{"links":{"self":"https://arvasarchive.org/catalog.json?f%5Blevel%5D%5B%5D=File\u0026f%5Brepository%5D%5B%5D=Virginia+Union+University\u0026view=list","next":"https://arvasarchive.org/catalog.json?f%5Blevel%5D%5B%5D=File\u0026f%5Brepository%5D%5B%5D=Virginia+Union+University\u0026page=2\u0026view=list","last":"https://arvasarchive.org/catalog.json?f%5Blevel%5D%5B%5D=File\u0026f%5Brepository%5D%5B%5D=Virginia+Union+University\u0026page=38\u0026view=list"},"meta":{"pages":{"current_page":1,"next_page":2,"prev_page":null,"total_pages":38,"limit_value":10,"offset_value":0,"total_count":374,"first_page?":true,"last_page?":false}},"data":[{"id":"virvu_virvu00021_c33","type":"File","attributes":{"title":"50th anniversary scrapbook","breadcrumbs":{"id":"https://arvasarchive.org/catalog/virvu_virvu00021_c33#breadcrumbs","type":"document_value","attributes":{"value":{"ref_ssi":"virvu_virvu00021_c33","ref_ssm":["virvu_virvu00021_c33"],"id":"virvu_virvu00021_c33","ead_ssi":"virvu_virvu00021","_root_":"virvu_virvu00021","_nest_parent_":"virvu_virvu00021","parent_ssi":"virvu_virvu00021","parent_ssim":["Delver Woman's Club Collection, 1960-2019"],"parent_ids_ssim":["virvu_virvu00021"],"title_filing_ssi":"50th anniversary scrapbook","title_ssm":["50th anniversary scrapbook"],"title_tesim":["50th anniversary scrapbook"],"normalized_title_ssm":["50th anniversary scrapbook"],"text":["50th anniversary scrapbook","Delver Woman's Club Collection, 1960-2019","box 4"],"parent_unittitles_ssm":["Delver Woman's Club Collection, 1960-2019"],"parent_unittitles_tesim":["Delver Woman's Club Collection, 1960-2019"],"level_ssm":["File"],"level_ssim":["File"],"component_level_isim":[1],"sort_isi":33,"repository_ssim":["Virginia Union University"],"collection_ssim":["Delver Woman's Club Collection, 1960-2019"],"containers_ssim":["box 4"],"has_online_content_ssim":["false"],"child_component_count_isi":0,"parent_access_restrict_tesm":["The collection is open for research use."],"parent_access_terms_tesm":["Copyright is retained by the author or his descendants as stipulated by United States\n          copyright law."],"_nest_path_":"/components#32","timestamp":"2026-08-14T22:53:24.943Z","collection":{"numFound":1,"start":0,"numFoundExact":true,"docs":[{"id":"virvu_virvu00021","ead_ssi":"virvu_virvu00021","_root_":"virvu_virvu00021","_nest_parent_":"virvu_virvu00021","ead_source_url_ssi":"data/vuu/virvu00021.xml","title_ssm":["Delver Woman's Club Collection, 1960-2019"],"title_tesim":["Delver Woman's Club Collection, 1960-2019"],"normalized_title_ssm":["Delver Woman's Club Collection, 1960-2019"],"text":["Delver Woman's Club Collection, 1960-2019","MS-0027","African American Women – Virginia – Richmond – Societies and Clubs","African-American Women – Societies and Clubs","Women – Virginia – Richmond – Societies and Clubs","Women – Societies and Clubs – Virginia – Richmond","The collection is open for research use.","Further accruals are expected.","The collection is arranged alphabetically and chronologically.","The organization started as the Delver Literary Club in 1917 and disbanded in the early\n        1940's. Delver Woman's Club was founded in 1945 by the late Mrs. Blanche Coles Case. The\n        organization consists of Christian women who are registered voters and dedicated to\n        providing civic and social interventions in the Richmond community. It has seven interest\n        groups which include Art, Drama, Economic, International Relations, Music, Youth\n        Conservation, and Social and Civic Affairs. The Delver Woman's Club was incorporated in\n        1949. A Junior Delver Woman's Club was organized in 1951.","The guide to the Delver Woman's Club at Virginia Union University Archives \u0026 Special\n          Collections is licensed under a [CC0 1.0 Universal (CC0 1.0)\n          license](https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/)","The Delver Woman's Club Collection documents the activities of the organization which\n        consists of consists of Christian women who are registered voters and dedicated to providing\n        civic and social interventions in the Richmond community. It has seven interest groups which\n        include Art, Drama, Economic, International Relations, Music, Youth Conservation, and Social\n        and Civic Affairs. Materials in this collection comprise meeting agendas, Anniversary year\n        books, Annual Luncheon and Dinner meeting, Annual prayer breakfast, Biographies and\n        obituaries, Committees, Constitution and bylaws, Correspondence, Directories. Financial\n        records, Foundation, History, Interest group programs, Meeting and program schedules,\n        Membership rolls, Minutes, Miss Future Delver, News clippings, Newsletters, Photographs,\n        Vesper Service, Awards, certificates, plaques, programs, Trophy plate, NAACP Corp member,\n        Four small containers of slides, 50th anniversary scrapbook, Art Interest Group minutes, Art\n        Interest Group minutes and Art Interest Group – miscellaneous.","Copyright is retained by the author or his descendants as stipulated by United States\n          copyright law.","Delver Woman's Club (Richmond, VA)","Materials in this collection are in English"],"collection_title_tesim":["Delver Woman's Club Collection, 1960-2019"],"collection_ssim":["Delver Woman's Club Collection, 1960-2019"],"level_ssm":["collection"],"level_ssim":["Collection"],"unitid_ssm":["MS-0027"],"unitid_tesim":["MS-0027"],"repository_ssm":["Virginia Union University"],"repository_ssim":["Virginia Union University"],"creator_ssm":["Delver Woman's Club"],"creator_ssim":["Delver Woman's Club"],"creator_corpname_ssim":["Delver Woman's Club (Richmond, VA)"],"creators_ssim":["Delver Woman's Club (Richmond, VA)"],"access_terms_ssm":["Copyright is retained by the author or his descendants as stipulated by United States\n          copyright law."],"acqinfo_ssim":["Donated by the Delver Woman's Club; material was added by Vera Ryan in 2004, 2014 and\n          2019; material was added by Goldie W. Settles in 2006."],"access_subjects_ssim":["African American Women – Virginia – Richmond – Societies and Clubs","African-American Women – Societies and Clubs","Women – Virginia – Richmond – Societies and Clubs","Women – Societies and Clubs – Virginia – Richmond"],"access_subjects_ssm":["African American Women – Virginia – Richmond – Societies and Clubs","African-American Women – Societies and Clubs","Women – Virginia – Richmond – Societies and Clubs","Women – Societies and Clubs – Virginia – Richmond"],"has_online_content_ssim":["false"],"extent_ssm":["3.5 linear feet (5 boxes, 1 oversized\n          item)"],"extent_tesim":["3.5 linear feet (5 boxes, 1 oversized\n          item)"],"accessrestrict_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eThe collection is open for research use.\u003c/p\u003e\n      "],"accessrestrict_heading_ssm":["Conditions Governing Access"],"accessrestrict_tesim":["The collection is open for research use."],"accruals_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eFurther accruals are expected.\u003c/p\u003e\n      "],"accruals_heading_ssm":["Accruals"],"accruals_tesim":["Further accruals are expected."],"arrangement_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eThe collection is arranged alphabetically and chronologically.\u003c/p\u003e\n    "],"arrangement_heading_ssm":["Arrangement"],"arrangement_tesim":["The collection is arranged alphabetically and chronologically."],"bioghist_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eThe organization started as the Delver Literary Club in 1917 and disbanded in the early\n        1940's. Delver Woman's Club was founded in 1945 by the late Mrs. Blanche Coles Case. The\n        organization consists of Christian women who are registered voters and dedicated to\n        providing civic and social interventions in the Richmond community. It has seven interest\n        groups which include Art, Drama, Economic, International Relations, Music, Youth\n        Conservation, and Social and Civic Affairs. The Delver Woman's Club was incorporated in\n        1949. A Junior Delver Woman's Club was organized in 1951.\u003c/p\u003e\n    "],"bioghist_heading_ssm":["Admnistrative History"],"bioghist_tesim":["The organization started as the Delver Literary Club in 1917 and disbanded in the early\n        1940's. Delver Woman's Club was founded in 1945 by the late Mrs. Blanche Coles Case. The\n        organization consists of Christian women who are registered voters and dedicated to\n        providing civic and social interventions in the Richmond community. It has seven interest\n        groups which include Art, Drama, Economic, International Relations, Music, Youth\n        Conservation, and Social and Civic Affairs. The Delver Woman's Club was incorporated in\n        1949. A Junior Delver Woman's Club was organized in 1951."],"odd_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eThe guide to the Delver Woman's Club at Virginia Union University Archives \u0026amp; Special\n          Collections is licensed under a [CC0 1.0 Universal (CC0 1.0)\n          license](https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/) \u003c/p\u003e\n      "],"odd_heading_ssm":["Rights Statement for Archival Description"],"odd_tesim":["The guide to the Delver Woman's Club at Virginia Union University Archives \u0026 Special\n          Collections is licensed under a [CC0 1.0 Universal (CC0 1.0)\n          license](https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/)"],"scopecontent_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eThe Delver Woman's Club Collection documents the activities of the organization which\n        consists of consists of Christian women who are registered voters and dedicated to providing\n        civic and social interventions in the Richmond community. It has seven interest groups which\n        include Art, Drama, Economic, International Relations, Music, Youth Conservation, and Social\n        and Civic Affairs. Materials in this collection comprise meeting agendas, Anniversary year\n        books, Annual Luncheon and Dinner meeting, Annual prayer breakfast, Biographies and\n        obituaries, Committees, Constitution and bylaws, Correspondence, Directories. Financial\n        records, Foundation, History, Interest group programs, Meeting and program schedules,\n        Membership rolls, Minutes, Miss Future Delver, News clippings, Newsletters, Photographs,\n        Vesper Service, Awards, certificates, plaques, programs, Trophy plate, NAACP Corp member,\n        Four small containers of slides, 50th anniversary scrapbook, Art Interest Group minutes, Art\n        Interest Group minutes and Art Interest Group – miscellaneous.\u003c/p\u003e\n    "],"scopecontent_heading_ssm":["Scope and Content"],"scopecontent_tesim":["The Delver Woman's Club Collection documents the activities of the organization which\n        consists of consists of Christian women who are registered voters and dedicated to providing\n        civic and social interventions in the Richmond community. It has seven interest groups which\n        include Art, Drama, Economic, International Relations, Music, Youth Conservation, and Social\n        and Civic Affairs. Materials in this collection comprise meeting agendas, Anniversary year\n        books, Annual Luncheon and Dinner meeting, Annual prayer breakfast, Biographies and\n        obituaries, Committees, Constitution and bylaws, Correspondence, Directories. Financial\n        records, Foundation, History, Interest group programs, Meeting and program schedules,\n        Membership rolls, Minutes, Miss Future Delver, News clippings, Newsletters, Photographs,\n        Vesper Service, Awards, certificates, plaques, programs, Trophy plate, NAACP Corp member,\n        Four small containers of slides, 50th anniversary scrapbook, Art Interest Group minutes, Art\n        Interest Group minutes and Art Interest Group – miscellaneous."],"userestrict_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eCopyright is retained by the author or his descendants as stipulated by United States\n          copyright law.\u003c/p\u003e\n      "],"userestrict_heading_ssm":["Conditions Governing Reproduction and Use"],"userestrict_tesim":["Copyright is retained by the author or his descendants as stipulated by United States\n          copyright law."],"corpname_ssim":["Delver Woman's Club (Richmond, VA)"],"names_ssim":["Delver Woman's Club (Richmond, VA)"],"language_ssim":["Materials in this collection are in English"],"total_component_count_is":38,"online_item_count_is":0,"component_level_isim":[0],"sort_isi":0,"timestamp":"2026-08-14T22:53:24.943Z"}]}},"label":"Breadcrumbs"}}},"links":{"self":"https://arvasarchive.org/catalog/virvu_virvu00021_c33"}},{"id":"virvu_virvu00005_c03_c36","type":"File","attributes":{"title":"Administrative","breadcrumbs":{"id":"https://arvasarchive.org/catalog/virvu_virvu00005_c03_c36#breadcrumbs","type":"document_value","attributes":{"value":{"ref_ssi":"virvu_virvu00005_c03_c36","ref_ssm":["virvu_virvu00005_c03_c36"],"id":"virvu_virvu00005_c03_c36","ead_ssi":"virvu_virvu00005","_root_":"virvu_virvu00005","_nest_parent_":"virvu_virvu00005_c03","parent_ssi":"virvu_virvu00005_c03","parent_ssim":["John Malcus Ellison Papers \n \n 1941-1979","Series 3. Subject Files \n \n 1939-1970"],"parent_ids_ssim":["virvu_virvu00005","virvu_virvu00005_c03"],"title_filing_ssi":"Administrative","title_ssm":["Administrative"],"title_tesim":["Administrative"],"normalized_title_ssm":["Administrative"],"text":["Administrative","John Malcus Ellison Papers \n \n 1941-1979","Series 3. Subject Files \n \n 1939-1970","Box-folder 5.108"],"parent_unittitles_ssm":["John Malcus Ellison Papers \n \n 1941-1979","Series 3. Subject Files \n \n 1939-1970"],"parent_unittitles_tesim":["John Malcus Ellison Papers \n \n 1941-1979","Series 3. Subject Files \n \n 1939-1970"],"level_ssm":["File"],"level_ssim":["File"],"component_level_isim":[2],"sort_isi":111,"repository_ssim":["Virginia Union University"],"collection_ssim":["John Malcus Ellison Papers \n \n 1941-1979"],"containers_ssim":["Box-folder 5.108"],"has_online_content_ssim":["false"],"child_component_count_isi":0,"parent_access_restrict_tesm":["There are no restrictions."],"parent_access_terms_tesm":["There are no restrictions."],"_nest_path_":"/components#2/components#35","timestamp":"2026-08-14T22:53:07.053Z","collection":{"numFound":1,"start":0,"numFoundExact":true,"docs":[{"id":"virvu_virvu00005","ead_ssi":"virvu_virvu00005","_root_":"virvu_virvu00005","_nest_parent_":"virvu_virvu00005","ead_source_url_ssi":"data/vuu/virvu00005.xml","title_ssm":["John Malcus Ellison Papers \n \n 1941-1979"],"title_tesim":["John Malcus Ellison Papers \n \n 1941-1979"],"normalized_title_ssm":["John Malcus Ellison Papers \n \n 1941-1979"],"text":["John Malcus Ellison Papers \n \n 1941-1979","MS-0001","12 linear\n         feet","There are no restrictions.","Collection is arranged by series and chronological\n         therein.","Born 02 February 1889 in Northumberland County, Virginia,\n         John Malcus Ellison was one of twin sons. His early life was\n         very humble allowing for very little intellectual stimulation\n         beyond learning to read in the racially segregated schools of\n         his rural community. As he explained in a short\n         autobiographical sketch he wrote to James H. Croushore of\n         Fredricksburg, Virginia in the late 1950's, At the age of 14 I\n         was hired out for 7.00 dollars per month as a farm hand. My\n         varied experiences caused me much unrest and anxiety as I\n         longed for a fuller and more meaningful life Opportunities for\n         education were very meager in my home community, and so at the\n         age of 17 I went to Normal Industrial Institute now Virginia\n         State College at Petersburg, Va. After two and one half years\n         of study I transferred to Virginia Union University in 1909\n         and completed my High School and College work. At that time,\n         Wayland Academy was the division of Union that provided\n         secondary education to students. In 1917, Ellison earned his\n         A.B. in Education at Virginia Union. He returned to his home\n         in the Northern Neck of Virginia as pastor of Shiloh Baptist\n         Church and principal of the Northern Neck Industrial Academy.\n         He later founded and headed the Northumberland County High\n         School.","In 1927 Ellison earned a Master of Arts in Religious\n         Education and Philosophy of Religion from Oberlin College and\n         subsequently taught at what is now Virginia State University\n         in sociology and ethics. There he was appointed the first\n         college minister . He did graduate work at Columbia University\n         from 1930 to 1931 and at Union Theological Seminary in New\n         York City from 1931 to 1932. By 1933, Ellison had earned his\n         Ph.D. in Christian Education and Sociology from Drew\n         University, been pastor of the Zion Baptist Church in\n         Washington, D.C., taught Religious Education at Howard\n         University's School of Religion, and authored several\n         publications on rural, Negro life in Virginia. It was in that\n         same year that he married Elizabeth Balfour, a music educator\n         and performer from Brooklyn, New York.","Dr. Ellison assumed the presidency of Virginia Union at a\n         very difficult time in history. The country had just entered\n         World War II and the era of Jim Crow was at its peak in the\n         South. Being the first African American to assume the\n         leadership of Virginia Union, he lived with the burden of\n         proving himself capable and worthy of the title President. It\n         is generally believed that he succeeded at the task. In spite\n         of the manpower drain on both the student body and the male\n         faculty, Union survived the worst of times through 1946 when\n         the GIs returned to school and prosperity and stability came\n         back to the university. Ellison took an active part in the\n         support of US troops, especially Virginia Union students in\n         the service, and in the civilian efforts that maintained the\n         community at home. It was also during his administration that\n         the Belgian Friendship Building project was undertaken and\n         successfully accomplished.","After the 1939 World's Fair in New York City, the Belgian\n         government could not dismantle and return their elaborate\n         exhibit and its housing to Nazi-occupied Belgium. Several\n         options were explored to dispose of the splendid structure\n         originally designed to be a stand-alone college in Belgium.\n         Benefactors of Negro education, however, won the bid. The\n         Belgian Friendship Building with its ornate friezes depicting\n         black life in the Belgian Congo would be relocated to the\n         campus of Virginia Union University. Negotiations for the\n         transfer of title and property were begun in the previous\n         administration of William J. Clark; fund raising, re-design\n         and physical relocation were left to Ellison's stewardship. By\n         1949 the campus had been renovated, the Belgian building moved\n         and fitted for the library, science laboratories and the\n         gymnasium and a debt of nearly one-half million dollars had\n         been retired under Ellison's leadership. This project was a\n         major concern during the first half of his career and his\n         papers reflect its importance.","Other improvements on the campus followed the Belgian\n         Building project including re-organization of the university's\n         administrative structure, significant increase in the\n         endowment, and additions to the physical plant (e.g., Hovey\n         Stadium, new dormitories and other facilities).","Concurrent with his academic and administrative career,\n         Ellison kept an active ministerial career, preaching and\n         teaching throughout Virginia on a regular basis and appearing\n         as guest pastor a various churches, Sunday Schools and\n         conferences all over the country. Summers were often spent\n         teaching aspiring ministers in special programs that he helped\n         design. He edited religious journals and newsletters as well\n         as publications for the Scottish Rite and Alpha Phi Alpha\n         Fraternity, Inc. Ellison was a prolific author as well; he\n         published several books, tracts and brochures most of which\n         were copies of his favorite and most popular sermons.","As a prominent African American educator, Ellison was\n         active in many organizations advancing the cause of both civil\n         rights and higher education for his race. His involvement with\n         national organizations such as the National Youth\n         Administration, Southern Education Foundation, Negro\n         Organization Society, National Conference of Church-Related\n         Colleges, the NAACP and many others was typical of African\n         American leaders of that time as they cooperated to support\n         the existence and survival of their schools and\n         institutions.","After his term as president, Ellison continued on at\n         Virginia Union as chancellor and professor until his death on\n         13 October 1979. He is buried at Riverview Cemetery in\n         Richmond, Virginia.","Collection processed in December 1998.","This collection contains the administrative and personal\n         records of John Malcus Ellison as president of Virginia Union\n         University (1941-1955), chancellor (1955-79), minister,\n         teacher, author and editor. The bulk of the collection is from\n         the early years of his presidency, 1941-1945, with very few\n         materials from the later years or during his tenure as\n         chancellor. Although most of the collection is correspondence\n         conducted in his official capacity as president, because these\n         materials were received from his family, the Ellison Papers\n         are organized as a manuscript collection.","The correspondence files give an intriguing picture of\n         Ellison in his role as president of a small, African American\n         university in a segregated southern city. The many letters\n         from parents, guardians and prospective students reflect his\n         function as father and disciplinarian to the campus. The\n         letters to and from prominent Richmond figures and leaders of\n         the area schools, both black and white, reveal the part he\n         played in community relations. Of special interest is the\n         correspondence with other African American educational\n         leaders, such as Benjamin Mays, which shows the support these\n         educators lent one another in their struggles for their\n         institutions to not only survive, but succeed.","The subject files disclose what organizations Ellison\n         participated in as president. Like many of his contemporaries,\n         he was active in national organizations as they provided a\n         support network for African American higher education. These\n         files also reveal what was happening on campus during the\n         early years of his administration, including the Belgian\n         Building files which offer a fascinating unfolding of the\n         construction of the building.","The personal files are related mainly to his role as\n         preacher and teacher. As with the other series, the lines are\n         often blurred in these files between Ellison's many roles. His\n         speeches and sermons are an interesting compliment to his\n         writings, and often there is overlap between the two as he\n         published collections of sermons. Included in the writings are\n         his extensive notes in preparation for a definitive history of\n         Virginia Union, for which many of the photographs in these\n         materials were collected. The programs show not only which\n         events and activities Ellison participated in, both on campus\n         and off, but those which he attended or supported.","Due to severe mold damage and insect infestation, many\n         records have been preservation photocopied.","There are no restrictions.","English"],"collection_title_tesim":["John Malcus Ellison Papers \n \n 1941-1979"],"collection_ssim":["John Malcus Ellison Papers \n \n 1941-1979"],"level_ssm":["collection"],"level_ssim":["Collection"],"unitid_ssm":["MS-0001"],"unitid_tesim":["MS-0001"],"repository_ssm":["Virginia Union University"],"repository_ssim":["Virginia Union University"],"creator_ssm":["John Malcus Ellison\n         Papers"],"creator_ssim":["John Malcus Ellison\n         Papers"],"access_terms_ssm":["There are no restrictions."],"acqinfo_ssim":["Received from Elizabeth Balfour Ellison, 06 August\n            1993"],"has_online_content_ssim":["false"],"physdesc_tesim":["12 linear\n         feet"],"accessrestrict_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eThere are no restrictions.\u003c/p\u003e\n      "],"accessrestrict_heading_ssm":["Access"],"accessrestrict_tesim":["There are no restrictions."],"arrangement_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eCollection is arranged by series and chronological\n         therein.\u003c/p\u003e\n    "],"arrangement_heading_ssm":["Arrangement"],"arrangement_tesim":["Collection is arranged by series and chronological\n         therein."],"bioghist_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eBorn 02 February 1889 in Northumberland County, Virginia,\n         John Malcus Ellison was one of twin sons. His early life was\n         very humble allowing for very little intellectual stimulation\n         beyond learning to read in the racially segregated schools of\n         his rural community. As he explained in a short\n         autobiographical sketch he wrote to James H. Croushore of\n         Fredricksburg, Virginia in the late 1950's, At the age of 14 I\n         was hired out for 7.00 dollars per month as a farm hand. My\n         varied experiences caused me much unrest and anxiety as I\n         longed for a fuller and more meaningful life Opportunities for\n         education were very meager in my home community, and so at the\n         age of 17 I went to Normal Industrial Institute now Virginia\n         State College at Petersburg, Va. After two and one half years\n         of study I transferred to Virginia Union University in 1909\n         and completed my High School and College work. At that time,\n         Wayland Academy was the division of Union that provided\n         secondary education to students. In 1917, Ellison earned his\n         A.B. in Education at Virginia Union. He returned to his home\n         in the Northern Neck of Virginia as pastor of Shiloh Baptist\n         Church and principal of the Northern Neck Industrial Academy.\n         He later founded and headed the Northumberland County High\n         School.\u003c/p\u003e\n      ","\u003cp\u003eIn 1927 Ellison earned a Master of Arts in Religious\n         Education and Philosophy of Religion from Oberlin College and\n         subsequently taught at what is now Virginia State University\n         in sociology and ethics. There he was appointed the first\n         college minister . He did graduate work at Columbia University\n         from 1930 to 1931 and at Union Theological Seminary in New\n         York City from 1931 to 1932. By 1933, Ellison had earned his\n         Ph.D. in Christian Education and Sociology from Drew\n         University, been pastor of the Zion Baptist Church in\n         Washington, D.C., taught Religious Education at Howard\n         University's School of Religion, and authored several\n         publications on rural, Negro life in Virginia. It was in that\n         same year that he married Elizabeth Balfour, a music educator\n         and performer from Brooklyn, New York.\u003c/p\u003e\n      ","\u003cp\u003eDr. Ellison assumed the presidency of Virginia Union at a\n         very difficult time in history. The country had just entered\n         World War II and the era of Jim Crow was at its peak in the\n         South. Being the first African American to assume the\n         leadership of Virginia Union, he lived with the burden of\n         proving himself capable and worthy of the title President. It\n         is generally believed that he succeeded at the task. In spite\n         of the manpower drain on both the student body and the male\n         faculty, Union survived the worst of times through 1946 when\n         the GIs returned to school and prosperity and stability came\n         back to the university. Ellison took an active part in the\n         support of US troops, especially Virginia Union students in\n         the service, and in the civilian efforts that maintained the\n         community at home. It was also during his administration that\n         the Belgian Friendship Building project was undertaken and\n         successfully accomplished.\u003c/p\u003e\n      ","\u003cp\u003eAfter the 1939 World's Fair in New York City, the Belgian\n         government could not dismantle and return their elaborate\n         exhibit and its housing to Nazi-occupied Belgium. Several\n         options were explored to dispose of the splendid structure\n         originally designed to be a stand-alone college in Belgium.\n         Benefactors of Negro education, however, won the bid. The\n         Belgian Friendship Building with its ornate friezes depicting\n         black life in the Belgian Congo would be relocated to the\n         campus of Virginia Union University. Negotiations for the\n         transfer of title and property were begun in the previous\n         administration of William J. Clark; fund raising, re-design\n         and physical relocation were left to Ellison's stewardship. By\n         1949 the campus had been renovated, the Belgian building moved\n         and fitted for the library, science laboratories and the\n         gymnasium and a debt of nearly one-half million dollars had\n         been retired under Ellison's leadership. This project was a\n         major concern during the first half of his career and his\n         papers reflect its importance.\u003c/p\u003e\n      ","\u003cp\u003eOther improvements on the campus followed the Belgian\n         Building project including re-organization of the university's\n         administrative structure, significant increase in the\n         endowment, and additions to the physical plant (e.g., Hovey\n         Stadium, new dormitories and other facilities).