Steve Test

Items

• Letter from the Southern Association of Republican State Chairmen of Jackson, Miss.
  As Congress debated the voting rights bill, the Southern Association of Republican State Chairmen wrote to Congressman Arch Moore to express opposition to the legislation.
• Letter from the Warwood Methodist Church, Wheeling, W.Va.
  As Congress debated the voting rights bill, the Warwood Methodist Church of Wheeling, W.Va., wrote to Congressman Arch Moore to urge his support for the measure.
• Letter from the Temple Israel Sisterhood of Charleston, W.Va.
  As Congress debated the voting rights bill, the Temple Israel Sisterhood of Charleston, W.Va., wrote to Congressman Arch Moore to express their support for the legislation.
• Correspondence from the Leadership Conference on Civil Rights
  The Senate debated whether the Federal Government had the authority to ban poll taxes in state and local elections. As introduced, the administration bill did not ban such poll taxes. On April 9, the Senate Judiciary Committee reported a bill with a complete ban on poll taxes. Senate leaders Mike Mansfield (D-MT) and Everett Dirksen (R-IL) deleted the provision and substituted one authorizing federal courts to determine if local poll taxes were racially discriminatory. In a letter Arnold Aronson, Secretary, Leadership Conference on Civil Rights, urged Congressman Arch Moore to support a voting rights bill that eliminated all poll taxes. Senator Edward M. Kennedy (D-MA) sponsored a floor amendment that restored the committee-reported bill’s ban on all poll taxes. On May 11, the Senate narrowly defeated Kennedy’s amendment.
• Correspondence from United Steelworkers of America
  The Senate debated whether the Federal Government had the authority to ban poll taxes in state and local elections. As introduced, the administration bill did not ban such poll taxes. On April 9, the Senate Judiciary Committee reported a bill with a complete ban on poll taxes. Senate leaders Mike Mansfield (D-MT) and Everett Dirksen (R-IL) deleted the provision and substituted one authorizing federal courts to determine if local poll taxes were racially discriminatory. In a letter Francis C. Shane, Executive Secretary, United Steelworkers of America Committee on Civil Rights, urged Congressman Arch Moore to support a voting rights bill that eliminated all poll taxes. Senator Edward M. Kennedy (D-MA) sponsored a floor amendment that restored the committee-reported bill’s ban on all poll taxes. On May 11, the Senate narrowly defeated Kennedy’s amendment.
• Leadership Conference on Civil Rights press release
  The Senate debated whether the Federal Government had the authority to ban poll taxes in state and local elections. As introduced, the administration bill did not ban such poll taxes. On April 9, the Senate Judiciary Committee reported a bill with a complete ban on poll taxes. Senate leaders Mike Mansfield (D-MT) and Everett Dirksen (R-IL) deleted the provision and substituted one authorizing federal courts to determine if local poll taxes were racially discriminatory. The Leadership Conference on Civil Rights expressed displeasure with the Dirksen-Mansfield compromise. Senator Edward M. Kennedy (D-MA) sponsored a floor amendment that restored the committee-reported bill’s ban on all poll taxes. On May 11, the Senate narrowly defeated Kennedy’s amendment.
• Amendment to H.R. 6400
  On March 18, 1965, Representative Emanuel Celler (D-NY), chair of the House Committee on the Judiciary, introduced the administration bill, H.R. 6400. The Committee reported a revised H.R. 6400 on June 1, 1965.
• H.R. 6400 [Committee Print]
  On March 18, 1965, Representative Emanuel Celler (D-NY), chair of the House Committee on the Judiciary, introduced the administration bill, H.R. 6400. The Committee reported a revised H.R. 6400 on June 1, 1965.
• Sponsor Sheet for S. 1564
  Sixty-six senators signed on as co-sponsors of the voting rights bill, and the bill was referred to the Senate Committee on the Judiciary. The Committee was given explicit instructions to report back no later than April 9. Instructions were necessary because the chair, Senator James O. Eastland (D-MS), had never willingly reported a civil rights bill to the Senate floor for a vote.
