Jones, Carridder Added Papers, 1916-2016

Held by The Filson Historical Society

Creator:  Jones, Carridder

Title:  Added papers, 1916-2016

Rights: For information regarding literary and copyright interest for these papers, contact the Collections Department.

Size of Collection:  1 cubic foot and 1 ovsz. folder

Location Number:  Mss. A J76a

Biographical Note

Carridder “Rita” Jones was born in South Carolina and lived in Indiana before moving to Kentucky. A playwright and historian, Jones’s research has included African American communities in Kentucky, especially the black hamlets in Lexington and Louisville. She conducted oral history projects concerning these communities: “Black Hamlets in the Kentucky Bluegrass” and “Historic African American Neighborhoods in Jefferson County” (the latter in partnership with the Filson Historical Society). She has presented her research at conferences, programs, workshops, and as productions.

Jones’ play, “Black Hamlets in the Kentucky Bluegrass,” was a finalist in the New York Drama League’s New Works Project in 2002. Another of her plays, “The Mark of Cain,” was chosen by the University of Louisville‘s African-American theater program for the Second Annual Juneteenth Festival of New Works. She also adapted a play for the Oldham County History Center from “Narrative of the Life and Adventures of Henry Bibb, an American Slave”.  The resulting production, “Voice of the Fugitive”, was presented at Actors Theatre of Louisville in 2009.

Jones also founded two women’s organizations: Women Who Write and the Kentucky Women’s Book Festival.  In addition, she served on the board of directors for the Kentucky Foundation for Women (KFW). In 2006, Jones received the KFW’s Sallie Bingham Award, which recognizes Kentucky women who are leaders of feminist expression in the arts.

She has published two books: A Backward Glance (2009) and Voices: From Historical African American Communities near Louisville, Kentucky (2015).

Sources:

Notable Kentucky African Americans Database (NKAA), Jones, Carridder “Rita” https://nkaa.uky.edu/nkaa/

Amazon.com author page for Carridder Jones.

 

Scope and Content Note

This collection contains materials relating to the professional interests and activities of Carridder Jones, a Kentucky playwright and historian.  Research materials and oral history interview transcripts relate to Jones’ interests in historic African American communities of the inner Bluegrass region and Jefferson County.  Other material regards her activities as a playwright, including scripts of Black Hamlets in the Kentucky Bluegrass and her adaptation of Narrative of the Life and Adventures of Henry Bibb to the stage.  Her interest in feminism is also documented by her involvement in women’s organizations and her dramatic productions about the lives of black women.

Folders 1-11 contain Jones’ research on historic African American communities of Louisville.  The materials include her research notes and interviews with community residents, as well as correspondence and grant application regarding the publication of Voices: From Historical African American Communities near Louisville, Kentucky (2015).  Also included are research materials related to slavery at Locust Grove and Farmington plantations, and a report regarding the development of Anchorage.

Folders 12-15 concern Jones’ work with the Oldham County Historical Society on a project to honor Henry Bibb, a former slave who became the first black editor of a Canadian newspaper.  The project included efforts to develop a heritage trail following Bibb’s journey to freedom, as well as Jones’ adaptation of Bibb’s autobiography into a play “Voice of the Fugitive”.

Folders 16-28 concern Jones’ research and writings about black hamlets of the inner Bluegrass region.  Established by emancipated slaves after the Civil War, these communities supplied much of the labor to the Bluegrass’s Thoroughbred horse industry.  Materials include scripts from her play “Black Hamlets of the Kentucky Bluegrass” as well as a compilation of historical readings entitled “Women of Freetowns.”

Folders 29-32 contain materials relating to Jones’ involvement in women’s organizations and interests in feminism.

Folders 33-34 contain interview transcripts and materials related to oral history projects Jones conducted for Sigma Pi Phi fraternity and Sallie Bingham.

Folder 35 contains poems and stories written by Carridder Jones.

Folders 36-37 contain miscellaneous materials.

Photographs have been transferred to the Filson’s photo collection (017PC23).

A/V materials have also been separated from the collection.  These include several audio cassette tapes and DVDs of program recordings, play performances, and interviews (017PC23).

