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University of Mary Washington Special Collections and University Archives
Simpson LibrarySarah Appleby
Materials in the collection are for research and educational use only. Photographs, unpublished manuscripts, and other materials in the collection are protected by copyright. Permission to reproduce must be secured from the individual copyright holder. Users are responsible for determining if permission for re-use is necessary and for obtaining such permission.
The collection is open for research.
Name of item or collection, Special Collections and University Archives, Simpson Library, University of Mary Washington.
James Leonard Farmer, Jr. was born January 12, 1920 in Marshall, Texas. He was an exceedingly intelligent student and began attending Wiley College at age fourteen, graduating with his B.S. degree in 1938. From there he went to Howard University School of Divinity before obtaining his B.D. degree in 1941. Eventually, Farmer would become widely recognized as one of the "Big Four" of the civil rights movement. He founded the Congress of Racial Equality (CORE) in 1942, and gained national recognition in the 1960s for his leadership of the "Freedom Rides" into the South. Farmer's non-violent acts played a significant role in the events leading to the passage of the Civil Rights Bill of 1964 and the Civil Rights Voting Act of 1965.
James Farmer also forayed into politics, albeit briefly. He unsuccessfully ran for Congress in 1968, and from 1969-1970, he served in the Nixon administration as the Assistant Secretary of the Department of Health, Education, and Welfare (now the Department of Health and Human Services). By 1971, Farmer returned his focus to activism and education.
In addition to his role as a renowned activist, Farmer was an author, a teacher, and a labor organizer. Beyond his leadership of CORE, he also held a position as honorary vice chairman of the Democratic Socialists of America, and was a co-founding member of the Fund for an Open Society, which promoted thriving racially and ethnically integrated communities. In 1985, he began teaching the history of Civil Rights as Commonwealth Professor of History and American Studies at Mary Washingon College. HE received the title of Distiguished Professor in 1987, which he held until his retirement in 1998. MWC awarded Farmer an honorary doctorate of humane letters in 1997. In 1998, he received the Presidential Medal of Freedom, awarded by President Bill Clinton.
Ill health troubled James Farmer for many of his later years. He would eventually lose both of his legs and his eyesight to diabetes, and passsed away from complications of the disease on July 9, 1999.
The James L. Farmer, Jr. Papers principally document Farmer's career at Mary Washington College (now University of Mary Washington), as well as his various additional political and social activities during that time. The papers were transferred from Farmer's home and office in Spotsylvania County. The papers include correspondence, printed materials, photographs, audiovisual materials, and other items reflective of his activities towards the end of his life, as well as memorials and reflections at the time of his death collected by others.
As the collection primarily documents the professional activities of James Farmer during his time at MWC, the bulk of the collection materials are from the 1990s. In earlier documentation, bulk dates for the collection appeared as 1980-1999. There are a few materials outside of this range, such as folders containing early CORE documents and others with photographs from the mid-1960s. Additionally, there are materials pertaining to events after Farmer's death, such as various items of tribute and information regarding the Farmer bust unveiling on campus.
The collection is arranged into twelve series based on material type and subject. 1. Awards and honors; 2. Biographical information; 3. Correspondence; 4. Manuscripts and transcripts; 5. Photographs; 6. General files; 7. Materials from professional organizations; 8. Printed materials; 9. Research and lecture materials; 10. Audiovisual materials; 11. Oversize and ephemera; 12. Artifacts. Some series also contain component sub-series. The contents of each series are arranged alphabetically with items within the series being arranged chronologically.
Digitized access copies of AV materials can be made available for research use in the Special Collections reading room. Special Collections and University Archives is not equipped with the necessary playback devices to use original copies of the AV materials.
A Guide to the James Leonard, Jr., and Lula Peterson Farmer Papers can be found at the Briscoe Center for American History at the University of Texas at Austin: https://legacy.lib.utexas.edu/taro/utcah/00004/cah-00004.html.
Includes note of condolence to James Farmer's daughter, Tami, from President Bill Clinton.
Text of Part 3, Chapter 9 of Lay Bare the Heart.
Speech addressed to Stafford High School Class of 1999 was written by Farmer but not delivered in person due to his ill health at the time.
Contents contain the 3rd and 4th general sessions of the conference; Farmer speaks during the 3rd session. External notes read "Track 1 - 3rd General Session (Farmer) - Conf. of President of Black [?] Track 2- 4th Genl Session."
