Collections : [New York State Modern Political Archive]

New York State Modern Political Archive

New York State Modern Political Archive

Elected officials, interest groups, and activists from New York State.
The New York State Modern Political Archive (NYSMPA) was established in 1982 to document the work of individuals and private interest groups concerned with New York State public policy issues in the 20th century. Originally named the Archives of Public Affairs and Policy, the NYSMPA collects, preserves, and facilitates access to primary sources pertaining to New York State public affairs and policy, and now includes the personal papers of members of the gubernatorial administrations of Nelson A. Rockefeller; papers of former New York Congressional members and elected officials who served in New York State Legislature; and the official records and papers of numerous private groups, professional associations, individuals, public-sector labor unions, community groups, and other organizations concerned with Empire State public-policy issues.

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Folder
Online

Includes reports, a newsletter, photocopies of newspaper articles, and ANC documents explaining how the South African government should be reconstructed. Included are constitutional principles and procedures for drawing up a constitution (1991-92), a declaration of intent issued at the Convention for a Democratic South Africa, a proposed economic policy for South Africa written by the ANC, lifting of sanctions against South Africa by European countries (1991), and ANC policy guidelines for a Democratic South Africa (1992). Also included is the August, 1993 issue of The Corporate Examiner which covers a July, 1993 meeting held by the South African Council of Churches where the topic of a "Code of Business Conduct" was discussed.

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Online

Includes a mailing list, minutes for NESASN meetings (1988-1989), correspondence (1989-1990), and funding information such as a Peace Development Fund grant application and a copy of a 1986 article from the Grassroots Fund-raising Journal (1986-1989). Also includes information on fund-raising campaigns, lists of potential congressional supporters for sanctions bills, and lists of companies for potential boycotts circa 1988-1989. The series is divided by subject. Issues include boycotts of companies operating in South Africa, fund-raising, and lobbying for support of bills in Congress that would impose sanctions on South Africa. The NESASN minutes are brief, mentioning topics discussed at meetings with little elaboration. Issues covered in the 1988-89 minutes include the Shell Oil Company boycott, a bill in Congress for sanctions towards South Africa, the sending of delegations to frontline countries in southern Africa, fund-raising for the organization, and building a network to fight apartheid. The correspondence file contains letters from the Capital District Coalition Against Apartheid and Racism, the New Jersey Anti-Apartheid Mobilization Coalition, the Women's International League for Peace and Freedom, and mailings from the NESASN.

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Online

Includes fliers, photocopies of newspaper clippings, pamphlets and papers, CD-CAAR newsletters, steering committee minutes for June 2, 1993, programs, statements and press releases, and copies of letters written by the Civil Service Employees Association, Inc. in 1985 to South African authorities protesting unfair arrests of South African trade unionists. Issues covered in the activities file include the campaign to divest New York State pension funds from companies doing business in South Africa, 1985-1986, and information about the cultural boycott of entertainers who performed in South Africa including a list of names of the performers with notations by the names of those who vowed not to return until apartheid had ended. CD-CAAR was also interested in the problem of local police abuse including the long running case of Jesse Davis, a retarded African American man who was shot five times and killed in his apartment by five white Albany police officers in 1984. There is some mention of the creation of the 1986 Albany Community Police Relations Board. Included is a transcript of a speech given by President Ronald Reagan on South Africa and apartheid circa 1986. Also in the records is a copy of a 1995 subpoena for Vera Michelson to testify in the case of Quibilah B. Shabazz (Malcom X's daughter), charged with attempting to hire an assassin to kill Louis Farrakhan, with photocopies of newspaper clippings relating the Shabazz case to the Springbok demonstration in 1981. Written histories include two chronologies of major coalition events, 1981-1986 and 1981-1991, a "Journal of Quotes" from community leaders (September, 1986) in recognition of the fifth anniversary of the founding of the Capital District Coalition Against Apartheid and Racism, and a history of CD-CAAR written by Vera Michelson and published in the March 1995 newsletter. Arranged chronologically.

