Department of Archives & Special Collections
Online Payments  My Library Account

Gordon A. Martin Jr. Collection

MUM01759

Access Restriction

This collection is stored at an off-site facility. Researchers interested in using this collection must contact Archives and Special Collections at least two business days in advance of their planned visit.

Return to Table of Contents »


PURL

http://purl.oclc.org/umarchives/MUM01759/

Return to Table of Contents »


Summary Information

Repository
University of Mississippi Libraries
Creator
Martin, Gordon A.
Title
Gordon A. Martin Jr. Collection
ID
MUM01759
Date [inclusive]
1962-2012
Extent
4.0 Linear feet, 3 boxes
Location
Modern Political Archives
Abstract
A U.S. Department of Justice attorney during the 1960s, Gordon A. Martin Jr. participated in civil rights and voter registration litigation in Mississippi. The collection contains court documents and exhibits from those cases, as well as digital audio recordings with excerpts of oral histories Martin conducted in 1989 with African American witnesses in those law suits.

Preferred Citation

Gordon A. Martin Jr. Collection, Archives and Special Collections, J.D. Williams Library, The University of Mississippi

Return to Table of Contents »


Biographical Note

After graduating from the New York University School of Law, Gordon A. Martin Jr. joined the Civil Rights Division of the U.S. Department of Justice in 1962. He was assigned to help prepare United States v. Theron C. Lynd, the first voting rights case brought to trial in Mississippi against a county registrar impeding the right of African Americans to vote. The demonstrated abuse of state law and official power in this and other cases led to the Voting Rights Act of 1965.

In the fall of 1963, Martin returned home to Boston serving as Assistant U.S. Attorney for Massachusetts and then Special Assistant to U.S. Senator Edward M. Kennedy. He also became a commissioner in the Massachusetts Commission Against Discrimination and a partner in a law firm. In 1983, Governor Michael Dukakis appointed Martin to the Roxbury District Court. He has taught as a visiting professor at New England Law Boston, Tulane Law School and the University Mississippi School of Law.

While taking a seminar on race and nationality at New York University in 1989, Martin decided to interview the witnesses in U.S. v. Lynd for a class assignment. He continued working on the project after the seminar ended and published the book  Count Them One by One: Black Mississippians Fighting for the Right to Vote in 2010.

Return to Table of Contents »


Scope and Content Note

The collection consists largely of court documents related to civil rights voter registration cases in Mississippi during 1962-1963. Material related to United States v. Theron C. Lynd (Circuit Clerk and Registrar of Forrest County) and  United States v. Mississippi (voter registration) are particularly strong and includes exhibit material prepared for the case as well as court transcripts.

In 1989, Gordon A. Martin Jr. returned to Mississippi to conduct interviews with African-American witnesses in U.S. v. Lynd. The collection includes excerpts of these recordings on two computer discs prepared by the Lillian Goldman Law Library at Yale Law School for a 2010 exhibit commemorating the 50th anniversary of the U.S. Voting Rights prosecutions.

Return to Table of Contents »


Arrangement

The collection is organized alphabetically by case or the name of the county registrar involved in a court action. Miscellaneous items appear in a file at the end. Material added to the collection in 2014 appears at the end starting with Folder 2-7.

Return to Table of Contents »


Administrative Information

Publication Information

University of Mississippi Libraries 1962-2012

Revision Description

 Ivey, Susan 2014

Access Restrictions

The Gordon A. Martin Jr. Collection is open for research. This collection is stored at an off-site facility. Researchers interested in using this collection must contact Archives and Special Collections at least two business days in advance of their planned visit.

Copyright Restrictions

The copyright law of the United States (Title 17, United States Code) governs the making of photocopies or other reproductions of copyrighted material. Under certain conditions specified in the law, libraries and archives are authorized to furnish a photocopy or other reproduction. One of these specified conditions is that the photocopy or reproduction is not to be "used for any purpose other than private study, scholarship or research." If a user makes a request for, or later uses, a photocopy or reproduction for purposes in excess of "fair use," that user may be liable for copyright infringement.

Additions

Future additions to this collection are possible.

Acquisition Information

Received from Gordon A. Martin Jr., November-December 2011. He donated additional material in 2012, 2014, and again in July 2015.

Processing Information

Collection processed by Leigh McWhite, January 2012. Finding aid encoded by Kathryn Michaelis, January 2012. Finding aid revised and updated because of additions by Leigh McWhite and Kathryn Michaelis, February 2013. Due to additions, Leigh McWhite and Susan Ivey revised the finding aid in November 2014.

