Archive Record
Metadata
Title |
Atty. Quinton Douglas Adams Collection |
Collection |
Dr. Quinton Douglas Adams Collection |
Catalog Number |
2007.001 |
Object Name |
Papers, Personal |
Level of description |
Fonds/Coll |
Scope & Content |
Atty. Quinton Douglas Adams Collection 17 cubic boxes, 1 small flat box, 1 large flat box, 1 hat box; 25 cubic feet. This collection consists of Mr. Adams' work in Etowah County with the voter league to encourage and assist Black citizens to register and qualify to vote. An Alabama native, Quinton Douglas Adams was born in 1919 in Gadsden, which is in Etowah County to Dock and Jennie Adams. He was educated in the public schools there. Later he took some correspondence courses in law and business from LaSalle University, Chicago, Illinois. A businessman and salesman, Quinton D. Adams (a.k.a. Q.D. Adams) owned and operated a dry-cleaning plant, a bail bond company, a realty company, and worked as an automobile salesman. Adams developed the reputation as one of the most effective grassroots political leaders in Alabama. In pursuing justice and equality for African Americans, Q. D. Adams was party to several pivotal suits, including: "Faulkner v. City of Gadsden" in 1962; "Union No. 12-United Rubber, Cork, Linoleum v. National Labor Relations Board", 1966; "Walker v. Republic Steel", 1974; "Catherine Miller v. The Board of Education", 1975; "Essie Ray Johnson v. The City of Gadsden", 1978; "Adams v. the City of Gadsden", 1985. Because he placed such a high premium on voting, Adams constructed a meeting place behind his house used for planning voting strategies. He called the office, "The Dog House." Many political leaders visited "The Dog House,' seeking the support of Black voters and the advice of Q. D. Adams. The walls of the "The Dog House" were covered with common sense saying , including, "You can't send a lunch by a hungry boy." In 1938 Reverend S. M. Bradford established the Etowah County Voters League to encourage and assist Black citizens to register and qualify to vote. At that time the political organization spent considerable time encouraging would-be voters to pay the $1.50 poll tax each year. The initial group included, Dr. J. W. Steward, Rev. Bradford, Ira E. Evans, Sr., and Q. D. Adams. They affiliated the Etowah County Voters League with the State Organization of Voters in 1945. In 1959 the Etowah County Voters League elected Q. D. Adams chairman, a position he kept for some twenty-two years. Under Adams' leadership the League accomplished much. It provided carpools and transportation to and from the polls; assisted African Americans at voting places; and pushed for Black voting officials. The League increased African American voter registration from 30 African American voters in 1936, to approximately 6,671 in 1982. It lobbied for jobs in city and county government and agitated for public improvements in the African American section of the county, including water and sewer extensions, street lighting, paved roads, sidewalks, parks, and playgrounds. In 1960 Q. D. Adams served as a charter member of the Alabama Democratic Association and has been honored widely. |
Search Terms |
Adams, Quinton Douglas African Americans in Politics and Government Voter Registration in Southern States Voting in Gadsden, Alabama |
People |
Adams, Quinton Douglas |
Child Records |
Box 4 - Souvenirs Box 1 - Civil Rights & Racial Inequality Box 2 - Etowah & Gadsen Information Box 3 - Business & Financial Information Box 6 - ADC Information Box 7.1 - Court Cases Box 7.2 - Court Cases Box 8 - NAACP Box 9 - Photos & Plaques Box 9.1 - Plaques & Awards Box 10.1 - Plaques Box 10.2 - Pictures Box 11 - Voters List & Etowah County Box 12 - Church Related Information Box 13 - Original & Photocopied Newspaper and Newspaper Clippings Box 14 - Magazines, Books, & Literature Box 15.1 - Voters Information Box 15.2 - Voters Information Box 16 - School Information Box 17 Box 5 - Souvenirs |