NAACP Testimonies: 1916 - 1949

58 Pieces of legislation were sent to Congress from 1916 - 1949 to which the NAACP representatives gave statements and testimonies. These records relate to civil and equal rights for all, with an emphasis on those related to African Americans. View the legislations to which NAACP representatives gave statements and testimonies

 

Legislation can be introduced whenever Congress is in session. Bills introduced into the House of Representatives are assigned a bill nuber beginning with "H.R." When resolutions are introduced, they begin with "H.Res", "H. Con. Res.", or "H. J. Res." depending on if ther are simple resolutions, concurrent resolutions, or joint resolutions. Those bills introduced into the Senate begin with "S."

 

 

The legislation discussed here was sent between 1916-1949 and involved nearly every Congress from the 64th United States Congress to the 81st United States Congress. Of the 58 pieces of legislation, 25 were entered into the House of Representatives. They included a number of bills, as well as simple resolutions and joint resolutions. The remaining 33 pieces of legislation were entered into the Senate.The legislation discussed here were sent between 1916-1949 and involved nearly every Congress from the 64th United States Congress to the 81st United States Congress. Of the 58 pieces of legislation, 25 were entered into the House of Representatives. They included a number of bills, as well as simple resolutions and joint resolutions. The remaining 33 pieces of legislation were entered into the Senate.

While the Civil Rights movement peaked during the 1950’s and 1960’s, the roots of the movement go back as early as the 19th century. It was a push to gain equal rights and access of basic privileges afforded U.S. citizens, but systematically denied to African Americans. The topics of the legislation entered into congress from 1916-1949 illustrate the types of rights individuals and organizations like the NAACP were fighting for.

 

Individuals giving statement and testimony on behalf of the NAACP

  • He was the secretary of Veterans Affairs and spoke on legislation regarding military and veterans rights.
  • An activist, lawyer, journalist, and diplomat, who was originally born into slavery.
  • A lawyer, judge, and public official, he was the first African American to serve as Governor off the United States Virgin Islands, and as both a federal judge and a federal appellate judge.
  • Dean of Howard University Law School, a lawyer, and the NAACP Litigation Director.
  • An author, educator, lawyer and diplomat, he was the first African American to serve as executive secretary of the NAACP.
  • A lawyer, he was the first African American justice to serve on the United States Supreme Court.
  • An educator and activist, she founded the first kindergarten for African American children in 1897.
  • A civil rights activist, he was the chief lobbyist for the NAACP from 1950 to 1978.
  • He was the head of the Washington chapter of the NAACP.
  • A lawyer and United States Army captain who protested the discrimination of African Americans in the military.
  • A civil rights activist and teacher, he was the president of the Washington, D.C. NAACP branch from 1925 to 1930.

 

Statements and Testimonies of NAACP Representatives before Congressional Committees, 1916 – 1949

  • (64) H144-19: Intermarriage of Whites and Negroes in D.C. and Separate Accommodations in Street Cars for Whites and Negroes. H.R. 12+. Committee on the District of Columbia, U.S. House of representatives, 64th Congress, 1st.  February 11, 1916, United States Congressional Committee Hearings, 3-19 (Archibald H. Grimke).

  • 66) H234-Pt.2-1: Part I, Segregation. H.J. Res. 75. Committee on Judiciary, U.S. House of Representatives, 66th Congress, 2ndJanuary 15, 1920, United States Congressional Committee Hearings, 8-10 (Neval H. Thomas).

  • (66) H234-Pt.2-1: Part I, Segregation and Antilynching. H.J. Res. 75. Committee on Judiciary, U.S. House of Representatives, 66th Congress, 2nd January 15, 1920, United States Congressional Committee Hearings, 32-37 (Arthur B. Spingarn).

  • (66) H234-Pt.2-1: Part I, Segregation. Part II Antilynching.. H.J. Res. 75, H.R. 259+. Committee on Judiciary, U.S. House of Representatives, 66th Congress, 2nd January 15, 1920, United States Congressional Committee Hearings, 45-62 (James W. Johnson, field secretary, NAACP).