Return to Table of Contents »


Related Materials

Resources at the University of Mississippi

H.D. Darby, on behalf of himself and others similarly situated, plaintiffs, vs. James Daniel, Circuit Clerk of Jefferson Davis County, Mississippi, and Joe T. Patterson, Attorney General of the State of Mississippi, Defendants. [Jackson, MS: 1958]. Call number: JK4691.H33 1958.

H.D. Darby, on behalf of himself and others similarly situated, plaintiffs, v. James Daniel, Circuit Clerk of Jefferson Davis County, Mississippi, and Joe T. Patterson, Attorney General of the State of Mississippi, defendants: before Cameron, Circuit Judge, and Mize and Clayton, District Judges. [Jackson, MS: U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Mississippi, 1958]. Call Number: JK4691.H332 1958.

Gordon A. Martin Jr. Count Them One by One: Black Mississippians Fighting for the Right to Vote (Jackson: University Press of Mississippi, 2010). Call Number: JK1929.M7 M37 2010.

J.P. Coleman Collection (MUM01734), Archives and Special Collections. The papers of Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals Judge J.P. Coleman include a file on the court case Charles M. Dunn v. Theron C. Lynd (Box 2, Folder 13).

John C. Satterfield & American Bar Association Collection (MUM00685), Archives and Special Collections. Includes a respondent's brief in  U.S. v. Lynd (Box 34, Folder 201.5).

United States v. Mississippi Interrogatory Answers. A digital collection about voter registration. Available at https://egrove.olemiss.edu/usvms_ia/.

For more civil rights collections, see the Civil Rights & Race Relations Subject Guide.

Resources at Other Repositories

Gordon A. Martin Jr. deposited the complete interview tapes compiled for his book Count Them One by One at the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum.

M.M. Roberts served as lead counsel for Theron Lynd in U.S. v. Lynd and donated his legal files on the case to the University of Southern Mississippi. The collection finding aid for United States of America vs. Theron C. Lynd, Registrar of Voters for Forrest County, Mississippi -- Legal Case is available online.

Separated Material

The following compact discs were separated for cataloging and are available in Special Collections:

"Brave Black Mississippi Witnesses Prove Racial Discrimination by Theron Lynd" (Yale Law School, Lillian Goldman Law Library, 2010). Call Number: JK1929.M7 B7.

Disc One contains excerpts of oral interviews by Gordon A. Martin Jr. with Jesse Stegall, Addie Burger, Eloise Hopson, and T.F. Williams.

Disc Two contains excerpts or oral interviews by Martin with Willie Thigpen, John Mosley, Willie Custer Simpson, Helen Jones Simpson, Harold Dahmer (son of Vernon Dahmer), and Vernon Dahmer Jr. (son of Vernon Dahmer).

Return to Table of Contents »


Controlled Access Headings

Corporate Name(s)

  • United States. Dept. of Justice.

Format(s)

  • compact discs
  • legal documents

Subject(s)

  • African Americans -- Civil rights -- Mississippi
  • African Americans -- Suffrage -- Mississippi
  • Voter registration -- Mississippi

Return to Table of Contents »


Collection Inventory

 Folder 1-1 Bailey v. Patterson 

“In the Supreme Court of the United States, October Term 1961. Samuel Bailey, et al., Appellants, v. Joe T. Patterson, et al., Appellees. On Motion for an Injunction Pending Appeal from the United States District Court for the Southern District of Mississippi.” 

Return to Table of Contents »


 Folder 1-2 J.R. Bradshaw (Rankin County Registrar) 

“In the United States District Court for the Southern District of Mississippi, Jackson Division, In Re: J.R. Bradshaw, Circuit Clerk and Registrar, Rankin County, Mississippi. Order” (1962). 

Return to Table of Contents »


 Folder 1-3 Coleman v. Kennedy 

“No. 20,102. In the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit. Preston P. Coleman, Circuit Clerk and Registrar of Lauderdale County, Mississippi; L.F. Campbell, Circuit Clerk and Registrar of Madison County, Mississippi; H.T. Ashford, Jr., Circuit Clerk and Registrar of Hinds County, Mississippi, Appellants v. Robert F. Kennedy, Attorney General of the United States, Appellee. Brief for Appellee.” 

“In the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit. Preston P. Coleman, Circuit Clerk and Registrar of Lauderdale County, Mississippi , Appellant v. Robert F. Kennedy, Attorney General of the United States, Appellee; L.F. Campbell, Circuit Clerk and Registrar of Madison County, Mississippi, Appellant v. Robert F. Kennedy, Attorney General of the United States, Appellee; H.T. Ashford, Jr., Circuit Clerk and Registrar of Hinds County, Mississippi, v. Robert F. Kennedy, Attorney General of the United States, Appellee. On Appeal from the United States District Court for the Southern District of Mississippi. Motion to Vacate Stay and to Affirm.” 

