Guide to the Emma Lee and Jimmie Adams Papers

Sean Heyliger

African American Museum & Library at Oakland

659 14th Street

Oakland, California 94612

Phone: (510) 637-0198

Fax: (510) 637-0204

Email: aamlo@oaklandlibrary.org

URL: http://www.oaklandlibrary.org/locations/african-american-museum-library-oakland

Guide to the Emma Lee and Jimmie Adams Papers

Collection number: MS 63

African American Museum & Library at Oakland

Oakland, California

Processed by:: Sean Heyliger
Date Completed:: 09/18/2013
Encoded by:: Sean Heyliger

Descriptive Summary

Title: Emma Lee and Jimmie Adams papers

Dates: 1951-1959

Collection number: MS 63

Creator: Adams, Emma Lee.

Creator: Adams, Jimmie.

Collection Size: 1 linear foot (2 boxes)

Repository: African American Museum & Library at Oakland (Oakland, Calif.)

Oakland, CA 94612

Abstract: The Emma Lee and Jimmie Adams Papers include personal and business correspondence, financial records, legal records, programs, postcards, business cards, and printed material documenting the personal and business activities of Emma Lee and Jimmie Adams. The papers are organized into five series: correspondence, financial records, legal records, religious activities, and printed material. The bulk of the papers is personal correspondence written to Emma Lee Adams from various relatives in Louisiana, Texas, Ohio, and Chicago, Illinois. Many of the letters are from Emma Lee’s sisters, parents, and cousins and discuss general family matters such as weddings, births, illnesses, and work life.

Languages: Languages represented in the collection: English

Access

No access restrictions. Collection is open to the public.

Access Restrictions

Materials are for use in-library only, non-circulating.

Publication Rights

Permission to publish from the Emma Lee and Jimmie Adams Papers must be obtained from the African American Museum & Library at Oakland.

Preferred Citation

Emma Lee and Jimmie Adams papers, MS 63, African American Museum & Library at Oakland, Oakland Public Library. Oakland, California.

Processing Information

Processed by Sean Heyliger, 09/18/2013.

Scope and Content of Collection

The Emma Lee and Jimmie Adams Papers include personal and business correspondence, financial records, legal records, programs, postcards, business cards, and printed material documenting the personal and business activities of Emma Lee and Jimmie Adams. The papers are organized into five series: correspondence, financial records, legal records, religious activities, and printed material. The bulk of the papers is personal correspondence written to Emma Lee Adams from various relatives in Louisiana, Texas, Ohio, and Chicago, Illinois. Many of the letters are from Emma Lee’s sisters, parents, and cousins and discuss general family matters such as weddings, births, illnesses, and work life.

The financial and legal records largely relate to Jimmie Adams’ work as a junk and salvage dealer in Oakland, California. The records include bill of sales, insurance policies, and registrations for salvaged vehicles, receipts from various auto mechanics and scrap dealers, and Adams’ pay stubs and tax statements from employers. The religious activities series includes church programs from Ebenezer Baptist Church and an usher ribbon from Mt. Calvary Baptist Church. The printed material series includes an union contract booklet, an insurance policy booklet from the American Cyanamid Company, blank keno cards and rule book, and one issue of the The Plumb Line G, a newsletter of the African American masonic temple in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.

Arrangement

Series I. Correspondence Series II. Financial records Series III. Legal records Series IV. Religious activities Series V. Printed material

Indexing Terms

The following terms have been used to index the description of this collection in the library's online public access catalog.

African American families--California--Oakland.

African American families--History--Sources.

Correspondence

Physical Description: 28 folders

Series Scope and Content Summary

Includes correspondence to Emma Lee and Jimmie Adams from various family members and friends. A majority of the letters are from Adams' sisters and cousins living in Homer, Louisiana, Jonesboro, Louisiana, and Chicago, Illinois and discuss general family matters, Emma Lee's health after an operation in 1951. Also included is one folder of junk mail and general business correspondence related to Jimmie Adams' work as a junk dealer.

Arrangement

Arranged by correspondent.

Box 1:1

Adams, Jimmie to Emma Lee Adams 1951

Box 1:2

Albert, Mitchell and Bessie 1951-1959

Box 1:3

Barnes, Pearl 1957

Box 1:4

[-], Barnett 1958

Box 1:5

Bell, Isabel 1951, 1958

Box 1:6

[-], Beth and Curtis 1955

Box 1:7

Boggs, Hale 1951

Box 1:8

Chatman, Ivory 1958

Box 1:9

[-], Cleo 1951-1959

Box 1:10

Copeland, Calvin E. 1959

Box 1:11

Copeland, Donzelle 1957-1959

Box 1:12

Cousin Willie 1951-1952

Box 1:13

Duncan, Gladys 1951

Box 1:14

[-], Ellen 1957

Box 1:15

Envelopes 1951-1959

Box 1:16

Green, Preston and Margie 1951-1958

Box 1:17

Greeting cards 1951-1959

Box 1:18

Harris, Rev. H.D. and Velma 1951-1959

Box 1:19

Haskins, Mrs. P.E. 1957

Box 1:20

Littler, Effie 1953

Box 1:21

Mack, Mary K. 1951

Box 1:22

Monk, L.C. 1953

Box 1:23

Powell, Lubertha B. 1957

Box 1:24

Preston, Lithana 1951

Box 1:25

Rainer, Elenora 1951-1957

Box 1:26

White, Edna 1951-1958

Box 2:1

Business correspondence and junk mail 1951-1959

Financial records

Physical Description: 6 folders

Series Scope and Content Summary

Includes bill of sale, pay stubs, receipts, insurance policies, and tax statements related to Jimmie Adams' work as a junk and salvage collector in Oakland, California.

Arrangement

Arranged by format.

Box 2:3

Bill of sale 1956-1958

Box 2:4

Insurance policies 1955-1956

Box 2:5

Notes 1953-1956

Box 2:6

Pay stubs 1952-1958

Box 2:7

Receipts 1953-1958

Box 2:8

Tax statements 1953

Legal records

Physical Description: 3 folders

Series Scope and Content Summary

Includes Jimmie Adams' car registrations and junk dealer license with the city of Oakland.

Arrangement

Arranged by format.

Box 2:9

California Dept. of Motor Vehicles registrations 1954-1957

Box 2:10

City of Oakland junk dealer’s license 1956-1957

Box 2:11

Traffic tickets 1953

Religious activities

Physical Description: 1 folder

Series Scope and Content Summary

Includes two church programs from Ebenezer Baptist Church and a Mt. Calvary Baptist Church usher ribbon.

Arrangement

Arranged by format.

Box 2:12

Ebenezer Baptist Church programs 1952-1953

Box 2:12

Mt. Carmel Baptist Church usher ribbon undated

Printed material

Physical Description: 2 folders

Series Scope and Content Summary

Includes blank Keno cards and rule book, an American Cyanamid Company insurance policy booklet, assorted Oakland business cards, two California postcards, and one issue of the The Plumb Line G, the newsletter of an African American masonic temple in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.

Arrangement

Arranged by format.

Box 2:14

Assorted Oakland business cards circa 1950s

Box 2:14

California postcards circa 1950s

Box 2:13

Keno cards 1956

Box 2:13

Keno rule book circa 1950s

Box 2:13

Laborers’ master agreement between Northern California Chapter and Central California Chapter, The Associated General Contractors of America, Inc. and Northern California District Council of HOD carriers, building and construction laborers 1956

Box 2:13

American Cyanamid Company major medical expanse plan 1953

Box 2:13

The Plumb Line G, Vol. XXXX, No. 9 1953