Harry G. Lefever papers
Scope and Content
The Harry G. Lefever papers consist primarily of records Mr. Lefever kept on neighborhoods and community organizations in Atlanta, Georgia. The papers reflect his involvement in community organizing; race relations and urban renewal; Atlanta inner-city neighborhoods and associations; and the Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority. These files contain correspondence; articles from books, magazines, and newspapers; reports; and student papers on the relationship between the community associations and local government. There is a file on the "Atlanta Wall" scandal of 1962-1963, which includes copies of photographs, articles, and correspondence Mr. Lefever created and collected during his research. Lastly, there are eleven bound reports on neighborhood profiles and renewal plans. Of these reports, ten were created by the Corporation for Olympic Development in Atlanta in preparation for the 1996 Olympic Games. The other report outlines the history of ten neighborhood associations in the Neighborhood Planning Unit T.
Dates
- 1966-2009, undated
Creator
- Lefever, Harry G. (Person)
Conditions Governing Access
This collection is open for research.
Conditions Governing Reproduction and Use
Unpublished manuscripts are protected by copyright. All requests to publish, quote, or reproduce must be submitted through the Kenan Research Center.
Administrative/Biographical History
Harry Groff Lefever, born December 7, 1931, attended Eastern Mennonite College in Harrisonburg, Virginia where he earned an undergraduate degree in 1955. Lefever earned his Master's degree from the University of Chicago in 1962 and his Doctorate of Philosphy from Emory University in 1971. After teaching at Eastern Mennonite College for three years, he joined the Sociology Department at Spelman College in Atlanta, Georgia, in 1966. Lefever served as the department chair from 1975-1992. In 2003, he retired from teaching and was named Professor Emeritus of Sociology at Spelman College. He received several awards while teaching at Spelman, including the Presidential Award for Scholarly Achievement, the United Negro College Fund Distinguished Scholar Award, and the Fannie Lou Hamer Achievement Award. Lefever wrote several books related to race relations and the Civil Rights Movement, notably Undaunted by the Fight: Spelman College & the Civil Rights Movement 1957-1967 (2005) and Sacred Places: A Guide to Civil Rights Sites in Atlanta, Georgia (2008). Lefever's wife, Esther, was a district councilwoman for the Sixth District of Atlanta.
Extent
2.5 linear ft. (6 document cases)
Language
English
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Gift, 2009
Description Control
This collection processed in 2012
- Atlanta (Ga.) -- Race relations
- Atlanta (Ga.). Bureau of Planning
- Atlanta Urban Design Commission (Ga.)
- Bass Organization for Neighborhood Development (Atlanta, Ga.)
- Bedford Pine (Atlanta, Ga.)
- Cabbagetown (Atlanta, Ga.)
- Candler Park (Atlanta, Ga.)
- City planning -- Citizen participation -- Georgia -- Atlanta
- Community development -- Georgia -- Atlanta
- Community organization -- Citizen participation
- Gladin, Collier B.
- Grant Park (Atlanta, Ga.)
- Homeowners -- Georgia -- Atlanta -- Social conditions
- Housing -- Georgia -- Atlanta
- Impact Council, Inc
- Inman Park (Atlanta, Ga.)
- Inner cities -- Georgia -- Atlanta
- Jackson, Maynard, 1938-2003
- Kennedy, Paul J.
- Kiepper, Alan F.
- Lefever, Esther
- Little Five Points (Atlanta, Ga.)
- Local transit -- Georgia -- Atlanta
- Mechanicsville (Atlanta, Ga.)
- Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority
- Reynoldstown (Atlanta, Ga.)
- Thomas, Cathy (Catherine W.)
- Urban renewal -- Georgia -- Atlanta
- Vine City (Atlanta, Ga.)
- West End (Atlanta, Ga.)
- Title
- Harry G. Lefever papers
- Author
- Paul Crater
- Description rules
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Latin
- Language of description note
- Finding aid is written in English.
Repository Details
Part of the Kenan Research Center at Atlanta History Center Repository