• Correspondence from the Assistant Deputy Attorney General
  On March 17, 1965, the Johnson Administration sent its voting rights bill to members of the Senate and the House.
• Photograph of the House Committee on the Judiciary
  On March 17, 1965, the Johnson Administration’s voting rights bill was sent to members of the Senate and the House. The House Committee on the Judiciary began hearings on the bill, H.R. 6400, the following day.
• Telegram from Wheeling, W.Va., constituent in support of a voting rights bill
  The constituent asked Congressman Arch Moore to support the civil rights bill outlined by President Johnson in his address to Congress.
• Letter from Wheeling, W.Va., constituent in support of a voting rights bill
  The constituent asked Congressman Arch Moore to support the civil rights bill outlined by President Johnson in his address to Congress.
• President Johnson’s Message to Congress on Voting Rights
  President Johnson appeared before a televised, joint session of Congress to deliver a speech calling on Congress to pass a voting rights bill. Embracing rhetoric of the civil rights movement, he declared that the nation “must overcome the crippling legacy of bigotry and injustice. And, we shall overcome.” With the exception of Southerners, the entire House chamber stood and cheered, interrupting the president with thirty-nine ovations.
• "Police Clubs Fail: Tear Gas Halts Negro March" news article
  The news article describes the violent action taken by Alabama state troopers against the civil rights protesters.
• "Blood Flows in Selma, Many Negroes in Hospital: Gas Routs 600 Marchers" news article
  The Herald-Dispatch article described the violent attacks on marchers in Selma.
• Photograph of President Lyndon Baines Johnson signing the 1964 Civil Rights Act
  Congress passed civil rights acts in 1957 and 1960, but these produced only moderate gains. Civil rights activists became more active through sit-ins, boycotts, and Freedom Rides. In 1963 the Civil Rights Movement hit a turning point. That year saw the murders of civil rights workers, the March on Washington, and the deaths of four young girls in the bombing of Birmingham’s 16th Street Baptist Church. In June, President John F. Kennedy addressed the nation about his Civil Rights Act, and following his assassination in November, President Lyndon Johnson continued pressing for passage of the bill. The Civil Rights Act of 1964 outlawed discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, or national origin; required equal access to public places and employment; and enforced desegregation of schools.
• The Advocate cartoon
  African American artist John Henry Adams’ cartoon depicts a white man penning in black men with boards that read “state rights,” “mob,” “Jim Crow Law,” “Disenfranchisement,” and others. He wrote, “A votelessman [sic] is a slave and in no other way is slavery possible.”
• The Wheeling Daily Intelligencer
  The United States Congress passed the Fifteenth Amendment to the Constitution on February 26, 1869. The debates of the West Virginia Legislature, recorded in The Wheeling Daily Intelligencer, reveal support and trepidation for the proposed Fifteenth Amendment. The Senate debated whether to send the Amendment to the people of West Virginia for a vote but ultimately decided to ratify the Amendment in the legislature. Many argued that negro suffrage had been forced on the South, so they too should accept this “result of the war.” West Virginia ratified the Amendment on March 3, 1869, the second state to do so. It was enacted in February 1870.
• The House Joint Resolution proposing the 15th amendment to the Constitution
  The United States Congress passed the Fifteenth Amendment to the Constitution on February 26, 1869. It was enacted in February 1870.
• National Shrine of St. Francis of Assisi
• WV Teachers Strike
• Summers Beatty Roadside Photo
  Teachers holding signs.
• Summers Beatty Roadside Dance
• Interview with Daniel Summers, Conducted by Catherine Gooding
  An interview conducted by Catherine Gooding with Daniel Summers, and English teacher at University High School in Morgantown, WV. The interview was conducted at the Panera Bread located in downtown Morgantown. The interview discusses Mr. Summer's experience of the 2018 West Virginia Teachers' Strike.