Heslip M. "Happy" Lee Papers
The papers of Rev. Heslip M. "Happy" Lee (1922-2011) are a significant addition to Special Collections and Archives.Through his ministry and work as Executive
Director of the Virginia Council on Human Relations (VCHR), Rev. Lee was a
leading advocate for social and political change in Virginia during the years
1960-1964.
His papers document not only his and the VCHR's activities but also the work and struggles of numerous other like-minded individuals interested in improving race relations in Virginia. The collection reflects all aspects of his long career including his work in North Carolina and Georgia. The materials in the collection include correspondence, reports, publications, newspaper clippings, photographs, and other items dating from the 1950s through the 1990s.
This site includes a guide to his collection, a brief biography of Rev. Lee, and examples of the kinds of documents found in the collection. For more information about the collection, please email Special
Collections and Archives.
In 2005 a biography of Rev. "Happy" Lee was published by
Publish America.
The book is entitled
Happy Warrior: The Legend of Happy Lee and written by
H.V. Shivadas
Special Collections and Archives
http://www.library.vcu.edu/jbc/speccoll/happy.html