COFO Civil Rights Education Center
The historic headquarters of the Council of Federated Organizations — the epicenter of the modern civil rights movement in Mississippi, reopened as a museum and education center in 2011.
A museum & education center on civil rights history
Reopened as a museum and civil rights education center by Jackson State University in 2011, the statewide headquarters for the Council of Federated Organizations (COFO) was the epicenter of the modern civil rights movement in Mississippi and served as the organizational home for Freedom Summer in 1964.
Operated by the Margaret Walker Center at JSU today, COFO is open for visitors. Be sure to schedule your next tour.
- Center
- COFO Civil Rights Education Center
- Operated By
- Margaret Walker Center
- Reopened
- 2011 as a museum
- Historic Role
- Mississippi civil rights movement HQ
- Address
- 1017 John R. Lynch Street
- Phone
- (601) 979-3935
- mwa@jsums.edu
From 1961 to Freedom Summer
In 1961, COFO was established as an umbrella organization to unify and meet the needs of an increasing presence of civil rights organizations in Mississippi — including the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC), the Congress of Racial Equality (CORE), the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC), the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), and a host of local organizations.
In 1963, COFO made 1017 John R. Lynch Street its home, and this office served as the state headquarters for the modern Mississippi civil rights movement.
Making voter registration and education a top priority for the Mississippi movement, COFO was instrumental in organizing the 1963 Freedom Vote, the Mississippi Freedom Democratic Party, and 1964's Freedom Summer.
Organizations COFO unified
The Council of Federated Organizations brought together the leading civil rights organizations active in Mississippi in the 1960s, plus a host of local Mississippi groups.
Defining moments organized by COFO
With voter registration and education as a top priority, COFO was instrumental in organizing three defining moments of the Mississippi civil rights movement.
Preserving the past, cultivating future leaders
Since its reopening in 2011, the COFO Center has hosted visitors from around the world. Although it is dedicated to preserving the past, the COFO Center is committed to challenging and cultivating young minds, fostering the development of future leaders and community builders, and opening its doors to individuals and groups organizing to support the community in the same ways that COFO did in the 1960s.
Hours & visitor information
Museum & Exhibit Hours
Special hours apply on the 1st and 3rd Tuesdays each month.
Pocket Park Hours
The COFO Center pocket park is open during the same weekday window.
The COFO exhibit room can hold approximately 70 people with theatre-style seating; with tables, the room will seat about 40 people. Staff will do their best to accommodate your setup needs.
Schedule your tour
Tours are scheduled through the Margaret Walker Center
Schedule your tour of the COFO Civil Rights Education Center through the Margaret Walker Center at JSU. You can also reach Center staff at (601) 979-3935 or mwa@jsums.edu.
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Learn more about COFO & the Center
Visit the COFO Civil Rights Education Center
Schedule a tour, or call the Margaret Walker Center for more information.
Contact COFO & the Margaret Walker Center
1017 John R. Lynch Street
Jackson, MS