The collection is comprised of papers relating to the Citizens Committee for Quality Education Through Neighborhood Schools maintained by one of its co-founders, B. Franklin Rassieur, Jr. It is arranged alphabetically by topic and dates from 1964 to 1972, with the bulk of the collection dating from 1969 to 1972. The records include newspaper clippings, newsletters, lists of member/donor/volunteer names, campaign information about the committee’s candidates and school board elections from 1970 to 1972, information about the University City community, petitions circulated by the committee, and many handwritten notes by Rassieur.

There are several reports and documents issued by the University City Board of Education which relate to the proposed school district reorganization and policies (B1/f.1-8). Rassieur saved many newspaper clippings about University City’s controversy and also about integration and education in the United States. Two inventories list the newspaper clippings in chronological order (B1/f.13).

The collection reveals that the Citizens Committee for Quality Education Through Neighborhood Schools (Committee) was well organized; it had a steering committee and an advisory committee (B3/f.1-2). On 25 August 1969, the Committee authorized B. Franklin Rassieur to make withdrawals from its bank account. By 10 September 1969, it had obtained mailing permits for its membership and donor campaign (B2/f.4). Several documents relating to the administration of the Committee include: a five page position paper which explained the committee, it’s goals, and asked for donations; an agenda for a 27 August 1969 meeting, along with Rassieur’s notes; and a 1971 treasurer’s report (B2/f.6).

The Committee issued its first newsletter on 5 September 1969 and sent form letters and postcards in order to generate interest and monetary support. One of the Committee’s earliest activities was to gather over 1400 signatures on a petition asking the Board of Education to cease its study for racial balance and to follow guidelines set by the May 1969 report of the Board’s Advisory Committee on Distribution of Student Population (B1/f.4). Rassieur kept records of petition signers and donors using a computer, possibly like the one used at Paulo Products Company, and he retained several punch cards and program printouts.

In the 1970, 1971, and 1972 school board elections, the Committee supported candidates who agreed with its viewpoint. There is campaign literature for the Committee’s candidates as well as for opposition candidates. Rassieur’s correspondence and notes in the election files reveal the Committee’s strategy for filling school board vacancies. Rassieur also collected information distributed by opposition groups in University City including: (1) McKnight Residents for Centers, (2) Committee for Racial Balance, (3) The Third Group, (4) Flynn Park Area Residents for School Reorganization, (5) Students for Centers, and (6) Medical and Allied Professionals for Centers (B3/f.13).