Description: This political cartoon of President Lyndon B. Johnson compares the determination of Johnson to get a Civil Rights Bill passed in Congress to General Ulysses S. Grant's efforts to win the Civil War. President Johnson continued President Kennedy's work on civil rights legislation after his assassination. The 1964 Civil Rights Act made racial discrimination illegal in public places such as theaters, restaurants and hotels, and also required employers to provide equal employment opportunities. Projects involving federal funds could now be cut off if there was evidence of discrimination based on color, race or national origin. The Civil Rights Act also attempted to deal with the problem of African Americans being denied the vote in the Deep South. The legislation stated that uniform standards must prevail for establishing the right to vote. Schooling to sixth grade constituted legal proof of literacy and the attorney general was given power to initiate legal action in any area where he found a pattern of resistance to the law. View on Ohio Memory.
Image ID: OVS656
Subjects: Presidents--United States; Civil rights movements--United States--History--20th century; Political cartoons; Legislation;
 

Description: This 4.25 by 5.75-inch (10.79 by 14.61 cm) engraving of Benjamin William Arnett is a reproduction of a photograph taken by L. Hunster. It appeared in Harper's Weekly on May 18, 1878, together with an article on the International Sunday School Convention in Atlanta. Arnett traveled to Georgia to represent Ohio at the convention, which was attended by delegates from Protestant denominations in every state. Its purpose was to discuss religious education for children. Arnett was refused admission to the convention because of his race. Arnett (1836-1906) was born in Brownsville, Pennsylvania. A teacher and bishop in the African Methodist Episcopal Church, Arnett moved to Ohio in 1867. He served as pastor and teacher at churches in Cincinnati, Toledo, Urbana, and Columbus. In 1886, as Republican representative from Greene County in the Ohio General Assembly, Arnett introduced legislation to repeal the state's "Black Laws." First enacted in 1803, Ohio's "Black Laws" limited the freedom and rights of African American residents. Arnett was particularly concerned that state law did not ensure that black children had the same educational opportunities as white children. In 1887, statues regarding education were changed; the state was thereafter required to provide equal opportunities to all children regardless of race. View on Ohio Memory.
Image ID: Om871_806451_001
Subjects: African American Ohioans; Ohio Government; Education; Civil Liberties; Religion in Ohio; Segregation--Laws and legislation;
Places: Wilberforce (Ohio); Greene County (Ohio)
 

Description: Photograph of a man in a parade car speaking to two men standing nearby on the sidewalk. The car, which features patriotic stars and stripes, reads "Cracker Barrel Caravan" and "Citizens Committee for the Hoover Report." A caption typed on the back of the picture states that it was taken during a parade on South High Street in Columbus, Ohio, and was taken from the corner of State and High Streets looking south. The Citizens Commission for the Hoover Report was a bipartisan group of Americans that sponsored the "Cracker Barrel Caravan," which traveled the United States informing the public of the reorganization program and other recommendations to improve government efficiency that were the outcome of the work done by the Commission on Organization of the Executive Branch of the Government (known as the Hoover Commission). Appointed by President Truman in 1947, the Commission was meant to review and recommend changes to operations in the federal government. Recommendations were incorporated into the Reorganization Act of 1949 and later legislation. This photograph comes from the Columbus Citizen-Journal Photograph Collection. View on Ohio Memory.
Image ID: P339_B03F01_01_01
Subjects: Parades; Downtowns; Federal government; Legislation;
Places: Columbus (Ohio); Franklin County (Ohio)
 

Description: This broadside, created by the Hamilton County Prohibition Headquarters of Cincinnati in 1883, urges the men of Ohio to vote affirmatively on election day for the two Ohio constitutional amendments dealing with the prohibition of intoxicating liquors. In 1883, Charles Foster, Ohio's governor, encouraged the state legislature to submit two constitutional amendments to Ohio voters for approval. Foster was a member of the Republican Party, and Republicans also controlled the legislature. Republicans generally supported legislation designed to limit alcohol consumption. These amendments would permit individual communities to decide whether or not to allow liquor sales and consumption. They also allowed government entities to tax the transportation and the sale of alcohol. The Women's Christian Temperance Union played a major role in trying to secure adoption of these amendments, covering Ohio's communities with temperance tracts. One supporter claimed that the organization had "sowed Ohio streets knee deep" with these tracts. Despite their efforts, Ohio voters, by a narrow margin, failed to endorse these amendments. View on Ohio Memory.
Image ID: OVS1689
Subjects: Prohibition; Temperance--History; Legislation; Political campaigns; Constitutional amendments;
Places: Cincinnati (Ohio); Hamilton County (Ohio)
 

