The Martin Luther King Jr. Center for Nonviolent Social Change
Telegrams
Since the 1800’s Telegrams have been responsible for relaying important and urgent information. Prior to telegrams, nearly all information was limited to traveling at the speed of a human or animal. The telegram freed communication from the constraints of space and time and truly affected how the world lived. In many ways telegrams can be thought of as an early form of Twitter. Similar to the restriction of 140 characters within a Tweet, writers of telegrams needed to be thoughtful in their message crafting and word selection. This was so both for economical reasons and the desire to speed the transmission of the telegram. For this reason, the messages within telegrams are often quite direct and strategic in their formation.
Congratulations Telegram from Nelson Rockefeller to MLKGovernor Nelson Rockefeller extends best wishes to Dr. King on his birthday and congratulates him for being honored as the Man-of-the Year. |
Dorothy Cotton telegraphs congratulationsDorothy Cotton, long-time colleague of Dr. King at Southern Christian Leadership Conference, congratulates Dr. King for being nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize. Cotton was one of the only non-family members to subsequently accompany Dr. King to Oslo, Norway, for the prize ceremony. |
Invitation to SCLF Celebration from MLKDr. King sent this telegram to 30 prominent members of the Philedelphia community, inviting them to join the Southern Christian Leadership Foundation in presenting the Star for Freedom to Harry Belafonte, Aretha Franklin, and Signey Poitier. |
Letter from L. K. Jackson to President KennedyDr. Jackson produces a copy of this telegram sent to President John F. Kennedy, in which he requests the president use his executive power to suppress violent racial tensions in the South. This telegram was prompted by the bombing of a church in Birmingham, Alabama that killed four little girls. |
Letter from MLK to Attorney General Robert KennedyDr. King writes to Attorney General Robert Kennedy requesting an investigation in Williamston, NC to relieve the Negro community from violence and "unconstitutional police action." |
Telegram Called in From Attorney General Nicholas Deb Katzenbach to MLKKatzenbach responds to an urgent telegram from Dr. King concerning State Troopers that had trapped Demonstrators inside a church and refused to let them obtain medical attention. Katzenbach tells Dr. King that he is aware of the situation and that the Department Attorneys and the FBI were already on the scene in both Selma and Marion and investigations had already begun. |
Telegram from A Philip Randolph to MLKMr. A. Philip Randolph offers his brotherhood and support to Dr. King, who is imprisoned in the Jefferson County jail. |
Telegram from A. G. Downing to MLKA. G. Downing, executive secretary of the Southern California Baptist Convention, congratulates Dr. King on receiving the Nobel Peace Prize. |
Telegram from A. Philip Randolph to MLKA. Philip Randolph congratulates Dr. King on the statement he made on "Face the Nation." |
Telegram from A. Philip Randolph to MLKA. Philip Randolph expresses his discontent with the release of a manifesto from civil rights leaders without Dr. King's signature. |
Telegram from A. Phillip Randolph to MLKA. Phillip Randolph, on behalf of the Brotherhood of Sleeping Car Porters and the Negro American Labor Council, expresses joy at Dr. King's release from prison. |
Telegram from ABC Network to Ralph David AbernathyA correspondent from the American Broadcasting Company Network in Washington D.C. contacts Reverend Ralph Abernathy attempting to continue an interview previously scheduled with Dr. King before his death. |
Telegram from Abraham Heschel to MLKAbraham Heschel tells Dr. King that he has a deep identification with the goals that Dr. King is dedicated to and offers him encouragement. |
Telegram from Al C. Hastings to MLKAl Hastings expresses his concern during Dr. King's incarceration in the Jefferson County Jail. |
Telegram from Alabama Christian Movement for Human Rights to MLKThe Alabama Christian Movement for Human Rights and its executives offer support to Dr. King, who is imprisoned in the Albany jail. |
Telegram from Alfred Duckett to Mrs. KingAlfred Duckett asks Mrs. King to airmail her "program breakdown" to meet a printing deadline. |
Telegram From Alice Rewald to Dora McDonaldAlice Rewald writes to Dora McDonald in an attempt to meet with Dr. King before departing for France. |
Telegram from Ambassador Ade Martins to MLKThis telegram was sent to Dr. King and Theodore Brown by N. Ade Martins, the Ambassador of Nigeria. He explains the reaction of Lt. Col. Yakubu Gowon, the commander in chief of the armed forces, to Dr. King's letter concerning the violence in Nigeria. |
Telegram from American Negro Leadership Conference on Africa to President JohnsonMembers of the American Negro Leadership Conference on Africa express their disapproval of South Africa's rule over South West Africa and ask for U.S. intervention. |
Telegram from Andrew Allen to MLKPastor Andrew J. Allen offers to serve Dr. King's jail term for him. |
Telegram from Andrew Young to Moreland Griffith SmithAndrew Young informs Moreland Griffith Smith Sr. that he will be unable to attend a meeting in Montgomery, Alabama. Reverend James Bevel will attend the meeting instead. |
Telegram from Andrew Young to Rev. George W. GunnReverend Andrew Young informs Reverend George Gunn of the Presbyterian University Center that he will not be in attendance at the Campus Ministry Association meeting due to an emergency situation in Americus, Georgia that requires his special attention. |
Telegram from Andrew Young to the Swedish Ecumenical CouncilAndrew Young, Executive Assistant to Dr. King, writes the Swedish Ecumenical Council's Nils Sundholm, informing him that Dr. King can accept his invitation to host a worship service in Sweden in December as part of his trip to Europe. |
Telegram from Arnold Aronson to MLKArnold Aronson requests Dr. King's opinion regarding the Leadership Conference on Civil Rights endorsing the anti-poverty bill. |
Telegram From Avanta Williams to MLKAvatna Williams, family and friends send their thoughts and prayers to Dr. King when they heard that he would serve a year in jail. |
Telegram from B. Hicks to Herbert CoultonB. Hicks telegrams Herbert Coulton stating that he will pay for his transportation and expenses during his visit. |
Telegram from Bea Stanley to MLKBea Stanley writes to Dr. King during his confinement at the Jefferson County Courthouse Jail. Stanley informs him that many of his supporters and friends are concerned regarding his health and safety, and also updates him on the progress of one of his publications. |
Telegram from Bennette, Calhoun and Ellis to MLKJ.H. Calhoun, Ocelia Ellis and Fred Bennette send their prayers and support to Dr. King during Dr. King's imprisonment in the Birmingham City Jail. |
Telegram from Beryl Sacks to Dora McDonaldMs. Beryl Sacks inquires about the availability of Dr. King to speak for the Speakers Bureau Adult Education Council. |
Telegram from Bishop James K. Mathews to MLKTelegram from Bishop James K. Mathews to Dr. King congratulatiing him on his "Letter from a Birmingham Jail." |