“In the United States District Court for the Southern District of Mississippi Eastern Division. In Re: Preston P. Coleman, Circuit Court Clerk and Registrar of Lauderdale County, Mississippi, Meridian, Mississippi, Civil Action No. 1117. Order” (1962). 

Return to Table of Contents »


 Folder 1-4 L.H. Collier (Leake County Registrar) 

“In the United States District Court for the Southern District of Mississippi, Jackson Division. In Re: L.H. Collier, Circuit Clerk and Registrar, Leake County, Mississippi. Order” (1962). 

“In the United States District Court for the Southern District of Mississippi, Jackson Division. In Re: L.H. Collier, Circuit Clerk and Registrar, Leake County, Mississippi. Application for Order to Require Production of Records for Inspection, Reproduction, and Copying.” (1962). 

Return to Table of Contents »


 Folder 1-5 William H. Cox 

“The United States Senate. Report of Proceedings. Hearing Held before Committee on the Judiciary. Nomination of William H. Cox (of Mississippi) to Be United States District Judge, Southern District of Mississippi, Tuesday, June 27, 1961.” 

Return to Table of Contents »


 Folder 1-6 J. Noel Nutt (Warren County Registrar) 

“In the United States District Court for the Southern District of Mississippi, Western Division. In Re: J. Noel Nutt, Circuit Clerk and Registrar of Warren County, Mississippi, Vicksburg, Mississippi. Application for Judgment by Default” (1962). 

Return to Table of Contents »


 Folder 1-7 U.S. v. Daniel 

“In the United States District Court for the Southern District of Mississippi, Hattiesburg Division. The United States of America, Plaintiff, v. James Daniel, Circuit Court Clerk and Registrar, Jefferson Davis County, Mississippi; and State of Mississippi, Defendants. Amended Complaint.” Dated 18 December 1961. 

“In the United States District Court for the Southern District of Mississippi, Hattiesburg Division. Civil Action Number 1655. The United States of America, Plaintiff, v. James Daniel, Circuit Court Clerk and Registrar, Jefferson Davis County, Mississippi; and State of Mississippi, Defendants. Interlocutory Order.” 

“In the United States District Court for the Southern District of Mississippi, Hattiesburg Division. The United States of America, Plaintiff, v. James Daniel, Circuit Court Clerk and Registrar, Jefferson Davis County, Mississippi; and State of Mississippi, Defendants. Brief in Support of Plaintiff’s Application for a Permanent Injunction.” 

Carbon typed letter dated 3 May 1963 from John Doar, Assistant Attorney General, to Will S. Wells, Assistant Mississippi Attorney General, re: U.S. v. Daniel on voter registration in Jefferson Davis County. 

Carbon memorandum dated 18 May 1962 from Gordon A. Martin to John Doar, re: affidavits in U.S. v. Daniel. 

Carbon memorandum dated 11 April 1963 from Gordon A. Martin, re: George Washington Barnes, a witness in U.S. v. Daniel. 

Department of Justice Press Release dated 18 August 1965, re: voter registration in Jefferson Davis County, Mississippi. 

Return to Table of Contents »


 Folder 1-8 U.S. v. Dogan 

“In the United States District Court for the Northern District of Mississippi, Delta Division. United States of America, Plaintiff, v. Ellett R. Dogan, Sheriff and Tax Collector, Tallahatchie County, Mississippi; Tom S. Harris, Circuit Court Clerk and Registrar, Tallahatchie County, Mississippi; State of Mississippi, Defendants. Notice of Hearing and Objections to Certain Interrogations Propounded by Defendants.” 

Return to Table of Contents »


 Folder 1-9 U.S. v. Easley 

“In the United States District Court for the Southern District of Mississippi, Western Division. United States of America, Plaintiff, v. Pauline Easley, Circuit Court Clerk and Registrar, Claiborne County, Mississippi, State of Mississippi, Defendants. Complaint.” Marked “Not Filed.” 

Return to Table of Contents »


 Folder 1-10 U.S. v. Edwards 

No. 21,036. In the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit. United States of America, Appellant v. Jonathan R. Edwards, Jr., Sheriff of Rankin County, Mississippi, Appellee. On Appeal from the United States District Court for the Southern District of Mississippi. Brief for Appellant. (U.S. Government Printing Office, 1963) 

Carbon typed letter from Burke Marshall, Assistant Attorney General, to Freda Fine of Bronx, New York, re: U.S. v. Edwards. Marked “draft – revised prior to 5/23 mailing.” 

