To Lottie Mae Pugh
Author: King, Martin Luther, Jr.
Date: November 28, 1956
Location: Montgomery, Ala.
Genre: Letter
Topic: Student movements
Details
On 8 November Pugh, a student at the Booker T. Washington School in Suffolk, Virginia, had written to King about her wish “to work in an Orphan Home” after completing her high school education. She wanted “to know what qualities would you say one would have to possess in order to attain success in this field.” She continued: “I admire the success you have won in your chosen field and that has prompted me to seek guidance from you.”
Miss Lottie Mae Pugh
P.O. Box 854
Suffolk, Virginia
Dear Miss Pugh:
Thanks for your very kind letter of November 8. I was more than happy to hear from you. It is always encouraging to find young persons who are desirous of serving humanity. I am sure that there is a real need for persons to work in orphan homes. I would say that the basic qualities necessary for such a venture are conscientiousness, dedication to the cause of human need, soundness in thinking, a radiating personality, and genuine honesty. With these qualities I am sure that you will make a real success of your work in an orphan home.
You have my prayers and best wishes for a future filled with success.
Very sincerely yours,
M. L. King, Jr.,
President
MLK:mlb
Source: MLKP, MBU, Martin Luther King, Jr., Papers, 1954-1968, Howard Gotlieb Archival Research Center, Boston University, Boston, Mass.