Melissia Elam-Lauretta Peyton Papers

Dates: 1891-1961
Size: 3 linear feet (5 archival boxes)
Repository: Chicago Public Library, Woodson Regional Library, Vivian G. Harsh Research Collection of Afro-American History and Literature, 9525 S. Halsted Street, Chicago, Illinois 60628
Collection Number: 2007/09
Provenance: Donated by Dolores Easter, July 14, 2007
Access: No restrictions
Citation: When quoting material from this collection the preferred citation is: Melissia Elam-Lauretta Peyton Papers, [Box #, Folder #], Chicago Public Library, Woodson Regional Library, Vivian G. Harsh Research Collection of Afro-American History and Literature
Processed by: Michael Flug, Senior Archivist, Harsh Archival Processing Project

BIOGRAPHICAL AND ORGANIZATIONAL NOTES

Melissia Ann Elam

Melissia Ann Elam, founder of the Elam Club Home for Working Girls, was the daughter of John and Rachel Meredith, both born into slavery. Melissia Meredith was born in Parry County, Missouri in 1853, and moved to Chicago in 1876. That same year she married her first husband, Rev. J.M. Derrick. They had two children. At the time she arrived in Chicago, she joined a tightly-knit African American community numbering no more than 5,000 people. Shortly after her arrival, she joined Quinn Chapel A.M.E. Church, and remained a member for the rest of her life.

Little is known of Melissia Elam’s life and work in nineteenth century Chicago, but it is believed that she married her second husband, Reuben Elam shortly after 1900. In the first decade of the twentieth century, he was a real estate agent, and an activist in the Juvenile Protective League of Cook County. He was later a leader in the Chicago branch of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People. Reuben Elam died in 1915.

By the time her second husband died, Melissia Elam was firmly rooted in the world of Chicago’s African American clubwomen. She was an active member of the Phyllis Wheatley Woman’s Club, an affiliate of the Chicago and Northern District of the National Association of Colored Women’s Clubs (NACW), and served several times as a delegate to the NACW’s national convention. As early as 1912, she was a member of the Old Settlers Club, the YWCA, and later was active as a charter member of the Eastern Star Lodge, Electra chapter and Fidelity court. In the World War I years, she joined with Ida B. Wells Barnett in the Negro Fellowship League, an organization working for justice for African Americans in the criminal courts.

Elam had long hoped to direct a club home for working girls in Chicago. In 1914, the prominent African American public health expert, Dr. Mary Fitzbutler Waring, was advocating the establishment of “a suitable habitation for women and girls who have to live away from home for any reason.” Waring pointed out that many such homes already existed for white women, but there was only one for African Americans.

In 1919 Elam opened the “Elam Club Home for Working Girls” at 4555 South Champlain Ave. Seven years later she expanded her operation, purchasing a nineteenth century mansion at 4726 South Parkway. She continued to direct work at the Home until she was 86 years old, when a lingering illness confined her to bed. Melissia Elam died in February 1941. Her funeral, held at Quinn Chapel A.M.E. Church, featured a eulogy by Quinn Chapel pastor Rev. T. Dean Scott, and reminiscences by Bishop W.J. Walls of the A.M.E. Zion church.

Before her death Melissia Elam assigned her niece, Lauretta Peyton, to carry on the work at Elam Club Home. Lauretta Peyton, born and raised in California, had often visited her aunt in Chicago. She moved to Chicago in the 1930s to serve as Elam’s assistant with the work at the Home. Peyton continued to direct the Home until she died in 1953.

Elam Club Home For Working Girls

Around 1912, Reuben and Melissia Elam purchased a home at 4555 South Champlain Avenue. Initially, it was solely a family residence for the couple. However, in 1919, after Reuben Elam’s death, Melissia Elam decided to open her home to working girls in need of a Chicago residence. The purpose of the Home was to provide a safe and uplifting environment for single young women. At the beginning, there were only about a half dozen residents. All of them helped with the upkeep of the home, and all agreed to abide by “strict moral standards.”

As the demand for rooms grew, Elam decided to purchase a much larger house. She was determined to acquire a mansion at 4726 South Grand Boulevard (now Martin Luther King, Jr. Drive). She purchased the distinguished residence on April 15 1926. The seller was the same man who originally had the house built in 1903, Simon L. Marks, the president of H.M. Marks, a wholesale custom tailor.

