urn:taro:houpub.00006 Willie Lee Gay Collection MSS.0006 An Inventory of her Records at the African American Library at the Gregory School, Houston Public Library African American Library at the Gregory School
1300 Victor St. Houston, TX, 77019 832-393-1440
October, 2009 This finding aid was produced using the Archivists' Toolkit 2013-02-06T10:46-0600 Finding aid written in English. Describing Archives: A Content Standard Gay, Willie Lee, Mrs. Willie Lee Gay Collection1897-2009MSS.0006 2.0 Linear feet Materials are in English. African American Library at the Gregory School Preferred Citation

Willie Lee Gay Collection. MSS 0006. The African American Library at the Gregory School, Houston Public Library.

 Processing Information

Processed By: Vince Lee, October 2009

 Acquisition Information

Donated by: Willie Lee Gay

 Use Restrictions

Permission to publish or reproduce materials from the Willie Lee Gay Collection must be obtained from African American Library at the Gregory School or the appropriate copyright holder.

 Arrangement note

This collection is arranged by subject.

 Biographical note

A Texas historian for the past 30 years, Willie Lee Gay has been a vocal advocate and teacher for documenting the history of African American communities in Texas. In 1976, Gay made a concerted effort to save the historic Covington House in Third Ward from destruction. Dr. Benjamin Covington, a prominent African American doctor of the early 1900s, hosted such luminaries as Booker T. Washington and singer Marian Anderson at his home. Despite her efforts the historic structure was destroyed in the interests of redevelopment. She would use this experience as motivation to preserve other historic properties, determined never to let this happen again.

As a history teacher in Houston, she was never content to teach strictly from a textbook. Her teaching style incorporated an interdisciplinary approach, where students would conduct site visits, demonstrations, and hands-on research that involved students proactively. Her philosophy was to instill a passion for history and to make it real and relevant for her students. She founded the Junior Historian Club at the Carter G. Woodson Junior High School. Besides teaching, she became actively involved in many organizations that were dedicated to preserving history, such as the Harris County Heritage Society, the Harris County Historical Commission, and the Houston Preservation Alliance.

Her working relationship with former Governor Ann Richards led to her appointment as the first African American Commissioner of the Texas Historical Commission (1991-1997), where she dealt with historic preservation issues on a state-wide level. Ms. Gay currently continues her work of historic preservation in Houston and has contributed many entries on African Americans in the Handbook of Texas, a multidisciplinary encyclopedia of Texas history.

The Willie Lee Gay Collection includes newsclippings, publications, photos, research materials, programs, and organizations that highlight her work as a historian in documenting and preserving the history of African American communities.

 Scope and Content

The Willie Lee Gay Collection includes newsclippings, publications, photos, research materials, programs, and organizations that highlight her work as a historian in documenting and preserving the history of African American communities.

 Related Collections

(HMRC) MSS 0109 Christia V. Adair Collection

(HMRC) MSS 1021 Willie Lee Gay Collection

(HMRC) MSS 1041 Willie Lee Gay and Carter G. Woodson Junior Historian #244 Collection

(HMRC) MSS 0452 Thelma Scott Bryant and Ira B. Bryant Papers

(HMRC) MSS 0370 Olee Yates McCullough Papers

(HMRC) MSS 1002 Rodney Ellis

 Access Restrictions

None

 Digitized Materials

A portion of this collection has been digitized and is available through the Houston Area Digital Archives. Please view the digitized material at: http://digital.houstonlibrary.org/cdm/search/collection/gregory/searchterm/ph0027/order/identi