Return to Table of Contents »


 Folder 1-11 U.S. v. Green 

“In the United States District Court, Southern District of Mississippi Southern Division. United States of America, Plaintiff, v. Eldred W. Green, Circuit Court Clerk and Registrar, George County, Mississippi, State of Mississippi, Defendants. Amendment to Temporary Restraining Order” (May 1963) 

“In the United States District Court, Southern District of Mississippi Southern Division. United States of America, Plaintiff, v. Eldred W. Green, Circuit Court Clerk and Registrar, George County, Mississippi, State of Mississippi, Defendants. Amendment to Temporary Restraining Order” (May 1963) 

“Applicants for Registration in George County, Mississippi; Following Issuance of the Temporary Restraining Order on April 24, 1962 (Through April 8, 1963).” 

“In the United States District Court, Southern District of Mississippi Southern Division. United States of America, Plaintiff, v. Eldred W. Green, Circuit Court Clerk and Registrar, George County, Mississippi, State of Mississippi, Defendants. Complaint” (stamped 13 April 1962). 

“In the United States District Court, Southern District of Mississippi Southern Division. United States of America, Plaintiff, v. Eldred W. Green, Circuit Court Clerk and Registrar, George County, Mississippi, State of Mississippi, Defendants. Amendment to Complaint.” 

“In the United States District Court, Southern District of Mississippi Southern Division. United States of America, Plaintiff, v. Eldred W. Green, Circuit Court Clerk and Registrar, George County, Mississippi, State of Mississippi, Defendants. Memorandum in Support of Plaintiff’s Application for a Temporary Restraining Order and Motion for Preliminary Injunction.” 

Return to Table of Contents »


 Folder 1-12 U.S. v. Henry 

“In the United States District Court for the Northern District of Mississippi, Eastern Division. United States of America, Plaintiff, v. W.M. Henry, Circuit Court Clerk and Registrar, Oktibbeha County, Mississippi; State of Mississippi, Defendants. Complaint.” 

Return to Table of Contents »


 Folder 1-13 U.S. v. Lynd (1 of 6) 

“Nos. 19576, 22477. In the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit. United States of America, Petitioner-Appellant, v. Theron C. Lynd, Circuit Clerk and Registrar of Voters of Forrest County; State of Mississippi, Respondents-Appellees, on Proceedings in Civil Contempt and On Appeal from the United States District for the Southern District of Mississippi. Brief for Petitioner – Appellant.” 

Transcript. “In the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit, New Orleans, Louisiana. United States of America v. Theron C. Lynd, Circuit Clerk and Registrar of Voters of Forrest County, State of Mississippi." 

Transcript. “United States Court of Appeals – Fifth Circuit. United States of America, Plaintiff, vs. Theron C. Lync, Defendant. United States District Courtroom, Hattiesburg, Mississippi, September 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 1962. Before: Judges Brown, Bell, Wisdom.” 

Transcript. “In the United States Court of Appeals for the Firth Circuit, United States District Courtroom, Hattiesburg, Miss. United States of America, Plaintiff, v. Theron C. Lynd, Defendant. Before: Judges Brown, Bell, Wisdom, Date: September 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 1962. Volume II.” 

Transcript. “In the United States Court of Appeals for the Firth Circuit, United States District Courtroom, Hattiesburg, Miss. United States of America, Plaintiff, v. Theron C. Lynd, Defendant. Before: Judges Brown, Bell, Wisdom, Date: September 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 1962. Volume IV.” 

“In the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit, United States of America, Plaintiff, versus Theron C. Lynd, Circuit Clerk and Registrar of Voters of Forrest County, Mississippi, Respondent. Petitioners Proposed Findings of Fact, Conclusions of Law and Judgments and Order.” 

Return to Table of Contents »


 Folder 1-14 U.S. v. Lynd (2 of 6) 

Pages from notebook. “The Constitutional Interpretation Test before the Trial on March 5 and After the Injunction on April 10” (18 November 1960 – 21 June 1962). 

Typed index of date, name, age, and “P’s Exhibit No.” 

Notebook. “The Final Line on Page 3 of the Applications of Accepted White Applicants Prior to the Trial on March 5 – Examples Arranged Chronologically Nov. 1960 – Jan. 1962.” 

Notebook. “Constitutional Interpretations of Accepted White Applicants Prior to the Trial on March 5 – Examples Arranged Chronologically within Sections Nov. 1960 – Feb. 1962.” 

