The Black Cop of Philadelphia collection
Collection 3809
1969-2006, undated(0.2 Linear feet ; 1 box)
Table of Contents
Summary Information
- Repository
- The Historical Society of Pennsylvania
- Creator - Donor
- Matthews, Arthur J.
- Title
- The Black Cop of Philadelphia collection
- ID
- 3809
- Date
- 1969-2006, undated
- Extent
- 0.2 Linear feet ; 1 box
- Author
- Finding aid prepared by Cary Hutto
- Language
- English
- Mixed materials [Box]
- 1
Preferred citation
Cite as: [Indicate cited item or series here], The Black Cop of Philadelphia collection (Collection 3809), The Historical Society of Pennsylvania.
Abstract
These materials were collected by Arthur Matthews, retired homicide captain and chief inspector of the Philadelphia Police Department. Matthews was the first African American to head the city's Homicide Division in the 1960s. This small collection contains a copy of a letter from Arthur Matthews to Alphonso Deal, president of the Guardian Civic League of Philadelphia, from May 26, 1969 (Box 1, Folder 1), published items, photocopies of articles, and a paper titled "A Short History of African-American Policeman" that's accompanied by a list of "Significant court decisions that affected African Americans and others[sic] minorities with the Philadelphia Police Department" (Box 1, Folder 4). These writings were used in the program entitled "Historical Salute to African Americans in Law Enforcement" that was held by the city in 2006. A copy of the accompanying booklet is in the collection (Box 1, Folder 3). The photocopied articles primarily date from 1969 to 1980 and most feature Matthews and his work, along with other issues relating to African American police employees (Box 1, Folder 2). There is also a police department recruiting booklet (Box 1, Folder 3) and a book, Black Cops by James N. Reaves (Volume 1).
Administrative Information
Publication Information
The Historical Society of Pennsylvania ; 2014
1300 Locust StreetPhiladelphia, PA, 19107
215-732-6200
Restrictions
The collection is open for research.
Provenance
Gif of Arthur J. Matthews, 2012.
Accession number 2012.051.
Controlled Access Headings
Subject(s)
- African American men.
- African Americans in mass media.
- African Americans--Biography.
- African Americans--Pennsylvania--Philadelphia.
- African Americans--Relations with whites.
- Philadelphia (Pa.). Police Department.
Collection Inventory
| Box | Folder | |||
|
Photocopy of letter - Arthur Matthews to Alphonso Deal 26 May 1969 |
1 | 1 | ||
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Photocopies of clippings pertaining to Arthur Matthews and African American police employees 1969-1980 |
1 | 2 | ||
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Publications - Be a Policeman, Build a Career; A Historical Salute to African Americans In Law Enforcement, 1888 to 2006 |
1 | 3 | ||
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"A Short History of African American Policeman” [essay]; “ "Significant Court Decisions that Affected African American and Others[sic] Minorities Within the Philadelphia Police Department" undated |
1 | 4 | ||
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| Volume | ||||
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Black Cops by James N. Reaves |
1 | |||
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