Fair Housing Council of Delaware Valley Records
Accession 107
Records, 1960-1968, 4 Linear Feet
BACKGROUND
The Fair Housing Council of Delaware Valley (FHCDV) was a Pennsylvania non-profit organization, formed in 1962 and incorporated on December 2, 1962. The FHCDV merged with the Housing Association of Delaware Valley (HADV) in 1968.The FHCDV monitored government programs and legislation, conducted research into the practices of suburban Philadelphia realtors, and supported minority group families as they located housing and moved into suburban neighborhoods. The mission of the FHCDV was to support and encourage freedom of residence in the Delaware Valley, with a special emphasis on the Philadelphia suburbs, so that all persons, regardless of race, religion or national original, could secure desirable and affordable housing. To that end, seven program points were adopted: (1) assist "friendly neighbors" to support the right of individuals to buy or rent affordable housing, (2) encourage non-discriminatory practices among realtors, (3) establish a speakers bureau on the issue of race and housing, (4) help families interpret the Pennsylvania fair housing law, (5) assist local groups to organize human relations councils, (6) counsel minority group families before and after they move to the suburbs and counsel neighbors upset by the move, and (7) cooperate with existing human relations groups in the area of race and housing.
The FHCDV grew out of a program of the housing sub-committee of the Committee on Race Relations, one of the committees of the Religious Society of Friends. The Race Relations Committee felt a need for the creation of a separate organization to carry on a community relations program. With financial support from the Chace Foundation, representatives of many groups joined in the formation of the FHCDV. An Organizing Committee of thirty-two persons was formed, and the Committee allocated responsibilities to three levels of organization: (1) a Board, which would meet monthly, having no more that forty members, and governed by four officers, a chairman, vice-chairman, secretary, and treasurer; (2) a General Membership, which would meet annually; and, (3) if desired by the Board, an Advisory Committee, which would meet biannually. It was intended that the Board would be representative of the seven counties of the Delaware Valley: Bucks, Chester, Delaware, and Montgomery in Pennsylvania, and Camden, Burlington, and Gloucester in New Jersey. The members of the Organizing Committee became the first members of the Board, and the Rev. Robert L. James, Temple University chaplain, served as the first chairman of the Board.
The first executive director was Richard K. Taylor. Mr. Taylor was succeeded in 1967 by William Cameron, Jr., who had served previously as assistant director. Also in 1967, William Mimms became the Associate Director and first African American executive of the organization, and Lee Wagner was hired as Director of Housing Information. Julia Robinson became Executive Director of the FHCDV in 1968. The staff members were assisted by interns from Crozier Theological Seminary in Chester, Pennsylvania.
Financial support of the FHCDV was based upon contributions from individuals and organizations, individual and organizational membership dues, grants from foundations, and other fund-raising projects as the Board decided to pursue.
Programs and initiatives of FHCDV included Project Free (For Real Estate Equality), a campaign to open up the Main Line housing market and end housing discrimination in real estate offices. Another project of the FHCDV was the Housing Information Center (HIC), that aintained a list of available area housing and assisted minority homeseekers in locating and moving to new housing.
The FHCDV came under contract with the Philadelphia Redevelopment Authority in 1967 to assist families being displaced by urban redevelopment in the University of Pennsylvania area. Under this contract the Authority paid the FHCDV to assist families who were financially able to move from West Philadelphia into the suburbs. The FHCDV’s role was to let the families know about available housing and to work with them as they looked for new housing. The FHCDV published a newsletter entitled 'Fair Housing News' as well as pamphlets and flyers for use in neighborhood housing work.
The FHCDV was involved in cooperative relationships with a number of local organizations and local chapters of national organizations. These relationships were part of an organizing plan to utilize the existing network of sympathetic individuals and groups to accomplish the goal of fair housing in the Delaware Valley.
