LBJ-MLK crossroads project collection

Collection

Identifier: 2014-002

Staff Only

Scope and Contents

This collection contains records regarding the creation and completion of the MLK-LBJ Memorial. It includes correspondence, newspaper and magazine articles, steering committee agendas and notes, designers’ plans, and the city’s legal paperwork. Also included are information and publications regarding related civil rights ideas, such as the national Martin Luther King, Jr. memorial, and the 2014 Civil Rights Summit held at the LBJ Library in Austin, Texas.

Dates

1950s-2014, undated
Majority of material found within 2008 - 2014

Creator

City of San Marcos. LBJ Crossroads Committee (Organization)

Conditions Governing Access

Open to researchers without restriction.

Conditions Governing Use

Special Collections and Archives owns the physical items in our collections, but copyright normally belongs to the creator of the materials or their heirs. The researcher has full responsibility for determining copyright status, obtaining permission to publish from copyright holders, and abiding by current copyright laws when publishing or displaying copies of Special Collections and Archives material in print or electronic form.

Historical note

The LBJ-MLK Crossroads Project culminated in a physical memorial installed in San Marcos, Texas in January 2014.

Just south of Texas State University sits the only known intersection named after both Lyndon B. Johnson (LBJ) and Martin Luther King, Jr. (MLK). The LBJ-MLK Crossroads Memorial Project represents the efforts not just of these two national figures, but also the local leaders who worked for over fifteen years to bring the memorial to fruition. The idea for the memorial originated in 1997 during that year’s Martin Luther King Day march when several marchers commented on the historical opportunity the intersection provided. Subsequent events (see below) were usually planned to coincide with MLK Day, which is the third Monday in January.

In 1965 and 1987, the San Marcos City Council approved resolutions renaming Austin Street to Lyndon B. Johnson Drive and Porter-Comal Street to Martin Luther King Drive, respectively. LBJ was a 1930 alumnus of Southwest Texas State Teachers College; as president, he worked with MLK on many different issues, including the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Voting Rights Act of 1965.

In recognition of this historic work, the Crossroads Memorial Committee formed in 2008 to plan and raise funds for their project. On MLK Day 2009, the intersection of LBJ and MLK Drives was officially selected as the site for the memorial. Requests for artist qualifications occurred in the spring of 2011, and three finalists were chosen in December 2011. In May 2012, the San Marcos City Council unanimously selected Aaron P. Hussey as the artist for the memorial. The groundbreaking occurred on MLK Day 2013.

On January 20, 2014 (MLK Day), thanks to the hard work of numerous people and local organizations – including Johnnie Armstead, Kaye Parks, Carol Lane-Coleman, the San Marcos Convention and Visitor Bureau, Dunbar Heritage Association, the Calaboose African American History Museum, the San Marcos Area Arts Council, the Arts Commission, and the Common Experience Committee at Texas State University – the LBJ-MLK Crossroads Memorial was officially dedicated, with Luci Baines Johnson (LBJ’s daughter) in attendance.

Extent

.83 Linear Feet (2 document boxes)

Language of Materials

English

Additional Description

Abstract

Just south of Texas State University sits the only known intersection named after both Lyndon B. Johnson (LBJ) and Martin Luther King, Jr. (MLK). The LBJ-MLK Crossroads Project culminated in a physical memorial installed in San Marcos, Texas in January 2014. This collection contains records regarding the creation and completion of the memorial.