Table of Contents
Summary Information
- Repository
- UNC Asheville Special Collections and University Archives
- Title
- Elaine Roland Gales Collection
- ID
- M2021.01
- Date [inclusive]
- 1940-2021
- Extent
- 0.5 Linear feet
- Language
- English
- Location
- Located in Special Collections, Row 4, Section 5
Preferred Citation
[Identification of Item], Elaine Roland Gales Collection, D.H. Ramsey Library, Special Collections, University of North Carolina Asheville
Biographical Note
Elaine Roland Gales, daughter of Asheville Committee on Racial Equality organizer William E. Roland, lived in the East End neighborhood from 1946-1956. Her mother attended Stephens-Lee High School and graduated in 1938. She married William Roland the summer following graduation and had Elaine the following year. During Elaine’s time in the East End, she attended Hill Street Elementary and later Stephens-Lee High School, and was involved with a number of community organizations including the YWCA and Hill St. Baptist Church. She compiled the materials in this collection in response to Dr. Patrick Bahls’ research on Urban Renewal in and around Asheville.
Scope and Contents Note
This collection primarily contains two types of materials. The first is newspaper clippings about events or pivotal episodes in the history of The Block, and articles about or obituaries for prominent individuals, social organizers, business leaders, or political figures from The Block and East End neighborhood. These newspaper articles are primarily from the early 1920s to the mid 2000s. Names mentioned frequently include William Roland, Willie Bowman, Nell McCracken, Herbert Watts, Lucille Buton, Lonnie Burton, Robert Harrell, and Thelma Porter. The second type of materials in this collection are photographs (original or photocopied) of Elaine Gales, her friends and acquaintances, and scenes from The Block and the East End neighborhood. These photographs are mostly from the late 1940s and 1950s. Additionally, this collection has a few materials from Stephens-Lee High School and a booklet announcing the dedication of the new Hill Street school building.
Administrative Information
Publication Information
UNC Asheville Special Collections and University Archives
Ramsey Library, CPO # 1500
One University Heights
Asheville, North Carolina, 28804-8504
828.251.6645
speccoll@unca.edu
Custodial History
Collection was donated with an oral history by Elaine Roland Gales via Dr. Patrick Bahls. Materials were organized by the donor in relation to interview questions posed by Dr. Bahls, who was conducting research on urban renewal projects in Asheville, North Carolina.
Processing Note
Processed by Derek Whisnant, April 2021.
Collection Inventory
Box 1
| Folder 1 | ||||
| Item 1: Gales’ response to “Can you tell me about your old neighborhood in Asheville?” | ||||
| Item 2: Asheville Enterprise Newspaper clipping; “Ku Klux Klan Visits Negro Church”, “Sunday School Convention Closed” (1925) | ||||
| Item 3: Black and white photograph of businesses, “Pic N Pay” sign visible (no date) | ||||
| Item 4: Black and white photograph of neighborhood street with children playin | ||||
| Item 5: Two photocopied images: (1) Certificate for W.E. Roland’s completion of the Western Pennsylvania Horological Institute’s Basic Watchmaking training program, “W E Roland 1st Black to graduate from this institution” (2) Photo of house | ||||
| Item 6: Four photocopied images: (1) William E. and Georgia H. Roland gravestone at Riverside Cemetery, (2) Portrait of William E. Roland “Jeweler – ASCORE – Advisor”, (3) Portrait of Georgia H. Roland “Hill St….”, (4) Photo of woman in white dress “Illustrious Commandress” | ||||
