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Linear Feet: The collection consists of one folder.

Abstract: In a March 21, 1972 handwritten letter of application for employment with Bryan Brothers Packing Company in West Point, MS, Byron De La Beckwith, the assassin of civil rights leader Medgar Evers, provides his employment history and his thoughts on topics such as labor unions, dealings with minority customers, integrated schools, and politics. He also lists organizations and activities with which he is affiliated.

Administrative Information

Statement of Provenance: This collection was purchased by Special Collections in November 2003.

Copyright statement: Copyright © 2001. The University of Tennessee Libraries. All Rights Reserved. Permission to use, copy, modify, and distribute these materials for educational, research, and not-for-profit purposes, without fee and without a signed licensing agreement, is hereby granted, provided that the above copyright notice and this paragraph appear in all copies, modifications, and distributions. For commercial license to use contact, University of Tennessee Libraries, Office of the Dean, Permissions, 1015 Volunteer Boulevard, Knoxville, TN 37996-1000.

Biographical Note: Byron De La Beckwith (1920-2001) was an American white supremacist and the assassin of civil rights leader Medgar Evers on June 12, 1963, in Jackson, MS. He was twice tried for Ever’s murder in 1964, but avoided convictions when the juries both returned deadlocked. Based on new evidence that he had boasted about the assassination at a Ku Klux Klan rally, De La Beckwith was convicted and sentenced to life in prison in 1994. In 2001, while his case was still being appealed, he died of heart problems in prison.

Scope and Content: In a March 21, 1972, letter to the Bryan Brother Packing Company in West Point, MS, Byron De La Beckwith inquires about job opportunities for salesmen in the company. He provides his job history as well as commentary on who he would work with (“I work only for white Anglo Saxon Protestants or very conservative Roman Catholics...”), organizations which he supports (“Sons of the American Revolution, Sons of Confederate Veterans, Citizens Council, Masons, Knight, Templar work, the Shrine, V.F.W., American Legion, various charities, the Salvation Army. Also on George C. Wallace of course. Plus an assortment of other right wing activities.”), and ways in which his notoriety has helped him in his current sales position (“Being so widely known helps me in my selling. Being accused on murdering a top ranking NAACP official dear to the U.S. Community Party and its subsidiaries in Government seems to often open all sorts of doors – financial – religious – political – etc.”).

The letter also contains a note in pencil on the back. In this note, to “JB” (J.B. Stroud, Personnel Manager of Bryan Brothers), John (John Bryan, Sr., CEO of Bryan Brothers) suggests Stroud “answer very briefly & formally stating that we have no openings @ present.”

To the letter, De La Beckwith attached a photograph and a business card which are also included in the collection.

Keywords
Byron De La Beckwith