\u003c/p\u003e\n      ","\u003cp\u003eConcurrent with his academic and administrative career,\n         Ellison kept an active ministerial career, preaching and\n         teaching throughout Virginia on a regular basis and appearing\n         as guest pastor a various churches, Sunday Schools and\n         conferences all over the country. Summers were often spent\n         teaching aspiring ministers in special programs that he helped\n         design. He edited religious journals and newsletters as well\n         as publications for the Scottish Rite and Alpha Phi Alpha\n         Fraternity, Inc. Ellison was a prolific author as well; he\n         published several books, tracts and brochures most of which\n         were copies of his favorite and most popular sermons.\u003c/p\u003e\n      ","\u003cp\u003eAs a prominent African American educator, Ellison was\n         active in many organizations advancing the cause of both civil\n         rights and higher education for his race. His involvement with\n         national organizations such as the National Youth\n         Administration, Southern Education Foundation, Negro\n         Organization Society, National Conference of Church-Related\n         Colleges, the NAACP and many others was typical of African\n         American leaders of that time as they cooperated to support\n         the existence and survival of their schools and\n         institutions.\u003c/p\u003e\n      ","\u003cp\u003eAfter his term as president, Ellison continued on at\n         Virginia Union as chancellor and professor until his death on\n         13 October 1979. He is buried at Riverview Cemetery in\n         Richmond, Virginia.\u003c/p\u003e\n    "],"bioghist_heading_ssm":["Biographical/Historical Information"],"bioghist_tesim":["Born 02 February 1889 in Northumberland County, Virginia,\n         John Malcus Ellison was one of twin sons. His early life was\n         very humble allowing for very little intellectual stimulation\n         beyond learning to read in the racially segregated schools of\n         his rural community. As he explained in a short\n         autobiographical sketch he wrote to James H. Croushore of\n         Fredricksburg, Virginia in the late 1950's, At the age of 14 I\n         was hired out for 7.00 dollars per month as a farm hand. My\n         varied experiences caused me much unrest and anxiety as I\n         longed for a fuller and more meaningful life Opportunities for\n         education were very meager in my home community, and so at the\n         age of 17 I went to Normal Industrial Institute now Virginia\n         State College at Petersburg, Va. After two and one half years\n         of study I transferred to Virginia Union University in 1909\n         and completed my High School and College work. At that time,\n         Wayland Academy was the division of Union that provided\n         secondary education to students. In 1917, Ellison earned his\n         A.B. in Education at Virginia Union. He returned to his home\n         in the Northern Neck of Virginia as pastor of Shiloh Baptist\n         Church and principal of the Northern Neck Industrial Academy.\n         He later founded and headed the Northumberland County High\n         School.","In 1927 Ellison earned a Master of Arts in Religious\n         Education and Philosophy of Religion from Oberlin College and\n         subsequently taught at what is now Virginia State University\n         in sociology and ethics. There he was appointed the first\n         college minister . He did graduate work at Columbia University\n         from 1930 to 1931 and at Union Theological Seminary in New\n         York City from 1931 to 1932. By 1933, Ellison had earned his\n         Ph.D. in Christian Education and Sociology from Drew\n         University, been pastor of the Zion Baptist Church in\n         Washington, D.C., taught Religious Education at Howard\n         University's School of Religion, and authored several\n         publications on rural, Negro life in Virginia. It was in that\n         same year that he married Elizabeth Balfour, a music educator\n         and performer from Brooklyn, New York.","Dr. Ellison assumed the presidency of Virginia Union at a\n         very difficult time in history. The country had just entered\n         World War II and the era of Jim Crow was at its peak in the\n         South. Being the first African American to assume the\n         leadership of Virginia Union, he lived with the burden of\n         proving himself capable and worthy of the title President. It\n         is generally believed that he succeeded at the task. In spite\n         of the manpower drain on both the student body and the male\n         faculty, Union survived the worst of times through 1946 when\n         the GIs returned to school and prosperity and stability came\n         back to the university. Ellison took an active part in the\n         support of US troops, especially Virginia Union students in\n         the service, and in the civilian efforts that maintained the\n         community at home. It was also during his administration that\n         the Belgian Friendship Building project was undertaken and\n         successfully accomplished.","After the 1939 World's Fair in New York City, the Belgian\n         government could not dismantle and return their elaborate\n         exhibit and its housing to Nazi-occupied Belgium. Several\n         options were explored to dispose of the splendid structure\n         originally designed to be a stand-alone college in Belgium.\n         Benefactors of Negro education, however, won the bid. The\n         Belgian Friendship Building with its ornate friezes depicting\n         black life in the Belgian Congo would be relocated to the\n         campus of Virginia Union University. Negotiations for the\n         transfer of title and property were begun in the previous\n         administration of William J. Clark; fund raising, re-design\n         and physical relocation were left to Ellison's stewardship. By\n         1949 the campus had been renovated, the Belgian building moved\n         and fitted for the library, science laboratories and the\n         gymnasium and a debt of nearly one-half million dollars had\n         been retired under Ellison's leadership. This project was a\n         major concern during the first half of his career and his\n         papers reflect its importance.","Other improvements on the campus followed the Belgian\n         Building project including re-organization of the university's\n         administrative structure, significant increase in the\n         endowment, and additions to the physical plant (e.g., Hovey\n         Stadium, new dormitories and other facilities).","Concurrent with his academic and administrative career,\n         Ellison kept an active ministerial career, preaching and\n         teaching throughout Virginia on a regular basis and appearing\n         as guest pastor a various churches, Sunday Schools and\n         conferences all over the country. Summers were often spent\n         teaching aspiring ministers in special programs that he helped\n         design. He edited religious journals and newsletters as well\n         as publications for the Scottish Rite and Alpha Phi Alpha\n         Fraternity, Inc. Ellison was a prolific author as well; he\n         published several books, tracts and brochures most of which\n         were copies of his favorite and most popular sermons.","As a prominent African American educator, Ellison was\n         active in many organizations advancing the cause of both civil\n         rights and higher education for his race. His involvement with\n         national organizations such as the National Youth\n         Administration, Southern Education Foundation, Negro\n         Organization Society, National Conference of Church-Related\n         Colleges, the NAACP and many others was typical of African\n         American leaders of that time as they cooperated to support\n         the existence and survival of their schools and\n         institutions.","After his term as president, Ellison continued on at\n         Virginia Union as chancellor and professor until his death on\n         13 October 1979. He is buried at Riverview Cemetery in\n         Richmond, Virginia."],"prefercite_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eJohn Malcus Ellison Papers, MS-0001 , Archives and\n            Special Collections Department, L. Douglas Wilder Library,\n            Virginia Union University\u003c/p\u003e\n      "],"prefercite_tesim":["John Malcus Ellison Papers, MS-0001 , Archives and\n            Special Collections Department, L. Douglas Wilder Library,\n            Virginia Union University"],"processinfo_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eCollection processed in December 1998.\u003c/p\u003e\n      "],"processinfo_heading_ssm":["Processing Information"],"processinfo_tesim":["Collection processed in December 1998."],"scopecontent_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eThis collection contains the administrative and personal\n         records of John Malcus Ellison as president of Virginia Union\n         University (1941-1955), chancellor (1955-79), minister,\n         teacher, author and editor. The bulk of the collection is from\n         the early years of his presidency, 1941-1945, with very few\n         materials from the later years or during his tenure as\n         chancellor. Although most of the collection is correspondence\n         conducted in his official capacity as president, because these\n         materials were received from his family, the Ellison Papers\n         are organized as a manuscript collection.\u003c/p\u003e\n      ","\u003cp\u003eThe correspondence files give an intriguing picture of\n         Ellison in his role as president of a small, African American\n         university in a segregated southern city. The many letters\n         from parents, guardians and prospective students reflect his\n         function as father and disciplinarian to the campus. The\n         letters to and from prominent Richmond figures and leaders of\n         the area schools, both black and white, reveal the part he\n         played in community relations. Of special interest is the\n         correspondence with other African American educational\n         leaders, such as Benjamin Mays, which shows the support these\n         educators lent one another in their struggles for their\n         institutions to not only survive, but succeed.\u003c/p\u003e\n      ","\u003cp\u003eThe subject files disclose what organizations Ellison\n         participated in as president. Like many of his contemporaries,\n         he was active in national organizations as they provided a\n         support network for African American higher education. These\n         files also reveal what was happening on campus during the\n         early years of his administration, including the Belgian\n         Building files which offer a fascinating unfolding of the\n         construction of the building.\u003c/p\u003e\n      ","\u003cp\u003eThe personal files are related mainly to his role as\n         preacher and teacher. As with the other series, the lines are\n         often blurred in these files between Ellison's many roles. His\n         speeches and sermons are an interesting compliment to his\n         writings, and often there is overlap between the two as he\n         published collections of sermons. Included in the writings are\n         his extensive notes in preparation for a definitive history of\n         Virginia Union, for which many of the photographs in these\n         materials were collected. The programs show not only which\n         events and activities Ellison participated in, both on campus\n         and off, but those which he attended or supported.\u003c/p\u003e\n      ","\u003cp\u003eDue to severe mold damage and insect infestation, many\n         records have been preservation photocopied.\u003c/p\u003e\n    "],"scopecontent_heading_ssm":["Scope and Content Information"],"scopecontent_tesim":["This collection contains the administrative and personal\n         records of John Malcus Ellison as president of Virginia Union\n         University (1941-1955), chancellor (1955-79), minister,\n         teacher, author and editor. The bulk of the collection is from\n         the early years of his presidency, 1941-1945, with very few\n         materials from the later years or during his tenure as\n         chancellor. Although most of the collection is correspondence\n         conducted in his official capacity as president, because these\n         materials were received from his family, the Ellison Papers\n         are organized as a manuscript collection.","The correspondence files give an intriguing picture of\n         Ellison in his role as president of a small, African American\n         university in a segregated southern city. The many letters\n         from parents, guardians and prospective students reflect his\n         function as father and disciplinarian to the campus. The\n         letters to and from prominent Richmond figures and leaders of\n         the area schools, both black and white, reveal the part he\n         played in community relations. Of special interest is the\n         correspondence with other African American educational\n         leaders, such as Benjamin Mays, which shows the support these\n         educators lent one another in their struggles for their\n         institutions to not only survive, but succeed.","The subject files disclose what organizations Ellison\n         participated in as president. Like many of his contemporaries,\n         he was active in national organizations as they provided a\n         support network for African American higher education. These\n         files also reveal what was happening on campus during the\n         early years of his administration, including the Belgian\n         Building files which offer a fascinating unfolding of the\n         construction of the building.","The personal files are related mainly to his role as\n         preacher and teacher. As with the other series, the lines are\n         often blurred in these files between Ellison's many roles. His\n         speeches and sermons are an interesting compliment to his\n         writings, and often there is overlap between the two as he\n         published collections of sermons. Included in the writings are\n         his extensive notes in preparation for a definitive history of\n         Virginia Union, for which many of the photographs in these\n         materials were collected. The programs show not only which\n         events and activities Ellison participated in, both on campus\n         and off, but those which he attended or supported.","Due to severe mold damage and insect infestation, many\n         records have been preservation photocopied."],"userestrict_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eThere are no restrictions.\u003c/p\u003e\n      "],"userestrict_heading_ssm":["Use Restrictions"],"userestrict_tesim":["There are no restrictions."],"language_ssim":["English"],"total_component_count_is":226,"online_item_count_is":0,"component_level_isim":[0],"sort_isi":0,"timestamp":"2026-08-14T22:53:07.053Z"}]}},"label":"Breadcrumbs"}}},"links":{"self":"https://arvasarchive.org/catalog/virvu_virvu00005_c03_c36"}},{"id":"virvu_virvu00011_c01","type":"File","attributes":{"title":"Administrative","breadcrumbs":{"id":"https://arvasarchive.org/catalog/virvu_virvu00011_c01#breadcrumbs","type":"document_value","attributes":{"value":{"ref_ssi":"virvu_virvu00011_c01","ref_ssm":["virvu_virvu00011_c01"],"id":"virvu_virvu00011_c01","ead_ssi":"virvu_virvu00011","_root_":"virvu_virvu00011","_nest_parent_":"virvu_virvu00011","parent_ssi":"virvu_virvu00011","parent_ssim":["The Records of the Library in the University\n Archives Virginia Union University \n \n 1927-1996"],"parent_ids_ssim":["virvu_virvu00011"],"title_filing_ssi":"Administrative","title_ssm":["Administrative"],"title_tesim":["Administrative"],"normalized_title_ssm":["Administrative"],"text":["Administrative","The Records of the Library in the University\n Archives Virginia Union University \n \n 1927-1996","Box 1"],"parent_unittitles_ssm":["The Records of the Library in the University\n Archives Virginia Union University \n \n 1927-1996"],"parent_unittitles_tesim":["The Records of the Library in the University\n Archives Virginia Union University \n \n 1927-1996"],"level_ssm":["File"],"level_ssim":["File"],"component_level_isim":[1],"sort_isi":1,"repository_ssim":["Virginia Union University"],"collection_ssim":["The Records of the Library in the University\n Archives Virginia Union University \n \n 1927-1996"],"containers_ssim":["Box 1"],"has_online_content_ssim":["false"],"child_component_count_isi":0,"parent_access_restrict_tesm":["There are no restrictions."],"parent_access_terms_tesm":["There are no restrictions."],"_nest_path_":"/components#0","timestamp":"2026-08-14T22:53:07.053Z","collection":{"numFound":1,"start":0,"numFoundExact":true,"docs":[{"id":"virvu_virvu00011","ead_ssi":"virvu_virvu00011","_root_":"virvu_virvu00011","_nest_parent_":"virvu_virvu00011","ead_source_url_ssi":"data/vuu/virvu00011.xml","title_ssm":["The Records of the Library in the University\n Archives Virginia Union University \n \n 1927-1996"],"title_tesim":["The Records of the Library in the University\n Archives Virginia Union University \n \n 1927-1996"],"normalized_title_ssm":["The Records of the Library in the University\n Archives Virginia Union University \n \n 1927-1996"],"text":["The Records of the Library in the University\n Archives Virginia Union University \n \n 1927-1996","AR-001","about 45\n         files","There are no restrictions.","Collection is arranged alphabetically and chronological\n         therein.","Originally housed in the basement of Coburn Hall, the\n         library was relocated into the Belgian Friendship Building in\n         1950 and named the William J. Clark Library after the\n         university's third president. In January 1997 the collection\n         moved into the L. Douglas Wilder Library and Learning Resource\n         Center, referred to as the Wilder Library, named in honor of\n         the VUU alumnus, the first elected African American Governor\n         in the United States.","The head librarians have been as follows: Wallace Van\n         Jackson 1927-1941 \n         William A. Griffey 1941-1942 \n         Ann Goode(acting) 1942-1944 \n         Bertha W. Gibbs (acting) 1944- 1946 \n         Verdelle V. Bradley 1946- 1985 \n         Sylvia Jenkins (acting) 1985-1986 \n         Wanda Crenshaw 1986-1989 \n         Dr. Vonita Foster 1989-","These records reflect the growth and development of the\n         Library at Virginia Union University. The bulk of the\n         collection is the annual reports for which there is a\n         virtually complete run from 1927 through 1992, including\n         semi-annual reports and quarterly reports. The Administrative\n         file contains papers created in the day-to-day business such\n         as limited correspondence, floor plans and library objectives\n         and statistics. The Events file contains announcements for\n         library sponsored events such as guest speakers. The Southern\n         Association of Colleges and Schools is an accreditation\n         committee on which Mrs. Bradley served.","The James Weldon Johnson Tribute files relate to a display\n         in the library presented in conjunction with the 1972 Fine\n         Arts Festival (AR-0004) tribute to Johnson. The correspondence\n         is between Ms. O.J. Okala, nurse to Johnson's widow, and Mrs.\n         Bradley. The display materials are mainly biographical\n         sketches and sheet music (the newspaper clippings have been\n         moved to the Clippings File under Johnson, James Weldon).","There are no restrictions.","English"],"collection_title_tesim":["The Records of the Library in the University\n Archives Virginia Union University \n \n 1927-1996"],"collection_ssim":["The Records of the Library in the University\n Archives Virginia Union University \n \n 1927-1996"],"level_ssm":["collection"],"level_ssim":["Collection"],"unitid_ssm":["AR-001"],"unitid_tesim":["AR-001"],"repository_ssm":["Virginia Union University"],"repository_ssim":["Virginia Union University"],"creator_ssm":["Virginia Union University\n         Library"],"creator_ssim":["Virginia Union University\n         Library"],"access_terms_ssm":["There are no restrictions."],"has_online_content_ssim":["false"],"physdesc_tesim":["about 45\n         files"],"accessrestrict_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eThere are no restrictions.\u003c/p\u003e\n      "],"accessrestrict_heading_ssm":["Access"],"accessrestrict_tesim":["There are no restrictions."],"arrangement_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eCollection is arranged alphabetically and chronological\n         therein.\u003c/p\u003e\n    "],"arrangement_heading_ssm":["Arrangement"],"arrangement_tesim":["Collection is arranged alphabetically and chronological\n         therein."],"bioghist_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eOriginally housed in the basement of Coburn Hall, the\n         library was relocated into the Belgian Friendship Building in\n         1950 and named the William J. Clark Library after the\n         university's third president. In January 1997 the collection\n         moved into the L. Douglas Wilder Library and Learning Resource\n         Center, referred to as the Wilder Library, named in honor of\n         the VUU alumnus, the first elected African American Governor\n         in the United States.\u003c/p\u003e\n      ","\u003cp\u003eThe head librarians have been as follows: Wallace Van\n         Jackson 1927-1941 \n         \u003clb\u003e\u003c/lb\u003eWilliam A. Griffey 1941-1942 \n         \u003clb\u003e\u003c/lb\u003eAnn Goode(acting) 1942-1944 \n         \u003clb\u003e\u003c/lb\u003eBertha W. Gibbs (acting) 1944- 1946 \n         \u003clb\u003e\u003c/lb\u003eVerdelle V. Bradley 1946- 1985 \n         \u003clb\u003e\u003c/lb\u003eSylvia Jenkins (acting) 1985-1986 \n         \u003clb\u003e\u003c/lb\u003eWanda Crenshaw 1986-1989 \n         \u003clb\u003e\u003c/lb\u003eDr. Vonita Foster 1989-\u003c/p\u003e\n    "],"bioghist_heading_ssm":["Biographical/Historical Information"],"bioghist_tesim":["Originally housed in the basement of Coburn Hall, the\n         library was relocated into the Belgian Friendship Building in\n         1950 and named the William J. Clark Library after the\n         university's third president. In January 1997 the collection\n         moved into the L. Douglas Wilder Library and Learning Resource\n         Center, referred to as the Wilder Library, named in honor of\n         the VUU alumnus, the first elected African American Governor\n         in the United States.","The head librarians have been as follows: Wallace Van\n         Jackson 1927-1941 \n         William A. Griffey 1941-1942 \n         Ann Goode(acting) 1942-1944 \n         Bertha W. Gibbs (acting) 1944- 1946 \n         Verdelle V. Bradley 1946- 1985 \n         Sylvia Jenkins (acting) 1985-1986 \n         Wanda Crenshaw 1986-1989 \n         Dr. Vonita Foster 1989-"],"prefercite_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eThe Records of the Library in the University Archives\n            Virginia Union University, AR-0001, Archives and Special\n            Collections Department, L. Douglas Wilder Library, Virginia\n            Union University\u003c/p\u003e\n      "],"prefercite_tesim":["The Records of the Library in the University Archives\n            Virginia Union University, AR-0001, Archives and Special\n            Collections Department, L. Douglas Wilder Library, Virginia\n            Union University"],"scopecontent_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eThese records reflect the growth and development of the\n         Library at Virginia Union University. The bulk of the\n         collection is the annual reports for which there is a\n         virtually complete run from 1927 through 1992, including\n         semi-annual reports and quarterly reports. The Administrative\n         file contains papers created in the day-to-day business such\n         as limited correspondence, floor plans and library objectives\n         and statistics. The Events file contains announcements for\n         library sponsored events such as guest speakers. The Southern\n         Association of Colleges and Schools is an accreditation\n         committee on which Mrs. Bradley served.\u003c/p\u003e\n      ","\u003cp\u003eThe James Weldon Johnson Tribute files relate to a display\n         in the library presented in conjunction with the 1972 Fine\n         Arts Festival (AR-0004) tribute to Johnson. The correspondence\n         is between Ms. O.J. Okala, nurse to Johnson's widow, and Mrs.\n         Bradley. The display materials are mainly biographical\n         sketches and sheet music (the newspaper clippings have been\n         moved to the Clippings File under Johnson, James Weldon).\u003c/p\u003e\n    "],"scopecontent_heading_ssm":["Scope and Content Information"],"scopecontent_tesim":["These records reflect the growth and development of the\n         Library at Virginia Union University. The bulk of the\n         collection is the annual reports for which there is a\n         virtually complete run from 1927 through 1992, including\n         semi-annual reports and quarterly reports. The Administrative\n         file contains papers created in the day-to-day business such\n         as limited correspondence, floor plans and library objectives\n         and statistics. The Events file contains announcements for\n         library sponsored events such as guest speakers. The Southern\n         Association of Colleges and Schools is an accreditation\n         committee on which Mrs. Bradley served.","The James Weldon Johnson Tribute files relate to a display\n         in the library presented in conjunction with the 1972 Fine\n         Arts Festival (AR-0004) tribute to Johnson. The correspondence\n         is between Ms. O.J. Okala, nurse to Johnson's widow, and Mrs.\n         Bradley. The display materials are mainly biographical\n         sketches and sheet music (the newspaper clippings have been\n         moved to the Clippings File under Johnson, James Weldon)."],"userestrict_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eThere are no restrictions.\u003c/p\u003e\n      "],"userestrict_heading_ssm":["Use Restrictions"],"userestrict_tesim":["There are no restrictions."],"language_ssim":["English"],"total_component_count_is":20,"online_item_count_is":0,"component_level_isim":[0],"sort_isi":0,"timestamp":"2026-08-14T22:53:07.053Z"}]}},"label":"Breadcrumbs"}}},"links":{"self":"https://arvasarchive.org/catalog/virvu_virvu00011_c01"}},{"id":"virvu_virvu00012_c01","type":"File","attributes":{"title":"Administrative","breadcrumbs":{"id":"https://arvasarchive.org/catalog/virvu_virvu00012_c01#breadcrumbs","type":"document_value","attributes":{"value":{"ref_ssi":"virvu_virvu00012_c01","ref_ssm":["virvu_virvu00012_c01"],"id":"virvu_virvu00012_c01","ead_ssi":"virvu_virvu00012","_root_":"virvu_virvu00012","_nest_parent_":"virvu_virvu00012","parent_ssi":"virvu_virvu00012","parent_ssim":["The Records of the Music Department in the\n University Archives Virginia Union University \n \n 1925-1990"],"parent_ids_ssim":["virvu_virvu00012"],"title_filing_ssi":"Administrative","title_ssm":["Administrative"],"title_tesim":["Administrative"],"normalized_title_ssm":["Administrative"],"text":["Administrative","The Records of the Music Department in the\n University Archives Virginia Union University \n \n 1925-1990","Box 1"],"parent_unittitles_ssm":["The Records of the Music Department in the\n University Archives Virginia Union University \n \n 1925-1990"],"parent_unittitles_tesim":["The Records of the Music Department in the\n University Archives Virginia Union University \n \n 1925-1990"],"level_ssm":["File"],"level_ssim":["File"],"component_level_isim":[1],"sort_isi":1,"repository_ssim":["Virginia Union University"],"collection_ssim":["The Records of the Music Department in the\n University Archives Virginia Union University \n \n 1925-1990"],"containers_ssim":["Box 1"],"has_online_content_ssim":["false"],"child_component_count_isi":0,"parent_access_restrict_tesm":["There are no restrictions."],"parent_access_terms_tesm":["There are no restrictions."],"_nest_path_":"/components#0","timestamp":"2026-08-14T22:53:07.053Z","collection":{"numFound":1,"start":0,"numFoundExact":true,"docs":[{"id":"virvu_virvu00012","ead_ssi":"virvu_virvu00012","_root_":"virvu_virvu00012","_nest_parent_":"virvu_virvu00012","ead_source_url_ssi":"data/vuu/virvu00012.xml","title_ssm":["The Records of the Music Department in the\n University Archives Virginia Union University \n \n 1925-1990"],"title_tesim":["The Records of the Music Department in the\n University Archives Virginia Union University \n \n 1925-1990"],"normalized_title_ssm":["The Records of the Music Department in the\n University Archives Virginia Union University \n \n 1925-1990"],"text":["The Records of the Music Department in the\n University Archives Virginia Union University \n \n 1925-1990","AR-0002","about 25\n         files","There are no restrictions.","Collection is arranged alphabetically and chronological\n         therein.","The department was started in 1967 and offered a Bachelor\n         of Arts in Music Education. In 1985, two additional\n         concentrations were added: Applied Music and Commercial Music.\n         In 1993, these two concentrations were divided into\n         Performance, Commercial Music/Jazz Studies, and Composition.