Manuscripts Collection
Accession number: 12,355
Processed by: Dennis Meissner, February 1991
Digitized by: Minnesota Historical Society, February 2020.
Digitization was made possible by the Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund through the vote of Minnesotans on November 4, 2008.
Catalog ID number: 990017135550104294
Although the minutes itemize the decisions taken at meetings of the membership, board, executive commitee, and (occasionally) nominating committee, they are skeletal and do not give a full picture of the discussions that took place during the meetings. In general, the minutes concern such issues as racist acts, violence against African Americans, and discrimination against Blacks in employment and public accommodations, both in the Twin Cities and around the United States. The minutes record letter writing campaigns directed at federal, state, and local legislative and executive leaders, as well as at employers and educational bodies.
Anti-lynching legislation is an important topic (1934-1940), as is discrimination in the armed forces (1941-1942). There are also resolutions condemning racially insensitive performances and publications throughout the Twin Cities. Actions in support of, or requesting assistance from, the NAACP national body are also recorded.
Volume 1 (1934-1940) also contains a dues payment record for 1941-1942. Volume 2 (1940-1942) also contains an executive committee attendance record (1941) and lists of standing committee members, officers, and executive committee members (1941).
Volume 1
Volume 2
Includes programs from events of other St. Paul African American organizations (1904, 1905, 1937), a few pieces of St. Paul branch correspondence (1942), and the unbound minutes of an executive committee meeting (1942 May 7). Also included is one of a series of special annual reports (1959 May) to the membership, which summarizes all the programming and official actions of the chapter during the past year.
Digital version