Florida Memory • Letter from Bill Payne to Patricia Stephens, April 18, 1960

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Letter from Bill Payne to Patricia Stephens, April 18, 1960

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Letter from Bill Payne to Patricia Stephens, April 18, 1960

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Description

Letter from William Payne, member of the Newark, New Jersey chapter of the NAACP, to Patricia Stephens describing the efforts of the NAACP in Newark to picket Woolworth stores and encouraging Patricia and others to continue fighting.

Creator

Payne, Bill

To

Due, Patricia Stephens, 1939-2012

Date

1960-04-18

Subjects

African Americans--Civil rights
African Americans--Civil rights--Philosophy
Carter, Felicia
F.W. Woolworth Company
Kruize, Priscilla Stephens, 1938-
National Association for the Advancement of Colored People. New Jersey Branch
Solidarity

Geographic Term

Newark (N.J.)

April 18, 1960

Hi Pat,

I think so highly of you and your sister and, in fact, of all the rest of you who are involved in our great fight for freedom. I'm not sure that I know what to say to you, I do know what I feel but am not too sure I know how to put it into words.

First let me tell you who I am. My name is Bill Payne and live with my wife Kae and our two month old son, Eric Andre at 34 Clinton Place in Newark, N.J.

Mrs. Felicia Carter asked that we write to you at a meeting that we had [tonight]. It is now 12 midnight but I want to write now so that I won't procrastinate. We had a meeting regarding our picketing the Woolworth stores in Newark.

Title

Letter from Bill Payne to Patricia Stephens, April 18, 1960

Subject

African Americans--Civil rights

Solidarity

African Americans--Civil rights--Philosophy

Description

Creator

Payne, Bill

Source

State Archives of Florida, Collection N2015-1

Date

1960-04-18

Format

letters (correspondence)

Language

eng-US

Type

Text

Identifier

n2015-1_b001_f09_58

Coverage

Postwar Florida (1945-1968)

ImageID

n2015-1_b001_f09_58_01

n2015-1_b001_f09_58_02

n2015-1_b001_f09_58_03

Thumbnail

/fmp/stephens_sisters/thumbnails/n2015-1_b001_f09_58.jpg

Transcript

April 18, 1960

Hi Pat,

First let me tell you who I am. My name is Bill Payne and live with my wife Kae and our two month old son, Eric Andre at 34 Clinton Place in Newark, N.J.

I have been active with the NAACP for about 8 years and not long ago I served as the Chairman of the National Youth Work Committee of the Association. Presently I am active with the young adults in the Newark, N.J. NAACP Branch. We are behind you 100% and more.

Only God knows the feelings that I have had at times concerning the plight of our people in America. I have prayed to God that our people would be free some day in the not too distant future and I have asked that I be permitted to make some kind of contribution in our fight.

Perhaps my contribution is to help encourage you and others who are on the front lines and that is what I am trying to do. Please continue in your struggle, for you represent the entire Negro population and upon your shoulders rests so much responsibility. I shall

pray [tonight] and for many nights to come that you will be strengthened by the wonderful power of God in order that we shall be victorious.

Continue to fight for the principle in which we believe - Hold your head high with dignity and we can not help but win.

Very sincerely yours

Bill Payne

34 Clinton Pl

Newark 8, N.J.

Subject - Corporate

National Association for the Advancement of Colored People. New Jersey Branch

F.W. Woolworth Company

Subject - Person

Carter, Felicia

Kruize, Priscilla Stephens, 1938-

Geographic Term

Newark (N.J.)

To

Due, Patricia Stephens, 1939-2012

Chicago Manual of Style

Payne, Bill. Letter from Bill Payne to Patricia Stephens, April 18, 1960. 1960-04-18. State Archives of Florida, Florida Memory. <https://www.floridamemory.com/items/show/331130>, accessed 25 December 2024.

MLA

Payne, Bill. Letter from Bill Payne to Patricia Stephens, April 18, 1960. 1960-04-18. State Archives of Florida, Florida Memory. Accessed 25 Dec. 2024.<https://www.floridamemory.com/items/show/331130>

AP Style Photo Citation

(State Archives of Florida/Payne)

Florida Memory is a digital outreach program providing free online access to select archival records from collections housed in the State Library and Archives of Florida. Florida Memory digitizes materials that illuminate the state's history and culture.

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Florida Memory is funded under the provisions of the Library Services and Technology Act from the Institute of Museum and Library Services. Florida's LSTA program is administered by the Department of State's Division of Library and Information Services.

For FY2024-25, the percentage of total costs for the Florida Memory program financed with federal money is 66%; the federal dollar amount to be spent on the program is $614,955. This program does not receive any non-governmental funding.

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Letter from Bill Payne to Patricia Stephens, April 18, 1960

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Letter from Bill Payne to Patricia Stephens, April 18, 1960

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AP Style Photo Citation