  • (66) H234-Pt.2-1: Part II, Antilynching. H.R. 259; H.R. 4123; H.R. 11873. Committee on Judiciary, U.S. House of Representatives, 66th Congress, 2nd. January 29, 1920, United States Congressional Committee Hearings, 22-26 (Arthur B. Spingarn).

  • (66) H234-Pt.2-2: Part II, Antilynching. H.R. 259; H.R. 4213; H.R. 11873. Committee on Judiciary, U.S. House of Representatives, 66th Congress, 2nd.  January 29, 1920, 52-56 (Archibald H. Grimke); 58-62 (Neval H. Thomas). [i]

  • (69) S253-7: To Prevent and Punish the Crime of Lynching. S. 121. Subcommittee on S. 121, Committee on Judiciary, U.S. Senate, 69th Congress, 1st. February 16, 1926, United States Congressional Committee Hearings, 6-37 (James Weldon Johnson). 

  • (72) H618-1: D.C. Appropriation Bill for 1933. H.R. 11361. Subcommittee on D.C. Appropriations, Committee on Appropriations, U.S. House of Representatives, 72nd Congress, 1st. March 3, 1932, United States Congressional Committee Hearings, 1123-35 (Emma F.G. Merritt – with John A. Lankford and Emory B. Smith, representing the Bethel Literary and Historical Association; William H. Lewis and W.W. Hall, representing the Federation of Civic Associations; Ethel H. Grubbs, representing the College Alumnae Club; Nellie H. Skinner, representing the Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority; E.P. Lovett, representing the Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Henry W. Sweet, and the Rev. E.R. Barnum).

  • (72) S387-1: D.C. Appropriation Bill for 1933. H. R. 11361. Committee on Appropriations, U.S. Senate, 72nd Congress, 1st. May 18, 1932, United States Congressional Committee Hearings, 184-85 (Emma F.G. Merritt).

  • (73) S435-5-A: Punishment for the Crime of Lynching. Part 1. S. 1978. Subcommittee of the Committee on Judiciary, Committee on Judiciary, U.S. Senate, 73rd Congress, 2nd. February 20, 1934, United States Congressional Committee Hearings, 62-67 (Arthur B. Spingarn [ii]).

  • (73) S435-5-A: Punishment for the Crime of Lynching. Part 1. S. 1978. Subcommittee of the Committee on Judiciary, Committee on Judiciary. U.S. Senate, 73rd Congress, 2nd. February 20, 1934, United States Congressional Committee Hearings, 82-93 (Charles Hamilton Houston).

  • (73) S435-5-A: Punishment for the Crime of Lynching. Part 1. S. 1978. Subcommittee of the Committee on Judiciary, Committee on Judiciary. U.S. Senate, 73rd Congress, 2nd. February 20, 1934, United States Congressional Committee Hearings, 93-102 (Herbert K. Stockton).

  • (74) H699-0: Economic Security Act. H. R. 3977; S. 1130+. Committee on Ways and Means, U.S. House of Representatives, 74th Congress, 1st. February 1, 1935, United States Congressional Committee Hearings, 796-98 (Charles H. Houston).

  • (74) S476-0: Economic Security Act. S. 1130. Committee on Finance, U.S. Senate, 74rd Congress, 1st. February 9, 1935, United States Congressional Committee Hearings, 640-47 (Charles H. Houston)

  • (75) S-547-5: Assistance to States and Territories in Providing Programs of Public Education. S. 419. Committee on Education and Labor, U.S. Senate, 75th Congress, 1st. July 10, 1937, United States Congressional Committee Hearings, 151-176 (Charles Hamilton Houston).
  • (76) S585-5: Federal Aid to Education Act of 1939. S. 1305. Subcommittee of Committee on Education and Labor, Committee on Education and Labor, U.S. Senate, 76th Congress, 1st. March 3, 1939, United States Congressional Committee Hearings, 178-184 (Charles H. Houston).
  • (76) S620-10: Crime of Lynching. H.R. 801. Subcommittee on H.R. 801, Committee on Judiciary, 76th Congress, 2nd. February 7, 1940, United States Congressional Committee Hearings, 75-84 (Arthur Spingarn, Walter White).
  • (77) S663-8: Educational Finance Act of 1941. S1313. Senate Subcommittee on S. 1313, Committee on Education and Labor, U.S. Senate, 77th Congress, 1st. April 29, 1941, United States Congressional Committee Hearings, 218-25 (Charles Hamilton Houston).

