A. Quinn Jones Collection

The A. Quinn Jones Collection documents the life and career of a leading African American educator in Florida in the 20th Century. The collection also documents the life of his wife, Frederica "Freddie" Jones, and other members of the Jones family; the history of Lincoln High School and the Greater Bethel AME Church in Gainesville, Florida; and the activities and people of the African American community in Gainesville and the state. The collection spans 1901 to 2007 and includes biographical materials, family papers, correspondence, educational materials, news clippings, audiovisual recordings, publications, photographs, scrapbooks, and memorabilia.

The Biographical Information and Family Papers group (1904-2006) includes information about A. Quinn Jones, Frederica Jones, and other members of the Jones family. Of particular interest are autobiographical notes and "Retrospections" written by A. Quinn Jones, and an oral history interview of Jones conducted by the University of Florida. This group of papers also includes numerous news clippings, publications, and other documents pertaining to both A. Quinn and Freddie Jones. The family papers consist of correspondence, school papers, and documents pertaining to the death and estates of family members.

The largest group of materials in the collection pertains to Lincoln High School, other K-12 and higher education schools, and education in general. The Lincoln High School files (1915-1991) include administrative materials, programs, commencement programs from 1924 to 1960, faculty information, handbooks, schedules, teacher records, and reunion materials. The bulk of these materials are dated from the 1930s to the 1960s. The Miscellaneous Education files (1913-1993) include A. Quinn Jones' notes on education, course notes and teaching aids, information on teacher salaries, and papers relating to various groups such as the Alachua County Teachers Association, the Alachua County School Board, the Florida State Teachers Association, the National Association of Teachers in Colored Schools [(National Education Association)], and the Alachua County Retired Teachers Association. Also included are state educational directories and statistics, and documents regarding Principals and Supervisors in Florida.

The files in the Higher Education and K-12 Schools group (1905-1995) document the long relationship that both A. Quinn Jones and Freddie Jones had with numerous schools in Florida and around the country. Several of the files pertain to Florida A&M College and its successor, Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University (FAMU). These papers include commencement programs, newsletters and other publications, materials relating to extension classes and coursework, diplomas, and correspondence with the FAMU Alumni Association. Other higher education institutions represented in the collection include Bethune Cookman College, the Hampton Institute in Virginia (including research papers and a Master's thesis written by A. Quinn Jones), and New York University. The K-12 schools represented include A. Quinn Jones Elementary School, Williams Elementary School, Mebane High School, and several others in Alachua County and Florida.

The Greater Bethel AME Church files (1945-1995) include church programs, financial reports, Sunday school materials, and information on special events, including Founder's Day, Men's Day, Women's Day, and A. Quinn Jones Day. Of particular interest is a folder of papers describing the history of the church. A related group of files, the General Church Papers (1919-1994), consists of materials pertaining to the AME Church, Freddie Jones' choir materials, handbooks, pamphlets, sermons, and miscellaneous religious notes and writings created by both A. Quinn and Freddie Jones.

The Correspondence files (1908-1994) cover a variety of topics, including Bethune-Cookman, FAMU, former students, education, and the family and friends of both A. Quinn and Frederica Jones. These files are grouped together because the Jones family labeled the folders as "correspondence." Additional correspondence can be found in several of the other groups in the collection.

The Miscellaneous group (1901-1997) includes awards, certificates, date and address books, financial papers, travel files, speeches, and memorabilia. Of particular interest are the hundreds of funeral programs, obsequies, and memorials of African Americans in Gainesville, Jacksonville and other communities in Florida. Many of these materials include birth and death dates, as well as biographical information about the individuals. Also included in this group are materials pertaining to civil rights, race, and ethnicity, including publications, conventions, and events.

The Organizational Affiliations group (1938-2006) consists of papers regarding A. Quinn and Freddie Jones' affiliation with organizations such as the Gainesville Council for Human Relations, the Masons, the Visionaires Club, and fraternities and sororities including Alpha Kappa Alpha, Zeta Phi Beta, and Sigma Gamma Rho. The files pertaining to the Visionaires document that club's activities over fifty years, and include the organization's by-laws, handbooks, meeting notes, programs, and other information.

The News Clippings (1953-2007) pertain to several people in Gainesville and Florida, including family members, friends of the family, church members, teachers, and other acquaintances. Some of the clippings cover race relations and civil rights, including desegregation and integration. The Audiovisual Recordings (1972-1988) include two videos of an Alpha Phi Alpha Founders Day Program "Dedicated to the Life of Brother A. Quinn Jones, Sr." Also included are audio cassettes pertaining to the life and career of A. Quinn Jones. The Publications group (1949-1992) includes issues of New South, The Sphinx, Time, Rattler Quarterly, and The Bulletin.

The Photographs group (1910-1993) includes prints and negatives of A. Quinn Jones, Freddie Jones, family members, friends and colleagues, members of the Visionaires, and several prominent people in the Gainesville African American community. There are numerous photos of Lincoln High School, class portraits, and class reunions.

The Scrapbooks and Memorabilia (1951-1993) group includes several scrapbooks pertaining to A. Quinn Jones, birthday celebrations, the Gainesville Council on Human Relations, the Visionaires, and memorials to various people. The memorabilia primarily consists of items pertaining to social organizations and fraternities, including the Masons, the Elks, and Alpha Phi Alpha. The memorabilia also includes family bibles, plaques, certificates, and miscellaneous objects received or collected by both A. Quinn and Freddie Jones. Note: The following titles in the inventory haves been retained in this finding aid to preserve historical context and access: "Growth of Educational Opportunities for Negro in Alachua County" (1959), “Pictures of Distinguished Negroes catalog from The Associated Publishers” (undated), and “Secondary Education For Negroes” (1932). Also, the current updated names for the “National Association of Teachers in Colored Schools” (National Education Association), the “Colored Parent Teacher Association” (National Parent Teacher Association), the “Florida State Negro Business League” (National Business League) and the “Journal of Negro History” (Journal of African American History) were added in parenthesis next to the older organization’s name.