| Item 7: Asheville Citizen-Times clipping “Parts of Asheville Lost and forgotten are once again found; Photos provide a glimpse into old Asheville neighborhoods” by Mark Barrett (no date) | ||||
| Item 8: Pamphlet – Mountain Housing Opportunities “Emergency Home Repair program” (2003) | ||||
| Item 9: Asheville Citizen-Times clipping “A challenge to help community’s at-risk children” by Robbie Williams (no date) | ||||
| Item 10: Asheville Citizen-Times clipping “The Visionary: Rev. Grant leads Mount Zion toward prosperity” by Rebekkah Melchor Logan (October 4, 2003) | ||||
| Item 11: Asheville Citizen-Times clipping “Housing group elects directors” (no date) | ||||
| Item 12: Asheville Citizen-Times clipping “[David] Jones: Housing chief says police must help more with drug problems” (December 6, 2004) | ||||
| Item 13: Newspaper clipping “We must get a grip on factors that are turning our children to culture of violence” by Robbie J. Williams (no date) | ||||
| Item 14: Newspaper clipping “YMI” (no date) | ||||
| Item 15: Asheville Citizen-Times clipping “Housing chief [David Jones Jr.] leaves big mark on Asheville – Dec. 31 will mark end of decades-long career” by John Boyle | ||||
| Item 16: Asheville Citizen-Times clipping “A-B Tech teacher [Broadus Williams] reflects on his fight for civil rights in the 1960s” by Martha Ball (2005) | ||||
| Item 17: Obituary for Clarence E. Benton (October 11, 1942 – October 19, 2004)
| ||||
| Folder 2 | ||||
| Item 1: Gales’ response to “Can you tell me about some of the folks from the neighborhood who stand out in your memory?” | ||||
| Item 2: Photocopied image of Willie Bowman “Heritage of Black Highlanders Collection, UNC Asheville Ramsey Library Mrs. Willie Bowman: bhcP77.10.4.1.4” “Music teacher for eighty years” | ||||
| Item 3: Photocopied obituary for James E. Flemming “1950’s, not the first 3, See attached” (no date) | ||||
| Item 4: Asheville Citizen-Times clipping “Black History Month: Who was Asheville’s first African American council member?” by Joel Burgess (February 26, 2021) | ||||
| Item 5: Article on the career of Mrs. Nell McCracken “Librarian Hill St. Elementary School, 10/26/1926 – 1/6/1971” | ||||
| Item 6: “Gales Gazette” Profiles of teachers and administrators from Stephens-Lee High School: Vernon Cowan, Katherine Chappelle, Frank Toliver, Lacy T. Haith (no date) | ||||
| Item 7: Photocopy of Asheville Citizen-Times clipping “I’ll be busy working for the Lord – Thelma Porter ends 25 years at YMCA” (no date) | ||||
| Item 8: Obituary for Lucy Harrison (April 5, 2005) | ||||
| Item 9: Asheville Citizen-Times clippings “Police icon [Herbert J.]Watts dies”, “Icon: Watts was a caring, community-minded person” (ca. 2005) | ||||
| Item 10: Obituary for Eleanor Burton Carpenter (June 17, 2003) | ||||
| Item 11: Asheville Citizen-Times clipping “Effort to save young Black males from crime ‘long overdue’” by Henry Robinson (2000) | ||||
| Item 12: Obituaries for Lucille Headen Burton and Lonnie Darnell Burton (August 21, 1995) | ||||
| Item 13: Asheville Citizen-Times clipping “Continue their example, Burton mourners are told” by Paul Clark (1995) | ||||
| Item 14: Newspaper clipping – appointment of District Court Judge Robert L. Harrell (no date) | ||||
| Item 15: Asheville Citizen-Times clipping “Harrell: Local judge, attorney loved the law” (February 16, 2003) | ||||
| Item 16: Newspaper clipping “Judge Harrell leaves behind a rich legacy” (February 18, 2003) | ||||
| Item 17: Obituary for Cassie B. Evans “Longtime area educator, cultural leader dies” (no date) | ||||
| Item 18: Newspaper clipping “Harrell Takes Judicial Oath” by Barbara Blake (no date) | ||||
| Item 19: Obituary for Lucille Pearson Burton (no date) | ||||
