The Martin Luther King Jr. Center for Nonviolent Social Change
Vivian, C. T.
b. 1924
C. T. Vivian was national director of affiliates for the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC) from 1963 to 1966. He attended Western Illinois University and was pastor of First Community Church in Nashville, Tennessee while a seminary student at American Baptist College. He co-founded the Nashville Christian Leadership Conference, was active in the Nashville student sit-ins and was brutally beaten in Parchman (Mississippi) Prison after participating in the Freedom Rides. Vivian coordinated local civil rights groups nationally for the SCLC, advised Dr. King and organized demonstrations in Birmingham, St. Augustine and Selma. When he left SCLC in 1966, Vivian directed the Urban Training Center for Christian Missions in Chicago and organized against racism in the building trades. Returning to Atlanta, Vivian founded the Black Action Strategies and Information Center and co-founded the Center for Democratic Renewal.
Associated Archive Content : 31 results
Agenda for Executive Staff Meeting of SCLCThis document contains an itinerary for an upcoming Southern Christian Leadership Conference staff meeting. |
Appeal for Brotherhood to the City of BirminghamOn behalf of the Southern Alabama Movement for Human Rights and the Southern Christian Leadership Conference, C. T. Vivian writes this appeal in the "spirit of nonviolent love" to the citizens of Birmingham. His purpose is to awaken conscientiousness and gain their support in creating brotherhood and a better city. |
Citizens Action for Racial Brotherhood, Inc. ProgramThe Citizens Action for Racial Brotherhood organized this program where Dr. King makes a special address. |
Declaration of "Nobel Peace Prize Day" DesiredThis press release announces the Virginia State Unit of the SCLC's appeal to Governor Albertis Harrison in hopes that he will establish a "Nobel Peace Prize Day" in honor of Dr. King. The proposed day will possibly be held in conjunction with a speech Dr. King will deliver at Virginia State College and the Virginia SCLC State Convention. |
Executive OrdersDr. King drafts numerous directives pertaining to the 1964 expenses of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference. |
Letter from Curtis Harris to Affiliates of West Virginia SCLCCurtis Harris discloses information regarding Petersburg Improvement Association's sixth anniversary celebration. |
Letter from MLK to Alice SargentDr. King responds to an invitation to speak at Temple University from the Assistant Director of Student Activities. He states that he enjoys speaking with college and university students, he gracefully declines the invitation due to his civil rights commitments in the South. He also addresses Mrs. Sargent's question presented in her letter regarding the role Temple University can play in the Civil Rights Movement. He tells her that Rev. C.T. Vivian, Dr. |
Letter from Ozro T. Jones to the SCLC's C. T. VivianOzro Jones, President of the International Youth Congress, writes C. T. Vivian stating that he sincerely appreciates Dr. King for accepting the invitation to speak at the International Youth Congress in Chicago. |
Letter from Ralph Abernathy to Dr. Homer A. JackRalph Abernathy follows up with Dr. Jack about a conversation they had regarding funds for the Jimmie Lee Jackson Memorial Fund. Abernathy encloses a check from the SCLC for the fund, which will provide the family of the slain civil rights protestor with a total of $70 per month. Abernathy also confirms that the fund will also provide a scholarship to Jackson's sister. |
Letter from Ralph D. Abernathy to Homer A. JackRev. Ralph Abernathy submits a check on behalf of the SCLC to Homer Jack of the Unitarian Universalist Association to be donated to the Jimmie Lee Jackson Memorial Fund. The money will be used to purchase a new home for Jackson's parents and to finance the education for Jackson's sister. Jimmie Lee Jackson was murdered by a Alabama State Trooper while trying to protect his mother and grandfather from a beating during a march melee in Marion, Alabama. Jackson's death initiated the push for a march from Selma to Montgomery. |
Letter from Reverend Samuel B. McKinney to MLKSamuel Johnson, President of the SCLC Daytona Beach chapter, writes Dr.King to express his concerns for the current state of the organization. He urges King to make an appearance soon. |
Letter from Richard Bennett to MLKRichard Bennett requests a letter of greeting from Dr. King to be read at the Minnesota Federation of Teachers Educational Conference. |
Letter from Robert L. Martin to MLKDr. Robert L. Martin, Associate Professor of History at Texas Christian University, invites Dr. King to come speak to the university. |
