arkansascouncilofdefense

Correspondence from Judge G.B. Ewing to Arkansas State Council of Defense, 1918 October 23

This document was written by Judge G.B. Ewing from Desha County, Arkansas to the Council of Defense asking about black labor shortages. Ewing is claiming that white women were suffering for the war effort while black women are refusing to work as domestic help. He claims that black women were being supported by their male military members and refusing to work as domestic help for white women. Ewing wants to know what legal options are available to force these women to work for white women.

Source: Arkansas State Council of Defense, MS.000490, ASA_CouncilDefense_MS490_03_13_64, Arkansas State Archives, Little Rock, Arkansas

Rights: Use and reproduction of images held by the Arkansas State Archives without prior written permission is prohibited. For information on reproducing images held by the Arkansas State Archives, please call 501-682-6900 or email at state.archives@arkansas.gov.

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“Scipio Jones to Give 200 to War Fund Drive,” Arkansas Democrat

The Arkansas Democrat, 1918 November 8, states that Scipio Jones was giving $200 of his own money to the war fund drive on top of what he had already given. Scipio Jones was an influential black attorney and community leader that served as the State Chairman of the Colored Auxiliary Council where he was tasked with organizing and running the council’s agenda.

Rights: Fair Use” copyright law of the United States (Title 17, U.S. Code,
Sections 107-118) which allows for the reproduction of the copyrighted material “for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship or research.” (17 U.S.C. Section 107) Any use of these materials for commercial purposes or in excess of Title 17 Section 107 will be subject to the law for copyright infringement.

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Correspondence to J.L. Bond, 1918 December 19

The Arkansas State Council of Defense wrote to tell John L. Bond that they would wait to make any decision on the recommendation made by P.L. Dorman. The black council members were not allowed to manage themselves, they were under the direct supervision of John Bond and Wallace Townsend.

Source: Arkansas State Council of Defense, MS.000490, ASA_CouncilDefense_MS490_08_20_21, Arkansas State Archives, Little Rock, Arkansas

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“Colored Patriots of Arkansas, Attention!,” Arkansas Democrat

This article from the Arkansas Democrat, 1918 November 2, showcases the different black leaders who worked with the Council of Defense on the Colored Auxiliary Council. The leaders of the community were trying to raise a minimum of $400,000 dollars during the month of November. The Auxiliary Council had its first meeting on August 10, 1918 and by November the committee was working hard to rise money for the war effort.

“Negro Bishop at Pike,” Arkansas Democrat

Bishop Isaiah Benjamin Scott was a reverend with the Methodist Episcopal Church, editor for the Southwestern Christian Advocate, and he was the first black President of Wiley College, Marshall, Texas. This article from the Arkansas Democrat, 1918 December 21, states that Bishop Scott traveled to Camp Pike to work with the black soldiers stationed there.

Rights: “Fair Use” copyright law of the United States (Title 17, U.S. Code, Sections 107-118) which allows for the reproduction of the copyrighted material “for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship or research.” (17 U.S.C. Section 107) Any use of these materials for commercial purposes or in excess of Title 17 Section 107 will be subject to the law for copyright infringement.

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“Colored People and the War Work Campaign,” Arkansas Democrat

This article from the Arkansas Democrat, 1918 October 23, details the black communities’ work on the War Campaign for the Colored Auxiliary Council. The Council wanted to raise $400,00 on behalf of the African American population. Prior to the advent of the Colored Auxiliary Council, the work of the black community in Arkansas was counted with the rest of the Arkansas population, but after this point, the donations were to be keep separated.

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Scipio Africanus Jones (1863-1943)

Scipio Africanus Jones is celebrated as one of the most distinguished African American defense attorney and leading black citizens in Arkansas during the nineteenth and twentieth century. Scipio Jones was born to Jemmima Jones, a slave, in 1863 in Tulip, Dallas County, Arkansas. It is thought that he may be the son of Dr. Sanford Reamey, who was the owner of Jemmima, a prominent white citizen in Tulip. Jones attended Walden Seminary and later Bethel Institute. He taught public school at the same time studying to take the bar exam. Jones passed the bar on June 15, 1889, and in 1900 the Supreme Court of Arkansas accepted his credentials. He fought Jim Crow laws, did pro bono work for poor black defendants, worked with the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, a leading member of the Black and Tan fraction of the Republican Party, and the first black Judge elected to the Pulaski County Chancery Court. Scipio Jones was the State Chairman of the Colored Auxiliary Council of Defense for the state of Arkansas.

“Colored Patriots of Arkansas, Attention!”, (Little Rock: The Arkansas Democrat, November 2, 1918)

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Council of Defense Registration Cards, Mrs. A. Henry

The Women’s Council of Defense registration card for enrollment to work in the war effort. Information includes name, age, address, marital status, country of birth, color, time that could be devoted for service, occupation, education, physical health, and information about what kind of work each woman was qualified to do. This card was filled out by Mrs. A. Henry from Van Buren, Arkansas registering for the Women’s Council.

Source: Council of Defense Records, MS.000490, Arkansas State Archives, Little Rock, Arkansas.

Rights: Arkansas State Archives without prior written permission is prohibited. For information on reproducing images held by the Arkansas State Archives, please call 501-682-6900 or email at state.archives@arkansas.gov.

Correspondence from J.L. Bond, to Wallace Townsend

The Director of the State Council of Defense, Wallace Townsend, was reporting the activity of P.L. Dorman and the Colored Auxiliary Council.

Source: Arkansas State Council of Defense, MS.000490, ASA_CouncilDefense_MS490_08_20_10, Arkansas State Archives, Little Rock, Arkansas

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Correspondence to J.L. Bond, 1918 October 31

The director was asking about a woman reported to have taken money from the black community in the name of patriotism.

Source: Arkansas State Council of Defense, MS.000490, ASA_CouncilDefense_MS490_08_20_15, Arkansas State Archives, Little Rock, Arkansas

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