\n         The department also sponsors various performance groups such\n         as Chapel Choir, Concert Band, Concert Choir, Jazz Ensembles,\n         Marching Band, Opera Workshop, and the University Choir.","The Department Chairs have been as follows: Dr. Odell Hobbs\n         1967-1991 \n         Dr. W. Weldon Hill 1991-1992 \n         Dr. John Ware 1992-2001","These records reflect the performances and activities of\n         the Music Department at Virginia Union University. The bulk of\n         the collection is performance programs for the various\n         performance groups, especially the University Choir and the\n         Concert Choir, and departmental correspondence. The\n         correspondence is almost entirely that of Dr. Hobbs. The\n         Administrative file contains the 1979-1980 Year End Report, a\n         few department faculty meeting minutes, press releases and\n         course outlines. The Miscellaneous file includes programs for\n         opera and alumni concerts.","There are no restrictions.","English"],"collection_title_tesim":["The Records of the Music Department in the\n University Archives Virginia Union University \n \n 1925-1990"],"collection_ssim":["The Records of the Music Department in the\n University Archives Virginia Union University \n \n 1925-1990"],"level_ssm":["collection"],"level_ssim":["Collection"],"unitid_ssm":["AR-0002"],"unitid_tesim":["AR-0002"],"repository_ssm":["Virginia Union University"],"repository_ssim":["Virginia Union University"],"creator_ssm":["Virginia Union University Music\n         Department"],"creator_ssim":["Virginia Union University Music\n         Department"],"access_terms_ssm":["There are no restrictions."],"has_online_content_ssim":["false"],"physdesc_tesim":["about 25\n         files"],"accessrestrict_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eThere are no restrictions.\u003c/p\u003e\n      "],"accessrestrict_heading_ssm":["Access"],"accessrestrict_tesim":["There are no restrictions."],"arrangement_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eCollection is arranged alphabetically and chronological\n         therein.\u003c/p\u003e\n    "],"arrangement_heading_ssm":["Arrangement"],"arrangement_tesim":["Collection is arranged alphabetically and chronological\n         therein."],"bioghist_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eThe department was started in 1967 and offered a Bachelor\n         of Arts in Music Education. In 1985, two additional\n         concentrations were added: Applied Music and Commercial Music.\n         In 1993, these two concentrations were divided into\n         Performance, Commercial Music/Jazz Studies, and Composition.\n         The department also sponsors various performance groups such\n         as Chapel Choir, Concert Band, Concert Choir, Jazz Ensembles,\n         Marching Band, Opera Workshop, and the University Choir.\u003c/p\u003e\n      ","\u003cp\u003eThe Department Chairs have been as follows: Dr. Odell Hobbs\n         1967-1991 \n         \u003clb\u003e\u003c/lb\u003eDr. W. Weldon Hill 1991-1992 \n         \u003clb\u003e\u003c/lb\u003eDr. John Ware 1992-2001\u003c/p\u003e\n    "],"bioghist_heading_ssm":["Biographical/Historical Information"],"bioghist_tesim":["The department was started in 1967 and offered a Bachelor\n         of Arts in Music Education. In 1985, two additional\n         concentrations were added: Applied Music and Commercial Music.\n         In 1993, these two concentrations were divided into\n         Performance, Commercial Music/Jazz Studies, and Composition.\n         The department also sponsors various performance groups such\n         as Chapel Choir, Concert Band, Concert Choir, Jazz Ensembles,\n         Marching Band, Opera Workshop, and the University Choir.","The Department Chairs have been as follows: Dr. Odell Hobbs\n         1967-1991 \n         Dr. W. Weldon Hill 1991-1992 \n         Dr. John Ware 1992-2001"],"prefercite_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eThe Records of the Music Department in the University\n            Archives Virginia Union University, AR-0002, Archives and\n            Special Collections Department, L. Douglas Wilder Library,\n            Virginia Union University\u003c/p\u003e\n      "],"prefercite_tesim":["The Records of the Music Department in the University\n            Archives Virginia Union University, AR-0002, Archives and\n            Special Collections Department, L. Douglas Wilder Library,\n            Virginia Union University"],"scopecontent_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eThese records reflect the performances and activities of\n         the Music Department at Virginia Union University. The bulk of\n         the collection is performance programs for the various\n         performance groups, especially the University Choir and the\n         Concert Choir, and departmental correspondence. The\n         correspondence is almost entirely that of Dr. Hobbs. The\n         Administrative file contains the 1979-1980 Year End Report, a\n         few department faculty meeting minutes, press releases and\n         course outlines. The Miscellaneous file includes programs for\n         opera and alumni concerts.\u003c/p\u003e\n    "],"scopecontent_heading_ssm":["Scope and Content Information"],"scopecontent_tesim":["These records reflect the performances and activities of\n         the Music Department at Virginia Union University. The bulk of\n         the collection is performance programs for the various\n         performance groups, especially the University Choir and the\n         Concert Choir, and departmental correspondence. The\n         correspondence is almost entirely that of Dr. Hobbs. The\n         Administrative file contains the 1979-1980 Year End Report, a\n         few department faculty meeting minutes, press releases and\n         course outlines. The Miscellaneous file includes programs for\n         opera and alumni concerts."],"userestrict_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eThere are no restrictions.\u003c/p\u003e\n      "],"userestrict_heading_ssm":["Use Restrictions"],"userestrict_tesim":["There are no restrictions."],"language_ssim":["English"],"total_component_count_is":15,"online_item_count_is":0,"component_level_isim":[0],"sort_isi":0,"timestamp":"2026-08-14T22:53:07.053Z"}]}},"label":"Breadcrumbs"}}},"links":{"self":"https://arvasarchive.org/catalog/virvu_virvu00012_c01"}},{"id":"virvu_virvu00005_c03_c01","type":"File","attributes":{"title":"Administrative \n \n 1940-1944","breadcrumbs":{"id":"https://arvasarchive.org/catalog/virvu_virvu00005_c03_c01#breadcrumbs","type":"document_value","attributes":{"value":{"ref_ssi":"virvu_virvu00005_c03_c01","ref_ssm":["virvu_virvu00005_c03_c01"],"id":"virvu_virvu00005_c03_c01","ead_ssi":"virvu_virvu00005","_root_":"virvu_virvu00005","_nest_parent_":"virvu_virvu00005_c03","parent_ssi":"virvu_virvu00005_c03","parent_ssim":["John Malcus Ellison Papers \n \n 1941-1979","Series 3. Subject Files \n \n 1939-1970"],"parent_ids_ssim":["virvu_virvu00005","virvu_virvu00005_c03"],"title_filing_ssi":"Administrative \n                  \n                  1940-1944","title_ssm":["Administrative \n \n 1940-1944"],"title_tesim":["Administrative \n \n 1940-1944"],"normalized_title_ssm":["Administrative \n \n 1940-1944"],"text":["Administrative \n \n 1940-1944","John Malcus Ellison Papers \n \n 1941-1979","Series 3. Subject Files \n \n 1939-1970","Box-folder 4.73"],"parent_unittitles_ssm":["John Malcus Ellison Papers \n \n 1941-1979","Series 3. Subject Files \n \n 1939-1970"],"parent_unittitles_tesim":["John Malcus Ellison Papers \n \n 1941-1979","Series 3. Subject Files \n \n 1939-1970"],"level_ssm":["File"],"level_ssim":["File"],"component_level_isim":[2],"sort_isi":76,"repository_ssim":["Virginia Union University"],"collection_ssim":["John Malcus Ellison Papers \n \n 1941-1979"],"containers_ssim":["Box-folder 4.73"],"has_online_content_ssim":["false"],"child_component_count_isi":0,"parent_access_restrict_tesm":["There are no restrictions."],"parent_access_terms_tesm":["There are no restrictions."],"_nest_path_":"/components#2/components#0","timestamp":"2026-08-14T22:53:07.053Z","collection":{"numFound":1,"start":0,"numFoundExact":true,"docs":[{"id":"virvu_virvu00005","ead_ssi":"virvu_virvu00005","_root_":"virvu_virvu00005","_nest_parent_":"virvu_virvu00005","ead_source_url_ssi":"data/vuu/virvu00005.xml","title_ssm":["John Malcus Ellison Papers \n \n 1941-1979"],"title_tesim":["John Malcus Ellison Papers \n \n 1941-1979"],"normalized_title_ssm":["John Malcus Ellison Papers \n \n 1941-1979"],"text":["John Malcus Ellison Papers \n \n 1941-1979","MS-0001","12 linear\n         feet","There are no restrictions.","Collection is arranged by series and chronological\n         therein.","Born 02 February 1889 in Northumberland County, Virginia,\n         John Malcus Ellison was one of twin sons. His early life was\n         very humble allowing for very little intellectual stimulation\n         beyond learning to read in the racially segregated schools of\n         his rural community. As he explained in a short\n         autobiographical sketch he wrote to James H. Croushore of\n         Fredricksburg, Virginia in the late 1950's, At the age of 14 I\n         was hired out for 7.00 dollars per month as a farm hand. My\n         varied experiences caused me much unrest and anxiety as I\n         longed for a fuller and more meaningful life Opportunities for\n         education were very meager in my home community, and so at the\n         age of 17 I went to Normal Industrial Institute now Virginia\n         State College at Petersburg, Va. After two and one half years\n         of study I transferred to Virginia Union University in 1909\n         and completed my High School and College work. At that time,\n         Wayland Academy was the division of Union that provided\n         secondary education to students. In 1917, Ellison earned his\n         A.B. in Education at Virginia Union. He returned to his home\n         in the Northern Neck of Virginia as pastor of Shiloh Baptist\n         Church and principal of the Northern Neck Industrial Academy.\n         He later founded and headed the Northumberland County High\n         School.","In 1927 Ellison earned a Master of Arts in Religious\n         Education and Philosophy of Religion from Oberlin College and\n         subsequently taught at what is now Virginia State University\n         in sociology and ethics. There he was appointed the first\n         college minister . He did graduate work at Columbia University\n         from 1930 to 1931 and at Union Theological Seminary in New\n         York City from 1931 to 1932. By 1933, Ellison had earned his\n         Ph.D. in Christian Education and Sociology from Drew\n         University, been pastor of the Zion Baptist Church in\n         Washington, D.C., taught Religious Education at Howard\n         University's School of Religion, and authored several\n         publications on rural, Negro life in Virginia. It was in that\n         same year that he married Elizabeth Balfour, a music educator\n         and performer from Brooklyn, New York.","Dr. Ellison assumed the presidency of Virginia Union at a\n         very difficult time in history. The country had just entered\n         World War II and the era of Jim Crow was at its peak in the\n         South. Being the first African American to assume the\n         leadership of Virginia Union, he lived with the burden of\n         proving himself capable and worthy of the title President. It\n         is generally believed that he succeeded at the task. In spite\n         of the manpower drain on both the student body and the male\n         faculty, Union survived the worst of times through 1946 when\n         the GIs returned to school and prosperity and stability came\n         back to the university. Ellison took an active part in the\n         support of US troops, especially Virginia Union students in\n         the service, and in the civilian efforts that maintained the\n         community at home. It was also during his administration that\n         the Belgian Friendship Building project was undertaken and\n         successfully accomplished.","After the 1939 World's Fair in New York City, the Belgian\n         government could not dismantle and return their elaborate\n         exhibit and its housing to Nazi-occupied Belgium. Several\n         options were explored to dispose of the splendid structure\n         originally designed to be a stand-alone college in Belgium.\n         Benefactors of Negro education, however, won the bid. The\n         Belgian Friendship Building with its ornate friezes depicting\n         black life in the Belgian Congo would be relocated to the\n         campus of Virginia Union University. Negotiations for the\n         transfer of title and property were begun in the previous\n         administration of William J. Clark; fund raising, re-design\n         and physical relocation were left to Ellison's stewardship. By\n         1949 the campus had been renovated, the Belgian building moved\n         and fitted for the library, science laboratories and the\n         gymnasium and a debt of nearly one-half million dollars had\n         been retired under Ellison's leadership. This project was a\n         major concern during the first half of his career and his\n         papers reflect its importance.","Other improvements on the campus followed the Belgian\n         Building project including re-organization of the university's\n         administrative structure, significant increase in the\n         endowment, and additions to the physical plant (e.g., Hovey\n         Stadium, new dormitories and other facilities).","Concurrent with his academic and administrative career,\n         Ellison kept an active ministerial career, preaching and\n         teaching throughout Virginia on a regular basis and appearing\n         as guest pastor a various churches, Sunday Schools and\n         conferences all over the country. Summers were often spent\n         teaching aspiring ministers in special programs that he helped\n         design. He edited religious journals and newsletters as well\n         as publications for the Scottish Rite and Alpha Phi Alpha\n         Fraternity, Inc. Ellison was a prolific author as well; he\n         published several books, tracts and brochures most of which\n         were copies of his favorite and most popular sermons.","As a prominent African American educator, Ellison was\n         active in many organizations advancing the cause of both civil\n         rights and higher education for his race. His involvement with\n         national organizations such as the National Youth\n         Administration, Southern Education Foundation, Negro\n         Organization Society, National Conference of Church-Related\n         Colleges, the NAACP and many others was typical of African\n         American leaders of that time as they cooperated to support\n         the existence and survival of their schools and\n         institutions.","After his term as president, Ellison continued on at\n         Virginia Union as chancellor and professor until his death on\n         13 October 1979. He is buried at Riverview Cemetery in\n         Richmond, Virginia.","Collection processed in December 1998.","This collection contains the administrative and personal\n         records of John Malcus Ellison as president of Virginia Union\n         University (1941-1955), chancellor (1955-79), minister,\n         teacher, author and editor. The bulk of the collection is from\n         the early years of his presidency, 1941-1945, with very few\n         materials from the later years or during his tenure as\n         chancellor. Although most of the collection is correspondence\n         conducted in his official capacity as president, because these\n         materials were received from his family, the Ellison Papers\n         are organized as a manuscript collection.","The correspondence files give an intriguing picture of\n         Ellison in his role as president of a small, African American\n         university in a segregated southern city. The many letters\n         from parents, guardians and prospective students reflect his\n         function as father and disciplinarian to the campus. The\n         letters to and from prominent Richmond figures and leaders of\n         the area schools, both black and white, reveal the part he\n         played in community relations. Of special interest is the\n         correspondence with other African American educational\n         leaders, such as Benjamin Mays, which shows the support these\n         educators lent one another in their struggles for their\n         institutions to not only survive, but succeed.","The subject files disclose what organizations Ellison\n         participated in as president. Like many of his contemporaries,\n         he was active in national organizations as they provided a\n         support network for African American higher education. These\n         files also reveal what was happening on campus during the\n         early years of his administration, including the Belgian\n         Building files which offer a fascinating unfolding of the\n         construction of the building.","The personal files are related mainly to his role as\n         preacher and teacher. As with the other series, the lines are\n         often blurred in these files between Ellison's many roles. His\n         speeches and sermons are an interesting compliment to his\n         writings, and often there is overlap between the two as he\n         published collections of sermons. Included in the writings are\n         his extensive notes in preparation for a definitive history of\n         Virginia Union, for which many of the photographs in these\n         materials were collected. The programs show not only which\n         events and activities Ellison participated in, both on campus\n         and off, but those which he attended or supported.","Due to severe mold damage and insect infestation, many\n         records have been preservation photocopied.","There are no restrictions.","English"],"collection_title_tesim":["John Malcus Ellison Papers \n \n 1941-1979"],"collection_ssim":["John Malcus Ellison Papers \n \n 1941-1979"],"level_ssm":["collection"],"level_ssim":["Collection"],"unitid_ssm":["MS-0001"],"unitid_tesim":["MS-0001"],"repository_ssm":["Virginia Union University"],"repository_ssim":["Virginia Union University"],"creator_ssm":["John Malcus Ellison\n         Papers"],"creator_ssim":["John Malcus Ellison\n         Papers"],"access_terms_ssm":["There are no restrictions."],"acqinfo_ssim":["Received from Elizabeth Balfour Ellison, 06 August\n            1993"],"has_online_content_ssim":["false"],"physdesc_tesim":["12 linear\n         feet"],"accessrestrict_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eThere are no restrictions.\u003c/p\u003e\n      "],"accessrestrict_heading_ssm":["Access"],"accessrestrict_tesim":["There are no restrictions."],"arrangement_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eCollection is arranged by series and chronological\n         therein.\u003c/p\u003e\n    "],"arrangement_heading_ssm":["Arrangement"],"arrangement_tesim":["Collection is arranged by series and chronological\n         therein."],"bioghist_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eBorn 02 February 1889 in Northumberland County, Virginia,\n         John Malcus Ellison was one of twin sons. His early life was\n         very humble allowing for very little intellectual stimulation\n         beyond learning to read in the racially segregated schools of\n         his rural community. As he explained in a short\n         autobiographical sketch he wrote to James H. Croushore of\n         Fredricksburg, Virginia in the late 1950's, At the age of 14 I\n         was hired out for 7.00 dollars per month as a farm hand. My\n         varied experiences caused me much unrest and anxiety as I\n         longed for a fuller and more meaningful life Opportunities for\n         education were very meager in my home community, and so at the\n         age of 17 I went to Normal Industrial Institute now Virginia\n         State College at Petersburg, Va. After two and one half years\n         of study I transferred to Virginia Union University in 1909\n         and completed my High School and College work. At that time,\n         Wayland Academy was the division of Union that provided\n         secondary education to students. In 1917, Ellison earned his\n         A.B. in Education at Virginia Union. He returned to his home\n         in the Northern Neck of Virginia as pastor of Shiloh Baptist\n         Church and principal of the Northern Neck Industrial Academy.\n         He later founded and headed the Northumberland County High\n         School.\u003c/p\u003e\n      ","\u003cp\u003eIn 1927 Ellison earned a Master of Arts in Religious\n         Education and Philosophy of Religion from Oberlin College and\n         subsequently taught at what is now Virginia State University\n         in sociology and ethics. There he was appointed the first\n         college minister . He did graduate work at Columbia University\n         from 1930 to 1931 and at Union Theological Seminary in New\n         York City from 1931 to 1932. By 1933, Ellison had earned his\n         Ph.D. in Christian Education and Sociology from Drew\n         University, been pastor of the Zion Baptist Church in\n         Washington, D.C., taught Religious Education at Howard\n         University's School of Religion, and authored several\n         publications on rural, Negro life in Virginia. It was in that\n         same year that he married Elizabeth Balfour, a music educator\n         and performer from Brooklyn, New York.\u003c/p\u003e\n      ","\u003cp\u003eDr. Ellison assumed the presidency of Virginia Union at a\n         very difficult time in history. The country had just entered\n         World War II and the era of Jim Crow was at its peak in the\n         South. Being the first African American to assume the\n         leadership of Virginia Union, he lived with the burden of\n         proving himself capable and worthy of the title President. It\n         is generally believed that he succeeded at the task. In spite\n         of the manpower drain on both the student body and the male\n         faculty, Union survived the worst of times through 1946 when\n         the GIs returned to school and prosperity and stability came\n         back to the university. Ellison took an active part in the\n         support of US troops, especially Virginia Union students in\n         the service, and in the civilian efforts that maintained the\n         community at home. It was also during his administration that\n         the Belgian Friendship Building project was undertaken and\n         successfully accomplished.\u003c/p\u003e\n      ","\u003cp\u003eAfter the 1939 World's Fair in New York City, the Belgian\n         government could not dismantle and return their elaborate\n         exhibit and its housing to Nazi-occupied Belgium. Several\n         options were explored to dispose of the splendid structure\n         originally designed to be a stand-alone college in Belgium.\n         Benefactors of Negro education, however, won the bid. The\n         Belgian Friendship Building with its ornate friezes depicting\n         black life in the Belgian Congo would be relocated to the\n         campus of Virginia Union University. Negotiations for the\n         transfer of title and property were begun in the previous\n         administration of William J. Clark; fund raising, re-design\n         and physical relocation were left to Ellison's stewardship. By\n         1949 the campus had been renovated, the Belgian building moved\n         and fitted for the library, science laboratories and the\n         gymnasium and a debt of nearly one-half million dollars had\n         been retired under Ellison's leadership. This project was a\n         major concern during the first half of his career and his\n         papers reflect its importance.\u003c/p\u003e\n      ","\u003cp\u003eOther improvements on the campus followed the Belgian\n         Building project including re-organization of the university's\n         administrative structure, significant increase in the\n         endowment, and additions to the physical plant (e.g., Hovey\n         Stadium, new dormitories and other facilities).\u003c/p\u003e\n      ","\u003cp\u003eConcurrent with his academic and administrative career,\n         Ellison kept an active ministerial career, preaching and\n         teaching throughout Virginia on a regular basis and appearing\n         as guest pastor a various churches, Sunday Schools and\n         conferences all over the country. Summers were often spent\n         teaching aspiring ministers in special programs that he helped\n         design. He edited religious journals and newsletters as well\n         as publications for the Scottish Rite and Alpha Phi Alpha\n         Fraternity, Inc. Ellison was a prolific author as well; he\n         published several books, tracts and brochures most of which\n         were copies of his favorite and most popular sermons.\u003c/p\u003e\n      ","\u003cp\u003eAs a prominent African American educator, Ellison was\n         active in many organizations advancing the cause of both civil\n         rights and higher education for his race. His involvement with\n         national organizations such as the National Youth\n         Administration, Southern Education Foundation, Negro\n         Organization Society, National Conference of Church-Related\n         Colleges, the NAACP and many others was typical of African\n         American leaders of that time as they cooperated to support\n         the existence and survival of their schools and\n         institutions.\u003c/p\u003e\n      ","\u003cp\u003eAfter his term as president, Ellison continued on at\n         Virginia Union as chancellor and professor until his death on\n         13 October 1979. He is buried at Riverview Cemetery in\n         Richmond, Virginia.\u003c/p\u003e\n    "],"bioghist_heading_ssm":["Biographical/Historical Information"],"bioghist_tesim":["Born 02 February 1889 in Northumberland County, Virginia,\n         John Malcus Ellison was one of twin sons. His early life was\n         very humble allowing for very little intellectual stimulation\n         beyond learning to read in the racially segregated schools of\n         his rural community. As he explained in a short\n         autobiographical sketch he wrote to James H. Croushore of\n         Fredricksburg, Virginia in the late 1950's, At the age of 14 I\n         was hired out for 7.00 dollars per month as a farm hand. My\n         varied experiences caused me much unrest and anxiety as I\n         longed for a fuller and more meaningful life Opportunities for\n         education were very meager in my home community, and so at the\n         age of 17 I went to Normal Industrial Institute now Virginia\n         State College at Petersburg, Va. After two and one half years\n         of study I transferred to Virginia Union University in 1909\n         and completed my High School and College work. At that time,\n         Wayland Academy was the division of Union that provided\n         secondary education to students. In 1917, Ellison earned his\n         A.B. in Education at Virginia Union. He returned to his home\n         in the Northern Neck of Virginia as pastor of Shiloh Baptist\n         Church and principal of the Northern Neck Industrial Academy.\n         He later founded and headed the Northumberland County High\n         School.","In 1927 Ellison earned a Master of Arts in Religious\n         Education and Philosophy of Religion from Oberlin College and\n         subsequently taught at what is now Virginia State University\n         in sociology and ethics. There he was appointed the first\n         college minister . He did graduate work at Columbia University\n         from 1930 to 1931 and at Union Theological Seminary in New\n         York City from 1931 to 1932. By 1933, Ellison had earned his\n         Ph.D. in Christian Education and Sociology from Drew\n         University, been pastor of the Zion Baptist Church in\n         Washington, D.C., taught Religious Education at Howard\n         University's School of Religion, and authored several\n         publications on rural, Negro life in Virginia. It was in that\n         same year that he married Elizabeth Balfour, a music educator\n         and performer from Brooklyn, New York.","Dr. Ellison assumed the presidency of Virginia Union at a\n         very difficult time in history. The country had just entered\n         World War II and the era of Jim Crow was at its peak in the\n         South. Being the first African American to assume the\n         leadership of Virginia Union, he lived with the burden of\n         proving himself capable and worthy of the title President. It\n         is generally believed that he succeeded at the task. In spite\n         of the manpower drain on both the student body and the male\n         faculty, Union survived the worst of times through 1946 when\n         the GIs returned to school and prosperity and stability came\n         back to the university. Ellison took an active part in the\n         support of US troops, especially Virginia Union students in\n         the service, and in the civilian efforts that maintained the\n         community at home. It was also during his administration that\n         the Belgian Friendship Building project was undertaken and\n         successfully accomplished.","After the 1939 World's Fair in New York City, the Belgian\n         government could not dismantle and return their elaborate\n         exhibit and its housing to Nazi-occupied Belgium. Several\n         options were explored to dispose of the splendid structure\n         originally designed to be a stand-alone college in Belgium.