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In 1956, the State Legislature established the Florida Legislative Investigation Committee, often referred to as the Johns Committee after chairman Charley Johns, to investigate allegedly subversive activities and legal infractions by various organizations within the state (Chapter 31498, Laws of Florida). The committee focused on educational institutions, suspected communist organizations, and Civil Rights Movement groups. One of its first targets for investigation was the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP).
In 1957, The committee held a series of public hearings in which they tried to prove that the NAACP was breaking the law. In December 1958, the committee made a report to the Florida Bar in which they rendered their opinion as to what actions the court should take regarding the method of operation of the NAACP and its Florida counsel, citing alleged professional misconduct of five of the NAACP's attorneys: Alexander Akerman, Jr. of Washington, D.C.; Horace E. Hill of Daytona Beach, Florida; Grattan E. Graves, Jr. of Miami, Florida; and Francisco A. Rodriguez and William Andrew Fordham, both of Tampa, Florida. However, the committee's efforts against the NAACP ultimately failed and they moved on to other investigations.
Summary:
This collection primarily consists of carbon copies of transcripts of hearings before the Florida Legislative Investigation Committee from February 4, 1957 to March 13, 1957. In addition, there is a report to the President of the Florida Bar that assesses the hearings for information concerning the conduct of five of the NAACP's attorneys, with indexes of pertinent testimony. There are also several letters concerning the transmittal of copies of the transcripts, and various opinions concerning their contents. This correspondence dates from 1957 to 1960. There are also reports, questions, and complaints concerning the actions of the NAACP in Florida, and copies of legal documents regarding their activities in other states.
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Akerman, Alexander. Fordham, William Andrew, 1921- Graves, Grattan E. Hill, Horace E. Rodriguez, Francisco Aristides.
Florida Legislative Investigation Committee. National Association for the Advancement of Colored People.
African American lawyers. African Americans History 1877-1964. Florida Legal ethics Florida
Added Entries
Atkinson, George W., 1913-
Harrison, Baya M., 1913-1975
for detailed listing.