Robert G. Sherer collection

The Robert G. Sherer collection consists of 26 black and white photographs taken by Sherer during the 1963 March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom, as well as a booklet, texts of speeches, biographical sketches of individuals participating in the march, lists of sponsors, a program schedule, a map, and press releases. Texts of speeches include those delivered by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.; John Lewis, Chairman of the Student Non-Violent Coordinating Committee; Whitney M. Young Jr., Executive Director of the National Urban League; Eugene Carson Blake, Vice Chairman of the Commission on Religion and Race for the National Council of Churches; Rabbi Joachim Prinz, President of the American Jewish Congress; Mathew Ahmann, Executive Director of the National Catholic Conference for Interracial Justice, as well as a statement by James Farmer of the Congress of Racial Equality from the Donaldsonville Jail in Donaldsonville, Louisiana. The text of the King speech is "advance text" and lacks the "I have a dream" section. The text of the John Lewis speech is the unedited version.

Short biographical sketches are included for Rabbi Joachim Prinz, James Farmer, Walter P. Reuther, Roy Wilkins, Mathew Ahmann, Whitney M. Young Jr., Eugene Carson Blake, A Philip Randolph, Martin Luther King Jr., John Lewis, Daisy Bates, Diane Nash Bevel, Myrlie Evers, Mrs. Herbert Lee, Rosa Parks, and Gloria Richardson.

In addition to the material on the 1963 march, the collection also contains typescript copies of proposals, reports, minutes and participants for the American Council on Education's Program for Negro Colleges, 1963-1964. Included are newsletters of the Council, an outline for the program for 1964-1965, minutes of the 47th annual meeting, and a draft typescript entitled "Program for Negro Colleges" prepared by Dr. Samuel Nabrit, President of Texas Southern College; Stephen White of Educational Services, Inc.; and Professor J.R. Zacharias of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Aditional materials include typescript copies of proposals, reports, minutes and participants for the American Council on Education's Program for Negro Colleges, 1963-1964. Included are newsletters of the Council, an outline for the program for 1964-1965, minutes of the 47th annual meeting, and a draft typescript entitled "Program for Negro Colleges" prepared by Dr. Samuel Nabrit, President of Texas Southern College; Stephen White of Educational Services, Inc.; and Professor J.R. Zacharias of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Robert Sherer’s teaching career at Wiley College and Alcorn College and also include some of his research files are also highlighted. Items of note include a 1974 Wiley College self-study, various departmental and college-level reports, and student papers. Also included are microfilm copies for several African American newspapers in Alabama from the early twentieth century.