Gordon, Kruse, and Wentzel Collection, 1951-2010

Hugh Gordon assembled the collection over a period of years as the resource for a book project. As part of the donor agreement with the Archives, Gordon requested that the collection be named for himself, J. Joseph Kruse, and Fred R. Wentzel. It consists of ten series, which represent accessions from different sources. The Hugh L. Gordon Papers range from 1951 to 2008, with the bulk dating from 1966 to 1989. The majority of the documents were created by Gordon during the course of his duties as Director of Personnel at Lockheed-Georgia (GELAC), as well as Regional Executive for Region 4 of the National Alliance of Businessmen (NAB) and leadership positions with the Private Industry Council of Atlanta, Inc. (PIC) and the Atlanta Employer’s Voluntary Merit Employment Association (AEVMEA). In addition, the Gordon Papers include material generated as part of the creation of the collection. The Hugh L. Gordon Papers contains seven sub series: Correspondence; Atlanta Employer’s Voluntary Merit Employment Association; Interviews (2000-2008); Lockheed-Georgia Company (1951-2002); National Alliance of Business (1956-2001); Private Industry Council of Atlanta, Inc. (1968-1992); and Writings (1971-2006). Correspondence (1974-2008) consists of letters and e-mail printouts between Hugh Gordon and individuals, as well as representatives of research institutions. The bulk of the correspondence deals with research for Gordon’s book project. The Atlanta Employer’s Voluntary Merit Employment Association (1965-2007) sub-series contains correspondence, minutes, publications, and reports generated as part of the day-to-day activities of the organization. Of interest to researchers is the sound recording and transcript of the luncheon meeting at the Dinkler Plaza Hotel in Atlanta, Georgia, on August 12, 1966. Speakers included Whitney M. Young, Jr., President of the National Urban League from 1961 to 1971. In his address, Young encouraged business leaders to get involved with the civil rights movement as a matter of their own “enlightened self interest.” The majority of the Interviews (2000-2008) sub-series is made up of sound recordings of interviews conducted by Gordon, as part of his research. They are organized by subject areas to provide organizational or biographical background. The sub-series also includes written transcripts of the interviews with J. Joseph Kruse conducted by Gordon in 2001 and 2002. The Lockheed-Georgia Company (1951-2002) sub-series is organized by format. It contains items regarding Lockheed’s implementation of affirmative action programs, as well as related materials. The bulk of the National Alliance of Business (1968-2001) sub-series deals with Gordon’s responsibilities as Regional Executive for Region 4 of the organization, which included Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Tennessee. It is organized by format and activity. In addition to Gordon’s correspondence, the sub-series contains a folder of photocopied communications (Feb-Jun 1978) from the files of Jack R. Fitzpatrick, Senior Vice President of Operations for the NAB. The Private Industry Council of Atlanta, Inc. (1968-1992) sub-series relates to Gordon’s activities in the Atlanta PIC, including his role in its founding in 1978, and is organized by format. The Writings (1971-2006) sub-series contains Gordon’s book proposals arranged chronologically. It also includes a caption for a photograph of the signing of the first Plans for Progress pact featuring Lockheed Chairman Courtlandt Gross on May 25, 1961, as well as a collection of autobiographical items. The Lois Austin Photographs (1957-2004) series consists of original and reproduction photographs of Robert Troutman, his wife, Lois, and their home. Gordon collected the originals from Lois (Troutman) Austin and made a set of digital print copies. The Leo C. Beebe Papers reproductions (1968) series includes transcripts of interviews with Beebe, Bill King, and Frank Snyder concerning their experiences with the National Alliance of Business. The transcripts are photocopies of originals in the Leo C. Beebe Papers at Rowan University. The Ofield Dukes Papers reproductions (1965-2007) series contains photocopies of original documents and digital image reproductions of photographs relating to Dukes’ activities with the President’s Committee on Equal Employment Opportunity. Gordon borrowed the originals from Dukes and made copies to include in the collection. The Lyndon Baines Johnson Library and Museum reproductions (1961-1984) series includes photocopies of original documents requested by Gordon from the LBJ Library and Museum. The documents relate to the Plans for Progress program and are arranged according to the title given on the reproduction request form. Included are items regarding John G. Feild, the Executive Director of the President’s Commission on Equal Employment Opportunity from 1961 to 1963, and Leo C. Beebe. The John F. Kennedy Presidential Library & Museum reproductions (1967-2006) series contains digital and print reproductions of photographs held by the Kennedy Presidential Library, as well as a photocopy of an original interview transcript with John G. Feild. The photographic reproductions were requested by Gordon. They consist of a series of photographs of the signing of the first Plans for Progress pact featuring Lockheed Chairman Courtlandt Gross, President John F. Kennedy, Vice President Lyndon Johnson, and Secretary of Labor Arthur Goldberg on May 25, 1961. The J. (James) Joseph Kruse Papers (1961-2008) series consists of photocopies or scans of original documents from the files of J. Joseph Kruse. Gordon borrowed and photocopied the originals. The documents were generated during Kruse’s tenure on the President’s Committee on Equal Employment Opportunity from 1961 to 1963. They relate to Kruse’s activities with the Plans for Progress program. Of interest to researchers are materials created by Robert Troutman, who instituted the Plans for Progress program. It also contains a series of affidavits relating to the 1961 discrimination complaint brought against the Lockheed-Georgia Company by the NAACP. The series is arranged by format and activity. The Howard C. Lockwood Papers (1956-2009) series contains original documents and photographs from the files of Howard C. Lockwood. They relate to Lockwood’s tenure as a loaned executive to the President’s Committee on Equal Employment Opportunity from 1963 to 1964, as well as his efforts regarding fair employment testing. Gordon collected the original documents directly from Lockwood. The series is arranged by format. Of interest to researchers are original photographs that feature committee members meeting with Hobart Taylor, Executive Vice Chairman of the President’s Committee on Equal Employment Opportunity. The Hobart Taylor Papers reproductions (1962-1982) series is made up of photocopies of original documents from the Hobart Taylor Papers at the Bentley Historical Library of the University of Michigan. The copies were requested by Gordon and relate to Taylor’s position as Executive Vice Chairman of the President’s Committee on Equal Employment Opportunity. The arrangement of the photocopies mirrors that of the finding aid, which is also included. The Research materials (1955-2008) series includes a variety of sources, including books, clippings, and sound recordings, as well as subject files made up of photocopied articles and book chapters and web printouts. The materials were acquired by Gordon to provide background information, as well as to suggest writing projects and funding. The series is arranged by format.