Russell Henderson collection of Louisiana political ephemera

Russell Henderson was a lobbyist and political activist in New Orleans with a strong interest in social justice causes, including environmental causes, education reform, and mental and health issues involving women and children. He served as a campaign volunteer and advisor for African American candidates in Louisiana, including Ernest “Dutch” Morial and Cedric Richmond.

The Russell Henderson Collection of Louisiana Political Ephemera contains campaign and election materials from various political candidates at the local and state level gathered by Henderson during his years as a campaign volunteer and advisor. As Henderson worked with a number of African American candidates, the collection reflects many activities and races with African American participation. Included are newsletters, campaign literature, correspondence, biographical data, invitations, fliers, and mailers. Campaign literature includes that produced in support of and in opposition to candidates, which gives a view into the issues particular to each individual or political race. Some of the candidates featured more prominently include: Avery Alexander, Dale Atkins, Larry Bagneris, Diana E. Bajoie, Sidney Barthelemy, Jared Brossett, Ken Carter, Herbert Cade, David Duke, Cleo Fields, Mike Foster, Paulette Irons, William J. Jefferson, Marc Morial, J.P. Morrell, Edwin R. Murphy, Ray Nagin, Renee Gill Pratt, Derrick Shepherd, and Oliver M. Thomas.

Individual files are also found for Llewellyn Soniat and Lloyd Medley. Others include those for Jesse Jackson’s 1984 presidential campaign, the New Orleans Progressive Alliance, and the Louisiana Lesbian and Gay Political Action Caucus. Also present is a 1982 working draft on recommended master plan goals for the New Orleans Public Schools and information on the Mayor’s Task Force on Human Service Needs from 1980. Files related to the New Orleans branch of the NAACP include financial records, minutes, reports, rosters, programs, and citizen complaint forms from 1981-1986. Present are sample ballots sponsored by the 2^nd Ward Black Community, Algiers Point Action Committee (APAC), Alliance for Good Government, the Black Organization for Leadership Development (BOLD), Black Young and Progressive, Blacks United Lasting for Leadership (BULL), Brother’s Improvement Association, Citizens for a Better Future, the Civic Independent Association of Carrollton, the Community Organization for Urban Politics (COUP), the Concerned Christian Citizens, Concerned Citizens for a Better Louisiana (CCBL), Concerned Leadership Organization United & Tenacity (CLOUT), the Democratic Beavers, the Democratic Organization for Voters Education (DOVE), Democratic Voters for Action League, Dreams Inc., Elite Men of Louisiana, Gold of Carrollton, the Jambalaya Coalition, the Louisiana Democratic Party, the Louisiana Electors for Louisiana Advancement, the Louisiana Gay Political Action Caucus (LAGPAC), the Louisiana Independent Federation of Electors (LIFE), New Orleans Association for Good Government, New Orleans United, the New Orleans Voters Alliance (NOVA), Original United Citizens Helps (OUCH), the Orleans Parish Democratic Executive Committee, Orleans Parish Progressive Voters League (OPPVL), People Religion Education Politics (PREP), the Political Coalition of Carrollton (PCOC), the Peoples Organization for Progress (POP), the People’s Union & Leadership League (PULL), the Progressive Democrats of New Orleans, Public Reformation Organization for Urban Democracy (PROUD), Real People in Government, the Regular Democratic Organization of Louisiana (RDO), the Seventh Ward Civic Political and Improvement League, the Southern Organization for Unified Leadership (SOUL), the Spanish American Voters Alliance, the Treme Improvement Political Society (TIPS), the United Voters League, the Uptown Voters’ Association (UVA), Uptown Voters for Improved Government, Women on the Move, the Young Adults Political Association (YAPA), and the Young Men of New Orleans.