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Rare MLK Transcript Found at Cornell Archives

Staff Report / FLXlocal.org

**Rare Martin Luther King Jr. Transcript Discovered in Cornell University Archives**

ITHACA, NY — A rare find has been uncovered at Cornell University's Catherwood Library, located within the ILR School. Claire Deng, a 2022 Cornell graduate, discovered a transcript of a speech delivered by the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. during a meatpacking union conference in Chicago in 1957. The document was found last summer while Deng was surveying archival papers.

According to the university, this transcript is one of only two known copies, adding substantial historical value to King's documented speeches and writings. It complements other significant discoveries made in 2022 at the Kheel Center for Labor-Management Documentation Archives, which is part of the Cornell University Library. Among these materials are a rare one-minute audio recording and what may be the only known color photographs of King speaking at the 1957 event.

The discoveries provide a deeper understanding of King's work with labor unions and his advocacy for workers' rights during the Civil Rights Movement. The materials are part of an ongoing effort by Cornell to preserve and share significant historical artifacts within its collections.

Source: Cornell University

Source Type: College

Source Location: Ithaca

Jan 20, 2025 at 7:00 AM

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