Sam Reed papers, 1973-2001 and undated

Digital Materials

View — Sam Reed and the Trumpet of Conscience

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Summary

Creator:
Reed, Sam, d. 1999
Abstract:
Collection pertains to Reed's political and community activism, the civil rights movement, and race and labor relations issues in the South. Consists of the records of the Durham, N.C. organization founded by Reed, Trumpet of Conscience, and a run of the newsletter of the same name, 1987-2000. Other papers include correspondence, chiefly to Reed; photographs; obituaries, interviews, speeches, and new articles by and about Sam Reed; fliers, invitations, and other items stemming from community events; and awards. Topics covered or touched on by these materials include the history of race relations in Durham, N.C.; Durham politics; activism in North Carolina and Durham; the involvement of Duke University and North Carolina Central students, faculty, and administration in local events; labor issues and unions; and, more generally, human rights issues in the South. A selection of materials from the collection have been digitized and are available in Duke Digital Collections. Acquired by the John Hope Franklin Research Center for African and African American History and Culture.
Extent:
2.0 Linear Feet (3 boxes)
Approximately 700 Items
Language:
Material in English
Collection ID:
RL.01075

Background

Scope and content:

The collection pertains to the life and political activism of Sam Reed of Durham, North Carolina, particularly in connection with the civil rights movement and race and labor relations in the South. The records of the organization founded by Reed, Trumpet of Conscience, include a nearly complete run of the newsletter of the same name, 1987-2000; meeting notes, agendas, and speeches; mission and goal statements; ideas for community events and fund-raising; and financial items, chiefly printing bills for the newsletter. A folder also contains fliers, programs, invitations, and notes on Trumpet of Conscience events, which were held in the Hayti Center, Duke Chapel, and N.C. Mutual Life Insurance offices, among other locations.

Other papers include correspondence to Reed, chiefly relating to the Trumpet of Conscience's work; obituaries, tributes, interviews, speeches, and news articles, by and about Sam Reed; photographs of Reed and his wife, other activists, supporters, and local politicians, and gatherings; and awards honoring Reed and the organization he founded. An oral history of Sam Reed's life is present in the form of transcripts from four interviews conducted in 1996-1997.

Topics covered or touched on by these materials include Sam Reed's life as a memeber of a Jewish family who emigrated from the Ukraine; the U.S. Depression and political activism in the U.S.; the history of race relations in Durham, North Carolina; civil rights actions in North Carolina and Durham; Durham politics and politicians; the involvement of Duke University and North Carolina Central students, faculty, and administration in various local events; political action by Durham citizens groups; labor issues and unions; and, more generally, human rights issues in the South.

A selection of materials from the collection have been digitized and are available in Duke Digital Collections. Original audiovisual materials are closed to use; for access, please consult with a reference archivist before coming to use the collection. Acquired as part of the John Hope Franklin Research Center for African and African American History and Culture.

Biographical / historical:
Chronology List
Date Event
1906 Aug. 20
Born Sam Pobiersky in a small Jewish village in the Ukraine
1923
Emigrated to the United States with family and settled in Minnesota
1925
Changed last name to Reed in honor of John Reed, author of Ten Days that Shook the World, a history of the Bolshevik Revolution
1973
Moved to Durham, N.C.
1987
Founded the Trumpet of Conscience newsletter and organization
1999
Elected vice-president of the Durham chapter of the NAACP
1999 Aug. 3
Passed away at the age of 93 in Durham, N.C.
2000 April
Trumpet of Conscience ceased publication
Acquisition information:
The Sam Reed Papers were received by the David M. Rubenstein Rare Book Manuscript Library as a gift in 2009, 2012, and 2016.
Processing information:

Processed by Ted Holt, January 2010, and Paula Jeannet, July 2016.

Accession (s) described in this collection guide: 2009-0270, 2012-0244, 2016-0041.

Physical location:
For current information on the location of these materials, please consult the Library's online catalog.
Rules or conventions:
Describing Archives: A Content Standard

Contents

Using These Materials

Using These Materials Links:

Using These Materials

Restrictions:

Collection is open for research.

Researchers must register and agree to copyright and privacy laws before using this collection.

Original audiovisual materials are closed to use. Use of these materials may require production of listening or viewing copies.

All or portions of this collection may be housed off-site in Duke University's Library Service Center. The library may require up to 48 hours to retrieve these materials for research use.

Please contact Research Services staff before visiting the David M. Rubenstein Rare Book & Manuscript Library to use this collection.

Terms of access:

The copyright interests in this collection have not been transferred to Duke University. For more information, consult the copyright section of the Regulations and Procedures of the David M. Rubenstein Rare Book & Manuscript Library.

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Preferred citation:

[Identification of item], Sam Reed Papers, David M. Rubenstein Rare Book & Manuscript Library, Duke University