children died of the yellow fever. This collection contains correspondence, invoices, agreements, and contracts related to the business and legal activities of Thomas Fitch in South Georgia and East Florida from 1818 until his death in 1821. It also includes papers, dated 1822-1836, related to the settlement of his estate, which include an inventory of personal estate, valuation of slaves, and record of sale of household effects. The collection contains several items which describe Fitch's activities as a slaveholder. It contains agreements for the purchase and division of slaves jointly bought by Thomas Fitch and Benjamin Chaires. There is also an affidavit concerning the seizure of one of Fitch's slaves for being brought from Africa in violation of the laws of the United States. A related letter by Paul Dupon testifies that the slaves that Fitch had bought from him were legally brought into the United States. There are documents related to the purchase and ownership of land in East Florida by Thomas Fitch. Included is a proposal from Fernando de la Maza Arredondo to sell a plantation and negroes to Thomas Fitch. There is also a contract by Francis Philip Fatio, Jr. paying Fitch to survey and record his land grant along the St. Johns River and to provide Fatio's son with an English education in the United States. Florida Bar. Florida Legislative Investigation Committee Records, 1957-1960, 0.75 cubic foot M81-17 The Florida Legislative Investigation Committee was set up by Chapter 31498 of the Laws of Florida (1955) to investigate "all organizations whose principles or activities include a course of conduct on the part of any person or group which would constitute violence or a violation of the laws of the State, or would be inimical to the well-being and orderly pursuits of their personal and business activities by the majority of the citizens of this state." In this instance, the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) was under scrutiny. The committee made a report to the Florida Bar on December 27, 1958 in which they rendered their opinion as to what actions, if any, should be taken in regard to the method of operation of the NAACP and its Florida counsel. Under consideration was the possible professional misconduct of Alexander Akerman, Jr. of Washington, D.C.; Horace E. Hill of Daytona Beach, Florida; Grattan E. Graves, Jr. of Miami, Florida; and Francisco A. Rodriguez and William Andrew Fordham, both of Tampa, Florida; all of whom were working for the NAACP. The underlying question involved whether a lawyer employed by an association to render legal services in matters concerning the organization as a whole may also represent individuals who are involved in matters which the organization wishes to preserve or further. Furthermore, the NAACP had been charged with willfully instigating or appearing in lawsuits, soliciting lawsuits, or soliciting others to file lawsuits, and hiring or paying a litigant to bring, maintain or prosecute a lawsuit. The above-named lawyers were allegedly involved in some or all of these activities. This collection is made up primarily of carbon copies of transcripts of hearings before the Florida Legislative Investigation Committee from February 4 , 1957 to March 13, 1957. The collection also includes a report from George W. Atkinson to Baya M.
63