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)
Topic
Civil rights
Correspondence
Social reform
U.S. History, 1953-1961
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.
GUID
http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/fd50572eec0-7745-405a-b1da-5459a1c1f655

Cataloging is an ongoing process and we may update this record as we conduct additional research and review. If you have more information about this object, please contact us at NMAAHCDigiTeam@si.edu

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