SCOPE AND CONTENT NOTE
The papers of the Fair Housing Council of the Delaware Valley, 1963-1969, document the involvement of this organization in the movement to integrate suburban housing in the Delaware Valley. A particular strength of this collection is its role as an aggregator of material; it contains a considerable amount of materials from parallel fair housing organizations and offshoots with which it collaborated. The material is arranged by organizational function and includes administration, financial dealings, publications internal and external and a hefty section concerning the nature and role of partner institutions.The administrative series includes a detailed report concerning the organization’s background and the details of its founding, including the original incorporation paperwork and bylaws. It includes a section of monthly reports of council activity organized by type of form. Reports detail the activity of local and regional branches; problems encountered, action taken, and resolution (if any). Correspondence is found throughout the series. Although there is no documentation of personnel of the organization, a file containing biographical sketches of applicants from Crozier Theological Seminary for an internship at FHCDV gives some insight into the type of person likely to be employed by the organization.
The financial series contains all bank statements, stock reports, budgets and resource allocation. The folder Tax Exemption details the organization’s struggle to be recognized as a non-profit organization with tax-exempt status.
Though brief, the series concerning committees is not without interest. This series contains seven folders, with three of them dealing with the Industry Committee; the others are the Financial Committee, the Nominating Committee and the Real Estate Committee. Letters from Arlen Specter and Hubert Humphrey are included in the Industry Committee Correspondence folder.
The series containing publications includes both internal publications generated by FHCDV and also publications produced externally. Of particular interest is the slant or spin incorporated in these publications to sway their intended audiences. Internal publications include a pamphlet dealing with how to sell a home on a non-discriminatory basis aimed mainly at realtors and white homeowners. External publications include guidelines for fair housing counselors and several published reports such as the report on the experience of black veterans in the housing market aimed at the minority home-seeking community. "Changing Neighborhoods" includes public relations documents such as flyers and pamphlets aimed at anxious white homeowners concerned with property values.
The Projects and Initiatives series contains vital information regarding the everyday experiences of minorities seeking new housing opportunities. Much of this information is confidential and restricted, but could be used by a researcher in an aggregate form. Of particular interest is the folder of hate mail and literature received by a black family that moved into an all-white suburb of Philadelphia.
ORGANIZATION
I. AdministrationII. Financial
III. Committees
IV. Publications
V. Projects and Initiatives
VI. Realtors
VII. Legislation
VIII. Other Organizations
IX. Clippings
SERIES DESCRIPTIONS
Series I. Administration. This series is comprised of background material on the organization, including the original incorporation paperwork and bylaws. It includes a section of monthly reports of council activity organized by type of form. As there is no formal series concerning correspondence, this series includes two folders concerning that subject. A file containing biographical sketches of applicants for an internship gives insight into the organization’s personnel. The dates of this series range from 1963-1969.Series II. Financial. This series is broken up into two subsections; General and Supporters. In the subseries General are filed all bank statements, stock reports, budgets and resource allocation. The folder Tax Exemption details the organization’s struggle to be recognized as a non-profit organization with tax-exempt status. In the Supporters subseries are filed all the major organizations who provided funding in the form of grants. An entire folder is dedicated to rejection letters for an $80,000 grant for a professionally staffed housing information center. Copies of fund-raising letters, plans, entreaties and strategies are included in an extensive section on fund-raising. Fund raising is also included in this subseries. Dates for this series range from 1963-1969.
Series III. Committees. This series contains seven folders, with three of them dealing with the Industry Committee; the others are Financial Committee, Nominating Committee, Real Estate Committee, and Executive Committee. Letters from Arlen Specter and Hubert Humphrey are included in the Industry Committee Correspondence folder. The dates of this series range from 1967-1969.
Series IV. Publications. This series is divided into two subseries; Internal and External. Internal publications include a pamphlet dealing with how to sell a home on a non-discriminatory basis. External publications include guidelines for fair housing counselors and several published reports such as the report on the experience of black veterans in the housing market. Materials in this series are mainly undated.
Series V. Projects and Initiatives. This series is divided into four subseries; Project FREE, Horace Baker, Housing Information Center, and Other. The Project Free subseries contains 23 housing surveys conducted in 1966 as part of a campaign "aimed at breaking discriminatory practices of the Main Line Board of Realtors. These surveys are RESTRICTED and AVAILABLE UPON REQUEST FROM THE ARCHIVIST. The Horace Baker subseries contains hate mail and literature sent to the Baker family upon moving to a white neighborhood. Literature from the National States Rights Party and American Nazi Party is included. This material is RESTRICTED and AVAILABLE UPON REQUEST FROM THE ARCHIVIST. The Housing Information Center subseries contains 107 case reports of individuals who utilized the HIC for assistance in obtaining housing. Within the Other subseries is information on the Non-Violent Group, a group of ministers and other individuals who volunteered to be on-call in case of violence related to racial discrimination in housing.
