These are papers of William J. Nickerson, Jr., the company he founded, Golden State Mutual Life Insurance Company, and his son Victor A. Nickerson. The materials are comprised of correspondence, photographs and assorted business documents, fliers, brochures and newspaper clippings. The collection primarily documents the early years of the company, the oldest African-American life insurance company west of the Mississippi, the business philosophy of William J. Nickerson, Jr., and the Nickerson family.

William J. Nickerson, Jr. was a pioneering African-American businessman and entrepreneur. The son of Texas farmers, he grew up to become a Houston insurance salesman. He was also an early activist. He worked on creating opportunities for minorities in Houston by helping to launch a voting rights campaign there in 1919.

1 legal box, 2 letter boxes, 1 letter half box, 1 newspaper box 4 linear feet

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