The mansion was an example of the style of architecture called Chateauesque. It stems from the style popular in 16th century France. The architect was Henry L. Newhouse, and he designed the home with three full stories, twenty rooms, and a basement. Twin turrets spanning the heights of the second and third stories created symmetry. The entranceway was decorated with three gargoyles. The interior features paneling in several different woods, many stained and leaded glass windows, crystal chandeliers, and a domed ceiling in the foyer. The walls were stenciled with mythological figures.

At the peak of its success, the Elam Club Home accommodated about 35 young women in the 1920s and 1930s. Over the same period, and into the early 1950s, the home was often rented by Bronzeville organizations for social, cultural and political events. The pages of the Chicago Defender are filled with articles about gatherings held at the Elam mansion. Among the many organizations hosting events at the Elam Club Home were the Old Settlers Club, the National DeSaible Memorial Society, the Illinois Housewives Association, the Ladies Labor of Love Charity Club. The Home was also rented for celebratory and family occasions—birthdays, weddings, and graduations.

After the death of Lauretta Peyton in 1953, leadership of the Elam Club Home passed to Margaret B. Snowden, daughter of Joanna Snowden, who had been president of the Old Settlers Club. Margaret Snowden died in 1960. By the early 1970s, the mansion had fallen into disrepair, and an organization was formed, calling itself “Friends of the Elam Home.” More than 30 years after Elam’s death, the group held a benefit tea at the Home, seeking to preserve it. The event featured a talk by artist and DuSable Museum founder Dr. Margaret Burroughs on “The Life and Work of Melissia Ann Elam.” Burroughs was joined in the effort by writer Fern Gayden and Unitarian activist Grace Leaming. They succeeded in having the building declared a Chicago historical landmark in 1979.

In 1982 trusteeship of the Home was awarded to a non-profit organization, the International Women’s Economic Development Corporation. The following year the group began a $1.5 million dollar campaign to completely restore the mansion. But a 1992 fire obliterated these efforts, nearly destroying the entire building.

SCOPE AND CONTENT NOTE

The Melissia Elam- Lauretta Peyton Papers were created from materials found at 4726 South Martin Luther King, Jr. Drive, the former Elam Club Home for Working Girls. The materials were found by Ms. Dolores Easter, who was working on “spring cleaning” of the house for its trustee organization. Nearly all of the organizational records of the Elam Home have been lost. What remains are some personal documents held by Melissia Elam and by her niece Lauretta Peyton, and some materials from other organizations in which Elam and Peyton participated.

This small collection has been arranged into six series: Correspondence, Organizational Materials, Pamphlets, Programs and Flyers, Serials and Clippings, Photographs, and Memorabilia.

Related materials at the Chicago Public Library include:

Series 1: Correspondence

This series includes correspondence to and from Melissia Elam, Lauretta Peyton, and members of their families. The majority of the surviving correspondence involves Lauretta Peyton. Both personal and business subjects are included. This series has been arranged in chronological order.

Series 2: Organizational Materials

Both Melissia Elam and Lauretta Peyton were deeply involved in Chicago social welfare, civic, religious and fraternal organizations. These included the Elam Club Home for Working Girls, National Association of Colored Women’s Clubs (NACW), the Old Settlers Club, Quinn Chapel A.M.E. Church, and the League of Women Voters. It is likely that the materials in this series represent only a small fraction of their organizational work. Of special note is a brochure, written by Dr. Mary Fitzbutler Waring, on the proposed 1915 Chicago celebration of a “Half-Century of Negro Freedom.” This series is arranged alphabetically, except for Elam Home materials, which are placed at the beginning of the series.

Series 3: Pamphlets, Programs and Flyers

Through their surviving collection of pamphlets, programs and flyers, researchers can get a glimpse of the wide-ranging involvements of Melissia Elam and Lauretta Peyton. The materials reflect their interests in music, church activities, social clubs and charitable organizations. The materials are arranged chronologically.

Series 4: Serials and Clippings

More than 30 serials and clippings were found among the surviving Elam-Peyton papers. It is difficult to categorize these materials, except to suggest that the subjects of the serials and clippings interested Elam and Peyton. The serials and clippings are arranged chronologically; additional research clippings on Elam, Peyton, and the Elam Club Home for Working Girls are included at the end of the series.

Series 5: Photographs

Only four photographs are included in this collection. Two of these depict Melissia Elam and Lauretta Peyton, a third is a studio portrait of the children of Dr. Henry N. Cress, and a fourth is unidentified. The photographs are arranged chronologically.

