Martha Leslie Allen papers, 1969-1977

Author / Creator

Allen, Martha Leslie

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Physical

Summary

Papers of Martha Allen, a civil rights activist in the south, primarily concerning her arrest (along with husband Mike Honey) on charges of "embracery" (jury-tampering) after they sent a letter to ...

Papers of Martha Allen, a civil rights activist in the south, primarily concerning her arrest (along with husband Mike Honey) on charges of "embracery" (jury-tampering) after they sent a letter to residents of Munfordville, Ky. protesting the indictment of the "Louisville Black Six," six black leaders charged with conspiracy. Allen and Honey fought their own arrest on First Amendment grounds. Included are clippings, press releases, memos, flyers, pamphlets, notes written by Anne Braden, legal documents, correspondence (much of it with her mother Donna Allen), diaries regarding their time in jail, notes, newsletters from other groups with information on the case, notes from jury selection from the Black Six trial (who were acquitted), and an incomplete transcript of the "Black Power" speeches made by three members of the Black Six.

The collection also includes material about Operation Freedom, a support organization for people in the civil rights movement. Allen was the coordinator of the Memphis office. These files, which date from 1973 to 1977, consist of grant applications, activity and Appropriation Committee reports, board meeting minutes (1971-1976), and a few newsletters and brochures. Two of the board meetings are also documented by tape recordings.

Also included is a videotape produced ca. 1973 by Allen and Angelika Bammer about a Mississippi woodcutters strike against the Gulf Coast Pulpwood Association which united black and white workers in that industry.

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