Typed index of name, date applied, and exhibit number. 

“In the United States District Court for the Southern District of Mississippi, Hattiesburg Division, United States of America, Plaintiff, vs. Theron C. Lynd, Circuit Court Clerk and Registrar, Forrest County, Mississippi; and State of Mississippi, Defendants. Order Modifying Previous Orders.” 

Copy typed letter dated 2 January 1973 from R.W. Heidelberg of Heidelberg, Sutherland, and McKenzie, to David L. Norman, Assistant Attorney General, re: U.S. v. Theron C. Lynd. 

Carbon typed manuscript dated 17 September 1962 “Exhibit List of Government Exhibits.” 

“In the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit. United States of America, Petitioner, v. Theron C. Lynd, Circuit Clerk and Registrar of Voters of Forest County, State of Mississippi, Defendant. Memorandum.” Re: procedures to be followed in the trial of contempt cases by an appellate court. Dated 30 April 1962. 

“In the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit. No. 19526. United States of America, Petitioner, v. Theron C. Lynd, Circuit Clerk and Registrar of Voters of Forest County, State of Mississippi, Defendant. Memorandum Brief.” Dated 30 April 1962. 

“In the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit. No. 19526. United States of America, Petitioner, v. Theron C. Lynd, Circuit Clerk and Registrar of Voters of Forest County, State of Mississippi, Defendant. Motion.” Dated 30 April 1962. 

“In the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit. No. 19526. United States of America, Petitioner, v. Theron C. Lynd, Circuit Clerk and Registrar of Voters of Forest County, State of Mississippi, Defendant. Motion.” Dated 30 April 1962. 

“Affidavit. State of Mississippi, County of Forrest.” Re: Annie Mae James’s attempt to register to vote. Dated. 30 April 1962. 

“In the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit. No. 19526. United States of America, Petitioner, v. Theron C. Lynd, Circuit Clerk and Registrar of Voters of Forest County, State of Mississippi, Appellees. Appeal from the United States District Court for the Southern District of Mississippi. Order to Show Cause to Theron C. Lynd.” Dated 1 May 1962. 

“In the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit. No. 19526. United States of America, Petitioner, v. Theron C. Lynd, Circuit Clerk and Registrar of Voters of Forest County, State of Mississippi, Respondent. Respondent’s Brief in Support of Motions.” Dated 27 August 1962. 

“In the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit. No. 19526. United States of America, Petitioner, v. Theron C. Lynd, Circuit Clerk and Registrar of Voters of Forest County, State of Mississippi, Defendant. Petitioner’s Brief in Opposition to Respondents Motions.” Dated 4 September 1962. 

“In the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit. No. 19526. United States of America, Petitioner, v. Theron C. Lynd, Circuit Clerk and Registrar of Voters of Forest County, State of Mississippi, Defendant. Order.” Dated 5 September 1962. 

“In the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit. No. 19526. United States of America, Petitioner, v. Theron C. Lynd, Circuit Clerk and Registrar of Voters of Forest County, State of Mississippi, Defendant. Motion to Quash and/or Objections to ‘Subpoena to Produce Document or Object.’” Dated 14 September 1962. 

“In the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit. No. 19526. United States of America, Petitioner, v. Theron C. Lynd, Circuit Clerk and Registrar of Voters of Forest County, State of Mississippi, Defendant. Motion for Discovery and Production of Documents.” Dated 14 September 1962. 

“In the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit. No. 19526. United States of America, Petitioner, v. Theron C. Lynd, Circuit Clerk and Registrar of Voters of Forest County, State of Mississippi, Defendant. Memorandum of Law.” Dated 20 September 1962. 

Return to Table of Contents »


 Folder 1-15 U.S. v. Lynd (3 of 6) 

“In the United States Court of Appeals – Fifth Circuit, United States District Court Room, Hattiesburg, Mississippi. United States, Plaintiff, v. Theron C. Lynd, Defendant. Before: Judges Brown, Bell, Wisdom. Dates – September 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 1962. Volume III. Pages 681 through end of trial.” 

[ United States, Plaintiff, v. Theron C. Lynd, Defendant. Transcript of 1964 Trial] Pages 32 through 110. 

[ United States, Plaintiff, v. Theron C. Lynd, Defendant. Transcript of 1964 Trial.] Pages 111 through 190. 

[ United States, Plaintiff, v. Theron C. Lynd, Defendant. Partial Transcript of Lynd Argument before Fifth Circuit]. 

[ United States, Plaintiff, v. Theron C. Lynd, Defendant. Partial Transcript of M.M. Roberts]. 

