Finding Aid for the Lydia T. Wright Papers, 1883-1968MS 15University Archives
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| University Archives, The State University of New York at Buffalo |
| 420 Capen Hall | Buffalo, NY 14260 |
| Phone: 716 645-2916 | Fax: 716 645-3714 |
| Email: lib-archives@buffalo.edu |
Lydia Wright at the Les Amis Social Club
©2006. The State University of New York at Buffalo. All rights reserved.
| Title: | Lydia T. Wright Papers, 1883-1968 |
| Collection Number: | MS 15 |
| Creator: | Wright, Lydia T., 1921- |
| Extent: | 15 manuscript boxes (6.0 linear feet) |
| Repository: | University Archives, The State University of New York at Buffalo |
| Abstract: | The collection contains research material on school integration including press clippings, speeches, and correspondence related to efforts to integrate the school system of Buffalo, New York as well as other civil rights issues including the 1963 March on Washington. Collection also includes personal memorabilia and family papers. |
[Description and dates], Box/folder number, MS 15, Lydia T. Wright Papers, 1883-1968, University Archives, The State University of New York at Buffalo.
See the Archives' preferred citations instructions for additional information.
The bulk of the Lydia T. Wright Papers are open for research.
Copyright of papers in the collection may be held by their authors, or the authors' heirs or assigns. Researchers must obtain the written permission of the holder(s) of copyright and the University Archives before publishing quotations from materials in the collection. Most papers may be copied in accordance with the library's usual procedures unless otherwise specified.
Papers were donated to the University Archives by Dr. Lydia T. Wright, Summer 1968.
As the first African-American appointed to the Buffalo Board of Education, Dr. Lydia T. Wright broke many racial barriers in order to introduce major changes to the Buffalo public school system. Growing up in Cincinnati, Ohio, Dr. Wright came from a home where education was highly valued. Her mother graduated from the University of Cincinnati and taught in the local public schools. Her maternal grandfather, Dr. Benjamin Hickman, attended Oberlin College and was one of the first African-Americans to practice medicine in Cincinnati.
Dr. Wright attended the University of Cincinnati and Fisk University. Then in 1947 she received her medical degree from Meharry Medical College in Nashville, Tennessee. After her marriage to Dr. Frank G. Evans in 1951, the couple moved to Buffalo where they opened a practice on Jefferson Avenue. During her 36 year career as a pediatrician, Dr. Wright served on the staff of several local hospitals and on the faculty of the University at Buffalo's medical school.
In 1962 she made history when she was appointed the first African-American on the Buffalo Board of Education. Dr. Wright's views on integration and education were quoted from a 1964 Buffalo Evening News article in her August 2006 obituary written by Janice L. Habuda:
"Most Negroes look upon school integration as a guarantee that their children will learn and will soar to great heights of achievement. This is a myth. Children coming from homes where there is order and high expectations have a good chance of success in school. But children from homes where parents seldom read... where there is no routine, nor high expectations, these children create chaos in the classrooms. They are under-achievers and potential dropouts.
Whether or not a child attends an integrated school, he never will succeed, unless he receives worthwhile instruction in that school."
Dr. Wright's work on the Buffalo Board of Education raised the standards for all students attending the public schools. She has been recognized for her work through numerous awards and recognitions including the Red Jacket Award of the Buffalo and Erie County Historical Society presented to the Wrights in 1980 for their service to the city of Buffalo. Over her career, Dr. Wright served on the Board of Directors of Planned Parenthood (1960-1962), was a Diplomat of the American Board of Pediatric, a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority and listed in the first edition of Who's Who of American Women. She died in Buffalo on August 23, 2006.
Habuda, Janice L. "WRIGHT - Dr. Lydia T., broke racial and gender barriers." Buffalo News. August 25, 2006
During the 1963-1964 school year, the Buffalo Board of Education was required to decide which schools would send their pupils to the new Woodlawn Junior High School, scheduled to open in September 1964. The question of district boundaries became a dispute over racial balance in the schools. Dr. Wright, a board member, developed a plan to integrate the school. Her plan would have resulted in an African-American student enrollment of 38 percent in the new school. The plan was defeated after a period of intense pressure on the Board from both integrationists and segregationists. In one case, the white neighborhoods around the school submitted a petition to the Board with 12,811 signatures protesting Wright's plan.
