Archives and Special Collections
92 Snell Library
360 Huntington Ave.
Boston, MA 02115
(617) 373-2351
archives@neu.edu

Archives and Special Collections Finding Aids

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Collection Overview
Title: Martin Neal Gopen papers
Date: 1933-1994 (bulk 1969-1989)
Location Code: 57/1
Reference Code:M133
Extent:3 cubic ft. (3 boxes)
Scope and Content Abstract:The Martin Neal Gopen papers document his professional and volunteer social justice work. Records consist of photographs, minutes of various boards, and personal and professional correspondence. Also included in the collection are weekly columns he wrote for the Bay State Banner entitled Job Scene. Of special interest is a copy of a letter to Mel King written from the KKK threatening him because of his social justice work and a letter from Michael Dukakis thanking Gopen for supplying him with literature on the state's minority hiring policy.
Historical Abstract: Martin Neal Gopen was born August 13, 1934 and died on June 18th, 2006 spending the majority of this life in the South End of Boston, MA. During that time he worked as a political activist, and advocate for underserved communities. He attended Northeastern University (1950-1952), but earned his undergraduate (1955-1960) and graduate (1960-1961) degrees from Boston University. He served in the US Army from 1951-1953 when he was honorably discharged. He was involved in numerous social justice organization boards that served minorities and women, including the Tent City Corporation and the Institute of Affirmative Action. He also worked with South End community organizations, including United South End Settlements; Urban League; as campaign manager for Mel King; and with the Boston Fair Housing Commission, the Boston Housing Authority, and the Massachusetts Port Authority. He was awarded the 1988 Reverend Martin Luther King, Jr. Award at the 3rd annual Rainbow Leadership banquet, the 1990 Saco-Vanzetti Award from the Community Church of Boston, and the 1991 Action for Boston Community Development South End Neighborhood Service Center (South End Neighborhood Action Program) Award.
Language and Scripts:The material is entirely in English.
System of Arrangement:Organized alphabetically into two series: 1. Personal, and 2. Professional
Subjects and Contributors:
  • Gopen, Martin Neal
  • King, Mel


  • Affirmative action program – Massachusetts
  • Discrimination in housing
  • Minorities — Civil rights
  • Social justice
  • South End (Boston, Mass.)
Conditions Governing Access:The collection is unrestricted.
Immediate Source of Acquisition:The collection was donated to the Archives by Janice Gopen Weiss and Family on July 31, 2006.
Conditions Governing Reproduction and Use:To the extent that she owns the copyright, the donor has assigned the copyright to these materials to the Archives; however, copyright in some items in this collection may be held by their respective creators. Consult the Archivist for details.
Processor:Finding aid prepared by Elizabeth Marshak, August 2007

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Series:
Personal, 1933-1991
Volume:0.35 cubic ft.
Arrangement:

Alphabetical
Summary:

This series documents the personal life of Martin Neal Gopen. The series consists of correspondence between Gopen and local and national government officials, personal notes, and awards received. Of special interest is correspondence from the KKK, and Norman Mailer. The collection also includes photographs of his personal life and military service, as well as samples of his writings, primarily for the Bay State Banner.
BoxTitleDate
1Biographical 1933-1934, 1967-1991
1, 3Awards (2 folders) 1988-1994
Correspondence
1General 1971-1986
1Racist Attacks1970
1Termination Letters1972,1979
1Thank You Letters 1963-1984
1, 3Notes, General (2 folders)1965
Photographs
1Generaln.d.
3'51 Reunionn.d.
1Military n.d., 1953-1955
1Portraitsn.d
1, 3Resume (2 folders)n.d.
1Training Certificates 1971-1981
Writings
Bay State Banner
1Community Activismn.d., 1971
1, 3Job Scene n.d., 1966-1977
1Harry H. Dow Eulogy1987
1Reflections on Florence Gopen1989
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Series:
Professional, 1966-1992
Volume:2.65 cubic ft.
Arrangement:

Alphabetical
Summary:

