Powell, Adam Clayton, Jr., 1908-1972

Variant names
Detailed View Revision History Sources

Hide Profile

Adam Clayton Powell Jr. (November 29, 1908 – April 4, 1972) was a Baptist pastor and an American politician, who represented the Harlem neighborhood of New York City in the United States House of Representatives from 1945 until 1971. He was the first African-American to be elected from New York to Congress.

Re-elected for nearly three decades, Powell became a powerful national politician of the Democratic Party, and served as a national spokesman on civil rights and social issues. He also urged United States presidents to support emerging nations in Africa and Asia as they gained independence after colonialism.

In 1961, after 16 years in the House, Powell became chairman of the Education and Labor Committee, the most powerful position held by an African American in Congress. As chairman, he supported the passage of important social and civil rights legislation under presidents John F. Kennedy and Lyndon B. Johnson. Following allegations of corruption, in 1967 Powell was excluded from his seat by Democratic Representatives-elect of the 90th United States Congress, but he was re-elected and regained the seat in the 1969 ruling by the Supreme Court of the United States in Powell v. McCormack. He lost his seat in 1970 to Charles Rangel and retired from electoral politics.

Archival Resources
Role Title Holding Repository
referencedIn J. B. Matthews Papers, 1862-1986 and undated David M. Rubenstein Rare Book & Manuscript Library
referencedIn Brotherhood of Sleeping Car Porters Records 1920-1968 (bulk 1950-1968) Library of Congress. Manuscript Division
referencedIn Smith, Howard K. (Howard Kingsbury), 1914-2002. Papers, 1941-1963. Wisconsin Historical Society, Newspaper Project
referencedIn Bertha Klausner Papers, 1897-1995 Univerisity of Wyoming. American Heritage Center.
creatorOf John R. Hickman Audio Collection. 1925 - 1975. Sound Recordings of Historical Radio Broadcasts, World War II Government Documentaries, and Popular Radio Shows. 1906 - 1993. quot;Keep the Faith, Babyquot; Speech by Adam Clayton Powell National Archives at College Park
referencedIn Spencer, Anne, 1882-1975. Papers of Anne Spencer and the Spencer family [manuscript], 1829, 1864-2007. University of Virginia. Library
referencedIn Gerald R. Ford Congressional Papers. 1948 - 1973. Broadcasts Files. 1949 - 1972. Ford Broadcasts, 1967-1968 Gerald R. Ford Library
referencedIn Law, W. W.,. W.W. Law oral history interview, 1990 Nov. 16. Georgia State University
referencedIn Du Bois, Shirley Graham, 1896-1977. Papers, 1865-1998 (inclusive), 1905-1975 (bulk). Arthur and Elizabeth Schlesinger Library on the History of Women in America‏
referencedIn United States. Dept. of the Treasury. Treasury Department War Bond literary collection, ca. 1940-1946, 1978. Xavier University of Louisiana, XULA
referencedIn Claude McKay collection, 1853-1990, 1922-1948 Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library
referencedIn Dwight D. Eisenhower Library Oral History Collection. 1962 - 1998. Oral History Transcripts. 1962 - 1998. Oral History Interviews with Herbert Brownell Dwight D. Eisenhower Library
referencedIn MacGregor, Clark, 1922-. Clark MacGregor papers, 1958-1972. Minnesota Historical Society, Division of Archives and Manuscripts
referencedIn Biography: J. Edward Roush, 1969 Indiana University, Bloomington. Center for the Study of History and Memory
referencedIn Garvey, Amy Jacques. Amy Garvey memorial collection on Marcus Garvey, 1776-1971. John Hope and Aurelia E. Franklin Library. Special Collections & Archives
referencedIn Frank S. Horne papers, 1927-1974 Tulane University, Amistad Research Center
referencedIn New York Times Company records. Arthur Hays Sulzberger papers, 1823-1999 New York Public Library. Manuscripts and Archives Division
referencedIn Papers of Shirley Graham Du Bois, 1865-1998 (inclusive), 1905-1975 (bulk) Arthur and Elizabeth Schlesinger Library on the History of Women in America‏
