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Size | 22.0 feet of linear shelf space (approximately 18,500 items) |
Abstract | Marion Allan Wright (1894-1983) of South Carolina was an attorney, author, member of the board of directors of the American Civil Liberties Union, and civil rights supporter. Chiefly correspondence, financial and legal materials, speeches and writings, subject files, and other papers relating to the Southern Regional Council, 1951-1971; Penn Community Services, 1947-1965; and North Carolinians Against the Death Penalty, 1964-1971. The papers document Wright's association with these organizations and his interest in human rights, desegregation, the abolition of the death penalty, and civil liberties. Correspondents include Guy B. Johnson, James McBride Dabbs, Raymond Wheeler, Benjamin Mayo, Paul E. Green, and Wright's wife, Alice Spearman Wright. |
Creator | Wright, Marion A. (Marion Allan), 1894-1983. |
Curatorial Unit | University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Library. Southern Historical Collection. |
Language | English |
Processed by: Brooke Allen, 1972; Ellen Neal, 1977; Tim West, 1979; Cynthia Crouch, 1984
Encoded by: ByteManagers Inc., 2008
Back to TopThe following terms from Library of Congress Subject Headings suggest topics, persons, geography, etc. interspersed through the entire collection; the terms do not usually represent discrete and easily identifiable portions of the collection--such as folders or items.
Clicking on a subject heading below will take you into the University Library's online catalog.
18 January 1894 Born in Johnston, South Carolina
1910-1914 Attended the University of South Carolina (did not receive degree)
1912-1919 Witnessed South Carolina's first 16 executions by electrocution, as a reporter for the Columbia Record
1914-1915 Taught in the public schools of Winston Salem, North Carolina
1916 Married Lelia Hauser
1919 Received a law degree from the University of South Carolina
1919-1947 Practiced corporate law in Conway, South Carolina
1937-1943 Served as chairman of the Illiteracy Commission
1941-1945 Served as a member of the Enemy Alien Board for South Carolina
1947-1963 Served as board member (1947-1957) and board chairman (1957-1963) of the Penn Community Services, Inc., Frogmore, St. Helena Island, Beaufort County, South Carolina
1948 Moved to Linville Falls, North Carolina
1951-1958 Served as president of the Southern Regional Council
1958-1965 Served as vice-president of the Southern Regional Council
1967 Founded and served as first president of the North Carolinians Against the Death Penalty
1969 Married Alice Norwood Spearman after having been a widower for 13 years
1978 Publication of Human Rights Odyssey, which won the Lillian Smith Award for nonfiction from the Southern Regional Council
1980 Received honorary degree of Doctor of Humane Letters from Winthrop College, Rock Hill, South Carolina
14 February 1983 Died at Crossnore, North Carolina
(See also the interview of Wright by Arnold Shankman and biographical materials on Wright in Series 6.)
Back to TopThe papers of Marion Allan Wright (1894-1983) consist chiefly of correspondence, but also include speeches, writings, printed material, financial records, a few photographs, and other material. The oldest items are copies of articles which concern the first executions by electrocution in South Carolina, written by Wright for the Columbia Record in 1912. The most recent items include correspondence to and from family members and associates. The bulk of the material dates from between 1960 and 1975, and concerns the abolition of the death penalty, civil rights, and Wright's activities on the boards of the Southern Regional Council and Penn Community Services, Inc.
Wright's papers are arranged into seven categories that he himself established, and reflect his work and activities principally during his North Carolina years:
The researcher should note that there is considerable overlap of subjects and correspondents among the series.
Back to TopArrangement: chronological.
Correspondence, reports, minutes, speeches, and other records relating to the Southern Regional Council. Marion Wright's collection of Southern Regional Council papers dates from 1951. On December 13 of that year Wright became president of the organization, which had been founded in 1944. Wright had previously been a member of the SRC's Board of Directors.
The majority of the correspondence during the first years of his presidency was with other SRC officers, particularly George Mitchell, Executive Director; Harold Fleming, Director of Information; Katherine Stoney, Secretary and Treasurer; Paul Williams and Guy Johnson, the previous president and vice president; and various members who were also friends, such as Judge Waties Waring and Hyman Rubin.
