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Papers of Asa Philip Randolph, a prominent civil rights and labor leader, who founded and edited The Messenger, an influential black radical labor newspaper of the 1920s and who organized and presided over the Brotherhood of Sleeping Car Porters, the only independent, viable black trade union in the American labor movement. Much of the correspondence deals with raising subscriptions for The Messenger, gaining an International Charter as an independent affiliate to the American Federation of Labor and the early organizing strike actions against the Pullman Company. This correspondence emphasizes the difficulties of convincing black workers of the feasibility of an independent fledgling black trade union; the necessity of organizing black workers for the benefit of the whole labor movement; and the challenge of maintaining jurisdictional independence from competing trade unions with predominantly white membership, such as the Hotel Workers union. These letters also reflect Randolph's desire to attain full civil rights for blacks.

Photographs, ephemera, and genealogy (1658-1996) of the John Samuel Simms family of West Virginia. Ephemera includes a certificate for completion of classes from West Virginia University Department of Mining Extension (1935), a State of West Virginia Department of Mines Certificate for passing a mine foreman exam (1918), a State of West Virginia Elementary School Diploma (1915), a certificate of proficiency from the New River State School for completion of stenography courses (1925), household bills (telephone, furniture, etc.) (ca. 1920s), and a dance card for an event at Luna Park, Charleston, West Virginia (ca. 1920s). Most photographs in the collection are identified with names, dates, and locations. Notable photographs are of railroad workers on the line near Little Elk Creek in Swiss, WV (ca. 1910); a large group of men and women at a dedication of an O.E.S. home (1935); a mail carrier at a home in Jodie, WV (ca. 1900-20); Simms family and friends in front of their West Virginia homes (ca. 1900-20); two photographic portraits of Charles and Minerva Summers Simms (ca. 1870s) in 12" x 14" oval wooden frames; and a group portrait of a Charleston, WV Elks Club minstrel production (ca. 1920s).

Notes compiled by Philip Bagdon which were used by Dr. Roy Clarkson to complete his history of the logging town of Cass entitled Beyond Leatherbark: The Cass Saga. Bagdon's notes, composed of maps, tables and quotes from newspapers, correspondence and business records, are arranged chronologically and topically covering subjects important to the history of Cass, the Greenbrier River valley and east central West Virginia. Subjects mentioned are land purchases, timber appraisals, railroads, conservation and forest management, the lumber industry, and local social and economic development. Prominent names mentioned are Joseph K. Cass, James C. Lacey, John G. Luke, Edwin Mower, S. E. Slaymaker, E. P. Shaffer.