“Affidavit. State of Mississippi, County of Forrest.” Re: Wayne K. Pittman’s attempt to register to vote. Dated 30 April 1962. 

“Affidavit. State of Mississippi, County of Forrest.” Re: David Roberson’s attempt to register to vote. Dated 30 April 1962. 

“Affidavit. State of Mississippi, County of Forrest.” Re: T.F. Williams’s attempt to register to vote. Dated 30 April 1962. 

“Affidavit. State of Mississippi, County of Forrest.” Re: Jesse Stegall’s attempt to register to vote. Dated 30 April 1962. 

“Affidavit. State of Mississippi, County of Forrest.” Re: Earline Boyd’s attempt to register to vote. Dated 30 April 1962. 

Form “Sworn Written Application for Registration” completed by David Eugene Roberson on 2 March 1961. 

Handwritten notes, re: Rachel C. Jones. Attached to [ United States, Plaintiff, v. Theron C. Lynd, Defendant. Partial Transcript including testimony of Rachel C. Jones]. 

Return to Table of Contents »


 Folder 2-1 U.S. v. Mississippi (1 of 2) 

“In the United States District Court for the Southern District of Mississippi, Jackson Division. United States of America, Plaintiff, v. State of Mississippi; et al., Defendants. Answers to Interrogatories of State of Mississippi; Mrs. Pauline Easley, Circuit Clerk and Registrar of Claiborne County; J.W. Smith, Circuit Clerk and Registrar of Coahoma County; T.E. Wiggins, Circuit Clerk and Registrar of Lowndes County. Comparison of Education for Negroes and White Persons 1890-1963.” 

“In the United States District Court for the Southern District of Mississippi, Jackson Division. United States of America, Plaintiff, v. State of Mississippi; et al., Defendants. Answers to Interrogatories of State of Mississippi; Mrs. Pauline Easley, Circuit Clerk and Registrar of Claiborne County; J.W. Smith, Circuit Clerk and Registrar of Coahoma County; T.E. Wiggins, Circuit Clerk and Registrar of Lowndes County. Purpose of Laws 1890, 1954, 1960, 1962, Decrease in Negro Registration 1890-1954.” 

“In the United States District Court for the Southern District of Mississippi, Jackson Division. United States of America, Plaintiff, v. State of Mississippi; et al., Defendants. Answers to Interrogatories of State of Mississippi; Mrs. Pauline Easley, Circuit Clerk and Registrar of Claiborne County; J.W. Smith, Circuit Clerk of Coahoma County; T.E. Wiggins, Circuit Clerk of Lowndes County. Names of Persons Contacted, Names of Agents and Attorneys.” 

“In the United States District Court for the Southern District of Mississippi, Jackson Division. United States of America, Plaintiff, v. State of Mississippi; et al., Defendants. Answers to Interrogatories of State of Mississippi; Mrs. Pauline Easley, Circuit Clerk and Registrar of Claiborne County; J.W. Smith, Circuit Clerk of Coahoma County; T.E. Wiggins, Circuit Clerk of Lowndes County. Answers Appendix A.” 

Return to Table of Contents »


 Folder 2-2 U.S. v. Mississippi (2 of 2) 

“In the United States District Court for the Southern District of Mississippi, Jackson Division. United States of America, Plaintiff, v. State of Mississippi; et al., Defendants. Answers to Interrogatories of State of Mississippi; Mrs. Pauline Easley, Circuit Clerk and Registrar of Claiborne County; J.W. Smith, Circuit Clerk of Coahoma County; T.E. Wiggins, Circuit Clerk of Lowndes County. Appendix B 1.” 

“In the United States District Court for the Southern District of Mississippi, Jackson Division. United States of America, Plaintiff, v. State of Mississippi; et al., Defendants. Answers to Interrogatories of State of Mississippi; Mrs. Pauline Easley, Circuit Clerk and Registrar of Claiborne County; J.W. Smith, Circuit Clerk of Coahoma County; T.E. Wiggins, Circuit Clerk of Lowndes County. Appendix B 2.” 

“In the United States District Court for the Southern District of Mississippi, Jackson Division. United States of America, Plaintiff, v. State of Mississippi; et al., Defendants. Answers to Interrogatories of State of Mississippi; Mrs. Pauline Easley, Circuit Clerk and Registrar of Claiborne County; J.W. Smith, Circuit Clerk of Coahoma County; T.E. Wiggins, Circuit Clerk of Lowndes County. Statistics. Census – Registration – Voting, 1890-1962.” 

