Josephine Clement Papers Inventory (#4444)

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Manuscripts Department, Library of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Collection Information


Contact Information:
Manuscripts Department
CB#3926, Wilson Library
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Chapel Hill, NC 27514-8890
Phone: 919/962-1345
Fax: 919/962-3594
Email: mss@email.unc.edu
URL: http://www.lib.unc.edu/mss/
Processed by
John Foster and Teresa Church
Date Completed
June 2001
Encoded by
John Foster

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Descriptive Summary Including Abstract

Title
Josephine Clement Papers (#4444) 1937-1998
Creator
Clement, Josephine.
Extent
About 8,000 items (17.5 linear feet)
Repository
Southern Historical Collection
Abstract
Josephine Dobbs Clement (1919-1998) was raised in Atlanta, Ga., and received her B.S. degree from Spelman College in 1937. She received her M.A. degree from Columbia University the following year. In the late 1940s, she moved with her husband, William A. Clement, to Durham, N.C., where she was active in civic affairs and in Durham and North Carolina politics. Her activities included co-chairing the successful gubernatorial campaigns of Democrat James Hunt's in Durham County in 1980 and 1984. The collection includes correspondence relating to Josephine Clement's work with a variety of business and civic organizations in Durham, N.C., and Durham County, N.C., including the Durham City Board of Education; the Durham County Board of Commissioners; the North Carolina Democratic Party, especially on James Hunt's 1980 and 1984 gubernatorial campaigns; and the White Rock Baptist Church. There are also letters and other materials pertaining to Clement's personal life and to the lives and civic work of her husband, William A. Clement, and their children, including William A. Clement, Jr. Also included are materials relating to other Dobbs, Jackson, and Clement family members, among them Mattiwilda Dobbs, June Dobbs Butts, and Maynard H. Jackson.
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Administrative Information

Access
No restrictions.
Usage Restrictions
Copyright is retained by the authors of items in these papers, or their descendants, as stipulated by United States copyright law.
Provenance
Received from Josephine Clement of Durham, N.C., in May 1986, November 1987, July 1989, July 1990, May 1991, December 1993, and May 1996 (Acc. 96071), and from William L. Clement of Atlanta, Ga., in June 1998 (Acc. 98150) and October 1998 (Acc. 98212).
Processing Information
This collection was processed with support from the National Historical Publications and Records Commission.
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Online Catalog Terms

African American civic leaders--North Carolina.
African American families--North Carolina.
African American leadership--History--20th century.
African American leadership--North Carolina--Durham.
African American women--North Carolina--History--20th century.
African Americans--North Carolina--Durham.
African Americans--North Carolina--History--20th century.
Butts, June Dobbs.
Civic leaders--North Carolina--History--20th century.
Clement, Josephine.
Clement, William A., 1912- .
Clement, William A., 1943- .
Clement family.
Democratic Party (N.C.)--History--20th century.
Dobbs, Mattiwilda.
Dobbs family.
Durham (N.C.)--Politics and government.
Durham (N.C.)--Social life and customs.
Durham City Board of Education.
Durham County (N.C.)--Politics and government.
Durham County (N.C.)--Social life and customs.
Durham County Board of Commissioners.
Education, Elementary--North Carolina--Durham.
Education, Secondary--North Carolina--Durham.
Family--North Carolina--Social life and customs--20th century.
Hunt, James B., 1937- .
Jackson family.
Jackson, Maynard, 1938- .
Local government--North Carolina.
North Carolina--Politics and government--1951- .
Public schools--North Carolina--Durham.
School boards--African American membership--North Carolina--Durham.
Women--North Carolina--Durham.
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Biographical Note

Josephine Dobbs Clement (1918-1998) was one of six daughters born to Irene Ophelia Thompson Dobbs and John Wesley Dobbs. Her father was a prominent Atlanta, Ga., businessman. Clement received her B.S. degree from Spelman College in 1937 and her M.A. from Columbia University the following year. During the late 1940s, she moved with her husband, William A. Clement, to Durham, N.C., where she was active in civic affairs and in Durham and North Carolina politics. She served as a member of the Durham Library Board and was active as an organizer for the Democratic Party in Durham County. Her activities also included co-chairing Governor James Hunt's political campaigns in Durham County in 1980 and 1984 and serving as a member and, from 1978, the first African-American chair of the Durham City Board of Education. She was elected to the Durham County Board of Commissioners in 1984 and served three terms, retiring in 1990.

