In the City was a Garden. A Housing Project Chronicle.
New York: Renaissance Press, 1951. Hardcover. Signed by Henry Kraus (1906 - 1995), the labor activist, historian and founder and editor of the official journal of the UAW-CIO, the "United Auto Worker".
Loosely inserted is a 2pp typed draft of a speech titled "A call to a conference for equal rights for Negroes in the Arts, Sciences and Professions", dated September 27, 1951, possibly by Kraus. The draft, annotated in pencil, cites specific examples of violence against blacks, including the attacks in Peekskill NY following the 1949 performance by famed black singer Paul Robeson, as well as the denial of equal rights to Marian Anderson, Dr. Percy Julian, Dr. Charles Drew, Paul Robeson and Lena Horne and the trial of Dr. W. E. B. Dubois.
The speech was to be made at a New York city conference on equal rights for blacks; it concludes with "a call for all artists, scientists, and professionals in New York -- Negro and white -- men and women -- professional and student -- to attend the Conference for Equal Rights for Negro Artists, Scientists and Professionals, on Saturday, November 10, at Pythian Temple."
The conference Kraus mentions was indeed held in New York City, on November 5, 1951. Paul Robeson's speech at the opening session for that event echoes the concerns outlined in the draft of the speech, above. Robeson's speech at the conference was titled, "The Negro Artist Looks Ahead" (Masses & Mainstream, Jan 1952, pp 7-14).
A prospectus for the book is also loosely inserted. This volume concerning the grassroots organizing, inter racial cooperation and sense of purpose that grew out of the Channel Heights defense project. 8vo, 255pp, previous owners name "Alfred Bush: at the top of the front free end paper. Publishers orange buckram, the dust jacket retaining the price of $3.00. Dj a bit sunned at spine and foredge, spine ends slightly rubbed. Very good overall. Item #19954
Price: $250.00