African Americans

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 Along the way Major Milsaps kept a meticulous seventy-three volume diary which chronicles not only his army activities, but also a host of general observations useful to researchers. In addition, the Milsaps Papers contain extensive scrapbooks of personal and salvationist material, personal correspondence and an extensive photographic collections. Similarly, the papers contain a significant body of Salvation Army literature and ephemera unique in this country. When the only complete...

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 Ward.

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...

Scope and Content The Burns Family Collection contains personal papers of the Burns family of Houston, Texas. This collection, which dates from 1955 to 2009, consists of funeral programs, school programs, and ephemera of individuals and places that had special meaning to the family.

Scope and Content The Willie Blackmon Collection consists of newsclippings, events programs, funeral programs, correspondence, photos, family history materials, professional awards, athletic accomplishments, and other ephemera from 1927-2009 that were saved and compiled by Judge Blackmon throughout his career.

Scope and Contents 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.

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 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 Contents 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 Black History Calendar of Liberty County Collection is comprised of annual calendars jointly produced by the Liberty County Historical Commission and the Sam Houston Regional Library and Research Center in Liberty, Texas. The calendars were produced to recognize the rich history of African Americans in Liberty County. The years covered by the collection are from 2001-2010.

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.