Civil WarMissouri State Archives
Urban League of Kansas City Photograph Collection
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Introduction
The Urban League of Kansas City was founded in 1919 and is part of the National Urban League, a community-based organization promoting civil rights and educational, personal and economic development for African Americans. Originally named the Urban League for Negroes of Kansas City, the organization’s early focus was on immigrants and soldiers returning from World War I. Through educational training and employment the Urban League hoped to improve equality in the workplace for African Americans. Their efforts centered on empowerment and the belief that economic self-reliance would foster equality within the existing system of segregation.
The Collection
The 91 photographs in this collection illustrate the early years of the Urban League of Kansas City, ca. 1922-1959. Subjects include conventions and meetings, training and education, health services, summer camps and athletics. Both men and women benefited from the various services provided by the Urban League of Kansas City. Working mothers could take advantage of a Day Nursery and Health Clinics. The On the Job Training Program prepared workers for jobs such as home services, porters, or factory workers. The Urban League of Kansas City was also an activist organization, attending bill hearings regarding public accommodations, and planning for the proposed 1941 March on Washington.
Rights and Reproductions
Copyright is in the public domain. Items reproduced for publication should carry the credit line: Courtesy of the Missouri State Archives. To order a reproduction from the archival TIFF file, inquire about permissions, or for information about prices, contact Missouri State Archives at: (573) 751-3280 or email archref@sos.mo.gov.
How to Use This Collection
This collection may be browsed in its entirety or it may be searched by title, description, date and subject.
