James Sedalia Peters II papers

The papers of prominent psychologist James S. Peters, whose work as a research assistant during WWII helped to desegregate the US Navy, a contribution formally recognized when Peters was inducted into the first class of the Connecticut Veterans Hall of Fame in 2005. His papers contain correspondence, writings, reports, clippings, book reviews, speeches, vitae, manuscripts, legal papers, financial records, various collected items and collected publications and various ephemera pertaining to his career. Of special note are correspondence, speeches, and articles by James S. Peters and his wife, Marie Ferguson Peters. Items also document a few items from Marie Peters and pertain to Dr. Peters’ retirement and his plans to open a consulting firm.

In addition, the papers primarily document writings of James and Marie Peters. Also included are photographs and obituaries of Marie Peters. Noteworthy are Marie and James' articles on the African American family and his speeches regarding the Black male in the United States. Of interest within the papers are materials about his mother regarding her 100th birthday celebration, including Peters’ book about his mother entitled Her Eyes Have Seen the Glory.

Peters authored several books throughout his career. His papers contain several copies of Peters’ many books; topics include race relations, psychology, rehabilitation, and African American history.

Other materials within the papers include correspondence and professional conference materials reflecting his late-career work as a psychologist as well as publicity materials for his Memoirs of a Black Southern New Englander. Also, of note are a newspaper article reflecting on his World War II service as well poems by Peters on aging and the parallels between the bombing of Pearl Harbor and the events of September 11, 2001. There are also two typed oral history interviews of James Peters II and Ardell Peters Merritt.