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October 10, 1969
Mr. John H. Johnson, President Johnson Publication 1820 South Michigan Avenue Chicago, Illinois 60616
Dear Mr. Johnson:
As a member of the National Development Committee for the Mary Holmes College Fund Development Campaign, I am wrigting to enlist your participation.
Mary Holmes College began as a high school for Black women in Jackson, Mississippi in 1892. The school eventually moved to its present site in West Point, Mississippi where it subsequently became a co-educational Junior College. Beginning with the fallter term the college moved into its third year, thus becoming a four-year liberal arts institution.
As one of the member colleges of the National Board of Missions of the United Presbyterian Church, Mary Holmes has functioned without the benefit of its own Board of Trustees. Also, it has functioned without the benefit of its own independent base for funding. Nevertheless, in 1965 the college established a structure which led to its present role as sponsor of ten Headstart centers that are located throughout the state of Mississippi. The college has also developed an adult literacy program which serves the residents of Marks, Mississippi, developed a catfish farming cooperative and through the Clay County Community Development Program, has established a day care center, tutorial services and a woodwork cooperative program. The June issue of Ebony Mgazine reported on the activities of the Clay County Community Development Program.
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Mr. John H. Johnson October 10, 1969 page 2
We are presently in the midst of structuring a national campaign, the purpose of which is to raise ten million dollars ($10,000,000) to underwrite the cost of capital improvements, faculty expansion, innovative curriculum reform and improved library facilities. The enclosed brochure describes the total education system which is p presently being developed at Mary Holmes College.
I am sure that you are already heavily committed to several education institutions as well as to numerous other organizations. However, I feel that your participation as a member of the National Development Committee would greatly enhance our efforts to generate support from among national corporations that have plants in the state of Mississippi which will benefit from the growth of Mary Holmes College.
I sincerely hope that you will agree to join me in membership on the National Developement Committee of Mary Holmes College.
Sincerely,
Julian Bond
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