Indiana Historical Society - Manuscripts & Archives
User Information
Biographical sketch
Scope and Content note
Box and folder Inventory
Cataloguing Information
Processed by
Robert W. Eherenman
VOLUME OF COLLECTION: 2 manuscript boxes
COLLECTION DATES: 1962-1985
PROVENANCE: Mrs. Emma Lee Chester, Indianapolis, Ind
RESTRICTIONS: None
REPRODUCTION RIGHTS: Permission to reproduce or publish material in this collection must be obtained in writing from the Indiana Historical Society
ALTERNATE FORMATS: None
OTHER FINDING AIDS: None
RELATED HOLDINGS: M 499, Black Women In The Middle West Project--Miscellaneous; M 530, Black Women In The Middle West Project Records
ACCESSION NUMBER: 84.1110
NOTES: Photographs stored in Visual Collections
Emma Lee Chester, nee Devine, was born in Starkville, Mississippi on November 8, 1942. The oldest of Aron and Teadie Devine's ten children has been a resident if Indianapolis since 1972. She married Elder E. Chester, a minister and a teacher. Emma Chester received her bachelor of arts degree from Mississippi State University in 1970. In 1978, she graduated from Indiana University at Indianapolis with her master of science diploma. Chester has also attended Los Angeles City College, Jackson State University, and Los Angeles Trade-Technical College. In 1972, Emma Chester became a teacher for the Indianapolis Public Schools, a position she still holds today.
She has a long list of honors and awards, including the Mary McLeod Betune Achievement Award from the National Council of Negro Women, a proclamation from Mayor Hudnut of Indianapolis, and a series of Who's Who biographies (including Who's Who in the Midwest and Who's Who in the World). Chester has been a member of the Foursquare Tabernacle Church of God in Christ since 1971. Her service includes the founding of the Tabernacle's radio ministry in 1981. Emma Chester's community activities are the Urban League, NAACP, Word Women International, Indianapolis Zoological Society, Black History Committee, 15,000 Club (for the needy), National Association of Biology Teachers, Hoosier Association of Science Teachers, and American Biographical Institute Research Association.
Source: The Black Women in the Middle West Project: A Comprehensive Resource Guide Illinois and Indiana, p. 96
This collection contains the personal papers of Emma Lee Chester. The material was gathered under the auspices of the Black Women in the Middle West project. The papers span a period of time from 1962 to 1985, with a heavy concentration of material from 1984. The collection consists of letters, newspaper clippings, award certificates, poems, church newsletters and programs, and material concerning the Indiana Education Association and the Indiana State Teachers Association. Included in this collection are the papers of Juia Davis, a worker for the Marion County Department of Public Welfare. The collection consists of mainly letters, memoranda, and certificates.
Box 1 has the background information of Emma Lee Chester. Included in this box are letters, awards, and a tape of one of Chester's speeches. There is also material dealing with the National Council of Negro Women and other service organizations. It also contains material from Chester's community and religious activities. There is information of Foursquare Tabernacle Church, including The Foursquare Messenger, the church newsletter. Also in this box are records of her teaching activities and the various educational organizations she belonged to.
Box 2 holds Julia Davis' papers. Included is background information, memoranda, correspondence from 1982 to 1984, awards, and material concerning her religious life.
Box 1: Emma Lee Chester Papers; Church and Educational Activities
Folder 1: Emma Lee Chester: family
Folder 2: Emma Lee Chester: Who's Who Listings 1984
Folder 3: Emma Lee Chester: correspondence 1962-1985
Folder 4: Emma Lee Chester: certificates and awards
Folder 5: Emma Lee Chester: writings and speech tape
Folder 6: Emma Lee Chester: National Council of Negro Women 1984
Folder 7: Emma Lee Chester: other organizations
Folder 8: Emma Lee Chester: miscellaneous
Folder 9: Emma Lee Chester: church activities 1965-1984
Folder 10: Foursquare Tabernacle Messenger May 1983-Nov 1984
Folder 11: Foursquare Tabernacle Programs 1983-1984
Folder 12: Program for the 27th Women's International Convention of the Church of God in Christ, May 10-15, 1977
Folder 13: Emma Lee Chester: teaching related activities
Folder 14: Emma Lee Chester: educational organizations 1983-1985
Folder 15: Indiana Educational Association 1983-1984
Folder 16: Indiana State Teachers Association 1983-1984
Folder 17: ISTA Fall Assembly Reports 1984
Box 2: Julia Davis's Papers
Folder 1: Background
Folder 2: Memoranda 1972-1983
Folder 3: Correspondence 1982-1984
Folder 4: Certificates 1982-1984
Folder 5: Religious material
MAIN ENTRY: Chester, Emma Lee, 1942-
SUBJECT ENTRIES: Chester, Emma Lee, 1942-
National Council of Negro Women. Indianapolis Section
Foursquare Tabernacle Church of God in Christ (Indianapolis, Ind.)
Indianapolis Education Association
Indiana State Teachers Association
Marion County (Ind.) Department of Public Welfare
Church of God--Indiana--Indianapolis
Black Women in the Middle West Project
Afro-American women--Indiana--Indianapolis
Afro-Americans--Indiana--Indianapolis
Women--Indiana--Indianapolis
Afro-American women--Indiana--Indianapolis--Societies, etc.
Afro-American churches--Indiana--Indianapolis
Afro-American teachers and the community--Indiana--Indianapolis
Afro-Americans--Education--Indiana--Indianapolis
Afro-Americans--Indiana--Indianapolis--Religion
Afro-Americans--Indiana--Indianapolis--Societies, etc.
Religious education--Indiana--Indianapolis
Women and religion--Indiana--Indianapolis
Women in church work--Indiana--Indianapolis
Education--Indiana--Indianapolis
Women teachers--Indiana--Indianapolis
Education--Indiana--Indianapolis--Societies, etc.
Teachers--Indiana--Indianapolis--Societies, etc.
Religious broadcasting--Indiana--Indianapolis
Newsletters--Indiana--Indianapolis
Food stamp programs--Indiana--Indianapolis
Public welfare--Indiana--Indianapolis
Social workers--Indiana--Indianapolis
ADDED ENTRIES: Davis, Julia M.
END