Collection Details:

Collection Name and Number: Richard Carl Johnson Collection (T/036).
Creator/Collector: Richard Carl Johnson; and others.
Date(s): 1965-1987; n.d.
Size: 1.55 cubic feet.
Language(s): English.
Processed by: Tougaloo College staff; MDAH staff, 2005.
Provenance: Loan of Tougaloo College of Madison County, MS, in 2004.
Repository: Archives & Records Services Division, Mississippi Department of Archives & History.

 

Rights and Access:

Access restrictions: Collection is open for research. Box 2 contains originals of newspaper articles and is restricted. Use reference copies instead.

Publication rights: Copyright assigned to Tougaloo College. All requests for permission to publish or quote from manuscripts must be submitted in writing to MDAH Reference Services, Attention: Tougaloo College Civil Rights Collection. Permission for publication is given on behalf of Tougaloo College as the owner of the physical items and as the owner of the copyright in items created by the donor. Although the copyright was transferred by the donor, the respective creator may still hold copyright in some items in the collection. For further information, contact Reference Services.

Copyright notice: This material may be protected by copyright law (Title 17, U.S. Code).

Preferred citation: Richard Carl Johnson Collection (T/036), Tougaloo College Civil Rights Collection, Mississippi Department of Archives & History.

 

Biography/History:

Richard Carl Johnson

Richard Carl Johnson was born September 2, 1933, in Chicago, Illinois, the only child of Carl Helmer and Anne Katherine Johnson. He attended public schools in Chicago and graduated with honors from Amundsen High School in 1951. He enrolled with a full tuition scholarship at the University of Chicago and received a Bachelor of Arts in 1954. He received another Bachelor of Arts from UCLA in Los Angeles, California, in 1958. Johnson received an Master of Arts in Philosophy from the University of Colorado in 1962. He remained at the University of Colorado from 1963 until 1965 as an advising assistant to the academic dean.

In 1965, Johnson took a position at Tougaloo College in Tougaloo, Madison County, Mississippi, as the Dean of Students. He held this position until 1967, when he was appointed as an assistant professor of philosophy and religion. Between 1967 and 2006, Johnson served in various capacities in the Humanities Division at Tougaloo. Throughout his tenure at Tougaloo, Johnson was involved in many community action groups. The prominent ones were: the Mississippi Council on Human Relations - the City of Jackson Chapter; the Greater Jackson Area Committee; and the Community Coalition for Public Schools.

In addition to his involvement in the Mississippi Council on Human Relations, Johnson participated in other activist organizations, such as serving on the national board of the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU). Johnson was also active in the American Association of University Professors (AAUP), of which he served as the Tougaloo Chapter president from 1990-1997. Johnson retired from Tougaloo College on May 19, 2006. As of 2010, he resided in Jackson with his wife Ann.

Mississippi Council on Human Relations

The Mississippi Council on Human Relations was started in 1954 as a private nonsectarian and non-political organization with a goal of improving the relationship between blacks and whites through education, action, personal relationships, professional excellence, and leadership development. The organizational headquarters was located in Jackson, Hinds County Mississippi, but there were many chapters located in cities and towns throughout the state.

Jackson had its own chapter, and Johnson was persuaded to join by the urging of friends and the presence of A. D. Beittel, who was the former president of Tougaloo College and served as president of the Jackson Chapter 1968-1969. Johnson joined and became president of the Jackson Chapter in 1969, serving in that capacity until 1971. In June 1971, the Jackson Chapter was incorporated as the Jackson Area Council on Human Relations. Johnson was one of the original incorporators. This group continued to focus on some of the major problems that existed within the city, such as housing for the poor, police accountability, support for political candidates, and racial discrimination in the area of employment.

Johnson worked with various segments of the Jackson Area Council on Human Relations to form splinter groups and embark on projects aimed at improving race relations throughout the city and providing for the poor. One group was called the Greater Jackson Area Committee. This group of predominantly white members was formally organized in January 1968 to work on specific racial problems that faced the city of Jackson. They focused not only on the problems of the black citizens but also those of the poor white citizens who had problems finding work and appropriate care for pre-school children.

