Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday Commission records
Scope and Content
The records were arranged into seven series which document the Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday Commission. The series include Administrative Records, Correspondence, Subject Files, Press Files, Publications, Photographs, and Multimedia.
Series 1. Administrative Records, 1983-2001, consists of information on the commission and commissioners, meeting minutes and agenda, programs and proceedings for holiday celebrations, reports and surveys, youth activities and commissions in other states.
Series 2. Correspondence, 1986-1994, includes correspondence regarding activities sponsored by the commission, communciation between commissioners, information exchanged with commissioners from other states and correspondence with members of the Federal Holiday Commission.
Series 3. Subject Files, 1988-1989, consist of biographical sketches on Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and Coretta Scott King as well as a copy of the Presidential Proclamation establishing Martin Luther King, Jr. Day as a federal holiday.
Series 4. Press Files, 1972-1992, contain clippings regarding civil rights or Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
Series 5. Publications, 1986-1994, consist of reports, surveys, and printed material created by the commission or in support of annual activities. Planning and completed copies of the Freedom Trail poster and Connecticut brochure are included. Miscellaneous publications include catalogues, Commission on Human Rights and Opportunities mission statement and report, Klanwatch magazine, and playbills.
Series 6. Photographs, 1987-1991, includes reproduction photographs of Dr. King and Coretta Scott King, as well as photographs documenting holiday celebrations held in 1987 and 1991.
Series 7. Multimedia, 1988, contains a cassette tape of the 1988 Iowa Martin Luther King Celebration.
Dates
- Creation: 1972-2001
Language of Materials
The records are in English.
Restrictions on Access
These records are stored at an off-site facility and therefore may not be available on a same-day basis.
See the Rules and Procedures for Researchers Using Archival Records and Secured Collections policy.
Restrictions on Use
See the Reproduction and Publications of State Library Collections policy.
Historical Note
United States Representative John Conyers introduced legislation four days after Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. death in 1968 for a national holiday. President Ronald Reagan signed Martin Luther King, Jr. Day into law on November 2, 1983. The first national celebration occurred on Januray 20, 1986.
Governor William A. O'Neil issued Executive Order Number 15 on January 10, 1986 creating the Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday Commission with the Commission on Human Rights and Opportunities as its secretariat. The Connecticut General Assembly in 1989 passed Public Act 89-258, "An Act Creating the Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday Commission," to ensure the "commemoration of the birthday of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. in the state is meaningful and reflective of the spirit with which he lived and the struggles for which he died." The commission is composed of nineteen appointed commissioners, who work to plan an annual celebration in honor of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., sponsor a youth conference and provide reports on activities in the state.
Extent
4 cubic feet
Abstract
The Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday Commission was established when Governor William A. O'Neil issued Executive Order Number 15 on January 10, 1986. The Connecticut General Assembly in 1989 passed Public Act 89-258, "An Act Creating the Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday Commission," to ensure the "commemoration of the birthday of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. in the state is meaningful and reflective of the spirit with which he lived and the struggles for which he died." The Commission on Human Rights and Opportunities is the secretariat for the holiday commission.
Arrangement
Series 1. Administrative Records, 1983-2001
Series 2. Correspondence, 1986-1994
Series 3. Subject Files, 1988-1989
Series 4. Press Files, 1972-1992
Series 5. Publications, 1986-1994
Series 6. Photographs, 1987-1991
Series 7. Multimedia, 1988
Restricted, 1989-1994
Provenance
The records were transferred to the State Library in 2010.
Processing Information
Magdelena Holler processed the records in October-December, 2011 (Allen Ramsey supervised).
Genre / Form
Geographic
Topical
- Title
- RG 154:003, Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday Commission
- Subtitle
- Inventory of Records
- Author
- Finding aid prepared by Magdelena Holler.
- Date
- 2011
- Language of description
- Undetermined
- Script of description
- Code for undetermined script
Repository Details
Part of the Connecticut State Library Repository