 

Related Collections:

Carridder Jones collection, 2000-2002. (Mss. A J76)

Carridder Jones photograph collection & A/V materials. (015PC55; 017PC23)

 

Folder List

Box 1

Folder 1: African American hamlets in Jefferson County, Kentucky: Oral history project with the Filson, 2000-2015 CLICK TO ACCESS PDF

Folder 2: Interviews with residents of African American hamlets in Jefferson County (alternate versions from Mss. A/J76 collection interviews), 2000-2002 CLICK TO ACCESS PDF

Folder 3: Interview and obituary of Arthur Meredith Walters (resident of James Taylor subdivision), 2004 CLICK TO ACCESS PDF

Folder 4: Notes from presentation re: African American hamlets of Louisville, c. 2003 CLICK TO ACCESS PDF

Folder 5: Correspondence re: publication of Voices: from Historical African American Communities near Louisville, Kentucky, 2015

Folder 6: Kentucky Foundation for Women, grant application re: publication of Voices, 2015

Folder 7: Research on Eliza Hundley Curtis Tevis Coleman of Newburg [Click to access PDF]

Folder 8: Research on the Wilson family of Jeffersontown, 1919-1946

Folder 9: “Job talk” re: archaeological excavations at Locust Grove slave quarters, esp. the risks faced by slaves and their religious beliefs

Folder 10: Research on slavery at Farmington Plantation, 1966-2000

Folder 11: “Town of Anchorage, Kentucky: Possibilities for Future Development” by Olmsted Brothers, 1916

Folder 12: Henry Bibb History Project: Summary and Full Report, 2005

Folder 13: Henry Bibb Heritage Trail Project research report, 2005

Folder 14: Henry Bibb project grant application to produce “Voice of the Fugitive”, c. 2007

Folder 15: “Voice of the Fugitive” script, c. 2007

Folder 16: Research on black hamlets in the inner Bluegrass region, c. 2003-2015

Folder 17: Interview transcripts with Smith family of Jonestown, Ky., undated

Folder 18: “The Partial History of Jonestown, Lexington, Kentucky” by Betty Smithers, 2001

Folder 19: Research and presentation notes re: Kentucky’s black jockeys, 2003-2005

Folder 20: Research on Will Harbut (groomsman for Man O’ War) and Maddoxtown, 1947-1999

Folder 21: Maddoxtown historical marker application, 2006-2007

Folder 22: Presentation notes re: New Zion, Ky., undated

Folder 23: “Black Hamlets in the Kentucky Bluegrass” script, 2001

Folder 24: “Black Hamlets in the Kentucky Bluegrass” script, 2002

Folder 25: “Black Hamlets in the Kentucky Bluegrass” script, undated

Folder 26: “Black Hamlets in the Kentucky Bluegrass” scripts on floppy disks, 2001-2003 – [Digital copies are available for in-house viewing.  Please see the reference desk or email gro.l1711691071aciro1711691071tsihn1711691071oslif1711691071@hcra1711691071eser1711691071.] 

Folder 27: “Women of Freetowns” script, 2002

Folder 28: “Women of Freetowns” historical readings, 2000

Folder 29: Women Who Write history and awards, 2004, 2010

Folder 30: Kentucky Women’s Book Festival promotional materials and articles, 2012-2016

Folder 31: “Remembering Aunt Jemima” by Breena Clarke & Glenda Dickerson, script and commentary, undated

Folder 32: “Thoughts of Slavery” letter by Frances Ann Kemble, presented by Carridder Jones, undated

Folder 33: Sigma Pi Phi oral history project, 2004-2006

Folder 34: Oral history project for Sallie Bingham re: Bingham family, 2009

Folder 35: Poems, stories, etc. by Carridder Jones, 1998, undated

Folder 36: Newspaper clippings re: 1937 flood, 2012

Folder 37: Miscellaneous, 2002-2016

Oversize

Folder 38: “Voice of the Fugitive” promotional poster, 2009

 

Subject Headings

African American neighborhoods – Kentucky – Louisville.

African American neighborhoods – Kentucky – Fayette County.

African American jockeys – Kentucky.

African American women – Kentucky.

African Americans – Kentucky.

African Americans in horseracing.

Bibb, Henry, 1815-

Bingham family.

Greek letter societies.

Harbut, Will, 1885-1947.

Horse farms – Kentucky.

Jeffersontown (Ky.)

Jonestown (Ky.)

Locust Grove (Louisville, Ky.)

Maddoxtown (Ky.)

New Zion (Ky.)

Sigma Pi Phi.

Slavery – Kentucky – Louisville.

Smith family.

Tevis, Eliza Curtis Hundley, ca. 1800-1890.

Theater – Kentucky.

Wilson family.