February 5, 2007 en Español

Slain Civil Rights Leader's Personal Papers Returned to Daughter

ORLANDO - Attorney General Bill McCollum today met with Evangeline Moore, daughter of slain civil rights leader Harry Moore and his wife Harriette, to present her with personal documents belonging to her late father. McCollum's Office of Civil Rights has been in custody of the documents since they were discovered in November 2006.

"Today is an important day. We are now able to return these documents to their rightful owner, a woman whose strength and grace has stood strong in the face of tremendous personal tragedy," said Attorney General McCollum. "I am honored to present these papers to Evangeline as a testament to her father's tireless work for equality and justice."

Last November, hundreds of personal papers belonging to Harry Moore were discovered in a neighboring barn and turned over to the Office of Civil Rights for review. The documents, which include personal notes, letters and newspaper clippings, are a historically significant discovery and are of great personal importance to Ms. Moore.

McCollum and Ms. Moore were joined today by civil rights leaders and representatives of local historical societies, marking the significance of the discovery. The documents belonging to Florida's first civil rights pioneer will be temporarily housed by the Brevard County Historical Commission, which originally discovered the papers and sent them to the Attorney General's Office for review.

"I am in awe today. I always knew about my father's missing briefcase and wondered what had happened to it," said Moore. "I am very happy to have these papers returned to me. I am sure it will fill blanks spaces in my mind about my family, especially my dad and myself."

The Attorney General's Office conducted an extensive review into the murders of Harry and Harriette Moore, who died after their Central Florida home was bombed on Christmas night in 1951. The investigation, which began in 2004 at the request of Evangeline Moore, concluded last August. After extensive review, the Office of Civil Rights determined that the documents did not provide any additional evidentiary information regarding the investigation.

To access an electronic copy of the documents, please click here . To access an audio clip from this morning's press conference, please click hereclick here.