African American Intellectuals

Scope and Contents

The Barbara Joe Jones Ellison Collection houses the personal paper of Barbara Joe Ellsion. This collection, which dates from 1974 to 2007, contains a Houston Police Department yearbook, funeral program, and newsletter. This small colelction give a glimple into the life of black women in the police field.

Scope and Content

The Bessie Hughes Collection houses the personal records of Bessie Huhges and Dee Franklin. This collection, which dates from 1973 to 1970, consists of certificates, degrees, correspondence, research notes, and photos that were compiled and gathered by family members of Bessie Hughes and Dee Franklin.

Scope and Contents

The Christia V. Adair Collection is comprised of newsclippings, photographs, programs, correspondence, publications, artifacts, and textiles from 1894 to 1985 which she had accumulated during her life. Many of the materials document her family history, her career in civil rights and suffrage for women, and also personal items that had special meaning to her.

Scope and Contents From the Collection:

The Rodney L. Griffin collection contains personal materials, which date from 1961 to 2009, that chronicle his experiences in the first desegregated Houston high school chess tournament in the 1960s. This collection consists of newspaper articles, photographs, and an election flyer. Researchers interested in urban high school clubs and activities after desegregation will find this a valuable resource.

Scope and Contents The Linda Austin Collection houses the personal papers of Linda Austin. This collection, which dates from 1944 to 2009, contains personal materials related to her parents which included materials related to her mother’s graduation from the Franklin Beauty School in 1944, and her father’s Driver License from the 1940s and 1950s. Additionally it includes materials associated with his membership in the fraternal order of the Eastern Star. There are also news clippings, programs, photographs...

Scope and Contents

The Oyra Chyra Gibbs collection contains papers collected as a part of the community outreach program. This small collection, which dates from 1953 to 2003, contains biographies on Barbara Jordan, black cowboys, and black women in the west. It also contains newspaper clippings on African Americans in Houston. This collection is relevant to the black women in Texas and the black life in Houston.

Scope and Contents From the Collection:

The Wells Sessums Family Collection contains materials relating specifically to Cameron Wells Jr. and Cameron Wells, Sr. participation within the Boys Scouts. This collection, dated from 1919 to 1945, contains annual charter certificates, family photographs, correspondence, and miscellaneous items and memorabilia. The collection is small and not comprehensive but provides a glimpse into what being a Boy Scout was like for African American children during the time of segregation in Texas.

Scope and Contents

The Records of the Southern Conference on African American Studies, Inc. contains back issues of the journal, The Griot: The Journal of African American Studies, from 1980 through the Spring 2009 edition. The journal contains papers and articles presented at the annual meetings that center on black history and culture that originated in or affected the South.

Scope and Contents The Thelma Scott Bryant Collection houses the personal papers of Thelma Scott Bryant. This collection, which dates from 1940 to 2008, includes newsclippings, correspondence, manuscripts, church materials, publications, funeral programs, photos, a scrap book from here college years at Howard University and personal ephemera that document events, individuals, and organizations that had special meaning in her life. She leaves behind a legacy that touched many in the community through her...