Martin Luther King Jr.'s Letters Preserved in Digital Archive

About 200,000 documents are featured in the digital archive.

Forever Preserved - The King Center, the official living memorial to Martin Luther King Jr., compiled a digital archive of an estimated 200,000 documents relating to the life and legacy of the slain civil rights leader. Included are photos, rare handwritten notes, and even hate mail from King’s critics. Here’s a look at just some of the rare artifacts featured in the collection.—Britt Middleton

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Forever Preserved - The King Center, the official living memorial to Martin Luther King Jr., compiled a digital archive of an estimated 200,000 documents relating to the life and legacy of the slain civil rights leader. Included are photos, rare handwritten notes, and even hate mail from King’s critics. Here’s a look at just some of the rare artifacts featured in the collection.—Britt Middleton

Support for King’s Nobel Prize Win - A telegraph from Sen. Edward Kennedy congratulating King on winning the Nobel Peace Prize in 1964.

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Support for King’s Nobel Prize Win - A telegraph from Sen. Edward Kennedy congratulating King on winning the Nobel Peace Prize in 1964.

Father and Son - Rare photograph of Martin Luther King Jr. with his son, Martin III, walking up the steps to their home.

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Father and Son - Rare photograph of Martin Luther King Jr. with his son, Martin III, walking up the steps to their home.

Injustice - A handwritten note by King on the subject of injustice.

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Injustice - A handwritten note by King on the subject of injustice.

Vicious Message - In a piece of hate mail to Dr. King, the author states that Negros are “savages” and that the white race will forever remain in power.

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Vicious Message - In a piece of hate mail to Dr. King, the author states that Negros are “savages” and that the white race will forever remain in power.

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Power Couple - Martin Luther King Jr. and wife, Coretta Scott King, appear on the cover of The American Chronicle.

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Power Couple - Martin Luther King Jr. and wife, Coretta Scott King, appear on the cover of The American Chronicle.

Powerful Words - Outline of Dr. King’s Nobel Peace Prize acceptance speech in 1964.

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Powerful Words - Outline of Dr. King’s Nobel Peace Prize acceptance speech in 1964.

Letter to the President  - King writes a letter to President John F. Kennedy, asking the president to protect citizens undergoing abuse from police and detractors as they tried to register to vote in Greenwood, Mississippi.  

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Letter to the President  - King writes a letter to President John F. Kennedy, asking the president to protect citizens undergoing abuse from police and detractors as they tried to register to vote in Greenwood, Mississippi.  

Critical Observation - In a letter to Dr. King dated Mar. 7, 1968, Katherine Livermore criticizes King for his alleged association with the Communist Party. She makes several historical references to slavery and the plight of the “Negro race." At the end, she warns the reverend to “be careful this summer.” King would be murdered on Apr. 4, 1968.

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Critical Observation - In a letter to Dr. King dated Mar. 7, 1968, Katherine Livermore criticizes King for his alleged association with the Communist Party. She makes several historical references to slavery and the plight of the “Negro race." At the end, she warns the reverend to “be careful this summer.” King would be murdered on Apr. 4, 1968.

Religion - A handwritten note by King on the definition of religion.

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Religion - A handwritten note by King on the definition of religion.

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More Dissent - A defaced newspaper clipping featuring the faces of Martin Luther King Jr., Hosea Williams and Bernard Lafayette.

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More Dissent - A defaced newspaper clipping featuring the faces of Martin Luther King Jr., Hosea Williams and Bernard Lafayette.

Freedom at Last? - Dr. King writes how the Emancipation Proclamation has proved ineffective in the civil rights movement.

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Freedom at Last? - Dr. King writes how the Emancipation Proclamation has proved ineffective in the civil rights movement.

March on Washington - The outline for the March on Washington in 1963.

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March on Washington - The outline for the March on Washington in 1963.