\n         Benefactors of Negro education, however, won the bid. The\n         Belgian Friendship Building with its ornate friezes depicting\n         black life in the Belgian Congo would be relocated to the\n         campus of Virginia Union University. Negotiations for the\n         transfer of title and property were begun in the previous\n         administration of William J. Clark; fund raising, re-design\n         and physical relocation were left to Ellison's stewardship. By\n         1949 the campus had been renovated, the Belgian building moved\n         and fitted for the library, science laboratories and the\n         gymnasium and a debt of nearly one-half million dollars had\n         been retired under Ellison's leadership. This project was a\n         major concern during the first half of his career and his\n         papers reflect its importance.","Other improvements on the campus followed the Belgian\n         Building project including re-organization of the university's\n         administrative structure, significant increase in the\n         endowment, and additions to the physical plant (e.g., Hovey\n         Stadium, new dormitories and other facilities).","Concurrent with his academic and administrative career,\n         Ellison kept an active ministerial career, preaching and\n         teaching throughout Virginia on a regular basis and appearing\n         as guest pastor a various churches, Sunday Schools and\n         conferences all over the country. Summers were often spent\n         teaching aspiring ministers in special programs that he helped\n         design. He edited religious journals and newsletters as well\n         as publications for the Scottish Rite and Alpha Phi Alpha\n         Fraternity, Inc. Ellison was a prolific author as well; he\n         published several books, tracts and brochures most of which\n         were copies of his favorite and most popular sermons.","As a prominent African American educator, Ellison was\n         active in many organizations advancing the cause of both civil\n         rights and higher education for his race. His involvement with\n         national organizations such as the National Youth\n         Administration, Southern Education Foundation, Negro\n         Organization Society, National Conference of Church-Related\n         Colleges, the NAACP and many others was typical of African\n         American leaders of that time as they cooperated to support\n         the existence and survival of their schools and\n         institutions.","After his term as president, Ellison continued on at\n         Virginia Union as chancellor and professor until his death on\n         13 October 1979. He is buried at Riverview Cemetery in\n         Richmond, Virginia."],"prefercite_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eJohn Malcus Ellison Papers, MS-0001 , Archives and\n            Special Collections Department, L. Douglas Wilder Library,\n            Virginia Union University\u003c/p\u003e\n      "],"prefercite_tesim":["John Malcus Ellison Papers, MS-0001 , Archives and\n            Special Collections Department, L. Douglas Wilder Library,\n            Virginia Union University"],"processinfo_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eCollection processed in December 1998.\u003c/p\u003e\n      "],"processinfo_heading_ssm":["Processing Information"],"processinfo_tesim":["Collection processed in December 1998."],"scopecontent_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eThis collection contains the administrative and personal\n         records of John Malcus Ellison as president of Virginia Union\n         University (1941-1955), chancellor (1955-79), minister,\n         teacher, author and editor. The bulk of the collection is from\n         the early years of his presidency, 1941-1945, with very few\n         materials from the later years or during his tenure as\n         chancellor. Although most of the collection is correspondence\n         conducted in his official capacity as president, because these\n         materials were received from his family, the Ellison Papers\n         are organized as a manuscript collection.\u003c/p\u003e\n      ","\u003cp\u003eThe correspondence files give an intriguing picture of\n         Ellison in his role as president of a small, African American\n         university in a segregated southern city. The many letters\n         from parents, guardians and prospective students reflect his\n         function as father and disciplinarian to the campus. The\n         letters to and from prominent Richmond figures and leaders of\n         the area schools, both black and white, reveal the part he\n         played in community relations. Of special interest is the\n         correspondence with other African American educational\n         leaders, such as Benjamin Mays, which shows the support these\n         educators lent one another in their struggles for their\n         institutions to not only survive, but succeed.\u003c/p\u003e\n      ","\u003cp\u003eThe subject files disclose what organizations Ellison\n         participated in as president. Like many of his contemporaries,\n         he was active in national organizations as they provided a\n         support network for African American higher education. These\n         files also reveal what was happening on campus during the\n         early years of his administration, including the Belgian\n         Building files which offer a fascinating unfolding of the\n         construction of the building.\u003c/p\u003e\n      ","\u003cp\u003eThe personal files are related mainly to his role as\n         preacher and teacher. As with the other series, the lines are\n         often blurred in these files between Ellison's many roles. His\n         speeches and sermons are an interesting compliment to his\n         writings, and often there is overlap between the two as he\n         published collections of sermons. Included in the writings are\n         his extensive notes in preparation for a definitive history of\n         Virginia Union, for which many of the photographs in these\n         materials were collected. The programs show not only which\n         events and activities Ellison participated in, both on campus\n         and off, but those which he attended or supported.\u003c/p\u003e\n      ","\u003cp\u003eDue to severe mold damage and insect infestation, many\n         records have been preservation photocopied.\u003c/p\u003e\n    "],"scopecontent_heading_ssm":["Scope and Content Information"],"scopecontent_tesim":["This collection contains the administrative and personal\n         records of John Malcus Ellison as president of Virginia Union\n         University (1941-1955), chancellor (1955-79), minister,\n         teacher, author and editor. The bulk of the collection is from\n         the early years of his presidency, 1941-1945, with very few\n         materials from the later years or during his tenure as\n         chancellor. Although most of the collection is correspondence\n         conducted in his official capacity as president, because these\n         materials were received from his family, the Ellison Papers\n         are organized as a manuscript collection.","The correspondence files give an intriguing picture of\n         Ellison in his role as president of a small, African American\n         university in a segregated southern city. The many letters\n         from parents, guardians and prospective students reflect his\n         function as father and disciplinarian to the campus. The\n         letters to and from prominent Richmond figures and leaders of\n         the area schools, both black and white, reveal the part he\n         played in community relations. Of special interest is the\n         correspondence with other African American educational\n         leaders, such as Benjamin Mays, which shows the support these\n         educators lent one another in their struggles for their\n         institutions to not only survive, but succeed.","The subject files disclose what organizations Ellison\n         participated in as president. Like many of his contemporaries,\n         he was active in national organizations as they provided a\n         support network for African American higher education. These\n         files also reveal what was happening on campus during the\n         early years of his administration, including the Belgian\n         Building files which offer a fascinating unfolding of the\n         construction of the building.","The personal files are related mainly to his role as\n         preacher and teacher. As with the other series, the lines are\n         often blurred in these files between Ellison's many roles. His\n         speeches and sermons are an interesting compliment to his\n         writings, and often there is overlap between the two as he\n         published collections of sermons. Included in the writings are\n         his extensive notes in preparation for a definitive history of\n         Virginia Union, for which many of the photographs in these\n         materials were collected. The programs show not only which\n         events and activities Ellison participated in, both on campus\n         and off, but those which he attended or supported.","Due to severe mold damage and insect infestation, many\n         records have been preservation photocopied."],"userestrict_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eThere are no restrictions.\u003c/p\u003e\n      "],"userestrict_heading_ssm":["Use Restrictions"],"userestrict_tesim":["There are no restrictions."],"language_ssim":["English"],"total_component_count_is":226,"online_item_count_is":0,"component_level_isim":[0],"sort_isi":0,"timestamp":"2026-08-14T22:53:07.053Z"}]}},"label":"Breadcrumbs"}}},"links":{"self":"https://arvasarchive.org/catalog/virvu_virvu00005_c03_c01"}},{"id":"virvu_virvu00005_c03_c02","type":"File","attributes":{"title":"Administrative \n \n 1945-1949","breadcrumbs":{"id":"https://arvasarchive.org/catalog/virvu_virvu00005_c03_c02#breadcrumbs","type":"document_value","attributes":{"value":{"ref_ssi":"virvu_virvu00005_c03_c02","ref_ssm":["virvu_virvu00005_c03_c02"],"id":"virvu_virvu00005_c03_c02","ead_ssi":"virvu_virvu00005","_root_":"virvu_virvu00005","_nest_parent_":"virvu_virvu00005_c03","parent_ssi":"virvu_virvu00005_c03","parent_ssim":["John Malcus Ellison Papers \n \n 1941-1979","Series 3. Subject Files \n \n 1939-1970"],"parent_ids_ssim":["virvu_virvu00005","virvu_virvu00005_c03"],"title_filing_ssi":"Administrative \n                  \n                  1945-1949","title_ssm":["Administrative \n \n 1945-1949"],"title_tesim":["Administrative \n \n 1945-1949"],"normalized_title_ssm":["Administrative \n \n 1945-1949"],"text":["Administrative \n \n 1945-1949","John Malcus Ellison Papers \n \n 1941-1979","Series 3. Subject Files \n \n 1939-1970","Box-folder 4.74"],"parent_unittitles_ssm":["John Malcus Ellison Papers \n \n 1941-1979","Series 3. Subject Files \n \n 1939-1970"],"parent_unittitles_tesim":["John Malcus Ellison Papers \n \n 1941-1979","Series 3. Subject Files \n \n 1939-1970"],"level_ssm":["File"],"level_ssim":["File"],"component_level_isim":[2],"sort_isi":77,"repository_ssim":["Virginia Union University"],"collection_ssim":["John Malcus Ellison Papers \n \n 1941-1979"],"containers_ssim":["Box-folder 4.74"],"has_online_content_ssim":["false"],"child_component_count_isi":0,"parent_access_restrict_tesm":["There are no restrictions."],"parent_access_terms_tesm":["There are no restrictions."],"_nest_path_":"/components#2/components#1","timestamp":"2026-08-14T22:53:07.053Z","collection":{"numFound":1,"start":0,"numFoundExact":true,"docs":[{"id":"virvu_virvu00005","ead_ssi":"virvu_virvu00005","_root_":"virvu_virvu00005","_nest_parent_":"virvu_virvu00005","ead_source_url_ssi":"data/vuu/virvu00005.xml","title_ssm":["John Malcus Ellison Papers \n \n 1941-1979"],"title_tesim":["John Malcus Ellison Papers \n \n 1941-1979"],"normalized_title_ssm":["John Malcus Ellison Papers \n \n 1941-1979"],"text":["John Malcus Ellison Papers \n \n 1941-1979","MS-0001","12 linear\n         feet","There are no restrictions.","Collection is arranged by series and chronological\n         therein.","Born 02 February 1889 in Northumberland County, Virginia,\n         John Malcus Ellison was one of twin sons. His early life was\n         very humble allowing for very little intellectual stimulation\n         beyond learning to read in the racially segregated schools of\n         his rural community. As he explained in a short\n         autobiographical sketch he wrote to James H. Croushore of\n         Fredricksburg, Virginia in the late 1950's, At the age of 14 I\n         was hired out for 7.00 dollars per month as a farm hand. My\n         varied experiences caused me much unrest and anxiety as I\n         longed for a fuller and more meaningful life Opportunities for\n         education were very meager in my home community, and so at the\n         age of 17 I went to Normal Industrial Institute now Virginia\n         State College at Petersburg, Va. After two and one half years\n         of study I transferred to Virginia Union University in 1909\n         and completed my High School and College work. At that time,\n         Wayland Academy was the division of Union that provided\n         secondary education to students. In 1917, Ellison earned his\n         A.B. in Education at Virginia Union. He returned to his home\n         in the Northern Neck of Virginia as pastor of Shiloh Baptist\n         Church and principal of the Northern Neck Industrial Academy.\n         He later founded and headed the Northumberland County High\n         School.","In 1927 Ellison earned a Master of Arts in Religious\n         Education and Philosophy of Religion from Oberlin College and\n         subsequently taught at what is now Virginia State University\n         in sociology and ethics. There he was appointed the first\n         college minister . He did graduate work at Columbia University\n         from 1930 to 1931 and at Union Theological Seminary in New\n         York City from 1931 to 1932. By 1933, Ellison had earned his\n         Ph.D. in Christian Education and Sociology from Drew\n         University, been pastor of the Zion Baptist Church in\n         Washington, D.C., taught Religious Education at Howard\n         University's School of Religion, and authored several\n         publications on rural, Negro life in Virginia. It was in that\n         same year that he married Elizabeth Balfour, a music educator\n         and performer from Brooklyn, New York.","Dr. Ellison assumed the presidency of Virginia Union at a\n         very difficult time in history. The country had just entered\n         World War II and the era of Jim Crow was at its peak in the\n         South. Being the first African American to assume the\n         leadership of Virginia Union, he lived with the burden of\n         proving himself capable and worthy of the title President. It\n         is generally believed that he succeeded at the task. In spite\n         of the manpower drain on both the student body and the male\n         faculty, Union survived the worst of times through 1946 when\n         the GIs returned to school and prosperity and stability came\n         back to the university. Ellison took an active part in the\n         support of US troops, especially Virginia Union students in\n         the service, and in the civilian efforts that maintained the\n         community at home. It was also during his administration that\n         the Belgian Friendship Building project was undertaken and\n         successfully accomplished.","After the 1939 World's Fair in New York City, the Belgian\n         government could not dismantle and return their elaborate\n         exhibit and its housing to Nazi-occupied Belgium. Several\n         options were explored to dispose of the splendid structure\n         originally designed to be a stand-alone college in Belgium.\n         Benefactors of Negro education, however, won the bid. The\n         Belgian Friendship Building with its ornate friezes depicting\n         black life in the Belgian Congo would be relocated to the\n         campus of Virginia Union University. Negotiations for the\n         transfer of title and property were begun in the previous\n         administration of William J. Clark; fund raising, re-design\n         and physical relocation were left to Ellison's stewardship. By\n         1949 the campus had been renovated, the Belgian building moved\n         and fitted for the library, science laboratories and the\n         gymnasium and a debt of nearly one-half million dollars had\n         been retired under Ellison's leadership. This project was a\n         major concern during the first half of his career and his\n         papers reflect its importance.","Other improvements on the campus followed the Belgian\n         Building project including re-organization of the university's\n         administrative structure, significant increase in the\n         endowment, and additions to the physical plant (e.g., Hovey\n         Stadium, new dormitories and other facilities).","Concurrent with his academic and administrative career,\n         Ellison kept an active ministerial career, preaching and\n         teaching throughout Virginia on a regular basis and appearing\n         as guest pastor a various churches, Sunday Schools and\n         conferences all over the country. Summers were often spent\n         teaching aspiring ministers in special programs that he helped\n         design. He edited religious journals and newsletters as well\n         as publications for the Scottish Rite and Alpha Phi Alpha\n         Fraternity, Inc. Ellison was a prolific author as well; he\n         published several books, tracts and brochures most of which\n         were copies of his favorite and most popular sermons.","As a prominent African American educator, Ellison was\n         active in many organizations advancing the cause of both civil\n         rights and higher education for his race. His involvement with\n         national organizations such as the National Youth\n         Administration, Southern Education Foundation, Negro\n         Organization Society, National Conference of Church-Related\n         Colleges, the NAACP and many others was typical of African\n         American leaders of that time as they cooperated to support\n         the existence and survival of their schools and\n         institutions.","After his term as president, Ellison continued on at\n         Virginia Union as chancellor and professor until his death on\n         13 October 1979. He is buried at Riverview Cemetery in\n         Richmond, Virginia.","Collection processed in December 1998.","This collection contains the administrative and personal\n         records of John Malcus Ellison as president of Virginia Union\n         University (1941-1955), chancellor (1955-79), minister,\n         teacher, author and editor. The bulk of the collection is from\n         the early years of his presidency, 1941-1945, with very few\n         materials from the later years or during his tenure as\n         chancellor. Although most of the collection is correspondence\n         conducted in his official capacity as president, because these\n         materials were received from his family, the Ellison Papers\n         are organized as a manuscript collection.","The correspondence files give an intriguing picture of\n         Ellison in his role as president of a small, African American\n         university in a segregated southern city. The many letters\n         from parents, guardians and prospective students reflect his\n         function as father and disciplinarian to the campus. The\n         letters to and from prominent Richmond figures and leaders of\n         the area schools, both black and white, reveal the part he\n         played in community relations. Of special interest is the\n         correspondence with other African American educational\n         leaders, such as Benjamin Mays, which shows the support these\n         educators lent one another in their struggles for their\n         institutions to not only survive, but succeed.","The subject files disclose what organizations Ellison\n         participated in as president. Like many of his contemporaries,\n         he was active in national organizations as they provided a\n         support network for African American higher education. These\n         files also reveal what was happening on campus during the\n         early years of his administration, including the Belgian\n         Building files which offer a fascinating unfolding of the\n         construction of the building.","The personal files are related mainly to his role as\n         preacher and teacher. As with the other series, the lines are\n         often blurred in these files between Ellison's many roles. His\n         speeches and sermons are an interesting compliment to his\n         writings, and often there is overlap between the two as he\n         published collections of sermons. Included in the writings are\n         his extensive notes in preparation for a definitive history of\n         Virginia Union, for which many of the photographs in these\n         materials were collected. The programs show not only which\n         events and activities Ellison participated in, both on campus\n         and off, but those which he attended or supported.","Due to severe mold damage and insect infestation, many\n         records have been preservation photocopied.","There are no restrictions.","English"],"collection_title_tesim":["John Malcus Ellison Papers \n \n 1941-1979"],"collection_ssim":["John Malcus Ellison Papers \n \n 1941-1979"],"level_ssm":["collection"],"level_ssim":["Collection"],"unitid_ssm":["MS-0001"],"unitid_tesim":["MS-0001"],"repository_ssm":["Virginia Union University"],"repository_ssim":["Virginia Union University"],"creator_ssm":["John Malcus Ellison\n         Papers"],"creator_ssim":["John Malcus Ellison\n         Papers"],"access_terms_ssm":["There are no restrictions."],"acqinfo_ssim":["Received from Elizabeth Balfour Ellison, 06 August\n            1993"],"has_online_content_ssim":["false"],"physdesc_tesim":["12 linear\n         feet"],"accessrestrict_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eThere are no restrictions.\u003c/p\u003e\n      "],"accessrestrict_heading_ssm":["Access"],"accessrestrict_tesim":["There are no restrictions."],"arrangement_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eCollection is arranged by series and chronological\n         therein.\u003c/p\u003e\n    "],"arrangement_heading_ssm":["Arrangement"],"arrangement_tesim":["Collection is arranged by series and chronological\n         therein."],"bioghist_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eBorn 02 February 1889 in Northumberland County, Virginia,\n         John Malcus Ellison was one of twin sons. His early life was\n         very humble allowing for very little intellectual stimulation\n         beyond learning to read in the racially segregated schools of\n         his rural community. As he explained in a short\n         autobiographical sketch he wrote to James H. Croushore of\n         Fredricksburg, Virginia in the late 1950's, At the age of 14 I\n         was hired out for 7.00 dollars per month as a farm hand. My\n         varied experiences caused me much unrest and anxiety as I\n         longed for a fuller and more meaningful life Opportunities for\n         education were very meager in my home community, and so at the\n         age of 17 I went to Normal Industrial Institute now Virginia\n         State College at Petersburg, Va. After two and one half years\n         of study I transferred to Virginia Union University in 1909\n         and completed my High School and College work. At that time,\n         Wayland Academy was the division of Union that provided\n         secondary education to students. In 1917, Ellison earned his\n         A.B. in Education at Virginia Union. He returned to his home\n         in the Northern Neck of Virginia as pastor of Shiloh Baptist\n         Church and principal of the Northern Neck Industrial Academy.\n         He later founded and headed the Northumberland County High\n         School.\u003c/p\u003e\n      ","\u003cp\u003eIn 1927 Ellison earned a Master of Arts in Religious\n         Education and Philosophy of Religion from Oberlin College and\n         subsequently taught at what is now Virginia State University\n         in sociology and ethics. There he was appointed the first\n         college minister . He did graduate work at Columbia University\n         from 1930 to 1931 and at Union Theological Seminary in New\n         York City from 1931 to 1932. By 1933, Ellison had earned his\n         Ph.D. in Christian Education and Sociology from Drew\n         University, been pastor of the Zion Baptist Church in\n         Washington, D.C., taught Religious Education at Howard\n         University's School of Religion, and authored several\n         publications on rural, Negro life in Virginia. It was in that\n         same year that he married Elizabeth Balfour, a music educator\n         and performer from Brooklyn, New York.\u003c/p\u003e\n      ","\u003cp\u003eDr. Ellison assumed the presidency of Virginia Union at a\n         very difficult time in history. The country had just entered\n         World War II and the era of Jim Crow was at its peak in the\n         South. Being the first African American to assume the\n         leadership of Virginia Union, he lived with the burden of\n         proving himself capable and worthy of the title President. It\n         is generally believed that he succeeded at the task. In spite\n         of the manpower drain on both the student body and the male\n         faculty, Union survived the worst of times through 1946 when\n         the GIs returned to school and prosperity and stability came\n         back to the university. Ellison took an active part in the\n         support of US troops, especially Virginia Union students in\n         the service, and in the civilian efforts that maintained the\n         community at home. It was also during his administration that\n         the Belgian Friendship Building project was undertaken and\n         successfully accomplished.\u003c/p\u003e\n      ","\u003cp\u003eAfter the 1939 World's Fair in New York City, the Belgian\n         government could not dismantle and return their elaborate\n         exhibit and its housing to Nazi-occupied Belgium. Several\n         options were explored to dispose of the splendid structure\n         originally designed to be a stand-alone college in Belgium.\n         Benefactors of Negro education, however, won the bid. The\n         Belgian Friendship Building with its ornate friezes depicting\n         black life in the Belgian Congo would be relocated to the\n         campus of Virginia Union University. Negotiations for the\n         transfer of title and property were begun in the previous\n         administration of William J. Clark; fund raising, re-design\n         and physical relocation were left to Ellison's stewardship. By\n         1949 the campus had been renovated, the Belgian building moved\n         and fitted for the library, science laboratories and the\n         gymnasium and a debt of nearly one-half million dollars had\n         been retired under Ellison's leadership. This project was a\n         major concern during the first half of his career and his\n         papers reflect its importance.\u003c/p\u003e\n      ","\u003cp\u003eOther improvements on the campus followed the Belgian\n         Building project including re-organization of the university's\n         administrative structure, significant increase in the\n         endowment, and additions to the physical plant (e.g., Hovey\n         Stadium, new dormitories and other facilities).\u003c/p\u003e\n      ","\u003cp\u003eConcurrent with his academic and administrative career,\n         Ellison kept an active ministerial career, preaching and\n         teaching throughout Virginia on a regular basis and appearing\n         as guest pastor a various churches, Sunday Schools and\n         conferences all over the country. Summers were often spent\n         teaching aspiring ministers in special programs that he helped\n         design. He edited religious journals and newsletters as well\n         as publications for the Scottish Rite and Alpha Phi Alpha\n         Fraternity, Inc. Ellison was a prolific author as well; he\n         published several books, tracts and brochures most of which\n         were copies of his favorite and most popular sermons.\u003c/p\u003e\n      ","\u003cp\u003eAs a prominent African American educator, Ellison was\n         active in many organizations advancing the cause of both civil\n         rights and higher education for his race. His involvement with\n         national organizations such as the National Youth\n         Administration, Southern Education Foundation, Negro\n         Organization Society, National Conference of Church-Related\n         Colleges, the NAACP and many others was typical of African\n         American leaders of that time as they cooperated to support\n         the existence and survival of their schools and\n         institutions.\u003c/p\u003e\n      ","\u003cp\u003eAfter his term as president, Ellison continued on at\n         Virginia Union as chancellor and professor until his death on\n         13 October 1979. He is buried at Riverview Cemetery in\n         Richmond, Virginia.\u003c/p\u003e\n    "],"bioghist_heading_ssm":["Biographical/Historical Information"],"bioghist_tesim":["Born 02 February 1889 in Northumberland County, Virginia,\n         John Malcus Ellison was one of twin sons. His early life was\n         very humble allowing for very little intellectual stimulation\n         beyond learning to read in the racially segregated schools of\n         his rural community. As he explained in a short\n         autobiographical sketch he wrote to James H. Croushore of\n         Fredricksburg, Virginia in the late 1950's, At the age of 14 I\n         was hired out for 7.00 dollars per month as a farm hand. My\n         varied experiences caused me much unrest and anxiety as I\n         longed for a fuller and more meaningful life Opportunities for\n         education were very meager in my home community, and so at the\n         age of 17 I went to Normal Industrial Institute now Virginia\n         State College at Petersburg, Va. After two and one half years\n         of study I transferred to Virginia Union University in 1909\n         and completed my High School and College work. At that time,\n         Wayland Academy was the division of Union that provided\n         secondary education to students. In 1917, Ellison earned his\n         A.B. in Education at Virginia Union. He returned to his home\n         in the Northern Neck of Virginia as pastor of Shiloh Baptist\n         Church and principal of the Northern Neck Industrial Academy.