referencedIn National Union of Hospital and Health Care Employees. Series 2. Mount Sinai Hospital interviews, 1976-1977, bulk 1977. Cornell University Library
referencedIn Clark, Mamie Phipps. Reminiscences of Mamie Phipps Clark : oral history, 1976. Columbia University in the City of New York, Columbia University Libraries
referencedIn Harris, Fred R., 1930-. Papers, 1963-1976. University of Oklahoma, Bizzell Memorial Library
referencedIn General Records of the Department of Justice. 1790 - 2002. Class 51 (Offenses against Public Justice, Bribery and Perjury) Litigation Case Files National Archives at College Park
referencedIn Sampson, Edith S. (Edith Spurlock), 1901?-1979. Papers, 1927-1979 (inclusive) 1934-1979 (bulk). Arthur and Elizabeth Schlesinger Library on the History of Women in America‏
creatorOf NONMUSIC RECORDING (COLLECTION) Audio materials, 1956-1977 National Association for the Advancement of Colored People. Audio materials, 1956-1977 [sound recording]. Library of Congress
referencedIn Kramer, John R. Papers 2007-080., [ca. 1938-2006] Dolph Briscoe Center for American History
referencedIn Records of the Agency for International Development. 1948 - 2003. Moving Images Relating to International Development Programs and Activities. 1979 - 1991. The Black Contribution National Archives at College Park
referencedIn New York Times Company records. A.M. Rosenthal papers, 1955-1994, 1967-1986 New York Public Library. Manuscripts and Archives Division
referencedIn Earl Browder Papers, 1879-1990 Syracuse University. Library. Special Collections Research Center
referencedIn National Union of Hospital and Health Care Employees. Series 1, Subseries 1, Sub-subseries 9. Ted Mitchell interviews, 1975-1976. Cornell University Library
creatorOf Esquire Magazine. Esquire Magazine records, 1933-1977. Bentley Historical Library
referencedIn Isabel Washington Powell collection, 1929-1981 Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture. Rare Books, Manuscripts, and Archives Section
creatorOf Papers of Julian Bond 1897-2006 University of Virginia. Small Special Collections Library
referencedIn American Committee on Africa. Archives 1948-1988. Tulane University, Amistad Research Center
referencedIn Chuck Stone Papers, 1931-2007 and undated David M. Rubenstein Rare Book & Manuscript Library
referencedIn Records of the Foreign Service Posts of the Department of State. 1788 - 1991. Classified Central Subject Files National Archives at College Park
referencedIn Westerman, George W. George W. Westerman papers, 1886-1988 (bulk 1934-1985). New York Public Library System, NYPL
referencedIn Chester Bowles papers, 1924-1982 Yale University. Department of Manuscripts and Archives
referencedIn Eric Frederick Goldman Papers, 1886-1988, (bulk 1940-1970) Library of Congress. Manuscript Division
referencedIn Goldman, Eric Frederick, 1915-1989. Papers, 1886-1988 (bulk 1940-1970). Library of Congress
referencedIn National Association for the Advancement of Colored People Records, 1842-1999, (bulk 1919-1991) Library of Congress. Manuscript Division
referencedIn Del Rio, James. James Del Rio collection. State Archive of Michigan
referencedIn Costikyan, Edward N., 1924-. Edward N.Costikyan papers, 1952-1985. Columbia University in the City of New York, Columbia University Libraries
referencedIn Papers, 1927-1979 Arthur and Elizabeth Schlesinger Library on the History of Women in America‏
referencedIn United States. Federal Bureau of Investigation. Federal surveillance of African Americans, 1920-1984 [electronic resource]. University of California, Irvine. Library. Department of Special Collections
referencedIn Motley, Constance Baker, 1921-2005. The reminiscences of Judge Constance Baker Motley. Arthur and Elizabeth Schlesinger Library on the History of Women in America‏
referencedIn Edward N. Costikyan Papers, 1952-1985. Columbia University. Rare Book and Manuscript Library