After the Board voted to make Woodlawn an exclusively African-American school, several organizations responded by organizing a successful one-day boycott, achieving 63 percent absenteeism. The following fall an attempt to boycott Woodlawn itself on the first day of school was a failure. During the next two years, events occurred to swing the Board toward a pro-integration position. The local branch of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) petitioned Commissioner Allen of the State Education Department for relief. A reply was received in February 1965, demanding that the Board produce a program for integration by May 1, 1965.
In December 1964, Judge Desmond, Chief Justice of the State Court of Appeals, condemned the impotence of school boards in dealing with segregation. Pressure from Commissioner Allen, Judge Desmond and pro-integration organizations compelled "the Board to develop a liberal consensus" in the integration of the Buffalo schools. ( School Desegregation in the North, Eight Comparative Case Studies of Community Structure and Policy Making, Robert L. Crain et all. National Opinion Research Center, University of Chicago, April 1966)
There was publicity, if not action, for Dr, Wright's proposals to improve the quality of education. She made a plea for diversity sensitive textbooks to replace those with martinet characters like Dick and Jane. She researched, wrote and presented a plan for reorganizing the high schools so that individual schools would specialize in areas of their curriculum, such as science, music, language or the arts. This plan would have an impact on integration as well as upon the quality of instruction.
The collection contains research material on school integration including press clippings, speeches, and correspondence related to efforts to integrate the school system of Buffalo, New York. The collection includes clippings that form a sequential record of Dr. Wright's appointment, her impact on the community and issues requiring Board action during her tenure.
Meeting minutes from the Buffalo Board of Education are included in the collection (1962-1967). The collection is supplemented by minutes, dating from January 10, 1968 to the present, sent on an ongoing basis to the University Archives by the Buffalo Board of Education. Minutes after April 26, 1967 are housed off-site.
The collection also contains material relating to community organizations with which Dr. Wright was affiliated including the African Cultural Center, the East Side Community Organization and Build-Unity-Integrity-Liberty-Dignity (BUILD), a community action organization. Personal material in the collection includes photos of the Les Amis Social Club, buttons and photographs from the 1963 March on Washington as well as photographs of Dr. Wright at official function as a member of the School Board.
This collection is arranged in eight series:
| Series I. Racial Balance in Buffalo | |||||
| Series II. Background on Integration | |||||
| Series III. Clippings | |||||
Series IV. Board of Education
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| Series V. Speeches | |||||
| Series VI. Correspondence | |||||
| Series VII. Community Organizations | |||||
| Series VIII. Personal Memorabilia |
Series contains proposals, reports, policy statements and documents on the issue of local school desegregation.
| 1.1 | Dr. Wright's proposal for high schools with specialized curricula, 1963 | ||||||||||||||||||
| 1.2 | Reports on specialized subject organization, n.d. | ||||||||||||||||||
| 1.3 | "Report on Buffalo Health Facilities," New York State Advisory Committee to the United States Commission of Civil Rights, 1964 | ||||||||||||||||||
| 1.4 | "Integration in Housing," Housing Opportunities Made Equal (HOME), Buffalo, New York, 1964 | ||||||||||||||||||
| 1.5 | Proposal to extend occupational education in the Buffalo area, 1965 | ||||||||||||||||||
| 1.6 | Plan for Accelerating Quality Integrated Education, 1966 | ||||||||||||||||||
| 1.7 | Organizational statements on integration plan - Citizens for better Education, Council of Churches, 1966 | ||||||||||||||||||
| 1.8 | School Desegregation in the North: Eight Comparative Case Studies of Community Structure and Policy Making, Crain, Robert, et al., National Opinion Research Center, University of Chicago, April 1966 | ||||||||||||||||||
| 1.9 | Rough draft of chapter on Buffalo from the National
Opinion Research Center study, annotated by Dr. Wright,
n.d. [material in this folder is restricted, please contact the Univerity Archivist for more information] |
||||||||||||||||||
| 1.10 | School population census - Buffalo Public Schools, 1966 | ||||||||||||||||||
| 1.11 | Build-Unity-Integrity-Liberty-Dignity (BUILD, a community action organization) Black Paper No. 1, on public schools, 1967 | ||||||||||||||||||
| 1.12 | Historical background on integration in Buffalo - 2 sheets, 1967 | ||||||||||||||||||
| 1.13 | Legal documents in the case of Yorby Dixon et al vs. the Board of Education of the City of Buffalo; brief by Herman Schwartz, attorney for the petitioners, 1967 | ||||||||||||||||||