  • (78) S708-5: Aid to Education Act of 1943. Committee on Education and Labor, U.S. Senate, 78th 1st. April 7, 1943, United States Congressional Committee Hearings, 239-42 (Charles Hamilton Houston ).

  • (78) S 716-14: Poll Taxes. H.R. 7. Committee on Judiciary, U.S. Senate, 78th Congress, 1st. October 26, 1943, United States Congressional Committee Hearings, 60-69 (William H. Hastie, Leon A. Ransom, George W. Crockett, Jr. Statement dated October 1943 submitted by Leslie Perry on behalf of the counsel of the NAACP on the constitutionality of H.R. 7).

  • (79) H1091-1-A: Universal Military Training. H. Res. 465. Select Committee on Postwar Military Policy, U.S. House of Representatives, 79th Congress, 1st sess. June 6, 1945. United States Congressional Committee Hearings, 111-17 (William Hastie).

  • (79) S787-1-B: General Housing Act of 1945. Part 2: Revised. S. 1592. Committee on Banking and Currency, U.S. Senate, 79thCongress, 1st. December 12, 1945, United States Congressional Committee Hearings, 755-68 (William Hastie).

  • (80) S860-9: Universal Military Training. Committee on Armed Service, U.S. Senate, 80th Congress, 2nd. March 30, 1948, United States Congressional Committee Hearings, 662-68 (Jesse O. Dedmond, Jr.).

  • (80) H1173-A.68: Hearing on H.R. 6274 and H.R. 6401, to Provide for the common Defense by Increasing the Strength of the Armed Forces of the U.S., and for Other Purposes. Committee Serial No. 265. U.S. House of Representatives, 80thCongress, 2nd.  ??? 1948, United States Congressional Committee Hearings, 6317-6327 (Jesse O. Dedmond, Jr.).

  • (81) S965-5: Civil Rights. S. 1725; S. 1734. Subcommittee of the Committee on Judiciary, U.S. Senate, 81st Congress, 1st. July 14, 1949, United States Congressional Committee Hearings, 30-36 (Thurgood Marshall).

Statements and Testimonies of Leslie S. Perry before Congressional Committees, 1943-1950

  • (77) ---: Providing for full investigation of the manpower resources of the nation and the most advantageous use thereof in the war effort. S.R. 291. Subcommittee on Senate Resolution 291, U.S. Senate, 77th Congress, 2nd. November 28, 1942. NAACP Statement, NAACP II: A-661, DLC; (CIS volume reference not found). 
  • S722-5: George Washington Carver National Monument. S. 37; S. 312; H.R. 647. Committee on Public Lands and Surveys (and House Committee on Public Lands). U.S. Senate, 78thCongress, 1st. February 5, 1943, United States Congressional Committee Hearings, 56.

  • (79) S777-2-A: Federal Aid for Education. Part 1. S. 181. Committee on Education and Labor, U.S. Senate, 79th Congress, 1st. January 31, 1945, United States Congressional Committee Hearings, 270-83.

  • (79) S758-3: Extending the Emergency Price Control and Stabilization Acts of 1942, as Amended. S.J Res. 30. Committee on Banking and Currency, U.S. Senate, 79th Congress, 1st sess. March 9, 1945, United States Congressional Committee Hearings, 359-60.

  • (79) S757-7: National War Agencies Appropriation Bill for 1946, H.R. 3368. Committee on Appropriations, U.S. Senate, 79thCongress, 1st. June 16, 1945, United States Congressional Committee Hearings, 150-52. 