referencedIn Emanuel Celler Papers, 1924-1973, (bulk 1945-1973) Library of Congress. Manuscript Division
referencedIn Esquire, Inc. Records, 1933-1977 Bentley Historical Library
referencedIn World Jewish Congress Records, 1918-1982 (bulk 1940-1980) The Jacob Rader Marcus Center of the American Jewish Archives
referencedIn George W. Pray Papers, 1844-1890 Bentley Historical Library
referencedIn Guide to the Daily Worker and Daily World Negatives Collection, 1930-2001 Tamiment Library and Robert F. Wagner Labor Archives
referencedIn Conrad Clark papers, 1950-1964 Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture. Rare Books, Manuscripts, and Archives Section
referencedIn International Ladies Garment Workers Union. Charles S. Zimmerman papers, 1919-1958 [bulk 1920-1945]. Kheel Center for Labor-Management Documentation and Archives
referencedIn Jackie Robinson Papers, 1934-2001, (bulk 1947-1987) Library of Congress. Manuscript Division
creatorOf Machen, Hervey Gilbert, 1916-. Papers of Hervey Machen, 1937-1968. University of Maryland (College Park, Md.). Libraries
referencedIn Paul A. Freund papers Harvard Law School Library Langdell Hall Cambridge, MA 02138
referencedIn Blacks in the railroad industry collection, 1946-1954. Campbell University, Wiggins Memorial Library
referencedIn Chuck Stone Papers, 1931-2007 and undated David M. Rubenstein Rare Book & Manuscript Library
referencedIn Congress of Racial Equality. Records, 1941-1967. Wisconsin Historical Society, Newspaper Project
referencedIn Nannie Helen Burroughs Papers, 1900-1963, (bulk 1928-1960) Library of Congress. Manuscript Division
referencedIn Claude Barnett and the Associated Negro Press, 1976-1977 Indiana University, Bloomington. Center for the Study of History and Memory
referencedIn Bunche, Ralph J. (Ralph Johnson), 1904-1971. Ralph Bunche papers : additions, 1937-1971. New York Public Library System, NYPL
referencedIn Jack, Hulan E. (Hulan Edwin), 1906-1986. Hulan Jack papers, 1941-1960. New York Public Library System, NYPL
referencedIn Margaret Bayne Price Papers, 1918-1969, 1947-1968 Bentley Historical Library
creatorOf Clark, Conrad, 1909-1984. Conrad Clark papers, 1950-1964. Campbell University, Wiggins Memorial Library
referencedIn Floyd B. McKissick Papers, 1940s-1980s University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Library. Southern Historical Collection
referencedIn Younger, J. Arthur (Jesse Arthur), 1893-1967. J. Arthur Younger papers, 1951-1968. Stanford University. Department of Special Collections and University Archives
referencedIn McKay, Claude, 1890-1948. Claude McKay collection, 1853-1990 (bulk 1922-1948). Yale University Library
referencedIn National Association for the Advancement of Colored People. Detroit Branch. NAACP Detroit Branch records, 1943-1970. Wayne State University. Archives of Labor and Urban Affairs
referencedIn Abyssinian Baptist Church Oral History Project, 1992 Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture. Rare Books, Manuscripts, and Archives Section
referencedIn Powell, Isabel Washington, 1908-. Isabel Washington Powell collection, 1929-1981. Campbell University, Wiggins Memorial Library
referencedIn Adam Clayton Powell Jr. scrapbook collection, 1967. Western Michigan University, Dwight B. Waldo Library
creatorOf Abyssinian Baptist Church (New York, N.Y.). Correspondence with Marian Anderson, 1957-1959. University of Pennsylvania Libraries, Van Pelt Library
referencedIn Chester Bowles papers, 1924-1982 Yale University. Department of Manuscripts and Archives
referencedIn National Union of Hospital and Health Care Employees. Series 1, Subseries 1, Sub-subseries 8. 1199 vice-presidents interviews, 1975-1977. Cornell University Library
referencedIn Abyssinian Baptist Church (New York, N.Y.). Abyssinian Baptist Church Oral History Project, 1992. New York Public Library System, NYPL
