Meeting Minutes, Rosters, Constitution, 1933, 1946 - 1951

This collection contains materials related to the Maryland State Colored Teachers' Association (MSCTA), spanning the period 1933-1967. In 1937 the MSCTA was renamed the Maryland Educational Association (MEA) before merging with the historically all-white Maryland State Teachers Association (MSTA) in 1951.

The collection contains annual meeting minutes from 1933 to 1967. Notably, minutes from November 1933 resolved that "all teachers in the state, without regard to race or sex, shall be required to meet the same standards for all certificates." Also included is the MEA constitution and by-laws from 1951 as well as mimeograph rosters of officers and committee members from 1949 to 1950.

There are several reports by the Resolutions Committee from 1933 and 1940, including a 1940 request to the University of Maryland for the establishment of a first class trade school. The Resolutions Committee also proposed that the MEA set aside a day at future meetings for "a worthwhile dramatic, literary, musical program or Negro History Pageant, open to the public."

There are typescript carbon copy packets of speeches given by members at committee meetings. Additionally there are several pieces of correspondence by the organization's Executive Secretary, Joseph C. Parks, to Maryland officials lobbying for equal salaries and other issues from 1941 and 1946. Notes from the 1940 High School Session contains a twelve principle “Administrators Creed" by Dr. E. A. Clark.

Four issues of the organization’s annual bulletin are also included. The May 1939 issue is centered around the theme of “Occupational Opportunities and Economic Security for Negro Youths of Maryland” and reports on the fight for equal salaries, trends in schools, and meeting minutes. There are also bulletins from the proceedings of the MEA’s Conference in 1942 and 1943.

Other materials in this collection include undated financial reports; a 1937 "Permit for Use of School Building;" a 1932-1935 school enrollment survey; an undated Charles County Colored Elementary school survey; and undated Board of Education of Charles County letterpaper, Maryland Educational Association letterpaper, and an envelope.