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K. Mélanie Edwards Collection, 1910-1988

 

Summary

Extent:
2.00 boxes One (1) document case and one (1) flat oversized box
Language:
English
Preferred citation:

K. Mélanie Edwards Collection, Thomas G. Carpenter Library, University of North Florida, Jacksonville, Florida.

Background

Scope and content:

This collection consists of family materials collected by Mildred Edwards née Johnson. The collection is divided into four series:

Series 1 – Ephemera includes a J. Rosamond Johnson calling card, a U.S. War Bonds paper sleeve, a key to the City of Jacksonville, and a felt silverware caddy from Greenleaf and Crosby Co.

Series 2 – Newspaper Articles consists of four articles about J. Rosamond and James Weldon Johnson.

Series 3 – Photographs has a number of family photographs, mostly from the early 1910s. The majority of the photographs are not labeled or dated.

Series 4 – Sheet Music includes one piece of sheet music by J. Rosamond Johnson.

Biographical / historical:

K. Mélanie Edwards is the only child of Mildred and Hedley Vivian Edwards. Her mother, Mildred Edwards née Johnson, was the only child of John Rosamond and Nora Floyd Johnson. John Rosamond Johnson and his brother James Weldon Johnston were born in Jacksonville, Florida. They were both composers and educators and are known for their collaborative anthem "Lift Every Voice and Sing."

Mélanie's mother Mildred was born in Jacksonville in 1914, and grew up in New York City. Mildred attended the Ethical Culture and Fieldston Schools and upon graduation, attended the Ethical Culture School's Teacher Training Department. As the first African American graduate of the program, Mildred met resistance when seeking a teaching position. In 1934, at the age of twenty, Mildred founded her own private school in New York City, The Modern School, to fill the gap of educational opportunities afforded to the African American community.

Mélanie also graduated from the Ethical Culture and Fieldston Schools. She worked with her mother at The Modern School where she taught and served as the Director of Curriculum Development. During her 40-year career as an educator, Mélanie also worked at Fordham University, the Schomburg Library, and the East Harlem Council for Community Improvement.

Acquisition information:
The collection was acquired through donation from K. Mélanie Edwards, 2015-02-03.
Rules or conventions:
Describing Archives: A Content Standard

Access and use

Restrictions:

The collection is open for research by appointment only. Please contact lib-special@unf.edu to schedule an appointment.

Terms of access:

Materials in the collection may be subject to copyright and are to be used for private study, scholarship, or research in accordance with the copyright law of the United States (Title 17, United States Code). Use of reproductions of copyrighted works in excess of "fair use," may result in the user's liability for copyright infringement and be subject to the civil and criminal penalties of federal law. Visit the United States Copyright Office's website at http://www.copyright.gov/ for further information

Preferred citation:

K. Mélanie Edwards Collection, Thomas G. Carpenter Library, University of North Florida, Jacksonville, Florida.

Location of this collection:
Thomas G. Carpenter Library
1 UNF Drive
Jacksonville
FL
32224
USA