Scope and Contents
The collection consists of writings, notes, clippings, correspondence, and other papers, stemming from Lester Blackwell Granger's work as executive secretary of the National Urban League and his involvement in social work and civil rights issues. Writings consist of annotated and corrected typescript drafts and printed copies of speeches and addresses, autobiographical works, and social commentaries by Granger, as well as some fiction. Also found are papers relating to the National Urban League, a transcript of an interview with Granger, and an oil painting of Granger by Manet Harrison Fowler.
Dates
- 1936-1970
Creator
Conditions Governing Access
The materials are open for research.
Conditions Governing Use
The Lester Blackwell Granger Papers is the physical property of the Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library, Yale University. Literary rights, including copyright, belong to the authors or their legal heirs and assigns. For further information, consult the appropriate curator.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Purchased from William Reese Co. on the James Weldon Johnson Memorial Collection of Negro Arts & Letters Fund, 2009.
Arrangement
The collection is organized into three series: I. Writings, 1937-1970. II. Other Papers, 1936-1969. III. Art Work, undated.
Extent
2.08 Linear Feet ((5 boxes) + 1 framed art work)
Language of Materials
English
Catalog Record
A record for this collection is available in Orbis, the Yale University Library catalog
Persistent URL
Overview
The collection consists of writings, notes, clippings, correspondence, and other papers, stemming from Lester Blackwell Granger's work as executive secretary of the National Urban League and his involvement in social work and civil rights issues. Writings consist of annotated and corrected typescript drafts and printed copies of speeches and addresses, autobiographical works, and social commentaries by Granger, as well as some fiction. Also found are papers relating to the National Urban League, a transcript of an interview with Granger, and an oil painting of Granger by Manet Harrison Fowler.
Lester Blackwell Granger (1896-1976)
Lester Blackwell Granger was an African-American civic leader and social worker. Born in 1896, he grew up in Newark, NJ, and graduated from Dartmouth College in 1918. After serving in the United States Army during the First World War, he worked briefly for the Newark chapter of the National Urban League. From 1922 to 1934, Granger was an extension worker with the New Jersey state vocational school for African-American youth in Bordentown. He served on the worker's educational section of the National Urban League from 1934 to 1938, and led the organization's efforts to promote trade unionism among African American workers and challenge racism by employers and labor organizations. He served as assistant executive secretary of the National Urban League from 1940 to 1941 and as executive secretary from 1941 to 1961. He was also a leading figure in social work, serving as president of the National Conference of Social Work in 1952. After retiring from the National Urban League in 1961, Granger joined the faculty of Dillard University in New Orleans, LA, and in 1972 was named Amistad Scholar in Residence there. He died in Alexandria, LA in 1976.
Biographical note is drawn from The African American Registry and the National Association of Social Workers Foundation websites for Granger (accessed on 17 December 2009).
Biographical note is drawn from The African American Registry and the National Association of Social Workers Foundation websites for Granger (accessed on 17 December 2009).
Processing Information
Collections are processed to a variety of levels, depending on the work necessary to make them usable, their perceived research value, the availability of staff, competing priorities, and whether or not further accruals are expected. The library attempts to provide a basic level of preservation and access for all collections as they are acquired, and does more extensive processing of higher priority collections as time and resources permit.
This collection received a basic level of processing, including rehousing and minimal organization. Information included in the Description of Papers note and Collection Contents section is drawn from information supplied with the collection and from an initial survey of the contents.
This finding aid may be updated periodically to account for new acquisitions to the collection and/or revisions in arrangement and description.
This collection received a basic level of processing, including rehousing and minimal organization. Information included in the Description of Papers note and Collection Contents section is drawn from information supplied with the collection and from an initial survey of the contents.
This finding aid may be updated periodically to account for new acquisitions to the collection and/or revisions in arrangement and description.
- African American civic leaders
- African American social workers
- Civic leaders -- United States
- Civil Rights movements -- United States -- 20th Century
- Fowler, Manet Harrison, 1895-1976
- Granger, Lester B. (Lester Blackwell), 1896-1976
- National Urban League
- Oil paintings (visual works)
- Social workers -- United States
- Title
- Guide to the Lester Blackwell Granger Papers
- Author
- by Tina Evans and Jennifer Meehan
- Date
- 2009
- Description rules
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
- Language of description note
- Finding aid written in English.
Part of the Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library Repository
Location
121 Wall Street
New Haven, CT 06511
Opening Hours
Access Information
The Beinecke Library is open to all Yale University students and faculty, and visiting researchers whose work requires use of its special collections. You will need to bring appropriate photo ID the first time you register. Beinecke is a non-circulating, closed stack library. Paging is done by library staff during business hours. You can request collection material online at least two business days in advance of your visit, using the request links in Archives at Yale. For more information, please see Planning Your Research Visit and consult the Reading Room Policies prior to visiting the library.