CORE

Congress of Racial Equality

A national organization with affiliated local groups working to abolish racial discrimination by direct, nonviolent methods

38 Park Row

New York 38, New York

COrtlandt 7-0408

ADVISORY COMMITTEE

Ralph Abernathy

James Baldwin

Roger N. Baldwin

Algernon D. Black

Allan Knight Chalmers

Grenville Clark

Earl B. Dickerson

Eugene E. Frazier

Harold Gibbons

Roland B. Gittelsohn

Arthur J. Goldberg

George M. Houser

E. Stanley Jones

Martin Luther King 

Will Maslow

A. J. Muste

A. Phillip Randolph

Ira DeA. Reid

Walter P. Reuther

Jackie Robinson

Arnold M. Rose

Lillian Smith

Gardner Taylor 

Howard Thurman

jerry Wurf

Charles S. Zimmerman

OFFICERS

Charles R. Oldham, chairman

Henry Hodge, vice chairman

Anna Holden, Secretary

Lula A. Farmer, treasurer

James Peck, CORElator editor

regional representatives

Gladys Harrington

Walter Hayes

William Larkins

Evelyn J. Rich

Frank Robinson

Sterling Stuckey

Earl L. Walter

STAFF

Gordon R. Carey, field secretary

Darwin W. Bolden, field secretary

James T. McCain, field secretary

Marvin Robinson, field secretary

Marvin Rich, community relations director

James R. Robinson, executive secretary

December 2, 1960

Miss Patricia Stephens

P. O. Box 1003

Tallahassee, Florida

Dear Pat:

My letter to Mr. Larkins, with copies to you, was written yesterday, and your letter came in today. So I shall try to answer questions not answered in my letter yesterday. I am sending copies to Mr. Larkins and Miss Young.

You say that Tallahassee CORE is "delighted to have the national council! Please be sure that everyone or almost everyone in Tallahassee CORE does feel that way. It should be discussed at a meeting. we would not want to have a National Council meeting if a number of CORE members in Tallahassee think it might militate against progress there at this time.

The date I suggest is February 11-12. National CORE does not take care of any expenses usually for Council meetings except to give some travel assistance (see Constitution). Free housing is usually provided by the host CORE group for all or nearly all those who attend. We have not usually had a mass meeting. Last year we did have a luncheon open to the public. And, of course, a mass meeting is not necessarily ruled out. But we must remember that the Council is short, is aimed at handling internal CORE business and therefore concentrates on these matters. If you do decide to have a mass meeting or a luncheon or dinner, please write us about inviting the speaker (Lawson sounds like a good idea, but I have not had a chance to discuss this with other members of the staff).

It is very kind of Rev. Steele to offer his church for meetings and for meals. On the meals, it would be important that those attending the Council (including at least one person from Tallahassee CORE as delegate plus Mr. Larkirs as Regional Representative) not have to assist in meal preparation, dish-washing etc.: Council delegates may need to be constantly in session. Each affiliated group has only one voting delegate; others may attend but, as at the Convention, some closed sessions for delegates, officers and staff only may occur if tough questions arise.

Let us know if the date mentioned above is the only good one. On second thought, the last weekend in January might be preferable if it is all right there.

P. S. Delegates may be charged for their meals; if so let us know the charges so that we can put them in an announcement.

Sincerely yours, 

[Signature] James R, Robinson

Exectuive Secretary