Arthur W. Mitchell papers

  • Creator Names Mitchell, Arthur Wergs, 1883-1968.
  • Title Arthur W. Mitchell papers [manuscript], 1898-1968, bulk 1934-1942.
  • Physical description
    • 31 linear ft.
    • 3 oversize folders.
    • 1 microfilm reel. (Copy of scrapbook)
  • Collection arrangement Organized chronologically.
  • Access and usage restrictions An advance appointment with special permission is required to view a small portion of the collection. Photocopies will be available for research use for many of these items.
  • Collection summary Correspondence, speeches, newsclippings, and other papers of Mitchell, who served as U.S. Congressman from the First Congressional District, Chicago (Ill.), 1935-1943. Mitchell was the first African American Democrat to serve in the U.S. House of Representatives, and his papers contain many incoming letters from throughout the country on racial issues. Additional topics include Mitchell's election campaigns against Oscar DePriest and others, service in Congress and on the Post Office and Post Roads Committee, anti-lynching legislation, Mitchell's U.S. Supreme Court case concerning racial discrimination against him as a railroad passenger, and his work for the Democratic National Campaign Committee during the 1936 Presidential election. Early materials deal with Armstrong Agricultural School, Mutual Housing Company, personal and family matters; later topics include African Americans at U.S. military and naval academies; African American migration from the South to the North; U.S. Civil Service reform; the establishment of old age and soldiers' pensions; the government of the Virgin Islands in the West Indies; Jake Guzik, one of Mitchell's law clients; and the entry of the United States into World War II. Due to the chronological arrangement of the collection, materials about particular topics often are intermingled throughout the collection.
  • Location of Other Archival Materials Note Related materials at Chicago History Museum, Research Center, include the Arthur W. Mitchell photograph collection (1980.0144) and the Dennis Nordin interviews about Arthur W. Mitchell.
  • Finding Aids Note Container list of boxes by date is available online with a detailed description of contents.
  • Acquisition information Gift of Arthur W. Mitchell in 1967 and by his widow Clara in 1968 (M1967.0694, M1968.0749).
  • Names
    • Mitchell, Arthur Wergs, 1883-1968 Archives.
    • De Priest, Oscar, 1871-1951.
    • De Priest, Oscar, 1871-1951
    • Democratic Party (Chicago, Ill.)
    • Democratic Party (Ill.)
    • Democratic Party (U.S.)
    • United States. Congress Elections.
    • United States. Congress. House.
    • United States. Supreme Court.
    • American Negro Exposition (1940 : Chicago, Ill.)
  • Subjects
    • African Americans 20th century.
    • African Americans Employment 20th century.
    • African American legislators United States 20th century.
    • African American politicians Illinois Chicago 20th century.
    • Election districts United States 1st Congressional District (Ill.)
    • Election districts Illinois Chicago 1st Congressional District (Ill.)
    • Lynching Law and legislation United States 20th century.
    • Political campaigns Illinois Chicago 20th century.
    • Postal service employees United States 20th century.
    • Presidents United States Election 1936.
    • Racism United States 20th century.
    • Segregation in transportation Southern States.
    • Slaves Emancipation United States Anniversaries, etc. Exhibitions.
  • Geographic coverage
    • Chicago (Ill.) Politics and government To 1950.
    • Illinois Politics and government 20th century.
    • United States Politics and government 20th century.
  • Genre
    • Correspondence. aat
    • Newspaper clippings. aat
    • Speeches. aat
  • Geographic name United States Illinois Cook County Chicago.
  • Finding aid URL Finding aid available online http://chsmedia.org/media/fa/fa/M-M/MitchellArthur-inv.htm