\n         He later founded and headed the Northumberland County High\n         School.","In 1927 Ellison earned a Master of Arts in Religious\n         Education and Philosophy of Religion from Oberlin College and\n         subsequently taught at what is now Virginia State University\n         in sociology and ethics. There he was appointed the first\n         college minister . He did graduate work at Columbia University\n         from 1930 to 1931 and at Union Theological Seminary in New\n         York City from 1931 to 1932. By 1933, Ellison had earned his\n         Ph.D. in Christian Education and Sociology from Drew\n         University, been pastor of the Zion Baptist Church in\n         Washington, D.C., taught Religious Education at Howard\n         University's School of Religion, and authored several\n         publications on rural, Negro life in Virginia. It was in that\n         same year that he married Elizabeth Balfour, a music educator\n         and performer from Brooklyn, New York.","Dr. Ellison assumed the presidency of Virginia Union at a\n         very difficult time in history. The country had just entered\n         World War II and the era of Jim Crow was at its peak in the\n         South. Being the first African American to assume the\n         leadership of Virginia Union, he lived with the burden of\n         proving himself capable and worthy of the title President. It\n         is generally believed that he succeeded at the task. In spite\n         of the manpower drain on both the student body and the male\n         faculty, Union survived the worst of times through 1946 when\n         the GIs returned to school and prosperity and stability came\n         back to the university. Ellison took an active part in the\n         support of US troops, especially Virginia Union students in\n         the service, and in the civilian efforts that maintained the\n         community at home. It was also during his administration that\n         the Belgian Friendship Building project was undertaken and\n         successfully accomplished.","After the 1939 World's Fair in New York City, the Belgian\n         government could not dismantle and return their elaborate\n         exhibit and its housing to Nazi-occupied Belgium. Several\n         options were explored to dispose of the splendid structure\n         originally designed to be a stand-alone college in Belgium.\n         Benefactors of Negro education, however, won the bid. The\n         Belgian Friendship Building with its ornate friezes depicting\n         black life in the Belgian Congo would be relocated to the\n         campus of Virginia Union University. Negotiations for the\n         transfer of title and property were begun in the previous\n         administration of William J. Clark; fund raising, re-design\n         and physical relocation were left to Ellison's stewardship. By\n         1949 the campus had been renovated, the Belgian building moved\n         and fitted for the library, science laboratories and the\n         gymnasium and a debt of nearly one-half million dollars had\n         been retired under Ellison's leadership. This project was a\n         major concern during the first half of his career and his\n         papers reflect its importance.","Other improvements on the campus followed the Belgian\n         Building project including re-organization of the university's\n         administrative structure, significant increase in the\n         endowment, and additions to the physical plant (e.g., Hovey\n         Stadium, new dormitories and other facilities).","Concurrent with his academic and administrative career,\n         Ellison kept an active ministerial career, preaching and\n         teaching throughout Virginia on a regular basis and appearing\n         as guest pastor a various churches, Sunday Schools and\n         conferences all over the country. Summers were often spent\n         teaching aspiring ministers in special programs that he helped\n         design. He edited religious journals and newsletters as well\n         as publications for the Scottish Rite and Alpha Phi Alpha\n         Fraternity, Inc. Ellison was a prolific author as well; he\n         published several books, tracts and brochures most of which\n         were copies of his favorite and most popular sermons.","As a prominent African American educator, Ellison was\n         active in many organizations advancing the cause of both civil\n         rights and higher education for his race. His involvement with\n         national organizations such as the National Youth\n         Administration, Southern Education Foundation, Negro\n         Organization Society, National Conference of Church-Related\n         Colleges, the NAACP and many others was typical of African\n         American leaders of that time as they cooperated to support\n         the existence and survival of their schools and\n         institutions.","After his term as president, Ellison continued on at\n         Virginia Union as chancellor and professor until his death on\n         13 October 1979. He is buried at Riverview Cemetery in\n         Richmond, Virginia."],"prefercite_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eJohn Malcus Ellison Papers, MS-0001 , Archives and\n            Special Collections Department, L. Douglas Wilder Library,\n            Virginia Union University\u003c/p\u003e\n      "],"prefercite_tesim":["John Malcus Ellison Papers, MS-0001 , Archives and\n            Special Collections Department, L. Douglas Wilder Library,\n            Virginia Union University"],"processinfo_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eCollection processed in December 1998.\u003c/p\u003e\n      "],"processinfo_heading_ssm":["Processing Information"],"processinfo_tesim":["Collection processed in December 1998."],"scopecontent_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eThis collection contains the administrative and personal\n         records of John Malcus Ellison as president of Virginia Union\n         University (1941-1955), chancellor (1955-79), minister,\n         teacher, author and editor. The bulk of the collection is from\n         the early years of his presidency, 1941-1945, with very few\n         materials from the later years or during his tenure as\n         chancellor. Although most of the collection is correspondence\n         conducted in his official capacity as president, because these\n         materials were received from his family, the Ellison Papers\n         are organized as a manuscript collection.\u003c/p\u003e\n      ","\u003cp\u003eThe correspondence files give an intriguing picture of\n         Ellison in his role as president of a small, African American\n         university in a segregated southern city. The many letters\n         from parents, guardians and prospective students reflect his\n         function as father and disciplinarian to the campus. The\n         letters to and from prominent Richmond figures and leaders of\n         the area schools, both black and white, reveal the part he\n         played in community relations. Of special interest is the\n         correspondence with other African American educational\n         leaders, such as Benjamin Mays, which shows the support these\n         educators lent one another in their struggles for their\n         institutions to not only survive, but succeed.\u003c/p\u003e\n      ","\u003cp\u003eThe subject files disclose what organizations Ellison\n         participated in as president. Like many of his contemporaries,\n         he was active in national organizations as they provided a\n         support network for African American higher education. These\n         files also reveal what was happening on campus during the\n         early years of his administration, including the Belgian\n         Building files which offer a fascinating unfolding of the\n         construction of the building.\u003c/p\u003e\n      ","\u003cp\u003eThe personal files are related mainly to his role as\n         preacher and teacher. As with the other series, the lines are\n         often blurred in these files between Ellison's many roles. His\n         speeches and sermons are an interesting compliment to his\n         writings, and often there is overlap between the two as he\n         published collections of sermons. Included in the writings are\n         his extensive notes in preparation for a definitive history of\n         Virginia Union, for which many of the photographs in these\n         materials were collected. The programs show not only which\n         events and activities Ellison participated in, both on campus\n         and off, but those which he attended or supported.\u003c/p\u003e\n      ","\u003cp\u003eDue to severe mold damage and insect infestation, many\n         records have been preservation photocopied.\u003c/p\u003e\n    "],"scopecontent_heading_ssm":["Scope and Content Information"],"scopecontent_tesim":["This collection contains the administrative and personal\n         records of John Malcus Ellison as president of Virginia Union\n         University (1941-1955), chancellor (1955-79), minister,\n         teacher, author and editor. The bulk of the collection is from\n         the early years of his presidency, 1941-1945, with very few\n         materials from the later years or during his tenure as\n         chancellor. Although most of the collection is correspondence\n         conducted in his official capacity as president, because these\n         materials were received from his family, the Ellison Papers\n         are organized as a manuscript collection.","The correspondence files give an intriguing picture of\n         Ellison in his role as president of a small, African American\n         university in a segregated southern city. The many letters\n         from parents, guardians and prospective students reflect his\n         function as father and disciplinarian to the campus. The\n         letters to and from prominent Richmond figures and leaders of\n         the area schools, both black and white, reveal the part he\n         played in community relations. Of special interest is the\n         correspondence with other African American educational\n         leaders, such as Benjamin Mays, which shows the support these\n         educators lent one another in their struggles for their\n         institutions to not only survive, but succeed.","The subject files disclose what organizations Ellison\n         participated in as president. Like many of his contemporaries,\n         he was active in national organizations as they provided a\n         support network for African American higher education. These\n         files also reveal what was happening on campus during the\n         early years of his administration, including the Belgian\n         Building files which offer a fascinating unfolding of the\n         construction of the building.","The personal files are related mainly to his role as\n         preacher and teacher. As with the other series, the lines are\n         often blurred in these files between Ellison's many roles. His\n         speeches and sermons are an interesting compliment to his\n         writings, and often there is overlap between the two as he\n         published collections of sermons. Included in the writings are\n         his extensive notes in preparation for a definitive history of\n         Virginia Union, for which many of the photographs in these\n         materials were collected. The programs show not only which\n         events and activities Ellison participated in, both on campus\n         and off, but those which he attended or supported.","Due to severe mold damage and insect infestation, many\n         records have been preservation photocopied."],"userestrict_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eThere are no restrictions.\u003c/p\u003e\n      "],"userestrict_heading_ssm":["Use Restrictions"],"userestrict_tesim":["There are no restrictions."],"language_ssim":["English"],"total_component_count_is":226,"online_item_count_is":0,"component_level_isim":[0],"sort_isi":0,"timestamp":"2026-08-14T22:53:07.053Z"}]}},"label":"Breadcrumbs"}}},"links":{"self":"https://arvasarchive.org/catalog/virvu_virvu00005_c03_c02"}},{"id":"virvu_virvu00005_c03_c03","type":"File","attributes":{"title":"Administrative \n \n 1950-1979","breadcrumbs":{"id":"https://arvasarchive.org/catalog/virvu_virvu00005_c03_c03#breadcrumbs","type":"document_value","attributes":{"value":{"ref_ssi":"virvu_virvu00005_c03_c03","ref_ssm":["virvu_virvu00005_c03_c03"],"id":"virvu_virvu00005_c03_c03","ead_ssi":"virvu_virvu00005","_root_":"virvu_virvu00005","_nest_parent_":"virvu_virvu00005_c03","parent_ssi":"virvu_virvu00005_c03","parent_ssim":["John Malcus Ellison Papers \n \n 1941-1979","Series 3. Subject Files \n \n 1939-1970"],"parent_ids_ssim":["virvu_virvu00005","virvu_virvu00005_c03"],"title_filing_ssi":"Administrative \n                  \n                  1950-1979","title_ssm":["Administrative \n \n 1950-1979"],"title_tesim":["Administrative \n \n 1950-1979"],"normalized_title_ssm":["Administrative \n \n 1950-1979"],"text":["Administrative \n \n 1950-1979","John Malcus Ellison Papers \n \n 1941-1979","Series 3. Subject Files \n \n 1939-1970","Box-folder 4.75"],"parent_unittitles_ssm":["John Malcus Ellison Papers \n \n 1941-1979","Series 3. Subject Files \n \n 1939-1970"],"parent_unittitles_tesim":["John Malcus Ellison Papers \n \n 1941-1979","Series 3. Subject Files \n \n 1939-1970"],"level_ssm":["File"],"level_ssim":["File"],"component_level_isim":[2],"sort_isi":78,"repository_ssim":["Virginia Union University"],"collection_ssim":["John Malcus Ellison Papers \n \n 1941-1979"],"containers_ssim":["Box-folder 4.75"],"has_online_content_ssim":["false"],"child_component_count_isi":0,"parent_access_restrict_tesm":["There are no restrictions."],"parent_access_terms_tesm":["There are no restrictions."],"_nest_path_":"/components#2/components#2","timestamp":"2026-08-14T22:53:07.053Z","collection":{"numFound":1,"start":0,"numFoundExact":true,"docs":[{"id":"virvu_virvu00005","ead_ssi":"virvu_virvu00005","_root_":"virvu_virvu00005","_nest_parent_":"virvu_virvu00005","ead_source_url_ssi":"data/vuu/virvu00005.xml","title_ssm":["John Malcus Ellison Papers \n \n 1941-1979"],"title_tesim":["John Malcus Ellison Papers \n \n 1941-1979"],"normalized_title_ssm":["John Malcus Ellison Papers \n \n 1941-1979"],"text":["John Malcus Ellison Papers \n \n 1941-1979","MS-0001","12 linear\n         feet","There are no restrictions.","Collection is arranged by series and chronological\n         therein.","Born 02 February 1889 in Northumberland County, Virginia,\n         John Malcus Ellison was one of twin sons. His early life was\n         very humble allowing for very little intellectual stimulation\n         beyond learning to read in the racially segregated schools of\n         his rural community. As he explained in a short\n         autobiographical sketch he wrote to James H. Croushore of\n         Fredricksburg, Virginia in the late 1950's, At the age of 14 I\n         was hired out for 7.00 dollars per month as a farm hand. My\n         varied experiences caused me much unrest and anxiety as I\n         longed for a fuller and more meaningful life Opportunities for\n         education were very meager in my home community, and so at the\n         age of 17 I went to Normal Industrial Institute now Virginia\n         State College at Petersburg, Va. After two and one half years\n         of study I transferred to Virginia Union University in 1909\n         and completed my High School and College work. At that time,\n         Wayland Academy was the division of Union that provided\n         secondary education to students. In 1917, Ellison earned his\n         A.B. in Education at Virginia Union. He returned to his home\n         in the Northern Neck of Virginia as pastor of Shiloh Baptist\n         Church and principal of the Northern Neck Industrial Academy.\n         He later founded and headed the Northumberland County High\n         School.","In 1927 Ellison earned a Master of Arts in Religious\n         Education and Philosophy of Religion from Oberlin College and\n         subsequently taught at what is now Virginia State University\n         in sociology and ethics. There he was appointed the first\n         college minister . He did graduate work at Columbia University\n         from 1930 to 1931 and at Union Theological Seminary in New\n         York City from 1931 to 1932. By 1933, Ellison had earned his\n         Ph.D. in Christian Education and Sociology from Drew\n         University, been pastor of the Zion Baptist Church in\n         Washington, D.C., taught Religious Education at Howard\n         University's School of Religion, and authored several\n         publications on rural, Negro life in Virginia. It was in that\n         same year that he married Elizabeth Balfour, a music educator\n         and performer from Brooklyn, New York.","Dr. Ellison assumed the presidency of Virginia Union at a\n         very difficult time in history. The country had just entered\n         World War II and the era of Jim Crow was at its peak in the\n         South. Being the first African American to assume the\n         leadership of Virginia Union, he lived with the burden of\n         proving himself capable and worthy of the title President. It\n         is generally believed that he succeeded at the task. In spite\n         of the manpower drain on both the student body and the male\n         faculty, Union survived the worst of times through 1946 when\n         the GIs returned to school and prosperity and stability came\n         back to the university. Ellison took an active part in the\n         support of US troops, especially Virginia Union students in\n         the service, and in the civilian efforts that maintained the\n         community at home. It was also during his administration that\n         the Belgian Friendship Building project was undertaken and\n         successfully accomplished.","After the 1939 World's Fair in New York City, the Belgian\n         government could not dismantle and return their elaborate\n         exhibit and its housing to Nazi-occupied Belgium. Several\n         options were explored to dispose of the splendid structure\n         originally designed to be a stand-alone college in Belgium.\n         Benefactors of Negro education, however, won the bid. The\n         Belgian Friendship Building with its ornate friezes depicting\n         black life in the Belgian Congo would be relocated to the\n         campus of Virginia Union University. Negotiations for the\n         transfer of title and property were begun in the previous\n         administration of William J. Clark; fund raising, re-design\n         and physical relocation were left to Ellison's stewardship. By\n         1949 the campus had been renovated, the Belgian building moved\n         and fitted for the library, science laboratories and the\n         gymnasium and a debt of nearly one-half million dollars had\n         been retired under Ellison's leadership. This project was a\n         major concern during the first half of his career and his\n         papers reflect its importance.","Other improvements on the campus followed the Belgian\n         Building project including re-organization of the university's\n         administrative structure, significant increase in the\n         endowment, and additions to the physical plant (e.g., Hovey\n         Stadium, new dormitories and other facilities).","Concurrent with his academic and administrative career,\n         Ellison kept an active ministerial career, preaching and\n         teaching throughout Virginia on a regular basis and appearing\n         as guest pastor a various churches, Sunday Schools and\n         conferences all over the country. Summers were often spent\n         teaching aspiring ministers in special programs that he helped\n         design. He edited religious journals and newsletters as well\n         as publications for the Scottish Rite and Alpha Phi Alpha\n         Fraternity, Inc. Ellison was a prolific author as well; he\n         published several books, tracts and brochures most of which\n         were copies of his favorite and most popular sermons.","As a prominent African American educator, Ellison was\n         active in many organizations advancing the cause of both civil\n         rights and higher education for his race. His involvement with\n         national organizations such as the National Youth\n         Administration, Southern Education Foundation, Negro\n         Organization Society, National Conference of Church-Related\n         Colleges, the NAACP and many others was typical of African\n         American leaders of that time as they cooperated to support\n         the existence and survival of their schools and\n         institutions.","After his term as president, Ellison continued on at\n         Virginia Union as chancellor and professor until his death on\n         13 October 1979. He is buried at Riverview Cemetery in\n         Richmond, Virginia.","Collection processed in December 1998.","This collection contains the administrative and personal\n         records of John Malcus Ellison as president of Virginia Union\n         University (1941-1955), chancellor (1955-79), minister,\n         teacher, author and editor. The bulk of the collection is from\n         the early years of his presidency, 1941-1945, with very few\n         materials from the later years or during his tenure as\n         chancellor. Although most of the collection is correspondence\n         conducted in his official capacity as president, because these\n         materials were received from his family, the Ellison Papers\n         are organized as a manuscript collection.","The correspondence files give an intriguing picture of\n         Ellison in his role as president of a small, African American\n         university in a segregated southern city. The many letters\n         from parents, guardians and prospective students reflect his\n         function as father and disciplinarian to the campus. The\n         letters to and from prominent Richmond figures and leaders of\n         the area schools, both black and white, reveal the part he\n         played in community relations. Of special interest is the\n         correspondence with other African American educational\n         leaders, such as Benjamin Mays, which shows the support these\n         educators lent one another in their struggles for their\n         institutions to not only survive, but succeed.","The subject files disclose what organizations Ellison\n         participated in as president. Like many of his contemporaries,\n         he was active in national organizations as they provided a\n         support network for African American higher education. These\n         files also reveal what was happening on campus during the\n         early years of his administration, including the Belgian\n         Building files which offer a fascinating unfolding of the\n         construction of the building.","The personal files are related mainly to his role as\n         preacher and teacher. As with the other series, the lines are\n         often blurred in these files between Ellison's many roles. His\n         speeches and sermons are an interesting compliment to his\n         writings, and often there is overlap between the two as he\n         published collections of sermons. Included in the writings are\n         his extensive notes in preparation for a definitive history of\n         Virginia Union, for which many of the photographs in these\n         materials were collected. The programs show not only which\n         events and activities Ellison participated in, both on campus\n         and off, but those which he attended or supported.","Due to severe mold damage and insect infestation, many\n         records have been preservation photocopied.","There are no restrictions.","English"],"collection_title_tesim":["John Malcus Ellison Papers \n \n 1941-1979"],"collection_ssim":["John Malcus Ellison Papers \n \n 1941-1979"],"level_ssm":["collection"],"level_ssim":["Collection"],"unitid_ssm":["MS-0001"],"unitid_tesim":["MS-0001"],"repository_ssm":["Virginia Union University"],"repository_ssim":["Virginia Union University"],"creator_ssm":["John Malcus Ellison\n         Papers"],"creator_ssim":["John Malcus Ellison\n         Papers"],"access_terms_ssm":["There are no restrictions."],"acqinfo_ssim":["Received from Elizabeth Balfour Ellison, 06 August\n            1993"],"has_online_content_ssim":["false"],"physdesc_tesim":["12 linear\n         feet"],"accessrestrict_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eThere are no restrictions.\u003c/p\u003e\n      "],"accessrestrict_heading_ssm":["Access"],"accessrestrict_tesim":["There are no restrictions."],"arrangement_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eCollection is arranged by series and chronological\n         therein.\u003c/p\u003e\n    "],"arrangement_heading_ssm":["Arrangement"],"arrangement_tesim":["Collection is arranged by series and chronological\n         therein."],"bioghist_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eBorn 02 February 1889 in Northumberland County, Virginia,\n         John Malcus Ellison was one of twin sons. His early life was\n         very humble allowing for very little intellectual stimulation\n         beyond learning to read in the racially segregated schools of\n         his rural community. As he explained in a short\n         autobiographical sketch he wrote to James H. Croushore of\n         Fredricksburg, Virginia in the late 1950's, At the age of 14 I\n         was hired out for 7.00 dollars per month as a farm hand. My\n         varied experiences caused me much unrest and anxiety as I\n         longed for a fuller and more meaningful life Opportunities for\n         education were very meager in my home community, and so at the\n         age of 17 I went to Normal Industrial Institute now Virginia\n         State College at Petersburg, Va. After two and one half years\n         of study I transferred to Virginia Union University in 1909\n         and completed my High School and College work. At that time,\n         Wayland Academy was the division of Union that provided\n         secondary education to students. In 1917, Ellison earned his\n         A.B. in Education at Virginia Union. He returned to his home\n         in the Northern Neck of Virginia as pastor of Shiloh Baptist\n         Church and principal of the Northern Neck Industrial Academy.\n         He later founded and headed the Northumberland County High\n         School.\u003c/p\u003e\n      ","\u003cp\u003eIn 1927 Ellison earned a Master of Arts in Religious\n         Education and Philosophy of Religion from Oberlin College and\n         subsequently taught at what is now Virginia State University\n         in sociology and ethics. There he was appointed the first\n         college minister . He did graduate work at Columbia University\n         from 1930 to 1931 and at Union Theological Seminary in New\n         York City from 1931 to 1932. By 1933, Ellison had earned his\n         Ph.D. in Christian Education and Sociology from Drew\n         University, been pastor of the Zion Baptist Church in\n         Washington, D.C., taught Religious Education at Howard\n         University's School of Religion, and authored several\n         publications on rural, Negro life in Virginia. It was in that\n         same year that he married Elizabeth Balfour, a music educator\n         and performer from Brooklyn, New York.\u003c/p\u003e\n      ","\u003cp\u003eDr. Ellison assumed the presidency of Virginia Union at a\n         very difficult time in history. The country had just entered\n         World War II and the era of Jim Crow was at its peak in the\n         South. Being the first African American to assume the\n         leadership of Virginia Union, he lived with the burden of\n         proving himself capable and worthy of the title President. It\n         is generally believed that he succeeded at the task. In spite\n         of the manpower drain on both the student body and the male\n         faculty, Union survived the worst of times through 1946 when\n         the GIs returned to school and prosperity and stability came\n         back to the university. Ellison took an active part in the\n         support of US troops, especially Virginia Union students in\n         the service, and in the civilian efforts that maintained the\n         community at home. It was also during his administration that\n         the Belgian Friendship Building project was undertaken and\n         successfully accomplished.\u003c/p\u003e\n      ","\u003cp\u003eAfter the 1939 World's Fair in New York City, the Belgian\n         government could not dismantle and return their elaborate\n         exhibit and its housing to Nazi-occupied Belgium. Several\n         options were explored to dispose of the splendid structure\n         originally designed to be a stand-alone college in Belgium.\n         Benefactors of Negro education, however, won the bid. The\n         Belgian Friendship Building with its ornate friezes depicting\n         black life in the Belgian Congo would be relocated to the\n         campus of Virginia Union University. Negotiations for the\n         transfer of title and property were begun in the previous\n         administration of William J. Clark; fund raising, re-design\n         and physical relocation were left to Ellison's stewardship. By\n         1949 the campus had been renovated, the Belgian building moved\n         and fitted for the library, science laboratories and the\n         gymnasium and a debt of nearly one-half million dollars had\n         been retired under Ellison's leadership. This project was a\n         major concern during the first half of his career and his\n         papers reflect its importance.\u003c/p\u003e\n      ","\u003cp\u003eOther improvements on the campus followed the Belgian\n         Building project including re-organization of the university's\n         administrative structure, significant increase in the\n         endowment, and additions to the physical plant (e.g., Hovey\n         Stadium, new dormitories and other facilities).\u003c/p\u003e\n      ","\u003cp\u003eConcurrent with his academic and administrative career,\n         Ellison kept an active ministerial career, preaching and\n         teaching throughout Virginia on a regular basis and appearing\n         as guest pastor a various churches, Sunday Schools and\n         conferences all over the country. Summers were often spent\n         teaching aspiring ministers in special programs that he helped\n         design. He edited religious journals and newsletters as well\n         as publications for the Scottish Rite and Alpha Phi Alpha\n         Fraternity, Inc. Ellison was a prolific author as well; he\n         published several books, tracts and brochures most of which\n         were copies of his favorite and most popular sermons.\u003c/p\u003e\n      ","\u003cp\u003eAs a prominent African American educator, Ellison was\n         active in many organizations advancing the cause of both civil\n         rights and higher education for his race. His involvement with\n         national organizations such as the National Youth\n         Administration, Southern Education Foundation, Negro\n         Organization Society, National Conference of Church-Related\n         Colleges, the NAACP and many others was typical of African\n         American leaders of that time as they cooperated to support\n         the existence and survival of their schools and\n         institutions.