Jim Curtis photograph collection on Civil Rights in Kentucky
Abstract
The Jim Curtis photograph collection on the Civil Rights in Kentucky (dated 1964; 0.16 cubic feet; 13 items) comprises black and white, 8X10 photographs documenting the March on Frankfort, Kentucky, held on March 5, 1964, and led by Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., and Jackie Robinson.
Descriptive Summary
- Title
- Jim Curtis photograph collection on Civil Rights in Kentucky
- Date
- 1964
- Creator
- Curtis, Jim
- Extent
- 0.16 Cubic feet
- Subjects
- Civil rights demonstrations--Kentucky
- Civil rights movements--United States--History--20th century.
- Preferred Citation
- 2013av023: [identification of item], Jim Curtis photograph collection on Civil Rights in Kentucky, 1964, University of Kentucky Special Collections.
- Repository
- University of Kentucky
Collection Overview
- Biography / History
- On March 5, 1964, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., led ten thousand people on a peaceful Civil Rights march in Frankfort, Kentucky. Other important activists also accompanied the march, including baseball great Jackie Robinson and the Reverend Ralph David Abernathy. The Allied Organization for Civil Rights, led by Frank Stanley, Jr., editor of The Louisville Defender and Georgia Davis Powers, who would later become Kentucky's first African-American female state senator, coordinated the march. The rally supported a bill to desegregate public accommodations in Kentucky. The bill was originally the Fair Service Executive Order issued by former Governor Bert T. Combs in 1963. This order was never implemented and became an issue during the 1963 gubernatorial election, which would eventually be won by Edward T. Breathitt. After he became Governor, Breathitt agreed to support the bill eliminating legal discrimination. Dr. King and several other leaders gave speeches backing the proposed bill and met with Gov. Breathitt. After the march, a group of people led by Frank Stanley, Jr., staged a hunger strike in the House gallery to coerce legislators to pass the bill. It never made it out of committee, but the subsequent Civil Rights Act of 1966 was passed in large part to the influence garnered by the march and hunger strike.
- Scope and Content
- The Jim Curtis photograph collection on the Civil Rights in Kentucky (dated 1964; 0.16 cubic feet; 13 items) comprises black and white, 8X10 photographs documenting the March on Frankfort, Kentucky, held on March 5, 1964, and led by Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., and Jackie Robinson. Other figures depicted in the photographs include Reverend Ralph David Abernathy, Frank Stanley, Jr., and Gov. Edward T. Breathitt. Additional photos detail the crowd marching and listening to speeches. The collection also includes a photo of Gov. Bert T. Combs presenting an award to Muhammad Ali and two later photos of Georgie Davis Powers.
Restrictions on Access and Use
- Conditions Governing Access
- Conditions Governing Access note Collection is open to researchers by appointment.
- Use Restrictions
- Property rights reside with the University of Kentucky. The University of Kentucky holds the copyright for materials created in the course of business by University of Kentucky employees. Copyright for all other materials has not been assigned to the University of Kentucky. For information about permission to reproduce or publish, please contact Special Collections.
Contents of the Collection
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., standing at a podium, photographers and crowd in background, 1964
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., standing in a crowd, 1964
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., with group of men leading the march. Ralph David Abernathy is second man from King's right and Frank Stanley Jr. is fourth man from right, 1964
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., (right) and Jackie Robinson (left) taking notes during march, Georgia Davis Powers on extreme right over King's shoulder, 1964
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., taking notes during march, Jackie Robinson to his left, 1964
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., shaking hands with Kentucky Governor Edward T. Breathitt, Jackie Robinson to King's left, Frank Stanley Jr. to his extreme left, 1964
From left to right, Frank Stanley, Jr., Jackie Robinson, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., and Kentucky Governor Edward T. Breathitt reading legislative bill to desegregate public accommodations in Kentucky, 1964
Group of people staging a hunger strike with signs reading Give me freedom or death! around their necks listening to a radio, 1964
Crowd of marching protestors, 1964
Crowd of marching protestors, Jackie Robinson standing center-right, 1964
Kentucky Governor Bert T. Combs presenting an award to Muhammad Ali, undated
Georgia Davis Powers speaking to a man, undated
Georgia Davis Powers and two other men standing, undated
Beginning August 11, 2020, the UK Libraries Special Collections Research Center will be open by appointment only on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays. Materials must be requested at least 5 days before your appointment.
Researchers must have an SCRC Researcher Account to request materials. View account set-up and use instructions here.
Questions? Contact SCRC via our Contact Form.
Beginning August 11, 2020, the UK Libraries Special Collections Research Center will be open by appointment only on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays. Materials must be requested at least 5 days before your appointment.
Researchers must have an SCRC Researcher Account to request materials. View account set-up and use instructions here.
Questions? Contact SCRC via our Contact Form.