Gay, Willie Lee, Mrs Gay, Willie Lee, Mrs African American women African American women--Texas--Houston African Americans Education--Texas--Houston Historic preservation—Texas—Houston National Association of Colored Women Pilgrim Rest Missionary Baptist Church Riverside General Hospital Texas Retired Teachers Association General Correspondence Correspondence 1 1 From: Ruthe Winegarten To: Mrs. Willie Lee Gay and Dr. Louis Marchifava 1992 From: Tom Bass To: Mrs. Willie Gay and Historian Club of Woodson 1977 From: Louise C. Williams To: Mrs. Willie Lee Gay 1990 From: Gladys House To: Minister Robert Robertson 1996 From: Rev. R.O. Roberston, Jr. and Willie Lee Gay To: Rev. William Lawson 1996 Letter from Eddie Jonson to Willie Lee Gay August 4, 1997 Research Materials Research Notes 1 2 Research notes composed by Willie Lee Gay ND Profiles 1 8 Prof. E.O. Smith ND Elonora Teal 1968 J. Vance Lewis, Texas Trilablazer ND Isaiah M. Terrell ND They Showed the Way- An Exhibition of Black Texas Women 1836-1986 by Museum of African American Life and Culture – Dallas, Texas, copy 39 of 300 ND A Tribute to Houston Blacks Past and Present by The Association for the Study of Afro-American Life and History 1975 Newsclippings Newsclippings 1 3 Obituary: Mrs. Blanche Douglass 2008 Obituary: Vivian Hubbard Seals 2009 News-clipping, Christia Adair ND What’s First Black School Here? Houston Post 1976 News-clipping, Church Women Attend Meet 1950 News-clipping, Road Once Traveled by Marjorie Evans Houston Chronicle 2001 News-clipping, Memorial Day Stirs up Memories of Houston’s Camp Logan Riot ND News-clipping, Junior Historians Were First to Chronicle Christia Adair’s Life by Ellen Bernstein, Corpus Christi Caller Times 1999 News-clipping, A Visit with Mrs. Christia V. Adair 1985 News-clipping 1972 News-clipping, Women Key to Many City Advances, Speaker Says by Emily Grotta 1970 News-clipping ND News-clipping 2003 Obituary, Charles Johnson, Houston Chronicle 2002 Obituary, Helen Jean Rogers Edwards, Houston Chronicle ND Obituary, Odessa Sayles, Houston Chronicle 2008 News-clipping, Seeking That Spark of Youth by Salatheia Bryant, Houston Chronicle ND Obituary, Minnie Turner Metters, Houston Post 1990 News-clipping 2007 Obituary, Christia Adair ND News-clipping, Many Festivities Dot Yates’ Calendar by Vicki Bomke Thomson, Houston Chronicle 1996 News-clipping, Fitch is the Oldest Black Florist in Houston by Susan Bischoff, Houston Chronicle 1979 Photocopy, Cemetery Gets Historic Marker by Betty L. Martin 2008 Photocopy, 2003 History Day, The Newsletter of the Texas State Historical Association Summer 2003 Obituary, Alice M. Sidney 2005 Obituary, Gideon L. Sanders Sr., teacher, gospel musician, Houston Chronicle 2003 Obituary, W.L.D. Johnson Jr., Houston Post 1989 Newsclipping, Tour tells of history of Second Ward area by Danny Perez, Houston Chronicle 2001 Newsclipping, Feds help investigate fire by S.K. Bardwell and Ron Nissimov, Houston Chronicle 1997 Newsclipping, Group to restore black cemetery by Arlene Nisson Lassin, Houston Chronicle 2007 Obituary, Lullelia Walker Harrison 2005 Newsclipping, Barbara Jordan still has her hold on us by Ken Wall, Houston Chronicle 1988 Newsclipping, At 103, HISD retiree still ‘igniting a fire’ by Allan Turner, Houston Chronicle ND Obituary, Hazel