Randolph, A. Philip (Asa Philip), 1889-1979

A. Philip Randolph (1889-1979) was an African-American labor leader and early civil rights spokesman. Influenced by the socialism of Eugene Debs, Randolph began publishing his magazine The Messenger in 1917. He opposed U.S. entry into the first World War. In 1925 he organized the Brotherhood of Sleeping Car Porters. His associations with Bayard Rustin and James Farmer influenced his dedication to nonviolence. Randolph was a founder of the League for Nonviolent Civil Disobedience Against Military Segregation. In 1963, he directed the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom. The A. Philip Randolph Institute was founded in his honor in 1964.

From the description of Collection, 1926-1969, 1926-1948. (Swarthmore College, Peace Collection). WorldCat record id: 29301106

A. Philip Randolph (1889-1979) was one of the leading black protest leaders of the twentieth century. He was best known as the editor of the Messenger (a radical Socialist journal), as organizer of the Brotherhood of Sleeping Car Porters, and as the leader of the 1941 and 1963 Marches on Washington.

From the description of Papers of A. Philip Randolph, 1909-1979. (Cornell University Library). WorldCat record id: 165393463

Civil rights leader and labor union official. Died 1979.

From the description of A. Philip Randolph papers, 1909-1979 (bulk 1941-1968). (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 70982863

Labor leader.

From the description of Reminiscences of Asa Philip Randolph : oral history, 1972. (Columbia University In the City of New York). WorldCat record id: 309723288

Civil rights leader and President of the Brotherhood of Sleeping Car Porters.

Randolph died in 1979.

From the description of A. Philip Randolph collection, 1940-1978. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 122534088

Biographical Note

• 1889, Apr. 15: Born, Crescent City, Fla.
• 1911: Moved to Harlem, New York, N.Y.
• 1912: Attended the College of the City of New York, New York, N.Y.
• 1914: Married Lucille E. Campbell (died 1963)
• 1917 - 1928 : With Chandler Owen helped found, edit, and publish the Messenger
• 1918: Joined the Socialist Party Arrested for speaking out against American participation in World War I, Cleveland, Ohio
• 1920: Organized the Friends of Negro Freedom
• 1925: Organized the Brotherhood of Sleeping Car Porters Called on President Calvin Coolidge to protest the lynching and plight of African Americans
• 1925 - 1968 : International president, Brotherhood of Sleeping Car Porters
• 1935: Won the right to represent the sleeping car porters with the Pullman Co.
• 1936: Founding president, National Negro Congress
• 1937: Negotiated the first wage agreement with the Pullman Co.
• 1941: Organized the March on Washington Movement Helped persuade President Franklin D. Roosevelt to issue Executive Order 8802 establishing the Fair Employment Practices Committee 1943 Helped persuade President Franklin D. Roosevelt to issue Executive Order 9346 establishing a new Fair Employment Practices Committee 1948 Encouraged President Harry S. Truman to issue Executive Orders 9980 and 9981 creating a Fair Employment Board and a President's Committee on Equality of Treatment and Opportunity in the Armed Services
• 1951: Conference with President Harry S. Truman led to Executive Order 10210 forbidding racial discrimination by government contractors
• 1953: Consultation between Randolph and other civil rights leaders and President Dwight D. Eisenhower led to Executive Order 10479 reconstituting the contract compliance agency and placing it under the chairmanship of the vice president
• 1955: Advised President Dwight D. Eisenhower to issue Executive Order 10590 establishing the President's Committee on Government Policy to enforce a nondiscrimination policy in federal employment Persuaded the AFL-CIO to outlaw racial discrimination
• 1957 - 1968 : Vice president, AFL-CIO
• 1959: Founded the Negro American Labor Council
• 1963: National director, March on Washington
• 1964: Established the A. Philip Randolph Institute Awarded Presidential Medal of Freedom
• 1964 - 1968 : Influenced the passage of legislation establishing the civil rights and the voting rights acts
• 1966: Chairman, White House Conference "To Fulfill These Rights"
• 1979, May 16: Died, New York, N.Y.

From the guide to the A. Philip Randolph Papers, 1909-1979, (bulk 1941-1968), (Manuscript Division Library of Congress)