Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. marched on the streets of over two dozen states before he was assassinated by James Earl Ray on April 4, 1968. The public execution of a figure known for promoting peace, civil disobedience, race and class equality, shook hearts across the globe. On this MLK Day, as we mourn the loss of a leader martyred in the streets, we also take time to reflect on Dr. King’s life, and on the ways Southern Methodist University and Dallas, Texas, were touched by his enduring legacy.

On March 17th, 1966, just two years before his assassination, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. visited SMU. Speaking to nearly 3,000 students and faculty gathered in McFarlin Auditorium, King delivered a wide-ranging address that covered integration, the Dred Scott decision of 1857, Aristotle, unemployment, voting rights, social systems in Scandinavia, the Civil Rights Bill, the Southern Christian Leadership Conference, communism and more.

Dr. King’s appearance at SMU marked a historic moment: it was his first visit to a southern university. Beyond the significance of the speech itself, the visit reflected a growing connection between King and members of the SMU community. Almost exactly one year before Martin Luther King’s speech at SMU, students and faculty from Perkins School of Theology had participated in the Selma-Montgomery Civil Rights march.

MLK Collections at SMU Libraries

Although Dr. King’s life was tragically brief, his legacy lives on through speeches, writings, photographs, and historical records. SMU Libraries plays a significant role in storing those historical records. If you’re interested in exploring SMU collections related to Dr. King, start with the resources below, many of which are primary sources.

Collection on Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s visit to SMU, 1965-2014, This collection documents the March on Selma, Dr. King’s visit to SMU, and memorials held following his assassination.
Ernest T. Dixon, Jr. papers,1900-1996, Ernest T. Dixon Jr., the first African American bishop to serve the South-Central Jurisdiction of the United Methodist Church, participated in demonstrations following Dr. King’s murder. His papers include materials related to those demonstrations and the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Foundation.
Vivian Castleberry papers,1952-2003, Known as the “godmother of the women’s movement” in Dallas, journalist Vivian Castleberry compiled research on Coretta Scott King and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. within her papers.
Erik Jonsson papers, 1881-1995, J.Erik Jonsson was the mayor of Dallas when MLK was assassinated. Interestingly, J. Erik Jonsson became the Dallas mayor shortly after the JFK assassination at Dealey Plaza. The Jonsson collection contains the draft of a speech Jonsson delivered following the murder of Martin Luther King.
The SMU Campus (Student Newspaper), Explore firsthand accounts from student journalists covering the Civil Rights Movement, Dr. King’s visit to SMU, and the events surrounding his assassination.
WFAA News Film Collection, 1960-1978, The WFAA film collection contains footage of demonstrations by the Southern Christian Leadership Conference, an organization founded by MLK. Some films also feature Reverend Peter Johnson, a civil rights leader and King’s disciple.

Want to learn more? Check out our guide to archival collections in African American Studies.

This post was written by Kaitlin Siebert, public services librarian at DeGolyer Library. Kaitlin helps students and researchers discover and use the rare books, archival collections, and other unique research materials housed at SMU.