Guide to the Emma Lee and Jimmie Adams Papers
Sean Heyliger
African American Museum & Library at Oakland
659 14th Street
Oakland, California 94612
Phone: (510) 637-0198
Fax: (510) 637-0204
Email: aamlo@oaklandlibrary.org
URL: http://www.oaklandlibrary.org/locations/african-american-museum-library-oakland
© 2013
African American Museum & Library at Oakland. All rights reserved.
Guide to the Emma Lee and Jimmie Adams Papers
Collection number: MS 63
African American Museum & Library at Oakland
Oakland, California
- Processed by:
- Sean Heyliger
- Date Completed:
- 09/18/2013
- Encoded by:
- Sean Heyliger
© 2013 African American Museum & Library at Oakland. All rights reserved.
Descriptive Summary
Title: Emma Lee and Jimmie Adams papers
Dates: 1951-1959
Collection number: MS 63
Creator:
Adams, Emma Lee.
Creator:
Adams, Jimmie.
Collection Size:
1 linear foot
(2 boxes)
Repository:
African American Museum & Library at Oakland (Oakland, Calif.)
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.
Languages:
Languages represented in the collection:
English
Access
No access restrictions. Collection is open to the public.
Access Restrictions
Materials are for use in-library only, non-circulating.
Publication Rights
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.
Processing Information
Processed by Sean Heyliger, 09/18/2013.
Scope and Content of Collection
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.
Arrangement
Series I. Correspondence
Series II. Financial records
Series III. Legal records
Series IV. Religious activities
Series V. Printed material
Indexing Terms
The following terms have been used to index the description of this collection in
the library's online public access catalog.
African American families--California--Oakland.
African American families--History--Sources.
Correspondence
Physical Description: 28 folders
Series Scope and Content Summary
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.
Box 1:1
Adams, Jimmie to Emma Lee Adams
1951
Box 1:2
Albert, Mitchell and Bessie
1951-1959
Box 1:6
[-], Beth and Curtis
1955
Box 1:11
Copeland, Donzelle
1957-1959
Box 1:16
Green, Preston and Margie
1951-1958
Box 1:18
Harris, Rev. H.D. and Velma
1951-1959
Box 1:25
Rainer, Elenora
1951-1957
Box 2:1
Business correspondence and junk mail
1951-1959
Financial records
Physical Description: 6 folders
Series Scope and Content Summary
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.
Box 2:4
Insurance policies
1955-1956
Legal records
Physical Description: 3 folders
Series Scope and Content Summary
Includes Jimmie Adams' car registrations and junk dealer license with the city of Oakland.
Arrangement
Arranged by format.
Box 2:9
California Dept. of Motor Vehicles registrations
1954-1957
Box 2:10
City of Oakland junk dealer’s license
1956-1957
Religious activities
Physical Description: 1 folder
Series Scope and Content Summary
Includes two church programs from Ebenezer Baptist Church and a Mt. Calvary Baptist Church usher ribbon.
Arrangement
Arranged by format.
Box 2:12
Ebenezer Baptist Church programs
1952-1953
Box 2:12
Mt. Carmel Baptist Church usher ribbon
undated
Printed material
Physical Description: 2 folders
Series Scope and Content Summary
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.
Box 2:14
Assorted Oakland business cards
circa 1950s
Box 2:14
California postcards
circa 1950s
Box 2:13
Keno rule book
circa 1950s
Box 2:13
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
Box 2:13
American Cyanamid Company major medical expanse plan
1953
Box 2:13
The Plumb Line G, Vol. XXXX, No. 9
1953