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White, Edith R. A Guide to the Edith R. White Papers MG 109

A Guide to the Edith R. White Papers MG 109


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ODU Community Collections

3000 Perry Library
4427 Hampton Blvd.
Norfolk, VA 23529
Business Number: 757-683-5350
libspecialcollections@odu.edu
URL: https://www.odu.edu/library/special-collections

James Detterman, February 2014; Kathleen Smith, July 2014

Repository
ODU Community Collections
Identification
MG 109
Title
Edith R. White Papers circa 1923-2010, undated Date acquired: 09/10/2010
URL:
Archon Finding Aid location
Quantity
4.80 Linear Feet
Quantity
3 Holinger document cases and 3 oversize boxes boxes
Creator
White, Edith R. (1923-)
Language
English .
Abstract
This collection contains of a variety of documents relating to women's activism and educational activity in the city of Norfolk, Virginia.

Administrative Information

Conditions Governing Use

Before publishing quotations or excerpts from any materials, permission must be obtained from Special Collections and University Archives, and the holder of the copyright, if not Old Dominion University Libraries.

Conditions Governing Access

Open to researchers without restrictions.

Preferred Citation

[Identification of item], Box [insert number], Folder [insert number and title], Edith R. White Papers, Special Collections and University Archives, Old Dominion University Libraries.

Source of Acquisition

Edith R. White

Method of Acquisition

Gift. Accession #A2010-20

Processing Information

The finding aid was created by James Detterman in February 2014.

Accruals and Additions

An addition to the collection was received in January 2016.

Biographical or Historical Information

Edith R. White was born in New Jersey in November 4, 1923. Upon graduating from Vassar College, she became a member of the U.S. Navy's WAVES, Women Accepted for Volunteer Emergency Service. For her first operation with WAVES, she trained in cryptography, specifically breaking Japanese codes, and worked in Washington DC. Her second appointment was at Sampson Hospital, a tuberculosis hospital in New York, where she met her husband, Forrest. Shortly after their marriage, they moved first to California for some time, bringing their first child into the world, then to Richmond where Edith gave birth to another child, thenceforth moving to, and settling in Norfolk until this day.

Norfolk had a vastly different political setting than Edith's previous residences. There were on-going issues not only involving racial segregation, but also women's rights. Edith previously had black officers in the Navy and black friends in college, and she believed that this was no way for anyone to live, let alone her children. Being the natural born fighter for civil rights that she was, Edith decided to get involved with as many activist groups that she could. Such groups were the League of Women Voters, Women's Interracial Council, American Association of University Women, and the Norfolk Committee for Public Schools, the latter of which Forrest White would become president.

Note written by James Detterman

Scope and Contents

The Edith R. White collection contains of a variety of documents relating to women's activism and educational activity in the city of Norfolk, Virginia. Some of the organizational materials contained in the collection include the Fortnightly Study Club, Women's Council for Interracial Cooperation, and the Norfolk Story League.

An oral history interview with Edith R. White can be fournd in the Old Dominion University Libraries Digital Collections .

Arrangement Note

The collection is organized into four series: Series I: The Fortnightly Study Club; Series II: Women of Norfolk; Series III: Norfolk Story League; and Series IV: Other Organizations.

Related Material

Forrest P. White Papers (MG 5); Forrest R. "Hap" White Papers (MG 96); Women's Council for Interracial Cooperation Papers (MG 54).

Oral Histories in the Perry Library: Edith White

Subjects and Indexing Terms

  • African Americans--Civil rights
  • Church Women United
  • Fortnightly Study Club (Norfolk, Va.)
  • Norfolk (Va.)--Politics and government--20th century
  • Norfolk Story League
  • Women in community organization--Virginia
  • Women's Council for Interracial Cooperation (Norfolk, Va.)
  • Women--Societies and clubs

Significant Persons Associated With the Collection

  • White, Edith R. (1923-)
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Significant Places Associated With the Collection

  • Norfolk (Va.)--Politics and government--20th century
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Container List

Series I
Series I: The Fortnightly Study Club
1923-2010
Scope and Contents

This series contains directories, programs, and scrapbooks related to the Fortnightly Study Group White was a member of.

  • Sub-Series A
    Sub-Series A: Directories and Programs
    1983-2008
    Scope and Contents

    This sub-series consists of directories and programs related to meetings held by the Fortnightly Study Group.

    • Mixed Materials box: 1 Box 1
      Box 1
      • Mixed Materials box: 1 folder: 1 Folder 1
        Folder 1: Fortnightly Study Club Member pamphlets belonging to Betsy Nugent
        1983-2008
        Preferred Citation

        [Identification of item and date], Box 1, Folder 1, Fortnightly Study Club Member pamphlets belonging to Betsy Nugent, 1983-2008, Edith R. White Papers, Special Collections and University Archives, Old Dominion University Libraries.