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Collection Overview

The collection includes correspondence relating to African American civic leader and politician Josephine Clement's work with a variety of business and civic organizations in Durham, N.C., and Durham County, N.C., including the Durham City Board of Education; the Durham County Board of Commissioners; the North Carolina Democratic Party, especially on James Hunt's 1980 and 1984 gubernatorial campaigns; and the White Rock Baptist Church. There are also letters and other materials pertaining to Clement's personal life and to the lives and civic work of her husband, William A. Clement, and their children, including William A. Clement, Jr. Also included are materials relating to other Dobbs, Jackson, and Clement family members, among them Mattiwilda Dobbs, June Dobbs Butts, and Maynard H. Jackson.

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Organization of Collection

1. Professional Papers
1.1. Correspondence
1.2. Durham City Schools
1.3. Durham County Board of Commisioners and Political Activities
1.4. Business and Civic Activities
2. Personal Papers
2.1. Correspondence
2.2. Other Papers
3. Pictures

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Series Descriptions

1. Professional Papers, 1937-1996.

About 7,500 items.
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1.1. Correspondence, 1937-1996.
About 3500 items.
Arrangement: chronological.
Correspondence pertaining to Josephine Clement's professional and political activities.
Durham City Board of Education materials include items concerning financial matters, attendance policies, school security, personnel issues, achievement testing, and other education issues and operations of the school system in Durham, N.C. (See also series 1.2.)
Durham County Board of Commissioners materials include proposals to expand Research Triangle Park and items relating to the construction of the Durham Bulls Athletic Park, to the development of the Treyburn community, to sewage and water quality, and to overcrowding and security in the Durham County Jail. (See also series 1.3.)
There is also a significant amount of correspondence relating to Clement's work with several universities and with civic and charitable organizations, including the Z. Smith Reynolds Foundation. (See also series 1.4.)
   Folder 1
1937-1959
   Folder 2
1973-1977
   Folder 3-5
1978
   Folder 6-13
1979
   Folder 14-17
1980
   Folder 18-23
1981
   Folder 24-29
1982
   Folder 30-35
1983
   Folder 36-45
1984
   Folder 46-47
1985
   Folder 48-53
1986
   Folder 54-65
1987
   Folder 66-87
1988
   Folder 88-111
1989
   Folder 112-153
1990
   Folder 154-170
1991
   Folder 171-184
1992
   Folder 185-189
1993
   Folder 190-198
1994
   Folder 199-201
1995
   Folder 202
1996
   Folder 203-208
Undated
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1.2. Durham City Schools, 1971-1995.
About 1000 items.
Arrangement: chronological.
Materials pertaining to Josephine Clement's work in education, particularly to her service on the Durham City Board of Education. Included are school budgets, reports, procedural manuals, and other administrative materials. Also included are items about projects undertaken by the Board, among them the 1979 superintendent search; revisions in testing policies; the 1982 evaluation of Hillside High School; and studies of school dropout rates, school security, the Head Start program, and the Model School Project. There are also materials from meetings of the North Carolina School Boards Association, the North Carolina Commission on Education for Economic Growth, and other organizations. In addition, there are materials from events at which Clement gave speeches and many newspaper clippings that document Clement's activities. (See also series 1.1.)
   Folder 209
Therapeutic education, 1971
   Folder 210
Durham City Board of Education, 1975
   Folder 211-212
Durham Head Start, 1975
   Folder 213
Durham City Schools survey, 1976
   Folder 214
Budget manual, 1976
   Folder 215
Magnet schools and budget materials, 1976
   Folder 216-217
Financial materials, 1977
   Folder 218
Appearance programs, 1978
   Folder 219-220
Policy manual, 1978
   Folder 221
Policy and financial materials, 1978
   Folder 222-224
Policy materials, 1978
   Folder 225
