People in a Danville church listen to an SNCC discussion after being beaten, 1963. Photo by Danny Lyon, dektol.wordpress.com
May 31, 2024 Story by: Editor
For the first time, over 85 hours of audio recordings and numerous court documents from the Danville civil rights movement of 1963 are now accessible online. These materials chronicle the trials and sentencing of nearly 250 defendants, predominantly Black individuals, following the protests.
The audio recordings, previously stored in the Danville courthouse, were rediscovered in the 1990s. Initially preserved on Dictabelts and paper, they were transferred to CDs and microfilm reels. However, accessing this information still required in-person visits to the Danville Circuit Courthouse or the Library of Virginia in Richmond.
In May 2024, the Library of Virginia completed a yearlong project to digitize these records. Using Rosetta, a digital management and preservation platform, the audio files and microfilm reels were converted into digital formats. Now, anyone can access these materials online through the Library of Virginia’s website, aided by an updated finding guide for easier navigation.
The digitized collection will be showcased during a June 6 event at the Library of Virginia, coinciding with the 61st anniversary of “Bloody Monday,” a day marked by police brutality against civil rights protesters. The event includes a screening of the documentary “The Movement” and a panel discussion with former protesters.
The Danville civil rights protests, beginning on May 31, 1963, saw over 250 people arrested under various charges, largely due to a city injunction limiting protests. The trials, which extended until 1973, faced national criticism for Judge Archibald Aiken’s controversial courtroom procedures.
The digitization project, spearheaded by Vincent Brooks and Mary Ann Mason from the Library of Virginia, ensures these historically significant records are preserved and accessible. This initiative serves as a pilot project for further digitization efforts of the library’s collections.
The improved accessibility of these materials aims to help preserve the legacy of the Danville civil rights movement. The library anticipates that the digitized records will be extensively utilized by scholars, former protesters, and their families, as well as the general public interested in civil rights history.
More than 300 people have registered to attend the June 6 event, indicating significant public interest. The event will provide an opportunity for attendees to engage with the history of the movement and explore a display of related materials, including a timeline of significant events in Danville’s history. Source: Cardinal News
By making these records accessible, the Library of Virginia hopes to honor the contributions of those involved in the civil rights movement and provide a valuable resource for future generations.
For more details and access to the digital collection, visit the Library of Virginia’s website.