In 1952 the SRC faced financial difficulties. Included in this series is documentation on the eventually successful SRC appeal to various foundations for aid. Grants, large and small, came from the Fund for the Republic, the Ford Foundation, the AFL, the William C. Whitney Fund, and several others. These grants, were vital to the SRC's continued existence during the 1950s.
Also included in this series are minutes of Executive Committee meetings; copies of speeches by Wright and others; reports on the activities of SRC officers; correspondence concerning various controversies that arose during these years; and reports and studies on current issues.
In early 1958, when James M. Dabbs became president of the SRC, Marion Wright became vice-president. The correspondence after this date is mainly between Wright and the new officers: Dabbs, Albert Dent, Rufus Clement, Frederick Routh, Paul Anthony, Marge Manderson, John Constable, Ruth House Alexander, and others. Wright also continued his correspondence with Paul Williams and Harold Fleming.
In 1965 Wright vacated his post as vice-president, and became a member of the Council's Executive Committee. He continued to correspond with the organization's officers, including, John Wheeler, Raymond Wheeler, Josephine Wilkens, Joseph Haas, and a few others. The quantity of correspondence after 1965 decreased, however, with Wright's decreasing involvement with the SRC.
After the 1970 SRC elections, Wright resigned from his position on the Executive Committee. As a result, very little of the post-1970 material concerns the SRC. The last two folders in the series include newspaper clippings, 1951-1971, and a report (labeled "Clark Report") of the SRC Self Evaluation Consultant, probably dating from 1963.
Folder 1-4
Folder 1Folder 2Folder 3Folder 4 |
Feb-Dec 1951 |
Folder 5-24
Folder 5Folder 6Folder 7Folder 8Folder 9Folder 10Folder 11Folder 12Folder 13Folder 14Folder 15Folder 16Folder 17Folder 18Folder 19Folder 20Folder 21Folder 22Folder 23Folder 24 |
1952 |
Folder 25 |
Undated 1951-1952 |
Folder 26-45
Folder 26Folder 27Folder 28Folder 29Folder 30Folder 31Folder 32Folder 33Folder 34Folder 35Folder 36Folder 37Folder 38Folder 39Folder 40Folder 41Folder 42Folder 43Folder 44Folder 45 |
1953 |
Folder 46-63
Folder 46Folder 47Folder 48Folder 49Folder 50Folder 51Folder 52Folder 53Folder 54Folder 55Folder 56Folder 57Folder 58Folder 59Folder 60Folder 61Folder 62Folder 63 |
1954 |
Folder 64 |
Undated 1953-1954 |
Folder 65-92
Folder 65Folder 66Folder 67Folder 68Folder 69Folder 70Folder 71Folder 72Folder 73Folder 74Folder 75Folder 76Folder 77Folder 78Folder 79Folder 80Folder 81Folder 82Folder 83Folder 84Folder 85Folder 86Folder 87Folder 88Folder 89Folder 90Folder 91Folder 92 |
1955 |
Folder 93-105
Folder 93Folder 94Folder 95Folder 96Folder 97Folder 98Folder 99Folder 100Folder 101Folder 102Folder 103Folder 104Folder 105 |
1956 |
Folder 106-119
Folder 106Folder 107Folder 108Folder 109Folder 110Folder 111Folder 112Folder 113Folder 114Folder 115Folder 116Folder 117Folder 118Folder 119 |
1957 |
Folder 120 |
Undated 1956-1957 |
Folder 121-127
Folder 121Folder 122Folder 123Folder 124Folder 125Folder 126Folder 127 |
1958 |
Folder 128-135
Folder 128Folder 129Folder 130Folder 131Folder 132Folder 133Folder 134Folder 135 |
1959 |
Folder 136-139
Folder 136Folder 137Folder 138Folder 139 |
1960 |
Folder 140-143
Folder 140Folder 141Folder 142Folder 143 |
1961 |
Folder 144-147
Folder 144Folder 145Folder 146Folder 147 |
1962 |
Folder 148-151
Folder 148Folder 149Folder 150Folder 151 |
1963 |
Folder 152 |
Undated 1961-1963 |
Folder 153 |
1964 |
Folder 154 |
1965 |
Folder 155-156
Folder 155Folder 156 |
1966 |
Folder 157-159
Folder 157Folder 158Folder 159 |
1967 |
Folder 160-162
Folder 160Folder 161Folder 162 |
1968 |
Folder 163-172
Folder 163Folder 164Folder 165Folder 166Folder 167Folder 168Folder 169Folder 170Folder 171Folder 172 |
1969 |
Folder 173 |
1970-1976 |
Folder 174 |
Undated 1968-1971 |
Folder 175 |
Miscellaneous clippings |
Folder 176 |
Clark report (1963?) |
Arrangement: chronological.
