The Civil Rights History Project: Survey of Collections and Repositories

March on Milwaukee oral history project

Repository: University of Wisconsin--Milwaukee. Library. Archives

Collection Description (Extant): The March on Milwaukee Oral History Project was designed to help document the open housing movement in Milwaukee, Wisconsin of 1967-1969, led by Father James Groppi, Alderwoman Vel Phillips, and the Milwaukee NAACP Youth Council. It was also intended to help commemorate the 40th anniversary of the open housing marches in September 2007, which included a day-long conference at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee (UWM), exhibits at the Wisconsin Black Historical Society and America's Black Holocaust Museum (both located in Milwaukee), and a commemorative march and program on the city's James E. Groppi Unity Bridge (formerly the 16th Street Viaduct). The oral history interviews were conducted by Amanda Wynne, a UWM history graduate student intern, undergraduate students in Professor Michael Gordon's fall 2007 senior history seminar, and by Michael Gordon himself. Interviewees include Margaret (Peggy) Rozga, Father Groppi's widow and the organizer of the 2007 commemoration; several priests who participated in the demonstrations and other civil rights activities; Frank Aukofer, a journalist who covered the demonstrations for a local newspaper; members of the NAACP Youth Council; and ordinary citizens.

The collection consists of taped interviews and abstracts of the interviews. Topics covered typically include biographical information, involvement in or recollection of the open housing marches in Milwaukee, and race relations in past and present Milwaukee. Many of the interviewees discuss their reflections on the civil rights movement in light of their religious affiliations.

The collection case file includes legal release forms signed by all participants.

Access Copy Note: No restrictions on access.

Many interviews and transcripts have been digitized and are available as part of the March on Milwaukee Civil Rights History Project site.

Collection URL: http://collections.lib.uwm.edu/cdm/landingpage/collection/march

Date(s): 2007-2008

Digital Status: Partial

Existing IDs: UWM Manuscript Collection 281

Extent: 1.4 cubic ft. (3 boxes, including 28 audio cassettes)

Finding Aid URL: http://digital.library.wisc.edu/1711.dl/wiarchives.uw-mil-uwmmss0281

Language: English

Related Archival Items: James Groppi Papers (Milwaukee Manuscript Collection EX); Frank A. Aukofer Papers (Milwaukee Manuscript Collection 189)

Interviewees: Margaret (Peggy) Rozga Adelman, Frank Aukofer, Norman Adelman, Adolph Arms, Mary Arms, Shirley Butler, Michael Cullen, Carl Diederichs, Joyce McGhee, Pam O'Halloran, Barbara Salas, John Schoenfeld, William Sell, Peter Waldheim, Jean Williams

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

Subjects:

Civil rights demonstrations--Wisconsin
Civil rights movements--Wisconsin
Civil rights--Religious aspects--Catholic Church
Discrimination in housing
Groppi, James, 1930-1985
National Association for the Advancement of Colored People

Genres:

Interviews
Sound recordings