Series 6: Memorabilia

Memorabilia includes unused tourism postcards, bills and admission tickets, and an account book from Melissia Elam’s 1881-82 trip throughout the South and Midwest.

CONTAINER LIST

Series 1: Correspondence

Box 1 Folder 1 Correspondence, B.F. Conkrite & Co., Chicago to Ruben Elam, Esq., Chicago, 1891 February 10
Box 1 Folder 2 Correspondence, Key System News, Oakland, California, to J.G. Peyton, 1917
Box 1 Folder 3 Correspondence, Pauline Gaither, Waukegan, Illinois, to Melissia Elam, Chicago, 1918 September 15
Box 1 Folder 4 Correspondence, Mrs. Orsman, Boston, to Melissia Elam, Chicago, 1919 August 3
Box 1 Folder 5 Correspondence, Florence Rogers, Buffalo, New York, to Melissia Elam, 1920 November 24
Box 1 Folder 6 Correspondence, Marion W. Thomas, New Haven, Connecticut, to Lauretta Peyton, Beverly Farms, Massachusetts, 1921 October 4
Box 1 Folder 7 Correspondence, Melissia Elam, Peoria, Illinois, to J.L. Peyton, Sacramento, California, 1924 August 28
Box 1 Folder 8 Correspondence, Florence E. Johnson, Buffalo, New York, to Lauretta Peyton, Chicago, 1926 October 18
Box 1 Folder 9 Correspondence, Pacific Telephone and Telegraph, San Francisco, California, to Lauretta Peyton, San Francisco, 1927 June 10
Box 1 Folder 10 Correspondence, Mrs. W.A. Cooper, Chicago, to Melissia Elam, Chicago, 1927 December 22
Box 1 Folder 11 Correspondence, Anne Arnold, Hamilton, Virginia, to Iola Arnold, Chicago, 1930 March 10
Box 1 Folder 12 Correspondence, Lillian Drakeford, Cassopolis, Michigan, to Lauretta Peyton, Chicago, 1934 August 21
Box 1 Folder 13 Correspondence, American Liberty League (Illinois Division) to Lauretta Peyton, Chicago, 1935 November 25
Box 1 Folder 14 Correspondence, London Assurance, New York, NY, to Lauretta Peyton, (auto insurance), Chicago, 1937 May 15
Box 1 Folder 15 Correspondence, Collector’s Office, City of Chicago, to Lauretta Peyton, Chicago, 1938 January 8
Box 1 Folder 16 Correspondence, Jeff and Adah Wilson, San Francisco, to Lauretta Peyton, Chicago, 1939 December 18
Box 1 Folder 17 Correspondence, Beatrice Goff Turner, Chicago, to Lauretta Peyton, Chicago, 1939 December 21
Box 1 Folder 18 Tom and Pearle Thomasson, city unknown, to Melissia Elam, 1939
Box 1 Folder 19 Correspondence, Adler Agency, Incirca, Chicago, (auto insurance), to Lauretta Peyton, 1940 June
Box 1 Folder 20 Correspondence, Mrs. Harvey A. Watkins, Chicago, to Lauretta Peyton, Chicago, 1941 February 9
Box 1 Folder 21 Correspondence, Senator W.A. Wallace and Mrs. Luella Wallace, Chicago, 1941 February 10
Box 1 Folder 22 Correspondence, Dr. John Feaman, Chicago to Lauretta Peyton, Chicago, 1941 February 10
Box 1 Folder 23 Correspondence, Alice Plummer and Ida Risher, Chicago, to Lauretta Plummer, Chicago, 1941 February 10
Box 1 Folder 24 Correspondence, Lillian Drakeford, Chicago, to Lauretta Peyton, Chicago, 1941 February 13
Box 1 Folder 25 Correspondence, Anna Hogan, Oakland, California, to Lauretta Peyton, Chicago, 1941 February 14
Box 1 Folder 26 Correspondence, Henry W. Hammond, Chicago to Lauretta Peyton, Chicago, 1941 February 14
Box 1 Folder 27 Correspondence, Mrs. E. Stocks, Chicago (SCR Club) to Lauretta Peyton, Chicago, 1941 February 16
Box 1 Folder 28 Correspondence, Workers for the King Circle, Galesburg, Illinois, to Lauretta Peyton, Chicago, 1941 February 16
Box 1 Folder 29 Correspondence, Annie Johnston, Chicago to Lauretta Peyton, Chicago, 1941 February 17
Box 1 Folder 30 Correspondence, Pearl (last name unknown), to Lauretta Peyton, Chicago, 1941 February
Box 1 Folder 31 Correspondence, Seventh Day Adventist Church Social Service and Study Club, to Lauretta Peyton, 1941
Box 1 Folder 32 Correspondence, Lena LeGrand Perry, to Lauretta Peyton, Chicago, 1943
Box 1 Folder 33 Correspondence, Charles Gibson, Detroit, Michigan, to Lauretta Peyton, 1947 July 11
Box 1 Folder 34 Correspondence, U.S. Civil Service Commission to Lauretta Peyton (on Matilda Jones), 1951
Box 1 Folder 35 Correspondence, U.S. Civil Service Commission to Lauretta Peyton, (on Ethelyn L. Price), 1951
Box 1 Folder 36 Correspondence, Maria Benarby, New Orleans, Louisiana, to Mrs. A. Peyton, undated
Box 1 Folder 37 Correspondence, D. Johnson, Chicago, to Mrs. Melissia Elam, undated