Correspondence, reports, financial records, and minutes on Marion Wright's association with the Penn School. Wright became a member of the Penn School's Board of Trustees in 1947, immediately before the school's change in status from Penn Normal, Agricultural, and Industrial School to Penn Community Services, Inc. in 1948. In 1950, when Courtney Siceloff became Director of Penn Community Services in Beaufort County, the Board of Trustees was seeking to reorient its predominantly northern membership. Wright, who was originally from Beaufort, became the Board's chairman in 1957.
The majority of Wright's correspondence was with Mr.and Mrs. Siceloff and other Board members, notably Vice-Chairman Harold Evans, James M. Dabbs, Dr. Ira DeA. Reid, Tartt Bell, the Reverend Cornelius Wood, George H. Aull, Mrs. Eugene Spearman, Grace House, and Paul W. Brown Junior The series also includes correspondence with Penn's Advisory Board, which increased in membership during the first years of Wright's chairmanship. These correspondents include Francis R. Cope, George A. Buchanan, Grace T. Hamilton, Benjamin Mays, and Mrs. Y. W. Bailey. Wright also corresponded with organizations interested in Penn, such as the American Friends Service Committee; foundations, such as the Fund for the Republic; and other individuals, such as playwright Paul Green.
This series also provides a financial record of the organization-monthly and annual budget statements, annual budget proposals, personnel records, and records on Penn's land and other purchases. Also included in the series are minutes of Board meetings, quarterly reports, and committee and other reports. A few newsletters issued by Penn Community Services concerning its activities can be found among the papers, but they do not comprise a regular or continuous record.
Although the Penn series continues until 1977, the effective end of the series occurs with Marion Wright's resignation from the Board of Trustees at the end of 1963. Also, there is a gap in the papers between April 1956 and February 1957.
Folder 177 |
1947 |
Folder 178-182
Folder 178Folder 179Folder 180Folder 181Folder 182 |
1948 |
Folder 183-184
Folder 183Folder 184 |
1949 |
Folder 185 |
1950 |
Folder 186-188
Folder 186Folder 187Folder 188 |
1951 |
Folder 189-192
Folder 189Folder 190Folder 191Folder 192 |
1952 |
Folder 193-196
Folder 193Folder 194Folder 195Folder 196 |
1953 |
Folder 197-200
Folder 197Folder 198Folder 199Folder 200 |
1954 |
Folder 201-204
Folder 201Folder 202Folder 203Folder 204 |
1955 |
Folder 205-206
Folder 205Folder 206 |
1956 |
Folder 207-215
Folder 207Folder 208Folder 209Folder 210Folder 211Folder 212Folder 213Folder 214Folder 215 |
1957 |
Folder 216-229
Folder 216Folder 217Folder 218Folder 219Folder 220Folder 221Folder 222Folder 223Folder 224Folder 225Folder 226Folder 227Folder 228Folder 229 |
1958 |
Folder 230-238
Folder 230Folder 231Folder 232Folder 233Folder 234Folder 235Folder 236Folder 237Folder 238 |
1959 |
Folder 239-254
Folder 239Folder 240Folder 241Folder 242Folder 243Folder 244Folder 245Folder 246Folder 247Folder 248Folder 249Folder 250Folder 251Folder 252Folder 253Folder 254 |
1960 |
Folder 255-267
Folder 255Folder 256Folder 257Folder 258Folder 259Folder 260Folder 261Folder 262Folder 263Folder 264Folder 265Folder 266Folder 267 |
1961 |
Folder 268-278
Folder 268Folder 269Folder 270Folder 271Folder 272Folder 273Folder 274Folder 275Folder 276Folder 277Folder 278 |
1962 |
Folder 279-290
Folder 279Folder 280Folder 281Folder 282Folder 283Folder 284Folder 285Folder 286Folder 287Folder 288Folder 289Folder 290 |
1963 |
Folder 291-294
Folder 291Folder 292Folder 293Folder 294 |
Jan-June 1964 |
Folder 295 |
Oct 1964-Feb 1965 |
Folder 296 |
1977 |
Folder 297-298
Folder 297Folder 298 |
Printed Materials |
Arrangement: chronological.