Digitized copy available on external hard drive UOMW_July2012_DRV03, filename Farmer_Audio_001.
External notations read "James Farmer on 8/28/69 2 3/6." Produced by WCBS-TV in association with Columbia University.
Digitized copy available on hard drive UOMW_July2012_DRV03, file name Farmer_Audio_002.
External notations on reverse of case read "Evans/Novak James Farmer Guest, 7/5/69 3 3/6 speed".
Digitized copy available on external hard drive UOMW_July2012_DRV03, filename Farmer_Audio_004.
External markings on case read "United Recording Laboratories Inc."
Digitized copy available on external hard drive UOMW_July2012_DRV03, filename Farmer_Audio_014.
External notation reads "Moment of Death MARTIN LUTHER KING DR JAMES FARMER KENNETT SQUARE, PA APRIL 5, 1968 SPEED 3 3/4." Recorded at a meeting in Kennett Square, PA on Thursday, April 4, 1968, upon learning that MLK had passed. Occasion was a panel discussion on the subject "in race relations are we a community," sponsored by Lincoln University and the Kennett Area Community Forum.
Digitized copy available on external hard drive UOMW_July2012_DRV03, filename Farmer_Audio_015.
External notations on reverse of case read "James Farmer Speech 1 7/8 speed, 0 - 504', Denver - New Careers - 1969, Duplicate".
Digitized copy available on external hard drive UOMW_July2012_DRV03, filename Farmer_Audio_002.
Digitized copy available on external hard drive UOMW_July2012_DRV03, filename Farmer_Audio_032. Streaming video of this recording can be found online at https://diva.sfsu.edu/collections/sfbatv/bundles/191343 with James Farmer appearing at 37:32.
Box label reads "Louisiana Diary - Soundtrack, CORE Voter Registation, Rally, and Demonstrations Plaquemine, LA July 14 - August 25, 1963". External notations on cassette: "Side A - Louisiana Diary - July 14-August 25, 1963 - Rally - Plymouth Rock Baptist Church; Farmer addresses rally + demonstrates (Plaquemine, LA) / Side B - Voter Registration Drive -July 14 - August 25, 1963/ CORE, Plaquemine, LA"
Audio is the soundtrack for the documentary Louisiana Diary, originally produced by KQED for National Educational Television and first airing in 1964. The film documents CORE from July to August 1963, as they undertake an African American voter registration drive in the town of Plaquemine, Louisiana.
Notations on box read "KKK Rap Session, 2-11-1982 / NEA / Sam Etheridge, Janetta Richester, Dorothy Massie & Barbara Lawless".
Contents are an open forum discussion of Klan activity and efforts to oppose it; Farmer is in the audience. Farmer starts talking around 13:35 on side B recording.
Digitized version on UOMW_July2012_DRV03, filename Farmer_Audio_033.
Digitized version on drive UOMW_July2012_DRV03, filename Farmer_Audio_34.
Notations on box read ""Freedom Summer Reunion," NPR's All Things Considered, June 27, 1994". Handwritten notations on cassette say the same with the addition of "Cheryl Devall, Correspondent".
External notations on box reads "James Farmer Speech, War on Poverty", Hyman Bookbinder." Notations on cassette case read "James Farmer Speech/"War on Poverty"/Hyman Bookbinder". "Nid./ N.A.C.A.A."
Digitized version on drive UOMW_July2012_DRV03, filename Farmer_Audio_35.
Digitized version on drive UOMW_July2012_DRV03, filename Farmer_Audio_36 (Tape 1) and Farmer_Audio_037 (Tape 2).
External notations read ""Larry King Show"/ James Farmer". Recording is on 2 cassettes. Tape 1, Side A: Part 1; Tape 1, Side B: Part 2; Tape 2, Side A: Part 3; Tape 2, Side B: Part 4.
Digitized copy available on external hard drive UOMW_July2012_DRV03, filename Farmer_Audio_038.
External notations read "4/8/96 / Rev. John Peyton, Manassas, VA / Former Black Panther Party Member / about 1 1/2 hrs. tot.". A sticker reads "James Farmer's Tape."
Farmer's voice appears very briefly near the start of the recording.
Digitized copy available on external hard drive UOMW_July2012_DRV03, filename Farmer_Audio_043.
External notations on cassette read "Broadcast service of the Christian Science Monitor, MonitoRadio" with "James Farmer" in type.
Digitized copy available on external hard drive UOMW_July2012_DRV03, filename Farmer_Audio_044.
