Archives and Special Collections
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Archives and Special Collections Finding Aids

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Collection Overview
Title:Frank J. Miranda papers
Dates:1964-2005
Location:60/1
Call Number:M112
Volume:1.3 cubic ft. (2 boxes)
Scope and Content Abstract:The Frank J. Miranda (FJM) papers document his work on social issues in the Boston area, the bulk of which was accomplished in the 1960's. Topics cover local education issues, school racial imbalance, and housing conditions in the Roxbury neighborhood. Included in the collection are issues of the Boston CORE (Congress of Racial Equality) newsletter "Corespondent" from 1963-1967, the CORE constitution, newspaper clippings about CORE and minutes from CORE meetings. Materials related to the Boston CORE reunion in 1992 are contained as well, including correspondence between the members and photographs of the event. FJM's professional correspondence is also included in this collection, in addition to photographs of protests in the 1960's, and papers and brochures from Black Heritage Camp and Operation Exodus. Also included are newspaper articles dealing with protests, education, the Vietnam War, and Roxbury area housing issues that were collected by FJM.
Historical Abstract: Frank J. Miranda (FJM) was born in Roxbury Massachusetts in 1932. FJM was involved with Boston CORE for four and a half years, acting as chair during his last year. "At its height Boston CORE was completely involved in civil rights issues in Roxbury, including housing, rent strikes, legislative issues, education, fair employment, government services" ("Frank Miranda, Former Boston CORE Activist," Box 1, Folder 18). FJM was later director of the Cultural Enrichment and Tutorial Program of Operation Exodus, a community based and parent initiated organization to deal with the educational problems of African American students in Boston. While FJM was involved in Operation Exodus it had programs dealing with busing, libraries, camping, vocational education, and career development. FJM was also the administrative program director of the Black Heritage Camp, which strove to provide a "well rounded camping experience for our children, based on black pride and awareness" ("Rolling Ridge - Exodus Camping Programs," Box 1, Folder 22). In 1992, Miranda helped organize a reunion of Boston Core members at the Saint Johns Saint James Episcopal Church in Roxbury.
Arrangement:Arranged in one alphabetical sequence.
Subjects and Contributors:
  • Miranda, Frank J., 1932-


  • African Americans -- Civil Rights
  • Congress of Racial Equality -- History
  • Civil Rights Movements -- United States
  • Direct Action
  • Nonviolence
Restrictions:The collection is unrestricted.
Related Materials: The papers of James Leonard Farmer, founder of CORE, are located at the Center for American History at the University of Texas at Austin.
Processor:Finding aid prepared by Archives Staff, May 2006

Biographical Note

Frank J. Miranda was born in Roxbury Massachusetts in 1932. At the age of 17, he joined the Air Force where he assumed a clerical position. After his discharge in 1953, he started work in 1956 as an administration technician with the Army Reserve and took evening classes at Boston College. While looking for a place to live in 1962, he was discriminated against by a realtor. He filed a housing discrimination complaint with the Massachusetts Commission Against Discrimination, and the intake clerk there referred him to the Housing Committee of Boston CORE.

As stated in its 1964 constitution, "The purpose of Greater Boston CORE shall be to abolish discrimination based on race, color, creed, or ethnic origin, as practiced in various phases of community life. The organization shall work towards this purpose by negotiation and direct nonviolent action, and by taking of public positions on issues involving prejudice or discrimination" ("Constitution of the Greater Boston Congress of Racial Equality," Box 1, Folder 1). During his four and a half years of involvement with this organization, FJM was chair of the employment committee, vice chair of the chapter, treasurer, housing aide, a trouble shooter for the chapter, mediator, and chair in his last year. "At its height Boston CORE was completely involved in civil rights issues in Roxbury, including housing, rent strikes, legislative issues, education, fair employment, government services" ("Frank Miranda, Former Boston CORE Activist," Box 1, Folder 21).

Following his involvement with CORE, FJM became the director of the Cultural Enrichment and Tutorial Program of Operation Exodus, a community based and parent-initiated organization to deal with the educational problems of African American students in Boston. Operation Exodus maintained programs dealing with busing, libraries, camping, vocational education and career development. FJM was also the administrative program director of an organization associated with Operation Exodus named Black Heritage Camp, a "well rounded camping experience for our children, based on black pride and awareness" ("Rolling Ridge – Exodus Camping Programs," Box 1, Folder 22). In 1970 FJM received a master's degree in education from Harvard. Then he was personnel director for the Columbia Point Health Center. His last position, before leaving Boston in 1972, was the deputy superintendent at the Massachusetts Correctional Pre Release Center. He then accepted a position as personnel director of a Navajo hospital in Ganado, Arizona. In 1992, Miranda helped organize a reunion of Boston Core members at the Saint Johns Saint James Episcopal Church in Roxbury. FJM spent the rest of his career at the City of Albuquerque's Human Rights Department where he retired in 1997 as the department director. After his retirement FJM went on to work with the New Mexico Human Rights Coalition, serving as their volunteer executive director.
Chronology
1932FJM born in Roxbury, Mass.
1949Joined the Air Force
1956-1970Administrative Technician with the Army Reserve
1962-1966Involved with Boston CORE
1968-1970Director of the Cultural Enrichment and Tutorial Program of Operation Exodus and Administrative Program Director of Black Heritage Camp
1970Received Master's of Education Degree from Harvard
1970-1971?Personnel Director for the Columbia Point Health Center
1971-1972?Deputy Superintendent at the Massachusetts Correctional Pre Release Center
1972-?Personnel Director of Navajo hospital in Ganado, Arizona
1992Helped to organize CORE reunion in Roxbury, Mass.
199?-1997Department Director of Albuquerque's Human Rights Department
1997-Volunteer Executive Director with the New Mexico Human Rights Coalition
Return to Top
BoxTitleDate
CORE, Boston
1Constitution1964
2"Corespondent" (2 folders)1963-1967
1Correspondencen.d, 1966-1968, 1993
2Freedom Prints1966
1Housing1964-1968
1Minutes1966-1967
1Newspaper Clippings1963-1967
1Pamphlets and Flyersn.d., 1964
1, 2Photographs (2 folders)n.d., 1965
1Reunion (3 Folders)n.d., 1992
1Vietnamn.d.
1CORE, Nationaln.d.
1CORE-Lator 1964
2"Ebony" Magazine (3 folders)1963-1970
Flyers, Pamphlets and Magazines
1Generaln.d., 1966
1Civil Rightsn.d.
1Educationn.d., 1966-1968
1Housingn.d., 1968, 1992
1Freedom Vigil and School Racial Imbalance1965-1967
1Miranda Biography2005
1Miranda Statement of Purpose1971
1National School Volunteer Projectn.d.
Newspaper Clippings
1General (3 folders)1964-1965
2Cleveland Demonstrations1964
1School and Racial Imbalance, Boston (3 folders) 1965-1966
Operation Exodus and Black Heritage Camp (2 folders)n.d., 1968-1973
1Obituaries1965-1989, 2001-2003
1Photographs of Protests1964, 1968
1"The Student Voice," Atlanta Georgia1964-1965