Afternoons in the Archives with AAAA, August 15, 2015, Program #3

Dr. Regennia N. Williams and The African American Archives Auxiliary (AAAA / “Quad A”) Present

Afternoons in the Archives at The Western Reserve Historical Society Research Library – Hassler Room 10825 East Boulevard Cleveland, Ohio 44106

The Honorable Leo A. Jackson: A Government of Laws and the Political Empowerment of a People Celebrating the Life and Legacy of a Distinguished Jurist and The 50th Anniversary of The Voting Rights Act of 1965 *Part III in a Four-Part Series

Related Archival Materials: The Leo A. Jackson Collection *Processing of this collection was made possible by a grant from the United Black Fund of Greater Cleveland.

Commemorating

The 44th Anniversary of The African American Archives Auxiliary Free Each Saturday afternoon program in this series includes a tour of the library, table talk, tea, and admission to the History Center. Space is limited. Advance registration is required.

To register or obtain more information, please call (216) 721-­‐5722, ext. 1522.

Image courtesy of Linda Jackson Sowell

Saturday, August 15, 2015 1:30 p.m.

In the beginning . . .

In the begi WRHS Library Makes Leo A. Jackson Papers Available CLEVELAND, OH – The Western Reserve Historical Society’s Library is pleased to announce the availability of the Leo A. Jackson Papers. The papers have been fully processed, cataloged, and are now open for research. Funded by generous support of the United Black Fund, this collection is a significant addition to the rich tapestry of African American history available at the Western Reserve Historical Society.

Serving Cleveland from the 1950s-1980s, Leo Albert Jackson (1920-1996) was an African American attorney, judge, and politician. A veteran who served in the U.S. Army, Jackson graduated from Morehouse College in 1943, and obtained a Master of Arts degree from Atlanta University in 1946. He obtained his law degree from Cleveland Marshall College of Law in 1950. In 1957, he was elected to Cleveland City Council as the Ward 24 representative.

He served there until 1970.

This collection is important in its depiction of Jackson and his experience as an African American community leader and city official. Through the papers, researchers get a strong sense of the government and political climate of Cleveland from the late 1950s-1970. Areas of interest profiled by the collection include housing and zoning concerns, racial tensions, relations with the police, the Hough Riots, and unrest in Glenville (including the Glenville Shootout), as well as how politics in the city was affected by these types of issues.

Recent national events which have (from Cleveland, to New York, to Ferguson) ignited racial tensions and brought police practices into question can also be explored through this specific collection. Researchers can follow Jackson’s career as an African American councilman and see how he applied and interpreted his experiences as he became a judge on Ohio’s Eighth District Court of Appeals in 1970. A full description and inventory of the collections is available online.

Jackson served three consecutive terms on the district court, twice as chief judge, and had a special assignment to the Ohio Supreme Court. He was active in many community organizations in the Cleveland area and received numerous awards for this work. He retired from the bench in 1987 and passed away on April 19, 1996 in Shaker Heights, Ohio.

During his council career representing Cleveland’s Glenville neighborhood, Jackson fought for civil rights, introduced gun control legislation, and was dedicated to community development in his ward. He faced controversy on racial issues as a moderate African American who did not ally with the black power movement. He was also active in the county, city, and state Democratic parties and involved in various local issues like the Cuyahoga County Charter debate.

Library Director, Richard Shrake, notes, “We are proud to provide access to the Judge Leo A. Jackson papers. This collection is important both in understanding the significance of Jackson’s influence and in helping the African American Archives continue to depict the many facets and contributions of Black History in Northeastern Ohio.”

Established in 1970, the African American Archives of the Western Reserve Historical Society are an ongoing initiative to collect, preserve, and make accessible materials that profile the African American experience in Northeast Ohio.

Celeste Terry, Director of Grants at the United Black Fund of Greater Cleveland states, “The United Black Fund of Greater Cleveland, Inc. is proud to have provided funding for archiving the papers of Judge Leo A. Jackson. Scholars, students and lovers of history will have access to documents that are historical, and that tell a narrative of the accomplishments of African Americans that shaped Cleveland. These archives chronicle the impact and influence their lives had on improving lives in the City of Cleveland. The African American Archives of the Western Reserve Historical Society is an important resource and institution in this community. It preserves and makes available a collection that details the contributions of prominent African Americans that people can learn about for many years to come.“

The above text is excerpted from a February 19, 2015 blog post that is available at http://www.wrhs.org/blog/news/wrhs-library-makes-leo-a-jackson-papers-available/.

Afternoons in the Archives, Part III

Councilman Leo A. Jackson, 1962.

