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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J. N. Croom at the Podium With Graduates

A photo of J. N. Crooms at the podium, chatting with several Crooms Academy student graduates in regalia. It is unknown if this was taken before or after the graduation ceremony. O the back is a handwritten note that reads, "my dad's last class, 1953. Crooms Academy, 1953."
United Progressive League, Group Photo

A group photo taken at the first anniversary meeting of the United Progressive League in 1952, location unknown.
Crooms Academy, 5th Grade

A class photo of the 5th grade on the steps of Crooms Academy, year unknown. J. N. Crooms is at the top right.
Crooms Academy, 11th Grade

A photo of the 11th grade class of Crooms Academy on the school steps, year unknown. J. N. Crooms is in the top row.
Crooms Academy, Graduation Photo

A group photo of many young African American students in graduation regalia, and J. N. Crooms at the bottom left. Location is unconfirmed, but it is likely this is Crooms Academy.
Jackie Brenston Portrait

A studio portrait of the African American singer and saxophonist, Jackie Brenston. Information about Chess Records on the bottom.
Crooms Academy School Portrait

A large undated group photo of the entirety of Crooms Academy, students and faculty.
Crooms Academy Panthers

An undated photo of the Crooms Academy boys' football team, the Panthers
Group Photo with J. N. Crooms and Mary McLeod-Bethune

An undated group photo taken outside an unknown house, on the right are Mary McLeod-Bethune and J. N. Crooms. The other three individuals in the photo are unidentified.
Family Photo with J. N. Crooms

An undated photo outside a home, of J. N. Crooms and several young African American boys and girls. The boys and girls seem to be holding graduation diplomas, but given Crooms' large adopted family, this is possibly a photo of Crooms' own family.