\u003c/p\u003e\n      ","\u003cp\u003eAfter his term as president, Ellison continued on at\n         Virginia Union as chancellor and professor until his death on\n         13 October 1979. He is buried at Riverview Cemetery in\n         Richmond, Virginia.\u003c/p\u003e\n    "],"bioghist_heading_ssm":["Biographical/Historical Information"],"bioghist_tesim":["Born 02 February 1889 in Northumberland County, Virginia,\n         John Malcus Ellison was one of twin sons. His early life was\n         very humble allowing for very little intellectual stimulation\n         beyond learning to read in the racially segregated schools of\n         his rural community. As he explained in a short\n         autobiographical sketch he wrote to James H. Croushore of\n         Fredricksburg, Virginia in the late 1950's, At the age of 14 I\n         was hired out for 7.00 dollars per month as a farm hand. My\n         varied experiences caused me much unrest and anxiety as I\n         longed for a fuller and more meaningful life Opportunities for\n         education were very meager in my home community, and so at the\n         age of 17 I went to Normal Industrial Institute now Virginia\n         State College at Petersburg, Va. After two and one half years\n         of study I transferred to Virginia Union University in 1909\n         and completed my High School and College work. At that time,\n         Wayland Academy was the division of Union that provided\n         secondary education to students. In 1917, Ellison earned his\n         A.B. in Education at Virginia Union. He returned to his home\n         in the Northern Neck of Virginia as pastor of Shiloh Baptist\n         Church and principal of the Northern Neck Industrial Academy.\n         He later founded and headed the Northumberland County High\n         School.","In 1927 Ellison earned a Master of Arts in Religious\n         Education and Philosophy of Religion from Oberlin College and\n         subsequently taught at what is now Virginia State University\n         in sociology and ethics. There he was appointed the first\n         college minister . He did graduate work at Columbia University\n         from 1930 to 1931 and at Union Theological Seminary in New\n         York City from 1931 to 1932. By 1933, Ellison had earned his\n         Ph.D. in Christian Education and Sociology from Drew\n         University, been pastor of the Zion Baptist Church in\n         Washington, D.C., taught Religious Education at Howard\n         University's School of Religion, and authored several\n         publications on rural, Negro life in Virginia. It was in that\n         same year that he married Elizabeth Balfour, a music educator\n         and performer from Brooklyn, New York.","Dr. Ellison assumed the presidency of Virginia Union at a\n         very difficult time in history. The country had just entered\n         World War II and the era of Jim Crow was at its peak in the\n         South. Being the first African American to assume the\n         leadership of Virginia Union, he lived with the burden of\n         proving himself capable and worthy of the title President. It\n         is generally believed that he succeeded at the task. In spite\n         of the manpower drain on both the student body and the male\n         faculty, Union survived the worst of times through 1946 when\n         the GIs returned to school and prosperity and stability came\n         back to the university. Ellison took an active part in the\n         support of US troops, especially Virginia Union students in\n         the service, and in the civilian efforts that maintained the\n         community at home. It was also during his administration that\n         the Belgian Friendship Building project was undertaken and\n         successfully accomplished.","After the 1939 World's Fair in New York City, the Belgian\n         government could not dismantle and return their elaborate\n         exhibit and its housing to Nazi-occupied Belgium. Several\n         options were explored to dispose of the splendid structure\n         originally designed to be a stand-alone college in Belgium.\n         Benefactors of Negro education, however, won the bid. The\n         Belgian Friendship Building with its ornate friezes depicting\n         black life in the Belgian Congo would be relocated to the\n         campus of Virginia Union University. Negotiations for the\n         transfer of title and property were begun in the previous\n         administration of William J. Clark; fund raising, re-design\n         and physical relocation were left to Ellison's stewardship. By\n         1949 the campus had been renovated, the Belgian building moved\n         and fitted for the library, science laboratories and the\n         gymnasium and a debt of nearly one-half million dollars had\n         been retired under Ellison's leadership. This project was a\n         major concern during the first half of his career and his\n         papers reflect its importance.","Other improvements on the campus followed the Belgian\n         Building project including re-organization of the university's\n         administrative structure, significant increase in the\n         endowment, and additions to the physical plant (e.g., Hovey\n         Stadium, new dormitories and other facilities).","Concurrent with his academic and administrative career,\n         Ellison kept an active ministerial career, preaching and\n         teaching throughout Virginia on a regular basis and appearing\n         as guest pastor a various churches, Sunday Schools and\n         conferences all over the country. Summers were often spent\n         teaching aspiring ministers in special programs that he helped\n         design. He edited religious journals and newsletters as well\n         as publications for the Scottish Rite and Alpha Phi Alpha\n         Fraternity, Inc. Ellison was a prolific author as well; he\n         published several books, tracts and brochures most of which\n         were copies of his favorite and most popular sermons.","As a prominent African American educator, Ellison was\n         active in many organizations advancing the cause of both civil\n         rights and higher education for his race. His involvement with\n         national organizations such as the National Youth\n         Administration, Southern Education Foundation, Negro\n         Organization Society, National Conference of Church-Related\n         Colleges, the NAACP and many others was typical of African\n         American leaders of that time as they cooperated to support\n         the existence and survival of their schools and\n         institutions.","After his term as president, Ellison continued on at\n         Virginia Union as chancellor and professor until his death on\n         13 October 1979. He is buried at Riverview Cemetery in\n         Richmond, Virginia."],"prefercite_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eJohn Malcus Ellison Papers, MS-0001 , Archives and\n            Special Collections Department, L. Douglas Wilder Library,\n            Virginia Union University\u003c/p\u003e\n      "],"prefercite_tesim":["John Malcus Ellison Papers, MS-0001 , Archives and\n            Special Collections Department, L. Douglas Wilder Library,\n            Virginia Union University"],"processinfo_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eCollection processed in December 1998.\u003c/p\u003e\n      "],"processinfo_heading_ssm":["Processing Information"],"processinfo_tesim":["Collection processed in December 1998."],"scopecontent_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eThis collection contains the administrative and personal\n         records of John Malcus Ellison as president of Virginia Union\n         University (1941-1955), chancellor (1955-79), minister,\n         teacher, author and editor. The bulk of the collection is from\n         the early years of his presidency, 1941-1945, with very few\n         materials from the later years or during his tenure as\n         chancellor. Although most of the collection is correspondence\n         conducted in his official capacity as president, because these\n         materials were received from his family, the Ellison Papers\n         are organized as a manuscript collection.\u003c/p\u003e\n      ","\u003cp\u003eThe correspondence files give an intriguing picture of\n         Ellison in his role as president of a small, African American\n         university in a segregated southern city. The many letters\n         from parents, guardians and prospective students reflect his\n         function as father and disciplinarian to the campus. The\n         letters to and from prominent Richmond figures and leaders of\n         the area schools, both black and white, reveal the part he\n         played in community relations. Of special interest is the\n         correspondence with other African American educational\n         leaders, such as Benjamin Mays, which shows the support these\n         educators lent one another in their struggles for their\n         institutions to not only survive, but succeed.\u003c/p\u003e\n      ","\u003cp\u003eThe subject files disclose what organizations Ellison\n         participated in as president. Like many of his contemporaries,\n         he was active in national organizations as they provided a\n         support network for African American higher education. These\n         files also reveal what was happening on campus during the\n         early years of his administration, including the Belgian\n         Building files which offer a fascinating unfolding of the\n         construction of the building.\u003c/p\u003e\n      ","\u003cp\u003eThe personal files are related mainly to his role as\n         preacher and teacher. As with the other series, the lines are\n         often blurred in these files between Ellison's many roles. His\n         speeches and sermons are an interesting compliment to his\n         writings, and often there is overlap between the two as he\n         published collections of sermons. Included in the writings are\n         his extensive notes in preparation for a definitive history of\n         Virginia Union, for which many of the photographs in these\n         materials were collected. The programs show not only which\n         events and activities Ellison participated in, both on campus\n         and off, but those which he attended or supported.\u003c/p\u003e\n      ","\u003cp\u003eDue to severe mold damage and insect infestation, many\n         records have been preservation photocopied.\u003c/p\u003e\n    "],"scopecontent_heading_ssm":["Scope and Content Information"],"scopecontent_tesim":["This collection contains the administrative and personal\n         records of John Malcus Ellison as president of Virginia Union\n         University (1941-1955), chancellor (1955-79), minister,\n         teacher, author and editor. The bulk of the collection is from\n         the early years of his presidency, 1941-1945, with very few\n         materials from the later years or during his tenure as\n         chancellor. Although most of the collection is correspondence\n         conducted in his official capacity as president, because these\n         materials were received from his family, the Ellison Papers\n         are organized as a manuscript collection.","The correspondence files give an intriguing picture of\n         Ellison in his role as president of a small, African American\n         university in a segregated southern city. The many letters\n         from parents, guardians and prospective students reflect his\n         function as father and disciplinarian to the campus. The\n         letters to and from prominent Richmond figures and leaders of\n         the area schools, both black and white, reveal the part he\n         played in community relations. Of special interest is the\n         correspondence with other African American educational\n         leaders, such as Benjamin Mays, which shows the support these\n         educators lent one another in their struggles for their\n         institutions to not only survive, but succeed.","The subject files disclose what organizations Ellison\n         participated in as president. Like many of his contemporaries,\n         he was active in national organizations as they provided a\n         support network for African American higher education. These\n         files also reveal what was happening on campus during the\n         early years of his administration, including the Belgian\n         Building files which offer a fascinating unfolding of the\n         construction of the building.","The personal files are related mainly to his role as\n         preacher and teacher. As with the other series, the lines are\n         often blurred in these files between Ellison's many roles. His\n         speeches and sermons are an interesting compliment to his\n         writings, and often there is overlap between the two as he\n         published collections of sermons. Included in the writings are\n         his extensive notes in preparation for a definitive history of\n         Virginia Union, for which many of the photographs in these\n         materials were collected. The programs show not only which\n         events and activities Ellison participated in, both on campus\n         and off, but those which he attended or supported.","Due to severe mold damage and insect infestation, many\n         records have been preservation photocopied."],"userestrict_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eThere are no restrictions.\u003c/p\u003e\n      "],"userestrict_heading_ssm":["Use Restrictions"],"userestrict_tesim":["There are no restrictions."],"language_ssim":["English"],"total_component_count_is":226,"online_item_count_is":0,"component_level_isim":[0],"sort_isi":0,"timestamp":"2026-08-14T22:53:07.053Z"}]}},"label":"Breadcrumbs"}}},"links":{"self":"https://arvasarchive.org/catalog/virvu_virvu00005_c03_c03"}},{"id":"virvu_virvu00005_c03_c04","type":"File","attributes":{"title":"Africa Committee","breadcrumbs":{"id":"https://arvasarchive.org/catalog/virvu_virvu00005_c03_c04#breadcrumbs","type":"document_value","attributes":{"value":{"ref_ssi":"virvu_virvu00005_c03_c04","ref_ssm":["virvu_virvu00005_c03_c04"],"id":"virvu_virvu00005_c03_c04","ead_ssi":"virvu_virvu00005","_root_":"virvu_virvu00005","_nest_parent_":"virvu_virvu00005_c03","parent_ssi":"virvu_virvu00005_c03","parent_ssim":["John Malcus Ellison Papers \n \n 1941-1979","Series 3. Subject Files \n \n 1939-1970"],"parent_ids_ssim":["virvu_virvu00005","virvu_virvu00005_c03"],"title_filing_ssi":"Africa Committee","title_ssm":["Africa Committee"],"title_tesim":["Africa Committee"],"normalized_title_ssm":["Africa Committee"],"text":["Africa Committee","John Malcus Ellison Papers \n \n 1941-1979","Series 3. Subject Files \n \n 1939-1970","Box-folder 4.76"],"parent_unittitles_ssm":["John Malcus Ellison Papers \n \n 1941-1979","Series 3. Subject Files \n \n 1939-1970"],"parent_unittitles_tesim":["John Malcus Ellison Papers \n \n 1941-1979","Series 3. Subject Files \n \n 1939-1970"],"level_ssm":["File"],"level_ssim":["File"],"component_level_isim":[2],"sort_isi":79,"repository_ssim":["Virginia Union University"],"collection_ssim":["John Malcus Ellison Papers \n \n 1941-1979"],"containers_ssim":["Box-folder 4.76"],"has_online_content_ssim":["false"],"child_component_count_isi":0,"parent_access_restrict_tesm":["There are no restrictions."],"parent_access_terms_tesm":["There are no restrictions."],"_nest_path_":"/components#2/components#3","timestamp":"2026-08-14T22:53:07.053Z","collection":{"numFound":1,"start":0,"numFoundExact":true,"docs":[{"id":"virvu_virvu00005","ead_ssi":"virvu_virvu00005","_root_":"virvu_virvu00005","_nest_parent_":"virvu_virvu00005","ead_source_url_ssi":"data/vuu/virvu00005.xml","title_ssm":["John Malcus Ellison Papers \n \n 1941-1979"],"title_tesim":["John Malcus Ellison Papers \n \n 1941-1979"],"normalized_title_ssm":["John Malcus Ellison Papers \n \n 1941-1979"],"text":["John Malcus Ellison Papers \n \n 1941-1979","MS-0001","12 linear\n         feet","There are no restrictions.","Collection is arranged by series and chronological\n         therein.","Born 02 February 1889 in Northumberland County, Virginia,\n         John Malcus Ellison was one of twin sons. His early life was\n         very humble allowing for very little intellectual stimulation\n         beyond learning to read in the racially segregated schools of\n         his rural community. As he explained in a short\n         autobiographical sketch he wrote to James H. Croushore of\n         Fredricksburg, Virginia in the late 1950's, At the age of 14 I\n         was hired out for 7.00 dollars per month as a farm hand. My\n         varied experiences caused me much unrest and anxiety as I\n         longed for a fuller and more meaningful life Opportunities for\n         education were very meager in my home community, and so at the\n         age of 17 I went to Normal Industrial Institute now Virginia\n         State College at Petersburg, Va. After two and one half years\n         of study I transferred to Virginia Union University in 1909\n         and completed my High School and College work. At that time,\n         Wayland Academy was the division of Union that provided\n         secondary education to students. In 1917, Ellison earned his\n         A.B. in Education at Virginia Union. He returned to his home\n         in the Northern Neck of Virginia as pastor of Shiloh Baptist\n         Church and principal of the Northern Neck Industrial Academy.\n         He later founded and headed the Northumberland County High\n         School.","In 1927 Ellison earned a Master of Arts in Religious\n         Education and Philosophy of Religion from Oberlin College and\n         subsequently taught at what is now Virginia State University\n         in sociology and ethics. There he was appointed the first\n         college minister . He did graduate work at Columbia University\n         from 1930 to 1931 and at Union Theological Seminary in New\n         York City from 1931 to 1932. By 1933, Ellison had earned his\n         Ph.D. in Christian Education and Sociology from Drew\n         University, been pastor of the Zion Baptist Church in\n         Washington, D.C., taught Religious Education at Howard\n         University's School of Religion, and authored several\n         publications on rural, Negro life in Virginia. It was in that\n         same year that he married Elizabeth Balfour, a music educator\n         and performer from Brooklyn, New York.","Dr. Ellison assumed the presidency of Virginia Union at a\n         very difficult time in history. The country had just entered\n         World War II and the era of Jim Crow was at its peak in the\n         South. Being the first African American to assume the\n         leadership of Virginia Union, he lived with the burden of\n         proving himself capable and worthy of the title President. It\n         is generally believed that he succeeded at the task. In spite\n         of the manpower drain on both the student body and the male\n         faculty, Union survived the worst of times through 1946 when\n         the GIs returned to school and prosperity and stability came\n         back to the university. Ellison took an active part in the\n         support of US troops, especially Virginia Union students in\n         the service, and in the civilian efforts that maintained the\n         community at home. It was also during his administration that\n         the Belgian Friendship Building project was undertaken and\n         successfully accomplished.","After the 1939 World's Fair in New York City, the Belgian\n         government could not dismantle and return their elaborate\n         exhibit and its housing to Nazi-occupied Belgium. Several\n         options were explored to dispose of the splendid structure\n         originally designed to be a stand-alone college in Belgium.\n         Benefactors of Negro education, however, won the bid. The\n         Belgian Friendship Building with its ornate friezes depicting\n         black life in the Belgian Congo would be relocated to the\n         campus of Virginia Union University. Negotiations for the\n         transfer of title and property were begun in the previous\n         administration of William J. Clark; fund raising, re-design\n         and physical relocation were left to Ellison's stewardship. By\n         1949 the campus had been renovated, the Belgian building moved\n         and fitted for the library, science laboratories and the\n         gymnasium and a debt of nearly one-half million dollars had\n         been retired under Ellison's leadership. This project was a\n         major concern during the first half of his career and his\n         papers reflect its importance.","Other improvements on the campus followed the Belgian\n         Building project including re-organization of the university's\n         administrative structure, significant increase in the\n         endowment, and additions to the physical plant (e.g., Hovey\n         Stadium, new dormitories and other facilities).","Concurrent with his academic and administrative career,\n         Ellison kept an active ministerial career, preaching and\n         teaching throughout Virginia on a regular basis and appearing\n         as guest pastor a various churches, Sunday Schools and\n         conferences all over the country. Summers were often spent\n         teaching aspiring ministers in special programs that he helped\n         design. He edited religious journals and newsletters as well\n         as publications for the Scottish Rite and Alpha Phi Alpha\n         Fraternity, Inc. Ellison was a prolific author as well; he\n         published several books, tracts and brochures most of which\n         were copies of his favorite and most popular sermons.","As a prominent African American educator, Ellison was\n         active in many organizations advancing the cause of both civil\n         rights and higher education for his race. His involvement with\n         national organizations such as the National Youth\n         Administration, Southern Education Foundation, Negro\n         Organization Society, National Conference of Church-Related\n         Colleges, the NAACP and many others was typical of African\n         American leaders of that time as they cooperated to support\n         the existence and survival of their schools and\n         institutions.","After his term as president, Ellison continued on at\n         Virginia Union as chancellor and professor until his death on\n         13 October 1979. He is buried at Riverview Cemetery in\n         Richmond, Virginia.","Collection processed in December 1998.","This collection contains the administrative and personal\n         records of John Malcus Ellison as president of Virginia Union\n         University (1941-1955), chancellor (1955-79), minister,\n         teacher, author and editor. The bulk of the collection is from\n         the early years of his presidency, 1941-1945, with very few\n         materials from the later years or during his tenure as\n         chancellor. Although most of the collection is correspondence\n         conducted in his official capacity as president, because these\n         materials were received from his family, the Ellison Papers\n         are organized as a manuscript collection.","The correspondence files give an intriguing picture of\n         Ellison in his role as president of a small, African American\n         university in a segregated southern city. The many letters\n         from parents, guardians and prospective students reflect his\n         function as father and disciplinarian to the campus. The\n         letters to and from prominent Richmond figures and leaders of\n         the area schools, both black and white, reveal the part he\n         played in community relations. Of special interest is the\n         correspondence with other African American educational\n         leaders, such as Benjamin Mays, which shows the support these\n         educators lent one another in their struggles for their\n         institutions to not only survive, but succeed.","The subject files disclose what organizations Ellison\n         participated in as president. Like many of his contemporaries,\n         he was active in national organizations as they provided a\n         support network for African American higher education. These\n         files also reveal what was happening on campus during the\n         early years of his administration, including the Belgian\n         Building files which offer a fascinating unfolding of the\n         construction of the building.","The personal files are related mainly to his role as\n         preacher and teacher. As with the other series, the lines are\n         often blurred in these files between Ellison's many roles. His\n         speeches and sermons are an interesting compliment to his\n         writings, and often there is overlap between the two as he\n         published collections of sermons. Included in the writings are\n         his extensive notes in preparation for a definitive history of\n         Virginia Union, for which many of the photographs in these\n         materials were collected. The programs show not only which\n         events and activities Ellison participated in, both on campus\n         and off, but those which he attended or supported.","Due to severe mold damage and insect infestation, many\n         records have been preservation photocopied.","There are no restrictions.","English"],"collection_title_tesim":["John Malcus Ellison Papers \n \n 1941-1979"],"collection_ssim":["John Malcus Ellison Papers \n \n 1941-1979"],"level_ssm":["collection"],"level_ssim":["Collection"],"unitid_ssm":["MS-0001"],"unitid_tesim":["MS-0001"],"repository_ssm":["Virginia Union University"],"repository_ssim":["Virginia Union University"],"creator_ssm":["John Malcus Ellison\n         Papers"],"creator_ssim":["John Malcus Ellison\n         Papers"],"access_terms_ssm":["There are no restrictions."],"acqinfo_ssim":["Received from Elizabeth Balfour Ellison, 06 August\n            1993"],"has_online_content_ssim":["false"],"physdesc_tesim":["12 linear\n         feet"],"accessrestrict_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eThere are no restrictions.\u003c/p\u003e\n      "],"accessrestrict_heading_ssm":["Access"],"accessrestrict_tesim":["There are no restrictions."],"arrangement_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eCollection is arranged by series and chronological\n         therein.\u003c/p\u003e\n    "],"arrangement_heading_ssm":["Arrangement"],"arrangement_tesim":["Collection is arranged by series and chronological\n         therein."],"bioghist_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eBorn 02 February 1889 in Northumberland County, Virginia,\n         John Malcus Ellison was one of twin sons. His early life was\n         very humble allowing for very little intellectual stimulation\n         beyond learning to read in the racially segregated schools of\n         his rural community. As he explained in a short\n         autobiographical sketch he wrote to James H. Croushore of\n         Fredricksburg, Virginia in the late 1950's, At the age of 14 I\n         was hired out for 7.00 dollars per month as a farm hand. My\n         varied experiences caused me much unrest and anxiety as I\n         longed for a fuller and more meaningful life Opportunities for\n         education were very meager in my home community, and so at the\n         age of 17 I went to Normal Industrial Institute now Virginia\n         State College at Petersburg, Va. After two and one half years\n         of study I transferred to Virginia Union University in 1909\n         and completed my High School and College work. At that time,\n         Wayland Academy was the division of Union that provided\n         secondary education to students. In 1917, Ellison earned his\n         A.B. in Education at Virginia Union. He returned to his home\n         in the Northern Neck of Virginia as pastor of Shiloh Baptist\n         Church and principal of the Northern Neck Industrial Academy.\n         He later founded and headed the Northumberland County High\n         School.\u003c/p\u003e\n      ","\u003cp\u003eIn 1927 Ellison earned a Master of Arts in Religious\n         Education and Philosophy of Religion from Oberlin College and\n         subsequently taught at what is now Virginia State University\n         in sociology and ethics. There he was appointed the first\n         college minister . He did graduate work at Columbia University\n         from 1930 to 1931 and at Union Theological Seminary in New\n         York City from 1931 to 1932. By 1933, Ellison had earned his\n         Ph.D. in Christian Education and Sociology from Drew\n         University, been pastor of the Zion Baptist Church in\n         Washington, D.C., taught Religious Education at Howard\n         University's School of Religion, and authored several\n         publications on rural, Negro life in Virginia. It was in that\n         same year that he married Elizabeth Balfour, a music educator\n         and performer from Brooklyn, New York.\u003c/p\u003e\n      ","\u003cp\u003eDr. Ellison assumed the presidency of Virginia Union at a\n         very difficult time in history. The country had just entered\n         World War II and the era of Jim Crow was at its peak in the\n         South. Being the first African American to assume the\n         leadership of Virginia Union, he lived with the burden of\n         proving himself capable and worthy of the title President. It\n         is generally believed that he succeeded at the task. In spite\n         of the manpower drain on both the student body and the male\n         faculty, Union survived the worst of times through 1946 when\n         the GIs returned to school and prosperity and stability came\n         back to the university. Ellison took an active part in the\n         support of US troops, especially Virginia Union students in\n         the service, and in the civilian efforts that maintained the\n         community at home. It was also during his administration that\n         the Belgian Friendship Building project was undertaken and\n         successfully accomplished.