BLACK HISTORY NEWS & NOTES

AUGUST 1994 NUMBER 57

DNR Seeks Information about Black CCC Companies by Liz Dunn

5)7 TH CO CCC, CAMP W YANDOTTE, $-86, CORY DON, INDIANA

From 1933 to 1942, the Civilian and worked in the stone quarries in softball competitions, camp food, Conservation Corps (CCC) was Harrison-Crawford State Forest. and unforgettable people they met responsible for developing many of They were involved in evacuation in camp. the state properties operated by the operations during the Ohio River The DNR hopes to collect and Indiana Department of Natural flood of 1937. Later that year, preserve this oral history while it Resources (DNR). Last year the Company 517 was transferred to a still lives in personal memory, and DNR began a project to learn more location outside South Bend. to give the men credit for their about the specific contributions There the men traveled widely in the accomplishments. With a grant made by African-American CCC surrounding counties, working on from the Indiana Arts Commission companies. With assistance from an drainage projects and planting and the National Endowment for the Indiana Heritage Research Grant trees. The company moved to Port­ Arts, DNR will develop a public sponsored by the Indiana Historical land, Indiana, a few years later, to program to relate information about Society and the Indiana Humanities clear streams, plant windbreaks, life in the black CCC camps. Also Council, researchers have located a and lay drainage tiles. Company in the works is a reunion of CCC number of former enrollees, who 517 remained in Portland until the participants to be held 9 October have shared their remembrances. dissolution of the CCC in 1942. 1994 at Wyandotte Woods State Black CCC enrollees served in Although their work details varied Recreation Area near Corydon. several companies in Indiana, in from place to place, the men inter­ Those who have information to camps located near Bloomington, viewed agree about the strong disci­ share about the black CCC com­ Princeton, Wadesville, Mitchell, pline and sense of responsibility panies, or are interested in the and Fort Benjamin Harrison. they experienced in camp. They reunion should contact: Located near Corydon, at Camp have commented on the positive Liz Dunn Wyandotte, Company 517 was influence the CCC played in their Indiana State Parks probably the largest African-Amer­ lives. Stories shared by these men 402 West Washington, Room 298 ican CCC company in Indiana. include work in the stone quarries, Indianapolis, Indiana 46204 From 1933 until 1937, men from 517 planting trees, fighting fires, trips to 800 622-4931 (in Indiana) planted trees, fought forest fires, town for entertainment, boxing and 317 232-4143 (in Indianapolis)

BHNN_1994-08_NO57 The Life and Legacy of Mary Cable by Kelly K. Jones

INTRODUCTION Ellen Cable. Her name has graced for this oversight are prejudicial the facade of Indianapolis Public attitudes toward females and School No. 4 since 1952. But who blacks. Another reason has to do was Mary Cable, and why do we with the notoriety of other local It stands at the northwest corner know so little about her? African-Americans — particularly of Blackford and Michigan streets Every piece of information that that of Madam C.J. Walker, a busi­ — the last surviving reminder of the some researcher retrieves from its nesswoman who became an Indiana bustling life of its former students. dusty, crumbling beginnings (often model for rags-to-riches success. Mary E. Cable School No. 4 is all from handwritten or typed carbon History is for learning, remem­ that remains of the neighborhood manuscripts in archival special col­ bering, and teaching. In learning, that is now the campus of Indiana lections) is saved once again for dis­ we give ourselves the opportunity to University/Purdue University at covery by the next generation. And reexamine and redefine our beliefs. Indianapolis (IUPUI). Like many as attitudes and perceptions within In remembering, we can become neighborhoods caught up in urban our society grow and change, it inspired to behave in certain ways. development and expansion, this becomes possible for people to rec­ And in teaching, we provide future one has gradually given way to onsider this information with a fresh generations the chance to learn and “yuppie” encroachment, ostensi­ perspective. Such is the case with remember, thus starting the cycle bly in the name of higher education. Mary Cable. While her contribu­ once again. The importance of the Interesting, then, that apparently no tions to Indianapolis Public Schools history of Mary Cable, the Cable student who has trampled the beaten (IPS), her community, and the building, and the surrounding halls of this old elementary school NAACP and other civic groups are a neighborhood is not only what dis­ during the past thirteen years has significant part of Indianapolis his­ tinguishes it, but what makes it the taken an active, academic interest in tory, the details of her accomplish­ same as many other people, build­ its modest yet historic beginnings, ments have been virtually left to ings, and neighborhoods across the or those of its namesake, Mary crumble into dust. Partly to blame country. By learning about one past

Black History News and Notes is a quarterly publication of the Indiana Historical Society Library. Intended in part to highlight the activities of the library’s Black History Program, it is issued during the months of February, May, August, and November. Essential to the Black History Program’s success is community involvement and commitment to the study of Indiana’s African-American heritage. Along with Black History News and Notes, membership also includes the quarterly Indiana Magazine of History, published at Indiana University, News, the Indiana Historical Society’s bi-monthly newslet­ ter, and many of the special publications as they are issued — all for only $20.00 a year. To become a member or for further information, write the Indiana Historical Society, 315 West Ohio Street, Indianapolis, Indiana 46202 (317) 232-1882. Correspondence concerning Black History News and Notes should be addressed to Wilma L. Gibbs, Editor.