      • Mixed Materials box: 1 folder: 2 Folder 2
        Folder 2: Fortnightly Study Club Member pamphlets belonging to Connie Ferebee
        1988-2005
        Preferred Citation

        [Identification of item and date], Box 1, Folder 2, Fortnightly Study Club Member pamphlets belonging to Connie Ferebee, 1988-2005, Edith R. White Papers, Special Collections and University Archives, Old Dominion University Libraries.

  • Sub-Series B
    Sub-Series B: Scrapbooks
    1923-2010
    Scope and Contents

    This sub-series includes scrapbooks related to the Fortnightly Study Group.

    • Mixed Materials box: 2 Box 2
      Box 2
      • Graphic Materials box: 2 Item 1
        Scrapbook of Histories
        1923-1962
        Preferred Citation

        Scrapbook of Histories, 1923-1962, Box 2, Edith R. White Papers, Special Collections and University Archives, Old Dominion University Libraries.

      • Graphic Materials box: 2 Item 2
        Scrapbook of Histories
        1960-1988
        Preferred Citation

        Scrapbook of Histories, 1960-1988, Box 2, Edith R. White Papers, Special Collections and University Archives, Old Dominion University Libraries.

    • Mixed Materials box: 3 Box 3
      Box 3
      • Graphic Materials box: 3 Item 1
        Scrapbook of Histories
        1988-1995
        Preferred Citation

        Scrapbook of Histories, 1988-1995, Box 3, Edith R. White Papers, Special Collections and University Archives, Old Dominion University Libraries.

      • Graphic Materials box: 3 Item 2
        Scrapbook of Histories
        1995-2010
        Preferred Citation

        Scrapbook of Histories, 1995-2010, Box 3, Edith R. White Papers, Special Collections and University Archives, Old Dominion University Libraries.

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Series II
Series II: Women of Norfolk
circa 1947-2005, undated
Scope and Contents

This series contains reports, flyers, directories, and other material related to the Church Women United and Women's Council for Interracial Cooperation organizations.

  • Sub-Series A
    Sub-Series A: Church Women United
    1974-2005, undated
    Scope and Contents

    This sub-series includes yearbooks and directories of the Norfolk Church Women United organization, as well as material relating to Community Understanding Day..

    • Mixed Materials box: 1 Box 1
      Box 1
      • Mixed Materials box: 1 folder: 3 Folder 3
        Folder 3: Yearbooks
        1974, 1977-1981
        Preferred Citation

        [Identification of item and date], Box 1, Folder 3, Yearbooks, 1974, 1977-1981, Edith R. White Papers, Special Collections and University Archives, Old Dominion University Libraries.

      • Mixed Materials box: 1 folder: 4 Folder 4
        Folder 4: Directories
        2000-2005
        Preferred Citation

        [Identification of item and date], Box 1, Folder 4, Directories, 2000-2005, Edith R. White Papers, Special Collections and University Archives, Old Dominion University Libraries.

      • Mixed Materials box: 1 folder: 5 Folder 5
        Folder 5: Community Understanding Day
        undated
        Preferred Citation

        [Identification of item and date], Box 1, Folder 5, Community Understanding Day, undated, Edith R. White Papers, Special Collections and University Archives, Old Dominion University Libraries.

  • Sub-Series B
    Sub-Series B: Women's Council for Interracial Cooperation
    circa 1947-1959
    Scope and Contents

    This sub-series contains documents relating to the Norfolk Women's Council for Interracial Cooperation including newsletters and president's reports, flyers, pamphlets, booklets and brochures, correspondence, and newspaper clippings.

    • Mixed Materials box: 1 Box 1
      Box 1
      • Mixed Materials box: 1 folder: 6 Folder 6
        Folder 6: Newsletters, President's Reports
        1952-1955
        Preferred Citation

        [Identification of item and date], Box 1, Folder 6, Newsletters, President's Reports, 1952-1955, Edith R. White Papers, Special Collections and University Archives, Old Dominion University Libraries.

    • Mixed Materials box: 4 Box 4
      Box 4
      • Mixed Materials box: 4 folder: 1 Folder 1
        Folder 1: Flyers, Pamphlets, Brochures, Booklets
        1947-1959
        Preferred Citation

        [Identification of item and date], Box 4, Folder 1, Flyers, Pamphlets, Brochures, Booklets, 1947-1959, Edith R. White Papers, Special Collections and University Archives, Old Dominion University Libraries.

      • Mixed Materials box: 4 folder: 2 Folder 2
        Folder 2: Letters, Notes
        circa 1950-1959
        Preferred Citation

        [Identification of item and date], Box 4, Folder 2, Letters, Notes, circa 1950-1959, Edith R. White Papers, Special Collections and University Archives, Old Dominion University Libraries.