Correspondence, statements, press releases, lists, and questionnaires documenting Wright's work against the death penalty in North Carolina, and the formation and activities of North Carolinians Against the Death Penalty (NCADP). NCADP was formed in January 1967, and Wright became its first president. The records in this series, however, date from 1964, when Wright began to gather information from similar organizations in other states. Also included here is Wright's correspondence with others, including Paul Green, the Reverend William Finlator, Charles Lambeth, and Mrs. Dean Thomas, relative to the establishment of NCADP. Also predating the founding of NCADP are records of Wright's lobbying for the abolition of the death penalty at the 1965 North Carolina General Assembly.
The majority of Wright's correspondence during and after 1967 is with other members of NCADP. In addition to the people mentioned above, Wright corresponded with Mrs. Matt Wall, secretary of the organization and a close friend of Wrights, George Armfield, Irving Carlyle, Reverend Jack Crum, Robert Kimzey, Reverend Robert Seymour and others. Wright also corresponded with legislators and officials on both the state and national levels, including Governor Robert Scott of North Carolina and Michigan Senator Philip Hart.
There is a great deal of documentation for 1967, when the organization was founded and the North Carolina General Assembly was considering a bill to abolish the death penalty. Included in Series 3 are releases concerning the death penalty and reasons for its abolition; lobbying statements; and lists of NCADP members and sympathizers, North Carolina legislators, and candidates for office. After the 1967 General Assembly defeated the bill to abolish the death penalty, NCADP took a survey of governors by using a questionnaire to determine each governor's position on the issue. The returned questionnaires as well as a report on the study can also be found among the 1967 papers.
After 1967, NCADP turned toward influencing the future members of the 1969 General Assembly. As a result, the papers for 1969 contain a large quantity of lists similar to those in 1967. Besides the continued correspondence between NCADP members, the post-1967 NCADP records include letters relating to publicity and fund-raising.
Folder 299-300
Folder 299Folder 300 |
1964 |
Folder 301-303
Folder 301Folder 302Folder 303 |
1965 |
Folder 304-305
Folder 304Folder 305 |
Undated 1964-1966 |
Folder 306 |
1966 |
Folder 307-308
Folder 307Folder 308 |
Jan-Feb 1967 |
Folder 309 |
Diary 21 Feb-20 Apr 1967 |
Folder 310-332
Folder 310Folder 311Folder 312Folder 313Folder 314Folder 315Folder 316Folder 317Folder 318Folder 319Folder 320Folder 321Folder 322Folder 323Folder 324Folder 325Folder 326Folder 327Folder 328Folder 329Folder 330Folder 331Folder 332 |
Mar-Dec 1967 |
Folder 333-334
Folder 333Folder 334 |
Undated 1967 |
Folder 335 |
"Criminal Homicide in California" 1967 |
Folder 336-338
Folder 336Folder 337Folder 338 |
Lists 1967 |
Folder 339-350
Folder 339Folder 340Folder 341Folder 342Folder 343Folder 344Folder 345Folder 346Folder 347Folder 348Folder 349Folder 350 |
1967 |
Folder 351-358
Folder 351Folder 352Folder 353Folder 354Folder 355Folder 356Folder 357Folder 358 |
1968 |
Folder 359-367
Folder 359Folder 360Folder 361Folder 362Folder 363Folder 364Folder 365Folder 366Folder 367 |
1969 |
Folder 368 |
Undated releases 1968-1969 |
Folder 369 |
Undated lists and a map of the legislature building 1969 |
Folder 370-380
Folder 370Folder 371Folder 372Folder 373Folder 374Folder 375Folder 376Folder 377Folder 378Folder 379Folder 380 |
1970 |
Folder 381 |
Undated releases 1970 |
Folder 382-384
Folder 382Folder 383Folder 384 |
Newspaper clippings 1964-1971 |
Folder 385-397
Folder 385Folder 386Folder 387Folder 388Folder 389Folder 390Folder 391Folder 392Folder 393Folder 394Folder 395Folder 396Folder 397 |
1971 |
Folder 398-399
Folder 398Folder 399 |
1972 |
Folder 400 |
1973 |
Folder 401 |
1974-1975 |
Folder 402 |
1976 |
Folder 403 |
1977 |
Folder 404 |
1978-1979 |
Folder 405 |
1980 |
Folder 406 |
1981-1982 |
Folder 407 |
Undated |
Included are speeches, articles, and book reviews written by Marion Wright between 1912 and 1981. Most of these items were written between 1960 and 1980, and chiefly concern civil liberties and the abolition of the death penalty. Also included in the speeches and writings are 15 speeches by Wright which were recorded on 20 small discs. Most of the speeches on the discs also appear in the papers, with the exception of the "Don't Bend Speech" (discs 6-7), the "Tuskegee Speech" (discs 15-17), and the "Warren Wilson Speech" (discs 18-20).
