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Ruby Parks Blackburn papers

 Collection
Identifier: aarl89-001

Scope and Content Note

Correspondence to and from Georgia Jones, as well as information on her political campaign for Georgia State Representative from the 31st District in 1976, are included in the collection.

There are 6 notebooks, 3 ledgers, and 1 scrapbook relating to the Georgia League of Negro Women Voters in the collection. There are 2 record books of the Negro Cultural League. There are 7 personal scrapbooks, primarily containing newspaper articles. Correspondence from such figures as Herman Talmadge, Julian Bond, and Maynard Jackson exist.

Dates

  • 1933-1982

Creator

Restrictions on Use

There are no restrictions on research use of this collection.

Copyright Restrictions

Prior permission from the Research Library must be obtained in writing before any portion of this collection can be published or reproduced.

Historical Sketch

Ruby Blackburn (1901-1982) was born in July, 1901 in Rockdale, Georgia. She was educated at Washington High Evening School in Atlanta, GA; Morris Brown College; and the Apex Beauty College.

Mrs. Blackburn's principal line of business was as a beautician. She owned a beauty shop on Simpson Road in northwest Atlanta. Records from Ruby's Beauty Shop exist in the collection. She also was very active in community and civic affairs. She organized the T.I.C. (To Improve Conditions) Club; the Atlanta Cultural League and Training Center for training of domestic workers; and the Georgia League of Negro Women Voters. A great portion of the collection contains information on her activities in these organizations: constitutions and by-laws; financial records; correspondence; event programs; invitations. Mrs. Blackburn was also a member of the Atlanta Business and Trade Association (founded in 1944) and was Vice-President and Assistant Chaplain of the Atlanta Business League, an organization to further the commercial and professional interests of Negroes in the 1950's. Mrs. Blackburn was instrumental in helping to improve bus transportation in the Dixie Hills community in the 1950's through the Dixie Hills Community Club and the League of Negro Women Voters. Mrs. Blackburn was a member of the Fulton County Democratic Party Executive Committee beginning in 1958. She was active in the NAACP and convention programs are available in the collection.

Mrs. Ruby Blackburn was married to Andrew J. Blackburn whom she divorced in the mid-1959's. They had 4 children: Andrew J. Blackburn, Jr.; Frances Blackburn Fouch; Henry J. Blackburn; and Georgia Blackburn Jones.

Ruby Georgia Parks Blackburn (1901-1982), beautician and community activist, organized the T.I.C. (To Improve Conditions) Club (1932), the Atlanta Cultural League and Training Center (1945), and the Georgia League of Negro Women Voters (1951), resided in Fulton County, Georgia.

Extent

9.5 Cubic feet

Language

English

Overview

The collection consists of papers of Ruby Parks Blackburn from 1933-1982. The papers include correspondence, financial records, minutes, scrapbooks, photographs, ledgers, ephemera, and political broadsides. The materials document Blackburn's involvement with the T.I.C. (To Improve Conditions) Club, the Atlanta Cultural League, and Ruby's Beauty Shop. Of particular interest are minutes (1954-1956, 1971-1976) and voter lists (1965-1975) of the Georgia League of Negro Women Voters and minutes (1948-1950) of the Atlanta Cultural League. The collection also contains information pertaining to Blackburn's activities to improve bus transportation in the Dixie Hills community and her candidacy for the Fulton County Democratic Executive Committee/3rd Ward (1958). Notable correspondents include Julian Bond, Maynard Jackson, and Herman Talmadge.

Series

  1. I. Family Papers, 1930's-1980's.
  2. II. Civic Organizations and Activities, 1945-1970's.
  3. III. General.
  4. IV. Business and Financial Records.
  5. V. Photographs
  6. VI. Printed Materials and Memorabilia, 1947-1980
  7. VII. Ledgers, Notebooks, Scrapbooks, and Clippings, 1940-1976

Processing Information

Revised Nov. 1996

Title
Inventory of the Ruby Parks Blackburn Papers aarl89-001 aarl89-001
Author
Finding aid prepared by Finding aid prepared by Auburn Avenue Research Library on African American Culture and History
Date
2004 September 15
Language of description
English
Script of description
Latin

Repository Details

Part of the Auburn Avenue Research Library on African-American Culture and History Repository

Contact:
101 Auburn Avenue NE
Atlanta GA 30303
404-613-4032