Series VI. Realtors. This series concerns the relationship between the organization and realtors in the Philadelphia area, both positive and negative. Not all regions are represented. A folder is dedicated to the Pennsylvania Realtors Association who lobbied against Title IV and fair housing laws. Materials include minutes from meetings, correspondence, and a roster of sympathetic area realtors. Dates for this series cannot be determined.
Series VII. Legislation. This series contains information and correspondence relating to state and federal fair housing legislation. There is a quantity of information regarding the Federal Civil Rights Acts, both pro and con from legislators, as well as examples of the Main Line Board of Realtors campaign against the bill. Also included are copies of court decisions from around the United States with decisions relating to fair housing laws. The Natalie Pearlman file contains records of FHCDVs involvement with the law suit filed against Natalie Pearlman for participating in a picketing campaign in front of an apartment complex accused of discrimination.
Series VIII. Other Organizations. This series is divided into three subseries: Non-Religious, Religious and Affiliated. The series holds a variety of materials including correspondence, meeting minutes, reports, newsletters, flyers, membership lists, press releases and news articles. Reports of test visits to suburban realtors are RESTRICTED and AVAILABLE UPON REQUEST FROM THE ARCHIVIST. The years predominantly covered by the material is 1960-1968, with one item from 1959, and two files which extend to 1971.
Series IX. Clippings. This series contains newspaper and magazine clippings arranged alphabetically by subject. The clippings relate to both Philadelphia-area and national fair housing issues. Of particular interest are clippings related to the Horace Baker Family, a black family who faced discrimination after moving to a white suburb of Philadelphia.
INVENTORY
SERIES I: ADMINISTRATIONBOX 1
FOLDER CONTENTS DATES
1 1 Background Information, 1967
2 Incorporation
3 Bylaws
4 Board of Directors, 1967-1969
5 Board of Directors (Housing Association of DV), 1968-1969
6 NUL Monthly Reports, 1968
7 Report 1A
8 Fair Housing City-Wide Coordinating Committee Form C
9 Form 1C
10 Progress Reports
11 Public Statements
12 Correspondence – General, 1968-1969
13 Correspondence – State Police, 1963-1966
14 221(d)(3)
15 Public Outreach
16 Staff Report
17 Crozier Theological Seminary
18 Leo Kramer Inc.
19 Miscellaneous
SERIES II: FINANCIAL
BOX 1
FOLDER CONTENTS DATES
General
20 Pilot Investments
21 Mutual Real Estate Investment Trust
22 1st Pennsylvania Banking and Trust Co.
23 Tax Exemption
24 United Fund
25 Financial-FHCDV
26 Financial Statements
27 Contribution of Stock
28 Equal Emp. IRS
Supporters
29 Chace Foundation
30 Quakers Financial Report
31 Foundation Grant Proposals
32 Metropolitan Mission
33 Copies of Fund Raising Letters
34 Fund Raising Mailings
35 Fund Raising
36 Special Gifts
37 Taconic [Foundation]
38 Foundations - Requests Denied
39 Redevelopment Authority, 1962-1967
40 Redevelopment Authority: Contract Background, 1964-1966
41 Redevelopment Authority Fair Housing Contract, 1966
42 Redevelopment Authority (RKT file), 1965-1967
43 Redevelopment Authority: Reports, 1967
44 Redevelopment Authority. University III, 1966-1967
45 Redevelopment Authority. Contract Records, 1966-1968
46 Redevelopment Authority. Report "The Negro Housing Problem: A Program for Philadelphia" by Charles Abrams, Consultant 1966
SERIES III: COMMITTEES
BOX 1
FOLDER CONTENTS DATES
47 Finance Committee
48 Industry Committee
49 Industry Committee Correspondence