      • Mixed Materials box: 4 folder: 3 Folder 3
        Folder 3: Newspaper Clippings
        circa 1950-1959
        Preferred Citation

        [Identification of item and date], Box 4, Folder 3, Newspaper Clippings, circa 1950-1959, Edith R. White Papers, Special Collections and University Archives, Old Dominion University Libraries.

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Series III
Series III: Norfolk Story League
circa 1960-2005, undated
Scope and Contents

This series contains documents pertaining to the Norfolk Story League including yearbooks, miscellaneous booklets, a member list, thank you and congratulatory letters, payment records, remembrances, newspaper clippings, photographs, and a scrapbook.

  • Mixed Materials box: 4 Box 4
    Box 4
    • Mixed Materials box: 4 folder: 4 Folder 4
      Folder 4: Norfolk Story League Yearbooks
      1965-2008
      Preferred Citation

      [Identification of item and date], Box 4, Folder 4, Norfolk Story League Yearbooks, 1965-2008, Edith R. White Papers, Special Collections and University Archives, Old Dominion University Libraries.

    • Mixed Materials box: 4 folder: 5 Folder 5
      Folder 5: Miscellaneous Booklets & Programs, Member List
      1998-1999
      Preferred Citation

      [Identification of item and date], Box 4, Folder 5, Miscellaneous Booklets & Programs, Member List, 1998-1999, Edith R. White Papers, Special Collections and University Archives, Old Dominion University Libraries.

    • Mixed Materials box: 4 folder: 6 Folder 6
      Folder 6: Thank You/Congratulatory Letters
      undated
      Preferred Citation

      [Identification of item and date], Box 4, Folder 6, Thank You/Congratulatory Letters, undated, Edith R. White Papers, Special Collections and University Archives, Old Dominion University Libraries.

  • Mixed Materials box: 5 Box 5
    Box 5
    • Mixed Materials box: 5 folder: 1 Folder 1
      Folder 1: Payment Records & Receipts
      undated
      Preferred Citation

      [Identification of item and date], Box 5, Folder 1, Payment Records & Receipts, undated, Edith R. White Papers, Special Collections and University Archives, Old Dominion University Libraries.

    • Mixed Materials box: 5 folder: 2 Folder 2
      Folder 2: Obituaries & Remembrances
      undated
      Preferred Citation

      [Identification of item and date], Box 5, Folder 2, Obituaries & Remembrances, undated, Edith R. White Papers, Special Collections and University Archives, Old Dominion University Libraries.

    • Mixed Materials box: 5 folder: 3 Folder 3
      Folder 3: Newspaper Clippings
      undated
      Preferred Citation

      [Identification of item and date], Box 5, Folder 3, Newspaper Clippings, undated, Edith R. White Papers, Special Collections and University Archives, Old Dominion University Libraries.

    • Mixed Materials box: 5 folder: 4 Folder 4
      Folder 4: Photographs
      undated
      Preferred Citation

      [Identification of item and date], Box 5, Folder 4, Photographs, undated, Edith R. White Papers, Special Collections and University Archives, Old Dominion University Libraries.

  • Mixed Materials box: 6 Box 6
    Box 6
    • Graphic Materials box: 6 Item 1
      Scrapbook of Histories
      2000
      Preferred Citation

      Scrapbook of Histories, 2000, Box 6, Edith R. White Papers, Special Collections and University Archives, Old Dominion University Libraries.

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Series IV
Series IV: Other Organizations
circa 1960-1973
Scope and Contents

This series contains publications, correspondence, reports and other material related to the Norfolk Area Human Relations Council as well as the American Association of University Women (AAUW), American Association for the United Nations (AAUN), and the Citizens Association for Justice in Virginia.

  • Mixed Materials box: 5 Box 5
    Box 5
    • Mixed Materials box: 5 folder: 5 Folder 5
      Folder 5: Norfolk Area Human Relations Council
      circa 1967-1969
      Preferred Citation

      [Identification of item and date], Box 5, Folder 5, Norfolk Area Human Relations Council, circa 1967-1969, Edith R. White Papers, Special Collections and University Archives, Old Dominion University Libraries.

    • Mixed Materials box: 5 folder: 6 Folder 6
      Folder 6: Norfolk Area Human Relations Council
      circa 1967-1969
      Preferred Citation

      [Identification of item and date], Box 5, Folder 6, Norfolk Area Human Relations Council, circa 1967-1969, Edith R. White Papers, Special Collections and University Archives, Old Dominion University Libraries.

    • Mixed Materials box: 5 folder: 7 Folder 7
      Folder 7: Miscellaneous organizations
      1960-1973
      Preferred Citation

      [Identification of item and date], Box 5, Folder 7, Miscellaneous organizations, 1960-1973, Edith R. White Papers, Special Collections and University Archives, Old Dominion University Libraries.

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