Does This Mean All Children? A.W. Roberson Part 3

by Kristine Schmucker, HCHM Curator


This post concludes our series featuring the life of A.W. Roberson. To read Part 1 click here, and Part 2 here. 

Perhaps nothing illustrated the continuing racial discrimination in Harvey County like the swimming pool at Athletic Park.

Athletic Park Municipal Swimming Pool, Newton, 1951

In April 1934, the citizens of Newton approved a $30,000 bond for a new municipal swimming pool in Athletic Park.   Construction began and a year later the new pool opened for business. Attendance on the first day was good with between 250 and 300 people.  Sadly, not everyone who wanted to swim was allowed entrance to the pool. Several young black men were turned away from the pool's entrance.  For the next  16 years black and Hispanic residents were excluded from the pool. 

Throughout the 1930s and 40s the local chapter of the NAACP worked to gain equal access to the public pool for all through legal means. A.W. Roberson, representing the NAACP, Mr. and Mrs Aldace Mercomes and Mrs. Ray Wagner attended Commission meetings to request that "colored people be allowed to use the Swimming Pool." Each time "no action was taken by the Commission." (City Commission Regular Session, 26 July 1949. A past blog post on the Athletic Park Swimming Pool highlights the legal struggles for equal access.  )

Despite these efforts the situation had not changed a great deal by 1950. 

Roberson and others were not ready to give up.  Roberson read a notice in the Newton Kansan regarding the opportunity for children to take Red Cross swimming lessons at the pool.  He inquired at the pool, "Does this mean all children?"  

At first he did not get a response, but he kept asking different people and finally reached the chairman of the Red Cross who met with the city council.   The council agreed that if Roberson could get the parents of the white children to agree, black children could take lessons. The local chapter of the NAACP worked to get permission from white parents, but they had a difficult time finding people that were willing.  Finally, twenty-two parents consented to allow the black children to take swimming lessons with their children. 

Black residents were still not allowed to come and swim in the pool during normal business hours.

Roberson again began to talk with people and plan.  It was decided to send five black girls, ages 10 - 15, to the pool in their bathing suits, with towels and admission money. As expected, the young girls were not allowed in. They were told that they would need to talk to the city manager.  The city manager and city attorney called a special meeting of the city council to discuss.  After an executive session, it was announced that "the pool be open to all races on an unlimited basis." (City Commission 15 August 1951)

The first day of integrated swimming went well, with a record attendance of 17 black and 729 white swimmers.

Athletic Park, Newton, June 1965

In later years, Roberson reflected that "it might be that I was a little pushy.  But that's how you get things done sometimes."

He also noted: 

"It is just a matter of getting people together.  It is amazing how much fuss people raise until they finally get to know each other.  Then, everything is fine." (A.W. Roberson, Newton Kansan January, 15 1987)

Throughout his life, Roberson continued to speak up for equality. He regularly attended city commission meetings to voice his concerns for fellow Harvey County residents.  Shortly before his death, his daughter noted that he had been concerned about "police and community relations" and although he attended a meeting he "couldn't participate because he didn't have the strength. But he really wanted to."

A.W. Roberson passed away 28 May 1992 at the age of 82. Roberson was remembered by family and friends as a man who  "put God first in everything . . . believed in equality" and "was more concerned about other people than himself."  

Sources:

• Newton Kansan 29 May 1992 - announcement
• Newton Kansan 1 June 1992 full obituary
• Newton City Directories 1948, 1952, 1954
• United States Census, 1940
• United State Public Records Index, 1 August 1986 Residence
• 1213 N Walnut St/ Newton, Ks
• United States Social Security Death Index
• City Commission Regular Session, 26 July 1949
• City Commission Regular Session 15 August 1951
• Newton Kansan, 15 January 1987
• Bartel, Matt, "Roberson Tells of Struggle for Housing Here" and "Roberson Worked for Equal Rights Here"
• Kreider, Robert S.  Looking Back into the Future. Bethel College, North Newton, Ks, 1998 
• 1978:  A.W. Roberson-Peacemaker.  Originally appeared in the Mennonite Weekly Review, 2 April 1978
• Lehn, Cornelia.  Peace Be With You.  Newton, Ks: Faith and Life Press, 1980.  
• "Ministry of Reconciliation: A.W. Roberson, 1944", p.100.

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Thank You, We Are Comfortable Where We Are: A.W. Roberson Part 2

by Kristine Schmucker, HCHM Curator

This post is Part 2 of a three part blog article featuring the life of A.W. Roberson. Roberson was a person who believed in equality and spent his life looking for opportunities to achieve this in Harvey County. To read Part 1 click here, Part 3 will be published next week. 

