Applause Foundation Gallery of Historic Photos

	Claude William Black Jr., born November 28, 1916, Baptist minister and political figure. Black was known throughout the South for his civil rights activism. Throughout the late 1950’s and 1960’s, he along with State Representative G J Sutton and Harry Burns were leading and organizing marches throughout the state. He challenged former Texas Governor Price Daniel, former San Antonio Mayor Walter McAllister, and the establishment for their unfair treatment of minorities in the city. While addressing a city council meeting in 1952, he was ignored and tehn insulted on the open microphone. He became an associate of such leaders as A. Philip Randolph, Martin Luther King, Thurgood Marshall, Adam Clayton Powell Jr, James Farmer, Jr. Ella Baker and others. As a local ally to President Lyndon B. Johnson, Black was present for the White House Conference on Civil Rights in 1966. He endured many threats to himself, his family and even his church. A drive-by shooting occurred on his home as well as his church was burned in 1974 with no suspects ever being charged. He served four terms of the San Antonio City Council 1973-1978 and became the city’s First Black Mayor Pro Tem. Source:Wikipedia
	Oral History Files We invite you to listen to these recordings as you enjoy the photos in the gallery. The first file, currently playing, is by Rev. Claude William Black, Jr. The second is by civil rights activist Joseph A. Scott, and the third is by musician Curley Mays. Each recording lasts 4-5 minutes, and you can switch between them by using the controls on the audio player at the left.
	Ethel Minor, born November 26, 1922 in San Antonio, political figure and civil rights activist. Minor was reared in Columbus, Texas and returned to San Antonio in 1944 to work at Kelly Air Force Base. During her time as a civilian working on the base, she was a fighter for equal treatment of employees. Along with local civil rights leaders such as the Rev. Claude Black, Harry Burns, G J Sutton, Charles Hudspeth and others, Ms. Minor participated in marches and protests throughout Bexar County. From 1986 to 1996, Ms. Minor was the president of the San Antonio Branch of the NAACP. During her time as president, she would organize the San Antonio Annual Martin Luther King, Jr. Day March Celebration. The march has grown to become the largest annual civil rights celebration in the country with over 100,000 participants. After retiring from her post as president in 1997, Minor was approached by her community and asked to re-assume the post. She was again reelected in 2003. Source:Wikipedia
	Harry Burns protesting segregation in the 1970's in front of City Hall, photo courtesy of Allee Wallace Harry V. Burns (1922-2000) was a civil rights leader from San Antonio, Texas. Born November 11, 1922, Harry Victory Burns was named by his mother for the pre-Veterans Day, which was Victory Day. During the 1940s and 1950s, Mr. Burns was the president of the San Antonio NAACP Branch. During the civil rights movement, he associated with Martin Luther King, Thurgood Marshall. He went on to organize marches throughout the city along with others such as Rev. Claude Black, Charles Hudspeth, G J Sutton, Ethel Minor and others. Source:Wikipedia
	In April 1948, Mary McCloud Bethune visited the San Antonio Chapter of the Metropolitan Council of Women at the Colored YWCA on Pine Street. The San Antonio Chapter of the Metropolitan Council of Women is one of NCNW's 39 national affiliates. (Mrs. Bethune is pictured fifth from the right.)
	1930's San Antonio Marion Anderson Music Club
	1930's San Antonio 5 o'clock Bridge Club
	Ella Austin founder of the first orphanage for African American children in San Antonio, The Ella Austin Orphanage
	James Greenwood II U.S. Army, World War II
	Eugene Coleman Civil Rights Activist, founder of Snap newspaper
	1955 -1956 PALS Debutante Ruby Lee Dorn Dos Reis
	Charles Bellinger (1875-1937) Read more on Charles and Valmo Bellinger at Daring to Soar!
	Valmo Bellinger, (1899-1994), son of Charles Bellinger was also the founder, owner, and publisher of the San Antonio Register, San Antonio's second Black-oriented locally focused weekly newspaper
	Clyde Glosson, famous sprinter from Wheatley High School during the 1960's
	In response to a petition by the African American Community, the Negro Branch of the YMCA was created in 1945 and was located on Sycamore Street. The first Board of Directors was established in 1950.
	Vera Williams Young, owner, Carter Taylor Mortuary, one of the premier funeral homes in the area since the 1920's
	Members of the San Antonio Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta, Inc. visiting Washington D.C.

updated November 30, 2008

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