Tony Underwood Young Mens Business Club

UNDERWOOD, TONY
Young Men’s Business Club Research Files, 1946-1980

Background:

The Young Men’s Business Club was established in Birmingham, Alabama in 1946 and modeled on a similar organization in New Orleans, Louisiana. The founders of the Birmingham YMBC hoped to see their group develop into a more progressive rival to the Birmingham Chamber of Commerce. With a membership primarily made up of businessmen and attorneys, YMBC sponsored speakers at its luncheon meetings, presented an annual Man of the Year award, and supported progressive causes including the reapportionment of Alabama legislative districts. Members of YMBC, including future Birmingham mayor David Vann, helped lead the campaign to change Birmingham’s form of government from a three-member commission to a mayor and council. This change, approved by voters in 1962, led to the ouster of Birmingham commissioner Eugene ‘Bull’ Connor.

Source:

Harrison, Mary Phyllis, "A Change in the Government of the City of Birmingham, 1962-1963." M.A. Thesis, University of Montevallo, 1974.
Stallworth, Clark, "Among the Clatter," Birmingham 2 (March 1963): 9, 24.

Scope and Content:

This collection contains oral history interviews, clippings, minutes of meetings, correspondence, notes, and other material relating to the Young Men’s Business Club gathered by Tony Underwood while he was a graduate student at Samford University in Birmingham, Alabama. The collection also contains drafts of papers on the history of YMBC written by Underwood. The subject files primarily contain material relating to YMBC and the Civil Rights Movement, tax reform, the implementation of daylight savings time, and the consolidation of the City of Birmingham with adjoining suburbs.

Subject Areas:

            Annexation – Alabama – Birmingham.
            Civil rights movements – Alabama – Birmingham.
            Clubs – Alabama – Birmingham.
            Daylight savings time.
            Taxation – Law and regulation – Alabama.
            Young Men’s Business Club (Birmingham, Ala.)

Size: 1 linear foot (1 box)

Source: Robert J. Norrell.

Restrictions: Standard preservation and copyright restrictions.

Guide Prepared By: Matthew Downs (January 2002).

File Number:		Description:

960.1.1		YMBC Constitution and Founding Documents (26 pages). Documents detailing the founding and organization of the YMBC. YMBC Constitution including revision of 1960 along with membership application and sample ballot for officer elections. Chart detailing executive organization.

960.1.2		YMBC Weekly Bulletin, 1959, 1961-64, 1966 (28 pages). Weekly bulletin mailed to members of the YMBC regarding meetings and club activities. Various bulletins ranging from November 10, 1959 to June 3, 1966, with the majority dated 1963. Action bulletin from New Orleans YMBC, January 10, 1961.

960.1.3		YMBC Minutes, January 4, 1960 – May 30, 1960, May 28, 1961 (19 pages). Various copies of the Club minutes ranging from January 4, 1960 to May 30, 1960 and May 28, 1961. The minutes for January 25, February 8, February 15, February 22, March 21, March 28, April 4, April 25, May 11, and May 18 are missing.

960.1.4		YMBC Correspondence, 1940s (7 pages). Correspondence from the YMBC dating from the 1940s. Letter from Club Chairman A. J. Beck regarding the expansion of Howard College, undated. Letter from Drummond Gaines regarding the Wage and Hour Law, September 12, 1946. Two letters from Alabama Senator Lister Hill, May 2, 1946, and May 11, 1946.

960.1.5		YMBC Correspondence, Membership (29 pages). Materials and correspondence regarding membership of the YMBC. Membership lists from the founding chapter in 1946 and July 1, 1959. Copies of newspaper stories regarding club elections. Letters addressing guest speakers regarding Club membership.

960.1.6		Brotherhood Week, February 21-28, 1960, February 18-25, 1962 (5 pages). Material concerning the YMBC sponsorship of Brotherhood Week, 1960 and 1962.

960.1.7		Chamber of Commerce Report, 1946 (12 pages). Annual Chamber of Commerce Report for Birmingham, 1946, entitled It Was a Green Year.

960.1.8		Civil Rights Movement (71 pages). Materials concerning the YMBC activities regarding the Civil Rights struggle in the early 1960s. YMBC resolution concerning the Freedom Riders riot, undated. Correspondence and news clippings regarding a controversial CBS documentary, "Who Speaks for Birmingham?" June 23, 1961. News clippings regarding other actions by the YMBC regarding racial equality. In Search of Justice booklet published by the American Bar Association, undated

960.1.9		City Expansion, 1960, 1970 (5 pages). Documents regarding the YMBC support of the expansion of the city of Birmingham. News clippings and letters addressing YMBC support of the inclusion of Homewood and Mountain Brook into Birmingham, 1960. Copies of news articles regarding further expansion in the 1970s.

