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Aims and organization of the Galesburg Commission on Human Relations
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| Title | Aims and organization of the Galesburg Commission on Human Relations |
| Description | Founding document describing the origins of the Galesburg Commission on Human Relations, its membership structure, governance, and aims and duties. The purpose of the Commission is to promote "harmonious human relations in the life of our community and in the preservation of human rights under the law." |
| Subject | Race relations
Religious tolerance
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| Author | Galesburg Commission on Human Relations |
| Time Period | 1950s |
| Date Created (original) | March 12, 1956 |
| Type | Text
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| Format | pdf |
| Identifier | J. Howell Atwood Manuscript Collection (box 9) |
| Language | eng |
| Rights | See http://library.knox.edu/digitalcollections/rightsinfo.htm |
| Collection | Struggle and Progress-African Americans in Knox County, Illinois (Knox College) |
| Date Digital | 2012-06-21 |
| Transcript | AIMS AND ORGANIZATION OF THE GALESBURG COMMISSION ON HUMAN RELATIONS
A revised and official statement adopted by vote of members of the
Commission at Galesburg, Illinois, on March 12, 1956, and approved
by the mayor and city council of Galesburg on April 16, 1956.
Section I: Origin and Legal Status
On FebruarY 18, 1946, the membership of the Galesburg Brotherhood
Commission was appointed by the mayor and approved by the city council of
Galesburg. This civic agency was apparently a re-organization of the Galesburg
Interracial Commission appointed by the mayor in May, 1944.
The present title of the Commission was adopted in Ootober, 1955. The
members of the Galesburg Commission on Human Relations were appointed by the
mayor and approved by the city council on April 16, 1956, and this statement
of the "Aims and Organization of the Galesburg Commission on Human Relations"
was approved by resolution of the city council on the same date.
The Galesburg Commission on Human Relations is a local citizens group
which cooperates with the Illinois Commission on Human Relations. That
state agency was created as the Illinois Interracial Commission by executive
order in 1943 and then established by statute in 1947. (See House Bill 771,
in Laws of Illinois for 1947, page 1680.) In 1951 the Illinois General
Assembly supplemented the earlier law and changed the name to the Illinois
Commission on Human Relations (See Senate Bill 590. in Laws of Illinois
for 1951, page 1994.)
Section II: Membership
1. There shall be 21 members of the Commission, who shall reflect so
far as is possible the various ethnic, religious, occupational, and other
groups in the city.
2. Membership occurs upon appointment by the mayor and subsequent
approval by the city council.
3. As vacancies occur in the membership of the Commission, the Commis-
sion may submit to the mayor its nominations for new members.
4. The term of service of a newly elected member is three years,
except in cases of appointments by the Commission to fill unexpired terms.
5. The year of service on the Commission shall begin on September
first.
6. Three unexplained absences of any member from regular meetings of
the Commission shall be regarded as tantamount to resignation.
Section III : Officers and Standing Committees
1. The Commission shall elect, for a one-year term, a chairman, an
assistant chairman, and a secretary-treasurer.
page 2.
2. There shall be (a) a standing committee on investigation of human
relations problems in the community and (b) a standing committee on education
and promotion.
3. The chairman of the Commission shall select two members of each
standing committee and in addition shall appoint a chairman for each; the
Commission may elect at least two members of each standing committee.
Section IV: Meetings
1. Regular meetings of the Commission shall be held monthly, except
during the summer months.
2. Special meetings may be called by the chairman, or by the assistant
chairman upon the written request of five members of the commission.
3. The annual meeting of the Commission shall be held in April, at
which time nominations to fill vacancies in membership shall be prepared for
presentation to the mayor of Galesburg.
Section V: Aims And Duties
1. The Commission is non-political in aim and is not the agency of any
special group.
2. The duties of the Commission are to work as an (1) investigative,
(2) consultative, (3) cooperative. (4) educational and promotional, and
(5) advisory agency in the promotion of harmonious human relations in the
life of our community and in the preservation of human rights under law.
Thus the Commission shall investigate inter-group tensions and specific
cases of racial or religious or other serious discrimination in this community.
It shall seek to use its availability as consultant to bring about better
understanding and justice between disputant ethnic or religious factions
within our community. It shall cooperate with local agencies and authorities
in the lawful preservation of human rights. It may sponsor public occasions
designed to ameliorate community tensions, to foster harmony, and to educate
members of the community in our democratic rights and responsibilities. It
may recommend executive and/or legislative action to the mayor and the city
council. It shall be available as an advisory board to the mayor and the city
council.
3. The Commission shall report each year after its annual meeting to
the mayor and the city council in writing on its findings and activities.
Section VI: Amendments
Amendments to this constitution of the Commission may be enacted upon
a positive vote of two-thirds of the membership. |
| Physical Description | 2 typed sheets, 8.5 x 11 in. |
| Filename | aimsandorganizationGCHR.pdf |
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