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Online

Seven folders from the files of CD-CAAR's secretary, Eileen Kawola. The subject files include press clippings, correspondence, information about the CD-CAAR Committee on Police and Racial Violence (1987-1989), the diary kept by Eileen Kawola on her 1992 trip to southern Africa which includes four photographs, and a brief history of Namibia circa 1984. The series also includes information about Mozambique gathered in preparation for the 1992 trip taken by Eileen Kawola and members of CD-CAAR to Mozambique as well as other countries in southern Africa, and information about educational programs conducted in the Albany schools after the trip. The file on Mozambique also includes information about financial support for Mozambique schools and churches. Included are copies of two CD-CAAR newsletters (October, 1991 and November 10, 1992), correspondence including letters of introduction, educational information about Mozambique, and the Albany Public School Teachers Association (APSTA) Bulletin dated October, 1992 containing a resolution in support of the Mozambique government.

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Reel 6
Online

A complete run of Capital District Coalition Against Apartheid and Racism newsletters edited by Eileen Kawola. The newsletters contain information about the activities and interests of CD-CAAR and events the organization sponsored. Many of the newsletters are in other parts of the CD-CAAR papers, although they are not represented there completely.

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Correspondence, 1983-1994 0.25 cubic ft.

Online

This series contains correspondence, minutes and reports relating to the activities and interests of CD-CAAR and consists mostly of copies of letters sent by CD-CAAR to others. Topics of correspondence include fund-raising, the cultural boycott of entertainers who had performed in South Africa and had not vowed to stay out until apartheid ended, the campaign beginning in 1983 to divest New York State pension funds from businesses operating in South Africa, letters to pastors requesting support, requests for participants in demonstrations, announcements of meetings, arrangements for conferences, requests to institutions not to sponsor pro-South African speakers, letters to legislators supporting or opposing proposed legislation especially relating to divestiture, and letters regarding testimony given by Vera Michelson in front of the United Nations. Although Michelson testified twice before the United Nations, the collection contains only a copy of her November 5, 1984 appearance in which she spoke about the frustrations and concerns of CD-CAAR and other anti-apartheid groups and expressed gratitude to the United Nations for assisting the groups in their work. Includes letters sent to political figures both in the United States and abroad such as Albany Mayor Thomas Whalen III regarding Albany's place in the fight against apartheid, Schenectady Mayor Karen Johnson, NYS Assemblywoman Cynthia Jenkins (with reply) regarding divestiture, President P.W. Botha, Lindwe Mabuza, African National Congress chief representative to the United States, Namibian Minister Helmut Angula, and Ambassador Hipolito Patricio from Mozambique supporting the ANC and the frontline states. Also included are letters to pastors such as Reverend Robert W. Dixon; academics such as President Hines of Siena College, President John S. Morris of Union College, Professor Warren Roberts of the University at Albany, and Martin circa Barell, Chancellor of the New York State Board of Regents protesting pro-South African speakers, writing letters of recommendation for professors, and thanking those who aided the anti-apartheid movement; and with people at other organizations with similar goals such as Solly Simelane of the African National Congress, E.J. Josey, President of the Albany NAACP, and Richard Dillard of the Public Employees Federation Black Caucus. Includes a typescript diary written by Eileen Kawola detailing a July 1992 visit to Mozambique. Arranged chronologically.

Folder
Online

Contains photocopies of newspaper clippings, newsletters, fliers, and programs relating to the cultural boycott of entertainers who performed in South Africa (1982-1984), racism in the United States including police abuse and abuses by the legal system in general (1983-1985), interest in southern black African countries, especially Namibia, Angola and Mozambique (1984-1985), the divestment campaign to get New York State pension funds out of companies doing business in apartheid South Africa (1984-1985), and the anti-apartheid campaign waged against South Africa (1983-1985). This series is very similar to the Coalition Activities series. Although there is no exact duplication of materials, the two series cover the same types of issues. Arranged chronologically.