NCCIJ (National Catholic Conference for Interracial Justice): correspondence, 1965 March 25 - 1966 August 31

The public service organizations series documents Nelson's involvement with New Orleans Legal Assistance Corporation (NOLAC), the United States Commission on Civil Rights, and the National Catholic Conference for Interracial Justice (NCCIJ). Of the three, documentation is most extensive for NOLAC, the correspondence numbering 614 pieces. Nelson succeeded Ernest N. Morial in the position of President of the Board of Directors of NOLAC in 1970. His tenure lasted until 1972 when Charles White assumed that office. Correspondence is heaviest for that period. Board business reflected in the correspondence embraces circulating information, scheduling meetings and getting members to attend them, filling board vacancies, and appointing committees. Staff concerns routinely dealt with encompassed resignations, terminations, hiring, and requests for salary increases, re-organization plans, funding, auditors, and evaluators. Advice frequently passed between Nelson and a succession of Executive Directors. He was called upon to arbitrate differences of opinion among staff members over policy. In a more public posture he tried to procure donation of time from local attorneys; he worked to overcome a negative view held toward NOLAC by members of the "establishment," including the mayor; he communicated with the media; and he registered protest with a local judge over his treatment in court of NOLAC lawyers. Nelson participated in an effort to extend legal services over the state. Controversies which taxed the group included those over the representation of and connection with members of the National Committee to Combat Fascism who were involved in a shoot-out with local police; the confidentiality of client files, which the IRS wanted to examine; and the fight of an employee, James E. Young, against his termination. Nelson took notes during various conferences and telephone conversations. He then wrote them up, including his response to the matter, in the form of a memorandum for his file.

Materials prepared for the Board of Directors meetings include agendas, reports, enclosures, and minutes. These parallel the correspondence in subject matter. Auerbach Associates, Inc. of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, under contract to the Office of Economic Opportunity, Office of Legal Services, evaluated NOLAC in 1970. The findings of the evaluators were, in the main, deemed invalid by NOLAC personnel. The clippings describe the shoot-out at Black Panther headquarters, the subsequent criticism of NOLAC for its involvement, and the repercussions, which put the legal services in jeopardy. There are 35 pieces of correspondence for NCCIJ. Nelson served as interim chairman for the group in 1966. He had responsibilities for developing workshops, requesting contributions, issuing notices of meetings, agendas, reports, and finance statements, and representing NCCIJ at the functions of other groups. He served on committees to plan programs and re-draft the group's constitution. Catholic involvement in the Meredith Mississippi March and the improvement of housing conditions for the poor. For the United States Commission on Civil Rights there is a single form letter, which came to Nelson as a committee member, but several pamphlets on school desegregation are enclosed.