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2 situation, we come closer to under­ voted a ballot endorsed ‘Free twelve years chaired its finance standing the larger parts that make Schools’ and other citizens followed committee and championed the up the whole. his lead.” Blackford Street, movement for school playgrounds, named for the judge in appreciation earning himself the unofficial title EARLY EDUCATION AND of his actions, was the site of the first “father of parks and playgrounds” BLACK SETTLEMENT IN School No. 4, and is the location of (Sulgrove, 478; Board of School INDIANAPOLIS the Mary Cable building today. Commissioners, Historical Sketch Education was not the primary of School No. 24, 13; Historical THE FOURTH WARD concern of most early Indianapolis Sketch of School No. 4, 14). SCHOOL: THE FIRST settlers; in fact, the city’s first char­ A large, new wing was added to SCHOOL NO. 4 ter made no allowance for public the school in 1906; in 1917 more schools. While the number of The original structure on Black­ additions and improvements total­ blacks in Indianapolis remained ford Street at Michigan, in a largely ing $15,000 were made; and in small compared to the number of residential area once referred to as 1924, two years after IPS designated whites, it appeared acceptable for “the fourth ward,” was one of “the School 4 as a segregated institution, both races to attend the same two handsomest buildings in the it spent another $14,601 on renova­ schools. Until about 1830 when city” — the first Public School No. tions (.Historical Sketch of School “abolition sentiments created a sen­ 4. Its identical twin, Clemens Von- No. 4, 15). IPS systematically sation in the nation,” the few black negut Public School No. 9 on the improved its schools as the need children living in the city were corner of Vermont and Davidson arose, without much regard to the admitted to schools alongside their streets, was the other “handsome” racial makeup of the students. more numerous white counterparts building, modeled after the John According to Glory June Greiff, (Riley 288-303). Hancock School in Boston. Com­ Indianapolis author and historian, Because of labor shortages in pleted for white children in 1867 at a the schools for black children were Indianapolis and its surrounding cost of $35,500, School 4 was the designed and built with the same communities, the black population city’s oldest free public school still structural integrity, and with the grew significantly after President standing in 1934, the year after same architects, as the white Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclama­ Mary Cable’s retirement (Board of schools. However, since IPS tradi­ tion, effective on 1 January 1863 School Commissioners, Historical tionally gave black school projects a (Dunn 251; Thornbrough, Since Sketch of School No. 4, 2, 10, 19; lower priority than white school pro­ Emancipation 1). From 1860 to The Indianapolis News, 31 March jects, these projects often took 1880, the number of blacks in Indi­ 1934). The Fourth Ward School had longer to implement and complete anapolis increased by 6 percent — a basement, two full stories with (Telephone interview, 5 June 1994). from 2.7 to 8.7 percent of the total twelve rooms, and an attic, and In the early part of the twentieth population. During the years from received its heat from stoves or hot century, African-Americans in 1880 to 1950, this population air furnaces (Sanborn Fire Insur­ many major American cities, increased sharply and steadily, with ance Maps, Volume 2: 51; The Indi­ including Indianapolis, found the largest increase occurring anapolis News, 31 March 1934). themselves suffering in great num­ Five to seven hundred children in between 1910 and 1920. By 1950, bers from the deadly disease tuber­ eight grades could have boasted the number of blacks had reached culosis. IPS cited the growing such conveniences as an attic gym­ nearly 15 percent of the city’s inhab­ problem of the disease among black itants (Lehman 10). nastics area, hat and cloak pegs, and children as a reason to segregate the Because of the public’s lack of umbrella stands. Pupils at this first school attended classes year-round. races in the schools. Over protests support for education and the gen­ from white residents of the fourth eral exclusion of