MUCH OF THIS BOOK’S ORIGINALITY is owing to a series of interviews that I conducted with people who were close associates of Martin Luther King Jr. in March and April of 1968 or who were immersed in the events that brought him to Memphis at that time. I am indebted to them for having shared their recollections with me.
To document events that occurred five decades ago, I relied on extensive archival research. Particularly helpful in guiding me through the maze of relevant archives were Sara Cantrell of the National Civil Rights Museum, Ed Frank of the Ned R. McWherter Library at the University of Memphis, and Laurel Davis of the Boston College Law Library. I thank them, as well as Kira Jones, who researched the William Rutherford papers in the Stuart A. Rose Manuscript, Archives, and Rare Book Library at Emory University. I benefited, moreover, from access to records at the Memphis Public Library and Information Center, Shelby County Courthouse, Tennessee State Library and Archives, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Newton (Massachusetts) Free Library, and US National Archives and Records Administration.
I am beholden to the Atlanta University Center for having awarded me a travel grant to research the King Collection at its Robert W. Woodruff Library. I thank the Intellectual Properties Management, Inc., for permission to copy documents at the Woodruff Library. I am grateful to Ryan Jones, whose commentary during a tour of the National Civil Rights Museum deepened my understanding of what happened at the Lorraine Motel in April 1968. Vince Hughes, Ron Borod, and Wayne Dowdy kindly briefed me about events and context related to their city of Memphis. Friends Martha and Jerrold Graber shared their knowledge of Memphis and housed and fed me during several visits to the city. Philip and Ellen Rosenbloom graciously offered their hospitality in Louisville.
For legal help and insights into the publishing world, I was fortunate to have lawyers Rob Bertsche, Lloyd Constantine, and Bruce Kramer and book editor Barbara Grossman. For leads to literary agents or assistance with photos, I heartily thank Sarah and Josh Lamstein, Corby Kummer, Michael Useem, Lee Van Kirk, and Peter Cowen.
Colleagues and friends generously read early drafts and penned comments that helped shape the book. For that invaluable feedback at a critical stage in the book’s gestation, I warmly thank Sue Bass, Mark Brodin, Frank Levy, David Whitford, Jim Wexler, and Seth and Alexa Rosenbloom. I owe a large debt of gratitude to the labor historian Michael Honey, who astutely critiqued a later draft.
My agent, William Clark, has been an indispensable ally at every stage of the publishing process. At Beacon Press, I have been blessed with a superb editor, Gayatri Patnaik. She enthusiastically embraced the book on a first reading and has nurtured it skillfully along ever since. I thank as well the rest of the top-notch team at Beacon, including Helene Atwan, Marcy Barnes, Susan Lumenello, Melissa Nasson, Nicholas DiSabatino, Pam MacColl, and Bob Kosturko.
I inflicted early versions of my manuscript on Paul Osterman and Evan Schouten. They brought their sharp eyes and sound judgment to the reading and assessing of it. They buoyed me throughout the whole editorial journey with unstinting support. I cannot thank them enough.