Within these collections, users will encounter offensive or harmful language referencing race, gender, sexuality, disability, and/or religion. Materials in these collections reflect the time in which they were created and are preserved for their historical and research value. The Carondelet Consolidated Archives is dedicated to the preservation of original context while recognizing the importance of language and its effect on users of our materials and those represented within them.
Many people who were not supportive of the Sister’s march on Selma felt the need to share their dissatisfaction with the Sisters. This was accomplished by heckling the Sisters in public, calling their residences and employers, and by sending mail. Although the majority of responses the Sisters received were positive and supportive, there were many that were not. Read the following letters to get a glimpse into the minds of those who were against the Civil Rights Movement and see what the Sisters were confronted with.
We are only publishing the letters sent anonymously. None of the statements made in these letters reflect the views of the Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet. The letters are for educational purposes only. Captions are situated below each letter.
Letter from our Sisters of Selma Collection, Box 3, Folder titled “Research, St. Louis Materials & Responses to participation in Selma (Srs of Loretto) (received from Therese Stawowy).”
The Webster College Nuns
Webster College on Lockwood
Webster […], Missouri 63119
March 21, 1965
Attn: The Nuns who figured among the Selma Marchers
[Page 1]
To the Sisters of Webster College
Dear Sisters,
This letter is more for the benefit of those
of you who went to Selma to protest.
I will say, for their benefit, if you will
pardon my taking such liberty, that I
feel they did a great injustice to us all
who figures in a great Democracy in going.
I can’t believe they made a study sufficient
to justify pointing the finger at those good
people down there, whom I have lived
among and know to be due a great deal
more respect than is accorded them in the
protest being made against their handling
of the votes among the negroes there. There
are unscrupulous men, waiting for just
such a chance as the turning loose of a
blanket right among these thousands of
puppet votes obtainable for a song – to their
crooked intentions; and such votes, thrown
on the polls at a possible price of a bottle
of rum, could completely multiply, the votes
of the intelligent, well meaning and patriotic,
dedicated citizens! Democracy, in the sense
you hoped to insure by your conscientious
and sacrifice efforts, could easily be
pocketed for years enough to bankrupt
the whole South, so far – reaching is your
victory. I hope you will think of this as
a […] – entirely out of step with the true needs
of the Southern – negro, which is, foremost, his education,
[Page 2]
so that he might then find no such barriers
as have been deemed necessary by a wise and
kindly Governor of one of our Southern States,
who certainly, need not have been criticized
in his choice of action in his office for the
best benefit of his people. by an outsider who
might appoint himself a crusader for justice
without due process of the law of intelligence
and charity in his – the governors – own discretion. To my mind
there is little doubt that were you to have
been sympathetic with Governor Wallace
in position, you would never have made the trip.
There would have been too little “Righteousness”
seen in it by the public. Let us hope that
our Good God, in his judgement of you, will
be more researched and less obvious to the
rest of us when he judges you Webster
Nun’s who sought to be remembered among those
whose true intents and purposes of free will
– in not too distant future – be made known
to you. to your embarrassment and shame. For
their trouble is undoubtedly inspired and fosthered
by an intent and purpose so camouflaged by the cry of “justice in equal opportunity” that
it is not recognizable by you gentle ladies.
And the above unfortunate move on the part
of representatives of Webster is not the only influence of the
sort I refer to above. You have, in the same name
of charity, done consciously, I’m sure irreparable
harm to an extent among your Webster pupils.
My daughter was given wonderful treatment is
your dear hands. But she came out believing so
strongly in “equality of man” that she sought out,
in her Webster kindness to humanity, negro men,
m——-, drunkards, hoboes, Italians, Jews and
illegitimates for companions, and refused a bid
(which she and husband will – and ever now do regret) to
America’s highest social order, Daughters of Am. Colonists
saying to join would be snobbery! – disregarding the […]
such heritage – along with our 20 yrs research to make it
[text continues up the side of page]
avialable to her. I hope other mothers know how to correct such ideas. I find it hard.
Letter from our Sisters of Selma Collection, Box 3, Folder titled “Research, St. Louis Materials & Responses to participation in Selma (Srs of Loretto) (received from Therese Stawowy).”
March 13, 1965
Sister Ann Christopher [Therese Stawowy] of
The Order of Loretto
Webster College
St. Louis, Missouri
[Page 1]
Enclosed please find article which
expresses the opinion of the South.
You might not take time to read
this article but it is an opinion
which should be heard all around the
U.S.
I feel as others do that people
like yourself do not want to under
stand the problems of the South.
You came running down here at a very
loud cry from Martin Luther King
and his followers – you don’t look for
another side of the problem – you don’t
even know why you came – you say
you come to help the negro vote –
you don’t know his denied the right
to vote. I’ve lived in the South
all my life but never registered to
vote until I was 30 years of age.