blacks from tax- These classes were held in separate ward community, the school system supported schools after 1830, free morning and afternoon sessions so designated the George Merritt schools became perhaps the most that the school’s only formally edu­ School as an all-black institution in controversial issue surrounding the cated teacher could instruct the September 1922 {Historical Sketch education of both whites and blacks other “teachers” while they were in Indianapolis. Many students of not occupied with their own stu­ of School No. 4, 16). Meanwhile, Indiana history, state residents, and dents (.Historical Sketch of School not far from School 4 at 908 West IUPUI students may recognize the No. 4, 4, 12). North Street, principal Mary Cable name Blackford. Judge Isaac The Board of School Commis­ battled tuberculosis cases at the Blackford helped turn the public sioners decided in 1912 to honor one William D. McCoy Public School tide in favor of these tax-supported of its former members, woolen mill No. 24. In 1916, working closely schools in 1866. According to Her­ owner George Merritt, by renaming with the Woman’s Improvement man Murray Riley in a 1930 Indiana the Fourth Ward School for him. A Club (WIC) of Indianapolis, a Magazine of History article (“A white man, George Merritt had group whose constitution and History of Negro Elementary Edu­ served on the school board from bylaws specifically stated its deter­ cation in Indianapolis”), he “openly 1874 to 1886, and during these mination to fight the spread of

3 tuberculosis and aid its victims, indeed remarkable. But in the days Health (Ferguson, Indiana Maga­ Mary Cable helped to establish one of Reconstruction, the Ku Klux zine of History, 259-260). of the first three “fresh air” class­ Klan, and Jim Crow laws, to have During her tenure at School 4, rooms in the city (WIC, ledger achieved so much as a black woman where she was principal from 1922 entries 1909-1910: 120, and 1918: was highly unusual, for black to her retirement in 1933, Mary 101; Ferguson, Indiana Magazine of women believed that “racism, as Cable advocated a strong academic History, 256). The idea of fresh air opposed to sexism, constituted the program that sought to compensate classrooms (also referred to as greater oppression” (Hine 81). for the “culturally limited back­ “open air” or “muslin window”) Bom Mary Ellen Montgomery in ground of her pupils,” many of originated in Germany. The class­ Leavenworth, Kansas in 1862, she whom were migrants from southern rooms were supposed to be healthier graduated from Leavenworth High states (Gale; Thornbrough, “The for children because they afforded a School, and attended the local History of Black Women in Indi­ continuous supply of fresh air and Teachers Normal College. Later ana,” 74). She had traveled exten­ sunshine. The improved regimen for she undertook her graduate studies sively both in the United States and these tuberculosis patients, how­ at the University of Chicago, and in Europe, to England, Germany, ever, went beyond providing them Columbia, Indiana, and Butler uni­ and France. Another means of with clean air. The pupils were versities. According to a 15 April helping her students grow beyond a encouraged to eat nutritious foods, 1933 Indianapolis News article typical education was her initiation sleep ten hours per night, and follow entitled “Meet Your Teacher,” of student councils for fifth through sanitary conditions such as hand Cable’s mother fostered and encour­ eighth grade students. The coun­ washing to ward off consumption aged her daughter’s ambition to cils’ purpose was to help students germs (Bates, 274-275). become a teacher, a decision Cable “contribute to the success of the Approximately one-third of the made because of her grade school school and find expression for tal­ black population of Marion County experiences. Before moving to ents they may posses (sic). ” Mary had tuberculosis, making up about Indianapolis to fill a teaching posi­ Cable viewed working mothers and three-fourths of reported cases, and tion for “ colored pupils” in 1893, “commercialized amusements” as transmission was approximately ten Cable had taught at schools in Fort economic conditions that caused new cases for every death (Fer­ Scott and Topeka, Kansas (Indian­ discipline problems within the edu­ guson, Indiana Magazine of His­ apolis News, 15 April 1933; Histor­ cation system, and she saw the stu­ tory, 248). During the summer of ical Sketch of School No. 24, 10). dent councils as a way of coping 1918, the WIC recorded six tuber­ Cable became a teacher, and later, with these problems (Indianapolis culosis deaths and sixty-eight new director of practice (student) teach­ News, 15 April 1944). cases, several of which they referred ers and principal at five IPS schools As director of practice teachers to the nurse at School 24 for treat­ — Schools 19, 23, 40, 24, and 4. for seventeen years, Mary Cable ment (WIC, ledger entries*, 1918: At School 23 she focused on mathe­ accomplished much for the Indian­ 108). The pleasant conditions stu­ matics, and at School 24 she was apolis Public Schools. According dents found at the school often instrumental in providing students to the Board of School Commis­ sharply contrasted their home in the incipient stages of tuber­ sioners, she provided intensive environments, and eventually culosis with a fresh air classroom. training to sixty-one graduates of helped create in them the desire for Also at School 24 in about 1908 and the Indianapolis Normal School for an improved quality of life (Riley, 1909, she supervised the school’s service with IPS, and several of 300). garden projects. These gardens those teachers eventually became were supposed to “foster habits of school administrators (Historical MARY ELLEN CABLE, good citizenship” (Gale), as well as Sketch of School No. 24, 10-12). EDUCATOR AND ACTIVIST beautify the neighborhood then Believing that teachers needed from “The influence of a teacher known as the “Old Flanner House three to five years to reach maturity, District,” a poor slum area between like Mrs. Mary Ellen Cable upon and that determining who would a community is not a force that West North Street and Indiana Ave­ succeed or fail as a teacher was can be defined, either in breadth nue that became the Lockefield Gar­ impossible, Cable said, “Bright or in time, for it has a quality of dens federal housing project during prospects often have deceived, and durability and duration which the 1930s (Indianapolis News, 15 promising ones have sometimes only later generations can April 1933; Indianapolis Historic fared the opposite” (Indianapolis assume to appraise” — Edi­ Preservation Commission, H-l to News, 15 April 1933). torial, The Indianapolis News, H-3). Flanner House (formerly In addition to her work as a 20 September 1944. known as Flanner Guild) included a teacher, Mary Cable was active in Mary Cable was an unusual tax-funded, free tuberculosis clinic many social and civic groups. In woman for her time. As a woman in opened in February 1919. It was 1912 she, along with other members the era before suffrage, indoor first managed by the Marion County of the Colored Women’s Civic plumbing, and washing machines Tuberculosis Society, and after Club, founded the first chapter of — to have achieved so much was August 1920, by the City Board of the National Association for the

4 Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) in Indiana. Cable served as the chapter’s first president, and Lucinda Hayden as its first vice president. The branch, the second oldest in the Midwest, was unique because all of its first officers and members were women (Thornbrough, “ The History of Black Women in Indi­ ana,” 80-82). According to Emma Lou Thornbrough, Mary Cable wrote a report to the national office after the chapter’s first year, explain­ ing the group’s motivation and their efforts to enroll new members: “We Bass Photo Collection 1HS 82007F Mary Cable School # 4. have done much to convince the indifferent that a membership fee late 1800s. Most of the modest And sing your praise down thru would aid much in helping the frame dwellings had one and a half these halls of fame, downtrodden brother who has fewer stories, porches, gables, and Time marches on but still your privileges.” Indifference bothered facades of whitewashed clapboard, name shall tower Mary Cable, because she wanted to and later, asbestos siding (,Sanborn As we here hail Mary E. Cable unite all of the small, independently Fire Insurance Maps, Volume 1: 17, School. acting groups so that they could 61 and Volume 2: 51; Glory June Thy precepts all we ever shall demand