Oakland Public Library, African American Museum and Library at Oakland

Collection context

Summary

Title:
Emma Lee and Jimmie Adams papers
Dates:
1951-1959
Creators:
Adams, Emma Lee. and Adams, Jimmie.
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.
Extent:
1 linear foot (2 boxes)
Language:
Languages represented in the collection: English
Preferred citation:

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

Background

Scope and content:

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.

Processing information:

Processed by Sean Heyliger, 09/18/2013.

Arrangement:

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

Rules or conventions:
Finding aid prepared using Describing Archives: a Content Standard

Indexed terms

Subjects:
African American families--California--Oakland.
African American families--History--Sources.

About this collection guide

Collection Guide Author:
Sean Heyliger
Date Prepared:
© 2013
Date Encoded:
Machine-readable finding aid created by Sean Heyliger. Machine-readable finding aid derived from MS Word. Date of source: September 18, 2013.

Access and use

Restrictions:

No access restrictions. Collection is open to the public.

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

Terms of access:

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.

Location of this collection:
659 14th Street
Oakland, CA 94612, US
Contact:
(510) 637-0198

Contents

Correspondence

Summary

Extent:
28 folders

Background

Scope and content:

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.

Contents

Adams, Jimmie to Emma Lee Adams, 1951

Summary

Dates:
1951

Albert, Mitchell and Bessie, 1951-1959

Summary

Dates:
1951-1959

Barnes, Pearl, 1957

Summary

Dates:
1957

[-], Barnett, 1958

Summary

Dates:
1958

Bell, Isabel, 1951, 1958

Summary

Dates:
1951, 1958

[-], Beth and Curtis, 1955

Summary

Dates:
1955

Boggs, Hale, 1951

Summary

Dates:
1951

Chatman, Ivory, 1958

Summary

Dates:
1958

[-], Cleo, 1951-1959

Summary

Dates:
1951-1959

Copeland, Calvin E., 1959

Summary

Dates:
1959

Copeland, Donzelle, 1957-1959

Summary

Dates:
1957-1959

Cousin Willie, 1951-1952

Summary

Dates:
1951-1952

Duncan, Gladys, 1951

Summary

Dates:
1951

[-], Ellen, 1957

Summary

Dates:
1957

Envelopes, 1951-1959

Summary

Dates:
1951-1959

Green, Preston and Margie, 1951-1958

Summary

Dates:
1951-1958

Greeting cards, 1951-1959

Summary

Dates:
1951-1959

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

Summary

Dates:
1951-1959

Haskins, Mrs. P.E., 1957

Summary

Dates:
1957

Littler, Effie, 1953

Summary

Dates:
1953

Mack, Mary K., 1951

Summary

Dates:
1951

Monk, L.C., 1953

Summary

Dates:
1953

Powell, Lubertha B., 1957

Summary

Dates:
1957

Preston, Lithana, 1951

Summary

Dates:
1951

Rainer, Elenora, 1951-1957

Summary

Dates:
1951-1957

White, Edna, 1951-1958

Summary

Dates:
1951-1958

Business correspondence and junk mail, 1951-1959

Summary

Dates:
1951-1959

Financial records

Summary

Extent:
6 folders

Background

Scope and content:

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.

Contents

Bill of sale, 1956-1958

Summary

Dates:
1956-1958

Insurance policies, 1955-1956

Summary

Dates:
1955-1956

Notes, 1953-1956

Summary

Dates:
1953-1956

Pay stubs, 1952-1958

Summary

Dates:
1952-1958

Receipts, 1953-1958

Summary

Dates:
1953-1958

Tax statements, 1953

Summary

Dates:
1953

Legal records

Summary

Extent:
3 folders

Background

Scope and content:

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

Arrangement:

Arranged by format.

Contents

California Dept. of Motor Vehicles registrations, 1954-1957

Summary

Dates:
1954-1957

City of Oakland junk dealer’s license, 1956-1957

Summary

Dates:
1956-1957

Traffic tickets, 1953

Summary

Dates:
1953

Religious activities

Summary

Extent:
1 folder

Background

Scope and content:

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

Arrangement:

Arranged by format.

Contents

Ebenezer Baptist Church programs, 1952-1953

Summary

Dates:
1952-1953

Mt. Carmel Baptist Church usher ribbon, undated

Summary

Dates:
undated

Printed material

Summary

Extent:
2 folders

Background

Scope and content:

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.

Contents

Assorted Oakland business cards, circa 1950s

Summary

Dates:
circa 1950s

California postcards, circa 1950s

Summary

Dates:
circa 1950s

Keno cards, 1956

Summary

Dates:
1956

Keno rule book, circa 1950s

Summary

Dates:
circa 1950s

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

Summary

Dates:
1956

American Cyanamid Company major medical expanse plan, 1953

Summary

Dates:
1953

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

Summary

Dates:
1953