| 2.1 | "The Negro and the City of Buffalo," Committee for an Urban University, n.d. | ||||||||||||||||||
| 2.2 | "The Facts of Race," Ralph Race, Jr., addressed to the Board of education, n.d. | ||||||||||||||||||
| 2.3 | Dr. Wright's "Plan for Integration"; Dr. Manch's statement (incomplete, one page only), 1963 | ||||||||||||||||||
| 2.4 | "Racial Integration in the Schools," Dr. Manch, 1964 | ||||||||||||||||||
| 2.5 | How a section of the education law impedes establishment of racial balance - Citizen's Council on Human Relations, 1964 | ||||||||||||||||||
| 2.6 | Petition to Buffalo School Board by Coordinating Council of Community and Civil Rights Groups, 1964 | ||||||||||||||||||
| 2.7 | Statements pro Plan for Integration at Woodlawn Jr. High School, 1964 | ||||||||||||||||||
| 2.8 | Legal opinion on boundaries for Woodlawn Jr. High School, 1964; Board member Nitkowski's proposal letter accompanying petition from residents of school districts no. 52, 45, and 38 | ||||||||||||||||||
| 2.9 | National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), Buffalo - Annual report on education, list of organizations which made statements favoring integration at Woodlawn Jr. High School, 1964 | ||||||||||||||||||
| 2.10 | Citizen's Council on Human Relations - newsletter on Woodlawn Jr. High School, 1964 | ||||||||||||||||||
| 2.11 | School boycott broadsheet, 1964 | ||||||||||||||||||
| 2.12 | Statement by Dr. Manch - Buffalo Evening News, 1965 | ||||||||||||||||||
| 2.13 | Non-white students in all high schools, 1965 | ||||||||||||||||||
| 2.14 | Buffalo Inquisitor satire: "Appeal for Federal Aid," 1965 | ||||||||||||||||||
| 2.15 | Rules - Woodlawn Jr. High School, 1964 | ||||||||||||||||||
| 2.16 | My Negro Brother - pamphlet, Catholic Church of Buffalo, n.d. | ||||||||||||||||||
Series contains research materials on segregation.
Series is arranged chronologically.
| 3.1 | "From Citizen Apathy to participation," Saul Alinsky, 1957 | ||||||||||||||||||
| 3.2 | Xeroxed copy - legal case regarding New York City school segregation, 1958 | ||||||||||||||||||
| 3.3 | First National Community School Clinic - Flint, Michigan, 1959 | ||||||||||||||||||
| 3.4 | "The Negro Revolt against Negro Leaders" - Harper's, June 1960; other articles, 1960 | ||||||||||||||||||
| 3.5 | Urban League leaflets - statistics on Buffalo's non-white population; includes education, income, housing and family organization, 1960-1963 | ||||||||||||||||||
| 3.6 | National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) Annual Report, 1962 | ||||||||||||||||||
| 3.7 | Reprints - articles on Negro leadership; "The City and the Negro," Fortune, 1962 | ||||||||||||||||||
| 3.8 | Research on community schools and the education of the culturally deprived, 1962-1964 | ||||||||||||||||||
| 3.9 | "Intergroup Relations," - State Education Department; "Youth Employability," Youth Opportunities Board of Greater Los Angeles, 1962-1963 | ||||||||||||||||||
| 3.10 | "Social and Economic Profiles of the Great Cities," 1963 | ||||||||||||||||||
| 3.11 | Brotherhood pamphlets - bibliography, 1963 | ||||||||||||||||||
| 3.12 | "ABC's of Urban Renewal" - Sears, Roebuck Company, 1963 | ||||||||||||||||||
| 3.13 | The Day They Marched, Washington, D.C., photographic record of the march, 1963 | ||||||||||||||||||
| 3.14 | Textbooks in our schools - "A Cultural Lag," 1963 | ||||||||||||||||||
| 3.15 | Document on Civil Rights, unsigned; "A Voice Thru the Wall," Jalcolm Boyd, n.d. | ||||||||||||||||||
| 4.1 | Massachusetts Education Study, 1964 | ||||||||||||||||||
| 4.2 | American School Board Journal, "Racial Imbalance in Public Schools can be Solved by Men of Good Will," 1964 | ||||||||||||||||||
| 4.3 | "Negro Heritage in the U.S.," speech by Jacob Javitz - reprinted in Congressional Record, 1964 | ||||||||||||||||||
| 4.4 | Civil Rights Act of 1964 (Act printed in full), Harvard Law Review, 1964 | ||||||||||||||||||
| 4.5 | Racial imbalance in the public schools - New York State Bar Association, 1964 | ||||||||||||||||||
| 4.6 | "What Should be the Goals of Our Public Schools?" - convention of National School Boards Association, 1965 | ||||||||||||||||||
| 4.7 | Fact sheet on the Elementary and Secondary Federal Education Act - United States Department of Health, Education and Welfare, 1965 | ||||||||||||||||||
| 4.8 | "The Negro Family" - Moynihan Report, 1965 | ||||||||||||||||||
| 4.9 | Research materials - Dr. Wright loaned these to Norman Kartner of the Campus School - includes reprint from Harper's, "Give Slum Children a Chance," 1965 | ||||||||||||||||||
| 4.10 | Equality of Educational Opportunity, book length report by James S. Coleman, et al., compiled under the auspices of the United States Commissioner of Education in compliance with the 1964 Civil Rights Act, 1966 | ||||||||||||||||||
| 4.11 | "A Center for the Advancement of Urban Education," draft copy., Research Council of the Great Cities Program for School Development, [1965] | ||||||||||||||||||
Series consists of a rather comprehensive set of clippings that form a sequential record of Dr. Wright's appointment, her impact on the community and issues requiring Board action during her tenure.
