Collection Summary
Truman K. Gibson Papers
circa 1900-1994
(bulk 1940-1956)
circa 1900-1994
(bulk 1940-1956)
MSS83215
Gibson, Truman K. (Truman
Kella), 1912-2005
900 items
3 containers
1.2 linear feet
English
Collection material in
English
Manuscript Division, Library of
Congress
Washington, D.C.
Lawyer, business
executive, and boxing promoter. Correspondence, memoranda, newspaper clippings,
printed matter, photographs, and other papers reflecting the social life of the
Gibson family in Chicago, Illinois. Also included in the papers is Gibson's
correspondence with his wife, Isabelle Carson Gibson, written while he served
as an adviser on African-American affairs to the United States War Department
in Washington, D.C., during World War II.
Selected Search Terms
The following terms have been used to index the description of this collection in the LC Catalog. They are grouped by name of person or organization, by subject or location, and by occupation and listed alphabetically.
People
Gibson family.
Gibson, Isabelle Carson--Correspondence.
Gibson, Truman K. (Truman Kella), 1912-2005.
Organizations
International Boxing Club.
United States. War Department.
Subjects
African Americans--Illinois--Chicago--Social life and customs.
African Americans--Military service.
African Americans--Segregation.
Boxing.
Racism.
World War, 1939-1945--Participation, African American.
World War, 1939-1945--Washington (D.C.)
Titles
Truman Kella Gibson papers
Occupations
Executives.
Lawyers.
Sports promoters.
Provenance
The papers of Truman K. Gibson, lawyer, businessman, civilian aid to
the War Department, and boxing promoter, were given to the Library of Congress
by Gibson in 1995.
Processing History
The papers of Truman K. Gibson were arranged and described in 1996.
The finding aid was revised in 2007.
Transfers
Photographs have been transferred to the Prints and Photographs
Division where they are identified as part of the Truman K. Gibson Papers.
Copyright Status
The status of copyright in the unpublished writings of Truman K.
Gibson Papers is governed by the Copyright Law of the United States (Title 17,
U.S.C.).
Access and Restrictions
The papers of Truman K. Gibson are open to research. Researchers are
advised to contact the Manuscript Reading Room prior to visiting. Many
collections are stored off-site and advance notice is needed to retrieve these
items for research use.
Preferred Citation
Researchers wishing to cite this collection should include the
following information: Container number, Truman K. Gibson Papers, Manuscript
Division, Library of Congress, Washington, D.C.
Biographical Note
Date
Event
1912, Jan. 22
Born, Atlanta, Ga.
1932
B.A., University of Chicago, Chicago, Ill.
1935
J.D., University of Chicago, Chicago, Ill.
1935
1940
Law practice, Chicago, Ill.
1939
Married Isabelle Carson
1940
Executive director, American Negro Exposition, Chicago,
Ill.
1940
1943
Assistant to the civilian aide to the secretary of war
regarding Negro affairs
1943
Acting civilian aide to the secretary of war regarding Negro
affairs
1943
1945
Civilian aid to the secretary of war regarding Negro
affairs
1945
Awarded Legion of Merit
1946
Consultant to the secretary of war
Member, President's Advisory Committee on Universal Military
Training
Member, President's Committee on Morals, Character
Development and Religion in the Armed Services
Reentered private legal practice, Chicago, Ill.
1949
1959
Secretary and later president (1958), International Boxing
Club
1956
Appointed to the advisory board of the National Citizens for
Eisenhower
2005, Dec. 23
Died, Chicago, Ill.
Scope and Content Note
The papers of Truman Kella Gibson, Jr. (1912-2005), span the years
circa 1900-1994, with the bulk of the items from the period 1940-1956. The
papers consist of correspondence, memoranda, newspaper clippings, printed
matter, and miscellaneous material. They reflect the social life and activities
of the Gibson family in Chicago and feature Gibson's correspondence to his wife
when he was with the War Department in Washington, D.C., during World War II.
Other topics include discrimination and segregation confronting African
Americans in the military; relations with friends and associates in Washington;
political and civic events in which Gibson participated; and the International
Boxing Club, an organization he helped found to promote boxing matches.
Arrangement of the Papers
This collection is arranged alphabetically by type of material.
Container List
Container
Contents
1
Family papers
1
Correspondence,
1939-1964, undated
1939-1964, undated
(8
folders)
1
Education,
1929-1958
1929-1958
1
Gibson, Karen
1
Gibson, Truman K.
2
Miscellany,
1939-1961
1939-1961
2
Scrapbook,
1937-1943
1937-1943
2
Social
2
Miscellaneous,
1939, 1955-1958
1939, 1955-1958
2
Newspaper clippings,
1943-1961
1943-1961
2
Supreme Liberty Life Insurance
Co.,
1943-1959
1943-1959
2
General correspondence,
1941-1946, 1955-1958, 1989-1994
1941-1946, 1955-1958, 1989-1994
2
Miscellany,
1935-1981, undated
1935-1981, undated
2
Subject file
2
American Negro Exposition,
Chicago, Ill.
2
Miscellaneous,
1940
1940
2
Newspaper clippings,
1940, undated
1940, undated
2
Cayton, Irma,
1941
1941
2
DuBois, W. E. B.,
1948, 1963
1948, 1963
2
International Boxing
Club
2
Correspondence,
1951-1958, undated
1951-1958, undated
2
Miscellaneous,
1955-1962, undated
1955-1962, undated
2
Newspaper clippings,
1943-1960, undated
1943-1960, undated
3
Politics,
1940-1943, 1957, 1965
1940-1943, 1957, 1965
3
War Department
3
Correspondence and related
material,
1940-1963, undated
1940-1963, undated
(2
folders)
3
Newspaper clippings,
1940-1943, undated
1940-1943, undated