Call Number:

3809

Repository:

Historical Society of Pennsylvania

Extent:

0.2 linear feet (; 1 box, 1 volume (inside box))

Language:

English

Preferred Citation:

Cite as: [Indicate cited item or series here], The Black Cop of Philadelphia collection (Collection 3809), The Historical Society of Pennsylvania.

Date:

1969-2006, undated

Creator:

Matthews, Arthur J.

Abstract:

These materials were collected by Arthur Matthews, retired homicide captain and chief inspector of the Philadelphia Police Department. Matthews was the first African American to head the city's Homicide Division in the 1960s. This small collection contains a copy of a letter from Arthur Matthews to Alphonso Deal, president of the Guardian Civic League of Philadelphia, from May 26, 1969 (Box 1, Folder 1), published items, photocopies of articles, and a paper titled "A Short History of African-American Policeman" that's accompanied by a list of "Significant court decisions that affected African Americans and others[sic] minorities with the Philadelphia Police Department" (Box 1, Folder 4). These writings were used in the program entitled "Historical Salute to African Americans in Law Enforcement" that was held by the city in 2006. A copy of the accompanying booklet is in the collection (Box 1, Folder 3). The photocopied articles primarily date from 1969 to 1980 and most feature Matthews and his work, along with other issues relating to African American police employees (Box 1, Folder 2). There is also a police department recruiting booklet (Box 1, Folder 3) and a book, Black Cops by James N. Reaves (Volume 1).