\u003c/p\u003e\n      ","\u003cp\u003eAfter the 1939 World's Fair in New York City, the Belgian\n         government could not dismantle and return their elaborate\n         exhibit and its housing to Nazi-occupied Belgium. Several\n         options were explored to dispose of the splendid structure\n         originally designed to be a stand-alone college in Belgium.\n         Benefactors of Negro education, however, won the bid. The\n         Belgian Friendship Building with its ornate friezes depicting\n         black life in the Belgian Congo would be relocated to the\n         campus of Virginia Union University. Negotiations for the\n         transfer of title and property were begun in the previous\n         administration of William J. Clark; fund raising, re-design\n         and physical relocation were left to Ellison's stewardship. By\n         1949 the campus had been renovated, the Belgian building moved\n         and fitted for the library, science laboratories and the\n         gymnasium and a debt of nearly one-half million dollars had\n         been retired under Ellison's leadership. This project was a\n         major concern during the first half of his career and his\n         papers reflect its importance.\u003c/p\u003e\n      ","\u003cp\u003eOther improvements on the campus followed the Belgian\n         Building project including re-organization of the university's\n         administrative structure, significant increase in the\n         endowment, and additions to the physical plant (e.g., Hovey\n         Stadium, new dormitories and other facilities).\u003c/p\u003e\n      ","\u003cp\u003eConcurrent with his academic and administrative career,\n         Ellison kept an active ministerial career, preaching and\n         teaching throughout Virginia on a regular basis and appearing\n         as guest pastor a various churches, Sunday Schools and\n         conferences all over the country. Summers were often spent\n         teaching aspiring ministers in special programs that he helped\n         design. He edited religious journals and newsletters as well\n         as publications for the Scottish Rite and Alpha Phi Alpha\n         Fraternity, Inc. Ellison was a prolific author as well; he\n         published several books, tracts and brochures most of which\n         were copies of his favorite and most popular sermons.\u003c/p\u003e\n      ","\u003cp\u003eAs a prominent African American educator, Ellison was\n         active in many organizations advancing the cause of both civil\n         rights and higher education for his race. His involvement with\n         national organizations such as the National Youth\n         Administration, Southern Education Foundation, Negro\n         Organization Society, National Conference of Church-Related\n         Colleges, the NAACP and many others was typical of African\n         American leaders of that time as they cooperated to support\n         the existence and survival of their schools and\n         institutions.\u003c/p\u003e\n      ","\u003cp\u003eAfter his term as president, Ellison continued on at\n         Virginia Union as chancellor and professor until his death on\n         13 October 1979. He is buried at Riverview Cemetery in\n         Richmond, Virginia.\u003c/p\u003e\n    "],"bioghist_heading_ssm":["Biographical/Historical Information"],"bioghist_tesim":["Born 02 February 1889 in Northumberland County, Virginia,\n         John Malcus Ellison was one of twin sons. His early life was\n         very humble allowing for very little intellectual stimulation\n         beyond learning to read in the racially segregated schools of\n         his rural community. As he explained in a short\n         autobiographical sketch he wrote to James H. Croushore of\n         Fredricksburg, Virginia in the late 1950's, At the age of 14 I\n         was hired out for 7.00 dollars per month as a farm hand. My\n         varied experiences caused me much unrest and anxiety as I\n         longed for a fuller and more meaningful life Opportunities for\n         education were very meager in my home community, and so at the\n         age of 17 I went to Normal Industrial Institute now Virginia\n         State College at Petersburg, Va. After two and one half years\n         of study I transferred to Virginia Union University in 1909\n         and completed my High School and College work. At that time,\n         Wayland Academy was the division of Union that provided\n         secondary education to students. In 1917, Ellison earned his\n         A.B. in Education at Virginia Union. He returned to his home\n         in the Northern Neck of Virginia as pastor of Shiloh Baptist\n         Church and principal of the Northern Neck Industrial Academy.\n         He later founded and headed the Northumberland County High\n         School.","In 1927 Ellison earned a Master of Arts in Religious\n         Education and Philosophy of Religion from Oberlin College and\n         subsequently taught at what is now Virginia State University\n         in sociology and ethics. There he was appointed the first\n         college minister . He did graduate work at Columbia University\n         from 1930 to 1931 and at Union Theological Seminary in New\n         York City from 1931 to 1932. By 1933, Ellison had earned his\n         Ph.D. in Christian Education and Sociology from Drew\n         University, been pastor of the Zion Baptist Church in\n         Washington, D.C., taught Religious Education at Howard\n         University's School of Religion, and authored several\n         publications on rural, Negro life in Virginia. It was in that\n         same year that he married Elizabeth Balfour, a music educator\n         and performer from Brooklyn, New York.","Dr. Ellison assumed the presidency of Virginia Union at a\n         very difficult time in history. The country had just entered\n         World War II and the era of Jim Crow was at its peak in the\n         South. Being the first African American to assume the\n         leadership of Virginia Union, he lived with the burden of\n         proving himself capable and worthy of the title President. It\n         is generally believed that he succeeded at the task. In spite\n         of the manpower drain on both the student body and the male\n         faculty, Union survived the worst of times through 1946 when\n         the GIs returned to school and prosperity and stability came\n         back to the university. Ellison took an active part in the\n         support of US troops, especially Virginia Union students in\n         the service, and in the civilian efforts that maintained the\n         community at home. It was also during his administration that\n         the Belgian Friendship Building project was undertaken and\n         successfully accomplished.","After the 1939 World's Fair in New York City, the Belgian\n         government could not dismantle and return their elaborate\n         exhibit and its housing to Nazi-occupied Belgium. Several\n         options were explored to dispose of the splendid structure\n         originally designed to be a stand-alone college in Belgium.\n         Benefactors of Negro education, however, won the bid. The\n         Belgian Friendship Building with its ornate friezes depicting\n         black life in the Belgian Congo would be relocated to the\n         campus of Virginia Union University. Negotiations for the\n         transfer of title and property were begun in the previous\n         administration of William J. Clark; fund raising, re-design\n         and physical relocation were left to Ellison's stewardship. By\n         1949 the campus had been renovated, the Belgian building moved\n         and fitted for the library, science laboratories and the\n         gymnasium and a debt of nearly one-half million dollars had\n         been retired under Ellison's leadership. This project was a\n         major concern during the first half of his career and his\n         papers reflect its importance.","Other improvements on the campus followed the Belgian\n         Building project including re-organization of the university's\n         administrative structure, significant increase in the\n         endowment, and additions to the physical plant (e.g., Hovey\n         Stadium, new dormitories and other facilities).","Concurrent with his academic and administrative career,\n         Ellison kept an active ministerial career, preaching and\n         teaching throughout Virginia on a regular basis and appearing\n         as guest pastor a various churches, Sunday Schools and\n         conferences all over the country. Summers were often spent\n         teaching aspiring ministers in special programs that he helped\n         design. He edited religious journals and newsletters as well\n         as publications for the Scottish Rite and Alpha Phi Alpha\n         Fraternity, Inc. Ellison was a prolific author as well; he\n         published several books, tracts and brochures most of which\n         were copies of his favorite and most popular sermons.","As a prominent African American educator, Ellison was\n         active in many organizations advancing the cause of both civil\n         rights and higher education for his race. His involvement with\n         national organizations such as the National Youth\n         Administration, Southern Education Foundation, Negro\n         Organization Society, National Conference of Church-Related\n         Colleges, the NAACP and many others was typical of African\n         American leaders of that time as they cooperated to support\n         the existence and survival of their schools and\n         institutions.","After his term as president, Ellison continued on at\n         Virginia Union as chancellor and professor until his death on\n         13 October 1979. He is buried at Riverview Cemetery in\n         Richmond, Virginia."],"prefercite_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eJohn Malcus Ellison Papers, MS-0001 , Archives and\n            Special Collections Department, L. Douglas Wilder Library,\n            Virginia Union University\u003c/p\u003e\n      "],"prefercite_tesim":["John Malcus Ellison Papers, MS-0001 , Archives and\n            Special Collections Department, L. Douglas Wilder Library,\n            Virginia Union University"],"processinfo_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eCollection processed in December 1998.\u003c/p\u003e\n      "],"processinfo_heading_ssm":["Processing Information"],"processinfo_tesim":["Collection processed in December 1998."],"scopecontent_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eThis collection contains the administrative and personal\n         records of John Malcus Ellison as president of Virginia Union\n         University (1941-1955), chancellor (1955-79), minister,\n         teacher, author and editor. The bulk of the collection is from\n         the early years of his presidency, 1941-1945, with very few\n         materials from the later years or during his tenure as\n         chancellor. Although most of the collection is correspondence\n         conducted in his official capacity as president, because these\n         materials were received from his family, the Ellison Papers\n         are organized as a manuscript collection.\u003c/p\u003e\n      ","\u003cp\u003eThe correspondence files give an intriguing picture of\n         Ellison in his role as president of a small, African American\n         university in a segregated southern city. The many letters\n         from parents, guardians and prospective students reflect his\n         function as father and disciplinarian to the campus. The\n         letters to and from prominent Richmond figures and leaders of\n         the area schools, both black and white, reveal the part he\n         played in community relations. Of special interest is the\n         correspondence with other African American educational\n         leaders, such as Benjamin Mays, which shows the support these\n         educators lent one another in their struggles for their\n         institutions to not only survive, but succeed.\u003c/p\u003e\n      ","\u003cp\u003eThe subject files disclose what organizations Ellison\n         participated in as president. Like many of his contemporaries,\n         he was active in national organizations as they provided a\n         support network for African American higher education. These\n         files also reveal what was happening on campus during the\n         early years of his administration, including the Belgian\n         Building files which offer a fascinating unfolding of the\n         construction of the building.\u003c/p\u003e\n      ","\u003cp\u003eThe personal files are related mainly to his role as\n         preacher and teacher. As with the other series, the lines are\n         often blurred in these files between Ellison's many roles. His\n         speeches and sermons are an interesting compliment to his\n         writings, and often there is overlap between the two as he\n         published collections of sermons. Included in the writings are\n         his extensive notes in preparation for a definitive history of\n         Virginia Union, for which many of the photographs in these\n         materials were collected. The programs show not only which\n         events and activities Ellison participated in, both on campus\n         and off, but those which he attended or supported.\u003c/p\u003e\n      ","\u003cp\u003eDue to severe mold damage and insect infestation, many\n         records have been preservation photocopied.\u003c/p\u003e\n    "],"scopecontent_heading_ssm":["Scope and Content Information"],"scopecontent_tesim":["This collection contains the administrative and personal\n         records of John Malcus Ellison as president of Virginia Union\n         University (1941-1955), chancellor (1955-79), minister,\n         teacher, author and editor. The bulk of the collection is from\n         the early years of his presidency, 1941-1945, with very few\n         materials from the later years or during his tenure as\n         chancellor. Although most of the collection is correspondence\n         conducted in his official capacity as president, because these\n         materials were received from his family, the Ellison Papers\n         are organized as a manuscript collection.","The correspondence files give an intriguing picture of\n         Ellison in his role as president of a small, African American\n         university in a segregated southern city. The many letters\n         from parents, guardians and prospective students reflect his\n         function as father and disciplinarian to the campus. The\n         letters to and from prominent Richmond figures and leaders of\n         the area schools, both black and white, reveal the part he\n         played in community relations. Of special interest is the\n         correspondence with other African American educational\n         leaders, such as Benjamin Mays, which shows the support these\n         educators lent one another in their struggles for their\n         institutions to not only survive, but succeed.","The subject files disclose what organizations Ellison\n         participated in as president. Like many of his contemporaries,\n         he was active in national organizations as they provided a\n         support network for African American higher education. These\n         files also reveal what was happening on campus during the\n         early years of his administration, including the Belgian\n         Building files which offer a fascinating unfolding of the\n         construction of the building.","The personal files are related mainly to his role as\n         preacher and teacher. As with the other series, the lines are\n         often blurred in these files between Ellison's many roles. His\n         speeches and sermons are an interesting compliment to his\n         writings, and often there is overlap between the two as he\n         published collections of sermons. Included in the writings are\n         his extensive notes in preparation for a definitive history of\n         Virginia Union, for which many of the photographs in these\n         materials were collected. The programs show not only which\n         events and activities Ellison participated in, both on campus\n         and off, but those which he attended or supported.","Due to severe mold damage and insect infestation, many\n         records have been preservation photocopied."],"userestrict_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eThere are no restrictions.\u003c/p\u003e\n      "],"userestrict_heading_ssm":["Use Restrictions"],"userestrict_tesim":["There are no restrictions."],"language_ssim":["English"],"total_component_count_is":226,"online_item_count_is":0,"component_level_isim":[0],"sort_isi":0,"timestamp":"2026-08-14T22:53:07.053Z"}]}},"label":"Breadcrumbs"}}},"links":{"self":"https://arvasarchive.org/catalog/virvu_virvu00005_c03_c04"}},{"id":"virvu_virvu00005_c08_c06","type":"File","attributes":{"title":"Afro-American Award plaque \n \n 1953","breadcrumbs":{"id":"https://arvasarchive.org/catalog/virvu_virvu00005_c08_c06#breadcrumbs","type":"document_value","attributes":{"value":{"ref_ssi":"virvu_virvu00005_c08_c06","ref_ssm":["virvu_virvu00005_c08_c06"],"id":"virvu_virvu00005_c08_c06","ead_ssi":"virvu_virvu00005","_root_":"virvu_virvu00005","_nest_parent_":"virvu_virvu00005_c08","parent_ssi":"virvu_virvu00005_c08","parent_ssim":["John Malcus Ellison Papers \n \n 1941-1979","Series 8. Awards and Certificates \n \n 1950-1979"],"parent_ids_ssim":["virvu_virvu00005","virvu_virvu00005_c08"],"title_filing_ssi":"Afro-American Award plaque \n                  \n                  1953","title_ssm":["Afro-American Award plaque \n \n 1953"],"title_tesim":["Afro-American Award plaque \n \n 1953"],"normalized_title_ssm":["Afro-American Award plaque \n \n 1953"],"text":["Afro-American Award plaque \n \n 1953","John Malcus Ellison Papers \n \n 1941-1979","Series 8. Awards and Certificates \n \n 1950-1979","Box-folder 8.210"],"parent_unittitles_ssm":["John Malcus Ellison Papers \n \n 1941-1979","Series 8. Awards and Certificates \n \n 1950-1979"],"parent_unittitles_tesim":["John Malcus Ellison Papers \n \n 1941-1979","Series 8. Awards and Certificates \n \n 1950-1979"],"level_ssm":["File"],"level_ssim":["File"],"component_level_isim":[2],"sort_isi":223,"repository_ssim":["Virginia Union University"],"collection_ssim":["John Malcus Ellison Papers \n \n 1941-1979"],"containers_ssim":["Box-folder 8.210"],"has_online_content_ssim":["false"],"child_component_count_isi":0,"parent_access_restrict_tesm":["There are no restrictions."],"parent_access_terms_tesm":["There are no restrictions."],"_nest_path_":"/components#7/components#5","timestamp":"2026-08-14T22:53:07.053Z","collection":{"numFound":1,"start":0,"numFoundExact":true,"docs":[{"id":"virvu_virvu00005","ead_ssi":"virvu_virvu00005","_root_":"virvu_virvu00005","_nest_parent_":"virvu_virvu00005","ead_source_url_ssi":"data/vuu/virvu00005.xml","title_ssm":["John Malcus Ellison Papers \n \n 1941-1979"],"title_tesim":["John Malcus Ellison Papers \n \n 1941-1979"],"normalized_title_ssm":["John Malcus Ellison Papers \n \n 1941-1979"],"text":["John Malcus Ellison Papers \n \n 1941-1979","MS-0001","12 linear\n         feet","There are no restrictions.","Collection is arranged by series and chronological\n         therein.","Born 02 February 1889 in Northumberland County, Virginia,\n         John Malcus Ellison was one of twin sons. His early life was\n         very humble allowing for very little intellectual stimulation\n         beyond learning to read in the racially segregated schools of\n         his rural community. As he explained in a short\n         autobiographical sketch he wrote to James H. Croushore of\n         Fredricksburg, Virginia in the late 1950's, At the age of 14 I\n         was hired out for 7.00 dollars per month as a farm hand. My\n         varied experiences caused me much unrest and anxiety as I\n         longed for a fuller and more meaningful life Opportunities for\n         education were very meager in my home community, and so at the\n         age of 17 I went to Normal Industrial Institute now Virginia\n         State College at Petersburg, Va. After two and one half years\n         of study I transferred to Virginia Union University in 1909\n         and completed my High School and College work. At that time,\n         Wayland Academy was the division of Union that provided\n         secondary education to students. In 1917, Ellison earned his\n         A.B. in Education at Virginia Union. He returned to his home\n         in the Northern Neck of Virginia as pastor of Shiloh Baptist\n         Church and principal of the Northern Neck Industrial Academy.\n         He later founded and headed the Northumberland County High\n         School.","In 1927 Ellison earned a Master of Arts in Religious\n         Education and Philosophy of Religion from Oberlin College and\n         subsequently taught at what is now Virginia State University\n         in sociology and ethics. There he was appointed the first\n         college minister . He did graduate work at Columbia University\n         from 1930 to 1931 and at Union Theological Seminary in New\n         York City from 1931 to 1932. By 1933, Ellison had earned his\n         Ph.D. in Christian Education and Sociology from Drew\n         University, been pastor of the Zion Baptist Church in\n         Washington, D.C., taught Religious Education at Howard\n         University's School of Religion, and authored several\n         publications on rural, Negro life in Virginia. It was in that\n         same year that he married Elizabeth Balfour, a music educator\n         and performer from Brooklyn, New York.","Dr. Ellison assumed the presidency of Virginia Union at a\n         very difficult time in history. The country had just entered\n         World War II and the era of Jim Crow was at its peak in the\n         South. Being the first African American to assume the\n         leadership of Virginia Union, he lived with the burden of\n         proving himself capable and worthy of the title President. It\n         is generally believed that he succeeded at the task. In spite\n         of the manpower drain on both the student body and the male\n         faculty, Union survived the worst of times through 1946 when\n         the GIs returned to school and prosperity and stability came\n         back to the university. Ellison took an active part in the\n         support of US troops, especially Virginia Union students in\n         the service, and in the civilian efforts that maintained the\n         community at home. It was also during his administration that\n         the Belgian Friendship Building project was undertaken and\n         successfully accomplished.","After the 1939 World's Fair in New York City, the Belgian\n         government could not dismantle and return their elaborate\n         exhibit and its housing to Nazi-occupied Belgium. Several\n         options were explored to dispose of the splendid structure\n         originally designed to be a stand-alone college in Belgium.\n         Benefactors of Negro education, however, won the bid. The\n         Belgian Friendship Building with its ornate friezes depicting\n         black life in the Belgian Congo would be relocated to the\n         campus of Virginia Union University. Negotiations for the\n         transfer of title and property were begun in the previous\n         administration of William J. Clark; fund raising, re-design\n         and physical relocation were left to Ellison's stewardship. By\n         1949 the campus had been renovated, the Belgian building moved\n         and fitted for the library, science laboratories and the\n         gymnasium and a debt of nearly one-half million dollars had\n         been retired under Ellison's leadership. This project was a\n         major concern during the first half of his career and his\n         papers reflect its importance.","Other improvements on the campus followed the Belgian\n         Building project including re-organization of the university's\n         administrative structure, significant increase in the\n         endowment, and additions to the physical plant (e.g., Hovey\n         Stadium, new dormitories and other facilities).","Concurrent with his academic and administrative career,\n         Ellison kept an active ministerial career, preaching and\n         teaching throughout Virginia on a regular basis and appearing\n         as guest pastor a various churches, Sunday Schools and\n         conferences all over the country. Summers were often spent\n         teaching aspiring ministers in special programs that he helped\n         design. He edited religious journals and newsletters as well\n         as publications for the Scottish Rite and Alpha Phi Alpha\n         Fraternity, Inc. Ellison was a prolific author as well; he\n         published several books, tracts and brochures most of which\n         were copies of his favorite and most popular sermons.","As a prominent African American educator, Ellison was\n         active in many organizations advancing the cause of both civil\n         rights and higher education for his race. His involvement with\n         national organizations such as the National Youth\n         Administration, Southern Education Foundation, Negro\n         Organization Society, National Conference of Church-Related\n         Colleges, the NAACP and many others was typical of African\n         American leaders of that time as they cooperated to support\n         the existence and survival of their schools and\n         institutions.","After his term as president, Ellison continued on at\n         Virginia Union as chancellor and professor until his death on\n         13 October 1979. He is buried at Riverview Cemetery in\n         Richmond, Virginia.","Collection processed in December 1998.","This collection contains the administrative and personal\n         records of John Malcus Ellison as president of Virginia Union\n         University (1941-1955), chancellor (1955-79), minister,\n         teacher, author and editor. The bulk of the collection is from\n         the early years of his presidency, 1941-1945, with very few\n         materials from the later years or during his tenure as\n         chancellor. Although most of the collection is correspondence\n         conducted in his official capacity as president, because these\n         materials were received from his family, the Ellison Papers\n         are organized as a manuscript collection.","The correspondence files give an intriguing picture of\n         Ellison in his role as president of a small, African American\n         university in a segregated southern city. The many letters\n         from parents, guardians and prospective students reflect his\n         function as father and disciplinarian to the campus. The\n         letters to and from prominent Richmond figures and leaders of\n         the area schools, both black and white, reveal the part he\n         played in community relations. Of special interest is the\n         correspondence with other African American educational\n         leaders, such as Benjamin Mays, which shows the support these\n         educators lent one another in their struggles for their\n         institutions to not only survive, but succeed.","The subject files disclose what organizations Ellison\n         participated in as president. Like many of his contemporaries,\n         he was active in national organizations as they provided a\n         support network for African American higher education. These\n         files also reveal what was happening on campus during the\n         early years of his administration, including the Belgian\n         Building files which offer a fascinating unfolding of the\n         construction of the building.","The personal files are related mainly to his role as\n         preacher and teacher. As with the other series, the lines are\n         often blurred in these files between Ellison's many roles. His\n         speeches and sermons are an interesting compliment to his\n         writings, and often there is overlap between the two as he\n         published collections of sermons. Included in the writings are\n         his extensive notes in preparation for a definitive history of\n         Virginia Union, for which many of the photographs in these\n         materials were collected. The programs show not only which\n         events and activities Ellison participated in, both on campus\n         and off, but those which he attended or supported.","Due to severe mold damage and insect infestation, many\n         records have been preservation photocopied.","There are no restrictions.","English"],"collection_title_tesim":["John Malcus Ellison Papers \n \n 1941-1979"],"collection_ssim":["John Malcus Ellison Papers \n \n 1941-1979"],"level_ssm":["collection"],"level_ssim":["Collection"],"unitid_ssm":["MS-0001"],"unitid_tesim":["MS-0001"],"repository_ssm":["Virginia Union University"],"repository_ssim":["Virginia Union University"],"creator_ssm":["John Malcus Ellison\n         Papers"],"creator_ssim":["John Malcus Ellison\n         Papers"],"access_terms_ssm":["There are no restrictions."],"acqinfo_ssim":["Received from Elizabeth Balfour Ellison, 06 August\n            1993"],"has_online_content_ssim":["false"],"physdesc_tesim":["12 linear\n         feet"],"accessrestrict_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eThere are no restrictions.\u003c/p\u003e\n      "],"accessrestrict_heading_ssm":["Access"],"accessrestrict_tesim":["There are no restrictions."],"arrangement_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eCollection is arranged by series and chronological\n         therein.\u003c/p\u003e\n    "],"arrangement_heading_ssm":["Arrangement"],"arrangement_tesim":["Collection is arranged by series and chronological\n         therein."],"bioghist_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eBorn 02 February 1889 in Northumberland County, Virginia,\n         John Malcus Ellison was one of twin sons. His early life was\n         very humble allowing for very little intellectual stimulation\n         beyond learning to read in the racially segregated schools of\n         his rural community. As he explained in a short\n         autobiographical sketch he wrote to James H. Croushore of\n         Fredricksburg, Virginia in the late 1950's, At the age of 14 I\n         was hired out for 7.00 dollars per month as a farm hand. My\n         varied experiences caused me much unrest and anxiety as I\n         longed for a fuller and more meaningful life Opportunities for\n         education were very meager in my home community, and so at the\n         age of 17 I went to Normal Industrial Institute now Virginia\n         State College at Petersburg, Va. After two and one half years\n         of study I transferred to Virginia Union University in 1909\n         and completed my High School and College work. At that time,\n         Wayland Academy was the division of Union that provided\n         secondary education to students. In 1917, Ellison earned his\n         A.B. in Education at Virginia Union. He returned to his home\n         in the Northern Neck of Virginia as pastor of Shiloh Baptist\n         Church and principal of the Northern Neck Industrial Academy.