Letter, Alexander Heard to Franklin D. Roosevelt, 10 November 1937, Chapel Hill, N.C.
Invitation to President Franklin D. Roosevelt
African Americans
Correspondence
In this letter, Heard writes on behalf of the CPU requesting that President Roosevelt visit UNC.
Alexander Heard
Office of President of the University of North Carolina (System): Frank Porter Graham Records #40007, University Archives, Wilson Library, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
10 November 1937
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Postcard, Anonymous to Paul Dickson, 6 March 1966, Charlotte, N.C.
Anonymous
Anonymous postcard to Paul Dickson, 6 March 1966, in the Student Government of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Records #40169, University Archives, Wilson Library, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
6 March, 1966
Audio recording, "The Speaker Ban Ballad"
UNC senior Bill Dale recorded "The Speaker Ban Ballad" in November 1966. Dale, an English major from Asheville, had been singing professionally for about six months when he recorded the song (3:14). The North Carolina Collection.
Bill Dale
Jimmy Capps Productions
Letter, Bill Stauber to Fred H. Weaver, 15 November 1939, Chapel Hill, N.C.
The Carolina Buccaneer
In this letter, Bill Stauber, Editor of the Carolina Buccaneer, writes to Fred Weaver, the assistant Dean of Students, defending a controversial issue of the magazine from attack by others in the University community.
Bill Stauber
Office of the Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Records #40124, University Archives, The Wilson Library, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
15 November 1939
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Letter, C. Oumansky to Alexander Heard, 2 August 1937, Washington D.C.
Reply from the office of the Ambassador of the Soviet Union to the United States
African Americans
Correspondence
In this letter, C. Oumansky from the Embassy of the U.S.S.R. replies to Alexander Heard's invitation to Ambassador Troyanovsky to speak at UNC. Oumansky states that the invitation will be given to the Ambassador upon his return from vacation.
C. Oumansky
Carolina Forum of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Records #40144, University Archives, Wilson Library, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
2 August 1937
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Censored version of the November 1939 issue of the Carolina Buccaneer
Student Publications and Censorship
The Carolina Buccaneer was a humor magazine published by University of North Carolina students between 1924 and 1939. The magazine contained jokes, cartoons, and advertisements and each issue was devoted to a theme. From its inception, the Buccaneer published slightly risqué material and often received criticism from students and faculty for its content. In November 1939, the magazine sought to publish an issue on the theme of sex. The issue was considered so offensive on campus that the Student Council ordered all 3,000 copies destroyed. A few days later, the student-run Publications Union Board decided to reuse parts of the magazine and publish a revised edition. The most notable revision was the provocative cartoon on the cover of the issue was to be concealed by a white box to make clear that the issue had been censored. Ultimately, the student legislature voted to discontinue publication of the Buccaneer.
Carolina Buccaneer
North Carolina Collection, Wilson Library, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
November 1939
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Pamphlet, “CPU Does Not Stand for Communist Party of the University…,”
Carolina Political Union
Pamphlet advertising the activities of the CPU.
Carolina Political Union
Carolina Forum of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Records #40144, University Archives, Wilson Library, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
Circa 1950
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Flier, “The Carolina Political Union Presents Ellis Arnall”
Governor Ellis Arnall's speech sponsored by the CPU
Flier for Georgia Governor Ellis Arnall's speech at UNC, sponsored by the Carolina Political Union.
Carolina Political Union
Carolina Forum of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Records #40144, University Archives, Wilson Library, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
27 November 1945
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Flier, “Carolina Political Union”
Carolina Political Union
Flier describing the activities of the Carolina Political Union.
Carolina Political Union
Carolina Forum of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Records #40144, University Archives, Wilson Library, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
September 1948
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Program, "Commemorating the Third Anniversary of The Carolina Political Union An Address by The President of the United States at a General Convocation of the University of North Carolina
President Franklin D. Roosevelt's visit to UNC, sponsored by the Carolina Political Union.
