{"links":{"self":"https://search.arvasarchive.org/catalog.json?f%5Baccess_subjects%5D%5B%5D=Women+politicians+--+Virginia+--+Richmond","last":"https://search.arvasarchive.org/catalog.json?f%5Baccess_subjects%5D%5B%5D=Women+politicians+--+Virginia+--+Richmond\u0026page=1"},"meta":{"pages":{"current_page":1,"next_page":null,"prev_page":null,"total_pages":1,"limit_value":10,"offset_value":0,"total_count":2,"first_page?":true,"last_page?":true}},"data":[{"id":"vircu_repositories_5_resources_591","type":"collection","attributes":{"title":"Eleanor P. Sheppard papers","creator":{"id":"https://search.arvasarchive.org/catalog/vircu_repositories_5_resources_591#creator","type":"document_value","attributes":{"value":"Sheppard, Eleanor P. 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Sheppard papers","Women civic leaders -- Virginia -- Richmond","Women politicians -- Virginia -- Richmond","Women mayors -- Virginia -- Richmond","Women legislators -- Virginia","Collection is open to research.","Collection is arranged alphabetically. Series I: Personal and Civic materials (n.d., 1954-1970) ; Series II: City Council (n.d., 1924-1968); Series III: General Assembly (n.d., 1967-1978) ; Series IV: Oversize materials (n.d., 1954- 1975 from series I and II) ; Series V: Programs and Publications.","A native of Pelham, Georgia, Eleanor Parker attended Limestone College. She married Thomas E. Sheppard in 1928 and lived in Georgia and Arizona before moving to Richmond in 1936. Mrs. Sheppard began her political career through her activities with the Ginter Park PTA. In 1954, when she was president of the Richmond Federation of PTAs and a member of the Council of Women's Organizations, she ran for City Council. She served on the Richmond City Council from 1954 until 1968. During her tenure on council she became Richmond's first woman vice mayor (1960-1962) and later mayor (1962-1964). She left Council in 1968 to run for the Virginia House of Delegates, where she represented Richmond until March 1977. Mrs. Sheppard became the first chairwoman of a Virginia General Assembly committee in 1974 when she assumed the leadership of the House Education Committee. She also served on the Finance and Health, Welfare and Institutions committees. Mrs. Sheppard was honored by numerous groups toward the end of her active career for her many contributions to the community. She died 14 March 1991 after a long illness.","The collection covers Mrs. Sheppard's civic and political career from the mid 1950s until 1978. The issues covered include education, city planning and development and various bills proposed in the General Assembly. 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Series I: Personal and Civic materials (n.d., 1954-1970) ; Series II: City Council (n.d., 1924-1968); Series III: General Assembly (n.d., 1967-1978) ; Series IV: Oversize materials (n.d., 1954- 1975 from series I and II) ; Series V: Programs and Publications.\u003c/p\u003e"],"arrangement_heading_ssm":["Arrangement"],"arrangement_tesim":["Collection is arranged alphabetically. Series I: Personal and Civic materials (n.d., 1954-1970) ; Series II: City Council (n.d., 1924-1968); Series III: General Assembly (n.d., 1967-1978) ; Series IV: Oversize materials (n.d., 1954- 1975 from series I and II) ; Series V: Programs and Publications."],"bioghist_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eA native of Pelham, Georgia, Eleanor Parker attended Limestone College. She married Thomas E. Sheppard in 1928 and lived in Georgia and Arizona before moving to Richmond in 1936. Mrs. Sheppard began her political career through her activities with the Ginter Park PTA. In 1954, when she was president of the Richmond Federation of PTAs and a member of the Council of Women's Organizations, she ran for City Council. She served on the Richmond City Council from 1954 until 1968. During her tenure on council she became Richmond's first woman vice mayor (1960-1962) and later mayor (1962-1964). She left Council in 1968 to run for the Virginia House of Delegates, where she represented Richmond until March 1977. Mrs. Sheppard became the first chairwoman of a Virginia General Assembly committee in 1974 when she assumed the leadership of the House Education Committee. She also served on the Finance and Health, Welfare and Institutions committees. Mrs. Sheppard was honored by numerous groups toward the end of her active career for her many contributions to the community. 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Mrs. Sheppard became the first chairwoman of a Virginia General Assembly committee in 1974 when she assumed the leadership of the House Education Committee. She also served on the Finance and Health, Welfare and Institutions committees. Mrs. Sheppard was honored by numerous groups toward the end of her active career for her many contributions to the community. She died 14 March 1991 after a long illness."],"prefercite_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eEleanor P. Sheppard papers, Collection # M 277, Special Collections and Archives, James Branch Cabell Library, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA.\u003c/p\u003e"],"prefercite_tesim":["Eleanor P. Sheppard papers, Collection # M 277, Special Collections and Archives, James Branch Cabell Library, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA."],"scopecontent_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eThe collection covers Mrs. Sheppard's civic and political career from the mid 1950s until 1978. 