Series is arranged chronologically.
| 5.1 | 1952, 1956, 1958 | ||||||||||||||||||
| 5.2 | 1962 | ||||||||||||||||||
| 5.3 | 1963 | ||||||||||||||||||
| 16+ | Buffalo Challenger, photocopies of seventeen issues, with inclusive dates of May 15, 1963 to February 22, 1968 [original material has been given to Monroe Fordham for microfilming] | ||||||||||||||||||
| 5.4 | New York Times, January 16, 1964 | ||||||||||||||||||
| 5.5 | 1964 | ||||||||||||||||||
| 5.6 | 1965-1968 | ||||||||||||||||||
| 5.7 | 1993 | ||||||||||||||||||
| 5.8 | undated | ||||||||||||||||||
Series contains materials relating to the Buffalo Board of Education including detailed meeting minutes (1962-1967).
| Subseries A. Financial Materials | |||||||||||||||||||
| 8.1 | Progress Reports, Buffalo Public Schools, 1961-1962 | ||||||||||||||||||
| 8.2 | Abstract of minutes, incomplete, 1964-1965 | ||||||||||||||||||
| 8.3 | Rough draft of minutes for meeting on December 9, 1964 | ||||||||||||||||||
| 8.4 | Agendas for Board meetings, 1965 | ||||||||||||||||||
| 8.5 | Fragment of minutes from Board meeting, January 13, 1965 | ||||||||||||||||||
| 8.6 | Letters of recognition to community figures from the Board, 1965-1967 | ||||||||||||||||||
| 8.7 | Budget appropriations, 1962-1963 | ||||||||||||||||||
| 8.8 | Operating budget, 1963 | ||||||||||||||||||
| 8.9 | Annual cost estimate, 1962-1963 | ||||||||||||||||||
| 8.10 | Appropriations requests, 1963-1964 | ||||||||||||||||||
| 8.11 | Capital expenditure program, 1963-1964 | ||||||||||||||||||
| 8.12 | Appointment of the auditor, 1964 | ||||||||||||||||||
| 8.13 | Operating budget, 1964-1965 | ||||||||||||||||||
| 8.14 | Budget estimates, 1964-1965 | ||||||||||||||||||
| 8.15 | Capital expenditures, 1965-1966 | ||||||||||||||||||
| 9.1 | Appropriations requests, 1965-1966 | ||||||||||||||||||
| 9.2 | School Board budget, 1966 | ||||||||||||||||||
| 9.3 | Budget estimates, 1966-1967 | ||||||||||||||||||
| 9.4 | Capital expenditure program, 1966-1967 | ||||||||||||||||||
| 9.5 | Operating budget, 1966-1967 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Fiscal Independence | |||||||||||||||||||
| 9.6 | "Balancing Public School Needs with a Fiscal Support Program," Bureau of Educational Finance Research, Albany, New York, 1965 | ||||||||||||||||||
| 9.7 | Report of Board Committee - Fiscal independence legislation, 1965 | ||||||||||||||||||
| 9.8 | "Revenues and Resources of the Board of Education," Division of Finance and Research, Board of Education, Buffalo, New York, 1966 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Buildings | |||||||||||||||||||
| 9.9 | Revisions in organization of plant services and school planning, 1963 | ||||||||||||||||||
| 9.10 | Architectural drawings of School 17 - addition to School 17, 1963 | ||||||||||||||||||
| 9.11 | Addition to School 17, 1963 | ||||||||||||||||||
| 9.12 | Progress report - School Building Program, 1964 | ||||||||||||||||||
| 9.13 | School building inventory, 1964 | ||||||||||||||||||
| 9.14 | Bids and awards of contracts for building and equipment, 1965 | ||||||||||||||||||
| 9.15 | Proposed capital expenditures - School Building Program Progress Report, 1965 | ||||||||||||||||||
| 9.16 | School construction (memo regarding New York City fund), 1966 | ||||||||||||||||||
| 9.17 | Modernization of Seneca Vocational High School, 1967 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Miscellaneous Budget Items | |||||||||||||||||||
| 9.18 | Football financial report, 1964 | ||||||||||||||||||
| 9.19 | Supplemental budget - transportation, 1965 | ||||||||||||||||||
| 9.20 | School Lunch Program, 1965 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Subseries B. General Files | |||||||||||||||||||
