UNF Digital Commons (Univ. of North Florida)

Leaflet: Document describing the history of the Old Folks Home community, A Red Feather Agency. Includes list of present officers. Undated

HISTORY OF
OLD FOLKS HOME COMMUNITY 
"A Red Feather Agency"
In the year 1885, a group of Negroes were organized for chari­
table purposes, with the idea of a Home for Aged uppermost in their 
minds. The group was called the Union Benevolent Association, and it 
purchased a tract of land in Campbell’s Addition for the Home. Rev. 
Howard was president of the group, Rev. Jeffrey Grant, vice-president; 
Rev. Joseph E. Lee, secretary-treasurer and chairman of Board of Trustees. 
The organization was incorporated.
No meeting of this group was held for twenty-five years, and the 
building it had planned was not constructed. At this point, Eartha M. M, 
White at that time a young school teacher and social worker, managed to 
bring about a meeting of the body.
The disastrous fire of 1901 pictured clearly to the social worker 
and her mother the need of some home for old Colored people, a nd in 
looking up a site for the same was informed by Mr. Lee that this land 
had been already purchased for this purpose.
The Union Benevolent Association voted Eartha White the privilege 
of erecting an Old Folks Home and whatever other buildings for charitable 
purposes she see fit to erect. She was elected president of the organi­
zation; the president having died and the vice-president was then serving. 
Miss White has served continuously as president since that time.
In 1902 Eartha White and her mother began soliciting public sub­
scriptions to erect a home. Many organizations, churches and private in­
dividuals loyally supported their effort and have made this institution 
possible today. Hundreds have been cared for who were solely dependnet 
upon charity and today there are any number of inmates being comfortably 
cared for in this institution which Miss White has served for more than 
fifty years without any compensation. The Old Folks Home is an agency of 
the COMMUNITY CHEST and receive some help also from the CITY and COUNTY.
Too much commendation cannot be given to the COMMUNITY CHEST workers 
and officials for their loyal, considerate, sustained support through the 
past years. Were it not for that Christian helpfulness, particularly in 
the recent critical years, the work for the old people must surely have 
been seriously handicapped, if not actually curtailed. Mr. Fred Huffman, 
executive secretary of the Chest, can tell at length of the part the Chest 
has played in this work.
PRESENT OFFICERS
Eartha M. M. White, President
Mamie Crowd 1st Vice-Pres.
Ada Bracy 2nd Vice-Pres.
C. S. Tucker 3rd Vice-Pres.
Mamie F. Stewart Secretary-Treasurer
Eliza Myers Assistant Secretary


English

History of Old Folks Home Community

Card: Business card for Steam Laundry Company. With caption:  Cleanliness next to Godliness.  Undated

Service Laundry Co.
"Cleanliness next to Godliness"
1414 Cleveland St Phone 5780
—LET US KEEP YOU CLEAN—


Service Laundry Co. Business Card

Notes: Handwritten list of names on back of Nickerson Beauty Shoppe letterhead. Part of assorted miscellaneous notes kept by Eartha White. Undated

1   2   3 
Leon Anderson Nash Hamilton Barnett 
R. L. Brown   Davis   Daniels 
J. C. Dawkins 
Harry Pratt 
4   5   6   7 
S. D. McGill 52212        E. White  J. A. White 5577j          Joe H James 54677 
W. P. Bush       J. E. Ford 53783  Crockett       W. W. Schell 
J. E. Gregg  W. W. Parker    54218 
J. H. Blodgett 
Chas Kirksey 
A. L. Louis  50835 
A W Smith  50414 
8                            9 
U. L. Waldren       Johnson 
J.C. Homes 
Robb Cranford 


List on Names in Nine Groups

Notes: Handwritten note about R Isiah McGriff, written on an envelope. Notations on reverse. Part of assorted miscellaneous notes kept by Eartha White. Circa 190

Undetermined

Handwritten Notes - R. Isiah McGriff

Notes: Hand written note on scrap of paper. Part of assorted miscellaneous notes kept by Eartha White. Undated

Handwritten Note

Notes: Handwritten notes with travel costs. Part of assorted miscellaneous notes kept by Eartha White. Undated

Travel Costs

Notes: Handwritten note on index card, class schedule. Part of assorted miscellaneous notes kept by Eartha White. Undated

Eartha M. M. White Class Schedule

Notes: Handwritten note with tally of bedding. Part of assorted miscellaneous notes kept by Eartha White. Undated

Bedding Inventory

Notes: Handwritten addresses. Part of assorted miscellaneous notes kept by Eartha White. Undated

Addresses

Unidentified sharpshooter\u27s pin. Date Undated.https://digitalcommons.unf.edu/eartha_artifacts/1029/thumbnail.jp

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