Transcribe
Translate
Cecile Cooper correspondence, 1966-1979
Historical Highlights of the QCCHR Page 1
More information
digital collection
archival collection guide
transcription tips
HISTORICAL HIGHLIGHTS OF THE QCCHR (A synopsis of events which led to the formation of the Quad Cities Council on Human Rights and significant activities marking its first ten years of existence, presented by Donald C. Teigland, Chairman of the Executive Committee, at the 10th Anniversary Program, October 25, 1966, at the Unitarian Church, Davenport, Iowa:) I would presume to believe that because we are all human we share tendencies to respond with some similarity to situations and circumstances. Because of this being human, unrelated events in widely separated places can often lead people to concerted action. An event occured on a hot afternoon during the summer of 1956, in the city of Montgomery, Alabama, which influenced people in hundreds of communities throughout the entire country. A Negro woman, apparently without any realization of the possible consequences, because "her feet were tired", remained seated on a city bus even though the conductor ordered her to move to the back. The arrest of Rosa Parks, and the subsequent Montgomery "bus boycott", was one such event which evoked a human response of great significance. A prior event, the formation of the Chicago Commission on Human Relations had also taken place. By itself, this event might have been significant only to Chicago. One of its active participants, however, was Waitstill Sharp, a dedicated volunteer in the struggle for equality of opportunity. After coming to Davenport, as minister for the Unitarian Church, Mr. Sharp expressed regret and some amazement, over the absence of a centralized, community-wide organization, the main concern of which would be the fight against discrimination. I single out Waitstill Sharp, for while the response to the Montgomery bus boycott evoked considerable interest in our community, it was his commitment to action that led the way to a getting together of people and organizations previously involved in this area of need on their own. But still another event was needed as a spur to organization. Early in June of 1956, Governor Hoegh of Iowa announced that the Governor's Commission to Study Discrimination in Employment would hold public hearings in the City of Davenport on June 18. Faced with the need of clearly presenting to the Governor's commission the community's need for a Fair Employment Practices Bill, an emergency meeting was held at the Unitarian Church on June 11, of as many interested people as possible. Those who attended, in addition to preparing for the hearing, voted to take steps to form a Quad Cities Council on Human Relations. Those who testified at the hearing were the vanguard of the civil rights movement in Davenport: Charles Toney, representing the NAACP, Rev. T. Spencer Patton, Rev. John I. Thomas, Father Wm. O'Connor, Rev. Nathaniel Butler, Rev. Waitstill Sharp and Lemmie Jackson, a union spokesman. All the witnesses were critical of the discriminatory employment policies in Davenport, both public and private. Mr. Toney pointed out that "there are no Negroes on the Davenport police and fire departments, none engaged as teachers in the public school system and non employed as clerks in retail stores. Only one Davenport plant employs a Negro skilled worker". On the day of the hearing the following announcement was given to the press: "The Reverend A. James Johnson of East Moline, The Reverend T. Spencer Patton and The Reverend Waitstill H. Sharp of Davenport announce a public meeting at the Unitarian Church, 119 East 10th. Street, on Wednesday night, June 20 at 7:30 P.M., to review the proceedings at the June 18 Public Hearing of the Governor's Commission on Discrimination in Employment. There will also be discussion of the project in which union leaders and clergyman on both sides of the River have taken a lead during the past year, to form a Quad Cities Council on Human Rights the business of which would be to provide a continuous program of action and education to terminate all forms of discrimination for reasons of race, religion or national origin. The public is invited to attend and to take part. There will be no solicitation of funds. The meeting was held, the Quad Cities Council on Human Rights was formed with Nathanial Butler as its first temporary Chairmand and Waitstill Sharp as its first Secretary, Pro-Tem. A period of incubation followed during which the loyalty to an idea was severely tested. Meetings were scheduled but very few, often only two or three, were in attendance. A Committee
Saving...
prev
next
HISTORICAL HIGHLIGHTS OF THE QCCHR (A synopsis of events which led to the formation of the Quad Cities Council on Human Rights and significant activities marking its first ten years of existence, presented by Donald C. Teigland, Chairman of the Executive Committee, at the 10th Anniversary Program, October 25, 1966, at the Unitarian Church, Davenport, Iowa:) I would presume to believe that because we are all human we share tendencies to respond with some similarity to situations and circumstances. Because of this being human, unrelated events in widely separated places can often lead people to concerted action. An event occured on a hot afternoon during the summer of 1956, in the city of Montgomery, Alabama, which influenced people in hundreds of communities throughout the entire country. A Negro woman, apparently without any realization of the possible consequences, because "her feet were tired", remained seated on a city bus even though the conductor ordered her to move to the back. The arrest of Rosa Parks, and the subsequent Montgomery "bus boycott", was one such event which evoked a human response of great significance. A prior event, the formation of the Chicago Commission on Human Relations had also taken place. By itself, this event might have been significant only to Chicago. One of its active participants, however, was Waitstill Sharp, a dedicated volunteer in the struggle for equality of opportunity. After coming to Davenport, as minister for the Unitarian Church, Mr. Sharp expressed regret and some amazement, over the absence of a centralized, community-wide organization, the main concern of which would be the fight against discrimination. I single out Waitstill Sharp, for while the response to the Montgomery bus boycott evoked considerable interest in our community, it was his commitment to action that led the way to a getting together of people and organizations previously involved in this area of need on their own. But still another event was needed as a spur to organization. Early in June of 1956, Governor Hoegh of Iowa announced that the Governor's Commission to Study Discrimination in Employment would hold public hearings in the City of Davenport on June 18. Faced with the need of clearly presenting to the Governor's commission the community's need for a Fair Employment Practices Bill, an emergency meeting was held at the Unitarian Church on June 11, of as many interested people as possible. Those who attended, in addition to preparing for the hearing, voted to take steps to form a Quad Cities Council on Human Relations. Those who testified at the hearing were the vanguard of the civil rights movement in Davenport: Charles Toney, representing the NAACP, Rev. T. Spencer Patton, Rev. John I. Thomas, Father Wm. O'Connor, Rev. Nathaniel Butler, Rev. Waitstill Sharp and Lemmie Jackson, a union spokesman. All the witnesses were critical of the discriminatory employment policies in Davenport, both public and private. Mr. Toney pointed out that "there are no Negroes on the Davenport police and fire departments, none engaged as teachers in the public school system and non employed as clerks in retail stores. Only one Davenport plant employs a Negro skilled worker". On the day of the hearing the following announcement was given to the press: "The Reverend A. James Johnson of East Moline, The Reverend T. Spencer Patton and The Reverend Waitstill H. Sharp of Davenport announce a public meeting at the Unitarian Church, 119 East 10th. Street, on Wednesday night, June 20 at 7:30 P.M., to review the proceedings at the June 18 Public Hearing of the Governor's Commission on Discrimination in Employment. There will also be discussion of the project in which union leaders and clergyman on both sides of the River have taken a lead during the past year, to form a Quad Cities Council on Human Rights the business of which would be to provide a continuous program of action and education to terminate all forms of discrimination for reasons of race, religion or national origin. The public is invited to attend and to take part. There will be no solicitation of funds. The meeting was held, the Quad Cities Council on Human Rights was formed with Nathanial Butler as its first temporary Chairmand and Waitstill Sharp as its first Secretary, Pro-Tem. A period of incubation followed during which the loyalty to an idea was severely tested. Meetings were scheduled but very few, often only two or three, were in attendance. A Committee
Campus Culture
sidebar