| 6.1 | Historical development of the Board of Education, n.d. | ||||||||||||||||||
| 6.2 | Buffalo Public Schools Curriculum Guide, 1959 | ||||||||||||||||||
| 6.3 | Policies of the Buffalo Public Schools - By-laws, regulations, 1960 | ||||||||||||||||||
| 7.1 | Handbook for School Boards - Statement of Policies, New York State School Boards Association, Albany, New York, 1961 | ||||||||||||||||||
| 7.2 | "The Public School Building," Community Welfare Council of Buffalo and Erie County, 1961 | ||||||||||||||||||
| 7.3 | "Workshops for New School Board Members," 1962 | ||||||||||||||||||
| 7.4 | "Report Submitted to the Panel of Consultants on Education for Tomorrow's World of Work," Research Council of the Great Cities Program for School Improvement, 1962 | ||||||||||||||||||
| 7.5 | "The Challenge of Pupil Maladjustment," Joseph Manch, Superintendent of Schools, Buffalo, New York, 1962 | ||||||||||||||||||
| 7.6 | "What Becomes of Our High School Graduates?" Statistical Report of the 13th Annual Follow-up of the High School Graduating Class of 1961, 1962 | ||||||||||||||||||
| 7.7 | "Textbook Adoption Policy," Division of Instructional Services, 1963 | ||||||||||||||||||
| 7.8 | General information; copies of clippings, 1962 | ||||||||||||||||||
| 7.9 | New York Education Department, Bureau of Continuing Education, Curriculum Department Advisory Committee - Adult Basic Education, 1965-1966 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Subseries C. Meeting Minutes | |||||||||||||||||||
| 1A | May 23, 1962 - December 26, 1962 | ||||||||||||||||||
| 1B | January 9, 1963 - May 22, 1963 | ||||||||||||||||||
| 1C | June 12, 1963 - December 26, 1963 | ||||||||||||||||||
| 1D | January 8, 1964 - May 13, 1964 | ||||||||||||||||||
| 2A | May 27, 1964 - September 2, 1964 | ||||||||||||||||||
| 2B | September 9, 1964 - December 23, 1964 | ||||||||||||||||||
| 3A | January 13, 1965 - March 31, 1965 | ||||||||||||||||||
| 3B | April 14, 1965 - August 25, 1965 | ||||||||||||||||||
| 3C | September 8, 1965 - December 23, 1965 | ||||||||||||||||||
| 4A | January 12, 1966 - March 23, 1966 | ||||||||||||||||||
| 4B | April 13, 1966 - June 29, 1966 | ||||||||||||||||||
| 4C | July 13, 1966 - September 7, 1966 | ||||||||||||||||||
| 5A | September 28, 1966 - November 23, 1966 | ||||||||||||||||||
| 5B | December 16, 1966 - January 25, 1967 | ||||||||||||||||||
| 5C | February 8, 1967 - March 8, 1967 | ||||||||||||||||||
| 5D | April 12, 1967 - April 26, 1967 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Subseries D. Personnel | |||||||||||||||||||
| 10.1 | Board of Education Directories, 1960, 1965, 1966 | ||||||||||||||||||
| 10.2 | Reference material - Evanston School Teachers' Manuals, 1962-1963 | ||||||||||||||||||
| 10.3 | Tentative grievance procedure, 1963 | ||||||||||||||||||
| 10.4 | Appointments for 1964 | ||||||||||||||||||
| 10.5 | Change in policy regarding participation in teachers' examination, 1964 | ||||||||||||||||||
| 10.6 | Municipal Civil Service Commission of Buffalo Examination Schedules; Board committee notes; civil service upgrading, 1964-1965 | ||||||||||||||||||
| 10.7 | Board of Education Personnel Handbook, 1964 | ||||||||||||||||||
| 10.8 | Recommended changes in staff; committee reports, 1964 | ||||||||||||||||||
| 10.9 | Dr. Manch's interrogation of Paul J. Parrinello, 1965 | ||||||||||||||||||
| 10.10 | Recommended changes in staff, 1965 | ||||||||||||||||||
| 10.11 | Buffalo Teachers Federation, Inc.: Bulletin; letter regarding discussion of personnel records by School Board; salary proposal; Erie County salary survey, 1965 | ||||||||||||||||||
| 10.12 | Correspondence - letters from Perella, Councilman-at-Large to the Board of Education about Philip Patti, Principal of School 6; letters to Mr. Patti, 1965 | ||||||||||||||||||
