First Black Police Officers of the City of Miami collection, 1940-2009
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Brief Description:

This collection consists of material on Miami's black Police Precinct and first black police officers from the 1940s to 2009 collected by staff of The Black Archives. It documents the formation of the precinct, the struggles of black police officers for fair treatment and black police officers who died in the line of duty. Forms of material include photographs and printed material such as: newspaper articles (one of which contains an image of the first black officers of Atlanta, Georgia), a report, an event program ("A Welcome to our Negro Policement by the Citizens of Miami, circa 1944), and a book draft ("Forgotten Heroes: Black Police Officers Killed in Dade County, 1944-1995," by Dr. William Wilbanks).

The first black police squadron in the City of Miami started with five officers: John Milledge, Clyde Lee, Edward Kimball, Moody Hall and Ralph White. They were sworn in by Lt. Raymond Tanner, on September 1, 1944 in front of their temporary headquarters at the offices of Dr. Ira P. Davis and Dr. Rodney H. Portier. Black officers were only allowed to patrol Overtown, Liberty City and parts of Coconut Groove. The main headquarters for the black officers was opened in May 1950 until it closed in 1963 due to budget cuts.

Series 1, PHOTOGRAPHS contains photographs of early police squadrons and includes the following noteworthy people: Stanley Sweeting and Attorney Lawson E. Thomas (judge at the black precinct).

Series 2, PRINTED MATERIAL contains information on preserving the Black Police Precinct building and its conversion into a museum and community center for the youth, including financial information.

Held at:
The Black Archives History & Research Foundation of South FL, Inc.
819 NW 2nd Avenue
Miami, FL 33136
Phone: 786-708-4610
Fax: 305-400-8756
Email: jhurtado [at] bahlt.org
Record Series Number: 01/BAF MS_00122
Created by: Black Archives (1977-present)
Volume: 0.25 Linear Feet
Arrangement:

Series 1: Photographs (1 folder)

Series 2: Printed material (2 folders)

Access Restrictions: There are no access restrictions to this collection.
Subject Index
African American police -- Miami -- Florida
African Americans -- Segregation
Blacks -- Segregation
Cultural property -- Protection
Discrimination -- Florida -- Dade County
Historic buildings -- Conservation and restoration
Urban renewal
Genres/Forms of Material
Clippings (Books, newspapers, etc.)
Correspondence
Photographs
Programs
Reports
Languages of Materials
English [eng]
Rights/Use Restrictions: (c) 2011 The Black Archives, History and Research Foundation, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Permission to publish materials must be obtained in writing from the Director of The Black Archives, History and Research Foundation, Inc. An image license agreement must be signed prior to recording or copying images.
Physical Access Notes: Photographs are in poor condition and must be handled with sensitive care.
Related Materials: Stanley "Sweets" Sweeting papers, Personalities collection -- Dr. Ira P. Davis series, Fred Ebron Jr. photograhp collection