[Page 2]
It wasn’t because I was denied this
but due to my own carelessness though.
I worked within block of Courthouse
for five years – Alabama and Selma
are registering qualified voters as
quickly as possible. What if half of
your college decided they all wanted
to vote at once – they would
wait their turn, wouldn’t they?
If agitators like yourself would
stay at home and clean up your own
back yard then the whole world would
be a little place in which
to live.
We deeply regret the beating of
the Rv. Reed but Rv. Reed defied the
law himself by participating in the
march.
[The author is referring to Reverend
James Reeb who was murdered in Selma
by a group of white men for supporting the
Civil Rights Movement. The four men who
murdered him were later acquitted in
Alabama by an all-white all-male jury.]
People from northern cities train
agitators and send to the South
as North Vietnam sends to South
Vietnam.
I want the negro to vote but
when they cannot march about this it
will be something also because when
King and his followers quit marching
they will have to work as I do –
this will not be too pleasing to them.
[Page 3]
You northerners have the sad opinion
that Governor Wallace is some kind
of a monster- if his seconds was
only checked. you would find that
he as done more for the negro
that you ever dreamed of-
I as most Southerners have never
had any ill feelings towards negros
you and people like yourself have caused
tensions in the South that will take
decades to solve – they will never be
solved by mobs but only thru love-
you say what about the brutal
beating of Rv. Reed. What about the
violence in your city? What about the
girl in Philadelphia attacked by 12 negro
boys and the slaying of Malcom X
you see sister we don’t need your
help any more than other cities.
I don’t feel that tear gas is any
worse than police dogs that police
the streets of Philadelphia.
You and your kind are blind
with your own hatred I will not
sign this as I’m sure you don’t want
to help the South. You would only
make a mockery of me as you have helped
do to Gov. Wallace and Selma Ala
Keep America White
A few years ago the negroes had no rights, today their
ancestors are in Africa leaning on their spears, not caring
what goes on in Mississippi or Alabama!
This is a white mans country, and no “N——” are
going to take it away from us.?
Does Paul VI know you left your “convent” in St. Louis, AND
went to Selma to help out a bunch of black Savages??
Does the “vatican” approve of you people, covered up
from head to foot, going out and help the Black Man
Raise hell??
Here you integrated your home?? Do you date “n——“??
Beware of – our Federal Dictatorial Government!!
The Black Man does not want to VOTE, nor does he care
about AN education — All they want is Publicity, + sit by
the white man and eat a hamburger!!
1 “N——” Freedom ends – where my rights begin!
You Sisters have betrayed Virgin Mary by your actions!!
Martin Luther King dont care how much his “Color” Gets
their heads cracked; Dog Bit; or thrown in jail, the
more hell he raises – the more communist money he gets!
“Jim Crow Must Stay”!!
Letter from our Sisters of Selma Collection, Box 3, Folder titled “Research, St. Louis Materials & Responses to participation in Selma (Srs of Loretto) (received from Therese Stawowy).”
Letter from our Sisters of Selma Collection, Box 3, Folder titled “Research, St. Louis Materials & Responses to participation in Selma (Srs of Loretto) (received from Therese Stawowy).”
“Kennedys death stopped Rome’s march to the White House”!
I cannot find anything in your “Canon Law” that suggest
you go away to another State and help out a gang of dirty, –
filthy, hungry trams as I saw in SELMA.
Martin Luther King dont care how much his color gets
dog bit, – head bloodied, thrown in jail, the more hell he
raises, the more communist money he gets!
The FBI and Federal Marshals questioned those
out-of-state agitators and told them exactly what King Gave
them. Those same Troublemakers have followed King
all over the South!
Negro house rent has gone up between $15 to $25 per month,
Several “coons have been laid off, and several have been
replaced by caucasians — your kind caused this”!!
It used to be that consulting the United States Constitution,
you could tell where Federal authority began, and where it
ended! Whatever became of the Constitution, it hasn’t been
Legally Abolished!
The Advantages the negroes, have received in this Country
are entirely out of proportion to the amount of taxes they pay!
Does Luci or Lynda Byrd date “N——“??
[Luci and Lynda are President Lyndon B. Johnson’s daughters who were both supportive of the Civil Right Movement. At the time this letter was written Luci Baines Johnson was 17 and Lynda Bird Johnson was 20.]
“The Negroes have set themselves back 50 years”!!
Civil Rights Act Attempts to Gain One Man’s Freedom, By
depriving another man of his”!!!
“Keep America White”!
Letter from our Sisters of Selma Collection, Box 3, Folder titled “Research, Responses to participation in Selma (Sisters of Loretto, Webster Groves, MO) (received from Chris Nava).”
