JE Ralph to Charles S. Hamlin
Title
JE Ralph to Charles S. Hamlin
Creator
Ralph, Joseph E., 1863-1922
Identifier
SE030714
Date
1914 March 7
Description
Ralph informs the Assistant Secretary of the Treasury that due to a shortage of toilet and dressing room facilities in the new building the Bureau of Engraving and Printing is moving into, African-American and white employees will need to share the facilities.
Source
US National Archives and Records Administration 450/79/10/3 box#15 entry#12A1
Publisher
Woodrow Wilson Presidential Library & Museum
Subject
African-Americans--segregation
Contributor
Althea Cupo
Maria Matlock
Language
English
Provenance
Digital copy acquired from federal archives by previous WWPL Archivist, Heidi Hackford.
Text
My dear Mr. Hamlin:
In connection with the removal of the Bureau to its new building, I find a very embarrassing situation due to the fact that, in planning the building, the necessity for separate toilet and dressing rooms for the colored employes was overlooked and as there is a shortage of toilets in the building due to a lack of funds, it is difficult to at once make any arrangements for the separation of the colored employes in these rooms and, while it is probably that, after we have been located in the new building a month or so, it will be possible for me to devise some means of making proper arrangements, it will be necessary, due to our hurried removal to permit of the commingling of the two races in the work and other rooms. I believe that I will be able to settle the matter eventually without difficulty, but deem it my duty to call your attention to this condition in case there may be any discussion of it.
Respectfully,
(Sgd) J E Ralph
Director
Honorable Charles S. Hamlin,
of the Treasury.
In connection with the removal of the Bureau to its new building, I find a very embarrassing situation due to the fact that, in planning the building, the necessity for separate toilet and dressing rooms for the colored employes was overlooked and as there is a shortage of toilets in the building due to a lack of funds, it is difficult to at once make any arrangements for the separation of the colored employes in these rooms and, while it is probably that, after we have been located in the new building a month or so, it will be possible for me to devise some means of making proper arrangements, it will be necessary, due to our hurried removal to permit of the commingling of the two races in the work and other rooms. I believe that I will be able to settle the matter eventually without difficulty, but deem it my duty to call your attention to this condition in case there may be any discussion of it.
Respectfully,
(Sgd) J E Ralph
Director
Honorable Charles S. Hamlin,
of the Treasury.
Original Format
Letter
To
Hamlin, Charles S. (Charles Sumner), 1861-1938
Files
Collection
Citation
Ralph, Joseph E., 1863-1922, “JE Ralph to Charles S. Hamlin,” 1914 March 7, SE030714, Race and Segregation Collection, Woodrow Wilson Presidential Library & Museum, Staunton, Virginia.