Description: This photograph shows Benjamin W. Arnett (1836-1906), a member of the Ohio House of Representatives during its 67th session (1886-1887). Arnett was born in Brownsville, Pennsylvania. A teacher and bishop in the African Methodist Episcopal Church, he moved to Ohio in 1867, and served as pastor and teacher at churches in Cincinnati, Toledo, Urbana, and Columbus. In 1886, as a Republican representative from Greene County in the Ohio General Assembly, Arnett introduced legislation to repeal the state's "Black Laws." First enacted in 1803, these laws limited the freedom and rights of the state's African American residents. Arnett was particularly concerned that state law did not ensure that black children had the same educational opportunities as white children. In 1887, statutes regarding education were changed; the state was thereafter required to provide equal opportunities to all children regardless of race. View on Ohio Memory.
Image ID: Om871_806473_004
Subjects: African American Ohioans; Ohio Government; Education; Civil Liberties; Religion in Ohio; Ohio House of Representatives; Segregation--Laws and legislation;
Places: Wilberforce (Ohio); Greene County (Ohio)
 

Description: Hundreds of Ohio workers and labor activists gather at the Ohio Statehouse in support of Senate Bill 188, September 25, 1979. According to the caption, the committee session for the bill had been moved from its original location at Veterans Memorial in Columbus to a smaller hearing room at the Statehouse. S.B. 188 was proposed legislation calling for financial penalties for Ohio manufacturing companies who close down or relocate their facilities out of state. This photograph was taken for publication in the Columbus Free Press newspaper. The Columbus Free Press began as a bi-weekly publication in Columbus, Ohio, in 1970. An underground newspaper, it replaced the Ohio State University publication The People, Yes. The earliest known issue of the newspaper appeared on January 4, 1971. The newspaper underwent a series of name changes over the decades, with titles including the Columbus Free Press & Cowtown Times (1972-1976), the Columbus Freepress (1976-1992) and The Free Press (1992-1995). The paper, which covered many liberal and progressive causes, was an alternative to mainstream news sources in central Ohio with the slogan “The Other Side of the News.” In 1995, the paper ceased publication briefly before reemerging as a website in early 1996, and returning as a print publication under the Free Press title in the form of a quarterly journal in 1998. Published under various frequencies during the first part of the 21st century, the Free Press again became a nonprofit monthly publication in 2017 with both a print and web presence, published by the Columbus Institute for Contemporary Journalism and operated by a volunteer staff and board. View on Ohio Memory.
Image ID: MSS1301AV_B04F08_03
Subjects: Protests and protestors; Demonstrations; Activism; Labor movement--United States--History--20th century; Legislation;
Places: Columbus (Ohio); Franklin County (Ohio)
 

Description: Photograph showing John Gilligan (far left) standing with two unidentified men as President Lyndon Johnson signs a document. John Gilligan started his political career in 1953 when he campaigned and won a seat in the Cincinnati City Council. Later, Gilligan ran for the United States House of Representatives and served for one term. However, he was not re-elected and suffered two more political defeats in running for the United States Senate. Despite these failed campaigns, Gilligan won the office of Governor of Ohio in 1971. He served as governor until 1975. His term as governor is remembered for several successes, the beginning of the state lottery, the graduated state income tax, the voting age lowered to eighteen, and an improved transportation infrastructure. After his term, Gilligan focused his political efforts towards international development and also taught at the collegiate level. Influenced by her father's political career and ambitions, Kathleen Gilligan served as governor of Kansas from 2003 until 2009. Under President Barack Obama, she was appointed Secretary of Health and Human Services. View on Ohio Memory.
Image ID: MSS388AV_B02_F04_01
Subjects: Legislation; Gilligan, John Joyce, 1921-; Politicians; Governors; Ohio--Politics and government
Places: Cincinnati (Ohio); Hamilton County (Ohio)
 

Description: This poster urges voters to register to vote against the right to work amendment. The "right to work" amendment proposed to the Ohio Constitution in 1958 stipulated that no person could be denied, or excluded from, employment due to membership or non-membership in a labor organization. This placed legal limitations on union security agreements. A vigorous lobbying campaign by the AFL-CIO helped to overwhelmingly defeat the Republican Ohio Assembly's bid to pass the amendment. View on Ohio Memory.
Image ID: OVS758
Subjects: Labor unions -- Ohio; Political campaigns; Voting; Legislation;
Places: Columbus (Ohio); Franklin County (Ohio)
 

Description: Women gather during a rally in support of the passage of the Equal Rights Amendment (ERA) on the steps of the Statehouse in Columbus, Ohio, June 30, 1981. The ERA is a proposed constitutional amendment establishing equal legal rights for American citizens regardless of sex, first introduced in Congress in December 1923. A ratification deadline for the amendment passed in 1979, but was extended to 1983. It has regularly been reintroduced to Congress but is still awaiting full ratification by three-fourths of U.S. states. This photograph was taken by Leslie Zak for publication in the Columbus Free Press newspaper. The Columbus Free Press began as a bi-weekly publication in Columbus, Ohio, in 1970. An underground newspaper, it replaced the Ohio State University publication The People, Yes. The earliest known issue of the newspaper appeared on January 4, 1971. The newspaper underwent a series of name changes over the decades, with titles including the Columbus Free Press & Cowtown Times (1972-1976), the Columbus Freepress (1976-1992) and The Free Press (1992-1995). The paper, which covered many liberal and progressive causes, was an alternative to mainstream news sources in central Ohio with the slogan “The Other Side of the News.” In 1995, the paper ceased publication briefly before reemerging as a website in early 1996, and returning as a print publication under the Free Press title in the form of a quarterly journal in 1998. Published under various frequencies during the first part of the 21st century, the Free Press again became a nonprofit monthly publication in 2017 with both a print and web presence, published by the Columbus Institute for Contemporary Journalism and operated by a volunteer staff and board. View on Ohio Memory.
Image ID: MSS1301AV_B04F11_03
Subjects: Civil rights; Equal Rights Amendment (ERA); Protests and protestors; Ohio women; Social issues; Women's rights; Legislation;
Places: Columbus (Ohio); Franklin County (Ohio)
 