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Sheppard papers","Women civic leaders -- Virginia -- Richmond","Women politicians -- Virginia -- Richmond","Women mayors -- Virginia -- Richmond","Women legislators -- Virginia","Collection is open to research.","Collection is arranged alphabetically. Series I: Personal and Civic materials (n.d., 1954-1970) ; Series II: City Council (n.d., 1924-1968); Series III: General Assembly (n.d., 1967-1978) ; Series IV: Oversize materials (n.d., 1954- 1975 from series I and II) ; Series V: Programs and Publications.","A native of Pelham, Georgia, Eleanor Parker attended Limestone College. She married Thomas E. Sheppard in 1928 and lived in Georgia and Arizona before moving to Richmond in 1936. Mrs. Sheppard began her political career through her activities with the Ginter Park PTA. In 1954, when she was president of the Richmond Federation of PTAs and a member of the Council of Women's Organizations, she ran for City Council. She served on the Richmond City Council from 1954 until 1968. During her tenure on council she became Richmond's first woman vice mayor (1960-1962) and later mayor (1962-1964). She left Council in 1968 to run for the Virginia House of Delegates, where she represented Richmond until March 1977. Mrs. Sheppard became the first chairwoman of a Virginia General Assembly committee in 1974 when she assumed the leadership of the House Education Committee. She also served on the Finance and Health, Welfare and Institutions committees. Mrs. Sheppard was honored by numerous groups toward the end of her active career for her many contributions to the community. She died 14 March 1991 after a long illness.","The collection covers Mrs. Sheppard's civic and political career from the mid 1950s until 1978. The issues covered include education, city planning and development and various bills proposed in the General Assembly. Materials include correspondence, reports, speeches, campaign documents, statements, photographs, publications and a vast quantity of newspaper clippings (to be indexed). Photographs have been transferred to RG 60, Box . The collection was very disorganized when received and the order described below was established by the library. The collection originally contained a vast number of name tags, buttons, business cards and souvenirs. All but representative samples have been disposed of.","There are no restrictions.","VCU James Branch Cabell Library","Sheppard, Eleanor P. (Eleanor Parker), 1907-1991","English \n.    "],"unitid_tesim":["M 277","/repositories/5/resources/591"],"normalized_title_ssm":["Eleanor P. Sheppard papers"],"collection_title_tesim":["Eleanor P. Sheppard papers"],"collection_ssim":["Eleanor P. 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In 1954, when she was president of the Richmond Federation of PTAs and a member of the Council of Women's Organizations, she ran for City Council. She served on the Richmond City Council from 1954 until 1968. During her tenure on council she became Richmond's first woman vice mayor (1960-1962) and later mayor (1962-1964). She left Council in 1968 to run for the Virginia House of Delegates, where she represented Richmond until March 1977. Mrs. Sheppard became the first chairwoman of a Virginia General Assembly committee in 1974 when she assumed the leadership of the House Education Committee. She also served on the Finance and Health, Welfare and Institutions committees. Mrs. Sheppard was honored by numerous groups toward the end of her active career for her many contributions to the community. 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Mrs. Sheppard became the first chairwoman of a Virginia General Assembly committee in 1974 when she assumed the leadership of the House Education Committee. She also served on the Finance and Health, Welfare and Institutions committees. Mrs. Sheppard was honored by numerous groups toward the end of her active career for her many contributions to the community. She died 14 March 1991 after a long illness."],"prefercite_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eEleanor P. Sheppard papers, Collection # M 277, Special Collections and Archives, James Branch Cabell Library, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA.\u003c/p\u003e"],"prefercite_tesim":["Eleanor P. Sheppard papers, Collection # M 277, Special Collections and Archives, James Branch Cabell Library, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA."],"scopecontent_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eThe collection covers Mrs. Sheppard's civic and political career from the mid 1950s until 1978. The issues covered include education, city planning and development and various bills proposed in the General Assembly. Materials include correspondence, reports, speeches, campaign documents, statements, photographs, publications and a vast quantity of newspaper clippings (to be indexed). Photographs have been transferred to RG 60, Box . The collection was very disorganized when received and the order described below was established by the library. The collection originally contained a vast number of name tags, buttons, business cards and souvenirs. All but representative samples have been disposed of.\u003c/p\u003e"],"scopecontent_heading_ssm":["Scope and Contents"],"scopecontent_tesim":["The collection covers Mrs. Sheppard's civic and political career from the mid 1950s until 1978. The issues covered include education, city planning and development and various bills proposed in the General Assembly. Materials include correspondence, reports, speeches, campaign documents, statements, photographs, publications and a vast quantity of newspaper clippings (to be indexed). Photographs have been transferred to RG 60, Box . The collection was very disorganized when received and the order described below was established by the library. The collection originally contained a vast number of name tags, buttons, business cards and souvenirs. All but representative samples have been disposed of."],"userestrict_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eThere are no restrictions.