Governor Theodore McKeldin

Gov. McKeldin with Marse Callaway and Carl Murphy. Paul Henderson. MdHS, HEN.00.B1-069.

Governor Theodore McKeldin (1900–1974), Marse Callaway, and Carl Murphy (1889–1967) were immensely important in the struggle for civil rights. After his first of two terms as Mayor of Baltimore, Republican Gov. McKeldin took office in 1951 until 1959. Promoting racial justice early in his political career, he gained powerful allies in the black community. Callaway served as McKeldin’s political aide, bridging the issues of the black community to Gov. McKeldin. Murphy, editor-publisher of the Afro-American newspaper, helped shape the movement by choosing its leaders, providing funding, and reporting issues to his readers. Image: Governor Theodore McKeldin in his office with Marse Callaway and Carl Murphy in background, Annapolis, 1951, Maryland Historical Society, HEN.00.B1-069

PHOTOGRAPHS AND AUDIO CLIP: Silas Craft, educator and school administrator involved with the Civil Rights movement through the NAACP of Howard and Montgomery Counties, speaks about Governor Theodore McKeldin. (McKeldin-Jackson Oral History Project, Maryland  Historical Society, OH 8137.)

Gov. McKeldin with Marse Callaway and Carl Murphy, HEN.00.B1-069

Mordecai Wyatt Johnson speaking at unidentified event. Gov. Theodore McKeldin seated second from right. Paul Henderson, not dated. MdHS, HEN.00.A2-171.

Inauguration of Governor Theodore McKeldin. Annapolis, Maryland. Paul Henderson, 1951. MdHS, HEN.00.A2-212.

(Mayor or Governor) Theodore McKeldin shaking hands with Martin Jenkins, President of Morgan State College. Unidentified people and police officers in background. circa 1951. Paul Henderson, HEN.00.B1-067.

Governor Theodore McKeldin in the State House in Annapolis, Maryland. Paul Henderson, 1951. MdHS, HEN.00.B1-068.

Governor Theodore McKeldin in his office. Annapolis, Maryland. Paul Henderson, 1951. MdHS, HEN.00.B1-070.

Theodore McKeldin. Paul Henderson, not dated. MdHS, HEN.00.B1-071.

Theodore McKeldin (seated third from left) with Morgan State College Board of Trustees. Paul Henderson, 1950. MdHS, HEN.00.B1-072.

Theodore McKeldin (fifth from left) shaking hands with Martin Jenkins (third from left), President of Morgan State College. Paul Henderson, December 1950. MdHS, HEN.00.B1-073.

Theodore McKeldin. Paul Henderson, not dated. MdHS, HEN.00.B1-074.

Theodore McKeldin, second from left. Paul Henderson, June 1954. MdHS, HEN.00.B1-077.

Theodore McKeldin, second from right. Paul Henderson, 1954. MdHS, HEN.00.B1-078.

Political event. Theodore McKeldin being sworn in as mayor of Baltimore or governor of Maryland. circa 1951. Paul Henderson, HEN.00.B1-079.

Theodore McKeldin seated third from right. Paul Henderson, June 1951. MdHS, HEN.00.B1-087.

Theodore McKeldin. Paul Henderson, June 1951. MdHS, HEN.00.B1-089.

Theodore McKeldin (third from left) presenting plaque to Francis Murphy. Paul Henderson, not dated. MdHS, HEN.00.B1-090.

Theodore McKeldin shaking hands with Marse Callaway at unidentified event. circa 1951. Paul Henderson, HEN.00.B1-091.

Graduation procession. Theodore McKeldin second from left. Paul Henderson, June 1954. MdHS, HEN.00.B2-253.

Transcript:

Oh yes, always impressed with him [inaudible] He attempted to follow various kinds of suggestions as far as I could see, he did a pretty good job at keeping his formal commitments. What else… he annunciated. 

As far as I know, I wasn’t on the political circles, political circuit. Still not. But my general observation he was pretty pronounced in his behavior. And he did break barriers in the appointing of blacks to certain administrative posts that never held before in the history of America. 

But the state as a whole, from McKeldin [inaudible] governors had a way of shying away from the basic concerns of the black movement and civil rights. Governor after governor did not let themselves become too involved in those areas. Other than to provide some good service. 

I would say McKeldin was the forerunner of new thought in this area of race relations from the time I came to this state, to the time that he ended his administration. 

Certainly think he did a good job of breaking all… making the trail for change. Of course we know we could go back to when it got rid of the whole Jim Crow law here in the state… came right up to the apartments of blacks to administrative boards in the state [inaudible].