Manuscript/Mixed Material National Negro Business League Correspondence, 1922 (T-Y).

Title

• National Negro Business League Correspondence, 1922 (T-Y).

Created / Published

• 1922, 1923

Headings

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

Genre

• Manuscripts

Notes

• -  Typed originals, carbon copies, and handwritten correspondence to and from the National Negro Business League pertain chiefly to the league's 1922 convention in Norfolk, Virginia, and to some extent to its 1923 convention, planned for Hot Springs, Arkansas. Most last names of correspondents in this folder begin with the letters "T" through "Y." The correspondence focuses on the league's affiliated organizations, which were to receive special attention at the 1922 sessions. Key players were Robert R. Moton, principal of Tuskegee Institute and league president, and Albon L. Holsey, secretary to Dr. Moton at Tuskegee, who succeeded Emmett Scott of Howard University as league secretary. A July 17, 1922, letter from Dr. Moton lists the presidents of the six affiliated organizations. Affiliations and prospective affiliations included African Americans in trade and professional groups such as undertakers, lawyers, bankers, farmers, newspaper men, insurance men, real estate men, retail grocers, retail druggists, tailors, shoe repair men, proprietors of restaurants, and proprietors of barber shops. A July 11, 1922, letter to J. Walter Thompson & Company in New York concerns arrangements for a representative from the prestigious advertising agency to give a demonstration and talk on "Goods Display" at the 1922 convention. A July 17, 1922, letter to the Honorable Lee Trinkle, governor of Virginia, discusses the governor's place on the convention program. Among the documents pertaining to plans for the 1923 annual convention in Hot Springs, Arkansas, is a January 8, 1923, letter from insurance man John L. Webb, president of the State Negro Business League of Arkansas, enclosing a list of the names and occupations of members of the local league in Hot Springs. An August 10, 1922, letter and enclosure about the national promotion of Health Days suggests the league's involvement in a national black health initiative. A June 8, 1922, letter from The Christian Recorder, "official organ of the A.M.E. Church" in Philadelphia, requests from Dr. Moton an article that can be used in a special Business Edition published each August. A few items relate to the League's fund-raising efforts and difficulties. Several letters request the printed minutes of league meetings at fifty cents apiece. Many of the documents offer insight into the internal operations of the league at both the national and local levels and the strategies used to strengthen networks among existing members and attract new members, along geographic and specific professional/trade lines. Selections reproduced as facsimile page images: 86 of 130 pages.

Call Number/Physical Location

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

Source Collection

• Booker T. Washington papers.

Repository

• Manuscript Division

Digital Id

• http://hdl.loc.gov/loc.mss/amrlm.mss44669_09

Online Format

• online text
• pdf
• image

IIIF Presentation Manifest

• Manifest (JSON/LD)