\u003c/p\u003e"],"userestrict_heading_ssm":["Use Restrictions"],"userestrict_tesim":["There are no restrictions."],"names_ssim":["VCU James Branch Cabell Library","Sheppard, Eleanor P. (Eleanor Parker), 1907-1991"],"corpname_ssim":["VCU James Branch Cabell Library"],"names_coll_ssim":["Sheppard, Eleanor P. (Eleanor Parker), 1907-1991"],"persname_ssim":["Sheppard, Eleanor P. (Eleanor Parker), 1907-1991"],"language_ssim":["English \n.    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The collection consists of Dell's correspondence, political campaign files, city council administrative files, news clippings, and other assorted materials related to politics in the Richmond area. The collection provides a look into Black politics in Richmond in the decades following the Civil Rights Movement. The collection additionally provides insight into the increased involvement of women in local politics, as well as the backlash from certain communities as a result.\u003c/p\u003e","label":"Abstract Or Scope"}},"breadcrumbs":{"id":"https://search.arvasarchive.org/catalog/vircu_repositories_5_resources_580#breadcrumbs","type":"document_value","attributes":{"value":{"id":"vircu_repositories_5_resources_580","ead_ssi":"vircu_repositories_5_resources_580","_root_":"vircu_repositories_5_resources_580","_nest_parent_":"vircu_repositories_5_resources_580","ead_source_url_ssi":"data/oai/VCU/repositories_5_resources_580.xml","title_filing_ssi":"Dell, Willie, papers","title_ssm":["Willie Dell papers"],"title_tesim":["Willie Dell papers"],"unitdate_ssm":["1972-1994"],"unitdate_inclusive_ssm":["1972-1994"],"level_ssm":["collection"],"level_ssim":["Collection"],"unitid_ssm":["M 61","/repositories/5/resources/580"],"text":["M 61","/repositories/5/resources/580","Willie Dell papers","African Americans -- Politics and government -- Virginia -- Richmond","Women politicians -- Virginia -- Richmond","The collection is open for research.","The collection is arranged by alphabetical order by subject.","Willie Jones Dell was the first Black woman to serve on the Richmond City Council. She earned her bachelor's degree from St. Augustine College in Raleigh, North Carolina and earned her master's degree from Richmond Professional Institute in 1960. After graduating, she became a caseworker for the Richmond Department of Public Welfare, and was head of the department's maternal and infant care project in 1969. Dell left public service to become an assistant professor in the Virginia Commonwealth University School of Social Work later that year. Her husband was Rev. Nathan Dell, pastor of the East End's Woodville Presbyterian Church. As members of the church, Dell and her husband often engaged in community improvement projects. ","\nDell became directly involved in politics following the attempted annexation of areas of Chesterfield County by the city of Richmond in 1972. The United States Supreme Court ordered the creation of new council districts to combat the racial motivations of the attempted annexation. Dell was appointed to city council in 1973 to the Northside 3rd District after its creation. She would later run for election to the position in 1977. In her role as a council member, Dell advocated for the rights of Richmond's Black citizens. She helped operate the Richmond Crusade for Voters to ensure equal opportunity for Black voters. Her efforts focused primarily on the mobilization of predominantly lower-working-class citizens in her constituency, which garnered her a reputation as a radical within the city council and conservative communities. She served in her council position until 1982, after losing the election to Black conservative candidate, Roy West.","\nIn 1985, Dell began work as a missionary in Haiti, working with St. Joseph's orphanage and the Missionaries of Charity in Port au Prince. She later became an advocate for Richmond's elderly population as executive director of the Richmond Community Senior Center. She currently lives in Richmond, VA.","\nSources: ","Hayter, Julian Maxwell. \"'The Dream Is Lost': Henry Marsh and Black Governance in an Era of White Political Resistance.\"  In The Dream Is Lost: Voting Rights and the Politics of Race in Richmond, Virginia , Chapter 5. University Press of Kentucky, 2017.","Randolph, Lewis A.  Rights for a Season : The Politics of Race, Class, and Gender in Richmond, Virginia . 1st ed. Knoxville: University of Tennessee Press, 2003. ","The collection was originally accessioned in 1997. Susan King and Raven Harris processed the collection in 2002 and wrote a draft finding aid. The collection was rehoused and reprocessed in 2019 and a new DACS-compliant finding aid was written.","The Willie Dell papers, 1972-1994, is a collection of material used by and related to former Richmond City Council member, Willie Dell. The collection consists of Dell's correspondence, political campaign files, city council administrative files, news clippings, and other assorted materials related to politics in the Richmond area. The collection provides a look into Black politics in Richmond in the decades following the Civil Rights Movement. The collection additionally provides insight into the increased involvement of women in local