American architect (1894-1980) who practiced mostly in Southern California and designed the homes of numerous celebrities, including Frank Sinatra, Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz, Lon Chaney, Barbara Stanwyck and Charles Correll. TLS signed “Norman O. Houston," "Paul R. Williams," and "Walter A. Gordon,” one page, 8.5 x 11, no date [1934]. The letter, which is addressed to civil right activist and NAACP executive secretary Walter White, features brilliant hand-drawn artwork of a large palm tree with a cameraman filming a residential lakefront neighborhood with sailboats and hilltop houses; a calligraphic hand has added along the bottom: "Greetings to Walter White from California." The artwork was presumably done by Williams. The letter, in full: "The greatest contribution a man can make during his sojourn on earth is Service to fellow man. For twenty-five years your life has been dedicated to this service as Secretary of the N. A. A. C. P. Over the period of years your gleaming personality, your friendly approach to the major problems of the day, your vision and outlook as to the future of the Negro as a citizen and your determination to accomplish your goals make us recognize you as our outstanding leader. We feel particularly grateful for the contribution you have made in the field of race relations through the Motion Picture Industry. The breaking up of the old traditions brings forth a new and better day. Hard work and knotty problems appear to have made you younger during the past 25 years—it is evidence of your capacity in the position you hold. We sincerely hope for a continuance of your good health and your willingness to serve mankind." In fine condition, with a slightly rough left edge.
Norman Houston (1893-1981) was an American businessman and president of Golden State Mutual Life Insurance Company, which at one time was the largest black-owned business west of the Mississippi.
Walter Arthur Gordon (1894-1976) was the first African American to receive a JD from UC Berkeley's Boalt Hall law school. He had an extremely long and varied career where he served as a police officer, lawyer, assistant football coach, member of the California Adult Authority, Governor of the United States Virgin Islands, and a Federal District Judge.
Walter Francis White was a civil rights activist (1893-1955) who led the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) for a quarter of a century, 1929-1955, after joining the organization as an investigator in 1918. Under White's leadership, the NAACP set up its Legal Defense Fund, which conducted numerous legal challenges to segregation and disfranchisement, and achieved many successes. Among these was the Supreme Court ruling in Brown v. Board of Education (1954), which determined that segregated education was inherently unequal.
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