◆ SpookStack

January, 1959 Dear Friend: Mrs. Mary Davis has been calling every day about a Literacy and Citizenship School for her people. On three of the Sea Islands other Righlander students are giving guidance to their neighbors in reading so they can qualify for voting in South Carolina. Similar appeals repeatedly come from Georgia, Alabama and Mississippi. The people who turn to Highlander after doing what they can to help themselves, would turn directly to you if you were known to then, We have gone as far as we can, gladly foregoing salaries when necessary, and must pass these requests on to you. We are calling on you to do a very special job which only you can do. One of the foundations which has made generous grants for the past six years has about exhausted its resources and we are faced with the immediate and urgent need of making up this loss or curtailing a program that should be expanded, One supporter has asked fifty personal friends to contribute. He signed and sent out in his own envelope a letter we mimeographed, a piece of Highlander literature, and a business reply envelope addressed to Highlander. On most of the letters he added a personal note affirn- ing his own support and expressing the hope that they would join him. Contributions from his friends came directly to the School and were acknowledged by us. Others learning of this plan asked for letters and enclosures, and their friends are also responding. If you will do likewise, our loss can be replaced with individual contributions. Every dollar received can be used directly for education, since thanks to you there will be practically no fund raising costs. This we know is not an ordinary request but these are not ordinary times here in the South, and after all your friends might welcome an invitation to share in your and our efforts. Let us know on the enclosed card how many letters you can use, We must tell Mrs. Davis something scon. Sincerely yours, pf m/f 2 EARCHED INDEXED __ fF | SPRALIZED __rivep JAN 2 1 1959 VMrlea Harkan