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.


Filename Description
MP_198601_0120_ref.mov Representative William Colmer (D-MS) discusses Health Education and Welfare (HEW) school guide lines.
MP_198601_0121_ref.mov Representative William L. Dickinson (R-Al) discusses Selma to Mongomery march. Part 1 (Part 2 is on reel 122)
MP_198601_0122_ref.mov Representative William L. Dickson (R-AL) discusses Selma to Montgomery march. Part 2 (Part 1 is on reel 121)
MP_198601_0123_ref.mov 'Representative Arthur Winstead (D-MS) and Reverend T. R. Ingram, Rector of St. Thomas"'s Episcapol Church, Houston. Texas, discuss Ingram"'s belief that the Federal Government is taking over the churches in the United States. Part 1 (Part 2 is on reel 124)'
MP_198601_0124_ref.mov 'Representative Arthur Winstead (D-MS) and the Reverend T. Robert Ingram, Rector of St. Thomas"'s Episcopal Church, Houston, Texas, discuss the Federal Government"'s take over of the churches. Part 2 (Part 1 is on reel 123)'
MP_198601_0125_ref.mov Representative Robert Ashmore (D-SC) discusses proposed Civil Rights act of 1964. Part 1 (Part 2 is on reel 126.)
MP_198601_0126_ref.mov Representative Robert T. Ashmore (D-SC) discusses proposed Civil Rights Act of 1963. Part 2 (Part 1 is on reel 125)
MP_198601_0127_ref.mov 'Attorney General Eugene Cook (GA) discusses the Southern Governor"'s meeting held in Jackson on July 19, 1961.'
MP_198601_0128_ref.mov '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.'
MP_198601_0129_ref.mov '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.'
MP_198601_0130_ref.mov '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.'
MP_198601_0131_ref.mov '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.'
MP_198601_0020_ref.mov William J. Simmons interviews Ian Smith, Prime Minister of Rhodesia, about how Rhodesia is handling its race problems.
MP_198601_0030_ref.mov Major General Edwin Walker discusses the communist plan and how it relates to forced integration at Little Rock.
MP_198601_0050_ref.mov Senator Barry Goldwater (R-AZ) discusses the power of organized labor and states rights in the West.
MP_198601_0060_ref.mov 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)
MP_198601_0070_ref.mov '"'This is Rhodesia"', a documentary film about Rhodesia, could have been produced by the government of Rhodesia.'
MP_198601_0080_ref.mov 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)
MP_198601_0090_ref.mov Representative John Bell Williams (D-MS) discusses the United Nations.