Collection Details:

Collection Name and Number: Jacksonians for Public Education Records (Z/2400).
Creator/Collector: Ruby Stutts Lyells; and others.
Date(s): 1970-1977.
Size: 1.00 cubic feet.
Language(s): English.
Processed by: MDAH intern Anastasia Taylor, 2024.
Provenance: Gift of Jacksonians for Public Education, courtesy of Ruby Stutts Lyells, Jackson, MS, on September 13, 1977; Z/U/1977.080.
Repository: Archives & Records Services Division, Mississippi Department of Archives & History.

 

Rights and Access:

Access restrictions: Collection is open for research.

Publication rights: Copyright assigned to the MDAH. All requests for permission to publish or quote from manuscripts must be submitted in writing to Reference Services. Permission for publication is given on behalf of the MDAH as the owner of the physical items and as the owner of the copyright in items created by the donor. Although the copyright was transferred by the donor, the respective creator may still hold copyright in some items in the collection. For further information, contact Reference Services.

Copyright notice: This material may be protected by copyright law (Title 17, U.S. Code).

Preferred citation: Jacksonians for Public Education Records (Z/2400), Mississippi Department of Archives & History.

 

Biography/History:

Jacksonians for Public Education

Jacksonians for Public Education (JPE) was an organization started by concerned parents and community members to address the declining population attending the Jackson Public Schools system in the aftermath of integration. Their goal was to encourage families to stay in the JPS school system. It was largely founded to address white families leaving Jackson and the JPS district, but it covered all JPS students. The specific goal of the organization was to encourage parents to send their children to JPS, improve morale in teachers and administrators, to act as a mediator between parents and the school board, to inform Jackson citizens of important information about JPS and the need for a strong school district, and to assist the improvement of the school district.

The organization functioned within Jackson, Hinds County, Mississippi, and was founded in 1970. It functioned until its dissolution in 1977 when it was decided that the goals of the organization were met. The JPS parent-teacher association is said to have taken over the award ceremony that JPE developed to award and celebrate JPS faculty and staff.

The organization structure consisted of three officers: President, Vice President, and Secretary-Treasurer, whose function was the same as board officers. There were multiple committees formed to best fulfill the function of JPE.  Some of those committees were: Public Relations Committee, Education Committee, Membership Committee, Telephone Committee, Human Relations Committee, Carpool Committee, and Nominating Committee. 

JPE was affiliated with other local organizations with similar goals. They joined the Coalition for Public Education in 1970 after a vote. 

Presidents of Jacksonians for Public Education:
1970-1971: R. L. Ezelle, Jr.
1971: John Wade
1971-1972: James Livesay
1972: Alex A. Alston
1973-1974: Unknown; Alex A. Alston and/or Lee H. Reiff possibly led extended terms
1974-1975: Lee H. Reiff
1975-1976: Dr. Estus Smith
1976-1977: Ruby Elizabeth Stutts Lyells

 

Ruby Elizabeth Stutts Lyells

Ruby Stutts Lyells was the final president of Jacksonians for Public Education. She also served as a member and officer during the program’s earlier years. As the final president of JPE, she donated this collection after the organization’s dissolution.

Ruby Elizabeth Stutts was born in Anding, Yazoo County, Mississippi, born on February 27, 1904. She was the daughter of Rossie A. Cowan (1878-1977) and Thomas Franklin Stutts (1873-1948). The couple had one set of twins, Ruby and her sister Lilly Stutts (February 27, 1904 - August 18, 1983), and two more daughters, Inez Stutts (December 4, 1905 - December 31, 1988) and Annie Stutts (February 4, 1907 - November 16, 1983).

Ruby married Meredith Jerry Lyells (February 2, 1902-May 31, 1976). MJ taught at Alcorn A&M College (now Alcorn State University) and Lanier High School until his retirement in 1969.  MJ and Ruby co-owned MLS Drug Store, situated on the corner of Lynch and Dalton streets in Jackson.

Over the years she received multiple degrees, one from The Utica Institute (1925, Valedictorian) and one from Alcorn A&M College (1929, Valedictorian). Lyells earned her Bachelor of Library Science degree in 1930 from Hampton Institute (now Hampton University) and received a Julius Rosenwald Fellowship from Alcorn to attend. She earned a Master of Arts Library Science degree in 1942, from the University of Chicago with a scholarship, making her the first professionally-trained African American librarian in the state of Mississippi.  Lastly, a Doctor of Humanities degree was conferred on Lyells by the Prentiss Institute.