Hainsworth Young, Houston Chronicle 2009 Obituary, Dr. Ira Bryant, Houston Post 1989 Obituary, Mrs. Ella Robey Holliday 2005 Obituary, Dr. William B. Harrell, Houston Chronicle ND Obituary, Leonard Hall O’Connell Spearman, Sr., Houston Chronicle, 2008 Obituary, Elizabeth Spates 1999 Newsclipping, Area woman receives Black History award by Tangela Bradshaw, Houston 1995 Newsclipping, Longtime lawyer led local battles for civil rights by Salatheia Bryant 2007 Newsclipping, Houston’s 1915 ‘Red Book’ idealized world of blacks by Claudia Kolker, Houston Chronicle 1997 Newsclipping, Cemetery Work teaches youths history, respect by Lori Rodriguez, Houston Chronicle 1997 Newsclipping, Bus tour highlights famed sites by Claudia Kolker, Houston Chronicle 1997 Invitations Greeting Cards & Invitations for Ms. Willie Lee Gay 1 4 International Holiday Luncheon 2008 Joseph James Rhoads Elementary School Golden Anniversary 2008 From: Jet, Robert, and Kirby Eckels holiday card ND From: Christopher W. Oliver holiday card ND Heritage Society’s 46th Annual Gala 2003 Church Pilgrim Rest Missionary Baptist Church 1 5 125th Church Anniversary Membership Loyalty and Homecoming Celebration, 1990 [original destroyed by mold and water damage - photocopied and destroyed] Greater Zion Missionary Baptist Church 1 6 Greater Zion Baptist Church 3202 Trulley Houston, Texas, history booklet ND Baptist Sisterhood of Houston 1 7 35th Annual Lois Allen Awards Luncheon 2008 Annual Lois Allen Awards Luncheon 2002 Publications Publications 1 9 The Houston Review, VOL. XVI, NO. 2 1994 The Medallion January/February 2006 Houston History, Volume 6, Number 1 Fall 2008 Texas Historian 1 10 Texas Historian, Volume XLII, Number 1 1981 Texas Historian, Volume xxxiii, Number 5 1973 National Notes 1 11 National Notes, convention issue [autographed copy] Summer, 1964 National Notes spring-summer, 1967 National Notes March, 2001 Funeral Programs Funeral Programs 1 15 Dr. Ira Babington Bryant, October 18, 1904 December 16, 1989 Funeral Automobile List, Fairchild Undertaking Company, Houston, Texas 1936 Mrs. J.W. Frazier, Wesley Methodist Church June 21, 1962 Sarah Frances Stancil, born 1853 April 15, 1950 Pastor Clarence George Wilkins October 23, 1955 September 27, 2000 Alvin Leslie Sykes, September 14, 1940 September 17, 2006 Mrs. Olee Yates McCullough December 30, 1996 Mrs. Marie Scott Platte ND Thelma Scott Bryant, September 26, 1905 September 15, 2008 Vivian H. Seals, June 8, 1917 June 21, 2008 Deacon James M. Thomas February 26, 1994 Reverend W.D. Watkins, January 19, 1899 February 1991 Ira Bryant 1 12 Bryant, Ira Babington (I.B.), JR. [by Willie Lee Gay], biography ND Vocational Education in Negro High Schools in Texas by Ira B. Bryant, Reprinted from The Journal of Negro Education, Vol. XVIII, No.1 1949 Christia Adair Materials Christia Adair Article 1 16 On the Firing Line for Human Rights by Jackie Swindle and Donna Bearden, The Texas Sampler ND Correspondence to Ms. Adair 1 17 To: Rodney Ellis, From: Vincent J. Mandola 1986 To: Mrs. Adair, From: Mary Ann Bass 1984 Certificates-Christia Adair 1 18 1st Central Jurisdictional Conference Methodist Church 1940 The Board of Education of the Methodist Church, Teaching Adults (412b) 1945 Chicago Training School affiliated with Garrett Biblical Institute registration