Connecticut Commission on Civil Rights Collection

In 1943, under recommendation of the Governor of Connecticut and by mandate of the General Assembly, the state appointed the Inter-racial Commission to establish a program for overcoming discrimination and prejudice in the state. The Commission was composed of ten Governor-appointed citizens to serve five year terms. By statute of the General Assembly in 1951, the agency was renamed the Commission on Civil Rights. This renamed entity established the following as the guiding obligations and principles: (1) to aid in overcoming prejudice through education; (2) to assist public and private organizations in their attempts to develop harmonious integroup relations; (3) to compile facts concerning discrimination in employment, violation of civil liberties and other related matters and to report the results of its investigations to the governor; (4) to investigate instances of discrimination which may come to its attention; (5) in certain specified areas such as employment, public accomodations and public housing, to correct such discriminatory acts through conciliation or legal sanctions and (6) to submit to the Governor its recommendations for the removal of such injustices as it may find to exist. The Commission produced its findings and related news through newsletters such as The Spotlight and Civil Rights Bulletin.