Catholic Interracial Council of Chicago: newsletters, 1957-1958

The Catholic Interracial Council of Chicago files (1952-1960) were generated by Davis as its executive director from 1953-1960. The Council was created to assist spiritual unity between people of different races and to promote relations among races based upon the Christian principles of justice and charity. The Catholic Interracial Council of Chicago papers contain an address by John LaFarge, S.J. on the Catholic Interracial Council Movement, incoming and outgoing correspondence, and minutes of the board of directors, newsletters, news releases, programs, publications, and a report on the work of the Council in 1954. Of special interest in the files is correspondence about the Catholic Interracial Council of Chicago’s concern with communist activities in the Black community.

The second organization covered by the files is the Commission on Equal Opportunities of the City of New Haven, Connecticut (1965). Davis worked for a short time as an assistant director of this organization. The Commission was established to provide for a calm discourse in the city with regards to human relations and civil rights, as well as assisting citizens to reach a democratic process to address minority issues. The Commission records include citizens’ complaints, correspondence, conference material, minutes of meetings, proposals, and reports.

Lloyd Davis was an assistant director of the New Haven Redevelopment Agency’s, Dixwell Renewal and Redevelopment Project (1962-1965) established in the city of New Haven, Connecticut. He was responsible for the administrative duties and direction of the program, as well as involved in the overall formulation, development, and operation of the policies of the project. The project was located in an area with serious blight and urban decay issues. The main purpose of the project was to redevelop an area of 256 acres, relocate 928 families, demolish 382 residential and business structures, and rehabilitate existing buildings. The records include correspondence, directories, guides, minutes of the board of directors, proposals, reports, and several speeches by Lloyd Davis.

A small set of records for Davis’ work as an executive assistant to the Assistant Postmaster General of the United States Postal Service (1961-1962) mainly consist of administrative correspondence and a publication containing an article about Davis background, as well as his appointment with the post office. The last set of records called employment opportunities (1958-1992) contain both incoming and outgoing correspondence regarding job inquiries in which Davis was recommended or interested in applying for.*