Welcome to Recollection: A Civil Rights Legal Archive

This newly launched site reveals the stories behind the Legal Defense Fund’s ongoing fight for racial justice in America—an effort that spans more than eight decades. 

These stories are enhanced by a rich archival record, containing documents related to the thousands of cases that LDF has litigated, along with editorial content and oral histories. The website reflects the early stages of digitizing these records and unearthing hidden gems. In the coming months and years, we will be regularly adding new stories, archival items, videos, and oral histories to the site, as well as expanding the publicly viewable archive. Stay tuned! 

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Recollection: A Civil Rights Legal Archive

Smith v. Allwright: The LDF Voting Rights Case That “Changed the Whole Complexion of the South”

Sharing Our History, Informing Our Present, Envisioning Our Future 

Recollection: A Civil Rights Legal Archive celebrates the history of civil rights in the United States by sharing powerful stories and historical documents from the Legal Defense Fund (LDF) Archives. Founded by Thurgood Marshall on March 20, 1940, LDF has played a pivotal role in advancing education equity, political participation, criminal justice, and economic justice for people of color.  

As one of the country’s oldest and foremost civil rights legal organizations, LDF is uniquely positioned to preserve and share the inner thinking of legendary thought-leaders and legal minds. Our collection also highlights the challenges and bravery of Black communities across the 20th and 21st centuries.

The searchable archival collection on Recollection: A Civil Rights Legal Archive consists of oral histories, legal briefs, press releases, editorial content, and correspondence related to more than 6,000 cases LDF has litigated since its founding. This is a living project as we are continuously adding newly digitized documents and stories.

We hope these primary source materials inform the current efforts of litigators, advocates, and activists to advance civil rights. Now more than ever, it is critical that we all have access to reliable information about our nation’s fight for equality and justice. 


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