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Lester and Agnes Parker Collection, ca. 1945-1985

(Manuscript Collection #1005)

Descriptive Summary

Title:	Lester and Agnes Parker Collection
Creators:	Parker, Agnes Parker, Lester
Repository:	ECU Manuscript Collection
Languages:	English
Abstract:	Collection (1945-circa 1980s, undated) of clippings, photographs, Christmas cards, World War II ration books, relating to the Parker family, “Pitch a Boogie Woogie” a film with an all-black cast, the Corner Stone Baptist Church, and Mt. Calvary Free Will Baptist Church of Greenville, North Carolina.
Extent:	0.32 Cubic feet, 1 box, clippings, photographs, Christmas cards, World War II ration books, relating to the Parker family, “Pitch a Boogie Woogie” a film with an all-black cast, the Corner Stone Baptist Church, and Mt. Calvary Free Will Baptist Church of Greenville, North Carolina

Administrative Information

Accessions Information

August 19, 2004 10 items, 0.32 cubic feet; Collection (ca. 1945-1985) of clippings, photographs, World War II ration books, and memorabilia. See preliminary inventory attached. Donor: Janice L. Rice

Access Restrictions

No restrictions

Copyright Notice

Literary rights to specific documents are retained by the authors or their descendants in accordance with U.S. copyright law.

Preferred Citation

Lester and Agnes Parker Collection (#1005), East Carolina Manuscript Collection, J. Y. Joyner Library, East Carolina University, Greenville, North Carolina, USA.

Acquisition Information

Gift of Janice L. Rice

Processing Information

Encoded by Lindsay Flood, April 1, 2008
Processed by Christopher Early April 2007

Biographical / Historical Note

The Parkers were an African American couple who resided in Pitt County during the World War II period (earliest known) until their deaths. The couple’s daughter, Janice L. Rice, found the materials in her home at 1226 Davenport Street in Greenville, N.C. and later donated the materials. Rice worked for Joyner Library before retiring circa 2007.

Description

The collection consists of one photograph with Agnes Parker surrounded by other unidentified people and several Christmas cards featuring images of who are assumed to be family friends. The collection also contains two World War II-era ration books which belonged to the Parkers. Also included is a newspaper clipping that describes a 1985 re-showing in Greenville, N.C. of “Pitch a Boogie Woogie”. The film, described as a “lively Jazz Review”, was produced in Greenville during 1947, and featured an all-African American cast. The collection also contains a small number of artifacts. These consist of an undated eagle-themed, metal belt buckle and matching key chain and two decorative ceramic plates. The plates feature images of two Baptist churches located in Greenville, N.C.

Container List

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Series 1 Photographs
Series 2 Printed Materials
Series 3 Artifacts

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Series 1:

Photographs

Box 1#1005.1
- Folder a.1#1005.1.a.1
  Photograph (ca. 1980s) of Agnes Parker with four other women. 1 item. 1 p. Color
- Folder a.2#1005.1.a.2
  Photograph (ca. 1980s) of a girl in an angel costume sent as a Christmas card from Debbie, Bill and Rebecca. 1 item. Color
- Folder a.3#1005.1.a.3
  Photograph (ca. 1980s) of a boy and a girl in an angel costume sent as a Christmas card from Ken, Wanda, Kenneth and Kristen. 1 item. Color
- Folder a.4#1005.1.a.4
  Photograph (ca. 1980s) of a boy and a girl in an angel costume sent as a Christmas card from Ken, Wanda, Kenneth and Kristen. 1 item. Color

Series 2:

Printed Materials

Box 1#1005.1
- Folder b.1#1005.1.b.1
  War Ration Book No. 3 (ca. 1945) belonging to Lester Parker. 1 item. 6 p.
- Folder b.2#1005.1.b.2
  War Ration Book No. 3 (ca. 1945) belonging to Agnes Parker. 1 item. 6 p.
- Folder c.1#1005.1.c.1
  Daily Reflector clipping (12/15/1985), p. D-1 entitled "Greenville All-Black Cast Film to be Shown in February; Made in 1947, restored by the American Film Institute," 1 item. 1 p. Note: "A lively little jazz revue, 'Pitch a Boogie Woogie,' made in Greenville in 1947 with an all-black cast of local and traveling performers . . . "

Series 3:

Artifacts

Box 1#1005.1
- Folder d.1#1005.1.d.1
  Brass belt buckles (1941-1945) belonging to Lester Parker. 2 items. 2 p.
- Folder d.2#1005.1.d.2
  Decorative ceramic plate (ca. 1950s) with sepia photograph captioned "Corner Stone Baptist Church, Greenville, North Carolina, Rev. J. E. Tillett, Pastor." Plate manufactured by Taylor Smith Taylor, USA; Photograph applied by Fotoware, Preston-Hopkinson Co., Appomattox, VA. 1 item. 1 p. Note: For decorative use only.
- Folder d.3#1005.1.d.3
  Decorative ceramic plate (ca. 1950s) with sepia photograph captioned "Mt. Calvary Free Will Baptist Church, Greenville, North Carolina, Rev. W. L. Jones, Pastor." Plate manufactured by Taylor Smith Taylor, USA; Photograph applied by Fotoware, Preston-Hopkinson Co., Appomattox, VA. 1 item. 1 p. Note: For decorative use only.

Online access to this finding aid is supported with funds created through the federal Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA). These funds come through a grant from the Institute of Museum and Library Services which is administered by the State Library of North Carolina, a division of the North Carolina Department of Cultural Resources. This grant is part of the North Carolina ECHO, Exploring Cultural Heritage Online, Digitization Grant Program.

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This is a finding aid. It is a description of archival material held in the Special Collections Division, J.Y. Joyner Library, East Carolina University. The materials described here are physically available in our reading room. None of the original documents in this collection are digitally available online at this time.