Atlanta University Center, Woodruff Library: Gayle W. Hanson (Essay)

In 2004 I began researching the topic of African American education in Texas (1900-1960s). During my search for information, I kept coming across references of the Jeanes Supervisors/Teachers I found that there was very little published information in libraries, so began my search for research repositories that might have collections of papers of people who were associated with the Jeanes program.

I began familiarizing myself with the history of the Jeanes Supervisors/Teachers and the funding process of the program, and I found that in 1937 four of the six funding sources of the Jeanes program, the Peabody Education Fund, John F. Slater Fund, the Negro Rural School Fund (also known as the Jeanes Fund), and the Virginia Randolph Fund, consolidated to become the Southern Education Foundation. 

While searching for the Southern Education Foundation records, I had the pleasure of interviewing a 104-year-old lady, Gertrude Kirkwood Tapscott of Hempstead, Texas, near Prairie View, Texas, who was a Jeanes Supervisor/Teachers in three counties in Texas during the 1940s.

On March 30, 2004, I contacted Karen Jefferson at the Woodruff Library, and she verified that the Southern Education Foundation records were in your library. Stacy Swazy Jones was the archivist assigned to assist me in finding the information I needed. Ms. Jones told me of the Southern Foundation Education’s finding aid, which could be accessed via Internet. Oh, what a wonderful find! I could not sleep for thinking of the wonderful records and photographs that was in the collection!

In 2006 I had the opportunity to visit the Robert W. Woodruff Library for a week-long research venture through the collection. I had communicated with Ms. Jefferson and Ms. Jones regarding files in the collection that I would be interested in examining. I was blown away at the number of library carts, awaiting my perusal, filled with the anticipated information I would find.  I was like a kid in a candy store. I found taking lunch and breaks an interruption of my mission.

As I turned the pages of the contents in each folder, there before me laid a copy of Gertrude Kirkwood Tapscott’s teacher application and a thesis. What a great day! For six years, I have visited the Woodruff library gathering information (biographical, letters, teacher applications and teaching plans, photographs, etc., in regard to these pioneering teachers of early education.  I am nearing the completion of my book manuscript, and my goal is to submit it to a publisher this year.

I want to thank the wonderful, wonderful library staff that has so graciously and expeditiously assisted me in the finding of information and having it ready upon my visits. Their suggestions and professionalism is one the library should be very proud of.

Gayle W. Hanson