The Journal of Negro History Volume IV Part 56

I am a Negro mechanic, having served the paint trade since 1896, 30 years years of age, married, no booster, a graduate of N. Y.

trade school, first honor, cla.s.s of 1906, wish to change location for better educational advantages for my children consequently will be glad to have you endeavor to place me. Hoping to hear from you at earliest convenience. Willing to accept position in any good north western city, with white or colored firm.

ATLANTA, GA., April 22, 1917.

_Dear Sir:_ I now rite to inquier of the works in the north as I saw your ad in the Chicago Defender I wants to come north if thair is any work up their I wants to get in a good place whear I can educate my children I am a natif of Charleston West Va but come off down here in this hard luck countary and married & raised a fanily and wants to get in a good location to raise them sence you are in the busness I wants some information I would like to hear from you pearsonaly if I can I am not pertickley about Chicago just since I get a good place in the north whear I can educate my children how is groceries in the countary let me hear from you at & early date.

AUGUSTA, GA., April 27, 1917.

_Sir:_ Being a constant reader of your paper, I thought of no one better than you to write for information.

I'm desirous of leaving the south but before so doing I want to be sure of a job before pulling out. I'm a member of the race, a normal and colloege school graduate, a man of a family and can give reference. Confidentially this communication between you and me is to be kept a secret.

My children I wished to be educated in a different community than here. Where the school facilities are better and less prejudice shown and in fact where advantages are better for our people in all respect. At present I have a good position but I desire to leave the south. A good position even tho' its a laborer's job paying $4.50 or $5.00 a day will suit me till I can do better.

Let it be a job there or any where else in the country, just is it is east or west. I'm quite sure you can put me in touch with some one. I'm a letter carrier now and am also a druggist by profession. Perhaps I may through your influence get a transfer to some eastern or western city.

Nevada or California as western states, I prefer, and I must say that I have nothing against Detroit, Mich.

I shall expect an early reply. Remember keep this a secret please until I can perfect some arrangements.

GLEBDON, ALA., April 22, 1917.

_Gentlemen:_ I seen it in the Chicago Defender that if any one dezire to locate in a small town where they can get fairly good wages and educate there children address you who neads men and stop paying men 50 cts & $1.00 for Job well i wont to come there where i can get work & fairly good wages & educate my children & i am not able to bear my expences i have a wife & 7 chrildren & if you can make any preparation for me to come & bring them let me here from you i have too boys big enough to work one 12 years old the other 10 and i have been trying to get away from here for some time & i cant get ot without your aid i seen it on a small paper a littler strip where Mr. ---- ---- at the state of Neb at omaha he advise any one that wont to go north or west rite him & send a too sent stamp withen your letter that i may not be slighte and then when her and your he send a blank with the letter to be fill an send him $1.50 one dollar an half which he say it is all is required no more money i will hafter pay i wrote hem for a pa.s.s & that what he told me to do & when i arrive i would have a job all ready now when i seem what the Chicago defender says about men get money that way it cause me to stop & study would it a safe plan of me to go out on such terms an so i ask you Gentlemen for all infermation that you can give me in the regards of leaving the south let me here from you at once we colored people havin a hard time down here now i have paper here but I aint sind it yet

LETTERS ABOUT THE TREATMENT OF NEGROES IN THE SOUTH

MACON, GA., April 1, 1917.

_Dear Sir:_ I am writing you for information I want to come north east but I have not sufficient funds and I am writing you to see if there is any way that you can help me by giving me the names of some of the firms that will send me a transportation as we are down here where we have to be shot down here like rabbits for every little orfence as I seen an orcurince hapen down here this after noon when three depties from the shrief office an one Negro spotter come out and found some of our raice mens in a c.r.a.p game and it makes me want to leave the south worse than I ever did when such things hapen right at my door, hopeing to have a reply soon and will in close a stamp from the same.

SAVANNAH, GA., May 5, 1917.

_Dear sir:_ I rite you these few lines seeking information how could I get up north and if you could do me any good I an five more men would like to come but we have no money we would come to any reasonable terms that you makes, and if you cannot do the five no good please sir try and do some thing for me. I rite you this mostly for my self I am in a bad shape. I am willing to do most any kind of work labaring excuiseing hotel. You was recomended to me by Bro -- -- ---- of Savannah Tribune, now in plain words plese send for me or get some of the contractors to send and I will willingly come to terms. I am willing await you ans. In short.

SPARTA, GA., Jan. 29, 1917.

_Dear Sir:_ Information reaches me that you can give information as to places that colored men can get employment in the north and east as quite a number of we colored men in this vicinity contemplates leaving the south providing we can get employment at reasonable wages. I would like to know where to locate, what kind of work and what wages paid skilled and unskilled laborer, & whether transportation can be furnished. Hoing to hear from you by return mail.

CHARLESTON, S.C., 4/4/17.

_Dear Sir:_ I have heard about you as being an employment beura so I would like very mutch for you to get me a job, and if you will please send ticket by rail because we are not allowed to leave by boat any mour. so I will take a job as porter--butler--hosler bellman can furnish reference an 27 years old married. Please notify right away.

SANFORD, FLA., 5/12/17.

