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Civil Rights Archive
The following is a collection of newspaper articles, books, and documents that detail the struggles of family members who were intregal parts of the American Civil Rights Movement.
As three sisters were on the front lines of integration activities, their uncle was the subject of persecution for wanting to exercise his legal right to vote.
While everyone in the family has lead extraordinary lives, the following family members are recognized for their contribution to our family as well as to the history of African Americans.
Rev. Francis Joseph Atlas, Sr.'s Civil Rights Struggle in Northeastern Louisiana
Rev. Francis Joseph Atlas, Sr. was born and raised in Lake Providence, East Carroll Parish, LA. For as long as he could remember, he was denied the right to register to vote even though he was made to pay poll taxes. In lieu of this, he, along with a group of other African Americans in the area, decided to challenge the Registrar of Voters after repeated attempts of trying to register to vote. The group eventually filed a suit and two witnesses were chosen to testify in front of a grand jury; Rev. John H. Scott and Rev. Atlas.Following their testimony, Rev. Scott and Rev. Atlas were the subjects of economic coercion and physical violence. Eventually, the Justice Department filed a lawsuit against area businessmen regarding economic coercion and won. Rev. Atlas eventually was voted the head of the parish schoolboard and served several terms in this position.
"Witness to the Truth: My Struggle For Human Rights In Louisiana"
by John H. Scott with Cleo Scott Brown
This book documents Rev. Scott's fight to vote as well as the fight
of several family members in East Carroll Parish, LA to do the same.
Available for purchase in the aStore
Rev. Francis J. Atlas, Sr.
(Click photo for full story)
Google Books Search for Rev. Francis Joseph Atlas, Sr.
Genealogy Documents
Obituary
Burial Record
News Coverage and Documents
November 1, 1960 - Letter from E. Frederic Morrow, White House
January 20, 1961 - New York Times
January 24, 1961 - Washington Afro-American
February 4, 1961 - New York Times
February 9, 1961 - Jet Magazine
Feburary 14, 1961 - Baltimore Afro-American
September 15, 1961 - Time Magazine (mention in an article on the Civil Rights Commission)
July 29, 1962 - Florence, AL Times Daily (mention of 25 ellgible voters voting in East Carroll Parish)
September 13, 1962 - Jet Magazine (in article on Rev. John H. Scott)
July 17, 1961- Washington Post
April 15, 1965 - Jet Magazine
November 12, 1966 - New York Times
August 6, 2005 - Monroe News Star
Undated - The Road to Selma (incomplete)
The Thompson Sisters and Their Involvement in NAACP and CORE
The Thompson Sisters of New Orleans, LA were first a part of the New Orleans Chapter of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) and eventually the Congress for Racial Equality (CORE). They participated in many sit ins and protests, most notably, the Freedom Rides of 1961 which tested the Interstate Commerce Law. Beaten, and sometimes mauled by crowds, these three sisters showed extreme courage as they helped desegregate the south during their high school and college careers.
Freedom Riders: 1961 and the Struggle For Racial Justice"
by Raymond Arsenault
A book documenting the Freedom Rides in which the Thompson Sisters are mentioned
Available for purchase in the aStore
Breach of Peace: Portraits of the 1961 Mississippi Freedom Riders by Eric Etheridge
A book of portraits of Freedom Riders featuring Jean and Shirley Thompson
Available for purchase in the aStore
Features accounts that mention the Thompson Sisters.
Available for purchase in the aStore
Preview on Google Books
Alice Thompson
(Click photo for full story)
Jean Thompson
(Click thumbnail to enlarge)
Shirley Thompson
(Click thumbnail to enlarge)
Freedom Ride from Hattiesburg, MS to Poplarville, MS on November 14, 1961
Freedom Ride from New Orleans to McComb, MS on November 29, 1961
Documents Related to Freedom Rides
November 20, 1961 - MS Sovereignty Commission Report on November 14, 1961 Integration of Greyhound Bus Station in Poplarville, MS
December 8, 1961 - MS Sovereignty Commision Report on November 30, 1961 Integration of Greyhound Bus Station in McComb, MS
A.L. Hopkins, Investigator
Newspaper Articles on Integration Activites
April 20, 1961 - New Orleans, LA Times Picayune
November 10 and 14, 1961 - Jackson, MS Clarion Ledger (with mention of Jean Thompson)
November 30, 1961 - New York Times
November 30, 1961 - Jet Magazine
November 30, 1961 - Lexington, NC Dispatch (quote from Presbyterian deacon regarding integration in reference to McComb, MS incident)
December 1, 1961 - Jackson, MS Daily News
December 14, 1961 - Jet Magazine
December 27, 1962 - New Orleans, LA Times Picayune
March 28, 1964 - New Orleans, LA Times Picayune (with mention of Shirley Thompson)
Freedom Ride from Montgomery, AL to Jackson, MS on May 24, 1961
Freedom Ride from Hattiesburg, MS to Poplarville, MS on November 14, 1961
Documents, Photos and Video Related to Freedom Ride
Roster of Freedom Riders
List of Charges
Video of Arrest, WSB-TV (Atlanta, GA)
Newspaper Articles on Integration Activites
May 25, 1961 - New Orleans, LA Times Picayune
May 27, 1961 - New Orleans, LA Times Picayune
June 1, 1961 - Jackson, MS Clarion Ledger
June 2, 1961 - Washington Post
June 15, 1961 - Jet Magazine
August 1961 - Ebony Magazine
November 10, 1961 - New Orleans, LA Times Picayune (with mention of Alice Thompson)
December 28, 1961 - Jackson, MS Daily News
Freedom Ride from New Orleans to Jackson, MS on June 6, 1961
Documents Related to Freedom Rides
Roster of Freedom Riders
List of Charges
Newspaper Articles on Integration Activites
August 24, 1961 - New Orleans, LA Times Picayune (with mention of Alice Thompson)
June 7, 1961 - Chicago Tribune
June 7, 1961 - Jackson, MS Clarion Ledger (with mention of Jean Thompson)
June 22, 1961 - Jet Magazine
October 10, 1961 - School Protest Participant List
November 29, 1962 - Jet Magazine
February 23, 1964 - New Orleans, LA Times Picayune
March 28, 1964 - New Orleans, LA Times Picayune (with mention of Alice Thompson)
Mississippi State Department of Archives and History's Sovereignty Commision Online
Source Information:
- Mississippi State Department of Archives and History's Sovereignty Commision Online
- Periodicals: Genealogy Bank (Historical Newspapers), Google Books - Jet Magazine and Ebony Magazine Archives, Google News Archive, and ProQuest Historical Newspapers
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