Brandi Miller
Staff WriterIn 1921 the city of South Bend built the first local swimming pool that was available for use by the public. The Natatorium was built at its current location at 1044 W. Washington and has been the largest local example of the Civil Rights struggle in America in the past. It was built using tax dollars and private donations, but did not include all residents of the city.
African Americans were not allowed among those who were invited to swim in the pool, even though they lived in the same neighborhood. This caused them to react with a petition drive led by the NAACP and African American attorney, J. Chester Allen, requesting the right to use the center. They were turned down numerous times. Finally in 1937, after a protest was filed with the city of South Bend, African Americans were granted the right to use the pool one day a week, which was better, but still unacceptable. It was not until 1950 that the right for integration was granted by the parks department that African Americans were given the right to equal access of the Natatorium.
The Civil Rights Heritage Center has many dreams, according to Monica Tetzlaff, director of the center and IU South Bend Professor. They wish to include an Oral History Project which would house a collection of interviewed recordings of local people involved with the Civil Rights movement. It would also include clippings, scrapbook items and other items.
Annual conferences, annual speakers and community outreach programs are geared towards neighborhood needs. Church officials as well as university experts are wanted to be on hand to assist with education and training. Training will also include voting tutorials in the months before elections to assist local citizens with the voting process.
After-school programs are also being planned to replace those taught at area schools and Notre Dame. They would include diversity readings and Civil Rights history lessons for children.
Interns and volunteers from IU South Bend will be used as docents, leading tours of the Heritage Center, Natatorium, and throughout the neighborhoods.
Scholarships are available to IUSB students who work in the center. Up to seven students are eligible for up to $500 dollars each semester, depending on the amount of service they provide at the center. Applications can be picked up at the Center’s office on campus in Wiekamp #3210.
According to the pamphlet about the Organization, The Civil Rights Heritage Center was created in 2000 by students who wanted the history lessons they learned on the Freedom Summer trip to continue throughout the year. “The Center was formed to create partnerships between the community and the University. It is dedicated to understanding and documenting the civil rights struggle and educating the public about civil rights history.”
For additional information on the Civil Rights Heritage Center or the Natatorium you can contact the Center at civilrts@iusb.edu, or at (574)520-5580.
September 4, 2007 at 10:45 pm
I am horrifed at this picture, you said it happened years ago. I feel like it happened today.
I am sick to my stomach, that he watched, why, to take a photograph. This little girl was starving, she didn’t know what a photograph was, all she knew was that she was hungry and thirsty and weak. He could have held her and helped her to a water hole even maybe given her some food he had in his pocket. I pray this vulture did not take her. I pray she is in a peaceful place now with food, water and shelter and God’s loving arms. I could not even have done to an animal what he did to this child. I would have saved child or animal.
September 22, 2008 at 2:54 pm
(What’s with this website? It’s impos-sible to “finish.)
Wanted to say “kids of the 40/50’s” enjoyed the NAT & didn’t think racial. We liked each other and it was a treat to swim in the winter. Girls could NOT swim at the YMCA–what about that? But we didn’t fight with each other about it, we solved it peacefully.
Always thought here in the “north” no one had a thing to be upset about since we were equal (but the gov’t. got their fingers in the pie & it became a bit heated here also). 60’s & after were a mess but the NAT had closed way before those “American against American” days. Too bad our city fathers never saw clear to maintaining it as they should have (but WWII was taking place during the lifetime of the NAT & Americans were devoted to winning, so every cent, piece of metal, etc., was used for war-work. Hopefully, we all see beyond our noses, support OUR U.S. & get along with each other as law-abiding citizens forever.
Mom Demien