John P. Nelson papers

Collection

Identifier: 269

Staff Only

Scope and Contents

The papers document Nelson's active participation in the civil rights movement, school integration in New Orleans, and his work as an Assistant District Attorney for Orleans Parish. The papers of John P. Nelson, Jr. measure approximately 7.2 linear feet. There are 1,227 pieces of correspondence dated between 1957 and 1977. The papers also include magazine articles, speeches, a proposal, collected materials, notes, memoranda, agendas, reports, minutes, job descriptions, applications, resumes, forms, and various legal documents. The collection is arranged in three groups with material of general interest grouped together and papers relating to public service organizations arranged by the name of the organization. The papers also include materials on legal cases, arranged by case name and constitute the third and larges series.

A complete listing of Nelson's correspondents appears in the INDEX OF ALL CORRESPONDENTS; a partial listing of some names appearing most prominently in the collection includes Mathew Ahmann, John M. Blanchard, Hale Boggs, Edward H. Booker, Harvey Ronald H. Britton, Richard A. Buckley, Clark Byse, Arthur J. Capital, Ernest E. Cherrie, Herbert Christenberry, Jimmie H. Davis, Kenneth DeJean, Albert W. Dent, Allen J. Ellender, Frank B. Ellis, Pearlie Hardin Elloie, John B. Furey, Barbara Marie Guillory, Philip M. Hannan, C. Ellis Henica, Rosa Keller, Moon Landrieu, Terry F. Lenzner, John Pat Little, Edwin Lombard, Russell Long, Thomas W. McFerrin, John J. McKeith, Joseph Meyer, Ernest N. Morial, James M. Nabrit, J. Thomas Nelson, Revius Ortique, Thomas P. Perkins, Jr., Barry Portman, Reynard J. Rochon, Alvin B. Rubin, Patricia Saik, Charles F. Seeman, James N. Singleton, Francis Cardinal Spellman, Jesse Stone, Dorothy Taylor, Daniel Vincent, Thad Howard Waters, John Minor Wisdom, J. Skelly Wright, Katherine Settle Wright, and James E. Young.

Dates

Created: 1957-1977
Other: Date acquired: 06/06/1973

Creator

Nelson, John P. (John Pettit) (Person)

Conditions Governing Access

The John P. Nelsen papers are available for research use.

Conditions Governing Use

Copyright to these papers has not been assigned to the Amistad Research Center. It is the responsibility of an author to secure permission for publication from the holder of the copyright to any material contained in this collection.

Extent

7.20 Linear Feet

Language of Materials

English

Additional Description

Arrangement Note

The John P. Nelson papers are arranged into three series of materials related to integration in New Orleans and within the state of Louisiana and include General Materials (1957-1967), Public Service Organizations (1969-1973), and Legal Cases (1960-1977).

Source of Acquisition

John P. Nelson, Jr.

Method of Acquisition

Gift

Appraisal Information

A collection that documents the work of Nelson in landmark civil rights cases for the Houma Indians of Terrebonne Parish and in school desegregation cases in New Orleans, including the Tulane University desegregation case. One of the founders of the National Catholic Conference for Interracial Justice, and served as a director for the Southern Regional Council. The papers are likely sources for documentation of Nelson's activities in the foregoing civil rights cases.

Accruals and Additions

An addition to the collection was received from John P. Nelson on June 27 1978 of 2 linear feet, which included documentation that pertained to the Lombard v. Louisiana case and the Perkins case.

Related Materials

The Amistad Research Center holds related collections that document the integration of the public school system in New Orleans, Louisiana in the Rosa Freeman Keller papers, Catholic Council on Human Relations records, Alan Wieder collection, Janet T. Lemann papers, Natalie Midlo papers, A.M. Trudeau papers, Save Our Schools records, Daniel Byrd papers, Community Relations Council of Greater New Orleans records, and Kim Lacy Rogers and Glenda Stevens oral history collection.