politics, as well as the backlash from certain communities as a result.","Correspondence in the collection is primarily from Dell's supporters and constituents, both praising and criticizing Dell's performance as a politician and representative of the Black community. Correspondents include two incarcerated convicts, praising Dell's performance in advocating for the rights of black citizens. Additionally, there are instances of correspondence directed to Dell's husband, Rev. Nathan Dell, including one which comments on Willie Dell's perceived behavior. ","Political campaign literature within the collection consist of posters, pamphlets, sample ballots, endorsements, and statements from Dell regarding her campaigns for city council in 1972 and 1984. Posters and pamphlets provide brief overviews of Dell's political stances as well as voting information. Endorsements of Dell, such as one from WANT-AM Radio, praise her experience and optimistic plan for the black citizens of Richmond.","Dell's City Council administrative materials include copies of resolutions passed during her time as a council member. Supplementing the resolutions is an index of resolutions' subjects passed in City Council from 1975 to 1980. Additional City Council files include a citizen feedback forms used by Dell in 1984 to gauge the performance of the City Council.","Dell's newspaper clipping collection is primarily composed of articles regarding the participation of Black citizens in the Richmond political process. The clippings focus on Dell's political campaigns, the exploits and successes of the Richmond Crusade for Voters, and specific Richmond politicians such as Roy West, Henry Marsh, and Manuel Deese.","There are no restrictions.","VCU James Branch Cabell Library","Richmond (Va.). 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She earned her bachelor's degree from St. Augustine College in Raleigh, North Carolina and earned her master's degree from Richmond Professional Institute in 1960. After graduating, she became a caseworker for the Richmond Department of Public Welfare, and was head of the department's maternal and infant care project in 1969. Dell left public service to become an assistant professor in the Virginia Commonwealth University School of Social Work later that year. Her husband was Rev. Nathan Dell, pastor of the East End's Woodville Presbyterian Church. As members of the church, Dell and her husband often engaged in community improvement projects. \u003c/p\u003e\n","\u003cp\u003e\nDell became directly involved in politics following the attempted annexation of areas of Chesterfield County by the city of Richmond in 1972. The United States Supreme Court ordered the creation of new council districts to combat the racial motivations of the attempted annexation. Dell was appointed to city council in 1973 to the Northside 3rd District after its creation. She would later run for election to the position in 1977. In her role as a council member, Dell advocated for the rights of Richmond's Black citizens. She helped operate the Richmond Crusade for Voters to ensure equal opportunity for Black voters. Her efforts focused primarily on the mobilization of predominantly lower-working-class citizens in her constituency, which garnered her a reputation as a radical within the city council and conservative communities. She served in her council position until 1982, after losing the election to Black conservative candidate, Roy West.\u003c/p\u003e\n","\u003cp\u003e\nIn 1985, Dell began work as a missionary in Haiti, working with St. Joseph's orphanage and the Missionaries of Charity in Port au Prince. She later became an advocate for Richmond's elderly population as executive director of the Richmond Community Senior Center. She currently lives in Richmond, VA.\u003c/p\u003e\n","\u003cp\u003e\nSources: \u003c/p\u003e\n","\u003cp\u003eHayter, Julian Maxwell. \"'The Dream Is Lost': Henry Marsh and Black Governance in an Era of White Political Resistance.\" \u003ctitle\u003eIn The Dream Is Lost: Voting Rights and the Politics of Race in Richmond, Virginia\u003c/title\u003e, Chapter 5. University Press of Kentucky, 2017.\u003c/p\u003e\n","\u003cp\u003eRandolph, Lewis A. \u003ctitle\u003eRights for a Season : The Politics of Race, Class, and Gender in Richmond, Virginia\u003c/title\u003e. 1st ed. Knoxville: University of Tennessee Press, 2003. \u003c/p\u003e"],"bioghist_heading_ssm":["Biographical / Historical Information"],"bioghist_tesim":["Willie Jones Dell was the first Black woman to serve on the Richmond City Council. She earned her bachelor's degree from St. Augustine College in Raleigh, North Carolina and earned her master's degree from Richmond Professional Institute in 1960. After graduating, she became a caseworker for the Richmond Department of Public Welfare, and was head of the department's maternal and infant care project in 1969. Dell left public service to become an assistant professor in the Virginia Commonwealth University School of Social Work later that year. Her husband was Rev. Nathan Dell, pastor of the East End's Woodville Presbyterian Church. As members of the church, Dell and her husband often engaged in community improvement projects. ","\nDell became directly involved in politics following the attempted annexation of areas of Chesterfield County by the city of Richmond in 1972. The United States Supreme Court ordered the creation of new council districts to combat the racial motivations of the attempted annexation. Dell was appointed to city council in 1973 to the Northside 3rd District after its creation. She would later run for