(Courtesy Cleveland Memory)*

Program

Welcome and Acknowledgments “Lift Every Voice and Sing”

Panel Presentation Mrs. Linda Jackson Sowell, Daughter of Judge Leo A. Jackson and Principal, Abyssinia Group Consulting Mr. Richard L. Aynes, Dean Emeritus & Professor of Law Emeritus University of Akron School of Law

The Honorable Ronald B. Adrine, The Cleveland Municipal Court Mr. Robert Render III, Community Activist and Former Quad A Trustee, Moderator

Audience Participation / Q & A Remarks Announcements – Evaluations – Mailing List – Adjournment Refreshments – Library Activities

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Lift Every Voice and Sing

By James Weldon Johnson

Lift every voice and sing, Till earth and heaven ring, Ring with the harmonies of Liberty; Let our rejoicing rise High as the list’ning skies, Let it resound loud as the rolling sea.

Sing a song full of the faith that the dark past has taught us, Sing a song full of the hope that the present has brought us; Facing the rising sun of our new day begun, Let us march on till victory is won. * For additional online resources on Judge Leo A. Jackson, please visit www.ClevelandMemory.org/.

A Historical Perspective

In 1971, twenty-­‐three people served on the original Black History Archives Project: Russell T. Adrine, Dr. Tillman Bauknight, Myrtle J. Bell, Professor Thomas E. Campbell, Ernest C. Cooper, Russell H. Davis, Lawrence L. Evert, Ralph W. Findley, Rev. Donald G. Jacobs, Ronald M. Johnson, Professor Butler A. Jones, Dr. Middleton H. Lambright, Robert P. Madison, Professor August Meier, Mrs. A. Grace Lee Mims, George A. Moore, Professor Wilbert Nichols, Professor Ralph L. Pruitt, Robert L. Southgate, Dr. Booker T. Tall, John B. Turner, William O. Walker, and Harvey M. Williamson.

The group included educators, administrators, and business people within the local Black community, organizations, and those who demonstrated an interest in preserving Black history. Their objectives were to assure community involvement in the Black History Archives Project and to increase Black participation in the activities of the Western Reserve Historical Society. Committee members introduced the Society’s staff to potential donors and promoted the mission of the African American Archives to their friends and associates. In addition, the Historical Society received a grant from the Cleveland Foundation to hire an archivist, Ms. Olivia Martin, who coordinated the Black History Archives Project.

Dr. Booker T. Tall emerged as a leading champion of the Black History Project Advisory Committee. He took up the reins of the committee with a renewed vigor in 1989. He attracted a cadre of community leaders and activists—and their support of the Archives. In 1990, the advisory committee was reorganized as the African American Archives Auxiliary. This brought the new status of being recognized by the Historical Society’s Board of Trustees.

The Auxiliary began efforts to re-­‐establish the position of Curator and Archivist for African American History. The goal was realized in 1992 when the Cleveland Foundation made a three-­‐year grant of $150,000 to support the Archives. Samuel W. Black was appointed Associate Curator for African American History. Nishani Frazier and Susan Hall succeeded Samuel W. Black. The position of Curator for African American History is presently vacant.

Sherlynn Allen-­‐Harris was appointed Acting President of the African American Archives Auxiliary in 2010. The Auxiliary is continuing its efforts to raise $1 million for the Booker T. Tall Endowment Fund, which will provide ongoing financial support for the African American Archives.

The true beneficiaries of the dedication, commitment and generosity of all those who have

served and supported the Auxiliary will be the generations to follow. They will find their history documented in the collections of the Western Reserve Historical Society, an institution now dedicated to preserving and presenting the heritage of all of the people of Greater Cleveland. For information on the African American Archives Auxiliary or to find out how to support its work, contact: Sherlynn Allen-­‐Harris African American Archives Auxiliary, Acting President Western Reserve Historical Society, Board of Directors, Ex-­‐Officio Member sallenharris2@gmail.com

NOTES

NOTES

Dr. Regennia N. Williams and The African American Archives Auxiliary (AAAA) Present

Afternoons in the Archives at The Western Reserve Historical Society Research Library – Hassler Room 10825 East Boulevard Cleveland, Ohio 44106

Saturday, September 19, 2015 1:30 p.m.

Famous in the Neighborhood and Beyond Focusing on Dr. Shirley Smith Seaton and Other Current and Former Residents of Cleveland’s Fairfax Community

Related Archival Materials: The Boyd Funeral Home Collection

Dr. Shirley Smith Seaton (right), Board member for the Western Reserve Historical Society and African American Archives Auxiliary Trustee, with Dr. Regennia N. Williams, c. 2009, in the History Center.

Commemorating

The 44th Anniversary of The African American Archives Auxiliary Free This program includes a tour of the library, table talk, tea, and admission to the History Center. Space is limited. Advance registration is required.

To register or obtain more information, please call (216) 721-­‐5722, ext. 1522.