Description: Nancy Duffy, President of the Ohio League of Women Voters, speaks during a rally in support of the passage of the Equal Rights Amendment (ERA) on the steps of the Statehouse in Columbus, Ohio, June 30, 1981. The ERA is a proposed constitutional amendment establishing equal legal rights for American citizens regardless of sex, first introduced in Congress in December 1923. A ratification deadline for the amendment passed in 1979, but was extended to 1983. It has regularly been reintroduced to Congress but is still awaiting full ratification by three-fourths of U.S. states. This photograph was taken by Leslie Zak for publication in the Columbus Free Press newspaper. The Columbus Free Press began as a bi-weekly publication in Columbus, Ohio, in 1970. An underground newspaper, it replaced the Ohio State University publication The People, Yes. The earliest known issue of the newspaper appeared on January 4, 1971. The newspaper underwent a series of name changes over the decades, with titles including the Columbus Free Press & Cowtown Times (1972-1976), the Columbus Freepress (1976-1992) and The Free Press (1992-1995). The paper, which covered many liberal and progressive causes, was an alternative to mainstream news sources in central Ohio with the slogan “The Other Side of the News.” In 1995, the paper ceased publication briefly before reemerging as a website in early 1996, and returning as a print publication under the Free Press title in the form of a quarterly journal in 1998. Published under various frequencies during the first part of the 21st century, the Free Press again became a nonprofit monthly publication in 2017 with both a print and web presence, published by the Columbus Institute for Contemporary Journalism and operated by a volunteer staff and board. View on Ohio Memory.
Image ID: MSS1301AV_B04F11_05
Subjects: Civil rights; Equal Rights Amendment (ERA); Protests and protestors; Ohio women; Social issues; Women's rights; Legislation;
Places: Columbus (Ohio); Franklin County (Ohio)
 

Description: This drawing shows a line of young boys standing at attention in a military formation facing a man in uniform. A caption across the bottom reads "Exercise!" This illustration originally appeared in a 15-page pamphlet entitled "When School Boards Run Amuck: Opinion No. 396 of Attorney General John G. Price of Ohio on the Power of a School Board to Establish Military Training in the Schools Without Special Authority from the Legislature, To Make Such Training Compulsory on any Pupil or to Make Such Military Training a Prerequisite to Promotion or Graduation," published in 1919 by the American Union Against Militarism. View on Ohio Memory.
Image ID: AL04277
Subjects: Cultural Ohio--Education; Military training; Ohio Government; School children United States; Legislation
Places: Ohio
 

Description: A group of women gather for what appears to be a rally in support of the passage of the Equal Rights Amendment (ERA) in Columbus, Ohio. The ERA is a proposed constitutional amendment establishing equal legal rights for American citizens regardless of sex, first introduced in Congress in December 1923. A ratification deadline for the amendment passed in 1979, but was extended to 1983. It has regularly been reintroduced to Congress but is still awaiting full ratification by three-fourths of U.S. states. This photograph was taken for publication in the Columbus Free Press newspaper. The Columbus Free Press began as a bi-weekly publication in Columbus, Ohio, in 1970. An underground newspaper, it replaced the Ohio State University publication The People, Yes. The earliest known issue of the newspaper appeared on January 4, 1971. The newspaper underwent a series of name changes over the decades, with titles including the Columbus Free Press & Cowtown Times (1972-1976), the Columbus Freepress (1976-1992) and The Free Press (1992-1995). The paper, which covered many liberal and progressive causes, was an alternative to mainstream news sources in central Ohio with the slogan “The Other Side of the News.” In 1995, the paper ceased publication briefly before reemerging as a website in early 1996, and returning as a print publication under the Free Press title in the form of a quarterly journal in 1998. Published under various frequencies during the first part of the 21st century, the Free Press again became a nonprofit monthly publication in 2017 with both a print and web presence, published by the Columbus Institute for Contemporary Journalism and operated by a volunteer staff and board. View on Ohio Memory.
Image ID: MSS1301AV_B04F11_11
Subjects: Civil rights; Equal Rights Amendment (ERA); Protests and protestors; Ohio women; Social issues; Women's rights; Legislation;
Places: Columbus (Ohio); Franklin County (Ohio)