The Papers of Clarence Mitchell, Jr. is an extensive documentary editing project focused on the legacy of Clarence M. Mitchell Jr., often referred to as “the 101st U.S. Senator.” Mitchell served as the chief lobbyist for the NAACP from the 1940s through the 1970s, playing a vital role in securing landmark civil rights legislation such as the Civil Rights Acts of 1957, 1960, 1964; the Voting Rights Act of 1965; and the Fair Housing Act.
Sponsored by SUNY Old Westbury and funded by the NHPRC and the Guggenheim Foundation, the project is producing a multi-volume edition of his reports, speeches, correspondence, and strategic documents, especially those generated during his tenure in the NAACP Washington Bureau. These materials include internal legislative strategies, testimony, telegrams, letters to policymakers, and broader communications that illuminate the inner workings of civil rights advocacy in Congress.
Beyond scholarly editing, the initiative is part of a grant-supported collaboration with Stanford University and other partners to develop digital publication tools. This will enable wider access and contextual exploration of Mitchell’s pivotal contributions to the legislative achievements of the civil rights movement.
