Charles Sowerwine Freedom Summer Collection
Scope and Contents
This collection consists of two items created by Charles Sowerwine during Mississippi Freedom Summer.
Dates
- 1964
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 1964, Charles "Chips" Sowerwine trained in Oxford, Ohio for the Mississippi Summer Project, also known as Freedom Summer. Soon afterward, he served as a Freedom Summer volunteer in Sunflower County, Mississippi.
Mr. Sowerwine was educated at Oberlin College and the University of Wisconsin. Prior to his move to Melbourne Australia in 1974, he served as Instructor at the University of Paris. He currently holds a joint appointment as Professor at the Université de Versailles Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines and as Professor at the University of Melbourne. He teaches history and gender studies at the University of Melbourne and publishes on topics pertaining to social and women's history. A small portion of these publications include:
Articles:
Sowerwine, Charles. 2003. "Woman's brain, man's brain: Feminism and anthropology in late nineteenth century France." Women's History Review 12(2): 289.
Essays:
Sowerwine, Charles. From 'Nation' to 'Europe' The Implosion of Nationalism in French Discourse of the 1920s, French History in the Antipodes : The Proceedings of the Twelfth George Rudé Seminar on French History, 97-102. Wellington : Wai-te-ata Press, 2001.
Books:
Sowerwine, Charles. 2001. France since 1870: Culture, politics and society. Basingstoke : Palgrave.
Maignien, Claude and Charles Sowerwine. 1992. Madeleine Pelletier, une féministe dans l'arène politique. Paris : Editions ouvriáeres.
Extent
2 Items (9 pages)
Language of Materials
English
Abstract
Letters by civil rights volunteer.
Arrangement
The first item is a photocopy of an eight-page letter addressed to Mrs. Anna Murray of Summit, New Jersey, from Charles "Chips" Sowerwine of Oxford, Ohio. The letter is dated June 25, 1964. Mr. Sowerwine wrote the letter while training in Ohio for the Mississippi Summer Project. Mr. Sowerwine begins the letter by describing to Mrs. Murray three goals he hopes to see Freedom Summer accomplish for the state of Mississippi. He proceeds to discuss the prospects of voter registration efforts and the building of community centers and freedom schools throughout the state of Mississippi. The letter expresses Mr. Sowerwine's certainty of Freedom Summer's peaceful and hopeful intentions and his fear of reactions against the movement. He mentions "...the fate of my three lost co-workers" (a reference to James Chaney, Andrew Goodman and Michael Schwerner, Freedom Summer volunteers who were murdered in Neshoba County, Mississippi ). In the letter, Mr. Sowerwine suggests the need for Mrs. Murray's assistance protecting the safety of the Freedom Summer volunteers in Mississippi. The letter includes mention of the National Council of Churches (NCC) and the Student Non-violence Coordinating Committee (SNCC).
The second item is an original one-page letter addressed to Mrs. Bernard, of Summit, New Jersey, from Charles "Chips" Sowerwine, of Oberlin, Ohio. The undated letter alludes to previous letters; volunteers his contact information; and offers assistance to Mrs. Bernard.
Provenance
Materials in this collection were created by Charles Sowerwine.
- Civil rights workers -- Mississippi. Subject Source: Local sources
- Letter. Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Mississippi Freedom Project. Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Personal narratives. Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Title
- Charles Sowerwine Freedom Summer Collection
- 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
