The collection consists of memorandums and a police report concerning the September 1, 1943, automobile accident between James C. Morris, an employee of the War Department’s U.S. Engineer Office in Little Rock, Pulaski County, Arkansas, and Joe Ella Levson, a female African-American restaurant operator in Memphis, Shelby County, Tennessee. While in Memphis, Morris collided with Levson when he made a blind turn into her path. Despite not yielding the right-of-way, Morris received a small fine for “not being on proper lookout.” Levson received a larger fine for exceeding the speed limit and “being much more to blame in the accident.” On October 15, 1943, Levson successfully sued Morris for damages done to her automobile.

Materials include memorandums, a police report of the accident, and subsequent court proceedings, including accounts of the accident, interviews, estimates of damage, photographs, and other exhibits used in court.