card 1943 Department of Leadership Education 1946 The Program of Leadership Education, Adult Classes at Work (410a)1 1944 The Program of Leadership Education, Teaching Adults 412b 1945 The Program of Leadership Education, How to Teach in the Church School (141a)1 1944 Instructor’s Certificate, Toward A Christian World Community 1949 The Standard Leadership Curriculum 1939 Certificate of Appreciation, Grand Juror of Harris County, Texas 1967 Christia Adair Letters 1 19 Elbert Hezekiah Adair 1 20 Gulf, Colorado and Santa Fe Ry. Co., No. 5894 1935 Texas Drivers License Certificate, Operator 1205558 1942 Permanent Certificate of Exemption from Poll Tax, No. 2002, Harris County, Texas 1943 Air Brake Clearance Card, Form 1184 Standard Santa Fe 1941 Christmas Letter To: E. H. Adair, From: L.W. Baldwin 1943 Letter To: E.H. Adair, From: A.W. Edwards 1920 Ephemera Harris County Precinct Report 1 21 Harris County Commissioner Tom Bass Report, Parks Edition 1983-1984 0 ) " !Ephemera 1 ) (  8container parent="cid30474" type="Folder">22 0 0 ) Greetings card ND $ `"   h $ `" ) 0 ) " `  $ `f ` (  $ 2   h ! ° BQsiness card, Ben G. McCollough, 241 N. Rampart Street, New Orleans, LA ND Orange Blossom Suppositories article by Dr. J.A.McGill Co. ND Sheri-Lee Fashion Wig order form and business card ND Obituary card for Mary Martin 1897 Photographs MSS 0006.001 - MSS 0006.035 2 1 MSS 0006.001-Women's Auxilary to the Houston Medical Forum notice ND MSS 0006.002-The Pilgrim Temple, Houston, Texas ND MSS 0006.003-Group Photo (unidentified and undated) ND MSS 0006.004-James S. Kyle and Emma Scott Kyle ND MSS 0006.005-Pastor and Deacons – Antioch Baptist Church 1939 MSS 0006.006-J.B. Bell’s Residence ND MSS 0006.007-Thelma Patten Law and Rosie Mosley ND MSS 0006.008-Christia Adair with Commissioner Tom Bass ND MSS 0006.009-YWCA 1939 MSS 0006.010-Marching Band Booker T. Washington (Teal Studio) ND MSS 0006.011-Colored Carnegie Library Dedication 1912 MSS 0006.012-I.M. Terrell ND MSS 0006.013-Home of Hazel Hainsworth Young ND MSS 0006.014-Colored Carnegie Library Board 1910 MSS 0006.015-School Yard Exercise ND MSS 0006.016-Foley’s Participates in TSU’s Workshop 1967 MSS 0006.017-Fitch’s Florist 1934 MSS 0006.018-Fitch Florist ND MSS 0006.019-Photo Postcard addressed to Christia Daniels ND MSS 0006.020-Unidentified Young Woman ND MSS 0006.021-Home at Kingsville ND MSS 0006.022-Handy Daniels ND MSS 0006.023-Robinson Family of Edna, Texas ND MSS 0006.024-Commissioner Tom Bass with Christia Adair ND MSS 0006.025-Christia Adair (Front Center) 1929 MSS 0006.026-Mrs. Pearl Fitch ND MSS 0006.027-Mrs. Pearl Fitch ND MSS 0006.028-Fitch’s Flower Shop ND MSS 0026.029-Street Car/Trolley (San Francisco stamp on back) ND MSS 0006.030-Booker T. Washington Colored H.S. ND MSS 0006.031-Group Photo (unidentified and undated) ND MSS 0006.032-Memorial-Mrs. E. Spriggs Ratliff (property-Christia Adair) 1935 MSS 0006.033-Mrs. Vivian Hubbard Seals ND MSS 0006.034-Mrs. Vivian Hubbard Seals 2001 MSS 0006.035-Home of Christia Adair ND MSS 0006.036 - MSS 0006.059 2 2 MSS 0006.036-Negative-Mrs. Pearl Fitch ND MSS 0006.037-Negative-Louise Martin-Photographer (Studio was on Wichita St.