Commencement and administrative materials, 1979
   Folder 226
Event programs, 1979
   Folder 227
Meeting reports, 1979
   Folder 228
Programs and memoranda, 1979
   Folder 229
Reports and financial materials, 1979
   Folder 230
Reports and programs, 1979
   Folder 231
Superintendent search, 1979
   Folder 232
Testing issues, 1979
   Folder 233
Administrative materials, 1980
   Folder 234
Evaluation and budgeting materials, 1980
   Folder 235-236
Financial materials, 1980
   Folder 237
Financial and administrative materials, 1980
   Folder 238
North Carolina School Boards Association convention, 1980
   Folder 239
Policy and administrative materials, 1980
   Folder 240
Administrative materials, 1981
   Folder 241
Event programs, 1981
   Folder 242
Financial materials, 1981
   Folder 243
Resolutions and policy materials, 1981
   Folder 244
Audit report, 1982
   Folder 245
Hillside High School evaluation, 1982
   Folder 246
Legislative and policy materials, 1982
   Folder 247
School dropout studies, 1982
   Folder 248
Administrative and meeting reports, 1983
   Folder 249
Durham City Schools audit, 1983
   Folder 250
North Carolina School Boards Association meeting, 1983
   Folder 251
Policy and North Carolina School Boards Association materials, 1983
   Folder 252
North Carolina Commission on Education for Economic Growth, 1984
   Folder 253
Policy and event materials, 1984
   Folder 254
Press releases and meeting materials, 1986-1988
   Folder 255
Policy information, 1989
   Folder 256
North Carolina Public School Forum, 1989
   Folder 257-258
Model School Project, 1990-1995 (see also folder 295, Model School Taskforce)
   Folder 259-267
Clippings, 1975-1983
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1.3. Durham County Board of Commisioners and Political Activities, 1972-1996.
About 1200 items.
Materials pertaining to Josephine Clement's activities in local and state politics, including items from her campaigns for election to the Durham County Board of Commissioners and her service on the Board, 1984-1990 (see also series 1.1.). These materials document her participation in a number of projects, including the Durham County Youth Home Taskforce, the planning and construction of the Durham Bulls Athletic Park, studies relating to water quality and the expansion of the sewer system, prison overcrowding, and the Model School Taskforce. There are also materials showing her interest in education issues, including the School Improvement and Accountability Act. North Carolina Democratic Party materials include items relating to Clement's work with the 1980 and 1984 gubernatorial campaign of James Hunt and the 1990 senatorial campaign of Harvey Gantt.
   Folder 268-269
Durham County Board of Commissioners manual, 1972
   Folder 270
One Government for Durham, 1974
   Folder 271
Election materials, 1984
   Folder 272
Memoranda, 1984
   Folder 273
Budget and financial materials, 1985
   Folder 274
Community needs assessment, 1985
   Folder 275
Facility improvements and environmental testing, 1985
   Folder 276
Financial report, 1985
   Folder 277
Health services reports, 1985
   Folder 278
Social services budget, 1985
   Folder 279
Board of Equalization and Review, 1986
   Folder 280
Durham County sewer study, 1986
   Folder 281
Durham County Youth Home Taskforce, 1986
   Folder 282
Financial materials, 1986
   Folder 283
Meeting reports, 1986
   Folder 284
Payroll system, 1986
   Folder 285
Proposed county budget, 1986
   Folder 286
Water quality and bond issues, 1986
   Folder 287
Tax legislation, 1987
   Folder 288
Event programs, 1988
   Folder 289
Women in construction and political materials, 1988
   Folder 290
Award notices and conference materials, 1989
   Folder 291
Durham Bulls Athletic Park, 1989
   Folder 292
Durham Public Transportation System, 1989
   Folder 293
Financial and budget materials, 1989
   Folder 294
Prison overcrowding, 1989
   Folder 295
Model School Taskforce, 1989 (see also folders 257-258, Model School Project)
   Folder 296
School Improvement and Accountability Act, 1989
   Folder 297
Social services planning, 1989
   Folder 298
Toyama Sister City Project, 1989
   Folder 299
Administrative materials, 1990
   Folder 300
Civic activities, 1990
   Folder 301
Conference materials, 1990
   Folder 302
Planning and financial materials, 1991