election to the position in 1977. In her role as a council member, Dell advocated for the rights of Richmond's Black citizens. She helped operate the Richmond Crusade for Voters to ensure equal opportunity for Black voters. Her efforts focused primarily on the mobilization of predominantly lower-working-class citizens in her constituency, which garnered her a reputation as a radical within the city council and conservative communities. She served in her council position until 1982, after losing the election to Black conservative candidate, Roy West.","\nIn 1985, Dell began work as a missionary in Haiti, working with St. Joseph's orphanage and the Missionaries of Charity in Port au Prince. She later became an advocate for Richmond's elderly population as executive director of the Richmond Community Senior Center. She currently lives in Richmond, VA.","\nSources: ","Hayter, Julian Maxwell. \"'The Dream Is Lost': Henry Marsh and Black Governance in an Era of White Political Resistance.\"  In The Dream Is Lost: Voting Rights and the Politics of Race in Richmond, Virginia , Chapter 5. University Press of Kentucky, 2017.","Randolph, Lewis A.  Rights for a Season : The Politics of Race, Class, and Gender in Richmond, Virginia . 1st ed. Knoxville: University of Tennessee Press, 2003. "],"prefercite_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eWillie Dell papers, 1972-1994, Collection # M 61, Special Collections and Archives, James Branch Cabell Library, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA.\u003c/p\u003e"],"prefercite_tesim":["Willie Dell papers, 1972-1994, Collection # M 61, Special Collections and Archives, James Branch Cabell Library, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA."],"processinfo_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eThe collection was originally accessioned in 1997. Susan King and Raven Harris processed the collection in 2002 and wrote a draft finding aid. The collection was rehoused and reprocessed in 2019 and a new DACS-compliant finding aid was written.\u003c/p\u003e"],"processinfo_heading_ssm":["Processing Information"],"processinfo_tesim":["The collection was originally accessioned in 1997. Susan King and Raven Harris processed the collection in 2002 and wrote a draft finding aid. The collection was rehoused and reprocessed in 2019 and a new DACS-compliant finding aid was written."],"scopecontent_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eThe Willie Dell papers, 1972-1994, is a collection of material used by and related to former Richmond City Council member, Willie Dell. The collection consists of Dell's correspondence, political campaign files, city council administrative files, news clippings, and other assorted materials related to politics in the Richmond area. The collection provides a look into Black politics in Richmond in the decades following the Civil Rights Movement. The collection additionally provides insight into the increased involvement of women in local politics, as well as the backlash from certain communities as a result.\u003c/p\u003e\n","\u003cp\u003eCorrespondence in the collection is primarily from Dell's supporters and constituents, both praising and criticizing Dell's performance as a politician and representative of the Black community. Correspondents include two incarcerated convicts, praising Dell's performance in advocating for the rights of black citizens. Additionally, there are instances of correspondence directed to Dell's husband, Rev. Nathan Dell, including one which comments on Willie Dell's perceived behavior. \u003c/p\u003e\n","\u003cp\u003ePolitical campaign literature within the collection consist of posters, pamphlets, sample ballots, endorsements, and statements from Dell regarding her campaigns for city council in 1972 and 1984. Posters and pamphlets provide brief overviews of Dell's political stances as well as voting information. Endorsements of Dell, such as one from WANT-AM Radio, praise her experience and optimistic plan for the black citizens of Richmond.\u003c/p\u003e\n","\u003cp\u003eDell's City Council administrative materials include copies of resolutions passed during her time as a council member. Supplementing the resolutions is an index of resolutions' subjects passed in City Council from 1975 to 1980. Additional City Council files include a citizen feedback forms used by Dell in 1984 to gauge the performance of the City Council.\u003c/p\u003e\n","\u003cp\u003eDell's newspaper clipping collection is primarily composed of articles regarding the participation of Black citizens in the Richmond political process. The clippings focus on Dell's political campaigns, the exploits and successes of the Richmond Crusade for Voters, and specific Richmond politicians such as Roy West, Henry Marsh, and Manuel Deese.\u003c/p\u003e"],"scopecontent_heading_ssm":["Scope and Contents"],"scopecontent_tesim":["The Willie Dell papers, 1972-1994, is a collection of material used by and related to former Richmond City Council member, Willie Dell. The collection consists of Dell's correspondence, political campaign files, city council administrative files, news clippings, and other assorted materials related to politics in the Richmond area. The collection provides a look into Black politics in Richmond in the decades following the Civil Rights Movement. The collection additionally provides insight into the increased involvement of women in local politics, as well as the backlash from certain communities as a result.","Correspondence in the collection is primarily from Dell's supporters and constituents, both praising and criticizing Dell's performance as a politician and representative of the Black community. Correspondents include two incarcerated convicts, praising Dell's performance in advocating for the rights of black citizens. Additionally, there are instances of correspondence directed to Dell's husband, Rev. Nathan Dell, including one which comments on Willie Dell's perceived behavior. ","Political campaign literature within the collection consist of posters, pamphlets, sample ballots, endorsements, and statements from Dell regarding her campaigns for city council in 1972 and 1984. 