| 10.13 | Proposed salary schedules, 1966-1967 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Subseries E. Pupil Personnel Services, Yearbooks | |||||||||||||||||||
| 11.1 | "The Disadvantaged Child in the Urban School," position statement by Gerald Leighbody, Deputy Superintendent, 1962 | ||||||||||||||||||
| 11.2 | Supplementary report on school leaves, 1963 | ||||||||||||||||||
| 11.3 | Reports requested by Mrs. Slominski on the following: suspensions and their dispositions; augmented discipline policy; teacher beating case; adjustment class at no. 44; individual absence case; any employee who may have invoked first or fifth amendments of the United States Constitution, 1964 | ||||||||||||||||||
| 11.4 | Pupil personnel special attendance report; Board committee, 1964 | ||||||||||||||||||
| 11.5 | Survey of vocational and technical high school rejections; non-residents attending Buffalo vocational schools, 1964 | ||||||||||||||||||
| 11.6 | Transfer policy; distribution of pupils; space available, 1965 | ||||||||||||||||||
| 11.7-11.8 | Scholarships and Loans Available Through Local Organizations, 1963-1964, 1966-1967 | ||||||||||||||||||
| 11.9 | Miscellaneous items pertaining to pupils, n.d. | ||||||||||||||||||
| 11.10 | Our Best, an anthology of student writing, 1962-1963 | ||||||||||||||||||
| 11.11 | Buffalo High School Yearbooks, 1961-1963 | ||||||||||||||||||
Series contains drafts and typescripts of speeches and book reviews.
Series is arranged chronologically.
| 12.1 | First draft of remarks on unwed mothers, n.d. | ||||||||||||||||||
| 12.2 | Speech - Brotherhood program, 1962 | ||||||||||||||||||
| 12.3 | Unitarian Church speech, 1962 | ||||||||||||||||||
| 12.4 | Speech to Buffalo Beauty School graduates, 1962 | ||||||||||||||||||
| 12.5 | Report on National School Boards Association convention, 1963 | ||||||||||||||||||
| 12.6 | Commencement address for Fosdick-Masten Practical Nursing Class, 1963 | ||||||||||||||||||
| 12.7 | "How Best to Serve the Youth of Today," Faith Baptist Church, n.d. | ||||||||||||||||||
| 12.8 | East High School Parent Teacher Association, 1963 | ||||||||||||||||||
| 12.9 | Speech outlining experience as Board member, South Park High School assembly, 1963 | ||||||||||||||||||
| 12.10 | Notes on school personnel, 1963 | ||||||||||||||||||
| 12.11 | Integration, 1963 | ||||||||||||||||||
| 12.12 | "Who is the Negro Leader?" 1963 | ||||||||||||||||||
| 12.13 | Statements on integration, 1963 | ||||||||||||||||||
| 12.14 | Speech on Washington March, 1963 | ||||||||||||||||||
| 12.15 | Speech on discrimination, segregation, historical background of Civil Rights movement draft, n.d. | ||||||||||||||||||
| 12.16 | "Why all citizens should be interested in the Board of Education budget," 1964 | ||||||||||||||||||
| 12.17 | Reply to Buffalo Teachers Union, 1964 | ||||||||||||||||||
| 12.18 | School 53 - Parent Teacher Association speech, 1964 | ||||||||||||||||||
| 12.19 | Notes from sources on the topic of segregation and discrimination, 1964 | ||||||||||||||||||
| 12.20 | Dr. Wright's comments on the School Board's rejection of Citizens Council on Human relations volunteer program, 1964 | ||||||||||||||||||
| 12.21 | Richard Carnival Center - speech to youth, 1964 | ||||||||||||||||||
| 12.22 | The future will see integrated schools, 1964 | ||||||||||||||||||
| 12.23 | Republican Women's Club, 1964 | ||||||||||||||||||
| 12.24 | Dr. Wright's remarks on a commission to evaluate the Buffalo Public School system, 1965 | ||||||||||||||||||
| 12.25 | Notes for speech before Parent Teacher Association on finance, n.d. | ||||||||||||||||||
| 12.26 | Central Presbyterian Church, 1964 | ||||||||||||||||||