Series 2: Organizational Materials

Box 2 Folder 1 Business cards, Elam Club Home for Working Girls, at 4555 Champlain Ave., Chicago, circa 1922
Box 2 Folder 2 Dues books, The Elam Club, at 4726 S. Parkway, Chicago, 1937-1938
Box 2 Folder 3 Meeting notice, The Elamlites, 1947 May 3 1
Box 2 Folder 4 Popularity contest ballots, The Elamlites, August 1947
Box 2 Folder 5 Brochure, The Book Lovers Club, Kansas City, Missouri, 1916-1917
Box 2 Folder 6 Constitution and By-laws, California State Federation of Colored Women’s Clubs, undated
Box 2 Folder 7 Constitution and By-laws, Chicago and Northern District Federation of Colored Women’s Clubs, 1920
Box 2 Folder 8 Chicago Park District, 7th Annual Report, 1941
Box 2 Folder 9 Report on organization work, and brochure for Rochdale Inn, Cooperative Society of America, 1921
Box 2 Folder 10 Constitution and By-laws, Easter Lily Club, Chicago, circa 1915
Box 2 Folder 11 Brochure, The Eleanor Clubs for Women, Chicago, circa 1914
Box 2 Folder 12 Rules and By-laws, Yearbook, Fanny J. Coppin Club, 1914-1920
Box 2 Folder 13 Convention Proceedings, Grand Court of the Heroines of Jericho, State of Illinois Jurisdiction, 1914, 1921, 1924
Box 2 Folder 14 Brochure, The Illinois Commission (National) Half-Century Anniversary of Negro Freedom, Chicago, circa 1915
Box 2 Folder 15 Brochure, International House, Chicago, undated
Box 2 Folder 16 Brochure, League of Women Voters, Washington, DC, circa 1938
Box 2 Folder 17 Revised By-laws, Leah Household of Ruth, No. 3608, 1919-1920
Box 2 Folder 18 Membership certificate for J.CIRCA Peyton, NAACP, San Francisco, California, 1929 July 1
Box 2 Folder 19 “Ode to Friendship,” song dedicated to the Old Settlers Club by founder Ida McIntosh Dempsey, undated
Box 2 Folder 20 Solicitation for funds for poor children, Quinn Chapel Kindergarten Association, Chicago, 1901 November 1
Box 2 Folder 21 Program, Mass Meeting of Boys and Young Men, Quinn Chapel A.M.E. Church, 1918 March 24
Box 2 Folder 22 Newsletter, Quinn Chapel Beacon, 1921 April 17
Box 2 Folder 23 Quartette Contest, Usher Board, Quinn Chapel A.M.E. Church, 1934 February 11
Box 2 Folder 24 Class card for Lauretta Peyton, Quinn Chapel A.M.E. Church, 1941 October – 1942 September
Box 2 Folder 25 100th Anniversary Fund donations record book, Quinn Chapel A.M.E. Church, 1945-1947
Box 2 Folder 26 The Bulletin, Quinn Chapel A.M.E. Church, 1950 May 7
Box 2 Folder 27 Pamphlet, Ritual of the Daughters of Isis, undated
Box 2 Folder 28 Brochure on home furnishings, South Center Department Store, Chicago, 1951
Box 2 Folder 29 Introduction and Return Card, U.S. Department of Labor, Chicago, 1930 March 23
Box 2 Folder 30 Annual Report, White Rose Working Girls’ Home, New York City, 1907 December 31
Box 2 Folder 31 Brochure, YWCA, Oakland, California, 1920

