Central East Austin in Travis County, Texas — The American South (West South Central)
James L. Farmer, Jr.
(Jan. 12, 1920 - Jul. 9, 1999)
Photographed by Keith Peterson, May 31, 2011
1. James L. Farmer, Jr. Marker
Civil rights leader James Leonard Farmer, Jr., son of Pearl (Houston) and Dr. James L. Farmer, Sr., lived here as a child from 1925-30. James, Sr. taught at Samuel Huston College (now Huston-Tillotson University). In 1942, James, Jr. founded the Congress of Racial Equality (CORE), which trained civil rights leaders in Ghandi-inspired nonviolent civil disobedience tactics to protest racial discrimination. Under Farmers leadership, CORE organized the 1961 “Freedom Riders” to desegregate interstate transportation in the Deep South. Farmer was an Assistant Secretary in the U.S. Department of Health, Education, and Welfare (1969-1970). He received the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 1998.
Erected 2008 by Texas Historical Commission. (Marker Number 15236.)
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: African Americans • Civil Rights. In addition, it is included in the Historically Black Colleges and Universities series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1942.
Location. 30° 16.344′ N, 97° 43.367′ W. Marker is in Austin, Texas, in Travis County. It is in Central East Austin. It is on New York Avenue west of Leona Street, on the right when traveling west. Touch for map.
this page online
Regionally, this marker is in Central Texas. It is also in the American South. Globally, it is in North America, a Gulf of Mexico state, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Spain, the Republic of Texas, one of the Confederate States of America, and the Antebellum South.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Southgate-Lewis House (about 400 feet away, measured in a direct line); Simpson United Methodist Church (about 500 feet away); Site of Old Anderson High School / Kealing Jr. High School (about 500 feet away); Laurine Cecil Anderson (about 700 feet away); Desegregation of Texas Public Schools (approx. 0.2 miles away); George Washington Carver Branch Library (approx. 0.2 miles away); King-Tears Mortuary (approx. 0.2 miles away); Thompson Home (approx. Ό mile away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Austin.
Also see . . . James L. Farmer Biography. CORE-Congress of Racial Equality (New York Times 07/10/1999) (Submitted on June 8, 2011, by Bernard Fisher of Richmond, Virginia.)
Photographed by Keith Peterson, May 31, 2011
2. James L. Farmer, Jr. Marker
The marker is to the far left in this view of the house.
Credits. This page was last revised on February 1, 2023. It was originally submitted on May 31, 2011, by Keith Peterson of Cedar Park, Texas. This page has been viewed 2,179 times since then and 50 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on May 31, 2011, by Keith Peterson of Cedar Park, Texas. • Bernard Fisher was the editor who published this page.
