liza Johnson Home for Aged Negroes Collection
Scope and Contents
The Eliza Johnson Home for Aged Negroes Collection documents the history and activities of the Eliza Johnson Home for Aged Negroes and consists of organizational records, patient records, newspaper clippings, and photographs from approximately 1949 to 1983. This collection contains meeting minutes, financial documents, correspondence, brochures, event programs, directories, newspaper clippings, charter, incorporation papers, land deed, constitution, by-laws, a State of Texas Official Memorandum, charting guidelines, a history of the Eliza Johnson Home and staff regulations, financial reports, annual President’s reports, an expense ledger, photographs, a scrapbook, and patient records for the Eliza Johnson Home for Aged Negroes. Patient Records include medical records, patient histories, prescription logs, and admission and discharge paperwork for patients at the Eliza Johnson Home for Aged Negroes.
Dates
- 1949-1983
Access Restrictions
Patient records series is restricted indefinitely
Use Restrictions
Permission to publish or reproduce materials from the Eliza Johnson Home for Aged Negroes Collection must be obtained from the African American Library at the Gregory School or the appropriate copyright holder.
Historical Note
The Eliza Johnson Home for Aged Negroes began as a dream of Anna Dupree. Dupree moved to Houston from Galveston in 1916. She supported herself as a maid and housekeeper for white families while taking instruction at Ethel Baird's Beauty Shop. She subsequently amassed a considerable fortune as a beautician and entrepreneur. When the Eliza Johnson Home opened in June 1952, it was largely due to her determination and resources, as well as the support and encouragement of her husband, Clarence (C.A.), and others in the black community.
The need for such a facility in Houston was palpable. Five such homes already operated in the metropolitan area: one funded by Harris County and the others by churches, but they admitted only white people; health care in Houston for elderly, indigent citizens, as in many other American cities, was based largely on a policy of racial segregation or exclusion. Hence, the goal of the Eliza Johnson Home--located on a thirty-five acre tract off Chocolate Bayou Road in the historically black neighborhood of Sunnyside--was basic: to provide a place "where our old people enjoy kind, humane care and freedom from fear and want in their remaining days."
Extent
7.25 Linear Feet (8 boxes)
Language of Materials
English
Arrangement
The collection is arranged in four series by subject and material type.
Series 1 Business Documents
Series 2 Photographs
Series 3 Scrapbook
Series 4 Patient Records
Custodial History
These records were formerly housed at the Houston Metropolitan Research Center, Houston Public Library as RG E 0047 Eliza Johnson Home for Aged Negroes and was transferred to the African American Library at the Gregory School, Houston Public Library in 2019.
Processing Information
Processed by Howard Beeth, 1983; Updated by Emmalee Miller in July 2021.
- African Americans -- Texas -- Houston Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Nursing homes -- Texas -- Houston Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Older people Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Title
- RG 0047 Eliza Johnson Home for Aged Negroes Collection
- Subtitle
- An Inventory of Records at the African American Library at the Gregory School, Houston Public Library
- Status
- Completed
- Description rules
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
- Language of description
- Undetermined
- Script of description
- Code for undetermined script
- Language of description note
- Finding aid written in English.
Repository Details
Part of the African American History Research Center Repository
