[KING, Martin Luther, Jr. (1929-1968)] - [CIVIL RIGHTS]. Photograph album documenting the National Conference for New Politics, Chicago, IL, 31 August-4 September 1967. Highlighted by 5 photographs of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
Sale 1250 - American Historical Ephemera & Photography
Nov 30, 2023
10:00AM ET
Live / Cincinnati
Estimate
$3,000 -
$5,000
Sold for $1,890
Sold prices are inclusive of Buyer’s Premium
Lot Description
[KING, Martin Luther, Jr. (1929-1968)] - [CIVIL RIGHTS]. Photograph album documenting the National Conference for New Politics, Chicago, IL, 31 August-4 September 1967. Highlighted by 5 photographs of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
12 1/4 x 12 3/4 in. string-bound adjustable album with red faux leather wrapped boards and "Scrap Book" in gilt lettering to front cover (wear to extremities) containing 98 mostly black and white snapshots, all 3 1/2 x 5 in., most secured to album pages with adhesive (some have come loose, with adhesive residue to verso). Handwritten ink captions on many album pages identify featured subjects and/or provide quotations/commentary, while inscription to front pastedown identifies the subject of the album as "The National Conference on New Politics / Aug 31 - Sept 4 1967 / Palmer House, Chicago."
Subjects include Simon Casady (1908-1995), Martin Luther King Jr. (1929-1968), Dr. Benjamin Spock (1903-1998), Julian Bond (1940-2015), Dick Gregory (1932-2017), Dr. Donna Allen (1920-1999), William Pepper (b. 1937), Hunter Pitts O'Dell (1923-2019), Clark Kissinger (b. 1940), James Foreman (1928-2005), Floyd McKissick (1922-1991) and others.
Interestingly, at least two of the snapshots feature the lesser-known Michael Wood, a college dropout who blew the whistle on the CIA's secretive funding and use of the National Student Association to advance American interests.
24 color photographs are included in the album, 17 of which feature H. Rap Brown (aka Jamil Abdulla al-Amin), a Black activist who served as the fifth chairman of the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee from May 1967 to June 1968. Album caption reads "Rap Brown in New Orleans / Arraigned on carrying a weapon in interstate while under criminal indictment in Maryland for inciting to riot & arson." In 2002, Brown was convicted of shooting two Fulton County, GA sheriff's deputies, and is currently serving a life sentence for that crime.
According to the Chicago Sun-Times, which extensively covered the conference in 1967, the National Conference for New Politics was the place and time for "politicos, activists, and anti-war advocates mixed and mingled to excite their base and prepare for the upcoming election season." The highlight of the weekend conference was undoubtedly a speech given by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., in which he criticized the Vietnam War for exacerbating the hatreds between continents and races, and frustrating development in the United States. He called for a referendum on the war in the 1967-68 election so that the American people could have "an opportunity to vote into oblivion those who cannot detach themselves from militarism." He also poignantly called racism a "corrosive evil that will bring down the curtain on Western civilization."
Condition Report
The physical condition of lots in our auctions can vary due to
age, normal wear and tear, previous damage, and
restoration/repair. All lots are sold "AS IS," in the condition
they are in at the time of the auction, and we and the seller make
no representation or warranty and assume no liability of any kind
as to a lot's condition. Any reference to condition in a catalogue
description or a condition report shall not amount to a full
accounting of condition. Condition reports prepared by Hindman
staff are provided as a convenience and may be requested from the
Department prior to bidding.
The absence of a posted condition report on the Hindman website or
in our catalogues should not be interpreted as commentary on an
item's condition. Prospective buyers are responsible for
inspecting a lot or sending their agent or conservator to inspect
the lot on their behalf, and for ensuring that they have
requested, received and understood any condition report provided
by Hindman.
Please email [email protected] for any additional information or questions you may have regarding this lot.