There are several items of note including copies of a Martin Luther King, Jr., telegram to the Georgia legislature urging it to seat Representative-elect Bond despite his opposition to the Vietnam War (1966), and, autographed cards and photographs of Julian Bond with black California politician Willie Brown (other photographs are in Box 9, folder "Brandt Fund Raising Garden Party"). In the folders "Julian Bond letters as chairman of SEF Board of Trustees" are: a letter from him, 5 March 1973, in response to a Reverend Jesse L. Jackson (b.1941) telegram requesting civic, religious, and political leaders to attend a Chicago, Illinois, conference to organize protests against President Richard M. Nixon's budget cuts; a pledge of support of the SEF from California Congresswoman Yvonne Brathwaite Burke (b.1932), 12 March 1974, and a letter from Senator Henry M. Jackson (b.1912), who regrets being unable to attend a meeting, 11 July 1974.

The folders "Julian Bond: Political and SEF correspondence" have letters from Percy E. Sutton (b.1920), president, borough of Manhattan, New York City, 9 November 1973, regarding his election victory; Johnny L. Ford (b. 1942), mayor of Tuskegee, Alabama, 6 November 1973; California State Senator Mervyn M. Dymally (b.1926) [later lieutenant governor and congressman], 30 January 1974, regarding employment for his assistant in Georgia; letters of Joseph Robbie (1916-1990), founder and general manager of the Miami Dolphins football team, 19 February and 11 April 1974; Senator Edward W. Brooke (b.1919), 7 January 1974; Coleman A. Young (b.1918), mayor of Detroit, 18 February 1974, concerning his election as mayor; and an electrostatic copy of a letter to Georgia Governor Jimmy Carter (b.1924) [later U. S. president], 4 March 1974, with Bond's offer of the SEF's assistance for Carter's 1974 "Democractic election efforts."

"Letters to Julian Bond as chairman of SEF Board of Trustees" folders include a 22 March 1973 letter from Willie L. Brown, Jr. (b.1934), [later speaker of the California State Assembly], who is unable to serve on SEF board but promises his support; a 9 October 1973 letter from Harold E. Ford (b.1945), Tennessee House of Representatives (later member of U.S. Congress), regarding a "home rule" bill; letters, 15 October 1973 and 5 November 1974, from Leonard Woodcock, president, United Auto Workers (b.1911), enclosing donations to the SEF; and a letter of 29 March 1974 from Lady Bird Johnson (b.1912) [Claudia Taylor Johnson, widow of President Lyndon B. Johnson], who regrets being unable to serve on the SEF's board of trustees.

Also present is Bond's state senate nomination certificate "to run in the November 5, 1974 general election as the Democratic Party nominee" in Georgia's 39th District.

This series' folders are arranged chronologically in Boxes 1 and 2.

Jack Chatfield was the SEF's first director (1968-1969), and his papers (Box 2) comprise one folder of correspondence. Of particular interest are a postcard, 10 June 1969, and letter, 21 September 1969, on how to solicit whites for fund raising, both from Virginia F. Durr (b.1903) and a letter, 8 July 1969, from Congresswoman Shirley Chisholm (b.1924) accepting an offer to become a member of the SEF board.

Robert H. Mitchell was the SEF's treasurer in 1968 and interim treasurer and fund raising director during 1969. His papers (Box 2) comprise two folders of correspondence. These include a letter, 8 July 1969, from Jackie Robinson (1919-1972) regarding his possible membership on the board; an 10 October 1969 letter from John Conyers, Jr. (b.1929) discussing home rule in the District of Columbia; and a letter of 10 October 1969 from actor Paul L. Newman (b.1925) enclosing a contribution.

Antonio Harrison was the first full-time director of the SEF (1969-1971); his correspondence comprises two folders (Box 2). Present is a form letter, 19 May 1970, signed (autopen) by Lilian S. Sandburg [Mrs. Carl Sandburg], (1883-1976) on behalf of Meharry Medical College and a 15 September 1970 "financial prospectus" of American expenditures for the Vietnam War.

Clinton E. Deveaux, executive director from 1971 to 1972, was formerly on the staff of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference and Andrew Young's campaign finance manager in 1970. After being hired in February 1971, he relocated SEF headquarters from New York to Atlanta, Georgia "so it could be closer to the people it serves." (A few December 1971 documents describe him as the SEF president.) His eleven folders (Boxes 3 and 4) contain mostly letter carbons regarding fund raising. In the folders "Letters to Clinton Deveaux" are letters from Leonard Woodcock, regarding the Democratic Policy Council of the Democratic National Committee, 14 January 1972; a letter of 25 January 1972 from Robert S. Strauss (b.1918), soliciting Deveaux's membership in a "72 Sponsors Club,"; John Lewis (b.1940), concerning the Voter Education Project, 28 July 1972; Reverend Ralph David Abernathy (1926-1990), president, Southern Christian Leadership Conference, discussing the SCLC's 15th anniversary convention, 1 August 1972; and a letter of October 1972 from Senator Edward M. Kennedy (b.1932), regarding his Civilian Marksmanship Program amendment.

