Fair Employment Practices Commission Records on Microfilm

President Roosevelt created the Fair Employment Practices Committee (FEPC) by signing Executive Order 8802, on June 25, 1941, which stated, "there shall be no discrimination in the employment of workers in defense industries or government because of race, creed, color, or national origin." This was due to the urging of A. Philip Randolph, who was the founding president of the Brotherhood of Sleeping Car Porters.

Roosevelt transferred the FEPC to the War Production Board and then to the War Manpower Commission with Executive Order 9040, in 1942. In response to this, FEPC Chairman MacLean accused Roosevelt's administration of reducing the FEPC to "a small Federal bureau without power," and A. Phillip Randolph said that the White House was pursuing a policy that was completely "emasculating" the usefulness of the committee.

Roosevelt greatly strengthened the FEPC with a new executive order, Executive Order 9346, in 1943. It required that all government contracts have a non-discrimination clause and gave jurisdiction over government establishments.

In 1948, President Truman called for a permanent FEPC, anti-lynching legislation, and the abolition of the poll tax. A Democratic coaltion, however, prevented the legislation's passage. In 1950, the House approved a permanent FEPC bill, but Southern senators filibustered and the bill failed. Thus, Congress has never enacted the FEPC into law. A lack of permanent legislation to reinforce the FEPC and the controversy plaguing the bill inherently contributed to the FEPC's ineffective implementation. However, New York, New Jersey, Massachusetts, Connecticut and Washington successfully enacted and enforced their own FEPC laws at the state level.