Repository

ULS Archives & Special Collections

Title

Ernest Rice McKinney Papers

Creator

McKinney, Ernest Rice

Collection Number

AIS.1963.04

Extent

0.56 Linear Feet (1 box)

Date

1929-1942

Date

1929-1935

Abstract

Ernest McKinney was an African American journalist who played an integral role as an unemployed organizer for the National Unemployed League. This collection includes personal papers; it should be noted that McKinney sometimes wrote under the pseudonym of David Coolidge.

Language

English .

Author

Archives Service Center staff in 1963. Revisions occurred to the finding aid as a part of the encoding process on January 22, 2003.

Publisher

ULS Archives & Special Collections

Address

University of Pittsburgh Library System
Archives & Special Collections
Website: library.pitt.edu/archives-special-collections
Business Number: 412-648-3232 (Thomas) | 412-648-8190 (Hillman)
Contact Us: www.library.pitt.edu/ask-archivist
URL: http://library.pitt.edu/archives-special-collections

Biography

Born in Malden, West Virginia, in 1886, McKinney, also known under the pseudonym David Coolidge, was the son of a coal miner. At different points in his life, McKinney endeavored a variety of jobs which included becoming editor of, This Month, a columnist for the Pittsburgh Courier (1932), Executive Secretary of the Unemployed Citizens' League of Allegheny County (1933), a Social Worker, and Assistant to the Director, Kingsley House. In 1916 an oral history conducted at Columbia University resulted in McKinney writing a 116 page book of memoirs published by Harvard University,The Reminiscences of Ernest Rice McKinney. The memoir deals with the development of the National Unemployed League, depression days; organizing steel workers for CIO, membership in the Workers' Socialist Party; upgrading African Americans in industry; Working Men's Welfare Committees; Workers Party of the United States (Trotskyist Group) and its relationship to Communist and Socialist Parties; and McKinney's resignation from Workers Party.

Scope and Content Notes

This collection is comprised of correspondence, newspaper clippings, a scrapbook and articles by McKinney, cartoons, and miscellaneous material ranging from publications to newsletters. Some of McKinney's papers are located at Harvard University and an oral history was conducted at Columbia University.

Access Restrictions

No restrictions.

Acquisition Information

Gift of Hugh Cleland on October 15, 1963.

Preferred Citation

Ernest Rice McKinney Papers, 1929-1935, 1942, AIS.1963.04, Archives & Special Collections, University of Pittsburgh Library System

Previous Citation

Ernest Rice McKinney Papers, 1929-1935, 1942, AIS.1963.04, Archives Service Center, University of Pittsburgh

McKinney, Ernest Rice Papers, 1929-1935, 1942, Archives of Industrial Society, University of Pittsburgh Libraries

Processing Information

This collection was originally processed by Archives Service Center staff in 1963. Revision and rearrangement for the encoded version of the finding aid was provided by Tami Jacques on January 22, 2003. Finding aid was updated with additional description by Bryce R. Henry on February 7, 2012. Information about the collection title and the controlled access terms was extracted from the MARC record in the University of Pittsburgh catalog Voyager ID number: 1410030.

Copyright

The University of Pittsburgh holds the property rights to the material in this collection, but the copyright may still be held by the original creator/author. Researchers are therefore advised to follow the regulations set forth in the U.S. Copyright Code when publishing, quoting, or reproducing material from this collection without the consent of the creator/author or that go beyond what is allowed by fair use.

Subjects

Corporate Names

• Manchester Industrial Center (Pittsburgh, Pa.)
• Pennsylvania Unemployed League. Allegheny County Division
• Socialist Workers Party
• Unemployed Citizens' League of Allegheny County

Personal Names

• McKinney, Ernest Rice

Geographic Names

• Pittsburgh (Pa.) -- Social conditions

Other Subjects

• Social action
• Personal papers
• African American social workers -- Pennsylvania -- Pittsburgh
• African American journalists -- Pennsylvania -- Pittsburgh
• Social workers -- Pennsylvania -- Pittsburgh
• Journalists -- Pennsylvania -- Pittsburgh
• Socialists -- Pennsylvania -- Pittsburgh
• Socialism
• Unemployed -- United States
• Social workers -- Political activity

Container List

Correspondence of the Unemployed Citizen's League of Pittsburgh, March-April 1933

Containers

box 1, folder 1

Newspaper clippings, circa 1936

Containers

box 1, folder 2

Scope and Content Notes

Includes poetry, editorials, and several "It Is My Opinion" articles by McKinney on a variety of topics including employment, unions, and politics

Clipbook (unbound), 1932-1933

Containers

box 1, folder 3

Scope and Content Notes

Newspaper clippings regarding employment, politics, President Roosevelt, and unions.

Miscellaneous publications and periodicals, 1935

Containers

box 1, folder 4

Item 1. Ernest Rice McKinney, "The Tactics of the Socialist Party in Pittsburgh: A Rejoinder"

Item 2. David Coolidge, Bulletin on the Negro Question

Item 3. Constitution and Platform of the Unemployed Citizen's League of Allegheny County

Item 4. "The Unemployed in Action: A Challenge to the Unemployed of Pittsburgh," Bulletin 3 of the Pittsburgh UCL

Item 5. Preamble to the Constitution of the Unemployed Citizen's League of Allegheny County, March 1935

Item 6. Untitled open letter/statement/manifesto of David Coolidge, circa 1935

The agenda and minutes for the July 30-31, 1934 Convention of the National Unemployed League, circa 1934

Containers

box 1, folder 5

Scope and Content Notes

2 copies

Miscellaneous publications and periodicals, 1929-1942

Containers

box 1, folder 6

Item 1. Demonstrate, the Official Organ of the PA Unemployed League, nos. 1-2, October-November 1934

Item 2. Flier for "Don't Tread On Me," the Second Annual Convention of the National Unemployed League, 1934

Scope and Content Notes

The convention took place on July 30, 31 and August 1, 1934 in Columbus, Ohio. 2 copies.

Item 3. Information Bulletin: A Service for Unemployed Organizations magazine issues 1-3, 1932-1933

Item 4. Abolish Segregation, Jim-Crowism, Discrimination, vol. 1, no. 2, November 1942

Item 5. This Month, vol. 1, no. 2, June 1929

Scope and Content Notes

Includes Ernest McKinney, "Holy Men of Aframerica."

Item 6. The Letter: Weekly News of the Center, vol 3, no. 6, February 5, 1931

Mass Action, vol 1, nos. 1-5, 17, 1935

Containers

box 1, folder 7

Cartoons

Containers

box 1, folder 8

Item 1. Labor Age Cartoons

Scope and Content Notes

2 copies, original and copy.

Item 2. Various cartoons assembled from unknown sources

Two articles by Ernest Rice McKinney, 1929 and 1933

Containers

box 1, folder 10

Item 1. "Race Solidarity: An Ideal of No Importance," The World Tomorrow, January 1929

Item 2. "The Negro's Road to Freedom," Labor Age, vol. 21, no. 9, September 1932

Sworn statement of Charles Lewis, March 31, 1933

Containers

box 1, folder 9