Spence family collection, 1812-1961.

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Spence family collection, 1812-1961.

http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/71059479

The Genealogy series consists of charts and data regarding the immediate Spence family and that of extended family clans. This series contains biographical information developed and retained by the family members themselves; incorporates data on the Spence family migrating to America from Scotland; and extended family data on the Chase, Mackie, Ross, Bennett, and McDonald families. The Correspondence series contains twenty subseries: Adam K. Spence (Surgeon); Elizabeth Ross-Spence; Thomas Spence; Mrs. Thomas Spence; Elizabeth Spence; Adam K. Spence; Catherine Spence; Mary Elizabeth Spence; James Spence; Georgia Spence; Edwin Spence; Julia Spence; Frederick Chase; Mabel Chase; Stanley Chase; Cleveland Chase; The Mackie Family; The Ross Family; Fisk Related; and Unidentified. The Fisk Related subseries applies to correspondence that clearly was centered on Fisk University endeavors. The Unidentified subseries reflects obvious correspondence, but is not identifiable by name. Topics include inter-family communication, racial attitudes centered on the Civil War years from Union and Confederate perspectives, the social fabric of post-reconstruction America, the work of the American Missionary Association and its correlation with the Congregational Church, the establishment of freedom schools in such towns as Murfreesboro, Tenn., and attitudes towards missionary zeal that helped African-Americans educate themselves in towns like Trenton, Tenn. Further topics include extensive national and international missionary travel and missionary work, including that of Rev. A.P. Miller, a former slave and Fisk student and missionary in Sierra Leone, West Africa; and Henrietta Matson, whose assignments took her to Africa, Europe, and the Caribbean Islands; early Jubilee songs and its lyrics and musical scores; conditions that existed on the Fisk University campus, including: leadership development, student enrollment, opinions of trustees, campus facilities, appointments and difficulties of presidents, the significance of the Fisk alumni fund, and exchange among faculty members. The Writings series consist of addresses, essays, notes, poems, and speeches of various Spence family members and is organized into eight subseries: Elizabeth Ross-Spence; Adam K. Spence; Catherine Spence; Edwin Spence; Julia Spence; Mary Spence; George McDonald; and Family. The majority of writings are from Adam K. Spence and his daughter Mary E. Spence. including poems and essays, and twenty-two biographical profiles that appear to be a project she was compiling. Other items include classroom materials in the early classics of English, French, and Latin. The Miscellaneous Family Materials, Documents and Important Papers series contains such documents as naturalization papers, a minister's license, and family records including condolences, funeral arrangements, and wills. The Financial Records series contain various local and out-of-state business records, including land deeds. The Family Memorabilia series includes holiday and birthday information and currency and stamps from the Civil War era. The Photographs series consist of two subseries; immediate family and extended family, respectively. The Fisk Related Materials series is abundant in clippings and data on most notably the Jubilee Singers, including leaflets, programs, and translations of critiques from their 1877 Berlin, Germany, experience. Information pertaining to W.E.B. DuBois, Charles S. Johnson, and John Wesley Work II is included along with data on the administration, alumni, faculty and staff, and students. Photographs of respective groupings appear at the end of the series. The Collection series consists of eight subseries: Art Prints; Books; Brochures, Leaflets and Pamphlets; Clippings; Free Papers, Maps, Newspapers, Obituaries and Periodicals; Photographs: Miscellaneous and Unidentified; Printed Matter, Programs and Sheet Music; and Writings/Notes by Others. This series consists of mostly loose items collected and maintained by Mary E. Spence. It also includes a copy of freedom papers in the case of Regan vs. Mahan (Jan. 1860), and important writings on the establishment of public education and free schools in the South.

50 linear ft. (100 boxes).

John Hope and Aurelia E. Franklin Library. Special Collections & Archives

Information

SNAC Resource ID: 8073549

Related Entities

There are 31 Entities related to this resource.

Jubilee Singers (Fisk University)

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w6vz18m0 (corporateBody)

The Fisk Jubilee Singers originated with nine students, Isaac Dickerson, Maggie Porter, Minnie Tate, Jennie Jackson, Benjamin Holmes, Thomas Rutling, Eliza Walker, Green Evans, and Ella Sheppard, who set out on a concert tour of the North on 6 Oct. 1871 to save the financially ailing Fisk University; idea to form the group was conceived by George L. White, Fisk University's white treasurer; because the University disapproved of the idea, White had to borrow money for the tour; White gave the gro...

Fisk University

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w6998xcv (corporateBody)

Established as Fisk Free Colored School in Nashville, Tenn., in Dec. 1865 by John Ogden, Rev. Erastus Milo Caravath, and Rev. Edward P. Smith; named in honor of Gen. Clinton B. Fisk, assistant commissioner of the Freedmen's Bureau for Tennessee and Kentucky, who provided the new institution with facilities and contributed over $30,000 to the school; opened on 9 Jan. 1866 with almost two hundred students of all ages; incorporated as Fisk University on 22 Aug. 1867 after its curriculum shifted to ...