their rights: “It will take a Greiff, “Personal Notes,” ca. hold dear; torrent that will almost sweep us 1985). Integrity and truth above all else; from our feet before we will band as Mary Cable’s husband, George Strong spirit thine, stay ever to one power, forgetful of everything Washington Cable, was also an IPS us so near— other than that we are part of this teacher and administrator, as well as Help guide us as thy lessons we government, and must be dealt with a noted member of the community. shall stress. as men receiving all the rights and Their only son, Theodore, was bom God, always kind, help us privileges of citizenship.” Com­ in Topeka, Kansas on 3 September appreciate parable to many women’s civic 1892. Theodore graduated from Thy blessings all as we here ded­ groups at the time, the NAACP’s Shortridge High School in 1908, icate. primary concern was with helping and Harvard University in 1913. He the less fortunate. But Thorn­ attended the Indiana Dental Col­ Mary E. Cable School, down thru brough states that this particular lege, graduating in 1919, and had a the ages, group had “a new note of militancy dental practice in the Walker build­ An honor to thy name shall ever in the demands for the end of dis­ ing on Indiana Avenue. Like his be, crimination and recognition of cit­ parents, he was active in civic Study and leam, advice from all izenship rights” (Thornbrough, affairs such as the Indianapolis City the sages “The History of Black Women in Council, of which he was a member Is potent now as down thru his­ Indiana,” 80-82). from 1935 to 1938. He moved to tory, Cable also served as president of New York in 1949, and died there in Mary E. Cable School no sym­ the Colored Women’s Civic Club 1963 as a result of an automobile bol better (Indianapolis Recorder, 29 June accident (January and Walsh, 27; Ever stand fast in building char­ 1912), another charitable organiza­ The Indianapolis Times, 18 January acter. tion. She belonged to the Bethel 1963). African Methodist Episcopal Mary Cable retired from IPS in — Mrs. Mary S. Battles, Song of Church, the Browning Literary 1933, and died in 1944 following a Dedication — Mary E. Cable School Society, and the Sigma Gamma Rho five-year illness (Gale). 4 (to the tune of “Finlandia”) sorority (Ferguson, Encyclopedia of NEW SCHOOL NO. 4 In 1953, when construction of the Indianapolis, draft entry). new School 4 was completed and HONORS MARY E. CABLE PRIVATE LIFE the school was dedicated to Mary The Cables lived at 423 North Friend of our youth we give to Cable, the old School 4 where West Street, just a stone’s throw thee this hour, Cable had been principal still stood from School 4. Typical homes in To dedicate these halls to thy on the corner of Blackford and that area, now demolished because dear name, Michigan. The new school was of urban expansion and encroach­ Many the child you led from bud built just north of it, on the adjacent ment by IUPUI, were built in the to flower property that connected Blackford

5 and North streets. It was not until opened in 1953, the subject of (Indianapolis News, 1 November 1957, when the old school had been school desegregation had received 1967; Indianapolis News, 28 torn down and a new wing was only scant attention from the public, October 1968). The school board added, that the building took on the government, and news media. planned to exchange 350 students appearance that it has today. There were some black children from School 4 with students from At the dedication ceremony on 9 who attended white schools under schools 46, 47, and 49, giving the November 1953, Reverend I. Albert an 1877 law which provided them Mary Cable School a 39.8 percent Moore gave the invocation and ben­ the opportunity to attend these black enrollment (Indianapolis ediction. IPS Board of School Com­ schools if a separate school was not News, 31 August 1973). Eventually missioners president Grier M. available (Thornbrough, Since because of “underutilization” as Shotwell, General Superintendent Emancipation, 51). But as the cited by the school board, the Mary of Education Herman L. Shibler, African-American population in and the architects David and Lee E. Cable School No. 4 was closed in Bums presented the building at the Indianapolis steadily rose, the the summer of 1980 (Webb; Hamil­ dedication. Also present