Lyells also enjoyed a prolific career.  From 1929-1945, she was the librarian and student counselor at Alcorn A&M College. In 1945 she was the head librarian at the Jackson State College, followed by being the head librarian of the College Park and Carver branches of the Jackson Public Library in 1947. Lyells also worked as a librarian in the Atlanta Public Library System and at Iowa State University.

Lyells held leadership roles throughout the state, including serving as president of the Mississippi State Federation of Colored Women's Clubs.  She was the first executive director of the Mississippi State Council of Human Rights and was an appointed chair of the Biracial Committee for the Jackson Municipal Separate School District. Lyells served on the board of trustees of the Prentiss Institute in Prentiss, Jefferson Davis County, Mississippi, and on May 19, 1968, the Ruby E. Stutts Lyells Library was dedicated in her name.

A long-time supporter of the Republican Party, Lyells served on the Advisory Committee of the co-chairman of the Republican National Convention in 1970. Lyells was affiliated with other social and political clubs such as the Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, where she served as president of the Beta Delta Omega Chapter; the League of Women Voters; the American Association of University Women; the Church Women United, the Hinds County Republican Women’s Clubs, and the Mary Church Terrell Literary Club.

Throughout the 1940s and 1950s, she published many articles focused on the African American library systems and education in journals such as the Journal of Negro Education, Mississippi Educational Journal, Library Journal, and Vital Speeches. She is also listed in Local People: The Struggle for Civil Rights in Mississippi by John Dittmer.

Ruby Elizabeth Stutts Lyells died at the age of 91 in Ridgeland, Madison County, Mississippi, on December 22, 1994, and was buried in Garden Memorial Park, Jackson, Hinds County, Mississippi, near her siblings, parents, and husband. She was a member of the Christian Science faith having joined the Mother Church in Boston, Massachusetts with local affiliation in Jackson.

 

Related Collections:

Ruby Elizabeth Stutts Lyells Papers (Z/2304), MDAH.
Ruby Elizabeth Stutts Lyells Papers (Z/2305), MDAH.

 

Scope and Content Note:

The Jacksonians for Public Education Records consists of correspondence, meeting minutes, financial documents, members’ lists, news (including newspaper clippings and an organizational newsletter), handouts, forms, projects, written notes, and miscellaneous. The purpose of JPE was defined as: encouraging parents to enroll their children in public school; increasing morale for teachers, administration, and students; acting as a liaison between the school board and parents; assisting in the implementation of public-school transportation.

 

Series Identification:

Series 1: Correspondence, 1970-1971; 1972-1977; n.d.
This series includes letters sent to and from Jacksonians for Public Education. These letters include information such as meeting times and sites, ideas for furthering the organization’s reach, and event information. The letters from JPE are primarily sent by that year’s president.

Box 1, Folders 1-6

 

Series 2: Financial Records, 1970-1977; n.d.
This series is a collection of documents relating to the finances of JPE, including bank statements, receipts, deposit slips, invoices, and bills.

Box 2, Folders 7-14

 

Series 3: Members List, 1970-1973; 1974-1977.
This series is a collection of members lists, including lists of volunteers.

Box 1, Folders 15-20  

 

Series 4: Minutes, 1970-1973; 1974-1977.
This series is a collection of minutes taken at Jacksonians for Public Education meetings. These documents discuss the purpose of the organization, the scheduling of events/meetings, the election of organization officers, the formation of various committees. 

Box 1, Folders 21-26

 

Series 5: Newsletters and Newsclippings, 1970-1977.
This series is a collection of news items relating to Jacksonians for Public Education as an organization.

Subseries 5.1: Jacksonians for Public Education Newsletter, 1970-1971; 1975-1977.
This subseries consists of a newsletter published by Jacksonians for Public Education. It would include information to be shared with parents such as summations of meeting notes, community or the Jackson Public School System meetings, introductions to school administrators, laws affecting schools, and excerpts from student-run papers. 

Box 2, Folders 27-29

Subseries 5.2: J.P.S. (Jackson Public Schools) News, 1974-1975.
This subseries consists of a Jackson Public Schools-run newsletter. It contains two transcripts of speeches made by Dr. Robert N. Fortenberry, a pupil assignment plan, and a JPS Staffer newsletter that confirms the acceptance of the pupil assignment plan. 

Box 2, Folder 30

Subseries 5.3: Original Newspaper Clippings, 1971-1974; 1976-1977.
This series consists of various newspaper clippings regarding Jackson Public School Schools and Jacksonians for Public Education that concern meetings, awards, and invited speakers (such as Dr. Margaret Walker Alexander).

