African American women -- Texas -- Houston

Scope and Contents The Ballard Family Collection details the life and career of Lillie M. Ballard and the Ballard Family of Houston, Texas. This, which dates from 1940 to 1985 contains photographs, certificates and newspaper clippings. As a child growing up in segregated Houston during the 1940s and 50s, much of the photos and materials within the collection chronicle her educational and professional development from kindergarten to her career and retirement from nursing. She was able to overcome and achieve...

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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.

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The collection houses the personal papers of C.F. Smith and Eve Hortense Smith. This collection, which dates from 1922 to 2008, consists of printed materials, photos, news clippings, personal ephemera, and awards related to their life. These materials provide a glimpse into their early lives together and Smith family history.

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The Chat-an-Hour Social Club Records documents the activites of the organization from 1949-1981. It contains a pamphlet a single photograph and mostly meeting minutes. Meeting minutes are incomplete, as some were either lost or misplaced at the time of donation.

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The Elizabeth Montgomery Photo Collection is comprised of fifteen scanned images. Each of the images scanned were assigned a unique identifier number and scanned in numerical order based on the numbers given. The scanned images are stored digitally at the Gregory School. The collection consists of images of a Douglas Elementary music class, Franklin Beauty School Graduates, and family photos.

Scope and Contents The Ernestine Mitchell Collection contains personal and professional papers of Ernestine Mitchell. This collection, which dates from 1946 to 2011, contains letters, certificates, newsclippings, and photographs that chronicle her career in education and of her family history in her hometown of Angleton, Texas. The majority of the photographs are digital only and are available online at the Houston Public Library Digital Archive.Much of the materials within the collection reflect...

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The Ethel Ransom Art and Literary Club records documents the activities of the club from 1927-1935. Items include meeting minute and a membership list. Materials are Xerox copies of the Club's earliest records which were donated under the presidential tenure of Claudia J. Lewis.

Scope and Contents This collection documents the activities of Hazel McCullough that were significant to her life. The materials include funeral programs, birthday programs, high school reunion materials for Booker T. Washington High School, programs and booklets on the Progressive Order of Pilgrims, correspondence, and personal effects. Materials are from 1894 to 2008, with the majority of items from the 1970s through the 2000s. The collection is not comprehensive but provides a glimpse into the people and...

Content Description

This collection partially documents the lives of Maggie Johnson Hicks and daughter Betty Hicks Wilson. Over 300 photographs in this collection offer those interested in African-American history a good pictorial review of three generations of a family living in Houston’s 6th and 4th Wards in the early and mid-20th century. It also includes various certificates, diplomas, and transcripts. Of note are two Texas Southern University yearbooks from 1948 and 1949.

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The Hugh and Versie Shelton Collection contains the personal papers of Versie Shelton. This collection,, which dates from 1906 to 2004, consists of correspondence between Rita Shelton and here parent and correspondonce from Adelphi College. Photographs showcase the intimate family bond and acheivements of the Shelton family. Most of the collection pertains to information relating to the community involvement, relationships and accomplishments of the Shelton family.

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The Lois Brantley Collection houses the professional papers of Lois Brantley. This collection, which dates from 1930 to 2003, includes records such as teachers’ notice of appointments, transcripts, letters of recommendation, teaching credientials, certificates, correspondence, photographs, degrees, and event programs. Many of the materials within the collection document her career and professional development as an educator within the Houston Independent School District.

Scope and Contents The Madeleine and Booker Wright Collection contains the personal papers of Madeline and Booker Wright. This collection, which dates from 1991 to 1998, consists of correspondence, books, newspaper clippings, photographs, sketchbooks of Booker's drawings, architectural plans, and business documents pertaining to Madeleine and Booker Wright practices in and the Caroline Medical Plaza. This collection is valuable for research on African American medical professionals and entrepreneurs. ...

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The Malinda Bryant Stinson Collection holds the personal records of Malinda Bryant Stinson. This collection, which dates from 1919 to 1982, contains letters, newsclippings, vital records, programs, financial records, military records, photographs, and ephemera. This collection while not extensive, provides a glimpse into the life and activities of Malinda Stinson. This collection contains few materials related to her career in education, yet is rich in family history.