960.1.10		Daylight Savings Time (3 pages). Letter and copies of news articles concerning YMBC support for the switch to Daylight Savings Time in Birmingham, 1957-58, 1960.

960.1.11		"Man of the Year" Banquets (53 pages). Programs, correspondence, and news articles concerning the YMBC-sponsored "Man of the Year" award. Programs from the annual banquet, 1965-70, 1978. News clippings regarding the nominations, winners, and banquet speakers.

960.1.12		Legislative Reapportionment (73 pages). Documents concerning YMBC actions resulting in legislative reapportionment, 1962. Transcript of reapportionment court case. Among the Clatter," Birmingham, March concerning YMBC actions. YMBC reapportionment study.

960.1.13		Tax Issues (8 pages). Articles and letters detailing the YMBC actions for tax equality. Letter regarding House Bill 399, supported by YMBC, January 10, 1961. Letter detailing YMBC tax concerns November 28, 1962.

960.1.14		Various Community Action (27 pages). Correspondence and news clippings concerning various actions by the YMBC. Letter from YMBC Sec. Paul Friedman protesting the closure of the Birmingham Transit System, March 15, 1960. Letter from Salvation Army regarding YMBC service, January 7, 1961.

960.1.15		Oral History Interview, Jim Adams (7 pages).

960.1.16		Oral History Interview, Paul Darden, Jr. (4 pages).

960.1.17		Oral History Interview, Aubrey Garrison (9 pages).

960.1.18		Oral History Interview, Z. B. Greer (9 pages).

960.1.19		Oral History Interview, Palmer Keith (5 pages).

960.1.20		Oral History Interview, Miles Lee (3 pages).

960.1.21		Oral History Interview, Malcolm Magnus (6 pages).

960.1.22		Oral History Interview, George Patterson (4 pages).

960.1.23		Oral History Interview, W. B. Philips (8 pages).

960.1.24		Oral History Interview, Henry Smith (3 pages).

960.1.25		Preface (78 pages). Draft materials for preface of YMBC thesis.

960.1.26		Draft Chapter 1 (78 pages).

960.1.27		Unmarked Chapter 1 (45 pages).

960.1.28		Draft Chapter 2 (124 pages).

960.1.29		Unmarked Chapter 2 (34 pages).

960.1.30		Draft Chapter 3 (147 pages).

960.1.31		Unmarked Chapter 3 (46 pages).

960.1.32		Draft Chapter 4 (71 pages).

960.1.33		Draft (146 pages). Draft of complete paper, along with correction notation.

960.1.34		Additional Studies (64 pages). Two supplementary papers regarding background and summary information for the YMBC.

960.1.35		Research Notes: Interviews (158 pages). Author’s handwritten, clipped, and typed notes from oral interviews.

960.1.36		Interview Notes (20 pages). Author’s notes about interview subjects, including addresses, telephone numbers, etc.

960.1.37		Research Notes, 1950s (148 pages). Author’s notation on YMBC actions in the 1950s, used in chapter 2.

960.1.38		Research Notes, Early 1960s (168 pages). Author’s notes for YMBC actions in the early 1960s, used in chapter 3.

960.1.39		Research Notes, Early 1960s continued (123 pages).

960.1.40		Research Notes, Late 1960s (123 pages). Author’s notes for YMBC activity in the late 1960s, used in chapter 4.

960.1.41		Research Notes: Bibliography and Appendix (48 pages). Author’s notes for appendix and bibliography.

960.1.42		Edits (10 pages). Information on the edits performed on the YMBC thesis.

960.1.43		Research Correspondence (26 pages). Letters to YMBC members requesting proofreading. Status reports for thesis. interviewee agreement.

960.1.44		Expenses (41 pages). A list of expenses incurred during the author’s thesis work.

Birmingham Public Library
2100 Park Place
Birmingham, Alabama 35203
(205) 226-3610

[home] [calendar] [catalog] [contact us] [databases] [resources] [services] [view your record]

UNDERWOOD, TONY Young Men’s Business Club Research Files, 1946-1980

UNDERWOOD, TONY
Young Men’s Business Club Research Files, 1946-1980