Series 3: Pamphlets, Programs and Flyers

Box 3 Folder 1 Program, Order of the Eastern Star, Chicago, 1908 June 7
Box 3 Folder 2 Pamphlet, Joseph Knowland, “A Permanent Tariff Board, 1911
Box 3 Folder 3 Flyer, Mary Fitzbutler Waring, Appeal for exposition on “50 Years of Freedom,” Chicago, 1915
Box 3 Folder 4 Flyer, Grand Court, Daughter of Isis, Chicago, 1916 March 30
Box 3 Folder 5 Program, Chicago Musical College, 1916 June 17
Box 3 Folder 6 Bethel Weekly Tidings, Bethel A.M.E. Church, Chicago, 1918 and 1921
Box 3 Folder 7 Program, California State Federation of Colored Women’s Clubs, Oakland, California, 1919 July 29-31
Box 3 Folder 8 Program, National Missions, [city unknown], 1921 May 30
Box 3 Folder 9 Program, “Shuffle Along: A Musical Melange,” 63rd St. Music Hall, New York City, 1921 August 1
Box 3 Folder 10 Pamphlet, Kelly Miller, “The Negro Sanhedrin: A Call to Conference,” 1923
Box 3 Folder 11 Flyer, United Merchants Association, “List of Attorneys Retained in California”, Sacramento, California, 1923
Box 3 Folder 12 Program, Grace Presbyterian Church, Young People’s Forum, Chicago, 1924 June 29
Box 3 Folder 13 Flyer, Musical Program, First A.M.E. Zion Church, San Francisco, California, 1927. (Lauretta Peyton is listed as “principal reader”)
Box 3 Folder 14 Flyer for sale of “Printed Reports of the Du Bois-Stoddard Debate,” Chicago, 1929 March 17
Box 3 Folder 15 Flyer, appeal for support for Mission to Liberia, Sixteenth Episcopal District, A.M.E. Church, Baltimore, Maryland, circa 1930
Box 3 Folder 16 Program, Mother’s Day, New England Congregational Church, Chicago, 1931 May 10
Box 3 Folder 17 Flyer, University of Illinois at Urbana, 1932
Box 3 Folder 18 Flyer, Lecture by Dr. Wilbur V. Johnson on “A Century of Progress in Tuberculosis Prevention,” Hall of Science, World’s Fair, Chicago,1933
Box 3 Folder 19 Program, “The New World Order: A Series of Baha’i Lectures, Baha’i Assembly of Chicago, 1934 October
Box 3 Folder 20 Admission ticket, “Sadie Piccolla Turner, Soprano, in Concert,” Excelsior Social and Charity Club, Berean Baptist Church, Chicago, 1934 November 1
Box 3 Folder 21 Announcement, Marriage of Anita Barbara Houston to Herbert Earl Bailey, Chicago, 1935 May 9
Box 3 Folder 22 Program, Mt. Zion Congregational Temple, Cleveland, Ohio, 1935 July 21
Box 3 Folder 23 Announcement, Opening of medical office of Dr. Henry N. Cress, Chicago, circa 1938
Box 3 Folder 24 Program, “World of Music Festival,” Kansas City Public Schools, Kansas City, Missouri, 1939 April 5
Box 3 Folder 25 Flyers, Douglas League of Women Voters, February-April, 1941
Box 3 Folder 26 Program, Funeral Rites of Joanna Cecilia Snowden, Shiloh Seventh Day Adventist Church, Chicago, 1941 October 1
Box 3 Folder 27 Flyers, Citizens Committee of 100, Mass Meeting for Youth Jobs and National Defense, with Dr. Mary McLeod Bethune and Mayor Edward Kelly, Metropolitan Community Church, 1941 November 17
Box 3 Folder 28 “Program for 1942-1944,” National League of Women Voters, Washington, D.C. circa, 1942
Box 3 Folder 29 Flyer, Douglas League of Women Voters, Morris Eat Shop, 1946 April 16
Box 3 Folder 30 Program, Second Annual Installation and Musical Tea, The Friendly Twelve Cultural and Charity Club, Elam Home, 4726 South Parkway, Chicago, 1950 May 7
Box 3 Folder 31 Program, Funeral Services of Rev. Manuel Cox, Hartzell Methodist Church, 1959 July 22
Box 3 Folder 32 Pamphlet, “Complete Religion,” Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, Chicago, undated