Yancey Martin, executive director from 1973 to 1975, was formerly a special assistant and national minorities coordinator for Senator George McGovern and the Democratic National Committee. His papers (Boxes 4- 5) are concerned with fund raising and office management. Among these are 1973 reports of Muriel Mitchel Smith, director of research. The folders "Letters to Yancey Martin" include letters from George L. Brown (b.1926), Colorado state senator, 28 March and 13 April 1973; Congressman John Conyers (b.1929), 17 December 1973, on the aftermath of Coleman A. Young mayoralty campaign; Lawrence Douglas Wilder, 16 April 1973 (b.1931; later governor of Virginia); California State Senator Mervyn M. Dymally (b.1926) [later lieutenant governor and congressman], 12 November & 13 December 1973, 17 January 1974; Gen. Daniel "Chappie" James, Jr. (1920-1978) [later commander-in-chief, North American Air Defense Command], 26 November 1973; Fred David Gray, member, Alabama House of Representatives [1970-1974], November 13 & 19 1973; John Lewis, executive director, Voter Education Project, 1 February 1974, ending his association with the SEF; and, Senator George M. McGovern (b.1922), on various subjects, 6 December 1974.

Other administrators whose papers are in this subseries include Ariel Williams, direct mail specialist (1973) and executive director (1975-?), and Fran Toliver, director of information (1975-?).

Subseries B (Boxes 5-8) constitutes office files arranged alphabetically. These include SEF articles of incorporation (1973), board of trustee minutes and letters (including one from Shirley Chisholm (b.1924), congresswoman and educator, to Julian Bond, 7 Feb. 1973, resigning from the SEF due to burdens of her legislative duties), the Guide To The Southern Elections Fund's Personnel Policies and Procedures, the 1969 SEF organizational plan, and photographs of Sheriff Zelma Wyche, Tallaulah, Louisiana [town marshal and member of the SEF Board of Trustees], an autographed photograph of Sen. George McGovern for Yancey Martin, and photographs of McGovern, Martin, and [Harold Oliver?].

This subseries is a particularly valuable source for correspondence. The folder "Correspondence--Early SEF" has an interesting letter from Taylor Branch (b.1947), author and civil rights historian, to Jack Chatfield, 29 June 1969, declaring his support of the SEF and black voting activities; an 8 August 1969 letter to Chatfield bearing a signed autograph endorsement of Maynard H. Jackson [later mayor of Atlanta] (b.1938), and 19 August 1969 letter of Curtis M. Graves (b.1938) black Texas state representative [1966-1977] and noted aerospace professional.

Letters in the "Correspondence (Miscellaneous)" folders in Boxes 6-7 include:

*John Lewis (b. 1940) Voter Education Project, 12 April 1973, resigns as an SEF trustee because of confusion between his roles in the VEP and SEF
*William P. Robinson, Sr. , member, Virginia House of Delegates, 29 May 1973 & 3 July 1973
*Percy E. Sutton (b.1920), president, borough of Manhattan, 26 June 1973
*Senator Hubert H. Humphrey (1911-1978) to Julian Bond, 24 May 1973, congratulating him on his appointment to the Commission on the Selection of the Vice Presidential Nominee
*George L. Brown (b.1926), Colorado state senator, to Bond, 8 May 1973, concerning fund raising problems
*Reverend Jesse L. Jackson (b.1941), president of PUSH, to Yancey Martin, 18 June 1973, thank-you note
*Fran Shields, secretary to entertainer Bill Cosby (b.1937), 6 June 1973, to Bond regretting Cosby's inability to donate money to SEF
*C. Delores Tucker (b.1927), secretary of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, 24 May 1973
*Ralph David Abernathy (1926-1990), president, Southern Christian Leadership Conference, 7 March 1973 to Dr. D.J. Brooks re SCLC expenditures (carbon) incurred by Reverend Bernard S. Lee and 1 August 1973 letter to Yancey Martin regarding the SCLC's 16th anniversary convention
*Walter F. Mondale (b.1928) to Martin, August 1 & 9, 1973, of his intent to assist the SEF (electrostatic copy)
*Joseph Robbie (1916-1990), founder and general manager of the Miami Dolphins football team, as chair of the Democratic Executive Committee of Dade County [Florida] 25 August 1973
*F. S. Farley, member of Petersburg, Virginia, city council 17 July 1973, thanking the SEF for contributions to his campaign
*Barbara Jordan (b.1936), member of Congress, 6 July 1973, as a potential SEF trustee
*Senator Herman Talmadge (b.1913), 4 August 1973, thanks and good wishes
*California State Senator Mervyn M. Dymally (b.1926) 30 July 1973, about a California fund raiser for SEF