Box 2, Folders 31-33

Subseries 5.4: Photocopied Newspaper Clippings, 1971-1974; 1976-1977.
This series consists of the same newspaper clippings but photocopied and printed for ease of use.

Box 2, Folder 34

 

Series 6: Handouts, 1972-1973; 1975-1977; n.d.
This series is a collection of handouts that advertised Jacksonians for Public Education activities, membership drives, and events.

Box 2, Folders 35-38

 

Series 7: Single Entry Ledger, 1970-1977.
A hard-bound financial ledger filled with Jacksonians for Public Education’s deposits and withdrawals over the years. This book spans the entirety of the program's existence, 1970-1977.

Box 2, Folders 39

 

Series 8: Forms, 1972-1973; 1975-1976; n.d.
This series is a collection of forms for Jacksonians for Public Education purposes. These forms are mostly blank and consist of member data sheets, correspondence forms, and award nominations.

Box 2, Folders 40-41

 

Series 9: Projects, 1971-1977.
This series is a collection of papers that are related to special Jacksonians for Public Education projects. These papers are an assortment of legislative projects, TV commercials, and JPE-related events. Many documents relate to the Mississippi Committee for Humanities. 

Box 2, Folders 42-47

 

Series 10: Notes, 1975-1977; n.d.
This series is a collection of handwritten notes about Jacksonians for Public Education. The majority of the notes were written by former JPE presidents. These papers include notes from meetings, drafts of correspondence, event ideas, and reminders. There is a map of Jackson with notes and information about the Jackson Public Schools district.

Box 2, Folders 48-50

 

Series 11: Miscellaneous papers, 1970-1971; n.d.
This series includes a list of Hinds County legislators, a Jackson Public Schools pamphlet about educational opportunities, empty envelopes, blank deposit slips, and a business card from Maurice "Vic" Duvic. 

Box 2, Folders 51-52
 

Box List

Box 1
Folder 1: Correspondence, 1970-1971.
Folder 2: Correspondence, 1972-1973.
Folder 3: Correspondence, 1973-1974.
Folder 4: Correspondence, 1974-1975.
Folder 5: Correspondence, 1975-1976.
Folder 6: Correspondence, 1976-1977.
Folder 7: Financial Records, 1970-1971.
Folder 8: Financial Records, 1971-1972.
Folder 9: Financial Records, 1972-1973.
Folder 10: Financial Records, 1973-1974.
Folder 11: Financial Records, 1974-1975.
Folder 12: Financial Records, 1975-1976.
Folder 13: Financial Records, 1976-1977.
Folder 14: Financial Records, undated.
Folder 15: Member list, 1970-1971.
Folder 16: Member list, 1971-1972.
Folder 17: Member list, 1972-1973.
Folder 18: Member list, 1974-1975.
Folder 19: Member list, 1975-1976.
Folder 20: Member list, 1976-1977.
Folder 21: Minutes, 1970-1971.
Folder 22: Minutes, 1971-1972.
Folder 23: Minutes, 1972-1973.
Folder 24: Minutes, 1974-1975.
Folder 25: Minutes, 1975-1976.
Folder 26: Minutes, 1976-1977.


Box 2
Folder 27: Jacksonians for Public Education Newsletter, 1970-1971.
Folder 28: Jacksonians for Public Education Newsletter, 1975-1976.
Folder 29: Jacksonians for Public Education Newsletter, 1976-1977.
Folder 30: J.P.S. (Jackson Public Schools) News, 1974-1975.
Folder 31: Newspaper Clippings, 1971-1972.
Folder 32: Newspaper Clippings, 1973-1974.
Folder 33: Newspaper Clippings, 1976-1976.
Folder 34: Photocopied Newspaper Clippings, 1971-1977.
Folder 35: Handouts, 1972-1973.
Folder 36: Handouts, 1975-1976.
Folder 37: Handouts, 1976-1977.
Folder 38: Handouts, undated.
Folder 39: Single Entry ledger, 1971-1977.
Folder 40: Forms, 1972-1973.
Folder 41: Forms, 1975-1976.
Folder 42: Forms, undated.
Folder 43: Projects, 1971-1972.
Folder 44: Projects, 1972-1973.
Folder 45: Projects, 1974-1975.
Folder 46: Projects, 1975-1976.
Folder 47: Projects, 1976-1977.
Folder 48: Notes, 1975-1976.
Folder 49: Notes by President, 1976-1977.
Folder 50: Notes, undated.
Folder 51: Miscellaneous, List of Hinds County Legislators, 1970-1971.
Folder 52: Miscellaneous, undated.