Paterson Branch NAACP
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Historical Highlights

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Fannie Curtis (1939-1941)
      - Organizing President
      - Wife of a prominent physician, Dr. A.M. Curtis
      - Member of St. Augustine Presbyterian Church
      - Identified the issues and developed strategies for NAACP work to follow


Rev. Charles Tarter (1941-1949)
      - Second President of the Branch
      - Pastor of St. Augustine Presbyterian Church
      - Instrumental in integrating local theaters
      - Identified the issues and developed strategies for NAACP work to follow


Herman Irving (Late 1940's)
      - Worked to reestablished the Branch in the post-war era
      - Was member and officer of St. Aidens Episcopal Church
      - A quiet, conscientious worker

Rev. Robert B. Dokes (1949-1951)
      - Served as vice president under Rev. Tarter
      - Sought to keep the Branch together and alive
      - Called together 15 concerned people in the early 1950's to re-activate the Branch


Wendell Williams (1952-1956)
      - Renaissance President
      - Youth Branch was chartered December, 1954
      - Worked closely with the Committee for Negro Participation in Government
      - Police brutality was challenged
      - Led a successful fight for a swimming pool available to all citizens
      - Gained in the struggle to elect Blacks to public office: Dr. Capers, Virgil Reed, William Kline


Arthur Holloway (1956-1964)
      - Worked to have the roofer's union which was building School No. 28 integrate. Nine Negro roofers were hired
      - Executed a successful rent strike against a Slum Lord, Lobson
      - Instrumental in getting the Grand Jury to hear a police brutality case which involved Willadean Williams
      - Was jailed because of stance against injustice and discrimination


Lucille Suffern (1965-1966)
      - NAACP office was located at 176 Broadway, the Board of Health Building
      - Increased voter registration
      - Worked to have more Black people hired in administrative positions in the public school system
      - Greatly increased the Life Membership rolls of the Branch Maceo Hurst was chairman


Gilbert Benson (1966-1968)
      - Began regular publication of The Word
      - Concerted effort forced radio station WPAT to cover news in Paterson
      - Instrumental in forcing IBM, Thomas English Muffin Co., and Nabisco to hire Black workers
      - Membership totaled 2,000


Floyed Hinton (1969-1979)
      - Youth group was reactivated in 1970. Eleanor Yates was the leader.
      - Sat on the Ad Hoc Committee to make Paterson the permanent site for PCCC
      - Joined with the League of Women Voters in an intensive voter registration drive
      - Maceo Hurts maintained an outstanding record as Life Membership chairman
      - Involved in Affirmative Action campaign on local and county levels and voiced concern in the selection of a new superintendent of schools
      - Churches were awarded because of their support of the Mississippi Crisis


Ralph Hinton (1979-1980)
      - Became President upon the death of Floyed Hinton
      - 1979 Awards Dinner upon the death of Floyed Hinton
      - Branch observed 40 years in the struggle for justice equality


James Adams (1981-1982)
      - Declared October 31, 1981, Black Clergy Sunday
      - 1981 Awards Dinner theme: Duplication of American Society
      - Worked to educate voters to become wise in their use of their vote
      - Life Memberships increased under the chairmanship of John Harris
      - Dr. Gwendolyn Grant addressed the 1982 Awards Dinner


John Harris (1983-1984)
      - The publication of The Word was re-instituted
      - Initiated the Golden Heritage membership, 1983
      - With PCCC Benjamin Hooks was brought to Paterson in celebration of Black History Month
      - Initiated a city-wide voter registration drive in 1984. The National Political Action chairman was the guest speaker
      - 1983 Awards Dinner Speaker was Congressman Julian Dixon
      - The 1984 speaker was Civil Rights Activist, Mal Goode


Elease Evans (1985-1986)
      - Made stepped-up efforts to solve police brutality cases
      - Voter registration rally and campaign netted over 2300 new registrants
      - Conducted successful Candidates' Nights
      - 1985 Awards Dinner speaker was Hazel Dukes
      - 1986 Awards Dinner speaker was Assemblyman Willie Brown


Elaine C. Harrington (1987-1988)
      - Branch participated in the National Association's Campaign 1000 for membership recruitment
      - Dr. Lenworth Gunther, professor at Essex County Community College was the speaker for the May 17, 1954 Decision Program
      - 1987 Awards Dinner speaker was Congressman William Grey, III
      - 1988 Awards Dinner speaker was Philadelphia Mayor Wilson Goode
      - The Branch received national recognition of life memberships


James A. Davis, Jr. (1989)
      - Called for an increase in memberships to reach 6000
      - Opened the Branch offices six days each week

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