Subseries C's (Box 8) name files are arranged alphabetically with folders for John Conyers (biographical sketch and photograph), Charles Evers (b. 1922) first Black mayor of Fayette, Alabama (May 1969), John Lewis (b. 1940) and his work with the Voter Education Project (biographical sketch and photograph), Southern Poverty Law Center (photographs of the Relf sisters, sterilized without parental notification or consent) and Mrs. Viola Hart, wrongfully evicted from her home, and, Andrew Young (b. 1932) of the Atlanta Community Relations Committee (photographs and items for his congressional campaign).

Subseries D (Boxes 9-12) has alphabetical folders concerning SEF fund raising activities such as its reception for the southern premiere of the motion picture Claudine [23 April 1974]; the film's stars, Diahann Carroll [nominated for an Academy Award] and James Earl Jones, musical composer Curtis Mayfield, and theme music performers Gladys Knight and the Pips, appeared on the SEF's behalf at a private cocktail party. Materials of similar activities are available for the motion picture Don't Play Us Cheap, directed by noted black filmmaker and actor Melvin Van Peebles (b.1932); its world premiere was sponsored by the SEF and photographs of Peebles with SEF Executive Director Yancey Martin and SEF Vice-Chair and Congressman Andrew Young are present.

Letters of Leonard Woodcock (president of the United Auto Workers) are in two folders, "Contributions from Unions" and "Fund Raising Responses" (3 January 1974). A Margaret Mead (1901-1978) form letter (signed in autopen), May 1970, endorsing Planned Parenthood is in the "Fund Appeals to SEF" folder. Of interest are electrostatic copies of faculty and staff directories for Morris Brown College, Clark College, and Atlanta University, Atlanta, Georgia, in the folder "Mailing Lists."

Subseries E (Boxes 13-15) includes various alphabetical folders of materials for SEF campaign and election activities. The "Candidates Not Funded by SEF" folder contains letters of application for financial assistance from Avon Williams Rollins, candidate for the Knoxville, Tennessee, board of education, and Henrietta M. Canty, candidate for Atlanta's board of aldermen. The same is true for the folders "Louisiana" (with applications for financial assistance and a letter from sheriff's candidate Zelma C. Wyche, Tallaulah, Louisiana, enclosing list and handbills of various black candidates, 15 October 1975) and "Mississippi" (Ariel Williams letters and photocopies of The Institute of Politics in Mississippi.)

The "Southern Office Holders Questionnaires" folder contains biographical information on black elected and appointive officials in the South. Joseph W. Mallisham's folder includes guidelines for poll watchers. Political campaigns by black Virginians are reflected in folders for William Ferguson Reid, Virginia House of Delegates (1968-1973), Arthur W. Walls of Arlington County, and Roland J. Walton of Norfolk. Also of special interest is the folder of racial violence news articles containing the chronologies "Some Race Related Deaths in the United States (1955-1965)" and "Additional Race Related Deaths in the United States Sept., 1965-June, 1966."

These papers are in Boxes 2 to 15. Subseries A, arranged chronologically and alphabetically, contains materials pertaining to SEF administrators other than Bond. Researchers should note that much of this correspondence consists of thank-you letters to donors and there are miscellaneous scattered materials and references to the SEF leadership throughout the collection.

. It contains ca. 92 slides, 1963-1968, of persons and events associated with the civil rights era such as Martin Luther King, Jr. and the Nobel Peace Prize, the March on Washington, Ku Klux Klan activities, school integration, and black Sheriff Tom Gilmore of Greene County, Alabama. A videotape of unidentified content is present but researchers should note that at present the University of Virginia Library does not possess a tape player that will enable viewing it. The remainder of this series' materials consist of donor index cards, computer print-outs, and oversized accounting records. 1

1 Another photograph of Gilmore appears in David R. Goldfield, Black, White, and Southern (Baton Rouge: Louisiana State University Press, 1990), photograph section following page 236.

This series (Boxes 15-16) is arranged alphabetically and chronologically.