This series documents the professional life of Martin Neal Gopen as an advocate for fair housing and minority rights. The majority of the series contains information on organizations Gopen was involved with, including the Massachusetts Port Authority, United South End Settlements, Tent City, and the New Urban League. The series also contains material related to his work in the Mel King for Mayor campaign and his advocacy on the part of Louis S. Martien, III, a 27-year-old resident of the South End accused of two counts of murder and arson.
BoxTitleDate
1Action for Urban Seminar: UMass Boston 1975-76
Affirmative Action
1General 1970-1981
1After BAKKE1979
1Case Against Harvard: Franziska P. Hosken 1971-1972
1Compendium of Affirmative Action Programs 1975-1976
1Construction1984
1Employment Contracts Minorityn.d.
1Equal Employment Opportunity 1980-1982
3Minority Resources1981
1Notesn.d.
1Opportunities Industrialization Center (OIC)n.d.
1Position papers (2 folders) 1980-1982
1State Office of Affirmative Action1982
1, 3All City Organization (2 folders) 1978-1979
Boston Community School
1General 1978-79
1, 3Labor History (3 folders) 1976-78
1Labor Law Course Research1976
Boston Fair Housing Commission: Department of Neighborhood Development and Employment Agency
1, 3General (2 folders)1985
1Investigative Manualn.d.
1Labor Demographics 1983-1985
3Boston Housing Authority: Minority Housing Desegregation1980
1Boston Jobs Coalition 1981-1984
1Boston Jobs Liaison Committee (2 folders) 1987-1988
1 Boston Redevelopment Authority Reports1984
Boston Resident Jobs Ordinance Liaison Committee
1General 1984-1985
1Boston Resident Jobs Policy and Minority / Women Business Participation1988
1Residency Ordinance 1984-1985
1Community Change, Inc. Newsletter n.d., 1986-1992
1Community Press Features1974
1Fair Housing: Ideas1980
Full Employment
1, 3General (2 folders) 1976-1979
1Boston Area Environmentalists for Full Employment1978
1Governors Refugee Advisory Committee 1984-1986
Housing and Urban Development
1General 1971-1980
1312 Loans in the South End1981
2Community Development Block Grant Program A Performance Case Study: Massachusetts Community Action 1980-1981
2Compliance Agreements: Housing and Urban Development and Boston Housing Authority 1980-1981
2Legal Opinions 1971-1973
2Investigative Reports (2 folders) 1980-1981
2Institute for Affirmative Action 1992-1993
2Jobs With Peacen.d., 1982
2The Labor Page: News for Boston Area Workers1985
3Low Income Planning Aid: Job Camps1979
2Martien, Louis S., III (photographs of Martien included) 1986-1987
2Massachusetts Commission Against Discrimination 1980-1981
2, 3Massachusetts Legislative Black Caucus: Agenda for the '80s ( 2 folders)1980
Massachusetts Port Authority (Massport)
2 ADB-Consultants: Arthur D. Bright 1982
Affirmative Action
2General 1981-1982
2Compliance Program CE Maguire, Inc.1981
2Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority1981
2Boston Realty Compliance1982
2Boston Employment Commission: Recommendations on Vocational Education1989
2Correspondence 1982, 1987-1989
2, 3Guiterrez (2 folders)1982
2Job Description1985
2Log Contactsn.d.
2Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority: Minority Contracts 1975-1979
2Minority Business Enterprise Program 1980-1985
3Notes, General1982
2Projects and Compliance1989
2Social Policy Research Group: AA Boston Construction Report1989
2State Office of Minority Business Assistance 1981-1982
2Women's Business Enterprise1980
2Massachusetts Social and Economic Opportunity Council: The People's Platform Newsletter 1977-78
Mel King for Mayor
2General 1966-1983
2Campaign Strategies 1976-1979
2Candidacy1979,1986
2Coalition to Elect Mel King: Proposals1979
2, 3Electoral Reform (2 folders) 1979-1981
2, 3Employment and Training: Issues and Positions (2 folders) 1978-1979
2, 3Position Papers (2 folders)1979
2Neighborhood Development and Employment Agency (2 folders) 1978-1984
New Urban League
2, 3General (2 folders) 1965-1970
2 Department of Transportation: Definition of “Minority” 1977-1982
2Insoft Saga 1967-1968
2University of Massachusetts at Columbia Point: Construction 1969-1970
Photographs
2Activities1971, n.d.
2Political [1968-1983?]
South End
2Clippings1968
2Community Organizations (2 folders) 1966, 1979-1980
2Employment Counseling1981
2 Enterprise Zonesn.d.
2, 3Gentrification (2 folders) 1973-78
2Job Training Ideas1982
2The South End Since 1960[1975]
2Status of South End Urban Renewal: Boston Redevelopment Authority1974
3Youth Training and Employment Center1965
3South End Project Area Committee 1973-1975
3Critical Review 1973-1975
3Special Housing Committee Report1975
3Survival Kit: A Health and Safety Newsletter1974
Tent City
3General 1979-1992
3Agenda and Minutes 1990-1993
3Budgets, Statements of Revenue and Expense (2 folders) 1991-1993
3Clippings1988
3Corporation: Contract Compliance (2 folders)1987
3Third World Clearing House: Annual Report1978
3Tufts University Protest: Court Summons1969
United South End Settlements
3General 1975-1981
3Affirmative Action (2 folders) 1975-1978
3Community Contactsn.d.
3Comprehensive Employment and Training Act 1978-1979
3Labor Leadership for Unionists 1977-1978
3Liaison Letters of Authorization: Onsite Inspection for Affirmative Action Projects 1976-1978
3Manpower Advocacy1976
3Minority Job Agencies 1969-1978
3Perez versus Boston Housing Authority 1975-1981
3Youth Opportunity Center 1966-1967
3Ward 4: Democratic Ward Committee1980
Youth Council
3General ( 2 folders) 1978-1980
3Youth Employment 1976-1977
3Youth Convention for Jobs1979
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