FBI Files on Highlander Folk School on Microfilm
Collection Number: 5898 mf
Kheel Center for Labor-Management Documentation and Archives, Cornell University Library
Title:
FBI Files on Highlander Folk School on Microfilm, 1940-1972
Collection Number:
5898 mf
Creator:
Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)
Quantity:
1 microfilm reel
Forms of Material:
Articles, reports, pamphlets, correspondence, news clippings, records, publications, microfilm.
Repository:
Kheel Center for Labor-Management Documentation and Archives, Cornell University Library
Language:
Collection material in English
The Highlander Folk School (HFS) in Monteagle, Tennessee, was established in 1932 by Myles Horton, a native Tennessean, who
wanted to "provide an educational center in the South for the training of rural and industrial leaders, and for the
conservation and enrichment of the indigenous cultural values of the mountain." The school accepted workers whom their
unions considered potential leaders, and the unions paid most of their way through the school. These workers were trained
in
such endeavors as collective bargaining, contract negotiation, and strike organization, as well as less weighty, but presumably
no less important, skills like poster-making and song-singing. Rosa Parks was trained by Highlander prior to her
historic role in the Montgomery Bus Boycott, other activists who participated in training include members of the Student
Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC), Septima Clark, Anne Braden, Martin Luther King, Jr., James Bevel, Hollis Watkins,
Bernard Lafayette, Ralph Abernathy and John Lewis in the mid - and - late 1950s. The state of Tennessee closed the school
in 1961 because of backlash against the school's involvement with the Civil Rights Movement.
Highlander reorganized and moved to Knoxville, Tennessee, where it reopened as the Highlander Research and Education Center.
Names:
American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU)
Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)
Highland Folk School (HFS)
Highlander Research and Education Center (HREC)
Sea Island Progressive Club Center
Tennessee House of Representatives
Bagelon, David L.
Belmont, A. H.
Buttrick, Jr., William T.
Clegg, Hugh M.
DeLoach, C. D.
Dombrowski, James
Ford, Peyton
Green, William
Griffin, Marvin
Hoover, J. Edgar
Horton, Myles
Jones, M. A.
Jones, Robert F.
Ladd, D. M.
Laughlin, L. L.
Levy, Herbert M.
Masonk, Lucy R.
McGrath, J. Howard
Murphy, W. A.
Nichols, L. B.
Roosevelt, Eleanor
Smith, R. W.
Sullivan, W. C.
Swift, W. A.
Tolson, Clyde
Form and Genre Terms:
Articles
Reports
Pamphlets
Correspondence
News clippings
Publications.
Reocrds.
Microfilm.
Access Restrictions:
Access to the collections in the Kheel Center is restricted. Please contact a reference archivist for access to these materials.
Restrictions on Use:
This collection must be used in keeping with the Kheel Center Information Sheet and Procedures for Document Use.
Cite As:
FBI Files on Highlander Folk School on Microfilm #5898 mf. Kheel Center for Labor-Management Documentation and Archives, Cornell
University Library.
