The Journal of Negro History, Volume 4, 1919

    Augusta, Ga., April 27, 1917.

Sir: Being a constant reader of your paper, I thought of no one better than you to write for information.

I'm desirous of leaving the south but before so doing I want to be sure of a job before pulling out. I'm a member of the race, a normal and colloege school graduate, a man of a family and can give reference. Confidentially this communication between you and me is to be kept a secret.

My children I wished to be educated in a different community than here. Where the school facilities are better and less prejudice shown and in fact where advantages are better for our people in all respect. At present I have a good position but I desire to leave the south. A good position even tho' its a laborer's job paying $4.50 or $5.00 a day will suit me till I can do better. Let it be a job there or any where else in the country, just is it is east or west. I'm quite sure you can put me in touch with some one. I'm a letter carrier now and am also a druggist by profession. Perhaps I may through your influence get a transfer to some eastern or western city.

Nevada or California as western states, I prefer, and I must say that I have nothing against Detroit, Mich.

I shall expect an early reply. Remember keep this a secret please until I can perfect some arrangements.

    Glebdon, Ala., April 22, 1917.

Gentlemen: I seen it in the Chicago Defender that if any one dezire to locate in a small town where they can get fairly good wages and educate there children address you who neads men and stop paying men 50 cts & $1.00 for Job well i wont to come there where i can get work & fairly good wages & educate my children & i am not able to bear my expences i have a wife & 7 chrildren & if you can make any preparation for me to come & bring them let me here from you i have too boys big enough to work one 12 years old the other 10 and i have been trying to get away from here for some time & i cant get ot without your aid i seen it on a small paper a littler strip where Mr. – – at the state of Neb at omaha he advise any one that wont to go north or west rite him & send a too sent stamp withen your letter that i may not be slighte and then when her and your he send a blank with the letter to be fill an send him $1.50 one dollar an half which he say it is all is required no more money i will hafter pay i wrote hem for a pass & that what he told me to do & when i arrive i would have a job all ready now when i seem what the Chicago defender says about men get money that way it cause me to stop & study would it a safe plan of me to go out on such terms an so i ask you Gentlemen for all infermation that you can give me in the regards of leaving the south let me here from you at once we colored people havin a hard time down here now i have paper here but I aint sind it yet

Letters about the Treatment of Negroes in the South

    Macon, Ga., April 1, 1917.

Dear Sir: I am writing you for information I want to come north east but I have not sufficient funds and I am writing you to see if there is any way that you can help me by giving me the names of some of the firms that will send me a transportation as we are down here where we have to be shot down here like rabbits for every little orfence as I seen an orcurince hapen down here this after noon when three depties from the shrief office an one Negro spotter come out and found some of our raice mens in a crap game and it makes me want to leave the south worse than I ever did when such things hapen right at my door, hopeing to have a reply soon and will in close a stamp from the same.

    Savannah, Ga., May 5, 1917.

Dear sir: I rite you these few lines seeking information how could I get up north and if you could do me any good I an five more men would like to come but we have no money we would come to any reasonable terms that you makes, and if you cannot do the five no good please sir try and do some thing for me. I rite you this mostly for my self I am in a bad shape. I am willing to do most any kind of work labaring excuiseing hotel. You was recomended to me by Bro – — – of Savannah Tribune, now in plain words plese send for me or get some of the contractors to send and I will willingly come to terms. I am willing await you ans. In short.

    Sparta, Ga., Jan. 29, 1917.

Dear Sir: Information reaches me that you can give information as to places that colored men can get employment in the north and east as quite a number of we colored men in this vicinity contemplates leaving the south providing we can get employment at reasonable wages. I would like to know where to locate, what kind of work and what wages paid skilled and unskilled laborer, & whether transportation can be furnished. Hoing to hear from you by return mail.

    Charleston, S.C., 4/4/17.

Dear Sir: I have heard about you as being an employment beura so I would like very mutch for you to get me a job, and if you will please send ticket by rail because we are not allowed to leave by boat any mour. so I will take a job as porter—butler—hosler bellman can furnish reference an 27 years old married. Please notify right away.

    Sanford, Fla., 5/12/17.

Dear Sir: The winter is about over and I still have a desire to seek for myself a section of this country where I can poserably better my condishion in as much as beaing asshured some protection as a good citizen under the Stars and Stripes so kind sir I am here asking you agin if you know directly or indirectly of any opening that you could direct me to where I can make a reasonable livelyhood kindly inform me. Why I write you agin is because it appears to me from your headings that your concern ar making some opening for the (col) from the south and agin I do not cear to live here in a simple way if poserable I would like to be shure of an imployment before I leave Kindley do what ever good you can for me.

    Pensacola, Fla., April 30, 1917.