  • (79) H1083-2: Proposed Amendments to the Fair Labor Standards Act. [Part 1] [1]. Committee on Labor, U.S. House of Representatives, 79th Congress, 1st. November 1, 1945, United States Congressional Committee Hearings, 441-48.

  • (79) H109-2-B: Universal Military Training, Part 2. H.R. 515. Committee on Military Affairs, U.S. House of Representatives, 79th Congress, 2nd. February 20, 1945. United States Congressional Committee Hearings, 940-48.

  • (80) S816-14: Amending Senate Rules Relating to Cloture. S. Res. 25+. Subcommittee on Rules, Committee on Rules and Administration, U.S. Senate, 80th Congress, 1st. February 4, 1947, United States Congressional Committee Hearings, 55-59.

  • (80) S815-1: Rent Control. S. 415+. Subcommittee on Housing and Rents, Committee on Banking and Currency, U.S. Senate, 80th Congress 1st. February 7, 1947, United States Congressional Committee Hearings, 393-97.

  • (80) S823-2: Federal Aid to Education. S. 81+. Subcommittee on S. 81, S. 170, S. 199, and S. 472, Committee on Labor and Public Welfare, U.S. Senate, 80th Congress, 1st. April 28, 1947, United States Congressional Committee Hearings, 341-45.

  • (80) H1151-4: Federal Aid to Education, Volume 1. H.R. 140+. Subcommittee No. 1 (Education and Labor), Committee on Education and Labor, U.S. House of Representatives, 80thCongress, 1st. May 14, 1947, United States Congressional Committee Hearings, 394-405.

  • (80) H1149-1: Anti-Poll Tax Legislation. H.R. 29+. Subcommittee on Elections, Committee on House Administration, U.S. House of Representatives, 80th Congress, 1st. July 8, 1947, United States Congressional Committee Hearings, 125-33

  • (80) S866-3: Study and Investigation of Housing. Part 5: Proceedings at Washington, D.C. S. 866; S. 1543. Joint Committee on Housing, U.S. Senate, 80th Congress, 2nd. January 19, 1948, United States Congressional Committee Hearings, 5479-82.

  • (80) S853-0-A: National Stabilization. Part 1. S. 1873+. Committee on Banking and Currency, U.S. Senate, 80thCongress, 2nd. January 23, 1948, United States Congressional Committee Hearings, 394-95.

  • (80) H1173-A-41: Subcommittee Hearings on S. 1641, to Establish the Women’s Army Corps in the Regular Army, to Authorize the Enlistment and Appointment of Women in the Regular Navy and Marine Corps and the Naval and Marine corps and the Naval and Marine corps Reserve, and for Other Purposes. Subcommittee No. 3, Organization and Mobilization (Armed Services), U.S. House of Representatives, 80th Congress, 2nd. February 18, 1948, United States Congressional Committee Hearings, 5603-16. 

  • (80) H1188-0B: Department of Agriculture Appropriation Bill for 1949, Part 2. Subcommittee on Department of Agriculture Appropriations, Committee on Appropriations, U.S. House of Representatives, 80th Congress, 2nd. February 24, 1948, United States Congressional Committee Hearings, 717-19.

  • (80) S858-0-D: Poll Tax. H.R. 29. Committee on Rules and Administration, U.S. Senate, 80th Congress, 2nd. March 24, 1948, United States Congressional Committee Hearings, 216-19.

  • (81) S887-4: General Housing Legislation. H.R. 1376+. Subcommittee on Housing and Rents, Committee on Banking and Currency, U.S. Senate, 81st Congress, 1st. February 15, 1949, United States Congressional Committee Hearings, 735-44.

  • (81) H1247-1: Housing Act of 1949. H.R. 4009; S. 1070. Committee on Banking and Currency, U.S. House of Representatives, 81st Congress, 1st. April 26, 1949, United States Congressional Committee Hearings, 218-32.

  • (81) --: Anti-Poll Tax. H.R. 3199. Committee on Administration, U.S. House of Representatives, 81st Congress, 1st. May 4, 1949; text of statement submitted is in NAACP II: A-466, DLC; (CISvolume reference not found).