| Item 20: Asheville Citizen-Times clipping “Robinson to pen history of NAACP in Asheville” by Barbara Blake (no date) | ||||
| Item 21: Asheville Citizen-Times clipping “Remembering Lonnie and Lucille Burton fondly, mourners listen to tributes made to the Asheville couple Saturday” (August 27, 1995) | ||||
| Item 22: Obituary for Herbert J. “Watt Daddy” Watts (November 10, 1937 – October 20, 2006) | ||||
| Item 23: Obituary for Elynora M. Foster Dargan (March 21, 1999) | ||||
| Item 24: Asheville Citizen-Times clipping “Thelma Caldwell, who was the first African-American woman to lead a YWCA in the South – and the second in the nation – died Friday. She was 91” (2004) | ||||
| Item 25: Obituary for Thelma McRae Caldwell (August 6, 2004) | ||||
| Item 26: Asheville Citizen Times clipping “Caldwell: Leader known for integrating YWCA ‘with class’” (2004) | ||||
| Item 27: Newspaper clipping: profile for Lettie Polite “Educator carried the torch of literacy to a segregated school system” by Tonya Maxwell (no date) | ||||
| Item 28: Obituary for Laura Ford Horne (July 9, 2005) | ||||
| Item 29: Newspaper clipping “Noted judge Harrell dies: WNC’s first black judge had cancer” by Lynde Hedgpeth (ca. 2003) | ||||
| Item 30: Issue of The Asheville Advocate, Front page article “Letting The Light Shine” “This Issue Of The Asheville Advocate Is Dedicated to the Loving Memory Of Lonnie and Lucille Burton” (September 1-15, 1995) | ||||
| Item 31: Front page of Asheville Citizen-Times “Commuter crash claims 3, Asheville couple aboard flight” on the death of Lucille and Lonnie Burton (August 22, 1995) | ||||
| Item 32: Asheville Citizen Times clipping, remembrance of Rev. Wesley Grant Sr. “Baptists to recognize man of faith, generosity” by Andre Rodriguez (no date) | ||||
| Item 33: Asheville Citizen-Times clipping, remembrance of Dr. John P. Holt “Community gathers to honor Holt’s lifetime of service” by Barbara Blake (no date) | ||||
| Item 34: Obituary for Judge Robert L. Harrell (February 15, 2003) | ||||
| Item 35: Photocopy of The Asheville Citizen Times front page “Death Toll at Catholic Hill School may be Eight Children: Colored school house wiped out by flames; five known to be dead” (November 17, 1917)
| ||||
| Folder 3 | ||||
| Item 1: Gales’ response to “What are some of your favorite memories of your neighborhood and your home?” | ||||
| Item 2: Photocopied Asheville Citizen-Times clipping “Wayne Coleman from Stephens-Lee High School joins the Baltimore Orioles farm system” (June 5, 1955) | ||||
| Item 3: Two photocopied images of young adults in black-tie dress “Debutant Ball 1955” | ||||
| Item 4: Photocopied image of well-dressed women, “Cinderella Social Club – Asheville, NC in the 40’s & 50’s” | ||||
| Item 5: Article on the first appearance of the Stephens-Lee Bears basketball team at the City Auditorium vs. Austin High School (no date) | ||||
| Item 6: Flyer for “Field Day” (no date) | ||||
| Item 7: Asheville Citizen-Times clipping: “Authors celebrate Stephens-Lee sports heroes” by Keith Jarrett (no date) | ||||
| Item 8: Asheville Citizen-Times clipping: “All eyes on Maybin; Scouts from across the country will come to watch the senior prospect play his final season at Roberson” by Andrew Pearson (no date) | ||||
| Item 9: Asheville Citizen-Times clipping: “Wisdom of a winner, Eggleston a grandfather and coach at Pisgah High games” by Keith Jarrett (November 26, 2006) | ||||
| Item 10: Asheville Citizen Times clipping: “Black History Month: Reynolds High School, Canton” and “Hairstyles today more about choice than politics: African American youths say coifs are a reflection of their personalities” (February 23, 2005) | ||||
| Item 11: Asheville Citizen-Times clipping: “Legacy: Jenkins introduced many to sport” (no date) | ||||
