Jere Haralson letter

Collection

Identifier: MSS-0625

Scope and Contents

The collection contains a letter written to the United States Centennial Commission in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, by Haralson requesting an additional invitation for his wife to attend the opening of the "international exhibition." The Centennial Commission organized the Centennial International Exhibition of Industry, which opened on 10 May 1876, with an attendance of over 150,000 people, including U.S. President Ulysses S. Grant, members of Congress, Supreme Court justices and foreign dignitaries.

Dates

1876 April 27

Creator

Haralson, Jeremiah (Person)

Conditions Governing Access

None

Biographical / Historical

Jeremiah Haralson, born on a plantation on 1 April 1846 near Columbus, Georgia, he was raised as a slave and was self-educated. He moved to Alabama after emancipation, where he served as the first black member of the State House of Representatives in 1870. He served in the state senate in 1872 and in the U.S. Congress from the 44th district from 1875 to 1877. After serving in Congress, Haralson worked in various positions in the Federal government, until 1884 when he moved to Louisiana and Arkansas before returning to Alabama in 1912. Haralson then moved to Texas, Oklahoma, and Colorado, where he was killed by wild animals near Denver in 1916.

Extent

0.02 Linear Feet (1 item)

Language of Materials

English

Additional Description

Overview

Letter written in 1876 by African American member of Congress from Alabama to the United States Centennial Commission in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, requesting an additional invitation for his wife to attend the opening of the Centennial International Exhibition of Industry.

Provenance

unknown

General

To provide faster access to our materials, this finding aid was published without formal and final review. Email us at archives@ua.edu if you find mistakes or have suggestions to make this finding aid more useful for your research.