnati,Ohih Al « 1 S: 4:... i 162. 1'132 cp '.. r 149 11 " u 14 =. 3.:' r' Le r f 8 -, A . 4 f g i I I . t, 0.- Li W 9 0, Cd I. 7i %. 4, 8 44, t I » i 8497 nl.£ 49 . » C i I *. Qt 68 OHIO VALLEY HISTORY LEFT: A rare pamphlet from the collection. William War organized the Welfare Association forthe Colored Race on January 1, 1917," to eliminate many of the difficulties and troublesthat hinderthe race from progressing." CINCINNATI MUSEUM CENTER AT UNION TERMINAL, CINCINNATI HISTORICALSOCIETY COLLECTIONS. Collections Essay The Papers and Correspondence of the Urban League of Greater Cincinnati uture historians will record the first halfof the twentieth century as a time of great political upheaval and social agitation. Two world wars and an international economic depression provided the citalyst and almost everyone was affected in some way by these cataclysmic events. In particular,the Great Depression proved · an extremely difiicult time for underprivileged whites and African Americans. In Cincinnati hard times led to increased poverty and suffering,escalating existing social problems in the black community. Several local organizations formed to address the plight of African Americans. Among the earliest was the Welfare Associ·ation for the Colored Race ( 1917), followed by The Negro Civic Welfare Committee of the Council of Social Agencies ( 19171921 ), the Negro Civic Welfare Association Department of the Council of Social Agencies ( 19221935 ), and the Negro Welfare Division of the Cincinnati Community Chest 19361948 ). 1[ hese organizations, however,were not entities of-their own but parts oflarger social service agencies. This changed at a meeting held on September 24, 1948 at the Netherland Hilton Hotel,when local residents formed the Urban League ofGreater Cincinnati as a branch ofthe National Urban League,one ofthe nation' s oldest mainline civil rights organizations. It is a major force that works quietly,powerfully,and effectively throughout the community,combating racial inequalities. 3] he Cincinnati Historical Society Library is extremely fortunate to have among its holdings a large collection of papers and correspondence of the Urban League of Greater Cincinnati. Indeed,these papers form a cornerstone of the African American resources available to researchers. ' Ihe collection covers the years 1921 to 1975 and includes correspondence, reports, publications, newspaper clippings, and many other materials concerning the work of the Urban League,the city' s black community,as well as various social FALI« 2007 69 THE PAPERS AND CORRESPONDENCE OF THE URBAN LEAGUE agencies and issues related to civil rights in Cincinnati and the nation. The papers have an extensive description and guide and have been divided into two sections. The first is arranged alphabetically by specific subject headings, while the second is organized by type of record. The records are contained in sixty boxes totaling thirty cubic feet. The collection was a gift from the In January 1952 Cincinnati City Council unanimously requested that the Mayor's Friendly Relations Committee investigate" employment discrimination and fair employment practices in the Cincinnati areawith appropriate recommendations." Studies such as this led to Ohio's Civil Rights Act (1959). CINCINNATI MUSEUM CENTER AT UNION TERMINAL, CINCINNATI HISTORICAL SOCIETY COLLECTIONS. League in 1975,courtesy of Dewey Fuller, its longtime executive director. As stated in 1972,the purpose of the Urban League was " to plan for,encourage , assist and engage in the improvement of economic, industrial, social and cultural conditions of black and other disadvantaged people and to interest individuals · and groups in undertaking to meet such needs;to coordinate and cooperate with existing agencies and organizations to further these aims; to promote the improvement of race relations and to further cooperation of all groups in behalf of the common welfare" ( Guide to Collection). Executive Director Joseph A. Hall earlier characterized the organization as " a social work agency designed to improve living and working conditions...