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Container
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Description
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Date
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| Reel 1 | |||
| Reel 1 | |||
| Reel 1 | Item 1 | 1940 | |
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1/29/40 on speech by James Dombrowski, chairman of the Highlander Folk School (HFS), on the philosophy and program of the
school, including a list of HFS Advisory Committee members
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| Reel 1 | Item 2 | 1940 | |
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spring 1940
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| Reel 1 | Item 3 | 1940 | |
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alleging Communist influence within the HFS
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| Reel 1 | Item 4 | 1940 | |
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12/6/40 to Bureau Director J. Edgar Hoover regarding request from Congressman Robert F. Jones to review the HFS file
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| Reel 1 | Item 5 | 1941 | |
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4/9/41 from the special agent-in-charge (SAC), Knoxville, to Hoover requesting the bureau to develop photographs of HFS documents
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| Reel 1 | Item 6 | 1941 | |
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4/14/41 from SAC Knoxville regarding report on the HFS furnished to William Green, president of the American Federation of
Labor
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| Reel 1 | Item 7 | 1941 | |
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5/13/41 on the enrollment of William T. Buttrick, Jr., at the University of Florida
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| Reel 1 | Item 8 | 1941 | |
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6/1/41 regarding past activities of HFS faculty members
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| Reel 1 | Item 9 | ||
| Reel 1 | Item 10 | 1941 | |
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6/4/41 on Edwin B. Schutlz
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| Reel 1 | Item 11 | 1941 | |
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6/6/41 from R.C. Hendon to Clyde Tolson regarding the HFS
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| Reel 1 | Item 12 | 1941 | |
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6/41 concerning background checks of HFS personnel
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| Reel 1 | 1941 | ||
| Reel 1 | Item 13 | 1941 | |
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7/29/41 concerning background checks
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| Reel 1 | Item 14 | 1941 | |
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7/17/41 including the HFS Charter of Incorporation
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| Reel 1 | Item 15 | 1941 | |
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9/29/41 concerning the Institute for Labor Studies
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| Reel 1 | Item 16 | 1941 | |
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10/4/41 from W.A. Murphy (SAC Knoxville) to Hoover concerning Myles Horton
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| Reel 1 | Item 17 | 1941 | |
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10/12/41 from Murphy to Hoover regarding status of the HFS investigation
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| Reel 1 | Item 18 | 1941 | |
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10/21/41 concerning HFS contributors
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| Reel 1 | Item 19 | 1941 | |
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11/29/41 on HFS personnel
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| Reel 1 | Item 20 | 1941 | |
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12/30/41 on all aspects of the HFS to date
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| Reel 1 | |||
| Reel 1 | Item 21 | 1942 | |
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1/8/42 regarding Joseph Kelley Stockton
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| Reel 1 | Item 22 | 1942 | |
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1/19/42 from Murphy to Hoover stating that HFS-produced publications, including The Highlander Fling, will be provided in
future reports
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| Reel 1 | Item 23 | 1942 | |
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1/28/42 from Murphy to Hoover regarding a synopsis of the HFS 1941 annual report
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| Reel 1 | Item 24 | 1942 | |
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2/16/42 from Murphy to Hoover, including copies of The Highlander Fling
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| Reel 1 | Item 25 | 1942 | |
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2/26/42 on James Dombrowski
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| Reel 1 | Item 26 | 1942 | |
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2/28/42 from Murphy to Hoover regarding a $100 donation to the HFS from Eleanor Roosevelt
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| Reel 1 | Item 27 | 1941 | |
| Reel 1 | Item 28 | 1940 | |
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HFS publication, spring 1940
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| Reel 1 | Item 29 | 1942 | |
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3/18/42 from Murphy to Hoover, including HFS promotional literature and additional copies of The Highlander Fling
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| Reel 1 | Item 30 | 1942 | |
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4/1/42 on interview of Horton concerning his activities in the school area
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| Reel 1 | Item 31 | 1942 | |
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6/17/42 concerning interview of a former HFS employee
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| Reel 1 | Item 32 | 1942 | |
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7/9/42 regarding the HFS benefit concert in Washington by Paul Robeson and other HFS activities
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| Reel 1 | Item 33 | ||
| Reel 1 | Item 34 | 1942 | |
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9/12/42 regarding founding of the HFS and other background information
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| Reel 1 | Item 35 | 1942 | |
