Jelliffe, Russell W., 1891-1980.

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Russell W. and Rowena Woodham Jelliffe were social workers who in conjunction with the Second Presbyterian Church Men's Club of Cleveland, Ohio, founded the Neighborhood Association, popularly known as the Playhouse Settlement, in 1915. Founded primarily to aid African Americans who had migrated to Cleveland from the rural South, Playhouse Settlement offered the usual social services, but gained note for its dramatic and artistic programs. In 1927 the Jelliffes acquired property which was remodeled as a theater and named the Karamu Theater. In 1941, the Settlement was renamed Karamu House. The Jelliffes shared the directorship of Karamu House until their retirement in 1963, after which they served as trustees of the Karamu Foundation. Russell Jelliffe was also an active member of the Urban League, the Cleveland Community Relations Council on Race Relations, the executive committee of the local branch of the NAACP, and the Board of the Cleveland Council of Human Relations. He was involved with the Group Work Council of the Welfare Federation and was a trustee of Oberlin College and the Cleveland Civil Liberties Union. Rowena Jelliffe was involved in the NAACP, Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, the Urban League, the National Theatre Conference, the Board of Trustees of the Cleveland Guidance Center, and the Board of Directors of the American National Theatre and Academy. Both the Jelliffes received numerous honors and awards.

From the description of Russell and Rowena Jelliffe papers, 1914-1991. (Rhinelander District Library). WorldCat record id: 42755722

Archival Resources
Role Title Holding Repository
creatorOf Karamu House. Karamu House records, 1914-1979. Western Reserve Historical Society, Research Library
creatorOf Jelliffe, Russell W., 1891-1980. Russell and Rowena Jelliffe papers, 1914-1991. Western Reserve Historical Society, Research Library
Role Title Holding Repository
Relation Name
associatedWith Clark, Harold T. (Harold Terry), 1882-1965. person
associatedWith Hughes, Langston, 1902-1967. person
associatedWith Hurston, Zora Neale. person
associatedWith Jelliffe, Rowena Woodham, 1892-1992. person
associatedWith Karamu Foundation. corporateBody
associatedWith Karamu House. corporateBody
associatedWith Karamu Theater. corporateBody
associatedWith Playhouse Settlement. corporateBody
associatedWith Second Presbyterian Church (Cleveland, Ohio). Men's Club. corporateBody
Place Name Admin Code Country
Ohio--Cleveland
United States
Cleveland (Ohio)
Subject
Theater
African American dramatists
African Americans
African Americans in the performing arts
African American theater
Charitable uses, trusts, and foundations
Charities
Rural-urban migration
Social settlements
Social workers
Women social workers
Occupation
Activity

Person

Birth 1891

Death 1980

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