From Julian Bond to Hugh Gloster, copying Vincent Harding, 3 May 1968

May 3, 1968

Dr. Hugh Gloster, President Morehouse College 233 Chestnut Street, SW Atlanta, Georgia 30314

Dr Dr. Gloster:

I have been turning a proposal over in my mind and thought I would write you to get your opinion of it.

As a bit of background, I was disturbed about some years ago Dr. King announced that he was leaving his papers to Boston University, althought I assumed it was because Boston University might be better equipped than Morehouse to store, catalogue and oversee them. I know that Booker T. Washington's papers are lying in boxes in the Tuskegee Library, never to my knowledge having ben catalogued, and I am sure Dr. King would not have wanted his manuscripts to meet the same fate.

The thought struck me that Morehouse could incorporate in the plans for a memorial for her most distinguished son the establishment of a library of oral history of the "King years". This, I believe, would be a fitting remembrance, both historically and academically.

My proposal is that Morehouse seek foundation support for a three to five year project which would involve tape recorded memories of Dr. King. I am not concerned particularly here with Dr. King as a man, but with King as a social innovator and as the man who most affected the course of race relations in the 1950's and '60's. I should like to see Morehouse undertake such a project because I think it would be the most fitting way to honor Dr. King's memory. I feel also that the campus would benefit through its association with such a project and that this sort of historical recording needs to be done.

Dr. Hugh Gloster May 3, 1968 Page 2

Hundreds of histories of the "King years" will be written; he will be studied and analyzed for years to come. The immediate history of such research suggests to my limited knowledge that most such research will be done and will be preserved in a manner not easily available or easily shared by the students who will attend schools like Morehouse. Oral history--transcribed and made available to students and scholars alike--would bring Morehouse a closer sense of participation in what is the most crucial question facing America in the 20th century.

I have spoken of this project with Dr. Vincent Harding of Spelman who has expressed a great deal of interest in it, and with a friend at a large foundation who appeared to be eager to discuss it further. Dr. Harding and I would be glad to discuss it with you if you think the idea has any merit.

Sincerely,

Julian Bond

JB:ph

cc: Dr. Vincent Harding