University Archives News

50th Anniversary: Martin Luther King, Jr. @ NU

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. spoke at Northwestern on April 15 and 16th, 1958 when he delivered the 1958 Mars Lectures.

From an April 2, 1958 Press Release:

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., pastor of the Dexter Avenue Baptist Church in Montgomery, Ala. and leader of the bus segregation protest there in 1956, will deliver Northwestern University's Mars lecture series April 15 and 16.

"The Crisis in Human Relations" and "The Christian Answer" will be discussed in two lectures by King. Both lectures, open to the public without charge, will begin at 8 p.m. in the Technological Institute auditorium, Sheridan rd. at Noyes st., Evanston.

King, 29, became a much admired religious leader when he used "only the weapons of love and non-violence" in directing the bus boycott. A native of Atlanta, Ga., he was graduated from Morehouse College and Crozier Theological Seminary. He received his doctorate in systematic theology from Boston University in 1955.

The lecture series was established by the will of Dr. Gerhardt C. Mars, a Northwestern alumnus and former Methodist minister. The will provided funds for a series of annual lectures on progressive Christianity.

Faculty chairman of this year's series is Franklin D. Scott, professor of history, who lives at 2657 Orrington ave., Evanston.

"Martin Luther King To Give 2 Talks Here", Daily Northwestern, 4 April 1958.
"Boycott Leader Gives Human Relations Talks", Daily Northwestern, 15 April 1958.
"King Outlines Basic Causes of Race Issues," Daily Northwestern, 16 April 1958.
"Integration Leader King Advocates International Non-Violence Policy," Daily Northwestern, 17 April 1958. (Part One, Part Two)
"King Preached to NU, But Crowds Came Out," Daily Northwestern, 18 April 1958.
1958 Mars Lecture Program (Part One, Part Two, Part Three)