urn:taro:houpub.00049Versie Shelton Collection: An Inventory of her Records at the Houston Metropolitan Research Center, Houston Public Library Houston Metropolitan Research Center, Houston Public Library
500 McKinney St. Julia Ideson Building, 2nd Floor Houston, Tx 77002 832-393-1665
Encoded in EAD Version 2002 and edited according to instructions in TARO 2 EAD 2002 Editing Instructions by Amber Seely inJune 2006 Finding aid written in English. Descriptive Summary Shelton, Versie Antoinette, 1918-2001Versie Shelton CollectionDecember 1915 to December 20031960’sMaterials are in English.MSS 14338.5 lin. ft.: 7 document boxes, 1 oversized document box, 5 photo boxes, 1 large flat box, 1 small flat box, 1 cylinder Houston Metropolitan Research Center, Houston Public Library Biographical Note

Versie and Hugh Shelton were best known for their unwavering dedication to the communities of Houston through service and activism. Versie Powell came to Houston in 1926, married Hugh Shelton in 1940, and remained married for the next 62 years. Hugh Shelton was employed with the United States Postal Service for 34 years; progressing to the position of Superintendent of Postal Sub-Stations. Versie worked for both academic and non-profit organizations during the course of her career with the express interest in providing opportunities to the disenfranchised. Her employers included Baylor University College of Medicine , Texas Southern University, Ben Taub Hospital and the Negro Child Center. She was the first Black secretary to integrate Houston’s downtown offices.

Her charitable activities included work for the Houston Association for Better Schools, Institute for International Education and Jack and Jill of America as well as participation as a member of the Chaplaincy Consulting group for the Harris County Hospital District.

Much of the Shelton’s personal success has culminated in the accomplishments of their daughter Dr. Rita Shelton Deverell. Dr. Deverell’s hard work and ambition has afforded her the title of actress, journalist, television producer, university assistant professor, and Member of the Order of Canada. Dr. Deverell attributes her achievements to the support of her parents and the family’s personal philosophy.

Scope and Contents

The Versie Shelton Collection contans information relating to the community involvement, relationships and accomplishments of the Shelton family.

Arrangement

This collection is arranged topically and by types of material. Box 1 contains vital records and other personal records. Box 2 contains academic records, papers relating to community service and awards of recognition. Boxes 3 and 4 contain correspondence and personal letters of Versie and Hugh Shelton. Boxes 5, 6, 7, and 8 relate to the academic achievements and personal correspondence of Rita Shelton and chronicle her growth from her teen years to adulthood. Boxes 9 and 10 contain artifacts and awards. Boxes 11, 12 and 13 contain photographs. Box 14 contains oversize items including family trees, photographs and newspapers. Box 15 contains the Shelton family tree.

Personal records and legal records Genealogy Academic records Service and recognitionCorrespondencePersonal notesMiscellaneousRita SheltonPhotographsArtifacts Access Restrictions

None.

 Use Restrictions

None.

 Preferred Citation

Versie Shelton Collection. Houston Metropolitan Research Center, Houston Public Library.

 Acquisition Information

Donated by: Rita Shelton Deverell, January 14, 2005.

 Processing Information

Processed by: Tammy Jordan, completed September 2005.

 Index Terms Subjects African American Families--Texas--Houston--Correspondence Manners and customs--Texas--Houston--20th century African-Americans--Social conditions--1955-2001 African American Intellectuals Personal names Shelton, Versie Antoinette, 1918-2001 Deverell, Rita Shelton, b. 1945--Intellectual life--Correspondence Detailed DescriptionPersonal records and legal recordsVital records

Item separated: see Box 14 Oversized items, Folder 253, Marriage license, James Powell wed to Cliffie Wylie, Dec. 19, 1915