   Folder 303
Election campaign, 1975
   Folder 304
Clement, Josephine: Campaign, 1979
   Folder 305
Clement, Josephine: Campaign, 1984
   Folder 306
Clement, Josephine: Campaign, 1986-1988
   Folder 307-308
Hunt, James: Campaign, 1980
   Folder 309-314
Hunt, James: Campaign, 1984
   Folder 315
Committee on Education for Economic Growth, 1979-1984
   Folder 316
Faircloth, Lauch: Campaign, 1984
   Folder 317
National Council of Negro Women, Inc., 1979-1984
   Folder 318
National Association of Minority Public Officials, 1979-1982
   Folder 319
ERA and women's issues, 1960-1984
   Folder 320
Democratic Party candidates and issues, 1979-1985
   Folder 321
Democratic Party candidates and issues, 1988-1992
   Folder 322
Democratic Party, 1980-1984
   Folder 323
Democratic Party, 1988-1993
   Folder 324
North Carolina Department of Administration, 1981-1984
   Folder 325
Congressional Black Caucus, 1978-1982
   Folder 326
Gantt, Harvey: Campaign, 1990
   Folder 327
North Carolina Center on Crime and Punishment, 1986
   Folder 328-336
Clippings, 1984-1996
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1.4. Business and Civic Activities, 1973-1996.
About 2300 items.
Arrangement: alphabetical.
Materials pertaining to Josephine Clement's work with business and civic organizations. Included are items documenting her service on the boards of the Z. Smith Reynolds Foundation, the Greater Triangle Community Foundation, the Mechanics and Farmers Bank, the Greater Durham Chamber of Commerce, and other groups; her work with the Negro Braille Magazine project, the Duke Museum Docents Program, the Committee on the Affairs of Black People, the American Dance Festival, the Durham County Library, and the North Carolina Museum of Life and Science; and her service to higher education at Wake Forest University, Spelman College, Shaw University, and Durham Technical Institute. There are also materials documenting her involvement with White Rock Baptist Church; the Tuesday Morning Study Group; and the Links Inc., a national women's organization.
   Folder 337
American Dance Festival, 1979-1981
   Folder 338
Black Heritage Exposition, 1994
   Folder 339
Carolina Theater, 1993-1995
   Folder 340
Committee on the Affairs of Black People, 1979-1989
   Folder 341
Duke Medical Center, 1989-1993
   Folder 342
Duke Museum Docents Program, 1979-1984
   Folder 343-344
Durham Arts Council, 1981-1993
   Folder 345
Durham City-County Planning Department, 1993
   Folder 346-347
Durham County Library, 1979-1994
   Folder 348
Durham Public Education Network, 1994-1995
   Folder 349
Durham Rotary Club, 1977, 1994
   Folder 350
Governor's Business Council on the Arts and Humanities,
   Folder 351-353
Greater Durham Chamber of Commerce, 1981-1992
   Folder 354-359
Greater Triangle Community Foundation, 1988-1994
   Folder 360
Housing Authority of the City of Durham, 1978-1984
   Folder 361
Jack and Jill of America, Inc., 1967-1968
   Folder 362-364
The Links, 1975-1993
   Folder 365-367
Mechanics and Farmers Bank, 1984-1995
   Folder 368
National Peace Foundation, 1991-1992
   Folder 369-371
Negro Braille Magazine Project, 1969-1983
   Folder 372
North Carolina Art Society, 1979-1984
   Folder 373
North Carolina Center on Crime and Punishment, 1984-1985
   Folder 374
North Carolina Central University, 1974-1996
   Folder 375
North Carolina Council of Women's Organizations, 1987-1988
   Folder 376-377
North Carolina Museum of Life and Science, 1988-1995
   Folder 378
North Carolina Symphony, 1974-1983
   Folder 379-381
North Carolina Zoo, 1983-1984
   Folder 382-386
Shaw University, 1986-1993
   Folder 387-388
Sororities, 1976-1995
   Folder 389-390
Spelman College, 1961-1994
   Folder 391
Thelonius Monk Institute, 1989-1990
   Folder 392
Triangle Community Foundation, 1994-1995
   Folder 393
Triangle J Council of Governments, 1984
   Folder 394
Tuesday Morning Study Group, 1973-1995
   Folder 395-396
Wake Forest University, 1988-1992
   Folder 397-399
White Rock Baptist Church, 1959-1995
   Folder 400
Women's Forum, 1979-1981
   Folder 401
Women's Fund of North Carolina, 1993
   Folder 402
WUNC, 1978-1979
   Folder 403-404
YWCA, 1979-1991
   Folder 405-419
Z. Smith Reynolds Foundation, 1988-1995 and undated
   Folder 420-434
Other business and civic activities, 1975-1995

