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File folder owned by Henrietta Bell Wells

Created by: Unidentified
Owned by: Wells, Henrietta Bell, American, 1912 - 2008
Subject of: Wiley College, American, founded 1873

Medium: leather , metal , canvas and thread
Dimensions: H x W x D: 11 3/4 × 8 7/8 × 7/8 in. (29.8 × 22.5 × 2.2 cm)

Type: portfolios (containers)

Place depicted: Wiley College, Marshall, Harrison County, Texas, United States, North and Central America

Date: ca. 1930

Description: A maroon, textured file folder with a lock. The file folder has rounded edges with a black threaded leather strip around all of the non-binding edges. There is a tab closure, also bordered with black threaded leather strip that locks into a gold circular clasp. The lock requires a key. A [WILEY] sticker is on the top of the tab closure (resembles a blue flag bordered by white with [WILEY] written in white type). Part of the sticker is missing. Inscribed in gold type, under the gold lock to the tab closure, reads: [Henrietta Bell]. The interior (cannot be opened, need key to unlock), appears to have a canvas element, possibly to hold a pad of paper, along with interior flap/sleeve for storing papers. The front cover seems to be padded, while back cover does not.

Topic: African American; Communication; Education

Credit Line: Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, Gift of Dr. Edward L. Cox

Object number: 2015.43.1

Restrictions & Rights: No Known Copyright Restrictions

See more items in: National Museum of African American History and Culture Collection
Classification: Memorabilia and Ephemera
Exhibition: Cultural Expressions
On View: NMAAHC (1400 Constitution Ave NW), National Mall Location, Culture/Fourth Floor, 4 050

Data Source: National Museum of African American History and Culture

Photograph of Alpha Iota Chapter, Wiley College

Created by: Unidentified
Subject of: Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, American, founded 1913; Wells, Henrietta Bell, American, 1912 - 2008; Moon, Catherine; Boutte, Faye; Young, Alberta; Winston, Deralyn; Tyler, Lugusta; Clarke, Wilbaleigh; Brown, Thelma; Crawford, Cecile; Fonsworth, Sylvia; Webster, Anita; Foreman, Irma; Booker, Aster Lee; Fonsworth, Marie; Johnson, Helen; Jackson, Willie; Johnson, Ardelia; Burr, Vera; Unidentified Woman or Women; Wiley College, American, founded 1873

Medium: unidentified
Dimensions: H x W: 7 15/16 × 10 15/16 in. (20.2 × 27.8 cm)

Type: portraits; sepia prints

Place depicted: Wiley College, Marshall, Harrison County, Texas, United States, North and Central America

Date: 1932

Description: A sepia print of the Alpha Iota Chapter at Wiley College in 1932. There are 20 women in four rows, on the exterior stairs of a brick building (3 in front row, 6 in second row, 7 in third row, and 4 in back row). All of the women are wearing dresses and have corsages pinned to their proper left chest. Most of the women have their hands clasped in front of themselves. There are two baskets of flowers in front of the ladies, with the symbols [?ST] for Delta Sigma Theta between the two baskets. This photograph is housed in a clear plastic sleeve, along with a photocopy of these same picture on a piece of white copy paper, along with the list of individuals pictured on the left. List reads: [ALPHA IOTA CHAPTER / WILEY COLLEGE / 1932 / 1st Row / Henrietta Bell / Catherine Moon / 2nd Row / Faye Boutte / Alberta Young / Deralyn Winson / Lugusta Tyler / Wilbaleign Clarke /Thelma Brown / 3rd Row / Cecile Crawford / Sylvia Fonsworth / Anita Webster / Irma Foreman / Aster Lee Booker / Marie Fonsworth / 4th Row / Helen Johnson / Willie Jackson / Ardelia Johnson / Vera Burr].

