Eartha M. M. White Papers

Collection — Container: M75-1

Identifier: M75-1

Staff Only

Scope and Contents

The collection consists of more than 1,000 items, primarily twentieth century material relating to Jacksonville, Florida. Includes letters, documents, and notes relating to the personal, political, and business activities of Eartha M. M. White. Some subject files include publications, reports, programs, photographs, and memorabilia. Of particular interest are materials pertaining to: Prominent African American leaders, e.g., James Weldon Johnson, A. Phillip Randolph, and Simuel Decatur McGill; Historic Jacksonville business, charitable, and religious organizations including Afro-American Life Insurance Company, Bethel Baptist Institutional Church, Clara White Mission, Community Chest Association, and Jacksonville Negro Welfare League; Florida social and educational organizations including Florida State Federation of Colored Women's Clubs, Florida Baptist Academy / Florida Normal and Industrial Institute. The bulk of the collection are photographs depicting friends, relatives and events from her long life. Sizes of the photographs vary, ranging from 5x7 to 12x16 inches. A significant amount of her business and personal correspondence is also included. An extensive subject index is available for use with the collection. The collection also contains 156 black and white photographs of southern African American religious and labor groups, circa 1946-1949, by photographer R. Lee Thomas of Mound Bayou, Mississippi. His imprint contains the caption: Made by R. Lee Thomas, Mound Bayou, Mississippi, The Oldest Negro Town in America. Mr. Thomas was an African American photographer active in the early twentieth century in the southern United States, whose work provides photographic documentation of southern black social life during that time period. The majority of the photographs depict groups from Birmingham, Alabama, and adjacent areas.

Dates

Created: 1831-1974
Other: Majority of material found in ( 1930-1974)
Other: Date acquired: 00/00/1975

Creator

White, Eartha M. M., 1876-1974 (Person)

Conditions Governing Access

The UNF Library encourages use of the White Collection for research purposes. In order to preserve and protect the collection, casual browsing and circulation of materials are not feasible. The collection is open by appointment only - please call: 904-620-1533 or lib-special@unf.edu to make an appointment.

Biographical or Historical Information

Social welfare and community leader, educator, humanitarian, and business entrepreneur Eartha M. M. White was born in Jacksonville, Florida, on November 8, 1876. Member of the Oriental-American Opera Company, 1895-96; toured U.S. and Europe with Company. Owned a number of small businesses from 1905-1930: a dry-goods store, employment bureau, real-estate business, small laundry. Public service activities included: operated the only orphanage for black children in Duval County; directed War Camp Community Services; headed the Negro Republican Women Voters; established the Clara White Mission for black relief activities and the Eartha M.M. White Nursing Home. Died in Jacksonville on January 18, 1974.

Note written by

Extent

38.00 Linear Feet

Language of Materials

English

Additional Description

Abstract

Arrangement Note

Alphabetical by topic; chronological within folder.

Source of Acquisition

In 1975, the UNF Library acquired a portion of the estate of Eartha Mary Magdalene White. Dr. Daniel Schafer, a University of North Florida history professor, was instrumental in the acquisition

Method of Acquisition

The materials were acquired by UNF Library Special Collections and University Archives on 00/00/1975.

Related Materials

An online exhibit of the Eartha M. M. White Collection is available. These items include: Online Resources from the Florida Heritage Collection. Selections from the Eartha M.M. White Collection. Electronic versions of some collection materials are available on the World Wide Web as part of the Florida Heritage Collection. Descriptions of individual items and photographs are available in the Eartha White Collection Subject Guide. When available, links are included to full-text resources and online images. In addition, the Clara White Mission, at 613 West Ashley Street, in downtown Jacksonville (phone: 904-354-4162) has devoted the second floor to the Eartha M. M. White Historical Museum and Resource Center. Rare photographs and other artifacts, including Miss White's personal furniture, are housed there. Serious researchers will want to visit both collections to assure full coverage of materials. Information about related materials is available at https://www.unf.edu/library/specialcollections/manuscripts/eartha-white/Eartha_White.aspx

Other Descriptive Information

Container list available. The container list provides a listing of the folders as arranged in the Collection. Additional information may be found at https://www.unf.edu/library/specialcollections/manuscripts/eartha-white/Eartha_White.aspx