-3rd Ward) ND MSS 0006.038-Father of Christia Adair with uncle (hat) ND MSS 0006.039-Walte and Cora Sapente House, snowfall ND MSS 0006.040-Unidentified Woman ND MSS 0006.041-Mrs. Lillian Miles Murphy ND MSS 0006.042-Mother of Christia Adair ND MSS 0006.043-Webster Daniels ND MSS 0006.044-Cousin of Christia Adair ND MSS 0006.045-Christia Adair ND MSS 0006.046-Christia Adair with junior historian 1974 MSS 0006.047-Unidentified Woman and Child ND MSS 0006.048-Unidentified Couple [14 ½ East Main Street-Springfield, Ohio] ND MSS 0006.049-Cousin to Christia Adair’s Grandfather ND MSS 0006.050-Christia Adair Group Photo ND MSS 0006.051-Ma Robinson – Edna, Texas ND MSS 0006.052-Harriet Daniels Christia Adair’s father’s stepmother ND MSS 0006.053-Uncle to Christia Adair ND MSS 0006.054-Mr. and Mrs. James B. Moore ND MSS 0006.055-Ladies Symphony Orchestra ND MSS 0006.056-Art Club Dinner Group [1908] 1963 MSS 0006.057-Mrs. Olee Yates McCullough ND MSS 0006.058-Conrad Johnson @ Mt. Moriah Baptist Church 2005 MSS 0006.059-Music Concert honoring Conrad Johnson 2005 Organizations Texas Retired Teachers Association Yearbook 2 3 Houston Harris County Retired Teachers Association yearbook 2006-2007 National Association of Colored Women 2 4 National Association of Colored Women’s Clubs Inc. 70 Golden Years, yearbook 1966 Constitution/Bylaws-Texas Association of Womens Clubs 2 5 Texas Association of Women’s Clubs Constitution and By-Laws (revised) 1961 Riverside General Hospital 1 13 60 Years of Serving Our Community – The Houston Negro Hospital renamed – Riverside General Hospital 1926 through 1986 ND Prairie Grove Cemetery 1 14 The History of Prairie Grove Cemetery pamphlet ND An Application for an Official Texas Historical Marker for Prairie Cemetery, by Debra Blacklock-Sloan 2006 Historic Texas Cemetery Marker Dedication 2008 Programs Events programs 2 6 Dedication Ceremony for the Recorded Texas Historic Landmarker of the Rutherford B.H Yates Sr. House/Museum 2001 Afro-American Historical & Genealogical Society, Inc. Willie Lee Gay H-Town Chapter notice 2009 Status of Women Observance Excellence in Achievement Nurses booklet 1997 The Lion Jack Yates High School Fiftieth Anniversary Yearbook 2006 74th Annual Convention of the Texas Association of Women’s and Girl’s Clubs, Inc. 1979 Houston Citizens Chamber of Commerce, Annual Meeting 2001 Events Programs 2 7 Boone’s Music Studio presents Elnor Jackson-Boone 2004 Dedication of Fiest Elementary School 1989 The Annual Banquet Howard University Alumni Federation 1966 University Honors First African American THC Commissioner, The Medallion 2003 National Women of Achievement, Inc. Annual Status of Women 1991 Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Inc. Sixteenth Annual Status of Women Observance Luncheon 1996 Ninth Biennial Dickie Foster Texas Black Women’s Conference 1992 Founders Day Ethel Ransom Art & Literary Club 1979 Top Ladies of Distinction, Incorporated, 1995 Status of Women Observance 1995 Celebratory Program of Mrs. Falbia S. Turner on her 100th Birthday 2005 First Annual Texas Conference on Black History and Culture 1979 Artifacts Artifacts 3 Oversized Degree-Prairie View State to Ethel Colia Ellison ND Framed Inspirational Sayings-Friend ND Framed Inspirational Sayings-Common Sense ND Knitted hat and dress ND Mothers Calendar ND DVD-Representative Boris L. Miles January 9, 2007 DVD-Dr. Charles Hebert Jr ND Teacup and saucer with assorted spoons ND