Memo from Dora McDonald to MLKMiss Dora McDonald provides Dr. King with a synopsis of updates regarding invitations and correspondences. She notifies Dr. King of the Ann Morris School of Arts attendance at Ebenezer Baptist Church, Eugene Carson Blake's response to Dr. King's acceptance to speak, and V. M. Herron requests of 300 "Black is Beautiful" pamphlets. In addition, she informs Dr. King of the recent telephone calls from various individuals. |
Memorandum on direct Action in Alabama CitiesDr. King writes a Direct Action plan for the Alabama cities of Birmingham, Danville and Montgomery. He believes that these cities need to focus on the emergence of violence and recommends the integration of Negroes into the police force. |
MLK Confidential MemorandumDr. King outlines the SCLC's direct action program for the communities of Birmingham, Danville and Montgomery. |
MLK Memorandum on SCLC Direct Action PlansIn this confidential memorandum, Dr. King outlines SCLC’s direct action program for Birmingham, Alabama and Danville, Virginia. For each community, he states the challenges, defines goals, and then provides detailed steps to be taken and also staff assignments. He promises to outline his plan for Montgomery, Alabama in a few days. |
MLK Reflections on the Selma March, Bloody Sunday, SNCC and CommunismDr. King discusses the Selma to Montgomery march, calling it the "most powerful and dramatic civil rights protest ever held in the south." Dr. King also addresses criticism of the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee's tactics. He concludes these notes by responding to claims that he has communist ties, denying any foreign or left-wing influence on his actions. Of Bayard Rustin and C. T. |
National Clergymen's Conference on Operation BreadbasketThis schedule for the National Clergymen's Conference on Operation Breadbasket provides a description of the topics to be covered during the convention. |
One Vote for Every Man: Civil Rights ActIn this draft of an article for the March 1965 IUD Agenda, an AFL-CIO monthly publication, Dr. King recounts the progress made by the Civil Rights Movement and states that the issue in 1965 is the right to vote and the venue is Selma, Alabama. He discusses the pattern of exclusion, including the abuse of power by local sheriffs, illegal use of local and state laws, delay tactics of registrars, and literacy tests. He outlines measures that a Civil Rights Act of 1965 should include. |
Program for SCLC Annual Freedom BanquetThis program from SCLC's Tenth Annual Freedom Banquet features Senator Edward M. Kennedy as guest speaker. |
Program from the SCLC's Tenth Annual ConventionThis is the Tentative Programme of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference's Tenth Annual Convention. The convention was held in Jackson, Mississippi at a Masonic Temple and hosted by the Reverend Allen Johnson. The four day convention was themed "Human Rights - The Continuing Struggle." |
Proposed Agenda of Board MeetingThis document is a draft of an outline for the proposed agenda of an SCLC board meeting. |
Report to Agenda CommitteeJunius Griffin sends Bill Berry a report and tentative program regarding summer events in Chicago during the 1966 Civil Rights Campaign. |
SCLC Annual Report by MLK, 1965Dr King delivered this report at the SCLC's ninth annual national convention in Birmingham, Alabama. Serving essentially as a State of the Union address for the SCLC, the report touches on the major topics of the Civil Rights Movement and the recent achievements and goals of the SCLC. |
SCLC Board MeetingThis is the agenda for a board meeting of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference in Savannah, Georgia. |
SCLC Program AreasThis flyer explains seven SCLC programs. These programs include voter registration, political education, citizenship education, Operation Breadbasket, direct action, Operation Dialogue, nonviolence and leadership training. |
SCLC Staff Meeting - Suggestions and AssignmentsThese notes from a SCLC staff meeting discuss a plan of action for the Chicago Campaign and the Soldier Field rally. The document covers an array of topics, such as advertising, speaking engagements and smaller rallies. |
Tallahassee's Inter-Civic Council, Inc. Presents MLKThis document contains a program for Tallahassee's Inter-Civic Council's mass planning meeting for a three-day workshop on nonviolence at Bethel Baptist Church. Also included in this document are lyrics to "Lift Every Voice and Sing," and "We Shall Overcome." |
Telegram from Mrs. Frances Lucas to C. T. Vivian and Alvin PitcherMrs. Lucas informs Mr. Vivian and Mr. Pitcher of Mrs. King's unavailability to speak at the YMCA in Chicago. A memorial service in honor of Dr. King is scheduled on the same date in Atlanta. |