“In the United States District Court for the Southern District of Mississippi, Jackson Division. United States of America, Plaintiff, v. State of Mississippi; et al., Defendants. Memorandum in Support of Rule 34 Motion.” 

“June 1, 1962. Part II Registration Statistics by County (continued).” 

Return to Table of Contents »


 Folder 2-3 U.S. v. Ward 

“In the United States District Court for the Southern District of Mississippi Southern Division. United States of America, Plaintiff, versus Wilbur G. Ward, Circuit Court Clerk and Registrar of George County, Mississippi: and State of Mississippi, Defendants. Brief in Support of Plaintiff’s Proposed Findings of Fact, Conclusions of Law, and Decree.” 

Scope and Content

2 copies.

Form “Sworn Written Application for Registration” completed by [John?] Cecil McMillan and dated 12 July 1961. 

Return to Table of Contents »


 Folder 2-4 A.B. Weeks (Copiah County Registrar) 

“In the United States District Court for the Southern District of Mississippi, Jackson Division. In Re: A.B. Weeks, Circuit Clerk and Registrar, Copiah County, Mississippi” (1962). 

“In the United States District Court for the Southern District of Mississippi, Jackson Division. In Re: A.B. Weeks, Circuit Clerk and Registrar, Copiah County, Mississippi. Application for Order to Require Production of Records for Inspection, Reproduction, and Copying.” 

Return to Table of Contents »


 Folder 2-5 Material from Yale Law Library exhibit “Brave Black Mississippi Witnesses Prove Racial Discrimination by Theron Lynd.” 

Return to Table of Contents »


 2-6 Miscellaneous 

U.S. Department of Justice Press Release dated 16 June 1962, re: Negro school teacher in Greene County, Mississippi dropped from employment as a result of her efforts to register to vote. 

Routing slip from Klaire Adkins to Gordon A. Martin Jr. Attached: typed manuscript “Interim Report of the United States Commission on Civil Rights” dated 16 April 1963, re: Mississippi. 

Carbon memorandum “Status in United States District Court (Northern District, Miss., Eastern Division).” Re: U.S. v. Henry in Oktibbeha County and  U.S. v. Grissom in Lee County. 

Copy typed letter dated 29 November 1967 from President Lyndon B. Johnson to John Doar, Assitant Attorney General, re: regret over acceptance of Doar’s letter of resignation. 

Copy typed letter dated 28 Marc 1988 from Gordon A. Martin Jr. to Eloise T. Hopson of Hattiesburg, Mississippi, re: request to conduct an oral interview with Hopson about her experiences as a witness in voter registration trial. 

Typed manuscript, re: Don Steinmeyer’s service as an FBI agent working in Mississippi. 

Broadside and book order form for Count Them One by One: Black Mississippians Fighting for the Right to Vote by Gordon A. Martin Jr. 

Book review of Count Them One by One in  Mississippi Law Journal Vol. 81:6 (2012). 

Memorandum dated 29 May 1962 from Gordon A. Martin Jr. to Assistant Attorney General Burke Marshall, re: use of federal property in Brandon, Mississippi by Women for Constitutional Government chaired locally by wife of John McLaurin. 

Photocopy. Re: comparison of sections of Mississippi law with their application to African Americans. 

Return to Table of Contents »


 Folder 3-1 U.S. v. Lynd (6 of 6) 

Typescript “In the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit. United States of America, Petitioner, vs. Theron C. Lynd, Circuit Clerk and Registrar of Voters of Forrest County, Mississippi, Respondent. No. 19,576. Oral Argument in the above-entitled and –numbered cause, held in Courtroom 416 Old Civil Courts Building, Conti and Royal Streets, New Orleans, on Monday, July 8, 1963.” 

“Affidavit State of Mississippi County of Forrest,” re: Jesse Stegall. Stamped filed 30 April 1962. 

[United States, Plaintiff, v. Theron C. Lynd, Defendant. Transcript of 1964 Trial] Pages 602 through 625. 

[United States, Plaintiff, v. Theron C. Lynd, Defendant. Transcript of 1964 Trial] Pages 1038 through 1090. 

“United States District Court, Southern District of Mississippi, Hattiesburg Division. United States of America v. Theron C. Lynd, Circuit Clerk and Registrar, Forrest County, Mississippi; and State of Mississippi. Order.” Stamped filed 22 November 1961. 

“No. 355. In the Supreme Court of the United States October Term, 1962. Theron C. Lynd, Circuit Clerk and Registrar of Voters of Forrest County, Mississippi; State of Mississippi v. United States of America. On Petition for a Writ of Certiorari to the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit. Brief for the Respondent in Opposition to the Granting of the Petition for a Writ of Certiorari.” 