Brochure used at the speech of Franklin D. Roosevelt's speech to a UNC Convocation while on a visit sponsored by the CPU.
Carolina Political Union
Carolina Forum of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Records #40144, University Archives, Wilson Library, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
5 December 1938
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Flier, “The Carolina Political Union Presents Elizabeth G. Flynn”
Elizabeth Flynn, female Communist speaker
Flier publicizing a speech to be given by Elizabeth Flynn (of the Communist Party) sponsored by the Carolina Political Union.
Carolina Political Union
Carolina Forum of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Records #40144, University Archives, Wilson Library, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
9 January 1947
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Letter, Clendenin J. Ryan, Jr. to Anita de Monseigle, 16 February 1937, New York, N.Y.
Mayor LaGuardia's reply to CPU invitation
In this letter, Clendenin Ryan Jr. writes to the Carolina Political Union on behalf of the Mayor of New York, Fiorello La Guardia, to acknowledge their invitation for him to speak and to decline due to scheduling conflicts
Clendenin Ryan, Jr.
Carolina Forum of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Records #40144, University Archives, Wilson Library, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
16 February 1937
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Letter, Clifford M. Foust to William Aycock, 28 June 1963, Chapel Hill, N.C.
Clifford M. Foust
Letter from Clifford M. Foust to William Aycock, 28 June 1963, in the Office of Chancellor of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill: William Brantley Aycock Records #40020, University Archives, The Wilson Library, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
28 June 1963
Magazine, Contempo
Contempo and Langston Hughes
Contempo was a small literary magazine published in Chapel Hill by co-editors Milton “Ab” Abernethy and Anthony Buttitta, both former UNC students. Although only lasting from 1931-1934, Contempo was able to build a strong reputation among critics and also managed to attract contributions from William Faulkner, Ezra Pound, Gertrude Stein, and many other well-known writers. The December 1931 issue of Contempo caused a stir in Chapel Hill due its inclusion of two controversial pieces by African American writer Langston Hughes.
Abernethy and Buttitta had decided to devote the entire issue to writings about the case of the Scottsboro Boys – a series of trials in Alabama involving nine African American boys who had been accused of the rape of two white women. Hughes submitted a poem called, “Christ in Alabama,” (which appeared with a drawing called, “Black Christ,” by artist Zell Ingram) and an essay called, “Southern Gentlemen, White Prostitutes, Mill-Owners, and Negroes.”
The publication of the Scottsboro issue was timed to appear several days before Hughes was to visit Chapel Hill for a public reading. Citizens of the town of Chapel Hill were incensed by the visit. Newly-inaugurated University of North Carolina President Frank Porter Graham and Chapel Hill town officials received a flood of letters denouncing Hughes as “sacrilegious” and calling for his engagement to be canceled. Graham did not interfere and the reading went on as planned.
Contempo
North Carolina Collection, Wilson Library, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
December 1931
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Letter, Cordell Hull to Alexander Heard
Denial of travel visa for Leon Trotsky.
In this letter, Hull reports that the U.S. Department of State’s has denied the request for a travel visa for Trotsky to visit the U.S. to speak in Chapel Hill.
Cordell Hull
Carolina Forum of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Records #40144, University Archives, Wilson Library, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
31 August 1937
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Newspaper, “Trotsky Barred From Speaking Here,” The Daily Tar Heel, 19 September 1937, Chapel Hill, N.C.
Denial of travel visa for Leon Trotsky
This headline of the Daily Tar Heel announces the news that the Carolina Political Union had failed in their efforts to bring Marxist revolutionary Leon Trotsky to speak on campus.
Daily Tar Heel
Daily Tar Heel, 19 September 1937. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
19 September 1937
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Photo, Speaker Ban Marker, Chapel Hill, N.C.
