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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State Convention Held in Daytona

Incomplete clipping announcing the state convention of the New Homemakers of America, the goals of the convention, and listing the members of the Crooms Academy Chapter of the N.H.A. who will be in attendance.
The Sanford Herald, issue of April 30, 1953

An issue of the Sanford Herald containing national, international, and local news. On page 3 is an article on the retirement of J. N. Crooms after a career of 47 years as an educator.
Copy of Sanford Herald, issue of May 12, 1954

Contains an article describing the recently retired J. N. Crooms' attendance at the dedication ceremony of the new Euclid Elementary School in DeLand, as well as his being given a meritorious service award.
NAACP Vows Suits About Segregation if Need Arises Here

Article clipping detailing the intentions of the Florida members of the NAACP to sue if public schools do not begin implementing integration, as per the recent Supreme Court decision
The Sentinel Star, issue of May 10, 1978

An issue of the Sentinel Star, which would become the Orlando Sentinel in 1982. In it is a headline article mentioning all of Seminole County's High Schools, including Crooms Academy
The Orlando Times, issue of May 16, 1996

A page from the Orlando Times, including an article describing the re-dedication and Open House for Crooms Academy
Orlando Morning Sentinel, issue of February 4, 1952

Incomplete issue of the Orlando Morning Sentinel, with a section titled "'News For And About Central Florida's Negro Citizens." It contains an article describing how successful Crooms Academy has been in raising funds and expanding as an institution.
December Draft Issue of the Ideas-Exchange Magazine

A seemingly incomplete rough draft of the December issue of the Ideas-Exchange Magazine, published by the Moral and Spiritual Values Committee. Both J. N. Crooms and his wife are thanked in a list of contributors to the magazine, and on the second page is a note stating that the front page picture was drawn by Robert Mitchell, a ninth grade student at Crooms High School
Current Events, issue for the week of May 30-June 3, 1927

An issue of a weekly newspaper called "Current Events." This particular issue describes Charles Lindbergh's transatlantic flight at length.
The Bethunia, Spring Term 1948-49

An issue of the Bethune-Cookman University's official newspaper. The issue is complete except for an article that has been cut out of the first page.