Series 4: Serials and Clippings

Box 4 Folder 1 Clipping, “The Clansman, A Master Film,” Oakland (California) Tribune, circa 1915
Box 4 Folder 2 Clipping, “Pullman grants raise to porters and conductors,” publication unknown, 1916 July
Box 4 Folder 3 Serial, Key System News, “published by San Francisco-Oakland Terminal Railways,” 1917 August 18
Box 4 Folder 4 Clipping, “Rene Maran Prefers His African Home,” Boston Evening Transcript, 1922 January 7
Box 4 Folder 5 Clipping, “Something to Think About,” column by Bruno Lessing, publication unknown, 1922
Box 4 Folder 6 Serial, Chicago’s Health, “weekly bulletin of the Chicago Department of Health,” 1927 April 12
Box 4 Folder 7 Serial, Unity Daily Word, July 1927
Box 4 Folder 8 Serial, Edison Service News, Chicago, 1931 December and 1935 February
Box 4 Folder 9 Serial, Peoples Gas Gazette, 1932 January
Box 4 Folder 10 Clipping, “Samuel Davis,” (obituary), Chicago Tribune, 1932 February 15
Box 4 Folder 11 Clipping, “Two Receive Apologies. Why Not Three?” San Francisco Call-Bulletin, 1932 November 22
Box 4 Folder 12 Clipping, “Pedestrian Wins $8,000 From Wrong Side Driver,” San Francisco Herald Examiner, [1934]
Box 4 Folder 13 Clipping, “South Center Gives Away $2,000 in Church Contest,” Chicago Defender, 1935 March 23
Box 4 Folder 14 Clipping, “Giant, 19, Feels Belittled; Asks $150,000 in Suit,” Chicago Tribune, 1936 October 7
Box 4 Folder 15 Serial, The Tower of B’Abel, (Chicago YWCA publication), 1937 April
Box 4 Folder 16 Clipping, “Highest Budget in N.Y. History Wins Approval,” Chicago Tribune, 1937 October 6
Box 4 Folder 17 Clipping, “Film Folk Snub Mussolini’s Son,” Chicago Tribune, 1937 October 9
Box 4 Folder 18 Serial, Coronet, Chicago, 1943 August
Box 4 Folder 19 Serial, Christian Science Sentinel, Boston, March 22 1952 and 1961 January 28
Box 4 Folder 20 Clipping, “Hayes’ Second Recital Betters First Success,” [San Francisco], publication unknown, undated
Box 4 Folder 21 Clipping, “Negroes on Picnic at Aurora,” [on “Freed Men’s Chautauqua Outing”], publication unknown, probably 1890s
Box 4 Folder 22 Clippings, articles on Melissia Elam, Lauretta Peyton and Elam Club Home for Working Girls, Chicago Defender, 1912- 1915
Box 4 Folder 23 Clippings, articles on Melissia Elam, Lauretta Peyton and Elam Club Home for Working Girls, Chicago Defender,1922- 1929
Box 4 Folder 24 Clippings, articles on Melissia Elam, Lauretta Peyton and Elam Club Home for Working Girls, Chicago Defender, 1933-1939
Box 4 Folder 25 Clippings, articles on Melissia Elam, Lauretta Peyton and Elam Club Home for Working Girls, Chicago Defender, 1941-1946
Box 4 Folder 26 Clippings, articles on Melissia Elam, Lauretta Peyton and Elam Club Home for Working Girls, Chicago Defender, 1958-1960
Box 4 Folder 27 Clipping, article on Elam Club Home for Working Girls, Chicago Tribune, 1983 October 14

Series 5: Photographs

Box 5

Photograph

001

Studio photograph of unidentified young African American man, tintype, circa 1900
Box 5 002 Lauretta Peyton in orchard, 1930s
Box 5 003 Possibly Melissia Elam with family, circa 1910
Box 5 004 Portrait of children of Dr. Henry Cress, Jr. and Ida Mae Cress: (R to L) Frances Cress (Welsing), Barbara Cress (Lawrence), and Lorne Cress (Love), 1938. Photo by Patton Studio

Series 6: Memorabilia

Box 5 Folder 5 Melissia Elam’s account book from her 1881-82 trip through South and Midwest
Box 5 Folder 6 Unused postcards with greetings from tourist sites
Box 5 Folder 7 Bills, tickets, application cards, coupons, NAACP/Crisis form
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