William Melbourne Glenn (1903-1986)
William Melbourne Glenn was a local political activist. Glenn began his activism in 1941, becoming the first African American hired at Hayes Manufacturing Company in Grand Rapids.
Glenn was active in a number of organizations, including the Grand Rapids chapter of the NAACP, the Grand Rapids Urban League, the Family Service Agency, Planned Parenthood, Young and Old United, Concerned Senior Citizens, XYZ Senior Citizens Center and Senior Neighbors, Inc.
His father, William M. Glenn was first coachman, later chauffeur for W.H. Anderson, President of Fourth National Bank.
His mother was Emma Cole.
Some of Glenn's ancestors were black, some white. As a result, Glenn learned of racial prejudice at an early age. Upon graduation from Central High School, the best job he could get was that of bellhop at the Pantlind Hotel in 1920.
He worked at the Pantlind Hotel until 1941, when he obtained a job at the Hayes Manufacturing Company where He had broken the color barrier at the firm.
Within a year, he was elected Shop Steward, and joined the UAW - CIO, becoming Plant Committee Chairman. He was also elected to the Kent County Industrial Council and given the responsibility of seeing that the fair employment practices laws were working in Grand Rapids. He revealed to the State Representative of the Fair Employment Practices Commission that Blacks were not being generally employed in local industries.
Not long afterwards, Blacks were working at General Motors, American Seating, and several other local plants.
In 1951 William Glenn embarked on a chance to visit Europe with a group of union people. In Paris, several members of the group, decided to accept an invitation to visit the Soviet Union.
When Glenn returned to New York, his passport was taken by the Immigration Department. Glenn filed a grievance with the State and his case went to arbitration.
He won and was re - instated.
In 1971, the Western Chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union chose Glenn as its "Man of the Year" for his dedication and efforts in the causes of Civil Liberties.
Glenn began agitating for senior housing n 1950, when he published a newspaper called Civic Reminder, which lasted less than a year. He served on the Committee on Racial Equality and was president of Grand Rapids chapter of the NAACP.
During his later years, he acted as an ombudsman for senior citizens, both black and white. His advocacy included housing, food medical care, and even burial.
The thrust of his influence continues to inspire others still today.
Visitors to The Grand Rapids Public Library Archives can explore an extensive collection of his writings, correspondence, papers and government files and letters to various editors.
The bulk of the collection dates to the period, 1941 to 1986.
Also included are records Glenn kept on the various organizations with which he worked. More than 1,400 slides and close to 200 photographs illustrate Glenn's life, from family picnics to protest marches and senior citizen housing.
The collection also includes images of national figures, such as George McGovern's 1972 visit and the African politician Shirley Chisholm.
The impact of his influence is also recognized each year as an awardee is presented the William M. Glenn, Trailblazer Giant Award.
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