Letter from Charles Koehler to the President's Committee on Civil Rights

View the full document here: https://docsteach.org/document/koehler-committee-civil-rights/

Description

Charles Koehler sent this letter describing racism and intimidation in Michigan to the President’s Committee on Civil Rights (please note that it includes racist language).

President Harry Truman established the President’s Committee on Civil Rights by Executive Order 9808 on December 5, 1946. Its purpose was to propose measures to strengthen and protect the civil rights of the American people. The committee conducted inquires; examined existing laws, regulations and statutes; and made recommendations for policy improvements to carry out the mandate of Executive Order 9808.

In this letter, Charles Koehler asked the Committee to investigate the particular instances he described in Michigan as part of their overall investigation into “Racial Hatred.”

Citation

This primary source comes from the Collection HST-WHPOMF: White House Public Opinion Mail Files (Truman Administration).

National Archives Identifier: 145807631

Full Citation: Letter from Charles Koehler to the President’s Committee on Civil Rights; 10/30/1947; Civil Rights [3 of 3]; Public Opinion Mail Files, 1945 – 1953; Collection HST-WHPOMF: White House Public Opinion Mail Files (Truman Administration),; Harry S. Truman Library, Independence, MO. [Online Version, https://docsteach.org/document/koehler-committee-civil-rights/, April 5, 2026]

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