Jones, Brownie Lee Correspondence, 1948-1976
Collection Number: 5547m
Kheel Center for Labor-Management Documentation & Archives
Cornell University Library
DESCRIPTIVE SUMMARY
Title:
Brownie Lee Jones Correspondence, 1948-1976
Repository:
Kheel Center for Labor-Management Documentation & Archives
Collection Number:
5547m
Abstract:
Photocopies of correspondence between Brownie Lee Jones and Mary C. Barker, advisor
to the Southern School for Workers, as well as suggested questions for an interview
with Jones in 1976.
Creator:
Jones, Brownie Lee
Barker, Mary
Quanitities:
1 folders
Language:
Collection material in English
Brownie Lee Jones served as director of the Southern School for Workers (originally
named the Southern Summer School for Women Workers) from 1944 until the school's dissolution
in 1950. Although originally established exclusively for the labor education of women
workers, and the school began admitting male workers in 1938. By the end of the Second
World War, however, many of the functions performed by the Southern School were being
taken over by the national labor organizations, thus diminishing demand for the school's
services. In response, the school, under the leadership of Jones, began to diversify
its activities, particularly moving into the field of civil rights. The school closed
in 1950 as a result of financial insolvency (1949-1951).
Collection consists of photocopies of correspondence between Brownie Lee Jones and
Mary C. Barker, advisor to the Southern School for Workers.
Includes discussion of financial stability of the Southern School for Workers (SSW);
ability of school to attract donations; placement of labor educators in North and
South Carolina; "reaction" engulfing the South; work of school in promoting interracial
cooperation, such as Civil Rights Committee in Richmond; schools support for anti-segregation
legislation and growing animosity of political right to the school; CIO labor education
school in Maryland; recruiting of blacks in Virginia; reluctance of white workers
to work with black workers; SSW school on government in Washington, D.C.; contributions
from various unions; and loss of foundation support.
Other matters discussed include helping workers become qualified to vote; aiding
union committees to work on political and legislative action; political orientation
of Brownie Lee Jones; position of blacks in southern labor movement; stronger support
of SSW from black workers than white; declining support by national unions for SSW
activities; Highlander School removed from "approved" list by CIO; cutting staff;
possibility of closing SSW and allowing unions to take up entire burden of labor education;
support for Labor Extension Bill; various educational activities of Jones and her
assistant, Polly Jones; assistance to United Labor Committee in Durham; poll tax campaign
in Virginia; refusal of SSW to discriminate against unions branded as communist, resulting
in CIO unions refusing to contribute to school; closing of school in 1950; and plans
of Jones to work as volunteer for NAACP.
Access to the collections in the Kheel Center is restricted. Please contact a reference
archivist for access to these materials.
This collection must be used in keeping with the Kheel Center Information Sheet and
Procedures for Document Use.
INFORMATION FOR USERS
Brownie Lee Jones Correspondence #5547m. Kheel Center for Labor-Management Documentation
and Archives, Cornell University Library.
Names:
Barker, Mary C.
Jones, Brownie Lee
Jones, Polly.
Southern School for Workers.
Highlander School.
National Association for the Advancement of Colored People.
Congress of Industrial Organizations (U.S.). b Labor Education School.
Subjects:
African Americans -- Employment--Virginia.
Racism -- Southern States.
Labor unions --Southern States --Political activity.
Labor unions and communism --United States.
Southern States-- Race relations.
CONTAINER LIST
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Container
|
Description
|
Date
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|
| Box 1 |
Brownie Lee Jones correspondence
|
1948-1976 | |
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Scope and Contents
Includes photocopies of correspondence between Jones and Mary C. Barker and suggested
questions for an interview with Jones in January 1976.
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