The speeches and writings in Series 4 have been arranged in chronological order by year, and alphabetically by title within each year. Following the dated items are undated items, arranged alphabetically by title; undated and untitled items; typed notes and outlines for speeches and writings; and the discs, arranged alphabetically by title. The folder list which follows includes the year and a title or place to identify the speech or writing.
These files, designated by Marion Wright as personal correspondence, consist primarily of incoming letters from family (including Alice Spearman before and after her marriage to Wright), friends, and others associated with Wright. There are also carbon copies of outgoing correspondence.
The correspondence in Series 5 deals with a variety of personal, professional, and routine matters. There is extensive correspondence from organizations such as the Southern Regional Council, Penn School, the American Civil Liberties Union, the Red Cross, and the American Friends Service Committee. Included also is correspondence relating to speeches and articles written by Wright, to the dissolution of his law practice in 1947, and to legal cases in which he continued to be interested.
The correspondence in Series 5 has been left in its original order. It was arranged by Wright in alphabetical order within distinct chronological periods, which appear in the following folder list.
Folder 474-479
Folder 474Folder 475Folder 476Folder 477Folder 478Folder 479 |
1945-1953 |
Folder 480-484
Folder 480Folder 481Folder 482Folder 483Folder 484 |
1954-21 Sep 1956 |
Folder 485-489
Folder 485Folder 486Folder 487Folder 488Folder 489 |
22 Sep 1956-19 Feb 1957 |
Folder 490-494
Folder 490Folder 491Folder 492Folder 493Folder 494 |
19 Feb 1957-27 Jan 1958 |
Folder 495-498
Folder 495Folder 496Folder 497Folder 498 |
27 Jan-16 Jul 1958 |
Folder 499-503
Folder 499Folder 500Folder 501Folder 502Folder 503 |
16 Jul 1958-22 Jan 1959 |
Folder 504-508
Folder 504Folder 505Folder 506Folder 507Folder 508 |
23 Jan-24 Jun 1959 |
Folder 509-513
Folder 509Folder 510Folder 511Folder 512Folder 513 |
24 Jun-7 Nov 1959 |
Folder 514-518
Folder 514Folder 515Folder 516Folder 517Folder 518 |
7 Nov 1959-20 Apr 1960 |
Folder 519-524
Folder 519Folder 520Folder 521Folder 522Folder 523Folder 524 |
20 Apr 1960-6 Mar 1961 |
Folder 525-530
Folder 525Folder 526Folder 527Folder 528Folder 529Folder 530 |
6 Mar 1961-12 Jan 1962 |
Folder 531-537
Folder 531Folder 532Folder 533Folder 534Folder 535Folder 536Folder 537 |
12 Jan 1962-13 Jul 1963 |
Folder 538-583
Folder 538Folder 539Folder 540Folder 541Folder 542Folder 543Folder 544Folder 545Folder 546Folder 547Folder 548Folder 549Folder 550Folder 551Folder 552Folder 553Folder 554Folder 555Folder 556Folder 557Folder 558Folder 559Folder 560Folder 561Folder 562Folder 563Folder 564Folder 565Folder 566Folder 567Folder 568Folder 569Folder 570Folder 571Folder 572Folder 573Folder 574Folder 575Folder 576Folder 577Folder 578Folder 579Folder 580Folder 581Folder 582Folder 583 |
13 Jul 1963-Jun 1969 |
Folder 584-588
Folder 584Folder 585Folder 586Folder 587Folder 588 |
