- Written by
- Dr. King, Martin Luther Jr., American, 1929 - 1968
- Received by
- Tate, Roberta M., American, 1912 - 2011
- Signed by
- Dr. King, Martin Luther Jr., American, 1929 - 1968
- Date
- October 23, 1958
- Medium
- ink on paper
- Dimensions
- H x W: 11 x 8 1/2 in. (27.9 x 21.6 cm)
- Caption
- This letter was sent as a thank you for a condolence message sent by Roberta Tate to Dr. King "in connection with the unfortunate incident he experienced in New York." The incident refers to the September 20, 1958 attack on Dr. King in Harlem, New York. While signing copies of his book, Stride Toward Freedom, Izola Curry stabbed Dr. King in the chest with a letter opener. She believed that Dr. King was conspiring against her with communists. Doctors were able to save Dr. King's life after hours of surgery.
- Description
- Typewritten letter from Martin Luther King Jr. to Roberta Tate. The letter is signed by King in blue ink and is dated October 23, 1958. The letterhead is printed in black at the top center, in a gothic font. The letter begins with "Dear Mrs. Tate: Thank you so much for the kind message / you sent to me in connection with the unfortunate incident I experienced in New York..." The back of the document is blank.
- Place made
- Montgomery, Montgomery County, Alabama, United States, North and Central America
- Place used
- Passaic, Passaic County, New Jersey, United States, North and Central America
- Place depicted
- New York, United States, North and Central America
- Classification
- Documents and Published Materials
- Movement
- Civil Rights Movement
- Type
- letters (correspondence)
- Credit Line
- Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, Gift of Jyl C. Woolfolk
- Object number
- 2012.166.1
- Restrictions & Rights
- No Known Copyright Restrictions
- Proper usage is the responsibility of the user.