From Benjamin Elijah Mays
Author: Mays, Benjamin Elijah
Date: September 23, 1958
Location: Atlanta, Ga.
Genre: Letter
Topic: Martin Luther King, Jr. - Threats/attacks against
Details
Mays reports on a 22 September Morehouse book-signing party for Stride Toward Freedom. In a 24 September letter to Houston educator Erma Jewell Hughes, Mays explained that, although King was in the hospital, “we felt that it was the best thing we could do for him by going on with the party.”
Dr. Martin L. King, Jr.
Harlem Hospital
New York, New York
Dear Dr. King:
I am glad to get the news that you are continuing to do well. Our prayer is that you will recover completely and soon.
Last night we went on with the autographing party without its distinguished author. We consider it a success. We sold 121 books in the Lounge of the Physical Education and Health Building. I thought you would be interested in this clipping from the Atlanta Daily World.1
Our prayers attend you. With kindest regards and best wishes, I am
Yours truly,
[signed]
Benjamin E. Mays
President
BEM:J
{N.B. Will come to see you Sunday afternoon.}
1. Mays likely enclosed John H. Britton’s article, “Atlantans Flock to Autograph Party Knowing Rev. King Absent,” Atlanta Daily World, 23 September 1958.
Source: MLKP-MBU, Martin Luther King, Jr., Papers, 1954-1958, Howard Gotlieb Archival Research Center, Boston University, Boston, Mass.