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The McCullough Family Collection is houses the papers of the McCullough Family froom 1923 to 2009. This collection consists of documents, photos, correspondence, vital records, an oral history on Independence Heights and scrapbooks that document the history of the McCullough Family in Houston.

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The Naomi Polk Collection contains programs, news clippings, photographs, and official documents that chronicle her family history and works as an artist from 1935-2003. Also includes some works of Rosalie Taylor and an oral history of Taylor.

Scope and Content The Nellye Joyce Punch Collection houses the personal papers of Nellye Joyce Punch. This collection, which dates from 1964 to 2009 includes newsclippings, awards, publications, ephemera and community materials that chronicle her professional and personal involvement with issues that she has championed in community. The collection also contains a scrapbook with congratulatory notes and photos from the 1992 Savvy Awards. This collection evidences community activism in Houston and Fifth...

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The O. J. and Bessie Thomas Collection is comprised of documents reflecting primarily the education and achievements of Bessie Thomas and Oscar John Thomas. There is correspondence, awards, photographs and published materials. Many of the records are related to their years at Prairie View Agricultural and Mechanical University.

Scope and Contents This collection contains material collected by Olee Yates McCullough over the on her various personal and professional interests. It includes information on her and her husband, Arthur McCullough Jr., and their teaching careers at the Houston Independent School District; organizations she was involved in, including Delta Sigma Theta and the Ethel Ransom Art and Literary Club; newspaper clippings of Fourth Ward redevelopment and the preservation of Jack Yates’ home; and on her efforts to...

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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 Content The Patricia Smith Prather Collection houses the personal and professional papers of Patricia Smith Prather. This collection, which dates from 1931 through 2008, consists of personal and business correspondence with historical associations and various Houston businesses, news clippings, a Phillis Wheatley High School Yearbook, a poster, publications, articles written by Prather, awards that illustrate her works as a historian and author in preserving the legacies of African Americans in...

Scope and Contents From the Collection:

The Hugh and Versie Shelton Collection contains the personal papers of Versie Shelton. This collection,, which dates from 1906 to 2004, consists of correspondence between Rita Shelton and here parent and correspondonce from Adelphi College. Photographs showcase the intimate family bond and acheivements of the Shelton family. Most of the collection pertains to information relating to the community involvement, relationships and accomplishments of the Shelton family.

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The collection consists of photocopies of original family photos, correspondence, clippings, printed materials, an autobiography of Rupert Orlando Roett and a studio portrait of Dr. Catherine Roett dating from 1975-1988. The collection is not comprehensive but provides background on her family.

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The Sandra Ann Wilson Collection houses the personal papers of Sandra Wilson. This collection, which dates from 1945 to 1985, contains correspondence, special event programs, newspaper clippings, and digital only photographs. Records highlight her experiences as a student at Booker T. Washington High School.

The digital only photographs are available online at the Houston Public Digital Archive.

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The Houston Chapter of The Links, Inc. Collection contains the papers of the Links organization. This collection, which dates from 1960 to 1993, contains research material, photographs, programs, newspaper clippings, and souvenir booklets that detail the history of the chapter and its significance to Houston. This collection provides a view of social organizations work to promote and engage in educational, civic and the intercultural activities for the benefit of the community.

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This collection, donated by Mrs. Crawford, provides researchers with a good cross-section of historical materials, including correspondence, photographs, press clippings and organizational records which will be of special value to those with an interest in black history, as well as women's history and the history of religion in Houston.

Scope and Contents Note The Wheeler Avenue Baptist Church Collection houses the papers of the church from 1968 to 2010. This collection is consisting of vital news clippings, various event programs, annual reports, various biographical profiles of African American artists and artifacts. documents of church members and Houston citizens. Strength of this collection is the funeral programs of church members and Houston citizens. While this collection lacks institution records, it provides valuable biographical...

Scope and Content The Willie Lee Gay Collection contains the professional and personal papers of teacher and historian Willie Lee Gay. This collection which dates from 1897 to 2012 includes newsclippings, publications, photos, research materials, programs, assorted photocopied images, and organizations that highlight her work as a historian in documenting and preserving the history of African American communities in Houston. This collection contains invaluable research on local houston history and prominent...

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This collection contains documentary records which follow the history of the Houston Zeta Amicae Chapter. This includes minutes, financial records, correspondence, event programs, scrapbooks, and photographs of organization members and events. These materials date from 1948 to 2007.