50 Industry
51 Real Estate Committee Minutes
52 Nominating Committee Report
53 Executive Committee
SERIES IV: PUBLICATIONS
BOX 2
FOLDER CONTENTS DATES
Internal
1 Fair Housing News
2 A survey of the housing experiences of Negro Employees
3 Tension Control
4 How to sell your home on a non-discriminatory basis
5 FHCDV Newsletter
External
6 FHCs General
7 Negro Military Servicemen and Housing Discrimination
8 Guidelines for Fair Housing Counselors
9 Changing Neighborhoods
10 Stabilization: A Manual for Fair Housing Workers
11 Stabilization
12 Housing Aid Handbook
13 Escort Testing, Direct Action
14 Public Housing in the 21st Ward
15 Vista Proposal
16 Report of Housing Council of Delaware Valley
SERIES V: PROJECTS AND INITIATIVES
BOX 2
FOLDER CONTENTS DATES
Project Free
17 Housing Surveys (I), 1966 RESTRICTED
18 Housing Surveys (II), 1966 RESTRICTED
19 Member Lists and Correspondence
20 Minutes
21 Miscellaneous
Horace Baker
22 Horace Baker
23 Hate Mail and Literature RESTRICTED
Housing Information Center
24 Miscellaneous
25 Improvements
26 Forms
27 : FHCDV + HIC Program
Other
28 Operation Equality Proposal
29 Operation Equality Progress Reports
30 Non-Violent Group
SERIES VI: REALTORS
BOX 2
FOLDER CONTENTS DATES
31 Realtors
32 Realtors: Bucks County
33 Pennsylvania Realtors’ Association
34 Realtors: Eastern Montgomery County
35 Realtors: West Philadelphia
SERIES VII: LEGISLATION
BOX 2
FOLDER CONTENTS DATES
36 Fair Housing Law
37 Testimony Before Pennsylvania Republican Platform Committee
38 Natalie Pearlman
39 NAACP Legal Defense Fund
40 Fair Housing Court Actions
41 Legislation – 1968
42 Philadelphia Legislation
43 State Legislators' Addresses
44 Fair Housing Court Decisions
45 Legislation – Federal
46 Legislation, State – 1965
46 Legislation, State –1966
47 Legislation, State – 1967
48 Tenants Rights Opinion – Washington, DC
SERIES VIII: OTHER ORGANIZATIONS
BOX 3
FOLDER CONTENTS DATES
Non-Religious
1 American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), 1964-1968
2 Americans for Democratic Action in Southeastern Pennsylvania, 1967
3 Cheltenham High School, 1968
4 Cincinnati Housing Opportunities Made Equal (HOME), 1968
5 Citizens Fair Housing Campaign Committee, 1967
6 Council for Equal Housing (CEHO) of the Fellowship Commission
7 Congress of Racial Equality (CORE), 1962-1963
8 Educational Institutions, 1965
9 Fellowship House and Farm, 1966
10 Jaycees, 1967
11 Leadership Conference on Civil Rights, 1967
12 Leadership Conference on Civil Rights, 1968
13 Legal Services Program of Delaware County , 1967
14 League of Women Voters, 1965
15 League of Women Voters of Upper Providence/Middletown, Pennsylvania
16 Medical Committee for Human Rights
17 Metro Washington Housing Program, 1964-1966
18 National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP)
19 NAACP - Bucks County, Pennsylvania, 1968
20 NAACP - Chester, Pennsylvania
21 The National Committee for a Confrontation with Congress, 1968
22 National Association of Intergroup Relations Officials (NAIRO), 1967-68
23 National Committee on Tithing in Investment (NCTI), 1965-67
24 National Fair Housing Association, 1968
25 Negro Community, 1960-1965
26 New Jersey Committee Against Discrimination in Housing, 1967-1968
27 North City Congress, 1964
28 Opportunity Housing: Lancaster
29 Pennsylvania Human Relations Commission, 1966-1967
30 PHRC Guidelines - Tension, etc., 1967
31 People for Human Rights, 1968
32 Philadelphia Anti-Poverty Action Committee (PAAC), 1967-1968
33 Philadelphia Committee on City Policy
34 Philadelphia Council for Community Advancement (PCAA), 1965-1968
35 Philadelphia Federation of Teachers (PFT), 1968
36 Philadelphia Housing Association, Finance Committee, 1967
