The HCAC public history focused digital archive cataloging is an ongoing process, and we may update this record as we conduct additional research and review. We welcome your comments and feedback if you have more information to share about an item featured on the site, please contact us at: HCAC-DigiTeam@si.edu
An article from the Asbury Park Press about the trial of Assata Shakur (JoAnne Chesimard) for the 1973 killing of a state trooper. Jury selection continued as prosecutors awaited ruling on their appeal of suspended court sessions, granted by a federal appeals court panel in respect to the defendant's Muslim faith.
A letter from New Afrikan Women’s Organization (NAWO) leadership to Ibidun Sundiata (aka Dorothy Morrow) inquiring about her sudden resignation from the organization. Ibidun Sundiata was a well-respected and regarded activist and the members of the NAWO want clarification on why she resigned without a conversation with the group.
Ms. Young worked at Smith Robertson School as a teacher and secretary for the principal from 1951 until the school’s closing in 1971. She talks about her time at the Smith Robertson School as a secretary and teacher and discusses how the property around the school had a negative effect on it.
An article from The News Tribune about the question of Friday recesses asked for by the defense because of the Muslim faith of Assata Shakur (JoAnne Chesimard), who was on trial for the 1973 killing of a state trooper. The question has been a feature of the trial and the defense, prosecution, and judge continue to argue over it.
A newspaper article from The News Tribune about a day long juryless court session where defense lawyers made numerous motions to dismiss the indictments against Assata Shakur (JoAnne Chesimard) who was on trial for the 1973 killing of a state trooper. The judge rejected these motions and the attorneys are scheduled to call witnesses that day.
Judge Houston Patton started with Child Development Group of Mississippi (CDGM) in 1965 as a Head Start administrator for Hinds, Madison, and Rankin counties in Mississippi. After attending law school, he worked from 1972 until 1979 with Head Start Legal Services in Jackson. He talks about these jobs including meetings, budgets, and personnel.
A newspaper article from The Star Ledger about Superior Court Judge Theodore Appleby ordering defense consultants, the National Jury Project, to stop making calls and contact related to the trial of Assata Shakur (JoAnne Chesimard) for the 1973 killing of a state trooper. Appleby said that the calls were approaching obstruction of justice.
Newspaper article from The News Tribune about Superior Court Judge Theodore Appleby barring the testimony of an FBI agent and senator. Chief defense attorney William Kunstler wanted to use the testimony to establish a police conspiracy against Black militants in the trial of Assata Shakur (JoAnne Chesimard) for the 1973 killing of a state trooper.
A journal written by Nuh Abdul Qaiyum while imprisoned and later by Frankye Adams-Johnson (Malika), both former members of the Black Panther Party and the Black Liberation Army. Washington wrote poetry and essays and thoughts on philosophy and religion. Frankye Adams-Johnson (Malika) wrote poetry; drafts of letters; and meeting agendas.
A journal written by Frankye Adam-Johnson (Malika)’s husband, former member of the Black Panther Party and Black Liberation Army Nuh Abdul Qaiyum, from 1975-1977 while imprisoned. Most of the pages are original poetry. He also copied some poems and songs by other writers. There are also several pages of Suras and other verses from the Quran.
A journal written by Frankye Adam-Johnson (Malika)’s husband, Nuh Abdul Qaiyum, during unknown dates. Nuh Abdul Qaiyum was a former member of the Black Panther Party and Black Liberation Army and was imprisoned in 1975. He writes about a variety of topics, including daily rituals; religions; languages and alphabets; and politics and philosophy.
A journal written by former Black Panther Party member and former Jackson State University professor Frankye Adams-Johnson (Malika) on unknown dates. Items in the journal include: prayers; writing in Arabic and lists of Islamic terms; rough draft of a resume for a prospective job in Philadelphia, PA; a poem; and a note to her imprisoned husband.
Josephine Tibbs was born in Jackson and moved to the Farish Street District in 1910. Mrs. Tibbs talks about her early school days at Smith Robertson School and her religious activities. She also talks about some of the businesses in the district and some of the Black doctors who practiced on Farish Street.
Johnny Palmer was appointed in 1980 as the first Black sergeant at arms at the Mississippi State Capitol. He had worked at the House as a maintenance and inventory supervisor since 1959. He details the challenges that Robert Clark faced and also talks about the dynamics that the presidents of the major Black colleges had with the House.
