The Civil Rights History Project: Survey of Collections and Repositories

Dagen, Margaret and Irvin history of St. Louis CORE collection

Repository: State Historical Society of Missouri, St. Louis

Collection Description (CRHP): The collection contains transcripts of 26 interviews conducted in 1995. Eighteen tapes are included with the collection.

Collection Description (Extant): The collection was donated to the University of Missouri-St. Louis at the Western Historical Manuscript Collection-St. Louis by Maggie Dagen on February 7, 2000. This material was collected for use in a book titled "Victory without Violence" by Mary Kimbrough and Margaret W. Dagen.

In 1941, a group of theological seminary students, both African Americans and White, began the committee of Racial Equality at the University of Chicago. They met every Saturday afternoon on campus. The members of the group were primarily concerned about the cause of peace. They had followed with keen interest the Gandhi movement in India and were greatly influenced in their thinking by the power of the nonviolent method as expounded by Gandhi and as practiced by the Indian National Congress.

The St. Louis chapter of CORE started in 1947 with a guest speaker named Bernice Fisher. She galvanized the group into action that was destined to alter the racial climate of St. Louis. Fisher resided in St. Louis and worked as an organizer for the United Wholesale and Distribution Workers of America, which later became the Teamsters Union. She was instrumental in the early discussions held at Irvin and Maggie Dagen's home. The meetings consisted of a diverse group of people who would be responsible for integrating Washington University and most of St. Louis's public accommodations.

This collection documents CORE's history, political activities, and service to the community. The records include correspondence, transcripts, oral history tapes, and photographs.

Date(s): 1941-2000

Digital Status: Partial

Existing IDs: sl 661

Extent: 3 boxes, 35 folders, photographs, 26 transcripts, 18 oral history tapes

Finding Aid URL: http://www.umsl.edu/~whmc/guides/whm0661.htm

Language: English

Related Archival Items: Some photos in this collection may be viewed at http://tjrhino1.umsl.edu/whmc/view.php?collnum_get=661

Interviewees: Joe Ames, Joyce Best, Steve Best, William K. Crosby, Irvin Dagen, Maggie Dagen, Maggie Dagen, Vivian Dreer, Vernell E. Fuller Sr., Walter L. Hayes, Henry Hodge, Mary M. McAllister, Doris M. Nugent, Charles Oldham, Marion Oldham, Alice M. Parham, Al Park, Ann Park, Rose Parnas, Wanda Penny, Marvin Rich, Vera Rhiney, Bonnie Rosen, Norman Seay, Eleanor Smith, Billie Teneau, Irene M. Williams, Norman E. Winkler

Rights (CRHP): Contact the repository which holds the collection for information on rights

Subjects:

Civil rights movements--Missouri
Civil rights workers--Missouri
College integration
Congress of Racial Equality
Direct action
Nonviolence

Genres:

Interviews
Photographs
Sound recordings
Transcripts