  • (81) H1269-1: Antilynching and Protection of Civil Rights. H.R. 115+. Subcommittee No. 3 (Judiciary), Committee on Judiciary, U.S. House of Representatives, Committee on Judiciary, 81stCongress, 1st. June 22, 1949, United States Congressional Committee Hearings, 145-50.

Statements and Testimonies of Clarence Mitchell, Jr., before Congressional Committees, 1934-1954

  • (73) S435-5-A: Punishment for the Crime of Lynching. S. 1978. Subcommittee of the Committee on Judiciary, Committee on Judiciary. U.S. Senate, 73rd Congress, 2nd. February 20, 1934, United States Congressional Committee Hearings, 168-69. 
  • (78) H1037-1-C: Production in Shipbuilding Plants. H. Res. 52. Subcommittee on Production in Shipbuilding Plants, Committee on Merchant Marine and Fisheries, House of Representatives, 78th Congress, 2nd. January 19, 1944, United States Congressional Committee Hearings, 1181-84.

  • (80) S817-O-B: Labor Relations Program. Part 3. S. 55; S.J. Res. 22. Committee on Labor and Public Welfare, U.S. Senate, 80thCongress, 1st. February 20, 1947, United States Congressional Committee Hearings, 1254-64.

  • (80) S818-3: Labor-Federal Security Appropriation Bill for 1948. H.R. 2700. Committee on Appropriations, U.S. Senate, 80th Congress, 1st. April 17, 1947, United States Congressional Committee Hearings, 892-97.

  • (80) S846-5: Nomination Confirmations – Jesse M. Donaldson. Department of Post Office; Aiken, Paul; Nominations. Committee on Civil Service, U.S. Senate, 80th Congress, 1st. December 9, 1947, United States Congressional Committee Hearings, 6-15.

  • (80) H1201-2: Investigation of GSI Strike. Special Subcommittee To Investigate GSI Strike, Committee on Education and Labor, U.S. House of Representatives, 80th Congress, 2nd. February 2, 1948, United States Congressional Committee Hearings, 158-61.

  • (80) H1197-1: Supplemental Federal Security Agency Appropriation Bill for 1949, Committee on Appropriations, U.S. House of Representatives, 80th Congress, 2nd. April 7, 1948, United States Congressional Committee Hearings, 724-35.

  • Statement submitted to the Senate Committee on Labor and Public Welfare on the Repeal of the Taft-Hartley Law. February 10, 1949, NAACP II: A-337, DLC.

  • (81) H1242-0: National Labor Relations Act of 1949. H.R. 2032. Special Subcommittee on Labor-Management Relations Act, Committee on Education and Labor, U.S. House of Representatives, 81st Congress, 1st. March 15, 1949, United States Congressional Committee Hearings, 799-818. 

  • (81) S906-6: Fair Labor Standards Act Amendments of 1949. S. 653. Subcommittee on Fair Labor Standards Act Amendments, Committee on Labor and Public Welfare. U.S. Senate, 81stCongress, 1st. April 12, 1949, United States Congressional Committee Hearings, 225-33.

  • (81) H1246-0: Social Security Act Amendments of 1949. Part 2: Old-Age, Survivors, and Disability Insurance. H.R. 2893. Committee on Ways and Means, U.S. House of Representatives, 81st Congress, 1st. April 21, 1949, United States Congressional Committee Hearings, 2144-48.

  •  (81) H1253-8: Federal Fair Employment Practice Act. H.R. 4453. Special Subcommittee on Fair Employment Standards Act, Committee on Education and Labor, U.S. House of Representatives, 81st Congress, 1st. May 19, 1949, United States Congressional Committee Hearings, 293-300.

[1] An insert in CIS U.S. Congressional Committee Hearings Index.

[i] Both Grimke and Thomas testified for the D.C. NAACP branch.

[ii] Charles Hamilton Houston also testified (2/2/34), but he would not become NAACP special counsel until 1935.