African American Archive, Ruth Jones, NC, Atlanta, photos / letters / HBCU
This listing is for an archive / collection of the life of Ruth Jones and her mother (also Ruth Jones) from Scotland Neck, North Carolina. The Mother attended Saint Augustine College (Raleigh NC, HBCU) in the mid 1920s, she worked as a librarian in Halifax County, NC until 1974. The daughter Ruth Ward Jones attended school in Binghampton, NY and married Joseph Samuel Ormond in 1963. He joined the service and they spent time in California before settling in Atlanta. It appears there were prior family connections in Atlanta (early 1900s) - there is a photo and obituary of McKenzie Jones - it appears that this side of the family was related to the elder Ruth's mother. OBIT: Educator Ruth Braswell Jones was born in Rocky Mount, North Carolina on November 21, 1914, the seventh daughter, of William and Arkaanna (Sanders) Braswell. Her education includes a diploma with distinction from Brick Junior College, Brick, North Carolina, in 1933 and a B. Degree in Education with distinction from Elizabeth City State Teachers College, Elizabeth City, North Carolina, in 1948.
North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University in Greensboro, North Carolina, awarded her the M. Degree in Education in 1960. Jones' career as an elementary school teacher spanned forty-seven years, 1933 to 1980. She gave to the children she touched, support, encouragement and a challenge to reach their potential. Her professional accomplishments occurred over a period of time that embraced both the segregated and integrated life histories of the state professional education organizations in North Carolina.
As a master teacher, her impact has been recognized by colleagues and associates at the local, district, and state levels. Among the awards received were: the Outstanding Service Award, given by the Rocky Mount Unit of the North Carolina Teachers Association-Association of Classroom Teachers, 1969; the prestigious Terry Sanford Award for Creativity in Teaching, presented by the North Carolina Association of Educators in 1972, and the Teaching Career and Service to Education Award, given by the Edgecomb County Unit of the North Carolina Association of Educators in 1980.Paralleling the recognition bestowed upon Jones as an outstanding teacher was the acclaim she commanded in elective and appointive professional offices at state, regional and national levels. These included: the first and only woman in North Carolina to have been elected president of two state education associations, the all-black North Carolina Teachers Association which existed prior to integration, and the North Carolina Association of Educators, the integrated association of educators that was organized after the separate black and white associations were dissolved; chairperson of the National Education Association's Bylaws and Rules Committee; the first black woman from North Carolina to be elected to the National Education Association's Board of Directors; the first black president of the Southeast Regional Association of Classroom Teachers, and member of the Political Action Steering Committee of the National Education Association. The achievements that Jones garnered were not limited to professional involvement.
She was widely recognized for her participation in the civic and religious activities in her community. These recognitions and their awards have included: Woman of the Year, Rocky Mount BPW League, Incorporated, 1969; Civic and Religious Worker and Exemplary Teacher, Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, 1972, and Citizen of the Year, Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, 1974. Here is a rough breakdown on the contents of the collection.
Approx 120 old photographs, 25 of these appear to be later reprints of old family photos. Raleigh NC, Mebane NC, Atlanta. Large photo album (no covers) 13 x 10 inches, likely Saint Augustine School, Raleigh. Dates written in album are 1923 and 1925.
Approx 55 photos with some identification. This belonged to Ruth (the mother) and features photos of her and her friends, male and female. Mounted photo (photo is 7 x 9.5 inches). Small section missing at bottom corner, mounted on cardboard which is in poor condition with several large sections missing.
Augustine - HS written on photo. Saint Augustine College had a high school affiliated with the college. Augustine College High School commencement program with names of the 32 graduates including Roberts Jones, husband of the elder Ruth Jones.Program is folded, but otherwise in VG condition. Baby book with records of the 1947 birth of McKenzie Anderson Jones, Jr.
With a great "Family Tree" that lists 4 generations of names. I believe this came from (older) Ruth's side of the family. Undated funeral program for Carrie Evans Ward (Ruth's sister), Mutts Funeral Home, Scotland Neck, NC.The booklet has 118 signatures of people who attended the funeral and signed the register. 2 sheets stapled and folded of Ruth's classes at North Carolina College at Durham (HBCU now known as NC Central), dated 1925 and with a stamped seal from the Registrar. 15 x 11 inch folded newsclipping showing photos and names of 129 graduates of Peabody High School in Petersburg VA, the first public school for African American students in Virginia.
Clipping is folded and brittle, with some chipping and writing. No date on the clipping but an article on the back refers to the 1960 Census, so this must be from the 60s. 1974 manuscript resignation letter from Ruth to the Superintendent of Halifax County Schools, Ruth worked as a librarian at Brawley Elementary. 4 page unbound First Communion booklet for Ruth Ward Jones (younger) dated 1956.
8 manuscript letters (most multi page and legible), with envelopes. Mostly letters between Ruth (Mom) and Ruth (Daughter). Plus an assortment of receipts, cards, invitations, ephemera. There are some scraps of what looks like a deed from the early 1900s with the name Thomas William Evans, who was the older Ruth's father I believe.
Estate sale find, as found nothing added or removed. Free Ground Advantage in the US, in a box.