Gentlemen: I perchanced to run across your address. The which I am proud of. I like my fellow southerner am looking northward. But before leaving the South Id like to know just wher I am goin and what Im to do if posible. I see from your card that you can help me and I believe you will. I want to say that I dont hope to travil north to loaf. I will be seeking better employment and better wa es mainly. I might state just here what Im best fitted for. 1st Im a christain man a man of sober habits. Ive had several years experience in business for 20 years Ive been a salesman & collector or business mgr thirteen years of said time I were engaged in the industrial insurance work. worked from a green agent to dist mgr ship at present am engaged as a salesman and collector. But would accept position as jarnitor of general utility man ordainary cook the which I ve served in a short order house for whites only. And also in a house run for both races. In fact will serve in any honest capacity That I'm capeble of that pays well. Please excuse these persional reference but Im striveing to make the acquaintance, can furnish reference as to integrity and ability any information given me in my efort will be gratefully received. Thanking you in advance.

    Troy, Ala., Oct. 17, 1916.

Dear Sirs I am enclosing a clipping of a lynching again which speaks for itself. I do wish there could be sufficient presure brought about to have federal investigation of such work. I wrote you a few days ago if you could furnish me with the addresses of some firms or co-opporations that needed common labor. So many of our people here are almost starving. The government is feeding quite a number here would go any where to better their conditions. If you can do any thing for us write me as early as posible.

    Bham, Ala., May 13, 1917.

Sir: the edeater of the paper i am in the darkness of the south and i am trying my best to get out do you no where about i can get a job in new york. i wood be so glad if cood get a good job hear in this beautifull city o please help me to get out of this low down county i am counted no more thin a dog help me please help me o how glad i wood be if some company wood send me a ticket to come and work for them no joking i mean business i work if i can get a good job.

    Anne Mantl, Ala., April 24, 1917.

Gentlemen: I read in the Chicago Defender of last week that you were in the employment buisness now sire we want to leave the south and settle in some small town in Illinoise or any other good northern state where we can get fairely good wagges and be protected we are disgusted with the south since we hear that we can do better we want to get up a club to get north. Please tell us how to go about it all of us dont have a lot of money but we are able and willing to work and just want a chance. Thanking you in advance for any thing you may do for us we are

    Bryan, Tex., Sept. 13, 1917.

Dear Sir: I am writing you as I would like to no if you no of any R. R. Co and Mfg. that are in need for colored labors. I want to bring a bunch of race men out of the south we want work some whear north will come if we can git passe any whear across the Mason & Dickson. please let me hear from you at once if you can git passes for 10 or 12 men. send at once. I beg to remain.

    Oakdale, La., April 21, 1917.

Dear Sir: I saw in the Defender something concerning the employment up there. I would like mighty well to come if I could get a job I would be ready to come about the 15th of May. I will take a job in town or out of town either one. There are 3 or 4 more business men that are interested and would come, write me at once and let me know about the situation. Some hasn't the fund to come with and if the employer would furnish them transportation they would readily come at once.

So far as me I couldn't come until I could arrange to sell out as I am in business for God knows I want to leave the South land. Let me hear from you at once.

    Savannah, Ga., 4/21/17.

Dear Sir: Through the Chicago Definder I am writing your company to get in touch with you. as I am seeking employment in the north part of the country for the betterment of my condition. & friends wishes to follow after me. if there is any advice or assistant you can give to us please let me know at once, we are not choice about locating in the city as we will be satisfied with a small town as well as any part of the north.

    New Orleans, La., May 17, 1917.

Gentlemen: I am a race man and aire inquireing Dear Sir from some one that I know is in position to give me the proper information truthfully enclosed please find stamps for return mail. Dear sir I have a wife & a son also that has a wofe and one child we desire to come north to live if we could only get a pass to that end. The passes that are being issued in New Orleans to members of the race are verry limited and it is a little dificult for me to get a pass out I am no railroad man but I can work also my son if my son and I could get a pass to Illinois we would come at once and leave our wives at home untill we could work and send for them ourselves. Dear sirs if you know of any firm that desires any one of the race that wants to come north with their families please inform them and me as I would like verry much to come north but have not the money to pay my fare with please answer by return mail. Please help me as I wants to get from the south so bad. Thanking you in advance I am yours in the Lord. I am 40 years old. Please help me to get away from the south. Please keep this letter and not put it in public print. Dear sir I further ask that the firm or firms in which I am offered employment desire a recommendation as a work or laborer I can furnish them with same for honesty and etc. Please answer. Please answer as there are others of the race that wants to come north in great numbers and would like to be informed how to come north.

    New Orleans, La., 5/20/17.