37 Philadelphia Housing Association, Regional Planning Committee, 1967
38 Philadelphians for Equal Justice
39 Planners for Equal Opportunity, 1966
40 Police, 1956, 1964-1968
41 Police Power, 1968
42 Retail Clerks
43 San Francisco, 1967-1968
44 Suburban Maryland Fair Housing, Inc.,1964-1965
45 Unions, 1965
46 United Fund of Philadelphia Area, Application for Affiliation, 1967
47 Urban America, 1966
48 Urban League of Philadelphia, 1963-68
49 Urban League of Philadelphia, Quarterly Reports, 1967-1968
50 Urban Political Action Committee, 1967
51 Young Women’s Christian Association, 1967-68
Religious
52 Greater Philadelphia Council of Churches, 1965-1966
53 Church Statements, 1959-1968
54 American Baptist Convention , 1964-1967
55 Episcopal, 1965-1967
56 American Jewish Congress, 1964
57 The American Jewish Committee, 1967
58 Jewish Labor Committee, 1961-1963
59 Jewish Community Relations Council (JCRC), 1964-1966
60 The National Conference of Christians and Jews, Inc. (NCCJ), 1964-1965
61 Roman Catholics. 1963-1965
62 Archbishop’s Commission on Human Relations, 1964-1966
63 Catholic Community Relations Council, 1967-1968
64 Presbyterian, 1962-1967
65 Confronting Churches, 1968
66 Friends, 1961-1963
67 Friends Committee on National Legislation, 1966-1967
68 American Friends Service Committee Fair Housing Administration Program
69 Lutheran: Eastern Pennsylvania Synod of the LCA, 1965-1967
70 Committee for Racial Justice Now (United Church of Christ)
71 Ministeriums (Miscellaneous), 1962-1968
BOX 4
FOLDER CONTENTS DATES
Affiliated
1 Local Fair Housing Councils and Chairmen, 1967
2 Delaware County Board of Assistance, 1968
3 Gloucester County Fair Housing Council, 1965-1971
4 The Gloucester County Human Relations Council, 1964-1967
5 Gloucester County Human Relations Newsletter, 1969-1971
6 Fair Housing Commission of Radnor Township, 1963-1965
7 Lower Merion Fair Housing Council, 1965-1968
8 Citizens’ Council of Montgomery County, 1967-1968
9 North Penn Fair Housing Council, 1965-1968
10 Reading/Berks Human Relations Council
11 Roxborough Fair Housing Council, 1967-1969
12 Springfield Area Fair Housing Council
13 Springfield Area Religious Advisory Council on Race
14 Upper Main Line Fair Housing Council, 1959-1968
15 Upper Merion Fair Housing Council, 1963-1969
16 Upper Merion Fair Housing Council, RESTRICTED
17 Whitemarsh Valley Fair Housing Council, 1963-1969
18 Whitemarsh Valley Fair Housing Council, RESTRICTED
19 Bucks County Conference on Community Relations, 1964-1967
20 Bucks County Housing Council, 1969
21 Burlington County Human Relations Council, 1965-1967
22 Central Bucks Fair Housing Committee, 1964-1968
23 Central Delaware County Fair Housing Council, 1964-1968
24 Eastern Montgomery County Fair Housing Committee
25 Eastern Montgomery County FHC RESTRICTED
26 Easton Area Fair Housing Committee, 1967-1968
27 Fair Housing Council of Northern Delaware, 1963-1967
28 Greater Hatboro Fair Housing Committee, 1965-1967
29 Lansdowne-Upper Darby Fair Housing Council, 1960-1970
30 Lehigh Valley Fair Housing Council, 1966-1969
31 Northeast Fair Housing Council, 1965-1969
32 Philadelphia Fair Housing Council, 1964-1966
33 Fair Housing Councils – Miscellaneous, 1960-1969
SERIES SIX : CLIPPINGS
BOX 4
FOLDER CONTENTS DATES
34 Baker Family
35 Black Community
36 Churches
37 Civil Disobedience
38 Easton Fair Housing Council
39 Fair Housing Councils
40 Industry and Integrated Housing
41 Lansdowne / Upper Darby
42 Legislation
43 Metropolitan Washington
44 Miscellaneous
45 NAACP / CORE
46 North Pennsylvania Fair Housing Council
47 Realtors
48 State Rights Party Clippings
49 Upper Merion Fair Housing Council