Civil Rights – JackHadleyBlackHistoryMuseum

Thomasville newspaper publisher, D.L. Inman shaking hands with President Johnson, 1960s.

Shriners hosting musician Earl Bostic

Group of Thomasville citizens parade down West Jackson Street. In the picture left to right: Dr. I.L. Mullins, Curtis Thoms, Richard Lowyer, D.L. Inman, Ben Hopkins, Hubert Thomas, Morris Williams, Rev. Bass and Douglass High School band members, 1962.

1988 Presidential poster for Jesse Jackson.

Tony Ward, a native of Thomasville, Georgia, is a grassroots activist who sued UPS who demoted him due to skin condition that makes shaving painful. This condition is unique to African American's and was seen as racial discrimination. Tony Ward's lawsuit saw UPS change their policies regarding shaving and this skin condition.

This record is a recording of Dr. Martin Luther King's famous, "I have a Dream Speech" which was endorsed by the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC), National Urban League (NUL), and the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP).

The Ritz theatre was located in the all-black district of Thomasville, Georgia, called "The Bottom." In this district Black Business and Communities thrived, including the entertainment center, the Ritz Theatre.

Curtis Thomas was a native of Thomasville, Georgia and is considered "Thomasville's Dr. Martin Luther King Jr." due to his active role in advocating for Civil Rights.

Signs like this one are relics of the days of Segregation, and the idea of "Seperate but Equal," but in reality, equal was never achieved, African Americans were forced to use or enter buildings label as "Colored" and prohibited from anything labelled "White."

Dr. John A. Davis-James was the first African American Physician at John D. Archbold Hospital , he began his career as "an Intern in the colored division of the hospital in 1928." Additionally, he was the son of a mail carrier and was born in Guyana

Joe Watkins was a barber who began cutting hair back in the 1930s. Serving Thomasville's all black district, "The Bottom," Joe Watkins served his community for over 45 years.

The Imperial Hotel was the only place in Thomasville, Georgia listed in the famous Greenbook. The Imperial was the only Hotel during the era of segregation that housed African Americans in Thomasville.

The Thomasville Six fought against the unequal electoral process in Thomas County, due to the at-large Electoral process being unconstitutional and driscriminated against African American's in Thomas County.

The Thomasville Six fought against the unequal electoral process in Thomas County, due to the at-large Electoral process being unconstitutional and discriminated against African Americans in Thomas County.

Paul R. Jones rejection letter from University of Alabama Law School, 1949.

John Glenn was the first African American Railroad Car inspector in the United States. He spent over 30 years "On board" the Atlantic and Seaboard Coastlines, and checked trains as they arrived in Thomasville, Georgia.

Willie Cook and Augusta Flowers were the first two African American police officers in Thomasville. Despite serving their community as officers, the two policemen could not arrest white citizens, or patrol white areas of town. Additionally, they were not allowed inside their own police station and had to wait for a white officer to check out their patrol cars.

Andrew Young was a pastor at two churches in Thomasville, Georgia before he went on to make history, becoming the first African American to serve as a US Ambassador to the United Nations, and in 1972 became the first African American elected to the US House of Representatives

Thomas T. Frazier was the first African American Mailman in Thomasville, Georgia

C. W. McIver was born in Ocilla, Georgia, and moved to Thomasville in the 1950s. Initially, he came to Thomasville as the Negro County Agent with the Thomas County Agriculture Extension Service. Later, He would become the first African American to be named as the director of the Thomas County Agricultural Extension Service.

Curtis Thomas and citizens speaking out on community issues-date unknown.

Curtis Thomas, Georgia Department of Labor employee.

Curtis Thomas, Dick Gregory, Moses Gross in Thomasville campaigning for Rev. Jesse Jackson,1988.

1963 March on Washington flyer.

Rainbow Coalition T-shirt, Jesse Jackson for President, 1984

Larry Smith-one of the first black students to integrate TCCHS.

Paul R. Jones for Congress button.

Paul R. Jones poll tax receipt, 1949.

Thomasville Black Progressive Club 1961-Roosevelt Carvins, Cornelius Grooms, Harris Martin, J.C. Green, J.C. Smith, Forrest Monroe, Tommy Gabriel, R.B. Sanders, Joe Watkins and Elijah Hill.