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10/23/42 from Hoover to SAC Knoxville ordering a halt to the active investigation of the HFS
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| Reel 1 | Item 36 | 1942 | |
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10/22/42 on summer session of the HFS
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| Reel 1 | |||
| Reel 1 | Item 37 | 1942 | |
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10/27/42 from K.R. McIntire to Mr. Mumford, including HFS promotional materials
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| Reel 1 | Item 38 | 1942 | |
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12/3/42 on tenth anniversary activities at the HFS
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| Reel 1 | Item 39 | 1942 | |
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12/14/42 regarding closing of file, including one HFS publication
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| Reel 1 | Item 40 | 1947 | |
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2/14/47 from Assistant Attorney General David L. Bagelon to Hoover regrading the HFS
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| Reel 1 | Item 41 | ||
| Reel 1 | Item 42 | 1948 | |
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3/18/48 from Hoover to SAC Knoxville regarding possible Communist "front" status of the HFS
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| Reel 1 | Item 43 | 1950 | |
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12/10/50 from Myles Horton to Hugh H. Clegg, assistant director of the bureau
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| Reel 1 | Item 44 | 1951 | |
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1/4/51 from D.M. Ladd to Hoover regarding response to Horton
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| Reel 1 | Item 45 | 1951 | |
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1/22/51 from Mr. Belmont to Mr. Ladd regarding response to Horton
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| Reel 1 | Item 46 | 1951 | |
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2/14/51 from the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) to Hoover inquiring into the investigation of the HFS
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| Reel 1 | Item 47 | 1951 | |
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1/31/51 from Horton to US Attorney General J. Howard McGrath regarding bureau investigation of black students enrolled at
the HFS
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| Reel 1 | Item 48 | 1951 | |
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2/26/51 from Hoover to Peyton Ford, deputy attorney general, concerning correspondence with Myles Horton
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| Reel 1 | Item 49 | 1951 | |
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2/21/51 from D.M. Ladd to the director regarding Baldwin's allegation of bureau activity at the HFS
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| Reel 1 | Item 50 | 1951 | |
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2/21/51 from SAC Knoxville to Hoover regarding interviews of Myles Horton
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| Reel 1 | Item 51 | 1951 | |
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3/5/51 from Peyton Ford to Hoover regarding correspondence with Myles Horton
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| Reel 1 | Item 52 | 1951 | |
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3/12/51 from L.L. Laughlin to A.H. Belmont regarding an HFS letter alleging bureau investigation of interracial enrollment
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| Reel 1 | Item 53 | ||
| Reel 1 | Item 54 | 1951 | |
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2/27/51 from D.M. Ladd to Hoover regarding complaints surrounding the HFS investigation
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| Reel 1 | Item 55 | 1951 | |
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3/14/51 from Lucy R. Mason of the Congress of Industrial Organizations regarding bureau agents
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| Reel 1 | Item 56 | 1951 | |
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2/23/51 from D.M. Ladd to Hoover regarding the investigation of the HFS
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| Reel 1 | Item 57 | 1951 | |
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4/18/51 from Herbert M. Levy of the ACLU regarding correspondence from Hoover
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| Reel 1 | Item 58 | 1953 | |
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8/25/53 from A.H. Belmont to D.M. Ladd regarding Jenner Committee request for information on Myles Horton
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| Reel 1 | Item 59 | 1953 | |
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8/27/53 from SAC Knoxville to Hoover regarding interview of Rev. W.A. Swift, Monteagle, TN
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| Reel 1 | |||
| Reel 1 | Item 60 | 1956 | |
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4/27/56 regarding Myles Horton and his wife
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| Reel 1 | Item 61 | ||
| Reel 1 | Item 62 | ||
| Reel 1 | Item 63 | ||
| Reel 1 | Item 64 | 1953 | |
| Reel 1 | Item 65 | 1956 | |
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9/20/56 from SAC Mobile to Hoover regarding the HFS
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| Reel 1 | Item 66 | 1957 | |
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8/30/57 from L.B. Nichols to Clyde Tolson regarding increased activity at the HFS and the plan of events for its 25th anniversary
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| Reel 1 | Item 67 | 1957 | |
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9/4/57 from SAC Knoxville to Hoover regarding information that the HFS is becoming a center for teaching civil disobedience
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| Reel 1 | Item 68 | ||
| Reel 1 | Item 69 | ||
| Reel 1 | Item 70 | 1957 | |
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11/1/57 from Hoover to SAC Knoxville inquiring into civil disobedience activities at the HFS
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| Reel 1 | Item 71 | 1957 | |
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11/21/57 from Septima Clark of the HFS soliciting funds
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| Reel 1 | Item 72 | 1956-1957 | |
| Reel 1 | Item 73 | ||
| Reel 1 | Item 74 | ||
| Reel 1 | Item 75 | ||