A newspaper article from The Black Panther about the free breakfast program in New Haven, Connecticut. The first free breakfast program in New Haven began on October 8, 1969, and is named after John Huggins, a Black Panther originally from New Haven who was murdered on January 17, 1969, in Los Angeles, California.
A button with a black and white photo of John Carlos and Tommie Smith giving the Black Power salute at the 1968 Olympics in Mexico City, Mexico after winning bronze and gold medals, respectively, in the 200 meter running event. The salute is considered one of the most overtly political statements in the history of the modern Olympic Games.
A newspaper article from The News Tribune about no-work action taken by around 170 employees of the Middlesex County Sheriff's Department over lagging contract negotiations. The missing officers are not expected to cause security issues at the Assata Shakur (JoAnne Chesimard) trial for the 1973 killing of a state trooper.
A newspaper article from The Afro-American about Lennox Hinds, president of the National Conference of Black Lawyers, speaking out against his critics for his support of Assata Shakur (JoAnne Chesimard), who was on trial for the 1973 killing of a state trooper, after being cited by The Ethics Committee of the Middlesex County Bar Association.
A newspaper article from The New Jersey Afro-American about Attorney Jerry Paul, whose appeal of contempt of court from his successful defense of Joanne Little in 1975 was denied by the 4th U.S. Court of Appeals. Little was the first woman in U.S. history to be acquitted for murder using the defense of using deadly force to resist sexual assault.
A newspaper article from the Daily News about the testimony of State Police Detective James Challender describing what he saw at the emergency room where Assata Shakur (JoAnne Chesimard) and wounded state trooper Werner Foerster were taken after he was fatally shot. Shakur was on trial for the 1973 murder of Foerster.
Jessie Jelks began work as a teacher with Head Start in 1967 and by 1979 had worked her way up to Education Special Services Specialist. She talks about the improvements and growth of Head Start since she first began working. At the time of the interview she was still working as Education Special Services Specialist.
Attorney Jess Brown moved to the Farish Street District in 1948. He talks about his education and his legal career. He discusses his recollections of businesses on Farish Street and the effect that integration had on them. He also talks about the Civil Rights Movement and the NAACP and some of the cases he was involved with as a lawyer.
Jerome Wyatt talks about his work at Head Start, primarily in Jones County, since starting in 1972. He discusses the economics of being employed there, community reaction to the program, and his vision for the future of Head Start. The transcript contains handwritten edits.
Jerome Wyatt started working at Head Start in Jones County, Mississippi, in 1972 as Area Director. Mr. Wyatt talks about his time working with Head Start, including the internal and external problems he had to deal with when coming into the job. He says that White politicians were actively working to take control over the program.
A black and green button for Jericho '98: Amnesty and freedom for all political prisoners. At the top of the button is a quote from Ho Chi Minh: "When the prison doors open the real dragon will fly out." Jericho 98 was a protest held in Washington, D.C. on March 27, 1998. The 5,000-7,000 attendees called for the release of all political prisoners.
A newspaper article from The Home News about a 133 page report from American Foundation, Inc., Institute of Corrections that finds the conditions of Middlesex County Jail, specifically the basement where Assata Shakur (JoAnne Chesimard) is being held while on trial for the 1973 killing of a state trooper, to be "grossly inadequate."
A photograph of the old Jackson Advocate offices near Farish Street in the Farish Street Historic District. The Jackson Advocate is an African American weekly newspaper founded in Jackson in 1938 by Percy Greene, a World War I veteran and Civil Rights leader in the 1940’s and 1950’s.
A newspaper article from The New York Times about the espionage case against Julius and Ethel Rosenberg and the judicial issue that had arisen in recent years: whether alleged contacts between the trial judge and the prosecution were proper judicial contact. The couple were convicted of espionage against the U.S. in 1951 and executed in 1953.
Postcard serving as an invitation for an event at the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture in the Harlem neighborhood of New York City. The event is a members preview exhibition opening and book signing on November 9, 1995, at 7:00pm for Tom Feelings' "Middle Passage," which would go on to be the author and cartoonist’s most famous work.
A postcard serving as an invitation for an event at the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture in the Harlem neighborhood of New York City. The event on November 5, 1995, is a celebration and concert in honor of Kathryn Talalay's book “Composition in Black and White: The Life of Phillipa Schuyler.”