Spence, Thomas, Mrs.

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w6cs3qpz (person)

Johnson, Charles Spurgeon, 1893-1956

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w6930wjk (person)

Sociologist, race relations expert, author, lecturer, teacher, and college administration; first African American president of Fisk University (1946-1956). From the description of Charles Spurgeon Johnson records, 1858-1956. (Fisk University). WorldCat record id: 70970119 First black president of Fisk University, elected Oct. 1946, inaugurated Nov. 1947; served until 1956; Head of Dept. of Social Science, Fisk University, 1928-1947; sociologist, race relations expert, author...

Spence, Catherine

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w6m62ctj (person)

Spence, Georgia Gayle

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w68t2kt4 (person)

Spence, Elizabeth, active 19th century

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w6482854 (person)

Spence, Thomas K.

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w676702m (person)

Ross-Spence, Elizabeth

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w62g5knq (person)

Mackie family.

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w6p07mws (family)

Chase, Frederick, 1833-1903

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w6vb65dr (person)

Work, John Wesley, 1873-1925

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w6q82s28 (person)

John Wesley Work (1873-1925), African American composer and university professor from Nashville, Tennessee. From the description of John Wesley Work papers. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 173863190 ...

McDonald family.

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w6jj30cc (family)

Macdonald, George, 1862-1940

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w6058cws (person)

McDonald enlisted in Company F, 6th Michigan Infantry in March 1864 in Charlotte (Eaton County, Mich.) at the age of 22. He was mustered in April 1864 and transferred to Company H in May 1864. He died of disease at Fort Gaines (Ala.) on June 10, 1865 and is buried in the National Cemetery at Mobile (Ala.), Grave No. 602. (For further information see the history of the 6th Michigan Infantry.) There is no information available on his sister and brother-in-law. From the description of C...

Chase, Stanley Perkins, 1884-1951

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w6tm9x2z (person)

Stanley Chase was born Stanley Cohen on May 3, 1928 in Brooklyn, New York. He graduated from New Utrecht High School in 1944, and enlisted in the Navy at age 17. He received his B.A. from New York University in 1949, and immediately pursued graduate study in drama at Columbia University. In 1950 Chase went to work for CBS Television and met Carmen Capalbo, with whom he eventually produced the record-breaking musical off-Broadway hit, The threepenny opera. Chase followed the success of that produ...

Spence, Adam K. (Adam Knight), 1831-1900

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w6pc4fxt (person)

Professor of French at the University of Michigan. From the description of Adam Knight Spence papers, 1870 and [187-]. (University of Michigan). WorldCat record id: 34422365 ...

Du Bois, W. E. B. (William Edward Burghardt), 1868-1963

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w6gk06z2 (person)

W. E. B. Du Bois was an American sociologist, socialist, historian, civil rights activist, Pan-Africanist, author, writer and editor. Educated at Fisk University, he did graduate work at the University of Berlin and Harvard, where he was the first African American to earn a doctorate. Du Bois became a professor of history, sociology and economics at Atlanta University. Due to his contributions in the African-American community he was seen as a member of a Black elite that supported some aspects ...

Spence, Julia

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w6gr4vtc (person)

Spence, James, 1816-

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w6qg6r3w (person)

Spence, Adam K. (Adam Knight), 1831-1900

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w6pc4fxt (person)

Professor of French at the University of Michigan. From the description of Adam Knight Spence papers, 1870 and [187-]. (University of Michigan). WorldCat record id: 34422365 ...

Spence family.

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w6zh65dd (family)

Matson, Henrietta

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w66x2wn1 (person)

Spence, Mary E. (Mary Elizabeth), 1865-1962

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w61s4mqf (person)

Adam K. Spence (1831-1900) was the first academic dean of Fisk University in Nashville, Tenn., and his daughter Mary Elizabeth Spence, a graduate of Fisk who taught classical literature there until her death in 1927. She was the principal collector of the materials. From the description of Spence family collection, 1812-1961. (Fisk University). WorldCat record id: 71059479 ...

Chase, Mabel

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w6fn94f9 (person)

Miller, A. P., Rev.

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w6md6vc3 (person)

American Missionary Association

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w6n916xs (corporateBody)

Known chiefly for its educational work among African Americans, the American Missionary Association also worked with other ethnic groups. From the description of American Missionary Association records, 1820's-1870's (Detroit Public Library). WorldCat record id: 668992371 ...

Chase family.

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w6dk4twh (family)

Ross family.

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w67j0xs0 (family)

Bennett family.

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w6s56575 (family)

Chase, Cleveland Bruce, 1903-1975

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w6x42vb5 (person)

Spence, Edwin

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w6v48sfb (person)