11Birth, death and marriage records12Rita Shelton birth certificate, Canadian immigration card13Accounts, Retirement, Social Security, Taxes, Selective Service, Voter registrationWills14Shelton wills, Forms designating beneficiaries15 Eula Shelton will16Carl Shelton willProperty records17Automobile loan, Title transfer home (Eagle St.), Property improvement loan, Clarewood House, apartment floor planMedical records18Do Not Resuscitate order, Medical Consent to DiscloseInsurance records19Life insurance policies, Postal Employees Immediate Relief Association, Health insuranceGenealogyPowell/Shelton family obituaries110Obituaries for Hugh Shelton and Versie Shelton, Correspondence, Contributions111Correspondence, death of Hugh Shelton112Deaths, Powell family obituaries, services, correspondence113Deaths, Shelton family obituaries, services, correspondencePowell/Shelton family documented facts114Shelton family marriages115Shelton family genealogy116Powell family genealogy117Video, personal narrative chronicling Versie Shelton's lifePowell/Shelton family trees

Item separated: see Box 14 Oversized items, Folder 252, Powell family tree.

Items separated: see Box 15 (storage tube), Shelton family tree, Powell family tree.

118Powell family treeAcademic records

Includes transcripts, school assignments, degrees.

Item separated: see Box 14 Oversized items, Folder 265 Phillis Wheatley High School diploma, Versie Antoinette Powell, May 31, 1935.

21Versie Shelton’s transcripts, school assignments, degrees22Hugh Shelton’s transcripts, school assignments, degrees23Program, Phyllis Wheatley High School 75th Anniversary, 2002, 50th Reunion Banquet, 1985Service and recognitionEmployment

Item separated: see Box 14 Oversized items, Folder 262, Houston Post, Ben Taub's Ambassador, Nov. 4, 1983

24Hugh Shelton-news clippings, correspondence25Versie Shelton-articles, correspondenceCommunity service26Community service correspondence, 1960-196527Community service correspondence, 1972-2002Awards and certificates

Item separated: see Box 14, Folder 263 Award of appreciation bestowed upon Versie Shelton for her work at Ben Taub Hospital from the Mayor of Houston and Council Members, Jan. 24, 1984.

Item separated: see Box 14, Folder 264 Certificate of Appreciation from the City of Houston bestowed upon The Shelton Family, June 22, 1985.

28Articles-Versie Shelton,1983-199329Awards, certificates-Versie Shelton, 1968-1999210Awards, certificates-Hugh Shelton, 1972-1999211Senior Olympics, Versie Shelton, Mar. 1993212Alpha Kappa Mu, Hugh Shelton, Feb. 18, 1941Charitable contributions213Charitable contributions, 1964-2004214Shelton household budget CorrespondencePersonal letters, friends31Personal letters, friends, July 1945- May 197232Screenplay, The Autobiography of Miss Jane Pittman, Allan Page, Tomorrow Entertainment, Inc., Dec. 197233Screenplay, Mrs. Sundance, Allan Page, 20th Century Fox Television, American Broadcasting Company, Jan. 197334Personal letters, friends, June 1972-Nov. 197635Personal letters, friends, Oct. 1974-Apr. 197536Play, Agape’ is a Form of Love, Charlotte Kraft, Dec. 198237Personal letters, friends, June 1975-Sept. 198338 Personal letters, friends, Oct. 1983-Jan. 198639Personal letters, friends, Jan. 1985-Aug. 1988310Personal letters, friends, Nov. 1988-Sept. 1993 Card, Lorraine Malach, 1993 41Personal letters, friends, Mar. 1994-July 200042Personal letters, friends, Feb. 2002-Dec. 200343Personal letters, friends, no datesPersonal letters, family

See also: Box 12 Folder 225 Photo 272 and Box 12 Folder 226 Photo 273 in Photographs Series.

44Personal letters, Powell family, Dec. 1951-Mar. 200145Personal letters, Shelton family, Sept. 1977-Apr. 1974 Personal notes

Includes schedules and event planning.