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The clippings focus on Dell's political campaigns, the exploits and successes of the Richmond Crusade for Voters, and specific Richmond politicians such as Roy West, Henry Marsh, and Manuel Deese."],"userestrict_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eThere are no restrictions.\u003c/p\u003e"],"userestrict_heading_ssm":["Use Restrictions"],"userestrict_tesim":["There are no restrictions."],"names_coll_ssim":["Richmond (Va.). City Council","Randolph, Lewis A."],"names_ssim":["VCU James Branch Cabell Library","Richmond (Va.). City Council","Dell, Willie","Randolph, Lewis A."],"corpname_ssim":["VCU James Branch Cabell Library","Richmond (Va.). 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She earned her bachelor's degree from St. Augustine College in Raleigh, North Carolina and earned her master's degree from Richmond Professional Institute in 1960. After graduating, she became a caseworker for the Richmond Department of Public Welfare, and was head of the department's maternal and infant care project in 1969. Dell left public service to become an assistant professor in the Virginia Commonwealth University School of Social Work later that year. Her husband was Rev. Nathan Dell, pastor of the East End's Woodville Presbyterian Church. As members of the church, Dell and her husband often engaged in community improvement projects. ","\nDell became directly involved in politics following the attempted annexation of areas of Chesterfield County by the city of Richmond in 1972. The United States Supreme Court ordered the creation of new council districts to combat the racial motivations of the attempted annexation. Dell was appointed to city council in 1973 to the Northside 3rd District after its creation. She would later run for election to the position in 1977. In her role as a council member, Dell advocated for the rights of Richmond's Black citizens. She helped operate the Richmond Crusade for Voters to ensure equal opportunity for Black voters. Her efforts focused primarily on the mobilization of predominantly lower-working-class citizens in her constituency, which garnered her a reputation as a radical within the city council and conservative communities. She served in her council position until 1982, after losing the election to Black conservative candidate, Roy West.","\nIn 1985, Dell began work as a missionary in Haiti, working with St. Joseph's orphanage and the Missionaries of Charity in Port au Prince. She later became an advocate for Richmond's elderly population as executive director of the Richmond Community Senior Center. She currently lives in Richmond, VA.","\nSources: ","Hayter, Julian Maxwell. \"'The Dream Is Lost': Henry Marsh and Black Governance in an Era of White Political Resistance.\"  In The Dream Is Lost: Voting Rights and the Politics of Race in Richmond, Virginia , Chapter 5. University Press of Kentucky, 2017.","Randolph, Lewis A.  Rights for a Season : The Politics of Race, Class, and Gender in Richmond, Virginia . 1st ed. Knoxville: University of Tennessee Press, 2003. ","The collection was originally accessioned in 1997. Susan King and Raven Harris processed the collection in 2002 and wrote a draft finding aid. The collection was rehoused and reprocessed in 2019 and a new DACS-compliant finding aid was written.","The Willie Dell papers, 1972-1994, is a collection of material used by and related to former Richmond City Council member, Willie Dell. The collection consists of Dell's correspondence, political campaign files, city council administrative files, news clippings, and other assorted materials related to politics in the Richmond area. The collection provides a look into Black politics in Richmond in the decades following the Civil Rights Movement. The collection additionally provides insight into the increased involvement of women in local politics, as well as the backlash from certain communities as a result.","Correspondence in the collection is primarily from Dell's supporters and constituents, both praising and criticizing Dell's performance as a politician and representative of the Black community. Correspondents include two incarcerated convicts, praising Dell's performance in advocating for the rights of black citizens. Additionally, there are instances of correspondence directed to Dell's husband, Rev. Nathan Dell, including one which comments on Willie Dell's perceived behavior. ","Political campaign literature within the collection consist of posters, pamphlets, sample ballots, endorsements, and statements from Dell regarding her campaigns for city council in 1972 and 1984. Posters and pamphlets provide brief overviews of Dell's political stances as well as voting information. Endorsements of Dell, such as one from WANT-AM Radio, praise her experience and optimistic plan for the black citizens of Richmond.","Dell's City Council administrative materials include copies of resolutions passed during her time as a council member. Supplementing the resolutions is an index of resolutions' subjects passed in City Council from 1975 to 1980. Additional City Council files include a citizen feedback forms used by Dell in 1984 to gauge the performance of the City Council.","Dell's newspaper clipping collection is primarily composed of articles regarding the participation of Black citizens in the Richmond political process. The clippings focus on Dell's political campaigns, the exploits and successes of the Richmond Crusade for Voters, and specific Richmond politicians such as Roy West, Henry Marsh, and Manuel Deese.","There are no restrictions.","VCU James Branch Cabell Library","Richmond (Va.). 