Richard McGhee Papers

Collection

Identifier: UP000742

Staff Only

Scope and Content

The papers in Part One and the earlier ones in Part Two reflect Mr. McGhee's active participation in groups fostering integration of Detroit's schools and neighborhoods through cultural programs and by means of improved police-community relations. The later materials are largely of a general reference nature.

Part 1: Series 1: The Russell Woods-Sullivan Area Association, 1958-1964 Correspondence and materials about the association's annual art festivals.

Series 2: The Russell Woods Cultural Activities Society, 1965-1966 Correspondence and materials relating to the society, its art festivals, programs in the Detroit schools, and the 1965 Harry Belafonte benefit.

Series 3: Metropolitan Council on Education, 1965 Letter to The Detroit Board of Education, December 29, 1965

Series 4: Metropolitan Educational and Cultural Activities Association, 1965-1974

Series 5: Personal materials, 1963-1974 Correspondence 1965-1974, JACOE materials (1972)

Part 2: Series 6: Cultural and Educational Organizations, 1963-1976 Correspondence, programs for schools, festivals and benefits, minutes, mailing lists, general materials.

Subseries A: Russell-Sullivan Area Association and the the Russell Woods Cultural Activities Society, 1963- 1968.

Subseries B:Other Cultural and Educational Groups, 1964- 1973. Materials outlined above for the Detroit Society for the Advancement of Culture and Education (1964-1973); the Mackenzie Constellation Evaluation Committee (1964-1967); the Metropolitan Council on Culture and Education (1965-1966); and the Detroit Contemporary Dance Company (1967).

Subseries C: Metropolitan Educational and Cultural Activities Association, 1965-1976

Subseries D: Afro-American Cultural Development Foundation, 1968-1973.

Series 7: Civil Rights Groups, 1963-1977. Memoranda, minutes, meeting notices and agendas, reports, some correspondence, much background and reference material.

Subseries A: Michigan Civil Rights Commission, 1963-1975. Also includes materials on police and community relations and commission case files, 1966.

Subseries B: National Association of Human Rights Workers, (NAHRW), 1967-1977. Materials described under the series title for the National Association of Intergroup Relations Officials (NAIRO) for 1967-1970; the NAHRW and corresponding and memos from its Legislative Educational Services Committee (1973-1975); the Michigan chapter of NAIRO (1965-1970); and the Michigan Association for Human Rights Workers, 1971-1976).

Subseries C: Other Civil Rights and Community Organizations, 1966-1976. Includes materials for the Joint Action Committee on Education (1971-1973); the NAACP (1971-1973) and its Education Committee (1971); the Society for International Development (1971-1976): and a few items on other civil and human rights groups, local, national and international.

Series 8: Political Organizations and Activities, 1963-1978. Background and reference material, campaign and convention documents, reports, position papers and publications.

Subseries A: Political Affiliations and Activities, 1963-1974. Reference and background materials for local Detroit and Michigan campaigns (1963-1972); the National Democratic Party (1963-1974); the Michigan Democratic Spring State Convention (1969); and a Michigan Democratic Political Reform Convention in 1970.

Subseries B: Americans for Democratic Action, 1970-1978.

Series 9: Personal Materials, 1959-1976. Correspondence, invitations, personal and medical mailing lists, materials for the Dr. Lula Belle Stewart-Robinson Memorial Fund (1966) and Kayree-Rick Enterprises Inc. (1972-1975)

Dates

1958 - 1978
Majority of material found within 1963 - 1977

Creator

McGhee, Richard (Person)

Access

Collection is open for research.

Use

Refer to the Walter P. Reuther Library Rules for Use of Archival Materials.

History

Part 1: Richard McGhee worked as a research assistant for the National Cystic Fibrosis Research Foundation at Detroit's Children's Hospital during the 1960's. By 1966 he had joined the Michigan Civil Rights Commission, becoming its police-community relations specialist. By 1970 he was working in the Office of Contract Compliance for the Department of Defense in Detroit. In 1975 he moved with his public relations firm, Kayree-Rick Enterprises Inc. from Detroit to the Boston area. Mr. McGhee was extremely active throughout the years represented in this collection in a large number of cultural, civil rights and political groups. The earliest organizational papers in both parts date from his involvement in the Russell Woods-Sullivan Area Association. Mr. McGhee was associated with this group from the later 1950's until his resignation in 1966. In September, 1965, he helped establish another organ ization active in promoting cultural programs in the Detroit public schools called The Metropolitan Educational and Cultural Activities Association (MECA-A). The greatest portion of part one of the collection consists of the papers of this group.

Part 2: The second part of the collection is far more varied, reflecting Mr. McGhee's involvement in a number of other groups, up until about 1978. It also includes materials related to his employment with the Michigan Civil Rights Commission in 1966-1967.

Extent

12.5 Linear Feet (25 MB)

Language of Materials

English

Additional Description

Abstract

Richard McGhee worked for various Detroit, Michigan, and national cultural, civil rights and political organizations. His papers largely reflect his active participation in groups fostering integration of Detroit's schools and neighborhoods through cultural programs and policy-community relations.

Arrangement

Part 1: Arranged in 5 series – Series 1 (Box 1), Series 2 (Box 2), Series 3 (Box 2), Series 4 (Boxes 3-10) and Series 5 (Box 10). Folders are predominately arranged chronologically.

Part 2: Arranged in 4 series – Series 6 (Boxes 11-15), Series 7 (Boxes 15-22), Series 8 (Boxes 22-25), and Series 9 (Box 25). Folders are predominately arranged chronologically.

Series 6 is further divided into 4 subseries, Series 7 is further divided into 3 subseries, and Series 8 is further divided into 2 subseries.

Acquisition

The papers of Richard McGhee were presented to the Archives of Labor and Urban Affairs by Mr. McGhee. Part one, given in October, 1975, was opened for research in March, of 1976.

Part two, donated in October, 1978, was opened in April of 1982.