Topic: African American; Education; Sororities; Women

Credit Line: Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, Gift of Dr. Edward L. Cox

Object number: 2015.43.3

Restrictions & Rights: No Known Copyright Restrictions

See more items in: National Museum of African American History and Culture Collection
Classification: Media Arts-Photography

Data Source: National Museum of African American History and Culture

Reminiscences of Melvin B. Tolson by Henrietta Bell Wells

Written by: Wells, Henrietta Bell, American, 1912 - 2008
Subject of: Tolson, Melvin Beaunorus, American, 1898 - 1966; Wiley College, American, founded 1873

Medium: ink on paper (fiber product) with metal (paper clip)
Dimensions: H x W x D: 11 × 8 1/2 × 1/8 in. (27.9 × 21.6 × 0.3 cm)

Type: reminiscences

Place depicted: Wiley College, Marshall, Harrison County, Texas, United States, North and Central America
Place made: Houston, Texas, United States, North and Central America

Date: January 10, 2006

Description: A packet of handwritten documents (7 pages on lined notebook paper 2015.43.6a and one note on Henrietta B Wells note paper 2015.43.6b), paper clipped together, containing reflections of Melvin B. Tolson and the debate team experience at Wiley College, written by Henrietta Bell Wells. A note is attached to the front on Henrietta B Well notepaper (white, with [A note from / Henrietta B Wells] at top center in black type, with a color image of a bear cub in the bottom right corner). The paper has a handwritten note in black ink, starting with [At her request that I / send this in my own / handwriting, I sent it all / to Dr. Betine Bowers...]. Following the note are seven (7) lined notebook pages with handwritten reflections of Melvin B. Tolson on them, front only. The header on the first page reads [Melvin Jr. born in 1923- all fam(?) born 1930], with [Henrietta B. Wells] in the center, followed by an address and [January 10, 2006]. Below the date text reads: [Re: Melvin B. Tolson / Wiley College English Professor & Poet...]. The pages are numbered in top right corner, and most of the text is in paragraph form and has been edited, in same black ink. The last page is paper clipped upside down.

Topic: African American; Associations and institutions; Communication; Education; Race relations

Credit Line: Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, Gift of Dr. Edward L. Cox

Object number: 2015.43.6ab

Restrictions & Rights: Unknown - Restrictions Possible

See more items in: National Museum of African American History and Culture Collection
Classification: Documents and Published Materials

Data Source: National Museum of African American History and Culture

The Wildcat

Yearbook from Wiley College, 1931

Issued by: Wiley College, American, founded 1873
Owned by: Wells, Henrietta Bell, American, 1912 - 2008
Subject of: Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, American, founded 1913

Medium: ink on paper with cardboard and synthetic fiber (binding)
Dimensions: H x W x D (Closed): 10 13/16 × 8 1/4 × 1 in. (27.5 × 21 × 2.5 cm); H x W x D (Open): 10 13/16 × 16 5/8 × 1 in. (27.5 × 42.2 × 2.5 cm)

Type: yearbooks

Place depicted: Wiley College, Marshall, Harrison County, Texas, United States, North and Central America

Date: 1931

Description: A copy of Wiley College yearbook, titled "The Wildcat" from the year 1931. The front cover has scratch-like incisions throughout and [The / WILDCAT] in black relief at the top center. A depiction of a wildcat (just face, frontal, growling with mouth open and teeth showing), inside a circle with elaborate relief decorations around it is at the center of the cover. [1931] is etched at the bottom center, below the wildcat relief. The back cover is blank but has the same scratch-like texture as the front. The interior front page includes an inscription in black ink with Henrietta Bell's name and sorority. The interior pages are off-white with black type and purple headings. There is a page-long signature in black ink on the first [Autographs] page, at the back of the yearbook.
Transcription Center Status: Transcribed by digital volunteers

Topic: African American; Education; Sororities

Credit Line: Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, Gift of Dr. Edward L. Cox

Object number: 2015.43.2

Restrictions & Rights: No Known Copyright Restrictions

See more items in: National Museum of African American History and Culture Collection
Classification: Documents and Published Materials-Published Works

Data Source: National Museum of African American History and Culture

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File folder owned by Henrietta Bell Wells

Photograph of Alpha Iota Chapter, Wiley College

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The Wildcat

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File folder owned by Henrietta Bell Wells

Photograph of Alpha Iota Chapter, Wiley College

Reminiscences of Melvin B. Tolson by Henrietta Bell Wells

The Wildcat