were “ white flight” to the suburbs left the ton). other school executives, board offi­ city approximately one-third black The school board declared the cials, the staff of School 4 and its (Lehman, 11; Title VII Proposal). building as surplus, and authorized principal John W. Brooks, Dr. The­ The result was that once the integra­ its sale in a September 1980 resolu­ odore Cable, members of the Mary tion ball got rolling, black children tion. Shortly thereafter it signed a E. Cable Club, and many friends, were bused out of the city to white three-year lease agreement with parents, and children. The building schools, white children were essen­ 1UPUI, negotiating an annual rate was accepted by Mrs. Eugene tially left alone, and the black of $50,000. In 1983 the university Armstrong, president of the Mary neighborhood schools faced closure renewed the lease under the same E. Cable Parent-Teacher Associa­ and eventual obliteration. terms, and in 1986 it purchased the tion. Media attention reached a fever­ building for $1,620,000 (Hamilton; There is limited descriptive docu­ ish pitch during the 1960s, with both Board of School Commissioners, mentation extant about the present- sides fearing busing and the loss of Construction Projects, Remodel­ structure. The documents that exist neighborhood schools. In 1968 the ing, Site Purchases, Proposed Pro­ specify all of the “ masculine” United States Justice Department jects: 1946-1991, 45). aspects of the building, such as its brought suit against the Indianap­ Why did IUPUI want the Mary construction (66,000 square feet olis Board of School Commis­ Cable building? One reason is that after the 1957 renovations), inner sioners for violating the Civil it needed a home for the Department workings (“faced curtain walls and Rights Act of 1964 by unlawfully of Speech, Theater, and Commu­ fire proof construction”), and cost segregating the city’s public schools nications, which was using space in $695,500 (Sanborn Fire Insurance (Title VII Proposal). A “ memo­ the Marott building on North Maps, Volume 1: 61; 1953 dedica­ randum of decision” by the United Meridian Street. In addition, the tion program). There is nothing that States District Court states that “on university decided that the school’s explains, for example, what the 18 August 1971, this court found and playground facilities would be “per­ floors were like when they were new concluded that IPS was guilty of fect” for the preschool children who and shiny and before they were worn unlawfully segregating the public attended the IUPUI Child Care Cen­ away by thousands of big and little schools within its boundaries. ” By ter. The university also planned to feet. this time the press was full of stories temporarily locate the ROTC pro­ There is nothing to describe the about the pros and cons of integra­ gram in the building (Webb). To “conveniences” of the 1950s, such tion and how to do it in an orderly refit the building for its new inhabi­ as the auditorium and gym, and the fashion (Indiana State Library clip­ tants, IUPUI converted the old gym tall wooden lockers in every class­ pings file). The man on the people’s and auditorium for adult use. Two room. School No. 4 was one of the chopping block was federal judge S. theater department professors, Dor­ few public schools that the city Hugh Dillin, whose unpopular, pro­ othy and J. Edgar Webb, drew rough rebuilt. The city demolished many posed plan would bus nearly five plans from which designer Ray nineteenth-century schools in the thousand children and close four Petersen created blueprints. In downtown and midtown areas to elementary schools (Allen). 1982 the project was completed make way for development, and While the Mary Cable School under the direction of Jim Walker, some of these schools, like No. 4’s was not among those four elemen­ technical director for the theater counterpart, dilapidated old No. 9, tary schools originally slated for who supervised a crew of untrained await the wrecker’s ball. closure, there were many plans to volunteers (Wright, News Release, “remedy” its 99 percent black pop­ THE EFFECTS OF ulation (Indianapolis News, 15 Feb­ 29 January 1982). Other than this INTEGRATION AND ruary 1973). By 1965, School 4 had project, school administrators EXPANSION ON THE MARY 877 black children and no white described the building as “well CABLE SCHOOL children enrolled. In 1967 the ratio maintained. ” It must have been the was 747 to 1; and in 1968 the number big feet of IUPUI students, rather When the doors of the new school of whites increased to three than those little grade school feet,