5 Jul 1969-21 May 1970 |
Folder 589-593
Folder 589Folder 590Folder 591Folder 592Folder 593 |
21 May 1970-Mar 1972 |
Folder 594-595
Folder 594Folder 595 |
1973 |
Folder 596-597
Folder 596Folder 597 |
1974 |
Folder 598 |
1975 |
Folder 599-600
Folder 599Folder 600 |
1976 |
Folder 601-603
Folder 601Folder 602Folder 603 |
1977 |
Folder 604-605
Folder 604Folder 605 |
1978 |
Folder 606-607
Folder 606Folder 607 |
1979 |
Folder 608 |
1980 |
Folder 609 |
1981 |
Folder 610 |
1982 and undated |
Arrangement: Alphabetical by file title.
Chiefly correspondence, newspaper clippings, and other material, most of which has been arranged into subject categories by Wright. Included are materials relating to the Advisory Committee to the U.S. (folders 616-630) which includes correspondence with officials of the Southern Regional Council; the American Civil Liberties Union; and the North Carolina Civil Liberties Union. Also included are correspondence, reviews, and articles concerning publications of Marion Wright. Of special interest are materials relating to the publication of Human Rights Odyssey (1978), a collection of Wright's speeches and articles, edited by Arnold Shankman (folders 637-651, and 664-675).
Folder 611 |
American Freedom Association |
Folder 612-615
Folder 612Folder 613Folder 614Folder 615 |
American Civil Liberties Union, 1959-1962 |
Folder 616-630
Folder 616Folder 617Folder 618Folder 619Folder 620Folder 621Folder 622Folder 623Folder 624Folder 625Folder 626Folder 627Folder 628Folder 629Folder 630 |
Civil Rights Commission, North Carolina Advisory Committee |
Folder 631 |
Dabbs, James McBride |
Folder 632-634
Folder 632Folder 633Folder 634 |
Editors & Publishers |
Folder 635 |
Evangelists, 1978 |
Folder 636 |
Evans, Betty Cotton, 1978 |
Folder 637-651
Folder 637Folder 638Folder 639Folder 640Folder 641Folder 642Folder 643Folder 644Folder 645Folder 646Folder 647Folder 648Folder 649Folder 650Folder 651 |
Human Rights Odyssey, 1978-1979 |
Folder 652 |
Linville Falls Community Church Library, 1965-1968 |
Folder 653-661
Folder 653Folder 654Folder 655Folder 656Folder 657Folder 658Folder 659Folder 660Folder 661 |
North Carolina Civil Liberties Union, 1972-1982 |
Folder 662 |
Panama Canal |
Folder 663 |
Prisoners' Rights |
Folder 664-675
Folder 664Folder 665Folder 666Folder 667Folder 668Folder 669Folder 670Folder 671Folder 672Folder 673Folder 674Folder 675 |
Shankman, Arnold |
Folder 676-678
Folder 676Folder 677Folder 678 |
Taylor, Sarah E.B. |
Folder 679 |
University of South Carolina-presidency |
Folder 680 |
Ward, Beatrice |
Folder 681-683
Folder 681Folder 682Folder 683 |
Waring, J. Waites |
Folder 684-688
Folder 684Folder 685Folder 686Folder 687Folder 688 |
Whitman, Wanda Wilson |
Folder 689 |
Winthrop College: Mitchell-Johnson Affair, 1913 |
Folder 690-691
Folder 690Folder 691 |
Wright, Marion Allan: Biographical and other materials |
Arrangement: Pictures of Marion Allan Wright, pictures of identified persons, pictures of unidentified persons.
Five photographs of Marion Allan Wright and his friends and associates taken during the 1960s and 1970s.