Description:

Ruby Frank founded this Friends of SNCC chapter on the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign in 1963. They raised money for SNCC workers in the South and established a “rest stop” at the university for SNCC workers to come and take a two-week break. Frank developed relationships with other civil rights organizations. They recruited volunteers for the Mississippi Freedom Democrat Party election. This chapter turned its attention towards local race issues as well. They allied with the NAACP and others to speak publicly and to  protest of housing segregation in Champaign-Urbana. In 1965, Ron Kennedy, a senior enrolled at the university, formed another chapter for non-student members that operated under the same name. This chapter, along with other leftist and liberal student organizations, formed a new campus newspaper, Spark.

Members:

  • Ruby Frank, 1964 Chairman (arrested in Mississippi)
  • Liz Krohne, 1964 Vice-Chairman
  • Annette Blaford
  • Vicki Packer
  • Pat Cunningham
  • Merijean Morrissay
  • William Keillor
  • Ron Kennedy
  • Rick Soderstrom
  • Kay Moller (traveled with SNCC to Georgia in Jan. 1964)
  • Gene Willard
  • Gene Woodward (traveled with SNCC to Georgia in Jan. 1964)
  • George Tessaro (arrested in Mississippi)
  • Carol Stevens (traveled with SNCC to Georgia in Jan. 1964)
  • Jacqueline Flenner (University Library staff members) (worked in Freedom School)
  • Bill Stafford (Freedom Summer volunteer)
  • Kathy Logan (Freedom Summer volunteer)
  • Phil Curry (Freedom Summer volunteer)
  • Pat Tan (Freedom Summer volunteer)
  • Gerald Huntley (Freedom Summer volunteer)
  • Jean Wasmann (Freedom Summer volunteer)
  • Larry Hansen (Freedom Summer volunteer)
  • Taylor Jones (Freedom Summer volunteer)

Archive:

SNCC Friends Launch Drive, Daily Illini, February 14, 1964

Form Campus Group to Help SNCC, Daily Illini, September 25, 1963

Friends of SNCC Planning C-U Rest Stop, Daily Illini, February 19, 1964

SNCC Initiates Clothing Drive, Daily Illini, May 23, 1964

SNCC to Stage Sit-in, Daily Illini, May 19, 1964

Friends of SNCC Plan Blues Party, Daily Illini, November 17, 1965

Write-ins Announce NSA Candidacy, Daily Illini, April 28, 1964

Reporting Illini Activities, Daily Illini, October 29, 1963

SNCC Plans Chanute Demonstration, Daily Illini, March 4, 1966

SNCC Official to Speak, Daily Illini, November 20, 1963

Frank to head Friends of SNCC, Daily Illini, April 13, 1965

SNCC Officers Declare Opening of Membership, Daily Illini, October, 22, 1963

SNCC to Present Freedom Singers, Daily Illini, March 25, 1966

SNCC Friends Plan Furlough, Daily Illini, March 12, 1964

UI Delegates, Daily Illini, May 23, 1964

Asks Support for SNCC, Daily Illini, September 26, 1963

Liberal Groups Publish ‘Spark’, Daily Illini, October 5, 1965

Workers on SNCC Protect to Give Report, Daily Illini, September 22, 1964

SNCC to Protest Arrests in Selma, Daily Illini, February 19, 1965

SNCC seeks Mississippi Workers, Daily Illini, October 1964

Students from UI Find Selma Conditions Bad, Daily Illini, March 13, 1965

To Organize Freedom Vote, Daily Illini, October 24, 1964

More Students Arrested for Sit-in, Daily Illini, May 23, 1964

SNCC Official Speaks Here Today, Daily Illini, October 17, 1963

SNCC Stages Blues Party, Daily Illini, November 20, 1965

UI Students Join Rights Workers, Daily Illini, July 2, 1964

SNCC Holds Freedom Rally, Daily Illini, May 19, 1964

Arrest Two UI Students, Daily Illini, January 29, 1964

Panel to Discuss Local Segregation, Daily Illini, July 23, 1964

Senate Discusses Civil Rights Agent Okays NSA Plan, Daily Illini, October 22, 1964

SNCC Raises Drive Funds, Daily Illini, May 14, 1965

SNCC Telegraphs LBJ, Daily Illini, September 24, 1964

Brief Memorial Sponsored Today for 3 Slain Men, Daily Illini, August 6, 1964

Viet Nam Protest Begin at Noon, Daily Illini, March 25, 1966

SNCC Members, Friends Discuss Integration Projects, Daily Illini, March 24, 1964

To Protest McMullin Arrest, Daily Illini, November 22, 1963

SNCC Friends to Bring Dick Gregory to Campus, Daily Illini, March 28, 1964

Gregory Varies Performance by Commenting Seriously, Humorously on Race Issue, Daily Illini, May 5, 1964

Coed with Atlanta Groups, Daily Illini, January 30, 1964

Gregory ‘Makes Good’, Daily Illini, May 1, 1964

SNCC Hold Book Drive, Daily Illini, May 22, 1964

1963-64 Presents Campus with Important Local News, Daily Illini, August 1, 1964

Circle Students Hold Sit-in, Daily Illini, February 28, 1967

Student Tells About SNCC Work, Daily Illini, February 1, 1964

Letter to the Editor, Daily Illini, May 6, 1965

Letter to the Editor, Daily Illini, May 8, 1964

Bending towards justice, John Doar and the Mississippi Burning Trial, n.d.