Negro Travelers Green Book: New Hampshire

The Negro Travelers’ Green Book was an annual guidebook for African-American roadtrippers published from 1936 to 1964. Here’s a look at what New Hampshire destinations were featured in the book.

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What is the Negro Travelers Green Book?

The Negro Travelers Green Book was a guide published annually from 1936 to 1966 that provided African American travelers with information on safe places to stay and eat, as well as other businesses (including beauty salons, barber shops, and gas stations) that were open to them. The book was created by New York City mailman Victor H. Green, who was inspired by a similar guide for Jewish travelers called the Green Book.

The first edition of the Negro Travelers Green Book listed just over 100 establishments in 25 states and Washington, D.C.; by the time the final edition was published in 1966, the book included more than 6,000 listings in 45 states, Canada, and Mexico. The New Hampshire listings below are from the 1955 edition.

History of the Negro Travelers Green Book

The Negro Travelers Green Book, popularly known as the Green Book, was an American guidebook published by African American Victor Hugo Green from 1936 to 1966. Green started the book in response to discrimination against African American travelers and business owners. The book was originally titled The Negro Motorist Green Book, but the title was shortened to The Negro Travelers’ Green Book in 1949.

The book was published annually and listed businesses and services that were safe for African American travelers. It also provided tips on how to avoid areas that were known to be unsafe for blacks. The book was popular among black celebrities and athletes, who used it to find hotels, restaurants, and other businesses that would serve them.

In recent years, theGreen Book has been rediscovered as an important historical document. In 2018, a film based on the book, starring Mahershala Ali and Viggo Mortensen, was released to critical acclaim.

What was the purpose of the Negro Travelers Green Book?

The Negro Travelers Green Book was a guidebook published annually from 1936 to 1964 that listed businesses were safe for black people to patronize while traveling in the United States. The book was created by Victor H. Green, a black postal worker from Harlem.

The book became particularly important during the Jim Crow era, when black people were subject to racial segregation and discrimination. The book provided black travelers with a way to find businesses that would serve them without causing them harm. The guidebook was used by black celebrities such as Joe Louis, Ella Fitzgerald, and Mahalia Jackson, as well as by everyday people.

The Negro Travelers Green Book was last published in 1964, the year that the Civil Rights Act was passed. This act made racial discrimination illegal, and thus rendered the guidebook obsolete.

How did the Negro Travelers Green Book help African Americans travel safely?

The “Negro Travelers’ Green Book” was published by New York City mailman Victor H. Green from 1936 to 1966. The annually updated book provided African Americans with information on safe places to stay, eat and visit throughout the United States during the era of Jim Crow laws, when blacks faced discrimination and violence.

The Green Book listed hotels, restaurants, gas stations, beauty parlors and other businesses that welcomed black patrons. It also included a handful of listings for Canada and Mexico. Some establishments were rated with stars, similar to the way hotels are rated today.

Green founded the book because he was frustrated with the lack of information available to black travelers. “There was no info for the Negro traveler back then,” Green told The New York Times in an 1966 interview. “He just didn’t know where it was safe to stop.”

The book became an essential tool for black travelers during its three decades in publication. After Green’s death in 1966, his wife Alma continued publishing the book until she retired in 1967. Today, only a few copies of the “Green Book” remain in existence.

What were some of the places listed in the Negro Travelers Green Book?

In the state of New Hampshire, the following businesses and places were listed in the Negro Travelers Green Book:

-A.M.E Zion Parsonage (Nashua)
-Parsonage of 2nd Congregational Church (Nashua)
-Y.M.C.A (Nashua)
-Mrs. Hattie H. Wilson’s Home ( Manchester)
-Granite State Barber Shop (Manchester)
-Victory Barber Shop (Manchester)
-Star Theater (Manchester)
-Mitchell’s Garage (Claremont)
-Carter’s Garage & Service Station (Berlin)
-“The Spot” Recreation Parlor (Berlin)
-Home of Mr. & Mrs. Walter Hoyt (Concord)
-“The Spot” Billiard Parlor (Concord)

How did the Civil Rights Movement impact the Negro Travelers Green Book?

The Civil Rights Movement changed the Negro Travelers Green Book in a few ways. First, the reasons for why people needed the book and used it changed. Before the Civil Rights Movement, the book was used mostly as a guide for black people to find places that would accept them and accommodate them. However, after the Civil Rights Movement, the book continued to be published but was used more as a historical document than an actual guide. This is because after the Civil Rights Movement, there were no longer any “safe spaces” for black people to go that were not accepting of them. Therefore, the book became more of a historical document that showed how far society had come in terms of race relations.

Second, the way that the book was organized changed after the Civil Rights Movement. Before the Civil Rights Movement, the book was organized by state and then by city. However, after the Civil Rights Movement, the book was re-organized so that it was arranged first by city and then by state. This change in organization reflected how changing attitudes towards race and segregation meant that black people were now more likely to be found in cities rather than in rural areas.

Last, the tone of the entries in the Negro Travelers Green Book changed after the Civil Rights Movement. Before the Civil Rights Movement, many of the entries were written in a very formal and business-like tone. However, after the Civil Rights Movement, some of entries were written in a more personal and relaxed tone. This change reflected how black people now felt more comfortable openly expressing themselves and their experiences with racism and discrimination.

What happened to the Negro Travelers Green Book after the Civil Rights Movement?

The Negro Travelers Green Book was a guidebook published from 1936 to 1966 that provided African Americans with information on safe places to stay, eat, and visit while traveling. After the Civil Rights Movement, the need for the Green Book diminished and it was eventually discontinued.

How has the Negro Travelers Green Book been remembered?

The Negro Travelers Green Book was a guidebook published between 1936 and 1966 that provided African American travelers with information on businesses and destinations that were safe and welcoming to them. The book was an invaluable resource for many, helping to ensure that black travelers could have pleasant and safe experiences while on the road.

Since its inception, the Negro Travelers Green Book has been remembered by many as an important part of African American history. In recent years, there has been a renewed interest in the book, and it has been featured in several exhibitions and publications. The book continues to offer insights into the African American experience, and is a valuable resource for understanding the past.

What can we learn from the Negro Travelers Green Book today?

The Negro Travelers Green Book was a guidebook published from 1936 to 1966 that provided African American travelers with information on safe places to stay, eat, and visit during their journeys. The book was created by New York City mailman Victor H. Green, and it listed businesses and destinations that were African American-friendly at a time when segregation was still legal in many parts of the United States.

Although the Green Book is no longer published, its legacy continues to provide insight into the lived experiences of African Americans during a time of Jim Crow-era racism. Today, the Green Book serves as an important historical document that can help us to better understand the challenges and obstacles that black travelers faced during this time period. Additionally, the Green Book can also help us appreciate the progress that has been made in terms of civil rights and racial equality in the United States.

Additional Resources

In addition to the information in this guide, there are a few other resources that may be helpful for Negro travelers in New Hampshire.

The Negro Motorist Green Book was a travel guide published from 1936 to 1966 that provided advice and listings of hotels, restaurants, gas stations, and other businesses that would serve African American customers.

The New Hampshire Human Rights Commission is a state agency that works to protect the civil rights of all residents of New Hampshire. They can provide information and assistance if you believe you have been the victim of discrimination.

Finally, the NAACP (National Association for the Advancement of Colored People) has a branch in New Hampshire that may be able to help with any civil rights issues you may encounter while traveling in the state.