| 12.27 | Speech - Why integration at Woodlawn? - Statistics on non-contract teachers at Negro schools, 1964 | ||||||||||||||||||
| 12.28 | Speech notes on prescription pads, 1964 | ||||||||||||||||||
| 12.29 | Statement by Dr. Lydia T. Wright to the Most Reverend James A. McNulty, Bishop, Diocese of Buffalo, 1965 | ||||||||||||||||||
| 12.30 | Dr. Wright's statement on the East Side Community Organization, 1965 | ||||||||||||||||||
| 12.31 | Comments on Board report for Commissioner Allen, 1965 | ||||||||||||||||||
| 12.32 | Reaction to Commissioner Allen's directive that Buffalo schools must devise a plan for the progressive elimination of racial imbalance, 1965 | ||||||||||||||||||
| 12.33 | Notes for a panel discussion on Medicaid, 1966 | ||||||||||||||||||
| 12.34 | Remarks before the Buffalo Chapter of the American Bridge Association, 1967 | ||||||||||||||||||
| 12.35 | Book reviews, n.d. | ||||||||||||||||||
| 12.36 | B'nai B'rith television program, "Woman and the Community," panel discussion, 1967 | ||||||||||||||||||
| 12.37 | Brotherhood Week Awards Luncheon - Dr. Wright's response when accepting an award, 1968 | ||||||||||||||||||
Series consists primarily of congratulatory letters Dr. Wright received upon her appointment and, later, upon her retirement. Additional letters comment favorably or negatively on her plan for integration.
Series is arranged chronologically.
| 13.1 | Two letters to Superintendent Manch from Dr. Wright, 1960-1962 | ||||||||||||||||||
| 13.2 | Letters received regarding appointment to the School Board, 1962 | ||||||||||||||||||
| 13.3 | Letters received, 1963 | ||||||||||||||||||
| 13.4 | Letters received, 1964 | ||||||||||||||||||
| 13.5 | Buffalo Teachers Union - letter asking Dr. Wright to retract Mr. Nichol's statement on inferior schools for Negroes, 1964 | ||||||||||||||||||
| 13.6 | Citizens Council on Human Relations - letters received by the School Board, 1964 | ||||||||||||||||||
| 13.7 | Letters received, 1965 | ||||||||||||||||||
| 13.8 | Letters - includes letter from Citizens Advisory Committee for the Study of Buffalo Schools on plan for integration, given by Dr. Wright; hate letter, 1966 | ||||||||||||||||||
| 13.9 | William G. Conable Award given to Dr. Wright - congratulatory messages, 1967 | ||||||||||||||||||
| 13.10 | Congratulations to Dr. Wright upon retirement from School Board, 1967 | ||||||||||||||||||
| 13.11 | General correspondence, 1967 | ||||||||||||||||||
| 13.12 | Brotherhood Award - correspondence, 1968 | ||||||||||||||||||
Series contains materials from community organization with which Dr. Wright was affiliated.
Series is arranged chronologically.
| 14.1 | Planned Parenthood Center, 1961-1962 | ||||||||||||||||||
| 14.2 | Neighborhood House Association, 1962-1963 | ||||||||||||||||||
| 14.3 | Citizens Advisory Committee - Constitution and By-laws, 1963 | ||||||||||||||||||
| 14.4 | National Urban League - selected policy statements, 1962-1963 | ||||||||||||||||||
| 14.5 | Tuskegee Institute Alumni Association booklet, 1963 | ||||||||||||||||||
| 14.6 | Citizens for Better Education, 1965 | ||||||||||||||||||
| 14.7 | East Side Community Organization, 1965 | ||||||||||||||||||
| 14.8 | African Culture Center, includes clippings, 1966 | ||||||||||||||||||
| 14.9 | Committee for an Urban University, 1966 | ||||||||||||||||||
| 14.10 | Committee for Preservation of Church-State Separation, 1966 | ||||||||||||||||||
| 14.11 | Build-Unity-Integrity-Liberty-Dignity (BUILD) - an organization of the Buffalo Negro community, 1967 | ||||||||||||||||||
| 14.12 | National Conference on Christians and Jews; Study Guides in Human Relations - primary grades and junior high, 1967 | ||||||||||||||||||
Series contains family papers, photographs, certificates and clippings.