Handwritten notations on case read "Langston Hughes" on side A and "Langston Hughes / James Farmer at 1972 seminar of civil [servants?]" on side B.
All of side A and the first 9 min. of side B are Langston Hughes reading and discussing his poetry. The tape cuts out and resumes with an introduction of James Farmer at 9:03 on side B. Farmer's speech ends abrubtly at the end of the tape.
Digitized copy available on external hard drive UOMW_July2012_DRV03, filename Farmer_Audio_045.
Mini cassette. External notations on case read "Longview News Journal / Black History - Gail BEIL, Journalist". Notation on cassette reads "Black Hist. / [illegible]".
Gail Beil reads her article from the Longview News Journal aloud in a recording made for James Farmer.
Note on cassette reads "Message for James Farmer".
Recorded messages from FOR members to James Farmer after his receipt of the Presidential Medal of Freedom.
Digitized copy available on external hard drive UOMW_July2012_DRV03, filename Farmer_Audio_046.
Digitized copy available on external hard drive UOMW_July2012_DRV03, filename Farmer_Audio_047.
Handwritten notations on cassette are partially illegible but likely read "pertinent part of 3/18/80 Winpisinger interview".
Relevant contents are on side B of the recording. Side A contains a brief audio clip discussing Ralph Nader and is otherwise blank.
Digitized copy available on external hard drive UOMW_July2012_DRV03, filename Farmer_Audio_048.
Handwritten notations on cassette read "Teacher Rts. Conf - Panel Sat on Employment; [illegible] / NEA / James Farmer / #9 / (Feb '81)".
James Farmer begins speaking at 12:27 on side A.
Digitized copy available on external hard drive UOMW_July2012_DRV03, filename Farmer_Audio_049.
Handwritten notations on cassette read "James Farmer at Lake Forest College / March 24, 1986".
Digitized copy available on external hard drive UOMW_July2012_DRV03, filename Farmer_Audio_050.
External notation on cassette reads "Interview with James Farmer and John Conyers."
Sound quality is very poor. Interview ends at 40:12 and cuts to seemingly unrelated material.
Digitized copy available on external hard drive UOMW_July2012_DRV03, filename Farmer_Audio_051.
Cassette is addressed to Mr. James Farmer, Asst. Sec. H.E.W., Washington, DC, and contains a return address of People Against Injustice in Hampton, VA.
Features a female speaker holding a press conference regarding police violence in Newport News, VA.
External notations on cassette read "Fresh Air Terry Gross interviews James Farmer. Side 1 of 2 / Produced the studios of WHYY FM, Philadelphia, by Terry Gross and Daniel Miller". Reverse side reads "Fresh Air / Side 2 of 2."
Digitized copy available on external hard drive UOMW_July2012_DRV03, filename Farmer_Audio_052b.
Additional physical and digital copies exist titled 052a. The sound quality of these is unlistenable at points and production is disorganized.
External notations on cassette read, "Op. PUSH MLK Commemorative Service, Dr. James Farmer. Attorney Thomas N. Todd / April 4, 1985".
James Farmer speaks at the beginning of the side B recording.
Digitized copy available on external hard drive UOMW_July2012_DRV03, filename Farmer_Audio_053.
Digitized copy available on external hard drive UOMW_July2012_DRV03, filename Farmer_Audio_054.
Notations on cassette read "R. Perot's comments - James Farmer - Lay Bare the Heart - Side One."
Part 1 of a 3 part lecture series.
Digitized copy available on hard drive UOMW_2012_DRV03, file name Audio_022.
Part 2 of a 3 part lecture series.
Digitized copy available on hard drive UOMW_2012_DRV03, file name Audio_023.
Part 3 of a 3 part lecture series.
Digitized copy available on hard drive UOMW_2012_DRV03, file name Audio_024.
External notations on case read "YWTK for Farmer recording 8/4/64."
Digitized copy available on external hard drive UOMW_July2012_DRV03, filename Farmer_Audio_017.
Digitized copy available on external hard drive UOMW_July2012_DRV03, filename Farmer_Audio_018.
Sticker on tape reads, "Track 2 - Bishop James / K. Mathews 1/2/65".
Digitized copy available on external hard drive UOMW_July2012_DRV03, filename Farmer_Audio_019.
External notations on bottom edge of case read "James Farmer 8/15/66 / Lecture 45 min".
Digitized copy available on external hard drive UOMW_July2012_DRV03, filename Farmer_Audio_025.