Folder “T. Lynd Testimony,” re: fragments of typescripts. 

Return to Table of Contents »


 2-7 U.S. v. Lynd (4 of 6). 

Bound transcript. “Volume Four, Transcript of Record, United States Court of Appeals Fifth Circuit, United States of America, Appellant, vs. Theron C. Lynd, Circuit Court Clerk and Registrar, Forrest County, Mississippi; and State of Mississippi, Appellees (An Appeal from the United States District Court for the Southern District of Mississippi). 

Photocopies of above transcript, pages 903 through 948 and 961 through 980. 

Typed manuscript version of above photocopied transcript pages 961 through 980. 

Typed manuscript “9 a.m., Wednesday, March 7, 1962, Proceedings…,” re: U.S. v. Lynd transcript of witness T.F. Williams. 

“In the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit. United States of America, Petitioner v. Theron C. Lynd, Circuit Clerk and Registrar of Voters of Forrest County; State of Mississippi, Respondents. Memorandum in Support of the Petition for an Injunction.” 2 copies. 

“In the United States District Court for the Southern District of Mississippi Hattiesburg Division. United States of America, Plaintiff, versus Theron C. Lynd, Circuit Court Clerk and Registrar, Forrest County, Mississippi; State of Mississippi, Defendants. Civil Action No. 1646. Plaintiff’s Proposed Findings of Fact, Conclusions of Law, and Decree.” 2 copies. 

Photocopied page “Parts I and II Registration Statistics by County, Percentage of Negroes Registered June 1, 1962.” 

Photocopied page “Forrest #68,” re: registration statistics. 

Photocopied “In the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit. United States of America, Petitioner, versus Theron C. Lynd, Circuit Clerk and Registrar of Voters of Forrest County, Mississippi, Respondent. No. 19, 576. Brief in Support of Petitioner’s Proposed Findings of Fact, Conclusions of Law, and Judgments and Order...Corrected Copy.” 

Photocopy typed manuscript “Typed 3/16/62,” re: memorandum requesting authority to petition the Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit for a writ of mandamus. 

Return to Table of Contents »


 Folder 2-8 U.S. v. Lynd (5 of 6) 

“In the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit 19576. United States of America, Petitioner, v. Theron C. Lynd, Circuit Clerk and Registrar of Voters of Forrest County; State of Mississippi, Respondents. Petition for Further Orders to Secure Compliance with and to Prevent Obstruction of the Judgment and Orders of the Circuit Court of Appeals.” Stamped filed 15 April 1964. 

Photocopy of newspaper clippings “Registrar in Mississippi Found Guilty of Contempt” (16 July 1963) and “Increase in Registration Points to Record Vote” (4 June 1967). 

“In the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit. United States of America, Petitioner, v. Theron C. Lynd, Circuit Clerk and Registrar of Voters of Forrest County, Mississippi, Respondent. Civil Action No. 19,576. Memorandum in Support of Petition for Further Orders to Secure Compliance with This Court’s Order.” Stamped filed 28 May 1964. 

Spiral bound set of papers, re: compilation of examples of Theron Lynd’s discriminatory grading and other practices to reject black voting applications. 

Carbon typed memorandum dated 22 April 1965 from John R. Brown to John Minor Wisdom and Griffin B. Bell, re: United States v. Lynd

Bound brief “No. 19,576, 22,477. In the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit. United States of America, Petitioner-Applicant, v. Theron C. Lynd, Circuit Clerk and Registrar of Voters of Forrest County; State of Mississippi, Respondents-Appellees. On Proceedings in Civil Contempt and on Appeal from the United States District Court for the Southern District of Mississippi. Brief for Respondents-Appellees.” Stamped filed 27 May 1965. 

Return to Table of Contents »


 Folder 3-2 Beckwith v. Anderson 

“In the United States District Court for the Southern District of Mississippi, Jackson Division. Byron de la Beckwith, VI, Petitioner, vs. James V. Anderson, Commissioner, Mississippi Department of Corrections, and the Attorney General of the State of Mississippi, Respondents. Cause Number 3:99-CV-413BN. Opinion and Order.” 

Return to Table of Contents »


 Folder 3-3 Beckwith v. Mississippi 

“In the Supreme Court of the State of Mississippi. Byron de la Beckwith, VI, Appellant, vs. State of Mississippi, Appellee. Brief of the Appellant. Appellant Requests Oral Argument.” Stamped received 17 April 1995. 

Attorney General’s brief in Beckwith v. Mississippi

Return to Table of Contents »