Lester and Agnes Parker Collection

ca. 1945-1985, undated
Manuscript Collection #1005
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Creator(s)
Parker, Agnes; Parker, Lester
Physical description
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
Preferred Citation
Lester and Agnes Parker Collection (#1005), East Carolina Manuscript Collection, J. Y. Joyner Library, East Carolina University, Greenville, North Carolina, USA.
Repository
ECU Manuscript Collection
Access
Access to audiovisual and digital media is restricted. Please contact Special Collections for more information.

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.

Biographical/historical information

The Lester and Mary Parker and their daughter Agnes were an African American family who resided in Pitt County during the World War II period (earliest known) until their deaths. Agnes Parker died on July 12, 2003, at the age of 73 and is buried at Homestead Cemetery in Pitt County, N.C. Janice L. Rice found the materials in their home at 1226 Davenport Street in Greenville, N.C., and later donated them. Rice worked for Joyner Library before retiring circa 2007.

Sources: Raleigh, N.C., News & Observer newspaper for July 15, 2003. Cemetery Survey of Pitt County, North Carolina by William "Bill" B. Kittrell. 1940 U.S. Census for Greenville, N.C.

Scope and arrangement

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 Lester and Agnes Parker. 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 ca. 1950s images of Mt. Calvary Free Will Baptist Church and Cornerstone Baptist Church located in Greenville, N.C.

Administrative information
Custodial History

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

Source of acquisition

Gift of Janice L. Rice

Processing information

Encoded by Lindsay Flood, April 1, 2008

Processed by Christopher Early April 2007

Copyright notice

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

Metadata Rights Declaration
Key terms
Personal Names
Parker, Agnes, -2003
Parker, Lester
Family Names
Parker family
Topical
Church buildings--North Carolina--Greenville
Commemorative plates--North Carolina--Greenville
Motion pictures--North Carolina--Greenville
Ration books--North Carolina--Greenville
Container list
Box 1 Folder a.1 Photograph (ca. 1980s) of Agnes Parker with four other women. 1 item. 1 p. Color
Box 1 Folder 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
Box 1 Folder 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
Box 1 Folder 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
Box 1 Folder b.1 War Ration Book No. 3 (ca. 1945) belonging to Lester Parker. 1 item. 6 p
Box 1 Folder b.2 War Ration Book No. 3 (ca. 1945) belonging to Agnes Parker. 1 item. 6 p
Box 1 Folder 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 . . . "
Box 1 Folder d.1 Brass belt buckles (1941-1945) belonging to Lester Parker. 2 items. 2 p
Box 1 Folder 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
Box 1 Folder 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