To: George M. Johnson
From: Clarence Mitchell
Subject: Aircraft training in Atlanta, Georgia
January 11, 1943
Attached is correspondence from the Central Files concerning the aircraft training program in Atlanta, Georgia.1 You will note that the only source of information in recent months has been Mr. William Y. Bell, Executive Secretary of the Atlanta Urban League. Mr. Record seems to have visited the school but apparently did not report.2
I call this to your attention because in my last telephone conversation with Mr. Record, I understood that he was not permitted to contact the Bell Aircraft personnel people. Apparently this has also prevented him from getting a first hand picture of the training program.
When you have finished with this material, I would appreciate the return of it so that I may send it back to Central Files.
MS: copy, LH, DI, HqR38, Central Files. (entry 25) Memoranda, Mitchell, Clarence.
1. See the headnote on the Aircraft Industry and the discussion of “The Runaround in Defense Training,” in Merl E. Reed, Seedtime for the Modern Civil Rights Movement: The President's Committee on Fair Employment Practice, 1941-1945 175–204.
2. In his letter of 10/6/42 to Robert C. Weaver, William Y. Bell reported that aeronautical training equipment continued to “dribble in daily” to the facility. “In the meantime, [Cy W.] Record tells me that two personnel men, from the Bell Company, are expected in town soon and he plans to contact them immediately on the employment of Negroes at the plant.” Bell said he would probably contact the man “in charge of inaugurating new defense housing in this area, in order to make certain that the company does not use the excuse of no housing facilities as the reason why it does not employ Negro workers.” He thanked Weaver for the progress they had made so far and said the only thing he could further do was to wait. HqR38, Central Files. (entry 25) Memoranda, Mitchell, Clarence.
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39-40
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HqR38, Central Files. (entry 25) Memoranda, Mitchell, Clarence.