Dear Sirs: My silfe and a friend is after hearing from you contemplating the idea of coming north we have been told that yours is the business of informing those who are coming there of what is the very best way and about work, etc. Wish to say we need your information and are very anxious of being advised by you. We will want work as soon as were there and we are not perticular about Chiago. Anywhere north will do us and I suppose the worst place there is better than the best place here. Please inform us by return mail where we can get work and how in doing so you will be helping us wonderfully and we will more than appreciate your efforts, wishing you much success and hoping to hear from you this week, I am, Yours with best wishes.

    Palestine, Tex., ½/17.

Dear Sir: I hereby enclose you a few lines to find out some few things if you will be so kind to word them to me. I am a southerner lad and has never ben in the north no further than Texas and I has heard so much talk about the north and how much better the colard people are treated up there than they are down here and I has ben striveing so hard in my coming up and now I see that I cannot get up there without the ade of some one and I wants to ask you Dear Sir to please direct me in your best manner the stept that I shall take to get there and if there are any way that you can help me to get there I am kindly asking you for your ade. And if you will ade me please notify me by return mail because I am sure ancious to make it in the north because these southern white people are so mean and they seems to be getting worse and I wants to get away and they wont pay enough for work for a man to save up enough to get away and live to. If you will not ade me in getting up there please give me some information how I can get there I would like to get there in the early spring, if I can get there if posible. Our southern white people are so cruel we collord people are almost afraid to walke the streets after night. So please let me hear from you by return mail. I will not say very much in this letter I will tell you more about it when I hear from you please ans. soon to Yours truly.

    Savannah, Ga., May 16, 1917.

Dear Sir: I written you a special letter on last week containing stamped envelope for early reply asking a favor of you, as I am in the south and are trying all that I can to get away as I told you in my letter that I have been here all my life, which is about 40 years and trying with all of my might all of that time to make an honest living and all of it seems to be a failure and now as I heard of better wages and better treatment you can receive acording to character and behavior. I am seeking to get there by the help of the good Lord and if it is any possible way of you securing work I and 2 daughters I will gladly try all I can to repay you for your trouble. I wont say any thing of my children as they are very honorable to me they have never slept one night from under my roof. Now dear friend I write you this as I have heard that you all are a friend to the needy and if there is any hope for me please let me know by return mail.

    Atlanta, Ga., April 29, 1917.

Kind friend: While reading the Chicago Definder i saw and advertisement for laborers wanted i am down in the south with my familey and wishes to become a northern citysin i have onley worked for two firms in my life and i am 35 years old. Worked in Augusta Ga for more than 20 years and only made 10 dolars a week fore years ago i moved to Atlanta went to weark for the – Cleaning Co of Atlanta, only making 10 a weak the wages is so small i cant harly feed by familey and i cant save enough money to get away i would like to get to Cleavland ohio i have some friends thear saying that the wages is good if it is eney way you can help me get up thear i will assure you i will be a wearthy citysin wishing to hear from you soon. i am a man that wants to weark and by gods help i beleive i will concur some old day.

    Atlanta, Ga., April 22, 1917.

Gentlemen: I am an experienced packer having been regularly employed for quite a number of years for such work and I am now employed by one of Atlanta's largest firms as a packer. I desire to leave the south and would like for you to secure me a position or put me in touch with some firm that needs a colored packer, kindly advise me what your terms are for such work. I am not particular about living in Chicago. Thanking you in advance.

    Mobile, Ala., Jan. 8, 1917.

Dear Sir: I am writing you to see if you can furnish me with any information in regards to colored men securing employment. I would like to know if you could put me in touch with some manufacturing company either some corporation that is employing or in of colored men. My reason is there are a number of young men in this city of good moral and can furnish good reference—that is anxious to leave this section of the country and go where conditions are better. I taken this matter up with Mr. – of Boston and he referred me to you. I myself is anxious to leave this part of the country and be where a negro man can appreshate beaing a man at the present time I am working as office man for a large corporation which position I have had for the past 11 years, having a very smart boy in his studies I wish to locate where he could recive a good education. I could at a few days notice place 200 good able bodied young men that is anxious to leave this city, these men I refer to is men of good morals and would prove a credit to the community. If you can furnish me with the desired information it will be gladly received, it makes little or no difference as to what state they can go to just so they cross the Mason and Dixie line, trusting you will furnish me with any information you have at hand at an early date, I await your reply.

    Houston, Tex., April 3, 1917.

Dear Sir: I have read the Defender and I have put my mine on it and I wood lik to know mor abot it and if yo pleas send me a letter abot the noth I will thenk uo becaus we have so miney members of the race wont to come and live up thear and all they is waitin on is a chanch and that is all and they will say fair wel to this old world and thay all will come, some is rail road some is shop and anny thang thay can gets to do. With hold the name.