referencedIn Klausner, Bertha, 1901-1998. Papers, 1897-1995. Univerisity of Wyoming. American Heritage Center.
referencedIn Guide to the Daily Worker and Daily World Photographs Collection, 1920-2001 Tamiment Library and Robert F. Wagner Labor Archives
referencedIn Allende, Petra. Papers, 1935-2002 ; bulk: 1970-2001. Centro de Estudios Puertorriquenos
referencedIn Garrow, David J., 1953-. Freedom of Information Act materials on the Civil Rights movement, 1958-1969. New York Public Library System, NYPL
referencedIn Stone, Chuck. Chuck Stone papers, 1931-2007 and undated. Duke University Libraries, Duke University Library; Perkins Library
referencedIn Herbert Bruce papers, 1914-1982, 1934-1959 Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture. Rare Books, Manuscripts, and Archives Section
referencedIn Witter Bynner papers, 1829-1965. Houghton Library
creatorOf Esquire, inc. Esquire, inc. records, 1933-1977. Bentley Historical Library
referencedIn Hayes, Thomas M.,. Republican Party (Ga.) campaign collection, 1956-1964. Hargrett Rare Book and Manuscript Library
referencedIn Thurgood Marshall Papers, 1949-1991, (bulk 1961-1991) Library of Congress. Manuscript Division
referencedIn National Union of Hospital and Health Care Employees. National Union of Hospital and Health Care Employees. Series 6, Subseries 5. Harry Van Arsdale interview, 1977. Cornell University Library
referencedIn Brown, Earl, 1903-1980. Earl Brown papers, 1934-1976. New York Public Library System, NYPL
creatorOf Records of the U.S. House of Representatives. 1789 - 2015. Committee Papers. 1947 - 2009. The Powell Amendment Center for Legislative Archives
referencedIn Ellison, John Malcus, 1889-1979. John Malcus Ellison papers, 1941-1979. Virginia Union University, L. Douglas Wilder Library & Learning Resource Center
referencedIn Pucinski, Roman C., 1919-2002. Roman C. Pucinski papers, 1958-1991. Chicago History Museum
referencedIn Frank Kowalski Papers, 1925-1976, (bulk 1948-1963) Library of Congress. Manuscript Division
creatorOf John R. Hickman Audio Collection. 1925 - 1975. Sound Recordings of Historical Radio Broadcasts, World War II Government Documentaries, and Popular Radio Shows. 1906 - 1993. quot;Keep the Faith, Babyquot; Speech by Adam Clayton Powell National Archives at College Park
referencedIn Kramer, John R., 1937-2006. Kramer, John R., Papers, [ca. 1938-2006] University of Texas Libraries
referencedIn Marshall, Thurgood, 1908-1993. Papers, 1949-1991 (bulk 1961-1991). Library of Congress
referencedIn George W. Westerman papers, 1886-1988 (bulk 1934-1985 Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture. Rare Books, Manuscripts, and Archives Section
referencedIn M. Moran Weston Papers, 1824-1994 Columbia University. Rare Book and Manuscript Library
referencedIn Newspaper and magazine clippings : Adam Clayton Powell, Jr., [1945,1946,1954,1955,1960-70,73]. Temple University, Blockson Afro-American History Collection
referencedIn Weston, M. Moran, 1910-. Papers, 1824-1994. Columbia University in the City of New York, Columbia University Libraries
referencedIn Robinson, Elmer E., 1894-1982,. Americana, 1765-1969. Stanford University. Department of Special Collections and University Archives
referencedIn Guide to the Daily Worker and Daily World Photographs Collection, 1920-2001 Tamiment Library and Robert F. Wagner Labor Archives
referencedIn Papers of Florynce Kennedy, (inclusive), (bulk), 1915-2004, 1947-1993 Arthur and Elizabeth Schlesinger Library on the History of Women in America‏
referencedIn Bruce, Herbert. Herbert Bruce papers, [ca. 1930-1960]. New York State Historical Documents (Albany, N.Y.)
referencedIn Brotherhood of Sleeping Car Porters Records 1920-1968 (bulk 1950-1968) Library of Congress. Manuscript Division
referencedIn C. L. Franklin Papers, 1957-1991, 1963-1984 Bentley Historical Library
Role Title Holding Repository
referencedIn Papers of Drew Pearson. 1915 - 1969. Files from the Georgetown Office and Residence Lyndon Baines Johnson Library