_Dear Sir:_ The winter is about over and I still have a desire to seek for myself a section of this country where I can poserably better my condishion in as much as beaing a.s.shured some protection as a good citizen under the Stars and Stripes so kind sir I am here asking you agin if you know directly or indirectly of any opening that you could direct me to where I can make a reasonable livelyhood kindly inform me. Why I write you agin is because it appears to me from your headings that your concern ar making some opening for the (col) from the south and agin I do not cear to live here in a simple way if poserable I would like to be shure of an imployment before I leave Kindley do what ever good you can for me.

PENSACOLA, FLA., April 30, 1917.

_Gentlemen:_ I perchanced to run across your address. The which I am proud of. I like my fellow southerner am looking northward.

But before leaving the South Id like to know just wher I am goin and what Im to do if posible. I see from your card that you can help me and I believe you will. I want to say that I dont hope to travil north to loaf. I will be seeking better employment and better wa es mainly. I might state just here what Im best fitted for. 1st Im a christain man a man of sober habits. Ive had several years experience in business for 20 years Ive been a salesman & collector or business mgr thirteen years of said time I were engaged in the industrial insurance work. worked from a green agent to dist mgr ship at present am engaged as a salesman and collector. But would accept position as jarnitor of general utility man ordainary cook the which I ve served in a short order house for whites only. And also in a house run for both races. In fact will serve in any honest capacity That I'm capeble of that pays well. Please excuse these persional reference but Im striveing to make the acquaintance, can furnish reference as to integrity and ability any information given me in my efort will be gratefully received. Thanking you in advance.

TROY, ALA., Oct. 17, 1916.

_Dear Sirs_ I am enclosing a clipping of a lynching again which speaks for itself. I do wish there could be sufficient presure brought about to have federal investigation of such work. I wrote you a few days ago if you could furnish me with the addresses of some firms or co-opporations that needed common labor. So many of our people here are almost starving. The government is feeding quite a number here would go any where to better their conditions. If you can do any thing for us write me as early as posible.

BHAM, ALA., May 13, 1917.

_Sir:_ the edeater of the paper i am in the darkness of the south and i am trying my best to get out do you no where about i can get a job in new york. i wood be so glad if cood get a good job hear in this beautifull city o please help me to get out of this low down county i am counted no more thin a dog help me please help me o how glad i wood be if some company wood send me a ticket to come and work for them no joking i mean business i work if i can get a good job.

ANNE MANTL, ALA., April 24, 1917.

_Gentlemen:_ I read in the Chicago Defender of last week that you were in the employment buisness now sire we want to leave the south and settle in some small town in Illinoise or any other good northern state where we can get fairely good wagges and be protected we are disgusted with the south since we hear that we can do better we want to get up a club to get north. Please tell us how to go about it all of us dont have a lot of money but we are able and willing to work and just want a chance. Thanking you in advance for any thing you may do for us we are

BRYAN, TEX., Sept. 13, 1917.

_Dear Sir:_ I am writing you as I would like to no if you no of any R. R. Co and Mfg. that are in need for colored labors. I want to bring a bunch of race men out of the south we want work some whear north will come if we can git pa.s.se any whear across the Mason & d.i.c.kson. please let me hear from you at once if you can git pa.s.ses for 10 or 12 men. send at once. I beg to remain.

OAKDALE, LA., April 21, 1917.

_Dear Sir:_ I saw in the Defender something concerning the employment up there. I would like mighty well to come if I could get a job I would be ready to come about the 15th of May. I will take a job in town or out of town either one. There are 3 or 4 more business men that are interested and would come, write me at once and let me know about the situation. Some hasn't the fund to come with and if the employer would furnish them transportation they would readily come at once.

So far as me I couldn't come until I could arrange to sell out as I am in business for G.o.d knows I want to leave the South land.

Let me hear from you at once.

SAVANNAH, GA., 4/21/17.

_Dear Sir:_ Through the Chicago Definder I am writing your company to get in touch with you. as I am seeking employment in the north part of the country for the betterment of my condition.

& friends wishes to follow after me. if there is any advice or a.s.sistant you can give to us please let me know at once, we are not choice about locating in the city as we will be satisfied with a small town as well as any part of the north.

NEW ORLEANS, LA., May 17, 1917.

_Gentlemen:_ I am a race man and aire inquireing Dear Sir from some one that I know is in position to give me the proper information truthfully enclosed please find stamps for return mail. Dear sir I have a wife & a son also that has a wofe and one child we desire to come north to live if we could only get a pa.s.s to that end. The pa.s.ses that are being issued in New Orleans to members of the race are verry limited and it is a little dificult for me to get a pa.s.s out I am no railroad man but I can work also my son if my son and I could get a pa.s.s to Illinois we would come at once and leave our wives at home untill we could work and send for them ourselves. Dear sirs if you know of any firm that desires any one of the race that wants to come north with their families please inform them and me as I would like verry much to come north but have not the money to pay my fare with please answer by return mail. Please help me as I wants to get from the south so bad. Thanking you in advance I am yours in the Lord. I am 40 years old. Please help me to get away from the south.

Please keep this letter and not put it in public print. Dear sir I further ask that the firm or firms in which I am offered employment desire a recommendation as a work or laborer I can furnish them with same for honesty and etc. Please answer. Please answer as there are others of the race that wants to come north in great numbers and would like to be informed how to come north.