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She earned her bachelor's degree from St. Augustine College in Raleigh, North Carolina and earned her master's degree from Richmond Professional Institute in 1960. After graduating, she became a caseworker for the Richmond Department of Public Welfare, and was head of the department's maternal and infant care project in 1969. Dell left public service to become an assistant professor in the Virginia Commonwealth University School of Social Work later that year. Her husband was Rev. Nathan Dell, pastor of the East End's Woodville Presbyterian Church. As members of the church, Dell and her husband often engaged in community improvement projects. \u003c/p\u003e\n","\u003cp\u003e\nDell became directly involved in politics following the attempted annexation of areas of Chesterfield County by the city of Richmond in 1972. The United States Supreme Court ordered the creation of new council districts to combat the racial motivations of the attempted annexation. Dell was appointed to city council in 1973 to the Northside 3rd District after its creation. She would later run for election to the position in 1977. In her role as a council member, Dell advocated for the rights of Richmond's Black citizens. She helped operate the Richmond Crusade for Voters to ensure equal opportunity for Black voters. Her efforts focused primarily on the mobilization of predominantly lower-working-class citizens in her constituency, which garnered her a reputation as a radical within the city council and conservative communities. She served in her council position until 1982, after losing the election to Black conservative candidate, Roy West.\u003c/p\u003e\n","\u003cp\u003e\nIn 1985, Dell began work as a missionary in Haiti, working with St. Joseph's orphanage and the Missionaries of Charity in Port au Prince. She later became an advocate for Richmond's elderly population as executive director of the Richmond Community Senior Center. She currently lives in Richmond, VA.\u003c/p\u003e\n","\u003cp\u003e\nSources: \u003c/p\u003e\n","\u003cp\u003eHayter, Julian Maxwell. \"'The Dream Is Lost': Henry Marsh and Black Governance in an Era of White Political Resistance.\" \u003ctitle\u003eIn The Dream Is Lost: Voting Rights and the Politics of Race in Richmond, Virginia\u003c/title\u003e, Chapter 5. University Press of Kentucky, 2017.\u003c/p\u003e\n","\u003cp\u003eRandolph, Lewis A. \u003ctitle\u003eRights for a Season : The Politics of Race, Class, and Gender in Richmond, Virginia\u003c/title\u003e. 1st ed. Knoxville: University of Tennessee Press, 2003. \u003c/p\u003e"],"bioghist_heading_ssm":["Biographical / Historical Information"],"bioghist_tesim":["Willie Jones Dell was the first Black woman to serve on the Richmond City Council. She earned her bachelor's degree from St. Augustine College in Raleigh, North Carolina and earned her master's degree from Richmond Professional Institute in 1960. After graduating, she became a caseworker for the Richmond Department of Public Welfare, and was head of the department's maternal and infant care project in 1969. Dell left public service to become an assistant professor in the Virginia Commonwealth University School of Social Work later that year. Her husband was Rev. Nathan Dell, pastor of the East End's Woodville Presbyterian Church. As members of the church, Dell and her husband often engaged in community improvement projects. ","\nDell became directly involved in politics following the attempted annexation of areas of Chesterfield County by the city of Richmond in 1972. The United States Supreme Court ordered the creation of new council districts to combat the racial motivations of the attempted annexation. Dell was appointed to city council in 1973 to the Northside 3rd District after its creation. She would later run for election to the position in 1977. In her role as a council member, Dell advocated for the rights of Richmond's Black citizens. She helped operate the Richmond Crusade for Voters to ensure equal opportunity for Black voters. Her efforts focused primarily on the mobilization of predominantly lower-working-class citizens in her constituency, which garnered her a reputation as a radical within the city council and conservative communities. She served in her council position until 1982, after losing the election to Black conservative candidate, Roy West.","\nIn 1985, Dell began work as a missionary in Haiti, working with St. Joseph's orphanage and the Missionaries of Charity in Port au Prince. She later became an advocate for Richmond's elderly population as executive director of the Richmond Community Senior Center. She currently lives in Richmond, VA.","\nSources: ","Hayter, Julian Maxwell. \"'The Dream Is Lost': Henry Marsh and Black Governance in an Era of White Political Resistance.\"  In The Dream Is Lost: Voting Rights and the Politics of Race in Richmond, Virginia , Chapter 5. University Press of Kentucky, 2017.","Randolph, Lewis A.  