The Greater Jackson Area Committee undertook many projects. The most significant project was the development of the group called Alliance Against Racism (AAR). The group was formed by Charles Horwitz, Richard Johnson, and other white members of the Jackson Area Council. It was formed partly in response to the killings at Jackson State College in May 1970 and the deteriorating racial conditions in the city of Jackson. The Alliance acted as an information clearinghouse and developed analytic and factual material concerning racial issues in the city of Jackson.

Another splinter group formed from the Jackson Area Council on Human Relations and the Greater Jackson Area Committee was the Community Coalition for Public Schools (CCPS). This group focused on problems with the public school system in Jackson. Through a series of meetings and workshops, the CCPS attempted to assist the staff of the public school system in handling many of its problems, such as the high drop-out rate. Johnson participated in the activities of this organization in developing a new plan for busing students to assigned schools throughout the city. In the late 1970s, the Mississippi Council on Human Relations encountered serious budgetary problems that limited many of its activities. By the early 1980s, the group ceased activity.

 
Scope and Content Note:

This collection consists of correspondence, documents, memorandums, and pamphlets, relating to Johnson’s involvement with the Mississippi Council on Human Relations and its affiliated agencies from 1967-1985. The collection is divided into five series. Series one contains general information about the Mississippi Council on Human Relations. Series two contains general information on the Jackson Area Council on Human Relations. Series three contains information on the important issues handled by the Jackson Council. Series four contains materials on the Greater Jackson Area Committee on Human Relations and other related agencies that are affiliated with this organization. Series five contains materials of interest to Richard Johnson associated with various organizations dedicated to protecting human rights.

 

Series Identification:

Series 1. Mississippi Council on Human Relations, 1968-1980: 1 folder.
This series contains memorandums and notices that document the history and activities of the organization of the Mississippi Council on Human Relations. An important memorandum calls for the executive committee to examine the fiscal status of the organization in 1980.

Box 1, folder 1

 

Series 2. Jackson Area Council on Human Relations: General Materials. 1965-1987; n. d. 23 folders.
This series contains materials of the history and operations of the Jackson Area Council on Human Relations during the period when Richard Johnson was active in its operation. The charter and constitution are found in this series, as well as significant correspondence of A. D. Beittel, acting in his capacity as president of the chapter. There are letters and documents of Richard Johnson in his capacity as president of the chapter.

Box 1, folders 2-24

 

Series 3. Jackson Area Council on Human Relations: Issues and Proposals. 1967-1977; n. d. 6 folders.
This series contains correspondence and proposals associated with specific issues that were the concern of the Jackson Area Council. These issues include police accountability, housing, and civil rights violations. There is extensive material on the issue of housing in Jackson in 1971-1974.

Box 1, folders 25-30

 

Series 4. Greater Jackson Area Committee (GJAC). 1968-1973; n. d. 16 folders.
This series contains materials of the Greater Jackson Area Council, a splinter group formed from the Jackson Area Council. The materials document the origin of GJAC, explore its mission and describe in detail its activities through the papers of its various committees and associated organizations. The more important associated agencies were the Alliance Against Racism (AAR) and the Community Coalition for Public Schools (CCPS). Their efforts are documented in this series, particularly the struggle against the Young Men’s Christian Association (YMCA).

Box 1, folders 31-46

 

Series 5. Other Agencies’ Materials. 1969-1981; n. d. 8 folders.
This series contains materials, collected by Johnson, of agencies and associations that were involved in various areas of human and minority rights. Most of the documents focus on issues that were of concern to the members of JACHR from 1967-1980, including the National Neighborhood Association and the League of Women Voters.

