Memorandum from John L. Thurston to John Steelman

Shurston, John L. 596.7 June 23, 1947 FILED BY DR. STEELMAN 2/2/49 MEMORANDUM TO: Dr. John R. Steelman FROM: John L. Thurston SUBJECT: Civil Rights Committee and the President's Amnesty Board. fite For your information I am briefly describing below the gps functions of the Civil Rights Committee and the President's Amnesty Board. I know you are familiar with the Merchant Marine Commi ssion and the Education Commission so I have not included any information on those two. H The President's Committee on Civil Rights The President established his Committee on Civil Rights by Executive Order on December 5, 1946. The Committee is composed of the following private citizens who serve without compensation: Mr. C. E. Wilson, Chairman; Mrs. Sadie T. Alexander; Mr. James B. Carey; Mr. John S. Dickey; Mr. Morris L. Ernst; Rabbi Roland G. Gittelshon; Dr. Frank P. Graham; The Most Reverend Francis J. Haas; Mr. Charles Luckman; Mr. Francis P. Matthews; Mr. Franklin D. Roosevelt, Jr.; The Right Reverend Henry Knox Sherrill; Mr. Borps NATIONAL Shiskin; Mrs. M. E. Tilley; Mr. Channing H. Tobias. Aro acoany N The Committee has met eight times to date and has held hearings both on a private and public basis. It has also had an extensive correspondence with private organizations and governmental agencies in the civil rights field and has received reports and recommendations from these organizations and agencies. A staff to serve the Committee was organized early in February. At the present moment there are eighteen members of this staff, divided almost evenly between professional and stenographic workers. This staff has engaged in research, prepared memoranda and reports for the Committee; and it has made the plans and arrangements for the Committee's meetings and hearings.