In the late 1930s through the 1950s, Newton, Ks was a segregated town. Restaurants and drug stores refused to serve black patrons unless they went around to the back door.  Black people were not allowed to stay in hotels, swim in the swimming pool or get their hair cut at barbershops.  The movie theater had sections designated for black people to sit.  Black students were allowed to play football with white students, but not basketball.

1944-45 Railroader

A.W. Roberson and others saw opportunities for change.

Main Street, Newton
ca. 1950s

After the 1954 U.S. Supreme Court decision in Brown v. the Topeka Board of Education, Roberson realized that anyone who refused to serve a black person could be sued.

"So, a group of us, both blacks and some whites who agreed with our cause, went downtown and went from one end of Main Street to the other, visiting each business.  We'd send someone in, and if they were refused service, they were to brush the back of their head as a signal.  Then I'd come in and talk to the owner, and most often, they'd get served." (Newton Kansan, 15 January 1987)

Wayne's Tavern, 525 Main, Newton
1949 The Newton Guide
HCHM Photo

According to Roberson, only one storekeeper said, "he would close before he would serve blacks, but he eventually served us anyway."  The first Newton restaurant, other than the Harvey House,  to allow black citizens to regularly sit in the main dining area  to eat was the Guest House in 1957.

The Rex Theater, 214 N. Main, Newton, 1946

Movie theaters were another place of segregation. Roberson came up with a plan. He and his wife decided to go to see a movie. They arrived early when the bright overhead lights were on and they could be clearly seen.  They sat in the center of the fifth row - not in the section reserved for minorities.  If anyone asked them to move, Roberson planned to say, "Thank you, we are comfortable where we are."  No one asked them to move, although Roberson noted that his wife was really not very comfortable.  They went several more times and nothing was said.  Roberson then encouraged others in the black community to do the same thing, "to be calm, to talk nice, to keep cool, to be polite to anyone asking them to move."  They also agreed that they would need to be carried out if they were ejected.  The separate section for blacks and other minority groups disappeared and people sat where they wanted to.

Sources:

• Newton Kansan 29 May 1992 - announcement
• Newton Kansan 1 June 1992 full obituary
• Newton City Directories 1948, 1952, 1954
• United States Census, 1940
• United State Public Records Index, 1 August 1986 Residence
• 1213 N Walnut St/ Newton, Ks
• United States Social Security Death Index
• Newton Kansan, 15 January 1987
• Bartel, Matt, "Roberson Tells of Struggle for Housing Here" and "Roberson Worked for Equal Rights Here"
• Kreider, Robert S.  Looking Back into the Future. Bethel College, North Newton, Ks, 1998 
• 1978:  A.W. Roberson-Peacemaker.  Originally appeared in the Mennonite Weekly Review, 2 April 1978
• Lehn, Cornelia.  Peace Be With You.  Newton, Ks: Faith and Life Press, 1980.  
• "Ministry of Reconciliation: A.W. Roberson, 1944", p.100.

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Now, We and the Neighbors Get Along Just Fine: A.W. Roberson Part 1

by Kristine Schmucker, HCHM Curator

When the words, "Civil Rights" are used, most think of Rosa Parks, or Martin Luther King.  However, Harvey County had its own Civil Rights worker by the name of Augustus W. Roberson.  In the 1940s through late 1950s, A.W. Roberson was quietly, peacefully changing the community he lived and worked in.  When he died in 1992, his obituary quotes his daughter, who said, 

"A lot of people have called to offer their condolences and every one of them said he had a very strong impact. . . He had a love of God and a love of God's people."(Beverly Roberson Jackson, Newton Kansan 1 June 1992)  

This post is the first of a three part series about A.W. Roberson and the difference he was able to make in Harvey County.

Augustus W. Roberson
Newton Kansan Collection
HCHM Photos

When Augustus W. Roberson moved to Newton, Kansas with his family in the mid-1940s he thought, "Thank God I'm going to a free state."  However, much to his disappointment, he soon learned that "somethings were worse than anything I had seen in Texas" where racial segregation was still legal. (Newton Kansan, 15 January 1987) Roberson would spend the next 48 years working to "end racism and discrimination in the community." (Newton Kansas, Obituary, 1 June 1992.)

The grandson of slaves, A.W. Roberson was born July 7, 1907 to Anthony Roberson and Maggie Woodrow in Savoy, TX.  Anthony Roberson worked on the railroad maintenance and safety crew. His father also served as a minister and young  Roberson joined the church as age 9.  Of his growing up years in Texas he later recalled, "if church was open we were there." He married Ora C. Burnett in 1937 in Denison, TX.  They had two daughters. Throughout his life, his faith in God was very important to him and helped him overcome great obstacles. 

Another guiding force was his firm belief instilled in him by his father that "everyone was one of God's creatures and were all deserving of rights." (Newton Kansas, Obituary, 1 June 1992.)

