By Kay Scrimger
February 12, 2007

At the 75th Winter Meeting in Washington (DC), The United States Conference of Mayors presented its highest award — the President’s Award — to Atlanta Mayor Shirley Franklin January 24, for her National Mayoral Leadership in the historic acquisition of the Martin Luther King, Jr., personal papers collection.

Just days before being sold at Sotheby’s auction house in New York city, approximately 10,000 papers, documents, books and other personal items belonging to King were bought for $32 million by a group of corporate, government, and private donors galvanized by Franklin.

In a special video presentation, Franklin said, “It is a great day when we can learn through Dr. King’s words.”

“This means everything to me. I am glad that I could play a small part in this, and bring the King papers home to Atlanta!” Franklin said.

Participating in the award presentation were Conference President Trenton Mayor Douglas H. Palmer, Charleston Mayor Joseph P. Riley, Jr., Conference Executive Director Tom cochran, and U.S. Representative John Lewis (GA).

Cochran pointed out the power of the mayor’s role. “Mayor Franklin’s achievement fills us with great respect and pride for the office of mayor. Mayors do much more than fill potholes and provide essential and other services,” he said.

“In leading the effort to save Dr. King’s writings and papers from being sold and scattered throughout the world, Mayor Franklin has made sure that they will be preserved and accessible to all of us forever. The social and political history of our nation is intertwined with the legacy and continuing contribution of our nation’s mayors. Because of Mayor Franklin’s courage, ingenuity, and commitment, Dr. King’s words of peace and love and his dream of social justice will be available for us to read, study, and follow, not just here in our own country but throughout the world,” Cochran said.

Riley stated that, “What Shirley Franklin has done is the best example and best reminder of what mayors can do, the opportunities we have, and the realization that sometimes we are the only ones who can do it! The mayor is the one person most responsible for generations yet to come. Shirley Franklin has given to all of us, for all time, the power of Dr. King’s calling, his words, and inspiration for future generations. Mayor Franklin provides us with a timeless, inspirational example of what being a mayor is all about.”

Lewis was a close associate and friend of Dr. King, having marched with him across the Edmund Pettus Bridge from Selma to Montgomery, and having stood with him on Washington’s National Mall for his “I Have a Dream” speech.

Accepting the award for Franklin, Lewis said, “I accept this on behalf of my dear friend—a great mayor—Shirley Franklin. I am very grateful to my mayor for bringing these papers back to the birthplace of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. My hope and Mayor Franklin’s hope is that you will come to Atlanta and see these papers and be inspired to speak up, speak out, and help to build an open society in this nation!”