Dan Sears
Photo by Dan Sears
Letter, David Clark to Kemp Plummer Lewis
Langston Hughes and Contempo controversy
In this letter, David Clark, editor of the Southern Textile Bulletin, writes to Kemp Plummer Lewis, president of the Alumni Association of the University of North Carolina, condemning the University's inaction toward Contempo magazine and Langston Hughes' visit to Chapel Hill.
Contempo was a small literary magazine published in Chapel Hill by co-editors Milton “Ab” Abernethy and Anthony Buttitta, both former UNC students. Although only lasting from 1931-1934, Contempo was able to build a strong reputation among critics and also managed to attract contributions from William Faulkner, Ezra Pound, Gertrude Stein, and many other well-known writers. The December 1931 issue of Contempo caused a stir in Chapel Hill due its inclusion of two controversial pieces by African American writer Langston Hughes.
Abernethy and Buttitta had decided to devote the entire issue to writings about the case of the Scottsboro Boys – a series of trials in Alabama involving nine African American boys who had been accused of the rape of two white women. Hughes submitted a poem called, “Christ in Alabama,” (which appeared with a drawing called, “Black Christ,” by artist Zell Ingram) and an essay called, “Southern Gentlemen, White Prostitutes, Mill-Owners, and Negroes.”
The publication of the Scottsboro issue was timed to appear several days before Hughes was to visit Chapel Hill for a public reading. Citizens of the town of Chapel Hill were incensed by the visit. Newly-inaugurated University of North Carolina President Frank Porter Graham and Chapel Hill town officials received a flood of letters denouncing Hughes as “sacrilegious” and calling for his engagement to be canceled. Graham did not interfere and the reading went on as planned.
David Clark
Kemp Plummer Lewis Papers #3819, Southern Historical Collection, The Wilson Library, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
17 February 1932
Copyright is retained by the authors of items in these papers, or their descendants, as stipulated by United States copyright law.
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Speech, "Communism and Socialism at Chapel Hill," delivered by David Clark before the Charlotte (N.C.) Lion's Club
David Clark's views on the prevalence of communism and socialism at the University of North Carolina.
David Clark
Office of President of the University of North Carolina (System): Frank Porter Graham Records #40007, University Archives, Wilson Library, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
12 August 1940
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Letter, President David L. Swain to Trustee Charles Manly, Chapel Hill, 7 October 1856
David L. Swain
University of North Carolina Papers (#40005), University Archives
1856-10-07
Lithograph of Robert Hett Chapman
E.C. Kellogg & co.
Letter, Earl Browder to Alexander Heard, 8 October 1937, New York, N.Y.
Earl Browder, Communist Party of the United States
African Americans
Correspondence
Communist Party of the United States
Earl Browder, Chairman of the National Committee of the Communist Party of the United States, accepts the Carolina Political Union’s invitation to speak.
Earl Browder
Carolina Forum of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Records #40144, University Archives, Wilson Library, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
8 October 1937
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Newspaper, "Sitterson Backs Up Trustees; Wilkinson Locked Off Campus," <em>The Daily Tar Heel</em>, 3 March 1966, Chapel Hill, N.C.
Ed Freakley
<em>The Daily Tar Heel</em>, 3 March 1966, from the North Carolina Collection, Wilson Library, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
3 March 1966
Newspaper, "Aptheker Tests Ban Law; 3,000 Listen Across Wall," <em>The Daily Tar Heel</em>, 10 March 1966, Chapel Hill, N.C.
Ed Freakley
The Daily Tar Heel, 10 March 1966, from the North Carolina Collection, Wilson Library, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
10 March 1966
Newspaper, "Student Leaders (l-r) George Nicholson, Paul Dickson, and Ernie McCrary," <em>The Daily Tar Heel,</em> 5 February 1966, Chapel Hill, N.C.
Ernest Robl
<em>The Daily Tar Heel</em>, 5 February 1966, from the North Carolina Collection, Wilson Library, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
5 February 1966