MISSOURI STATE ARCHIVES
Guide to African American History
Missouri Commission on Human Rights
The Missouri Commission on Human Rights is charged with providing equitable and timely resolutions of discrimination claims through enforcement of the Missouri Human Rights Act. It was instrumental in documenting the reality of racial discrimination in Missouri. Established in 1957, the Commission is under control of the Department of Labor and Industrial Relations. Additional Commission information may be found in the Department of Labor and Industrial Relations documents collection (RG 000). The Department of Labor and Industrial Relations collection (RG 108) contains miscellaneous subject files created during the term of Richard J. Chaumier (1968-1972).
Record Group 328: Missouri Commission on Human Rights, Publications and Legislation, 1960-1972; arranged chronologically.
These records include miscellaneous publications of the Commission and other state agencies pertaining to the issue of human rights in Missouri. The series also contains legislation passed by the Missouri General Assembly regarding this issue. Included are a 1960 survey of residential segregation; 1963 and 1968 surveys about employment of African Americans in state agencies; a 1973 report regarding the desegregation of the Missouri State Penitentiary; and a 1975 study of "Integration in Missouri Public Schools."
Record Group 328: Missouri Commission on Human Rights, Scrapbooks, 1961-1975; arranged chronologically.
The scrapbooks contain newspaper clippings about Missouri Commission on Human Rights activities and issues, including civil rights, employment, education, and more. Involvement of the state's leading activists, including ACTION and Percy Green, in protests and marches is chronicled in the news reports. This series includes one volume of photographs.
Record Group 328: Missouri Commission on Human Rights, Minutes of Commission Meetings, 1963-1979; arranged chronologically; access is restricted.
This series includes member rosters, and various reports regarding financial status; violations of civil rights; status of civil rights complaints; educational proposals; statewide employment statistics; public accommodations updates; annual reports; director's reports; human rights conferences; federal assistance and grant information. Some tape recordings of the regular and executive meetings are available from 1974 to 1977. Some meetings included appeals of termination; the minutes and tape recordings for these appeals are marked "confidential." Access is restricted; permission to use must be granted by the Executive Director of the Missouri Commission on Human Rights.