Rights for a Season : The Politics of Race, Class, and Gender in Richmond, Virginia . 1st ed. Knoxville: University of Tennessee Press, 2003. "],"prefercite_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eWillie Dell papers, 1972-1994, Collection # M 61, Special Collections and Archives, James Branch Cabell Library, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA.\u003c/p\u003e"],"prefercite_tesim":["Willie Dell papers, 1972-1994, Collection # M 61, Special Collections and Archives, James Branch Cabell Library, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA."],"processinfo_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eThe collection was originally accessioned in 1997. 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The collection provides a look into Black politics in Richmond in the decades following the Civil Rights Movement. The collection additionally provides insight into the increased involvement of women in local politics, as well as the backlash from certain communities as a result.\u003c/p\u003e\n","\u003cp\u003eCorrespondence in the collection is primarily from Dell's supporters and constituents, both praising and criticizing Dell's performance as a politician and representative of the Black community. Correspondents include two incarcerated convicts, praising Dell's performance in advocating for the rights of black citizens. Additionally, there are instances of correspondence directed to Dell's husband, Rev. Nathan Dell, including one which comments on Willie Dell's perceived behavior. \u003c/p\u003e\n","\u003cp\u003ePolitical campaign literature within the collection consist of posters, pamphlets, sample ballots, endorsements, and statements from Dell regarding her campaigns for city council in 1972 and 1984. Posters and pamphlets provide brief overviews of Dell's political stances as well as voting information. Endorsements of Dell, such as one from WANT-AM Radio, praise her experience and optimistic plan for the black citizens of Richmond.\u003c/p\u003e\n","\u003cp\u003eDell's City Council administrative materials include copies of resolutions passed during her time as a council member. Supplementing the resolutions is an index of resolutions' subjects passed in City Council from 1975 to 1980. Additional City Council files include a citizen feedback forms used by Dell in 1984 to gauge the performance of the City Council.\u003c/p\u003e\n","\u003cp\u003eDell's newspaper clipping collection is primarily composed of articles regarding the participation of Black citizens in the Richmond political process. The clippings focus on Dell's political campaigns, the exploits and successes of the Richmond Crusade for Voters, and specific Richmond politicians such as Roy West, Henry Marsh, and Manuel Deese.\u003c/p\u003e"],"scopecontent_heading_ssm":["Scope and Contents"],"scopecontent_tesim":["The Willie Dell papers, 1972-1994, is a collection of material used by and related to former Richmond City Council member, Willie Dell. The collection consists of Dell's correspondence, political campaign files, city council administrative files, news clippings, and other assorted materials related to politics in the Richmond area. The collection provides a look into Black politics in Richmond in the decades following the Civil Rights Movement. The collection additionally provides insight into the increased involvement of women in local politics, as well as the backlash from certain communities as a result.","Correspondence in the collection is primarily from Dell's supporters and constituents, both praising and criticizing Dell's performance as a politician and representative of the Black community. Correspondents include two incarcerated convicts, praising Dell's performance in advocating for the rights of black citizens. Additionally, there are instances of correspondence directed to Dell's husband, Rev. Nathan Dell, including one which comments on Willie Dell's perceived behavior. ","Political campaign literature within the collection consist of posters, pamphlets, sample ballots, endorsements, and statements from Dell regarding her campaigns for city council in 1972 and 1984. Posters and pamphlets provide brief overviews of Dell's political stances as well as voting information. Endorsements of Dell, such as one from WANT-AM Radio, praise her experience and optimistic plan for the black citizens of Richmond.","Dell's City Council administrative materials include copies of resolutions passed during her time as a council member. Supplementing the resolutions is an index of resolutions' subjects passed in City Council from 1975 to 1980. Additional City Council files include a citizen feedback forms used by Dell in 1984 to gauge the performance of the City Council.","Dell's newspaper clipping collection is primarily composed of articles regarding the participation of Black citizens in the Richmond political process. The clippings focus on Dell's political campaigns, the exploits and successes of the Richmond Crusade for Voters, and specific Richmond politicians such as Roy West, Henry Marsh, and Manuel Deese."],"userestrict_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eThere are no restrictions.\u003c/p\u003e"],"userestrict_heading_ssm":["Use Restrictions"],"userestrict_tesim":["There are no restrictions."],"names_coll_ssim":["Richmond (Va.). City Council","Randolph, Lewis A."],"names_ssim":["VCU James Branch Cabell Library","Richmond (Va.). City Council","Dell, Willie","Randolph, Lewis A."],"corpname_ssim":["VCU James Branch Cabell Library","Richmond (Va.). 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