Upon his arrival in Newton, Roberson observed that employment for black people was limited in Newton.  Most worked for the railroad, as household servants or in jobs related to maintenance. Roberson worked for the U.S. Postal Office.  Because he worked for the government, he did not have to fear the harassment that others experienced from local employers if they spoke up.  So, he began to push for equal rights.

First, he approached the Newton Chamber of Commerce.

 Directors of the Newton Chamber of Commerce
1939-1940 and 1940-1941
HCHM Photo

He questioned the members if there had ever been a black member. The answer was that none had ever applied.  Roberson applied to become a member and was accepted by unanimous vote.  Getting accepted was only the first hurdle.  The Chamber met at the Ripley Hotel, which did not allow blacks in the dining room.  

Roberson recalled that he

"would show up about 15 minutes early and sit in the lobby, so everyone could see me there as they came in for the meeting.  After awhile, they said it was time to eat and I got up just like everyone else and went to the table and sat down."  (Newton Kansan, 15 January 1987)

He left one seat between himself and the next person, "that way, whoever sat in that chair knew who they were sitting next to." Roberson was the first black person to sit to eat at the Ripley Hotel. He also worked to strengthen the local chapter for the NAACP.

Finding a home also proved to be another opportunity for Roberson to break down some racial barriers.

When his family first arrived in Newton, they boarded with U. S. Rickman, a black plumber.  The Roberson's wanted a home of their own.  Later, Roberson recalled his experiences purchasing a house.

"I'd call the local Realtors about a property and the'd say 'fine, come on over and we'll show you the place.' But when I got there and they saw I was black, they'd say this or that condition had come up since I called and the property was no longer available.  Then, they'd offer to show me some bungalow over in the black section of town."

Roberson did not want to live in a bungalow. So, he kept trying. Finally, he was able to purchase several lots near 12th and Walnut at a tax auction. The neighbors were all white.

"From the very start, I had people offering to buy the lots.  As time went on, they started telling me to name my price, they'd pay anything. They just simply didn't want blacks in the neighborhood."

Roberson held on to his lots and purchased a house from east of Goessel to move to Newton at his address 1213 N. Walnut.  At first there was some concern that there might be trouble.  Roberson took some time off of work to stay home.  He recalled that the neighbors "would gang up out front.  But nothing ever came of it."  

In 1987, Roberson reflected that "now, we and the neighbors get along just fine." 

Next weeks post will feature Roberson's experiences with downtown businesses.

Sources:

• Newton Kansan 29 May 1992 - announcement
• Newton Kansan 1 June 1992 full obituary
• Newton City Directories 1948, 1952, 1954
• United States Census, 1940
• United State Public Records Index, 1 August 1986 Residence
• 1213 N Walnut St/ Newton, Ks
• United States Social Security Death Index
• Newton Kansan, 15 January 1987
• Bartel, Matt, "Roberson Tells of Struggle for Housing Here" and "Roberson Worked for Equal Rights Here"
• Kreider, Robert S.  Looking Back into the Future. Bethel College, North Newton, Ks, 1998 
• 1978:  A.W. Roberson-Peacemaker.  Originally appeared in the Mennonite Weekly Review, 2 April 1978
• Lehn, Cornelia.  Peace Be With You.  Newton, Ks: Faith and Life Press, 1980.  
• "Ministry of Reconciliation: A.W. Roberson, 1944", p.100.

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Now Here's What You've Been Waiting For: Beatles '65 Album

by Kristine Schmucker, HCHM Curator

Do you remember where you were when the Beatles first performed on the Ed Sullivan Show?  Where you one of the many that were "two inches from the screen, screaming"?  This weekend marks the 50th anniversary of the debut of the Beatles in the United States, so we are sharing an album in our LP collection, Beatles '65. 

The music group that we know as the Beatles got its start in Liverpool, England in 1958 when John Lennon, Paul McCartney and George Harrison began performing together.  Ringo Starr joined the group in 1962.  Two years later, on February 9, 1964, the Beatles performed on the Ed Sullivan Show in New York for a crowd of screaming teenagers.

Over a seven year period the group released 13 original albums, changing music forever.

On December 15, 1964, the Beatles released Beatles '65 with all new songs mostly composed by John Lennon and Paul McCartney.  Recorded in London studios between June and October 1964, this was their first new American album released since July 1964.  The Album went straight to #1 on the charts and stayed there for nine straight weeks.

Beatles '65 Album
HCHM LP Collection

The album included eleven new songs including I'll Be Back, She's a Woman, and Honey Don't. The album was a huge success with sales passing the three million mark.

To listen to songs from the album go to: Beatles '65 Album.

What was your favorite Beatles song?

Sources

• http://www.beatlesebooks.com/beatles'65
• http://edition.cnn.com/2014/02/07/business/opinion-beatles-coudnt-happen-today/index.html
• Beatles '65 HCHM LP Collection.

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