6 that wore away the once shiny tiles. Hamilton, Phyllis. “Personal Notes.” Indian­ Webb, Pat. “University Signs Lease For Grade apolis Public Schools Education Services Sch ool.” The Sagamore (IUPUI student According to building services Center, ca. 1978-1994. newspaper), 4 February 1981. personnel, the Mary Cable building Hine, Darlene Clark. When the Truth is Told: A Who's Who in Colored America. New York: will be closed in about five years. History of Black Women's Culture and Com­ Thomas Yenser, 1942. The words of Glory June Greiff say munity in Indiana, 1875-1950. Indianapolis: Wright, Charlotte Hughes. News Release best what needs to be said: “Oops! The National Council of Negro Women ,1981. (untitled). Indianapolis: IUPUI News Bureau, 18 August 1981. There goes another reminder of A Historical Sketch of School No. 4: A History of George Merritt School Number Four. Indi­ Wright, Charlotte Hughes. News Release black culture in Indianapolis. ” In a anapolis: The Board of School Commis­ (untitled). Indianapolis: IUPUI News letter to the editor of the Indianap­ sioners of the City of Indianapolis, 1953. Bureau, 29 January 1982. olis News on 2 March 1987, Greiff A Historical Sketch of School No. 24: History of Kelly K. Jones, a former United states “Surely the black history of William D . McCoy School Number 24. Indi­ States Air Force historian is an Indianapolis consists of more than anapolis: The Board of School Commis­ undergraduate student majoring in an isolated monument to a black up- sioners of the City of Indianapolis, 1953. Indianapolis Recorder, 29 June 1912. English and French. She is the edi­ from-poverty millionairess (how­ Institutional Self-Study, 1982: IUPUI. Indiana torial assistant for the Journal of ever worthy).” When it’s gone, it’s University and Purdue University at Indianap­ Teaching Writing and a member of gone. Too bad, isn’t it? olis Library Archives, 1982. the Writing Fellows Program at IUPUI Master Plan For Development: 1976-1986. Indiana University and Purdue IUPUI. University at Indianapolis Library Archives, 1976. 1-1 through I-10. Works Cited January, Alan F. and Justin E. Walsh. A Century Negro Registers of Achievement: Black Hoosiers in the Indi­ ana General Assembly, 1881-1986. Indianap­ Allen, Philip. “Board Gambling With Busing Coy Robbins recently completed olis: The Select Committee on the Centennial Plan.” Indianapolis News, 18 August 1973. History of the General Assembly, 1986. Indiana Negro Registers Bates, Barbara. Bargaining For Life: A Social Leming, Bertha O. “Work of the Social Service 1852-1865. The volume is a com­ History of Tuberculosis, 1878-1938. Phila­ Department of the Indianapolis Schools.” pilation of fifteen “Registers of delphia: Barbara Bates, 1992. Master’s thesis. Bloomington: Indiana Uni­ Battles, Mary S. Song of Dedication: Mary E. Negroes and Mulattoes” main­ versity, 1931. Cable School # 4. Indianapolis Public tained by the clerks of Indiana “Maiy Cable Dies; Taught 40 Years.” Indianap­ Schools Education Services Center Teachers’ county courts between 1852-1865. olis News, 19 September 1944. Library, ca. 1953. (Loose page in: A Histor­ They were mandated by an act, “Meet Your Teacher.” Indianapolis News, 15 ical Sketch of School No. 4: A History of approved in 1852, to enforce the George Merritt School Number Four.) April 1933. Board of School Commissioners. Construction “Negro Education in Indianapolis. ” Indianapolis thirteenth article of the state con­ Projects, Remodeling, Site Purchases, Pro­ News, 31 March 1934. stitution. For the first time, these posed Projects: 1946-1991. Indianapolis “Negro Education in Indianapolis.” Indianap­ registers have been made available Public Schools, 1991. olis News, 17 March 1934. in one publication, fully indexed, Charter, Indianapolis Branch of the National Research Files, National Register Nomination. with documentation. An important Unpublished Manuscript, Historic Land­ Association for the Advancement of Colored source of African-American history People, 24 May 1913. NAACP Manuscript marks