Robert Singleton Donates Papers to Hannon Library

This past year, the William H. Hannon Library’s Archives and Special Collections department received a donation from Robert Singleton, retired professor of economics at Loyola Marymount University. Entitled the “Robert Singleton Papers,” this new collection consists of documents produced over Singleton’s impressive career: newspapers, correspondence, fliers, and other publications.

Woolworth boycott slipsBefore coming to LMU, Professor Singleton studied at the University of California, Los Angeles in the 1960s, earning a bachelor’s degree in international relations, a master’s degree in international economics, and a Ph.D. in urban and labor economics. During his time as a student, Singleton served as president of the school’s chapter of NAACP where he organized boycotts against stores with discriminatory practices as well as investigating other forms of discrimination on or around campus. Singleton continued his activist work by joining the Congress of Racial Equality (CORE) that initiated the Freedom Rides of 1961. As a result of his participation in the Freedom Rides, Singleton was arrested and sent to Parchman Penitentiary along with his wife Helen Singleton, a fellow Freedom Rider.

Freedom Ride applicationSingleton joined the staff of UCLA, working as faculty in the Graduate School of Management as well as Chief Researcher for the Institute of Industrial Relations. He also went on to serve as Founding Director of the Center for African American Studies, now the Ralph J. Bunche Center for African American Studies. During this time, Singleton became involved in the Angela Davis Defense Committee. Singleton continued to serve underrepresented groups during his time at the U.S. Department of Labor as well as the California Assembly Office of Research and was Founding Director of the Education Finance Reform Project. Singleton served as faculty in the Department of Economics at LMU since 1982 until his retirement last year.

Highlights from the collection include newsletters from groups involved in the civil rights movement such as the CORE-later, fliers and pledge cards regarding boycotts and protests, and professional publications and reports written by Singleton. We are excited to house this important collection and to share it with the LMU community. To view this collection, please make a research appointment at least 24 hours in advance by emailing Archives & Special Collections or calling 310.338.5710.