| Item 12: Asheville Citizen-Times clipping: “Ailment can’t keep former Roberson standout down” by Tyler Norris Goode (October 2, 2004) | ||||
| Item 13: Asheville Citizen-Times clipping: “Black History Month” profile on Wilbur Eggleston (no date) | ||||
| Item 14: Asheville Citizen-Times clipping: “Jim Jenkins’ legacy, Asheville man made it to the highest level of Negro League before returning to be a leader” by Tyler Norris Goode (no date) | ||||
| Item 15: Asheville Citizen-Times clipping: “Mays: Surgeries, rehab and time off help running back return to field” by Tyler Morris Goode (October 2, 2004) | ||||
| Item 16: Asheville Citizen-Times clipping “Coming Full Circle: Maybin’s donation gives children a chance to play T-ball” by Tyler Norris Goode (no date) | ||||
| Item 17: Two photocopied images of people in formal dress “Typical dress at church at recess, Stephens Lee High 50’s” | ||||
| Folder 4 | ||||
| Item 1: Gales’ response to “What are some of your favorite memories of your home?” | ||||
| Item 2: Three photocopied images of groups of children and teenagers, “Birthday Parties 1945-1949” | ||||
| Item 3: Four photocopied school yearbook photos, “Hill St Elementary and now we’re 82” | ||||
| Item 4: Four photocopied school photos: Angie 1953, Elaine 1953, Joyce 1953, Mary 1953, “Recess at Stephens-Lee High” | ||||
| Item 5: Three photocopied images: “Graduation from SLH 1956”, “50 yrs in Asheville”, “My 75th Birthday Some friends from Asheville” | ||||
| Folder 5 | ||||
| Item 1: Dedication booklet for the new Hill Street School building (March 29, 1953)
| ||||
| Folder 6 | ||||
| Item 1: Gales’ response to “What about businesses in your neighborhood?” | ||||
| Item 2: Asheville Citizen-Times clipping “Building the Block; $6.2 million earmarked for renovations” by Melissa Williams (no date) | ||||
| Item 3: Obituary for Mildred L. Haynes (May 3, 2003) | ||||
| Item 4: Obituary for Jeroline R. Rice (September 28, 2003) | ||||
| Item 5: Asheville Citizen-Times clipping “Clock Ticks on funding for The Block” by Joel Burgess (no date) | ||||
| Item 6: Asheville Citizen-Times clipping “The rise, fall and rebirth of The Block’s Ritz; Proposed sale latest in site’s history” by Joel Burgess (no date) | ||||
| Item 7: Two photocopied images, “‘Colored’ Businesses on Eagle St.” and “Our music teacher; Heritage of Black Highlanders Collection, UNC Asheville Ramsey Library, Mrs. Willie Bowman” | ||||
| Item 8: Photocopy of Asheville Citizen-Times article “I’ll be busy working for the Lord; Thelma Porter ends 25 years at YMCA” by Carole Curre (no date) | ||||
| Item 9: Photocopy of Asheville Citizen-Times article “I’ll be busy working for the Lord; Thelma Porter ends 25 years at YMCA” by Carole Curre (no date), and photocopy of image of men standing outside Feldman’s Grocery | ||||
| Item 10: Printed photo of men standing outside “Pic-N-Pay Cut Rate Market” | ||||
| Item 11: Printed photo of men standing outside Feldman’s Grocery | ||||
| Item 12: Newspaper clipping “Linney” (no date) | ||||
| Item 13: Asheville Citizen-Times page “RITZ: Building’s possible sale may mean end of deadlock” (October 22, 2006) | ||||
| Item 14: Asheville Citizen-Times front page (January 30, 1996) | ||||
| Item 15: Asheville Citizen-Times clipping “Court to rule on Linney Status; Handling of account questioned” by Glenn O’Neal | ||||
| Item 16: Newspaper clipping “Asheville’s Older Generation Of Black Barbers Wonder Who Will Succeed Them” by Henry Robinson (June 12, 1991) | ||||
| Item 17: Asheville Citizen-Times clipping “Linney unfairly accused” by Thomas L. Jones (no date) | ||||
| Item 18: Obituary for Mildred L. Haynes (May 3, 2003)
| ||||
| Folder 7 | ||||
