Klaus & Elisabeth C. Speer Papers
Scope and Contents
This collection consists of various writings concerning the Speers' time at the University of Southern Mississippi.
Dates
- Creation: circa 1963-1965
Conditions Governing Access
Noncirculating; available for research.
Conditions Governing Use
This collection may be protected from unauthorized copying by the Copyright Law of the United States (Title 17, United States Code).
Biographical / Historical
In the summer of 1963 Dr. Klaus Speer, his wife Elisabeth, and their son Danny moved from Houston Texas to Hattiesburg Mississippi so that Dr. Speer could begin teaching in the Music Department of The University of Southern Mississippi.
In 1964, as civil rights organizations became increasingly active in Mississippi, the Speer family was both outwardly sympathetic with the movement and outspoken about their political opinions. The Speer family attended picnics hosted by civil rights activists and often entertained Civil Rights workers and student volunteers in their home.
While teaching at the University of Southern Mississippi, Dr. Klaus Speer had earned a Masters of Library Science Degree. In 1965 he resigned his position at USM to become the first rare books custodian at the Eastman School of Music, University of Rochester and moved with his family to New York.
Dr. Klaus Speer retired from his position as rare books custodian in 1976 and died in 1979. At the time of this writing, Daniel J. Speer resides in Trumansburg, New York, and Elisabeth C. Speer, resides in a nearby nursing home.
Extent
.80 Cubic Feet
Language of Materials
English
Abstract
Personal diaries of Elisabeth Speer, family Christmas letters, and scrapbook of newspaper clippings concerning Civil Rights Movement in Mississippi.
Arrangement
Included is a scrapbook compiled by Elisabeth Speer of newspaper articles about the Civil Rights movement from December 1964-March 1965 and three annual form letters. (Photocopies of the scrapbook are available for general research. Originals are available under the supervision of Archives staff.)
The Speer family produced the form letters to correspond with friends and family during Christmas.
Also included are three of Elisabeth Speer's diaries in which she discusses not only her daily social activities, but also various visits with prominent people of the civil rights movement. These include Rev. Bob Beech, Rabbi David Ben-Ami, Rabbi Arthur J. Lelyveld, Rev. John E. Cameron, Lana Beard, Victoria Gray Adams, and Fannie Lou Hamer.
Provenance
This collection was donated by Mr. Thomas L. Price on July 30, 2001; by Mr. Daniel Speer, son of Klaus and Elisabeth Speer, on October 12, 2001; and by Mrs. Bettye N. White on November 5, 2001.
Subject
- Beech, Bob, Reverend (Robert L.), -2008 (Person)
- Lelyveld, Arthur J., Rabbi, 1913-1996 (Person)
- Adams, Victoria Gray, 1926-2006 (Person)
- Hamer, Fannie Lou, 1917-1977 (Person)
- Ben-Ami, David Z., Rabbi, 1924-2008 (Person)
Genre / Form
Topical
- Civil rights movements -- Mississippi -- History -- 20th century.
- Civil rights workers -- Mississippi.
- Civil rights.
- Hattiesburg (Miss.) -- Social Life and customs.
- Librarians.
- Music teachers--United States.
- United States -- History -- Civil War, 1861-1865.
- University of Southern Mississippi -- Faculty.
- University of Southern Mississippi -- Students.
- Title
- Klaus & Elisabeth C. Speer Papers
- Status
- Completed
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Latin
Repository Details
Part of the Historical Manuscripts and Photographs Repository
118 College Drive - 5148
Hattiesburg MS 39406-0001
601.266.4345
