Crooms Collection

Item set

Title

Crooms Collection

Description

The Joseph Nathaniel Crooms Papers consist of documents related to Crooms Academy named for J.N. Crooms, whose parents were slaves on a Tallahassee area plantation, and who, along with his wife, Wealthy Mabel Crooms, started the school Crooms Academy and were its first principal and assistant principal respectively. The Crooms Academy began operation in 1920 and until 1970, the Crooms Academy during the same time Bethune Academy was established. Mr. Crooms worked with Mary McLeod Bethune as members of the Welricha Corp., which owned a beach front motel and restaurant on Bethune-Volusia Beach, as well as the Florida Negro Teachers Association. By the advent of his death, Mr. Crooms was considered a pioneer for black education in the state of Florida.

Physical Location

Crooms Collection, John G. Riley House Archives, Tallahassee Community College Library, Tallahassee, Florida.

Items

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Crooms Academy School Portrait

A large group photo, dated 1927, of the entirety of Crooms Academy, students and faculty.
Alfreda

An undated studio portrait within a (damaged) red booklet of a young African American woman identified as Alfreda. The handwritten note reads, "To my loving teachers, love, Alfreda"
J. N. Crooms

An undated studio portrait of J. N. Crooms, within a grey booklet. The photo developer's information is on the back.
Nora A. Jones

A studio portrait within a grey booklet of a young African American woman in graduation regalia. The handwritten note reads, "Sincerely, Nora A. Jones, 6/11/1948". Below the photo is the photo developer's information.
P. F. C. Ernest George Dunwoody

A studio portrait within a beige booklet of a young African American man in an Air Force uniform and bomber jacket. As per the handwritten note, it is P. F. C. Ernest Dunwoody, taken at Lowry Air Force Base in Denver, Colorado, along with a note from Dunwoody reading, "Love, Ernie". The photo is undated.
Faculty, 1923-24

As per the handwritten caption, this is a faculty photo of J. N. Crooms and several African American women on the steps of a house. Given the date it is likely the faculty for Hopper Academy
Class, 1917

As per the handwritten note on the back, this is a school class, unknown grade, possibly at Hopper Academy, pictured in 1917. J. N. Crooms is in the top row.
J. N. Crooms at Podium

A photo of J. N. Crooms at a podium, as per the notes on the back, this was taken at the 1953 commencement ceremony at Crooms Academy, when Mr. Crooms officially retired.
Class Photo, Grade Unknown

A group photo of J. N. Crooms and several unidentified young African American boys and girls. It is undated and the location is unknown, but it seems likely this is a class photo from the then Hopper Academy
Group Photo with J. N. Crooms

A group photo of J. N. Crooms and several unidentified young African American women and girls. It is unclear if they are faculty of the then Hopper Academy or are Crooms' own family. On the back is a handwritten note dating the photo to 1917. On the bottom right corner on the front is the photo developer's information.