| Reel 1 | Item 76 | 1959 | |
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1/59 from Myles Horton soliciting funds
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| Reel 1 | Item 77 | ||
| Reel 1 | Item 78 | 1959 | |
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2/2/59 from SAC Knoxville to Hoover regarding action by Tennessee legislature to investigate "subversive" activities at the
HFS
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| Reel 1 | |||
| Reel 1 | Item 79 | 1959 | |
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2/24/59 from SAC Memphis to Hoover regarding support of Tennessee legislature by the Tennessee Federation for Constitutional
Government
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| Reel 1 | Item 80 | 1959 | |
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6/8/59 to C.D. DeLoach regarding John's Island Branch of the HFS
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| Reel 1 | Item 81 | ||
| Reel 1 | Item 82 | 1959 | |
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9/11/59 from Hoover to SAC Knoxville regarding open protest letter from Myles Horton
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| Reel 1 | Item 83 | 1959 | |
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9/15/59 on the HFS
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| Reel 1 | Item 84 | ||
| Reel 1 | Item 85 | 1960 | |
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2/29/60 from SAC Louisville to Hoover regarding the "Friends of Highlander"
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| Reel 1 | Item 86 | ||
| Reel 1 | Item 87 | 1961 | |
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5/22/61 from SAC Knoxville to Hoover pertaining to latest legal actions and decision
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| Reel 1 | Item 88 | 1961 | |
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6/29/61 from Hoover to legal attache, Bonn (Federal Republic of Germany), regarding furnishing information about the HFS
outisde the bureau
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| Reel 1 | |||
| Reel 1 | Item 89 | 1961 | |
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10/17/61 from SAC Knoxville to Hoover regarding contingency plans for the HFS to move to Knoxville
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| Reel 1 | Item 90 | 1961 | |
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10/25/61 from SAC Knoxville to Hoover regarding prointegration activities at the HFS
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| Reel 1 | Item 91 | 1963 | |
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6/20/63 from SAC Knoxville to Hoover regarding information about racial matters
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| Reel 1 | Item 92 | 1963 | |
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7/18/63 from R.W. Smith to W.C. Sullivan regarding requests from Senator Warren G. Magnuson and Congressman Jeffery Cohilan
concerning racial agitation
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| Reel 1 | Item 93 | ||
| Reel 1 | Item 94 | 1963 | |
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7/26/63 from F.J. Baumgardner to W.C. Sullivan regarding Highlander Research and Education Center (HREC), Knoxville, and
request for list of officers, teachers, and students
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| Reel 1 | Item 95 | 1964 | |
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8/13/64 from SAC Knoxville to Hoover regarding update on situation
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| Reel 1 | Item 96 | 1964 | |
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7/7/64 from SAC Knoxville regarding the Washington Committee for the HFS
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| Reel 1 | Item 97 | 1964 | |
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8/28/64 from SAC Knoxville to Hoover regarding voter registration drive at the Sea Island Progressive Club Center, St. John's
Island, SC
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| Reel 1 | Item 98 | 1964 | |
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9/10/64 from SAC Savannah to Hoover regarding the HREC
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| Reel 1 | Item 99 | 1964 | |
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7/27/64 from M.A. Jones to C.D. DeLoach regarding request by Congressman Roman C. Purinski for information about the HFS
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| Reel 1 | Item 100 | 1965 | |
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4/6/65 from SAC Knoxville to Hoover concerning information on student march on Washington, co-sponsored by the HREC
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| Reel 1 | Item 101 | ||
| Reel 1 | Item 102 | 1965 | |
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10/19/65 from SAC Louisville to Hoover regarding vandalism against the HREC
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| Reel 1 | Item 103 | 1965 | |
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10/19/65 from Hoover to chief, US Secret Service, regarding the HREC
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| Reel 1 | Item 104 | 1967 | |
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4/13/67 from SAC Louisville to Hoover regarding vote by the Tennessee House of Representatives to start a second legislative
investigation of the HREC
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| Reel 1 | Item 105 | ||
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authorizing a committee to investigate the activites of the HREC of Knoxville County and its affiliated organizations
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| Reel 1 | Item 106 | 1967 | |
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6/9/67 from SAC Knoxville to Hoover regarding the HREC
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| Reel 1 | |||
| Reel 1 | Item 107 | 1968-1972 | |
| Reel 1 | Item 108 | ||
| Reel 1 | 1940-1967 | ||
| Reel 1 | Item 109 | ||
| Reel 1 | Item 110 | 1958 | |
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1/20/1958 from SAC Knoxville to director regarding attempt to blow up the HFS
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| Reel 1 | |||
| Reel 1 | Item 111 | 1959 | |
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3/16/59 from SAC Memphis to Hoover regarding bomb threat received at the HFS
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| Reel 1 | Item 112 | 1963 | |
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9/6/63 from SAC Knoxville to Hoover regarding bomb threat received at the HREC
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