Title: Faith Rich Papers
Inclusive Dates: 1957-1966

Creator:

• Rich, Faith

Call Number: Mss 185; PH 6510

Quantity: 0.4 c.f. (1 archives box) and 1 poster

Repository:

Wisconsin Historical Society, Division of Library, Archives, and Museum Collections

Archival Locations:

COLLECTION MAY BE STORED OFF-SITE: see catalog entry to request materials and for additional information.

Wisconsin Historical Society (Map)

Abstract:

Papers of Faith Rich, an officer of the Chicago chapter of the Congress of Racial Equality, including minutes, reports, correspondence, and files on employment, housing, and education. Also included is a poster publicizing CORE Nite, sponsored by the Congress of Racial Equality, to support Freedom Riders, November 16, 1961.

Language: English

URL to cite for this finding aid: http://digital.library.wisc.edu/1711.dl/wiarchives.uw-whs-mss00185

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Mrs. Faith Rich's participation in the civil rights movement began in the late 1950s when she joined the Chicago chapter of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), in which she served as chairman of the education committee. Subsequently she joined the Chicago chapter of the Congress of Racial Equality (CORE), acting as corresponding secretary and chairman of the school committee from 1960 to 1966. Chicago CORE had a four-point program of 1.) obtaining quality integrated education, 2.) “good jobs and all they entail, ” 3.) open occupancy in housing, and 4.) an end to discrimination in general without regard to race, creed, or color. This chapter did not suffer from the lack of funds or membership that plagued many other local CORE chapters. It had six units in the Chicago metropolitan area: De Paul University CORE, North Side CORE, South Side CORE, University of Chicago CORE, West Side CORE, and Harvey-Phoenix CORE of the South suburbs.

The chapter was most active in pressing for educational reforms in the Chicago public school system. Its research committee gathered statistics and reports used by the school committee in planning such action as writing letters, having members attend public meetings concerning Chicago's schools, and arousing public attention over deficiencies and inequities in the schools. By 1965, however, the chapter abandoned the tactic of direct action in response to a specific problem in favor of involvement in community affairs, their reasoning being that prevention of the causes of social ills was more effective than treatment of their symptoms.

The State Historical Society of Wisconsin received these papers from Faith Rich. Influencing her action were Professors August Meier and Eliot Rudwick of Ohio's Kent State University, authors of a history of the Congress of Racial Equality. They stipulated that the papers should be named after the donor, Mrs. Rich, rather than Chicago CORE, where they originated.

The Faith Rich papers, 1957-1966, contain diverse material concerning the activities of the Chicago chapter of the Congress of Racial Equality. The chapter's constitution and operational documents, such as minutes and committee reports; general correspondence; pamphlets, broadsides, and song; and reports and publications as well as the subject files on employment and housing give an overview of these activities, especially from 1962 to 1965. The file on education heavily documents the attempts of the research and school committees and the training and planning conference to integrate and upgrade the quality of education in the Chicago public school system.

Acquisition Information

Presented by Faith Rich, Chicago, Illinois, August 18, 1971. Accession Number: M71-223

Processing Information

Processed by Eleanor Niermann, October 28, 1971.

Mss 185 Box   1 Folder   1	Constitution and Operational Documents, 1962, March-1965, March
Box   1 Folder   2	Correspondence, General, 1961, Aug-1965, Aug
	Education
Box   1 Folder   3	Research Committee, 1957; 1963, Jan; 1964, Sept-1966, May
	School Committee
Box   1 Folder   4	1960, Sept-1963, Dec
Box   1 Folder   5	1964, Feb-1965, Dec
Box   1 Folder   6	Training and Planning Conference, 1960; 1962, Dec; 1963, April
Box   1 Folder   7	Employment, 1962, Dec-1965, Nov
Box   1 Folder   8	Housing, 1964, Sept; 1966, Feb
Box   1 Folder   9	Pamphlets, Broadsides, and Song, 1962, Aug-1965, May
	Reports and Publications
Box   1 Folder   10	General, 1962, Dec-1965, Aug
	CORE Civil Rights Program Book
Box   1 Folder   11	Correspondence and Financial Papers, 1963, March-May
Box   1 Folder   12	Drafts, 1963, April
PH 6510	Poster