Filters:

Connection Graph Radial Graph
Relation Name
employeeOf Abyssinian Baptist Church (New York, N.Y.) corporateBody
associatedWith Allende, Petra. person
associatedWith American Committee on Africa. corporateBody
associatedWith Bond, Julian, 1940- person
associatedWith Bowles, Chester, 1901-1986. person
correspondedWith Brotherhood of Sleeping Car Porters. corporateBody
associatedWith Browder, Earl, 1891-1973 person
associatedWith Brown, Earl, 1903-1980. person
associatedWith Bruce, Herbert. person
associatedWith Bruce, Herbert L., 1900-1990 person
associatedWith Bunche, Ralph J. (Ralph Johnson), 1904-1971. person
correspondedWith Burroughs, Nannie Helen, 1879- person
correspondedWith Bynner, Witter, 1881-1968 person
associatedWith Celler, Emanuel, 1888-1981 person
associatedWith Clark, Conrad, 1909-1984. person
associatedWith Clark, Mamie Phipps. person
alumnusOrAlumnaOf Colgate University corporateBody
alumnusOrAlumnaOf Columbia University corporateBody
associatedWith Congress of Racial Equality. corporateBody
associatedWith Costikyan, Edward N., 1924- person
associatedWith Del Rio, James. person
associatedWith Du Bois, Shirley Graham, 1896-1977. person
correspondedWith Ellison, John Malcus, 1889-1979. person
associatedWith Esquire, inc. corporateBody
associatedWith Esquire Magazine. corporateBody
associatedWith Franklin, C. L. (Clarence LaVaughn), 1915-1984 person
associatedWith Garrow, David J., 1953- person
correspondedWith Garvey, Amy Jacques. person
correspondedWith Goldman, Eric Frederick, 1915-1989. person
associatedWith Hansen, Austin, 1910-1996 person
associatedWith Harris, Fred R., 1930- person
associatedWith Hayes, Thomas M., person
associatedWith Horne, Frank Smith, 1899-1974. person
associatedWith Indiana University Center for the Study of History and Memory corporateBody
associatedWith Jack, Hulan E. (Hulan Edwin), 1906-1986. person
associatedWith Kennedy, Florynce person
associatedWith Klausner, Bertha, 1901-1998. person
correspondedWith Kowalski, Frank, 1907-1974. person
associatedWith Kramer, John R., 1937-2006 person
associatedWith Law, W. W., person
associatedWith MacGregor, Clark, 1922- person
associatedWith Machen, Hervey Gilbert, 1916- person
correspondedWith Marshall, Thurgood, 1908-1993. person
associatedWith Matthews, J. B. (Joseph Brown), 1894-1966 person
associatedWith McKay, Claude, 1890-1948. person
associatedWith McKissick, Floyd B. (Floyd Bixler), 1922- person
associatedWith Motley, Constance Baker, 1921-2005. person
associatedWith National Association for the Advancement of Colored People person
associatedWith National Association for the Advancement of Colored People. corporateBody
correspondedWith National Association for the Advancement of Colored People. Detroit Branch. corporateBody
founderOf National Negro Congress (U.S.) corporateBody
associatedWith National Union of Hospital and Health Care Employees. corporateBody
memberOf New York (N.Y.). City Council corporateBody
associatedWith New York Times Company corporateBody
associatedWith Paul A. Freund person
childOf Powell, A. Clayton (Adam Clayton), 1865-1953 person
associatedWith Powell, Isabel Washington, 1908- person
parentOf Powell IV, Adam Clayton person
associatedWith Pray, George Washington, 1825-1890 person
associatedWith Price, Margaret Bayne, 1912-1968 person
associatedWith Pucinski, Roman C., 1919-2002. person
associatedWith Robinson, Elmer E., 1894-1982, person
associatedWith Robinson, Jackie, 1919-1972. person
associatedWith Rosenthal, A. M. (Abraham Michael), 1922-2006 person
associatedWith Sampson, Edith S. (Edith Spurlock), 1901?-1979. person
alumnusOrAlumnaOf Shaw University corporateBody
associatedWith SHIRLEY GRAHAM DU BOIS, 1896-1977 person
associatedWith Smith, Howard K. (Howard Kingsbury), 1914-2002. person
associatedWith Spencer, Anne, 1882-1975. person
associatedWith Stone, Chuck person
associatedWith Stone, Chuck. person
memberOf United States. Congress. House corporateBody
associatedWith United States. Federal Bureau of Investigation. corporateBody
associatedWith Westerman, George W person
associatedWith Westerman, George W. person
associatedWith Weston, M. Moran, 1910- person
associatedWith World Jewish Congress corporateBody
associatedWith Younger, J. Arthur (Jesse Arthur), 1893-1967. person
associatedWith Zimmerman, Charles S. person
Place Name Admin Code Country
Miami FL US
Harlem NY US
Bimini District 05 BS
Raleigh NC US
Hamilton NY US
New Haven CT US
Subject
Occupation
City Councilman
Civil rights leaders
Community Leader
Legislators
Pastors
Representatives, U.S. Congress
Activity

Person

Birth 1908-11-29

Death 1972-04-04

Male

Americans

English

Related Descriptions
LC/NACO National Archives and Records Administration Virtual International Authority File WorldCat Identities Wikidata
Search Elsewhere
ArchiveGrid Search DPLA Search
Information

Permalink: http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w6b960dp

Ark ID: w6b960dp

SNAC ID: 85328911