| Item 1: Gales’ response to “What roles did the church play in your neighborhood? Any other organizations?” | ||||
| Item 2: Pamphlet: “Christ’s Challenge – The Church With An Open Door, Race Relation Sunday Thirty-Fourth Observance” “Mt. Zion Baptist Church, Sunday, February 12, 1956, Rev. L. A. Brown, presiding” | ||||
| Item 3: Photocopied image of Mt. Zion Baptist church congregation “Church meeting about Civil Rights Movement at Mt. Zion Bapt Church” (no date) | ||||
| Item 4: Asheville Citizen-Times clippings about the death of Joyce Miller (may 26, 1996) | ||||
| Item 5: Asheville Citizen-Times clipping, profile of Hazel Turner (January 25, 1996) | ||||
| Item 6: Newspaper clipping “[Robbie] Williams’ recognition well deserved” (no date)
| ||||
| Folder 8 | ||||
| Item 1: Gales’ response to “Can you talk about the impact of urban renewal process on your neighborhood?” | ||||
| Item 2: Four photocopied images of individuals in The Block and surrounding area | ||||
| Item 3: Photocopied image of “Hill St going toward Montford with several houses on right and left before freeway” (January 1958)
| ||||
| Folder 9 | ||||
| Item 1: Gales’ response to “Is there anything else you’d like to share?” and attached photos: “Georgia Roland Guest of Honor”, “Grove Park Inn”, “Barbara Johnson Event Coordinator”, and “Grove Park Inn Lobby” | ||||
| Item 2: Copy of profile of Mrs. Nell McCracken, “a ‘roll model’ for Asheville teenagers in the 50’s and 60’s” | ||||
| Item 3: Obituary for Mrs. Nell McCracken (January 7, 1971)
| ||||
| Folder 10 | ||||
| Item 1: Book “Jobs Justice Peace – 30th Anniversary March on Washington, A New Coalition of Conscience August 28, 1993”
| ||||
| Folder 11 | ||||
| Item 1: Asheville Citizen-Times clipping “Local NAACP continues to rebuild proud chapter” by Phil Alexander (no date) | ||||
| Item 2: Newspaper clipping “Newly Elected Officers” The Sociables Club of Asheville (ca. 1977) | ||||
| Item 3: Newspaper clipping “Business Chapter Honors [Georgia] Roland as Woman of the Year” (no date) | ||||
| Item 4: Asheville Citizen-Times clipping “Eastern Star gives Asheville-Buncombe Community Christian Ministry $1,000” (ca. 1999) | ||||
| Item 5: Asheville Citizen-Times clipping “NAACP: [H.K.] Edgerton disagrees with direction of Asheville chapter” (November 14, 2004) | ||||
| Item 6: Asheville Citizen-Times clipping “NAACP honors [Hazel Turner]” by Phil Alexander | ||||
| Item 7: Asheville Citizen-Times clipping “Kiwanis inducts new officers” (September 27, 2006) | ||||
| Item 8: Asheville Citizen-Times clipping “Asheville NAACP chapter reborn as community leader; [John] Hayes drives group’s membership growth, education efforts” (ca. 2005) | ||||
| Item 9: Asheville Citizen clipping “Sorority Contributions” (November 20, 1975) | ||||
| Item 10: Asheville Citizen-Times clipping “Group plans Black/White Ball” (no date) | ||||
| Item 11: Newspaper clipping “Board of Directors of the American Business Women’s Association has appointed Rosa E. Davis to the 1993 National Nominating Committee”
| ||||
| Folder 12 | ||||
| Item 1: Photocopied image of entrance to white women’s restroom | ||||
| Item 2: Two photocopied newspaper wedding announcements: Ernestine Roland & Alonzo Johnson (December 21, no year), Jewel Alon Johnson & Gregory Williams (August 20, 1994) | ||||
| Item 3: Asheville Citizen-Times clipping “Competition fierce for teaching jobs in Western North Carolina” by Dan Voorhis (no date) | ||||
| Item 4: Asheville Citizen-Times Black History Month profile on The Trainmen’s Wives: Pauline Seabrook, Dorothy Kelly, Bobbie Cristopher, and Julia Anna Mays (no date) | ||||
| Item 5: Asheville Citizen-Times Community Life page “Don’t Carry Me.. Let Me Walk Along With You” and “Some Groups Integrated” (March 30, 1969) | ||||