Brownie Lee Jones Correspondence
Collection Number: 5547m
Kheel Center for Labor-Management Documentation and Archives, Cornell University Library
Title:
Brownie Lee Jones Correspondence,
1948-1976
Collection Number:
5547m
Creator:
Jones, Brownie Lee;
Barker, Mary
Barker, Mary
Quantity:
1 file folder.
Forms of Material:
Correspondence.
Repository:
Kheel Center for Labor-Management Documentation and
Archives, Cornell University Library
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.
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.
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.
Form and Genre Terms:
Correspondence
Access Restrictions:
Access to the collections in the Kheel Center is restricted. Please contact a
reference archivist for access to these materials.
Restrictions on Use:
This collection must be used in keeping with the Kheel Center Information Sheet
and Procedures for Document Use.
Cite As:
Brownie Lee Jones Correspondence #5547m. Kheel Center for Labor-Management
Documentation and Archives, Cornell University Library.
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Container
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Description
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Date
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| Box 1 | 1948-1976 | ||
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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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