Stickers on case read, "For: James Farmer / From: Tony Janak" and "James Farmer / NBC TV 4/12/70 / 3 3/[?]"." Handwritten notes on the tape read "James Farmer 4/12/70 / 3 3/6'."
Digitized copy available on external hard drive UOMW_July2012_DRV03, filename Farmer_Audio_020.
Tape is in a Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC) case. External notations on reverse of case read "Public Affairs Special, "From Watts to Newark," July 17/67, Tape 1 of 2" and is addressed to James Farmer.
Digitized copy available on external hard drive UOMW_July2012_DRV03, filename Farmer_Audio_021.
Box is missing top part. External notations read "Public Affairs Special, "From Watts to Newark," July/17/67, Tape 2 of 2".
Digitized copy available on external hard drive UOMW_July2012_DRV03, filename Farmer_Audio_026.
External notations on reverse of case read "James Farmer 10/20/70 / James Farmer's Speech". Insert shows mailing address to James Farmer at the Dept. of Health, Education and Welfare with a return address of WSU-Whitewater.
Digitized copy available on external hard drive UOMW_July2012_DRV03, filename Farmer_Audio_027.
External notations on case read "Hon James Farmer / 662 6A Lect & Question / unclassified / 6-1-73 53rd class".
Digitized copy available on external hard drive UOMW_July2012_DRV03, filename Farmer_Audio_028.
External notations on case read "Mr James Farmer / 662 6A Lect & Question / unclassified / 11-20-73 54th class".
Digitized copy available on external hard drive UOMW_July2012_DRV03, filename Farmer_Audio_029.
External notations on case read "The Hon. James Farmer / 662 6A Lect & Question / unclassified / 6-6-77 55th class / Lecture side I / Question side II / 3 3/4 IPS."
Digitized copy available on external hard drive UOMW_July2012_DRV03, filename Farmer_Audio_030.
External notations on reverse of case read "Celebrity's Choice / James Farmer / - air check / - 3 3/4 ips".
Digitized copy available on external hard drive UOMW_July2012_DRV03, filename Farmer_Audio_031.
Handwritten external notations on reverse of case read "Dr. James Farmer / Artist's Lecture Series"
Digitized copy available on external hard drive UOMW_July2012_DRV03, filename Farmer_Video_043.
Video 043. External notations on box read "Interviews with James Farmer, Jakoubek, Suggs, & Graham (Civil Rights Era)". Label on cassette reads "Interviews with Farmer, Jakoubek, Suggs & Graham / (Civil Rights) [(Krog)?] (Powell)".
James Farmer section runtime = 1h29m. Running timer displayed at bottom of screen. Farmer discusses his first encounter with racism, CORE, non-violence, relationship with Malcolm X.
Digitized copy available on external hard drive UOMW_July2012_DRV03, filename Farmer_Video_040.
Video 040. Notations on box read "DR. JAMES FARMER CLASS LECTURE 3/6/86 CIVIL RIGHTS MOVEMENT". Handwritten notations on cassette read "3/4/86 - MWC - Farmer Lecture [illegible] Harlem Riots (year?) - [illegible]".
Video 038. Notations on box read "DR. JAMES FARMER CLASS LECTURE 4/22 CIVIL RIGHTS MOVEMENT."
Digitized copy available on external hard drive UOMW_July2012_DRV03, filename Farmer_Video_038.
Digitized copy available on external hard drive UOMW_July2012_DRV03, filename Farmer_Video_039.
Video_039. Notations on box read "DR. JAMES FARMER CLASS LECTURE (NO DATE) Including Booker T. Washington and W.E.B. DuBois".
Video 042. Notations on box read "The Open Mind / James Farmer, founder, Congress of Racial Equality / "James Farmer and the Civil Rights Revolution" / Recorded Nov. 13, 1992" and also notes "Credit: Rosalind P. Walter Foundation, M. Weiner Foundation, Thomas & Theresa Mullarkey Foundation, New York Times Co. Foundation, Mutual of America, 30 minutes".
Digitized copy available on external hard drive UOMW_July2012_DRV03, filename Farmer_Video_042.
Video 030. Box label reads "A Ride To Freedom / 9-11-81". Label on cassette says same. DVD access copy available, although it notes that the recording is unclear. Copyright WSB Television.
Digitized copy available on external hard drive UOMW_July2012_DRV03, filename Farmer_Video_030.
Farmer_Video_041
Farmer_Video_019