Fondation of Indiana. Collection, Library of Congress. Riley, Herman Murray. “A History of Negro during the antebellum era, this book Dedication Program, Mary E. Cable School No. Elementary Education. ” Indiana Magazine also contains a wealth of genealogi­ 4, 9 Nov 1953. of History, 1930. cal information. Over two thou­ “Dr. Theodore Cable, Ex-Legislator, Dies.” The Sanborn Fire Insurance Maps of Indianapolis. sand registrants are identified as free New York: Pelham, 1954. Indianapolis Times, 18 January 1963. people of color and Hoosier resi­ Sulgrove, Berry Robinson, History of Indianap­ Dunn, Jacob Piatt. Greater Indianapolis: The dents, primarily in the southern History, the Industries, the Institutions, and olis and Marion County, Indiana. Phila­ the People of a City of Homes. Chicago: The delphia: L.H. Everts & Co., 1884. region of the state. Counties repre­ Lewis Publishing Co., 1910. Volume 1. “ 32.83% in City Schools are Negroes.” Indian­ sented in the collection are: Bar­ Ferguson, Earline Rae. “Mary E. Cable.” apolis News, 1 November 1967. tholomew, Floyd, Franklin, Gibson, Encyclopedia of Indianapolis: The City’s His­ Thornbrough, Emma Lou. “The History of Harrison, Hendricks, Jackson, tory, Culture, and People. Indianapolis: Black Women in Indiana,” Indiana’s African- Jefferson, Knox, Martin, Ohio, Indiana University and Purdue University at American Heritage: Essays From Black His­ Indianapolis POLIS Research Center, forth­ tory News & Notes, edited by Wilma L. Orange, Switzerland, and Wash­ coming, ca. 1994. Gibbs. Indianapolis: Indiana Historical Soci­ ington. Each entry includes: Ferguson, Earline Rae. “The Woman’s Improve­ ety, 1993. name, age, description, place of ment Club of Indianapolis: Black Women Thornbrough, Emma Lou. The Indianapolis birth, residence, names of wit­ Pioneers in Tuberculosis Work, 1903-1938.” Story: School Segregation and Desegregation Indiana Magazine of History, Volume 84. in a Northern City, 1989. Unpublished man­ nesses, and date registered. The Gale, Frederick. A Biographical Study of Per­ uscript at the Indiana Historical Society. description category often includes sons For Whom Indianapolis Schools Are Thornbrough, Emma Lou. Since Emancipa­ names of parents, when available, Named. Indianapolis: Indianapolis Public tion. Indianapolis: Indiana Division Ameri­ and physical characteristics. The Schools Public Relations Department, 1965. can Negro Emancipation Centennial Author­ book is available from Heritage ity, 1963. Greiff, Glory June. Public Schools and the Books, Inc., 1540-E Pointer Ridge Neighborhood Life-Cycle. Indianapolis: Title VII Proposal. Indianapolis: United States Indianapolis Regional Office Historic Land­ District Court, Southern District of Indiana, PL, Suite 301, Bowie, MD 20716, marks Foundation of Indiana, 1985. Indianapolis Division, 1973. (800) 398-7709.

7 Articles & Essays The editor of Black History News & Notes is interested in receiving for consideration brief manuscripts on the political, economic, social, and cultural history of blacks in Indiana. Consideration is also given to arti­ cles and essays in the general fields of African-American history and blacks in the Old Northwest, if they have obvious relevance to Indiana. Manuscripts should be submitted in duplicate, double spaced, and approximately eight to ten pages. Roselyn Comer Richardson and her husband, Henry J. Richardson, Jr., at the Manuscripts should be prepared in Theresa Hotel in New York City. ca. 1940 accordance with the University of Chicago, A Manual of Style, 13th The Indiana Historical Society tion reflects her involvement with edition. Accompanying pho­ has acquired the papers of Roselyn numerous social and civic organiza­ tographs and illustrations are also Comer Richardson. Richardson tions. The collection complements welcomed. The Indiana Historical came to Indianapolis in 1938, as the her husband’s papers, donated to the Society disclaims responsibility for bride of prominent attorney and for­ Historical Society in 1985. The statements, whether of fact or opin­ mer Indiana legislator, Henry J. Roselyn Richardson collection will ion, made by contributors. Richardson, Jr. An activist in her be available for patron use on 1 own right, Richardson’s rich collec­ November 1994.

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