Jackie “Moms” Mabley used humor to escape her orphan childhood in turn-of-the-century North Carolina. Joining a vaudeville group Mabley sang and joked her way from rural roadhouses in the south all the way to New York’s Broadway. She became known as “Moms” both because of her matronly affection towards her younger colleagues and for the frumpy house dress-wearing character she portrayed in her stand-up comedy routine. Mabley broke barriers not only as an African-American and female comedian but also as one of the first openly gay entertainers when she came out as a lesbian before World War II. By the 1960’s she had appeared on stage at Carnegie Hall and was a sought-after guest for television shows such as the Smothers Brothers.

As a respected entertainer and trail blazer in so many categories Moms Mabley was invited to attend the White House Conference on Civil Rights in June of 1966. This event was held to continue the momentum of the Civil Rights Movement in the wake of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Voting Rights Act of 1965. This is Moms’ envelope that contained her invitation to the event. The official White House envelope is postmarked May 15 1966 and has been signed “Best Wishes Martin Luther King.” The Reverend King was of course a participant in the two-day event and it can be assumed that Mabley had MLK Jr. sign her envelope during the conference. The aged piece of paper shows some toning and light staining throughout and has been framed. The envelope is accompanied by a framed 1968-dated certificate from Case Western Reserve University. A wonderful signed piece that brings together two African-American icons during the height of the Civil Rights era.

Includes full LOA from PSA/DNA (auto. & inscription).