Southern Conference for Human Welfare

The Southern Conference for Human Welfare (SCHW) was formed in 1938 in Birmingham, Alabama to promote civil liberties and to combat economic problems in the South by expanding the New Deal to attack southern poverty. The organization campaigned against the poll tax, allied itself with the Congress of Industrial Organizations, held interracial meetings, and followed a "popular front" strategy which allowed Communists membership in SCHW. This policy led to charges of Communist influence, a factor which hastened the SCHW's demise in 1948.

From the description of Clark Foreman files, 1934-1967. (Robert W. Woodruff Library of the Atlanta University Center, Inc.). WorldCat record id: 38477301

From the description of Southern Conference for Human Welfare publications, 1938-1967. (Robert W. Woodruff Library of the Atlanta University Center, Inc.). WorldCat record id: 38477297

From the description of National Office correspondence and records, 1938-1967. (Robert W. Woodruff Library of the Atlanta University Center, Inc.). WorldCat record id: 38477294

From the description of Southern Conference for Human Welfare records, 1938-1967 (bulk 1946-1948). (Robert W. Woodruff Library of the Atlanta University Center, Inc.). WorldCat record id: 38477180

From the description of State committees files, 1938-1967. (Robert W. Woodruff Library of the Atlanta University Center, Inc.). WorldCat record id: 38477295

The National Committee to Abolish the Poll Tax was established in 1941. The Committee's work was originally started by the Civil Rights Committee of the Southern Conference for Human Welfare. Virginia Foster Durr and Joseph Gelders directed the work of the Committee to persuade Congress to repeal the poll tax. Although the Committee collapsed in 1948, it succeeded in turning public opinion in the South against the poll tax.

From the description of National Committee to Abolish the Poll Tax records, 1941-1948. (Robert W. Woodruff Library of the Atlanta University Center, Inc.). WorldCat record id: 38477299