The Civil Rights History Project: Survey of Collections and Repositories

Halsey McGovern papers

Repository: Library of Congress. Manuscript Division

Collection Description (Extant): The papers of John Halsey McGovern (1886-1983) span the years 1945-1983 and include newsletters, a booklet, and scrapbooks. The scrapbooks contain church bulletins, correspondence, greeting cards, magazine articles, mailing lists, newsletters, newspaper clippings, pamphlets, photographs, poetry, prayer cards, press releases, social invitations, and telegrams.

McGovern was born in Nashville, Tenn., and he grew up in Atlanta, Ga. He was a freight rate specialist, initially for the Southern Pacific Railroad Company in Atlanta and later as a private consultant in Washington, D.C. Beginning in 1952, he published the monthly newsletters Letter and Epistle expressing his viewpoints on a variety of political issues, particularly his opposition to communism. The scrapbooks include newspaper and magazine articles and letters to editors and politicians voicing McGovern's support for Senator Joseph McCarthy and others who charged that the government was infiltrated and manipulated by communists and their allies. His writings in opposition to the United Nations, the Korean War, racial integration, and civil rights cultivated supporters whose letters and printed material are also contained in the scrapbooks. Among these were leaders of the Catholic church and other religious and political organizations, including the Congress of Freedom, Friends of Senator McCarthy, John Birch Society, Fighting Homefolks of Fighting Men, and Defenders of the American Constitution. Correspondents include Ida M. Darden, Reed J. Irvine, Robert LeFevre, William Loeb, Russell Maguire, Clarence Manion, R. Roy Pursell, Archibald B. Roosevelt, Phyllis Schlafly, Dan Smoot, George E. and Annalee Stratemeyer, and Homer A. Tomlinson.

Access Copy Note: The papers of Halsey McGovern are open to research. Researchers are advised to contact the Manuscript Reading Room prior to visiting. Many collections are stored off-site and advance notice is needed to retrieve these items for research use.

Date(s): 1945-1983

Digital Status: No

Existing IDs: MSS83577

Extent: 75 items ; 5 containers ; 2 linear feet

Finding Aid URL: http://hdl.loc.gov/loc.mss/eadmss.ms009128

Language: English

Rights (Extant): The status of copyright in the unpublished writings of Halsey McGovern is governed by the Copyright Law of the United States (Title 17, U.S.C.).

Subjects:

Anti-communist movements
Civil rights--Public opinion
Whites--Attitudes

Genres:

Manuscripts