| 15.1 | Biographical information, n.d. | ||||||||||||||||||
| 15.2 | "Mother's Day," by Lydia T. Wright, n.d. | ||||||||||||||||||
| 15.3 | Fund raising; mailing lists, n.d. | ||||||||||||||||||
| 15.4 | Les Amis Social Club; includes photographs, n.d. | ||||||||||||||||||
| 15.5 | Speeches by Dr. Nathan Wright (brother of Dr. Lydia Wright, and Executive Director of the Department of Urban Work of the Episcopal Diocese of Newark), 1964 | ||||||||||||||||||
| 15.6 | "Urban Challenges," Dr. Nathan Wright, 1965-1966 | ||||||||||||||||||
| 15.7 | Press release - speech by Dr. Nathan Wright, 1967 | ||||||||||||||||||
| 15.8 | Clippings - Dr. Nathan Wright, 1967 | ||||||||||||||||||
| 15.9 | Miscellaneous papers - includes programs for occasions honoring Dr. Wright, n.d. | ||||||||||||||||||
| 15.10 | Two March on Washington buttons; photographs, 1963 | ||||||||||||||||||
| 15.11 | First dollar Dr. Wright earned, 1952 | ||||||||||||||||||
| 15.12 | Photographs - Dr. Wright at official functions as a member of the School Board, n.d. | ||||||||||||||||||
| Family Papers | |||||||||||||||||||
| 15.13 | "Lifting as we climb," handwritten copy of a very old speech | ||||||||||||||||||
| 15.14 | Xeroxed copy of letter from great-grandparent, "Ben," October 3, 1883 | ||||||||||||||||||
| 15.15 | Lina Buckner Hickman, life teaching certificate, 1916 | ||||||||||||||||||
| 15.16 | Certificate of an award to Dr. W.B. Parker by the National Medical Association, 1876 | ||||||||||||||||||
| 15.18 | Dr. Benjamin Hickman, fragment of writing with the theme of "uplift," prescriptions, and 1874 mortgage and thirteen pages of an article about Ipecac | ||||||||||||||||||
| 15.19 | Parthenia Hickman Wright: 1935 New Year's card, 1926 affidavit for transfer of real estate inherited, 1925 teaching certificate form letter from high school principal when Lydia entered high school, 1914 invitation to entertainment from the Officer's Corps of Tuskegee Institute, an illustrated calendar for 1915, 1914-1935 | ||||||||||||||||||
| 15.20 | Semi-annual bulletin, (1923) The Trail Blazer, publication of Standard Life Insurance Company of which Nathan Wright was a director; additional publication - celebrating Negro industry, ca. 1923 | ||||||||||||||||||
| 15.22 | James Elmer Hickman, promotion to high school certificate, 1912 | ||||||||||||||||||
| 15.23 | Parthenia Hickman, cooking notebook from Tuskegee; report card, 1912-1913, Paris High School; handwritten brief history of Hickman family | ||||||||||||||||||
Wright, Lydia T., 1921-
State University of New York at Buffalo. University Archives.
African Americans--Civil rights
African Americans--New York (State)--Buffalo
African Americans in medicine--New York (State)--Buffalo
African American women--New York (State)--Buffalo
African American women educators--New York (State)--Buffalo
Buffalo (N.Y.). Board of Education
Civil rights--New York (State)--Buffalo
Civil rights demonstrations--Washington (D.C.)
Community organization--New York (State)--Buffalo
March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom, Washington, D.C., 1963
Pediatricians--New York (State)--Buffalo
School integration--New York (State)--Buffalo
State University of New York at Buffalo--Archival resources.
minutes
speeches
correspondence
clippings
photographs
school yearbooks
buttons (information artifacts)
University Archives sources:
MS 07 -- Citizens' Council on Human Relations records, 1955-1992, 1963-1981
finding aid available online
MS 104 -- Buffalo school desegregation collection
MS 106 -- Joseph Manch, papers, ca. 1930s-1980s
MS 59 -- Sarah Simmons papers on school desegregation in Buffalo, N.Y., 1977-1980
Other sources:
Uncrowned Queens: African American Community Builders of Western New York. Available online at: <http://www.buffalo.edu/uncrownedqueens>. Uncrowned Queen's biography of Lydia T. Wright available online at: <http://www.buffalo.edu/uncrownedqueens/files/wright.htm>