Indiana Historical Society - Manuscripts & Archives
User Information
Historical Sketch
Scope and Content Note
Box and Folder Listing
Cataloguing Information
Processed by:
Wilma L. Gibbs
5 June 1995
VOLUME OF COLLECTION: 3 folders
COLLECTION DATES: Inclusive 1942-1984; Bulk 1972-1980
PROVENANCE: Susan Dickey, Indiana State Museum, Indianapolis, IN 46204, 6 August 1984
RESTRICTIONS: None
REPRODUCTION RIGHTS: Permission to reproduce or publish material in this collection must be obtained in writing from the Indiana Historical society
RELATED HOLDINGS: None
ACCESSION NUMBER: 95.0004X
NOTES: The Elizabeth H. Kelley Collection was donated during the Black Women in the Middle West Project.
The Black Women in the Middle West Project was a collection effort to gather primary source materials of African-American women in Illinois and Indiana. The project, spearheaded by Darlene Clark Hine and Patrick Bidelman at Purdue University, was conducted in three phases from 1977-1985. Project records are located at five repositories within the two states including the Indiana Historical Society (IHS) [also houses the project's administrative records], Calumet Regional Archives, and the Northern Indiana Historical Society in Indiana and the Chicago Historical Society and the Illinois State Historical Society in Illinois. (Although the implementation phase of the project was from 1984-1985, several of the collections were donated to IHS in 1986).
Additional information about the project is contained in The Black Women in the Middle West Project: A Comprehensive Resource Guide, Illinois and Indiana (E185.6 .B53 1986), edited by Hine and Bidelman, et. al and Wilma L. Gibbs's article "In Retrospect: The Black Women in the Middle West Project at the Indiana Historical Society," in Indiana's African-American Heritage: Essays from Black History News & Notes (E185.93 .I4 B 52 1993).
Elizabeth H. Rile Kelley (3 September 1909- ) was born near Liberty in Union County, Indiana. After graduating from Oxford High School in Oxford, Ohio, she matriculated at Miami University where she received an AB degree in 1933. In 1937 Elizabeth Rile married Harold B. Kelley. After the marriage, they made their home in Richmond, Indiana. Two children, Marilyn Ann and Harold W. were born to this union. The Kelleys, along with Henry and Mary Ina Bass were co-owners of the Specialty Record Shop, Inc. The shop, which opened in 1947, operated in downtown Richmond for over three decades.
A prolific writer, Kelley has written numerous newspaper and magazine articles about different topics. In 1943, she organized the Reader's Expression Guild, a local club for study, self-improvement, and self-expression for black women. She was also a member of the Tinley Parent Teacher Association, Civic Theatre Organization, and the Women's Auxiliary of the Richmond Symphony Orchestra.
Source: Materials in the collection.
This collection contains 3 folders pertaining to Elizabeth H. Kelley. Folder 1 includes biographical information about Kelley. In 1943, Kelley organized the Reader's Expression Guild in Richmond, Indiana. Folder 2 contains a 1947-1948 program booklet and a 12th anniversary pamphlet of the organization. Kelley wrote several articles that were published in local venues. Most of the articles pertained to Richmond history. An article written by Kelley about the bird-of-paradise plant was published in the December 1970 issue of Home Garden & Flower Grower.
Folder
1: Biographical information
2: Reader's Expression Guild
3: Newsclippings
MAIN ENTRY: Kelley, Elizabeth H., 1909-
SUBJECT ENTRIES: Kelley, Elizabeth H., 1909-
Black Women in the Middle West Project
Reader's Expression Guild
Afro-American women--Indiana--Richmond
Afro-American women--Indiana--Richmond--Societies, etc.
Richmond (Ind.)--History
Richmond (Ind.)--Clubs
END