\n         He later founded and headed the Northumberland County High\n         School.\u003c/p\u003e\n      ","\u003cp\u003eIn 1927 Ellison earned a Master of Arts in Religious\n         Education and Philosophy of Religion from Oberlin College and\n         subsequently taught at what is now Virginia State University\n         in sociology and ethics. There he was appointed the first\n         college minister . He did graduate work at Columbia University\n         from 1930 to 1931 and at Union Theological Seminary in New\n         York City from 1931 to 1932. By 1933, Ellison had earned his\n         Ph.D. in Christian Education and Sociology from Drew\n         University, been pastor of the Zion Baptist Church in\n         Washington, D.C., taught Religious Education at Howard\n         University's School of Religion, and authored several\n         publications on rural, Negro life in Virginia. It was in that\n         same year that he married Elizabeth Balfour, a music educator\n         and performer from Brooklyn, New York.\u003c/p\u003e\n      ","\u003cp\u003eDr. Ellison assumed the presidency of Virginia Union at a\n         very difficult time in history. The country had just entered\n         World War II and the era of Jim Crow was at its peak in the\n         South. Being the first African American to assume the\n         leadership of Virginia Union, he lived with the burden of\n         proving himself capable and worthy of the title President. It\n         is generally believed that he succeeded at the task. In spite\n         of the manpower drain on both the student body and the male\n         faculty, Union survived the worst of times through 1946 when\n         the GIs returned to school and prosperity and stability came\n         back to the university. Ellison took an active part in the\n         support of US troops, especially Virginia Union students in\n         the service, and in the civilian efforts that maintained the\n         community at home. It was also during his administration that\n         the Belgian Friendship Building project was undertaken and\n         successfully accomplished.\u003c/p\u003e\n      ","\u003cp\u003eAfter the 1939 World's Fair in New York City, the Belgian\n         government could not dismantle and return their elaborate\n         exhibit and its housing to Nazi-occupied Belgium. Several\n         options were explored to dispose of the splendid structure\n         originally designed to be a stand-alone college in Belgium.\n         Benefactors of Negro education, however, won the bid. The\n         Belgian Friendship Building with its ornate friezes depicting\n         black life in the Belgian Congo would be relocated to the\n         campus of Virginia Union University. Negotiations for the\n         transfer of title and property were begun in the previous\n         administration of William J. Clark; fund raising, re-design\n         and physical relocation were left to Ellison's stewardship. By\n         1949 the campus had been renovated, the Belgian building moved\n         and fitted for the library, science laboratories and the\n         gymnasium and a debt of nearly one-half million dollars had\n         been retired under Ellison's leadership. This project was a\n         major concern during the first half of his career and his\n         papers reflect its importance.\u003c/p\u003e\n      ","\u003cp\u003eOther improvements on the campus followed the Belgian\n         Building project including re-organization of the university's\n         administrative structure, significant increase in the\n         endowment, and additions to the physical plant (e.g., Hovey\n         Stadium, new dormitories and other facilities).\u003c/p\u003e\n      ","\u003cp\u003eConcurrent with his academic and administrative career,\n         Ellison kept an active ministerial career, preaching and\n         teaching throughout Virginia on a regular basis and appearing\n         as guest pastor a various churches, Sunday Schools and\n         conferences all over the country. Summers were often spent\n         teaching aspiring ministers in special programs that he helped\n         design. He edited religious journals and newsletters as well\n         as publications for the Scottish Rite and Alpha Phi Alpha\n         Fraternity, Inc. Ellison was a prolific author as well; he\n         published several books, tracts and brochures most of which\n         were copies of his favorite and most popular sermons.\u003c/p\u003e\n      ","\u003cp\u003eAs a prominent African American educator, Ellison was\n         active in many organizations advancing the cause of both civil\n         rights and higher education for his race. His involvement with\n         national organizations such as the National Youth\n         Administration, Southern Education Foundation, Negro\n         Organization Society, National Conference of Church-Related\n         Colleges, the NAACP and many others was typical of African\n         American leaders of that time as they cooperated to support\n         the existence and survival of their schools and\n         institutions.\u003c/p\u003e\n      ","\u003cp\u003eAfter his term as president, Ellison continued on at\n         Virginia Union as chancellor and professor until his death on\n         13 October 1979. He is buried at Riverview Cemetery in\n         Richmond, Virginia.\u003c/p\u003e\n    "],"bioghist_heading_ssm":["Biographical/Historical Information"],"bioghist_tesim":["Born 02 February 1889 in Northumberland County, Virginia,\n         John Malcus Ellison was one of twin sons. His early life was\n         very humble allowing for very little intellectual stimulation\n         beyond learning to read in the racially segregated schools of\n         his rural community. As he explained in a short\n         autobiographical sketch he wrote to James H. Croushore of\n         Fredricksburg, Virginia in the late 1950's, At the age of 14 I\n         was hired out for 7.00 dollars per month as a farm hand. My\n         varied experiences caused me much unrest and anxiety as I\n         longed for a fuller and more meaningful life Opportunities for\n         education were very meager in my home community, and so at the\n         age of 17 I went to Normal Industrial Institute now Virginia\n         State College at Petersburg, Va. After two and one half years\n         of study I transferred to Virginia Union University in 1909\n         and completed my High School and College work. At that time,\n         Wayland Academy was the division of Union that provided\n         secondary education to students. In 1917, Ellison earned his\n         A.B. in Education at Virginia Union. He returned to his home\n         in the Northern Neck of Virginia as pastor of Shiloh Baptist\n         Church and principal of the Northern Neck Industrial Academy.\n         He later founded and headed the Northumberland County High\n         School.","In 1927 Ellison earned a Master of Arts in Religious\n         Education and Philosophy of Religion from Oberlin College and\n         subsequently taught at what is now Virginia State University\n         in sociology and ethics. There he was appointed the first\n         college minister . He did graduate work at Columbia University\n         from 1930 to 1931 and at Union Theological Seminary in New\n         York City from 1931 to 1932. By 1933, Ellison had earned his\n         Ph.D. in Christian Education and Sociology from Drew\n         University, been pastor of the Zion Baptist Church in\n         Washington, D.C., taught Religious Education at Howard\n         University's School of Religion, and authored several\n         publications on rural, Negro life in Virginia. It was in that\n         same year that he married Elizabeth Balfour, a music educator\n         and performer from Brooklyn, New York.","Dr. Ellison assumed the presidency of Virginia Union at a\n         very difficult time in history. The country had just entered\n         World War II and the era of Jim Crow was at its peak in the\n         South. Being the first African American to assume the\n         leadership of Virginia Union, he lived with the burden of\n         proving himself capable and worthy of the title President. It\n         is generally believed that he succeeded at the task. In spite\n         of the manpower drain on both the student body and the male\n         faculty, Union survived the worst of times through 1946 when\n         the GIs returned to school and prosperity and stability came\n         back to the university. Ellison took an active part in the\n         support of US troops, especially Virginia Union students in\n         the service, and in the civilian efforts that maintained the\n         community at home. It was also during his administration that\n         the Belgian Friendship Building project was undertaken and\n         successfully accomplished.","After the 1939 World's Fair in New York City, the Belgian\n         government could not dismantle and return their elaborate\n         exhibit and its housing to Nazi-occupied Belgium. Several\n         options were explored to dispose of the splendid structure\n         originally designed to be a stand-alone college in Belgium.\n         Benefactors of Negro education, however, won the bid. The\n         Belgian Friendship Building with its ornate friezes depicting\n         black life in the Belgian Congo would be relocated to the\n         campus of Virginia Union University. Negotiations for the\n         transfer of title and property were begun in the previous\n         administration of William J. Clark; fund raising, re-design\n         and physical relocation were left to Ellison's stewardship. By\n         1949 the campus had been renovated, the Belgian building moved\n         and fitted for the library, science laboratories and the\n         gymnasium and a debt of nearly one-half million dollars had\n         been retired under Ellison's leadership. This project was a\n         major concern during the first half of his career and his\n         papers reflect its importance.","Other improvements on the campus followed the Belgian\n         Building project including re-organization of the university's\n         administrative structure, significant increase in the\n         endowment, and additions to the physical plant (e.g., Hovey\n         Stadium, new dormitories and other facilities).","Concurrent with his academic and administrative career,\n         Ellison kept an active ministerial career, preaching and\n         teaching throughout Virginia on a regular basis and appearing\n         as guest pastor a various churches, Sunday Schools and\n         conferences all over the country. Summers were often spent\n         teaching aspiring ministers in special programs that he helped\n         design. He edited religious journals and newsletters as well\n         as publications for the Scottish Rite and Alpha Phi Alpha\n         Fraternity, Inc. Ellison was a prolific author as well; he\n         published several books, tracts and brochures most of which\n         were copies of his favorite and most popular sermons.","As a prominent African American educator, Ellison was\n         active in many organizations advancing the cause of both civil\n         rights and higher education for his race. His involvement with\n         national organizations such as the National Youth\n         Administration, Southern Education Foundation, Negro\n         Organization Society, National Conference of Church-Related\n         Colleges, the NAACP and many others was typical of African\n         American leaders of that time as they cooperated to support\n         the existence and survival of their schools and\n         institutions.","After his term as president, Ellison continued on at\n         Virginia Union as chancellor and professor until his death on\n         13 October 1979. He is buried at Riverview Cemetery in\n         Richmond, Virginia."],"prefercite_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eJohn Malcus Ellison Papers, MS-0001 , Archives and\n            Special Collections Department, L. Douglas Wilder Library,\n            Virginia Union University\u003c/p\u003e\n      "],"prefercite_tesim":["John Malcus Ellison Papers, MS-0001 , Archives and\n            Special Collections Department, L. Douglas Wilder Library,\n            Virginia Union University"],"processinfo_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eCollection processed in December 1998.\u003c/p\u003e\n      "],"processinfo_heading_ssm":["Processing Information"],"processinfo_tesim":["Collection processed in December 1998."],"scopecontent_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eThis collection contains the administrative and personal\n         records of John Malcus Ellison as president of Virginia Union\n         University (1941-1955), chancellor (1955-79), minister,\n         teacher, author and editor. The bulk of the collection is from\n         the early years of his presidency, 1941-1945, with very few\n         materials from the later years or during his tenure as\n         chancellor. Although most of the collection is correspondence\n         conducted in his official capacity as president, because these\n         materials were received from his family, the Ellison Papers\n         are organized as a manuscript collection.\u003c/p\u003e\n      ","\u003cp\u003eThe correspondence files give an intriguing picture of\n         Ellison in his role as president of a small, African American\n         university in a segregated southern city. The many letters\n         from parents, guardians and prospective students reflect his\n         function as father and disciplinarian to the campus. The\n         letters to and from prominent Richmond figures and leaders of\n         the area schools, both black and white, reveal the part he\n         played in community relations. Of special interest is the\n         correspondence with other African American educational\n         leaders, such as Benjamin Mays, which shows the support these\n         educators lent one another in their struggles for their\n         institutions to not only survive, but succeed.\u003c/p\u003e\n      ","\u003cp\u003eThe subject files disclose what organizations Ellison\n         participated in as president. Like many of his contemporaries,\n         he was active in national organizations as they provided a\n         support network for African American higher education. These\n         files also reveal what was happening on campus during the\n         early years of his administration, including the Belgian\n         Building files which offer a fascinating unfolding of the\n         construction of the building.\u003c/p\u003e\n      ","\u003cp\u003eThe personal files are related mainly to his role as\n         preacher and teacher. As with the other series, the lines are\n         often blurred in these files between Ellison's many roles. His\n         speeches and sermons are an interesting compliment to his\n         writings, and often there is overlap between the two as he\n         published collections of sermons. Included in the writings are\n         his extensive notes in preparation for a definitive history of\n         Virginia Union, for which many of the photographs in these\n         materials were collected. The programs show not only which\n         events and activities Ellison participated in, both on campus\n         and off, but those which he attended or supported.\u003c/p\u003e\n      ","\u003cp\u003eDue to severe mold damage and insect infestation, many\n         records have been preservation photocopied.\u003c/p\u003e\n    "],"scopecontent_heading_ssm":["Scope and Content Information"],"scopecontent_tesim":["This collection contains the administrative and personal\n         records of John Malcus Ellison as president of Virginia Union\n         University (1941-1955), chancellor (1955-79), minister,\n         teacher, author and editor. The bulk of the collection is from\n         the early years of his presidency, 1941-1945, with very few\n         materials from the later years or during his tenure as\n         chancellor. Although most of the collection is correspondence\n         conducted in his official capacity as president, because these\n         materials were received from his family, the Ellison Papers\n         are organized as a manuscript collection.","The correspondence files give an intriguing picture of\n         Ellison in his role as president of a small, African American\n         university in a segregated southern city. The many letters\n         from parents, guardians and prospective students reflect his\n         function as father and disciplinarian to the campus. The\n         letters to and from prominent Richmond figures and leaders of\n         the area schools, both black and white, reveal the part he\n         played in community relations. Of special interest is the\n         correspondence with other African American educational\n         leaders, such as Benjamin Mays, which shows the support these\n         educators lent one another in their struggles for their\n         institutions to not only survive, but succeed.","The subject files disclose what organizations Ellison\n         participated in as president. Like many of his contemporaries,\n         he was active in national organizations as they provided a\n         support network for African American higher education. These\n         files also reveal what was happening on campus during the\n         early years of his administration, including the Belgian\n         Building files which offer a fascinating unfolding of the\n         construction of the building.","The personal files are related mainly to his role as\n         preacher and teacher. As with the other series, the lines are\n         often blurred in these files between Ellison's many roles. His\n         speeches and sermons are an interesting compliment to his\n         writings, and often there is overlap between the two as he\n         published collections of sermons. Included in the writings are\n         his extensive notes in preparation for a definitive history of\n         Virginia Union, for which many of the photographs in these\n         materials were collected. The programs show not only which\n         events and activities Ellison participated in, both on campus\n         and off, but those which he attended or supported.","Due to severe mold damage and insect infestation, many\n         records have been preservation photocopied."],"userestrict_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eThere are no restrictions.\u003c/p\u003e\n      "],"userestrict_heading_ssm":["Use Restrictions"],"userestrict_tesim":["There are no restrictions."],"language_ssim":["English"],"total_component_count_is":226,"online_item_count_is":0,"component_level_isim":[0],"sort_isi":0,"timestamp":"2026-08-14T22:53:07.053Z"}]}},"label":"Breadcrumbs"}}},"links":{"self":"https://arvasarchive.org/catalog/virvu_virvu00005_c08_c06"}},{"id":"virvu_virvu00021_c01","type":"File","attributes":{"title":"Agendas","breadcrumbs":{"id":"https://arvasarchive.org/catalog/virvu_virvu00021_c01#breadcrumbs","type":"document_value","attributes":{"value":{"ref_ssi":"virvu_virvu00021_c01","ref_ssm":["virvu_virvu00021_c01"],"id":"virvu_virvu00021_c01","ead_ssi":"virvu_virvu00021","_root_":"virvu_virvu00021","_nest_parent_":"virvu_virvu00021","parent_ssi":"virvu_virvu00021","parent_ssim":["Delver Woman's Club Collection, 1960-2019"],"parent_ids_ssim":["virvu_virvu00021"],"title_filing_ssi":"Agendas","title_ssm":["Agendas"],"title_tesim":["Agendas"],"normalized_title_ssm":["Agendas"],"text":["Agendas","Delver Woman's Club Collection, 1960-2019","box-folder 1-1"],"parent_unittitles_ssm":["Delver Woman's Club Collection, 1960-2019"],"parent_unittitles_tesim":["Delver Woman's Club Collection, 1960-2019"],"level_ssm":["File"],"level_ssim":["File"],"component_level_isim":[1],"sort_isi":1,"repository_ssim":["Virginia Union University"],"collection_ssim":["Delver Woman's Club Collection, 1960-2019"],"containers_ssim":["box-folder 1-1"],"has_online_content_ssim":["false"],"child_component_count_isi":0,"parent_access_restrict_tesm":["The collection is open for research use."],"parent_access_terms_tesm":["Copyright is retained by the author or his descendants as stipulated by United States\n          copyright law."],"_nest_path_":"/components#0","timestamp":"2026-08-14T22:53:24.943Z","collection":{"numFound":1,"start":0,"numFoundExact":true,"docs":[{"id":"virvu_virvu00021","ead_ssi":"virvu_virvu00021","_root_":"virvu_virvu00021","_nest_parent_":"virvu_virvu00021","ead_source_url_ssi":"data/vuu/virvu00021.xml","title_ssm":["Delver Woman's Club Collection, 1960-2019"],"title_tesim":["Delver Woman's Club Collection, 1960-2019"],"normalized_title_ssm":["Delver Woman's Club Collection, 1960-2019"],"text":["Delver Woman's Club Collection, 1960-2019","MS-0027","African American Women – Virginia – Richmond – Societies and Clubs","African-American Women – Societies and Clubs","Women – Virginia – Richmond – Societies and Clubs","Women – Societies and Clubs – Virginia – Richmond","The collection is open for research use.","Further accruals are expected.","The collection is arranged alphabetically and chronologically.","The organization started as the Delver Literary Club in 1917 and disbanded in the early\n        1940's. Delver Woman's Club was founded in 1945 by the late Mrs. Blanche Coles Case. The\n        organization consists of Christian women who are registered voters and dedicated to\n        providing civic and social interventions in the Richmond community. It has seven interest\n        groups which include Art, Drama, Economic, International Relations, Music, Youth\n        Conservation, and Social and Civic Affairs. The Delver Woman's Club was incorporated in\n        1949. A Junior Delver Woman's Club was organized in 1951.","The guide to the Delver Woman's Club at Virginia Union University Archives \u0026 Special\n          Collections is licensed under a [CC0 1.0 Universal (CC0 1.0)\n          license](https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/)","The Delver Woman's Club Collection documents the activities of the organization which\n        consists of consists of Christian women who are registered voters and dedicated to providing\n        civic and social interventions in the Richmond community. It has seven interest groups which\n        include Art, Drama, Economic, International Relations, Music, Youth Conservation, and Social\n        and Civic Affairs. Materials in this collection comprise meeting agendas, Anniversary year\n        books, Annual Luncheon and Dinner meeting, Annual prayer breakfast, Biographies and\n        obituaries, Committees, Constitution and bylaws, Correspondence, Directories. Financial\n        records, Foundation, History, Interest group programs, Meeting and program schedules,\n        Membership rolls, Minutes, Miss Future Delver, News clippings, Newsletters, Photographs,\n        Vesper Service, Awards, certificates, plaques, programs, Trophy plate, NAACP Corp member,\n        Four small containers of slides, 50th anniversary scrapbook, Art Interest Group minutes, Art\n        Interest Group minutes and Art Interest Group – miscellaneous.","Copyright is retained by the author or his descendants as stipulated by United States\n          copyright law.","Delver Woman's Club (Richmond, VA)","Materials in this collection are in English"],"collection_title_tesim":["Delver Woman's Club Collection, 1960-2019"],"collection_ssim":["Delver Woman's Club Collection, 1960-2019"],"level_ssm":["collection"],"level_ssim":["Collection"],"unitid_ssm":["MS-0027"],"unitid_tesim":["MS-0027"],"repository_ssm":["Virginia Union University"],"repository_ssim":["Virginia Union University"],"creator_ssm":["Delver Woman's Club"],"creator_ssim":["Delver Woman's Club"],"creator_corpname_ssim":["Delver Woman's Club (Richmond, VA)"],"creators_ssim":["Delver Woman's Club (Richmond, VA)"],"access_terms_ssm":["Copyright is retained by the author or his descendants as stipulated by United States\n          copyright law."],"acqinfo_ssim":["Donated by the Delver Woman's Club; material was added by Vera Ryan in 2004, 2014 and\n          2019; material was added by Goldie W. Settles in 2006."],"access_subjects_ssim":["African American Women – Virginia – Richmond – Societies and Clubs","African-American Women – Societies and Clubs","Women – Virginia – Richmond – Societies and Clubs","Women – Societies and Clubs – Virginia – Richmond"],"access_subjects_ssm":["African American Women – Virginia – Richmond – Societies and Clubs","African-American Women – Societies and Clubs","Women – Virginia – Richmond – Societies and Clubs","Women – Societies and Clubs – Virginia – Richmond"],"has_online_content_ssim":["false"],"extent_ssm":["3.5 linear feet (5 boxes, 1 oversized\n          item)"],"extent_tesim":["3.5 linear feet (5 boxes, 1 oversized\n          item)"],"accessrestrict_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eThe collection is open for research use.\u003c/p\u003e\n      "],"accessrestrict_heading_ssm":["Conditions Governing Access"],"accessrestrict_tesim":["The collection is open for research use."],"accruals_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eFurther accruals are expected.\u003c/p\u003e\n      "],"accruals_heading_ssm":["Accruals"],"accruals_tesim":["Further accruals are expected."],"arrangement_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eThe collection is arranged alphabetically and chronologically.\u003c/p\u003e\n    "],"arrangement_heading_ssm":["Arrangement"],"arrangement_tesim":["The collection is arranged alphabetically and chronologically."],"bioghist_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eThe organization started as the Delver Literary Club in 1917 and disbanded in the early\n        1940's. 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It has seven interest\n        groups which include Art, Drama, Economic, International Relations, Music, Youth\n        Conservation, and Social and Civic Affairs. The Delver Woman's Club was incorporated in\n        1949. A Junior Delver Woman's Club was organized in 1951."],"odd_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eThe guide to the Delver Woman's Club at Virginia Union University Archives \u0026amp; Special\n          Collections is licensed under a [CC0 1.0 Universal (CC0 1.0)\n          license](https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/) \u003c/p\u003e\n      "],"odd_heading_ssm":["Rights Statement for Archival Description"],"odd_tesim":["The guide to the Delver Woman's Club at Virginia Union University Archives \u0026 Special\n          Collections is licensed under a [CC0 1.0 Universal (CC0 1.0)\n          license](https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/)"],"scopecontent_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eThe Delver Woman's Club Collection documents the activities of the organization which\n        consists of consists of Christian women who are registered voters and dedicated to providing\n        civic and social interventions in the Richmond community. 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Financial\n        records, Foundation, History, Interest group programs, Meeting and program schedules,\n        Membership rolls, Minutes, Miss Future Delver, News clippings, Newsletters, Photographs,\n        Vesper Service, Awards, certificates, plaques, programs, Trophy plate, NAACP Corp member,\n        Four small containers of slides, 50th anniversary scrapbook, Art Interest Group minutes, Art\n        Interest Group minutes and Art Interest Group – miscellaneous."],"userestrict_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eCopyright is retained by the author or his descendants as stipulated by United States\n          copyright law.\u003c/p\u003e\n      "],"userestrict_heading_ssm":["Conditions Governing Reproduction and Use"],"userestrict_tesim":["Copyright is retained by the author or his descendants as stipulated by United States\n          copyright law."],"corpname_ssim":["Delver Woman's Club (Richmond, VA)"],"names_ssim":["Delver Woman's Club (Richmond, VA)"],"language_ssim":["Materials in this collection are in English"],"total_component_count_is":38,"online_item_count_is":0,"component_level_isim":[0],"sort_isi":0,"timestamp":"2026-08-14T22:53:24.943Z"}]}},"label":"Breadcrumbs"}}},"links":{"self":"https://arvasarchive.org/catalog/virvu_virvu00021_c01"}}],"included":[{"type":"facet","id":"repository_ssim","attributes":{"label":"Repository","items":[{"attributes":{"label":"Virginia Union University","value":"Virginia Union University","hits":374},"links":{"remove":"https://arvasarchive.org/catalog.json?f%5Blevel%5D%5B%5D=File\u0026f%5Brepository%5D%5B%5D=Virginia+Union+University\u0026view=list"}}]},"links":{"self":"https://arvasarchive.org/catalog/facet/repository_ssim.json?f%5Blevel%5D%5B%5D=File\u0026f%5Brepository%5D%5B%5D=Virginia+Union+University\u0026view=list"}},{"type":"facet","id":"collection_ssim","attributes":{"label":"Collection","items":[{"attributes":{"label":"Baptist General Convention of Virginia, 1931-1977","value":"Baptist General Convention of Virginia, 1931-1977","hits":7},"links":{"self":"https://arvasarchive.org/catalog.json?f%5Bcollection%5D%5B%5D=Baptist+General+Convention+of+Virginia%2C+1931-1977\u0026f%5Blevel%5D%5B%5D=File\u0026f%5Brepository%5D%5B%5D=Virginia+Union+University\u0026view=list"}},{"attributes":{"label":"Delver Woman's Club Collection, 1960-2019","value":"Delver Woman's Club Collection, 1960-2019","hits":37},"links":{"self":"https://arvasarchive.org/catalog.json?f%5Bcollection%5D%5B%5D=Delver+Woman%27s+Club+Collection%2C+1960-2019\u0026f%5Blevel%5D%5B%5D=File\u0026f%5Brepository%5D%5B%5D=Virginia+Union+University\u0026view=list"}},{"attributes":{"label":"Dr. Henry H. 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