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Rosa G. Holmes Walker Papers

 Collection
Identifier: 1985.002

Scope and Contents

The collection contains personal and business documents of Rosa Holmes Walker, a Black funeral home director and businesswoman active in Jacksonville, Florida, during the early twentieth century. Included in the collection are materials relating to business records, ledgers, death certificates, removal and burial permits, funeral home bills and correspondence, and real estate correspondence from New York, New York. The collection also includes materials from her relatives, Henry and Fannie Glover of St. Augustine, Florida (early twentieth century) and to the Glovers of South Carolina (nineteenth century). Inclusive years are 1871-1943, with the bulk of the materials from 1920-1930. Few personal items are included in the collection. The Collection complements the Eartha M.M. White Collection as a source for Black history in Jacksonville, Florida, and provides documentation of a successful businesswoman flourishing in early twentieth century Northeast Florida.

Dates

  • 1871 - 1943

Conditions Governing Access

The collection is open for research by appointment only. Please contact lib-special@unf.edu to schedule an appointment.

Conditions Governing Use

Materials in the collection may be subject to copyright and are to be used for private study, scholarship, or research in accordance with the copyright law of the United States (Title 17, United States Code). Use of reproductions of copyrighted works in excess of " fair use," may result in the user’s liability for copyright infringement and be subject to the civil and criminal penalties of federal law. Visit the United States Copyright Office's website at http://www.copyright.gov/ for further information

Biographical / Historical

Born in the 1880s, Rosa G. Holmes Walker was a business entrepreneur and funeral home director during the early twentieth century. She founded and operated Holmes Funeral Directors, Inc. located on Broad St. in Jacksonville, Florida with her husband J.C. Holmes in 1904. After his death in 1916, she took over the role of Funeral Director. Ms. Holmes Walker married Reverend Thomas H.B. Walker, a Methodist minister and author, on October 16, 1918. During the Great Depression, Ms. Holmes Walker invested in real estate, purchasing thirty properties in Jacksonville, Florida and New York, New York. The income from these investments prevented the closure of her funeral home business during the 1930’s. Ms. Holmes Walker operated the Holmes Funeral Home until her death on May 20, 1945. The Holmes Funeral Home is still in operation in Jacksonville.

Extent

19 Linear Feet (22 archival document boxes.)

Language of Materials

English

Abstract

Personal and business documents of Rosa Holmes Walker, an African-American funeral home director and businesswoman active in Jacksonville, Florida, during the early twentieth century. Included are materials relating to her relatives, Henry and Fannie Glover of St. Augustine, Florida (early twentieth century) and to the Glovers of South Carolina (nineteenth century).

Immediate Source of Acquisition

Gift of Dr. Daniel L. Schafer, 1985 to the UNF Thomas G. Carpenter Library Special Collections and University Archives.

Title
Rosa G. Holmes Walker Papers
Status
Completed
Author
Collection Description/Finding Aid prepared by Eileen D. Brady. Edited and updated by Jennifer Bibb
Description rules
Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Language of description
English
Script of description
Latin

Repository Details

Part of the UNF Library Special Collections and University Archives Repository

Contact:
1 UNF Drive
Jacksonville FL 32224 US
904-620-1533