46Schedules, menus announcements, Hugh and Versie Shelton’s hosted family visits.47Announcements, cards, lists Hugh and Versie Shelton’s anniversaries.48Guest lists, cards, invitations, notes Versie Shelton’s birthdays.49Reservations, cards, lists, notes Hugh Shelton’s birthdays.Miscellaneous

Includes personal interest papers, including travel, theater, articles.

Item separated: see Box 14, Folder 245 for Video, Hugh Shelton's 90th birthday party.

Item separated: see Box 14, Folder 257 for Houston Post newspaper, Nuns break language barrier at hospital, July 23, 1994.

410Map of the Shelton’s travels Mexican currency, Australian currency Itinerary Paris travel.411Playbill, Bidi Sayao, Houston Music Hall, Mar. 1949412Conference materials, National Association of Human Rights Workers, Oct. 1972413Articles, Newspaper clippings Rita SheltonPersonal letters, family51Personal letter, Santa Claus, no date; Budget, no date52Correspondence, Herald Tribune, Apr. 1957; Article, Houston Post, Sept. 1964 53Correspondence, Versie Shelton regarding schools, Oct. 1959-Jan. 196054Personal letters, July 195955Personal letters, July 1960-Aug. 196056Personal letters, June 1961-July 196157Personal letters, July 196158Personal letters, July 1961-Dec. 196159Personal letters, Apr. 1962-Oct. 1962510Personal letters, Oct. 1962-Dec. 1962511Personal letters, Jan. 1963-Feb. 1963512Personal letters, Feb. 1963-Mar. 1963513Personal letters, Mar. 1963514Personal letters, Apr. 1963515Personal letters, May 1963-Dec. 1963516Personal letters, Jan. 1964-Feb. 1964517Personal letters, Feb. 1964-Mar. 1964518 Personal letters, Mar. 1964-June 1964519Personal letters, June 1964-Sept. 1964 611 Personal letters, Oct. 1964-Dec. 196462Personal letters, Jan. 1965-Feb. 196563 Personal letters, Mar. 1965-Dec. 196564Personal letters, Jan. 1966-Dec. 196665Personal letters, Feb. 1967-July 196766Personal letters, July 1967-Dec. 1967 67Personal letters, Jan. 1968-May 196868Personal letters, June 1968-Dec. 1968 69Personal letters, Jan. 1969-Dec. 1969610Personal letters, Jan. 1970-Nov. 1970 611Personal letters, Jan. 1971-Dec. 1971 612 Personal letters, Jan. 1972-Dec. 1972 613Personal letters, Apr. 1973-Dec. 1973614Personal letters, Jan. 1974-Nov. 1982615Personal letters, Feb. 1984-Dec. 1999 Academic records71Transcripts, test scores, high school diploma 72Program, Atherton School, May 195873Commencement program, William E. Miller Junior High School, June 195974 College applications, 1961-196275Financial aid application, Jan. 196276Grades, class schedules, Adelphi College, 1962 77Registration instructions, Adelphi College, Mar. 196378 Correspondence, financial aid, Sept. 196379Correspondence, program, Yale Drama Festival, Mar. 1963710Class schedules, 1963711 Transcripts, 1963 712Class schedules, 1964713Correspondence, financial aid, 1964714Transcripts, class schedules, 1965 715Correspondence, financial aid, 1965 716Correspondence, universities, Mar. 1966717Correspondence, financial aid, 1966 Correspondence, employment718Correspondence, Sept. 1963Miscellaneous

Item separated: see Box 14 Oversized items, Folder 254 for Delphian newspaper, Adelphi College, Long Island, NY, A.U. Mourns Kennedy Nov. 27, 1963

Item separated: see Box 14 Oversized items, Folder 255 for Perry-Mansfield Pine Bark newpaper, Rita Shelton mentioned, Jan. 1964.

Item separated: see Box 14 Oversized items, Folder 256 for St. Thomas Times-Journal newspaper, Open Lid Coffee House, Dec. 23, 1967.