Box 1, folders 47-54

 

Box List:

Box 1, folder 1: Mississippi Council on Human Relations, 1968-1980.
Box 1, folder 2: Jackson Area Council on Human Relations (JACHR) - Charter, 1971.
Box 1, folder 3: JACHR - Constitution, 1971.
Box 1, folder 4: JACHR - Administrative documents, 1970-1973.
Box 1, folder 5: JACHR - Board meeting minutes and nominating procedures, 1970-1976.
Box 1, folder 6: JACHR - Correspondence, A. D. Beittel, President, 1968.
Box 1, folder 7: JACHR - Correspondence, A. D. Beittel, President, 1969.
Box 1, folder 8: JACHR - Correspondence, Richard Johnson, President, 1969-1971.
Box 1, folder 9: Tougaloo Materials c/o Richard Johnson, 1965-1987; n.d.
Box 1, folder 10: JACHR - Correspondence and memorandum, 1976-1978.
Box 1, folder 11: JACHR - Ruby Stutts Lyells - correspondence and proposal, 1974.
Box 1, folder 12: JACHR - Minutes, 1967-1969.
Box 1, folder 13: JACHR - Minutes and memorandum, 1970-1974.
Box 1, folder 14: JACHR - Newsletters and news releases, 1970-1976; n.d.
Box 1, folder 15: JACHR - News releases, 1970; n.d.
Box 1, folder 16: JACHR - Membership and other lists, 1968-1977.
Box 1, folder 17: JACHR - Mailing lists, 1971.
Box 1, folder 18: JACHR - Telephone questionnaire, 1972.
Box 1, folder 19: JACHR - Board Committees, membership, mailing lists, 1968-1974; n.d.
Box 1, folder 20: JACHR - Lists, messages, notes, 1970-1974; n.d.
Box 1, folder 21: JACHR - Meeting announcements, memorandums, notes, 1970.
Box 1, folder 22: JACHR - Reports, 1972-1974.
Box 1, folder 23: JACHR - newspapers and newsletters, 1970-1985, n.d.
Box 1, folder 24: Posters and pamphlets, 1970, n.d.
Box 1, folder 25: JACHR - The issues of police accountability, correspondence and statements, 1977.
Box 1, folder 26: JACHR - Record of civil rights violations, 1967.
Box 1, folder 27: JACHR - Political legislative issues in Jackson, memorandum and flyers, 1973.
Box 1, folder 28: JACHR - Housing conference and related matters, 1971-1972.
Box 1, folder 29: McClinty, et al. v. City of Jackson, housing complaint and correspondence, 1972.
Box 1, folder 30: JACHR - Proposal, 1974.
Box 1, folder 31: Community Coalition for Jackson Public Schools, minutes, 1970-1972.
Box 1, folder 32: Community Coalition for Jackson Public Schools, proposal, 1971-1972.
Box 1, folder 33: GJAC - RNA Affair, memorandum, 1971.
Box 1, folder 34: Greater Jackson Area Committee (GJAC) - background, 1970.
Box 1, folder 35: GJAC - proposal to organize poor whites, 1973.
Box 1, folder 36: GJAC - newsletter, 1969-1972.
Box 1, folder 37: GJAC - educational proposal, 1970.
Box 1, folder 38: GJAC - Hinds County report, 1969, n.d.
Box 1, folder 39: GJAC - organizing documents, 1970-1972.
Box 1, folder 40: GJAC - organizing whites in Mississippi, 1969.
Box 1, folder 41: GJAC - Proposal, day care center, 1971.
Box 1, folder 42: GJAC - The YMCA problem, proposals and reports, 1968.
Box 1, folder 43: GJAC - Minutes of meetings, 1973.
Box 1, folder 44: GJAC - organizing materials and proposals, 1971; n.d.
Box 1, folder 45: GJAC - Alliance Against Racism - newsletters and other documents, 1970-1971.
Box 1, folder 46: The Community Coalition for Public Schools (CCPS) /EAPS - Proposal and memorandums, 1973.
Box 1, folder 47: National Neighborhood Association - correspondence, newsletters, 1975-1977.
Box 1, folder 48: United Front - Organizational materials, 1970.
Box 1, folder 49: Black Theatre Alliance Newsletter, 2 issues, 1978.
Box 1, folder 50: Newspaper articles, 1970-1981.
Box 1, folder 51: League of Women Voters - Housing recommendations, 1969.
Box 1, folder 52: Coalition for Better Broadcasting - correspondence, memorandum, 1970.
Box 1, folder 53: City of Jackson Employment Practices, 1973.
Box 1, folder 54: OEO Proposal, ca. 1970.