Citizens' Council Forum Films Collection, 1955-1966
The first Citizens' Council was formed in 1954 in Indianola, Mississippi, to resist integration. By March 1955, 167 Citizens' Councils were reported in Mississippi; these were loosely affiliated into a state organization. In 1955, the state organization began producing fifteen-minute weekly films under the name Citizens' Council Forum Films. These films consisted of interviews by producer Dick Morphew with American and foreign conservatives and were shown on local television stations throughout the country. The programs were created to persuade public opinion regarding two main issues: integration and communism. Some of the films in this collection were not produced by the Citizens' Council Forum Films, but by similar groups. Contained in the collection are 132 reels of film, approximately 90,000 feet.
Read MoreThe first Citizens' Council was formed in 1954 in Indianola, Mississippi, to resist integration. By March 1955, 167 Citizens' Councils were reported in Mississippi; these were loosely affiliated into a state organization. In 1955, the state organization began producing fifteen-minute weekly films under the name Citizens' Council Forum Films. These films consisted of interviews by producer Dick Morphew with American and foreign conservatives and were shown on local television stations throughout the country. The programs were created to persuade public opinion regarding two main issues: integration and communism. Some of the films in this collection were not produced by the Citizens' Council Forum Films, but by similar groups. Contained in the collection are 132 reels of film, approximately 90,000 feet.
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MP_198601_0128_ref.mov
Description: 'Governor Ross Barnett (D-MS) discusses the Southern Governor"'s Meeting held in Jackson on July 19, 1961. This film contains a negative sound track only.'
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MP_198601_0129_ref.mov
Description: 'Governor Ernest Hollings (D-SC) discusses the Southern Governor"'s Meeting held in Jackson on July 19, 1961, and the plans to hold another meeting in 60 days.'
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MP_198601_0130_ref.mov
Description: 'Lt. Governor Paul B. Johnson, Jr. (D-MS) discusses the Southern Governor"'s Meetings in Jackson on July19, 1961. This film contains a negative sound track only.'
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MP_198601_0131_ref.mov
Description: 'Attorney General McDonald Gallion (D-AL) and Attorney General Joe Patterson (D-MS) discuss the Southern Governor"'s Meetings in Jackson. This film contains a negative sound track only.'
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MP_198601_0020_ref.mov
Description: William J. Simmons interviews Ian Smith, Prime Minister of Rhodesia, about how Rhodesia is handling its race problems.
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MP_198601_0030_ref.mov
Description: Major General Edwin Walker discusses the communist plan and how it relates to forced integration at Little Rock.
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MP_198601_0050_ref.mov
Description: Senator Barry Goldwater (R-AZ) discusses the power of organized labor and states rights in the West.
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MP_198601_0060_ref.mov
Description: Senator Strom Thurmond (D-SC) discusses Cuban military build-up, and what the United States policy toward Cuba should be. (Could have been filmed before the Cuban Missile Crisis)
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MP_198601_0070_ref.mov
Description: '"'This is Rhodesia"', a documentary film about Rhodesia, could have been produced by the government of Rhodesia.'
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MP_198601_0080_ref.mov
Description: Representative Joe D. Waggonner (D-LA) discusses the Watts riots in Los Angeles and the question of obeying the law. Part 1 (Part 2 is on reel 113)
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MP_198601_0090_ref.mov
Description: Representative John Bell Williams (D-MS) discusses the United Nations.