Item separated: see Box 14 Oversized items, Folder 266 for Rex Deverell, Rita Shelton wedding sermon, May 24, 1967.

715Receipts716Newspaper clippings, correspondence, Deverell/Shelton marriage, May 1967717Articles, news releases on Rita Shelton, 1971-2004 718Invitation, Premier of Saskatchewan, Ramsey Deverell 719Announcement, Chalmers Award, Rex Deverell, 1996720Convocation Program, Mt. Allison University, Shelton Ramsay Deverell, May 1997721Personal notes, Reflections, Nov. 2002 Personal letters, family (reel tapes)81Personal letters, family, Spet. 196682Personal letters, family, Oct. 196683Personal letters, family, no date84Personal letters, family, no date85Personal letters, family, no date86Personal letters, family, Jan. 196787Personal letters, family, Feb. 196788 Indecipherable content PhotographsFamily and friends

Item separated: see Box 16 Oversize photographs for Drawing, Veryl Powell, June 19, 1946.

111-70 Family and friends13279-288Family and friendsEmployment and community service1171-77Versie Shelton and Rita Deverell employment and community community service 13282Hugh Shelton employement and community service Genealogy

Item separated: see Box 16 Oversized photographs Powell family members: Vernie Powell, Jimmie Powell McCollum, Ennis Powell, Clotele Powell Tatum, James Powell, Versie Powell Shelton, Veryl Powell Askernee.

Item separated: see Box 16 Oversized photographs Powell family members: Vernie Powell, Jimmie Powell McCollum, Ennis Powell, Clotele Powell Tatum, James Powell, Versie Powell Shelton, Veryl Powell Askernee.

Item separated: see Box 16 Oversized photos Family photograph, enlarged inset, no date.

Item separated: see Box 16 Oversized photos Shelton, Deverell families, no date.

Item separated: see Box 16 Oversized photos Rita Shelton, 18 months, 1945.

1178-87 Early photographs found glued together on one page1188-98Early photographs1199-103Rita Shelton and Shelton Ramsey Deverell 11104-110Powell and Shelton family13276-291Powell and Shelton familyPersonal achievements and academic achievements11111-118 Versie Shelton, Senior Olympics, 1995 11119-131Shelton Ramsey Deverell's graduation,1997Celebrations12132-139Shelton family holidays12140-143 Wedding of Rex Deverell and Rita Shelton12144-145Versie Shelton’s birthday, no date12146-148 Hugh Shelton’s 80th birthday, Mar. 198912149Hugh and Versie Shelton at Eagle St., Houston home kissing, May 198912150Hugh and Versie Shelton eating with Sister Mary Agnes Joy, May 198912151 Hugh and Versie Shelton at Eagle St., Houston home sitting in yard, May 198912152-153Hugh and Versie Shelton's 50th anniversary, 199012173-190 Hugh Shelton’s 80th birthday party, May 198912191-192 Hugh Shelton, 90th birthday party, 199912193-223Hugh & Versie Shelton’s 60th anniversary, Galveston, May 200012224Hugh and Versie Shelton dressed up at celebration, Aug. 17, 200112225-250Friends at Versie Shelton’s 85th birthday party, Clary’s Restaurant, Galveston, May 200312251-252 Neena Shelton’s son’s wedding, Sept. 2003Personal interest, including travel

See also: Video of Hugh Shelton's 90th birthday in Box 14 Folder 245.

12253-268Vacation photos Miscellaneous photographs12269Mt. Vernon Methodist Church, location of marriage of Versie and Hugh Shelton, lifelong members of church since that time, no date 12270Giant crab at Gaido's Restaurant, Galveston, no date12271Vivian Hubbert's correspondence to Rita Shelton, 196112272The Shelton's pet dog, 196412273Lorraine Malach's art, no date12274Lorraine Malach's art, no date12275House at Eagle St., Houston, no dateArtifacts91,2Pendant93Pin94-6Medal, Senior Olympics, May 1995101-4Award14Oversize items15Oversize items16Oversize items