A disgrace to the Order
of Loretto nuns following
RED demonstrations and
murder webster
grove here turned turned
turned into Jehova Witnesses with witness’s
as Teachers – I once
had a sister in this
order. as not to
disgrace her I
withhold my name
Letter from our Sisters of Selma Collection, Box 3, Folder titled “Research, Responses to participation in Selma (Sisters of Loretto, Webster Groves, MO) (received from Chris Nava).”
Letter from our Sisters of Selma Collection, Box 3, Folder titled “Research, Responses to participation in Selma (Sisters of Loretto, Webster Groves, MO) (received from Chris Nava).”
[Page 1]
Shame on you nuns I am like
former President Harry Truman said
that Martin Luther King is nothing
but a trouble maker he is the
Bigest communist in the United States
then comes that Bishop Ritter and his
Yankee sisters go home the Bishop
of Alabama said that was the Bigest
shame and scandall you nuns and Priests
could done go to Alabama and show of on
the highway with them Dirdy n—— for
nuns and Priests musta lost four
religion I am ashamed that I am a Catholic
it makes Yankees so cheap to hear all this
scandall them Priests and nuns do and
that Bishop Ritter I dont thing he got them
all that Bishop Toolen warned you nuns
and Priests to stay home and clean up
your one Back yard and as for as religion
it no Catholic religion any more its
Luthern Church now Martin Luther
taking over its no mass any more its
[Page 2]
Communists it dont make sense our nice
Big alter is Deserded and that Box
they got standing there it dont make sence
I knew of a Priest told us they hat
that Box there 2 Sundays and it went
so against him he could give it a kick
so it flew out in the () so they put
it away and they use there Big alter
like always and have mass like
always the Parish People want the real
Catholic mass Back so they have what it
dont make sence the Priest facing
the People 5 minutes its no good
most Catholic people first wont put
up with it they go to church and
pray there prayer Book and say
the Rosary then they get out its just
no good and you nuns go to the jewish
Community center that a sin it
always was and it still is and that
n—– out fit I hate n—— and
so does most good white People
we don’t want that trash next to
us let them stay in St. Louis
Cheap white people.
[Page 3]
Shame on you Nuns Sister many Christins
you sure cant be much of nuns else
your sister Ann Christopher SL must be
cheap no goo white person would put them
down that cheap march with 20 n——
in () city on the street cheap march
that preacher Reeb [Reverend James Reeb] that died in Alabama
died of Cancer why didnt he stay home in
his own church he Be living yet in
Boston and that white women from
Michegian that got shot she hat it coming
She ask for it a white woman siding with
a n—– in the front seed of her car she
hat it coming she was no good her
place was home with her 5 kinds not in
Alabama with them Dirdy no good n—— [The author is referring to Viola Liuzzo, a mother of five who had traveled to Selma to take part in the Selma to Montgomery march and while shuttling marchers from Montgomery back to Selma she was shot and killed by four members of the KKK]
only cheap white trash goes on places
like that and what did you nuns know
about Alabama like the Archbishop Toolen
of Alabama said that Bishop hat sence
he didnt let his nuns and priests go
out and march on the highway and make
[Page 4]
a fool out there self like St. Louis nun
and priests did they have good religion
down there they dont make a fool out
there self like St. Louis nuns did and
priests what some one should done throwd
a Bom on that mob and cleaned them out
nuns and Priests and communist
King them n—— down south dont make
any trouble unless they are forced to it
like King did he is no good and so is
Ritter who paid your expenses down
and back did Ritter do it dam sure
we didnt and that Expensive fund
coming up they wont get no cent out us
Because Ritter fools it away no body
should give nothing any more tell he bring
our Catholic religion Back it no good
this way no wonder the Good lord has
tornatoes every were and takes every
along Because the People are so Bad
he got to Punish it neats a cleanen
in St. Louis and get rid of them Black
kids runing around By the thousand
so get sence in you nuns and stay at
home them n—— dont want to vote.
[Page 5]
Shame on your Better teach your schools
Better about all them kids learn
today is n—— and sex the girls
walk around with there legs Bare all
the way up as far as they go and walk
around with n—– Boys and have
a kid at 13 – 14 years old that why them
homes is so full of kids every girl that has
a kid should take it home and race it her
self and take the shame But they dont know
what shame is Because they don’t hear
no good sence in school and the priest
never makes a sermon that stuff
all they talk about is money and n——
and like God is coming down from
heaven anytime them Priests lost there
religion to and some of them should Be
send to over sees to the war shame shame
on you nuns runing to Alabama
and lay with them n—— white trash
that all that would go.
Among the letters were a large amount of newspaper clippings that had also been sent to the Sisters.
Newspaper clippings from our Sisters of Selma Collection, Box 3, Folder titled “Research, Responses to participation in Selma (Sisters of Loretto, Webster Groves, MO) (received from Chris Nava).”
We have additional hate mail/protest letters in our Sisters of Selma Collection, which are available to be viewed in-person by research appointment at the Carondelet Consolidated Archives.
Leave a Reply