Manuscript/Mixed Material National Negro Business League Correspondence, 1922 (S).

Title

• National Negro Business League Correspondence, 1922 (S).

Created / Published

• 1922, 1923

Headings

• -  Moton, Robert Russa, 1867-1940
• -  National Negro Business League (U.S.)
• -  Afro-American businesspeople
• -  Manuscripts

Genre

• Manuscripts

Notes

• -  Selection includes photograph(s)., Typed originals, carbon copies, and handwritten correspondence, including picture postcards, to and from the National Negro Business League outline plans for the league's 1922 and 1923 annual conventions in Norfolk, Virginia, and Hot Springs, Arkansas, respectively. As indicated in the title, most last names of correspondents in this folder begin with the letter "S." Key players in the organization in the 1920s were Robert R. Moton, principal of Tuskegee Institute and league president; Albon L. Holsey, secretary to Dr. Moton at Tuskegee as well as league secretary; and Emmett J. Scott, secretary-treasurer of Howard University, who aided Booker T. Washington in founding the league and was secretary of the league before Mr. Holsey. Many of the documents offer insight into the internal operations of the League at both the national and local levels and also into the strategies used to strengthen networks among existing members and attract new members. An exchange of letters outlines the financial worry occasioned by league treasurer Charles H. Anderson's handling of the organization's money. A number of letters show that the league was able to secure special discounts for its members on railroad fares to the convention city. Some documents concern Emmett Scott's resignation as league secretary in the spring of 1922. Also mentioned are C. C. Spaulding of the North Carolina Mutual Life Insurance Co., who chaired the League's Committee on Business Promotion, and James E. Scott, who served as special representative and field organizer for the League. A July 27, 1922, letter from James Scott shows that the League hoped to organize a parade and an exhibit of business products, business magazines, and periodicals in conjunction with the 1922 convention in Norfolk. James Scott's letter also speaks of the League's having a "host of enemies." Other documents show that Carl Hunt, manager of the prestigious Associated Advertising Clubs of the World, was scheduled to give a speech on advertising at the convention. Among other items selected are letters from black businessmen across the country requesting information about how to start or reinvigorate local leagues. A couple of September 1922 newspaper clippings from the Northwestern Bulletin show that a local branch of the National Negro Business League had been reorganized as far from the rural South as St. Paul, Minnesota. Correspondence between the league and various academics, journalists, ministers, businessmen, and other professionals, including Arthur A. Schomberg, secretary-treasurer of the Negro Society for Historical Research in Yonkers, New York, solicits the names of successful black businessmen who can give informative convention talks based on personal experiences. Three items concern a letter from Julius Rosenwald, head of the Sears mail-order house and chain, friend of Booker T. Washington, and long-time supporter of Tuskegee. Selections reproduced as facsimile page images: 60 of 120 pages.

Call Number/Physical Location

• Container 1067. Non-Tuskegee Material: National Negro Business League
• Folder: Correspondence 1922 (S)

Source Collection

• Booker T. Washington papers.

Repository

• Manuscript Division

Digital Id

• http://hdl.loc.gov/loc.mss/amrlm.mss44669_08

Online Format

• online text
• pdf
• image

IIIF Presentation Manifest

• Manifest (JSON/LD)