| 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:
- Quinn Chapel A.M.E. Church Archives
- Grace Mason Papers/Atkinson Photograph Collection
- William McBride Papers
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 |