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2. Personal Papers, 1942-1998.

About 500 items.
Materials pertaining to the personal life of Josephine Clement. Also included are items concerning the personal lives and civic work of her husband, William A. Clement, and their children, including William A. Clement, Jr. Also included are materials relating to other Dobbs, Jackson, and Clement family members, among them Mattiwilda Dobbs, June Dobbs Butts, and Maynard H. Jackson.
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2.1. Correspondence, 1942-1996.
About 300 items.
Arrangement: chronological.
Correspondence exchanged between Josephine Clement and members of the Clement, Dobbs, and Jackson families. These materials discuss day-to-day life, family events and activities, and the maintenance of the Dobbs Family Foundation.
   Folder 435
1942-1974
   Folder 436
1977-1979
   Folder 437
1981-1982
   Folder 438
1983-1984
   Folder 439-440
1986
   Folder 441
1987
   Folder 442-443
1988
   Folder 444
1989
   Folder 445-446
1990
   Folder 447
1991-1992
   Folder 448-449
1993
   Folder 450-451
1994
   Folder 452
1995
   Folder 453
1996
   Folder 454-455
Undated
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2.2. Other Papers, 1938-1998.
About 200 items.
Arrangement: by subject.
Materials pertaining to the personal activities of Josephine Clement and members of the Clement, Dobbs, and Jackson families, among them William A. Clement, William A. Clement, Jr., Mattiwilda Dobbs, June Dobbs Butts, John Wesley Dobbs, Maynard H. Jackson, Howard Clement, and Wesley Dobbs Clement. Included are materials pertaining to Masonic activities of John Wesley Dobbs, William A. Clement, and Josephine Clement; items documenting the political career of Maynard H. Jackson; and materials relating to William A. Clement, Jr.'s, work with the Small Business Administration.
   Folder 456-457
General, 1938-1991
   Folder 458
Condolences and memorials, 1998
   Folder 449-460
Masonic activities, 1961-1987
   Folder 461
Clement, William A., 1966-1975
   Folder 462-471
Clement: William A.: Clippings, 1953-1991
   Folder 472
Clement: William A., Jr.: Clippings, 1975-1990, undated
   Folder 473
Clement, Howard: Clippings, 1977-1989
   Folder 474
Clement family, 1919-1995
   Folder 475
Butts, June Dobbs, 1953-1995
   Folder 476
Dobbs, Mattiwilda, 1974-1992
   Folder 477
Dobbs, Mattiwilda: Clippings, 1954-1995, undated
   Folder 478
Jackson, Maynard, 1973-1982
   Folder 479
Jackson, Maynard: Clippings, 1969-1990
   Folder 480-481
Dobbs family, 1961-1996
   Folder 482
Dobbs family: Clippings, 1969-1986, undated
   Folder 483-484
Programs, 1977-1991

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3. Pictures, 1974-1990.

About 50 items.
Arrangement: chronological.
Pictures documenting Josephine Clement's professional, political, and personal activities. Included are Clement family photographs, among them some of William A. Clement, Jr., on the occasion of his appointment to the Small Business Administration; campaign photographs; photographs from the 1987 Susan Reynolds Awards Luncheon; and photographs of others, including Douglas Wilder, the first elected African American governor.
   Folder 1/P-4444
General photographs, 1973-1986, and undated.
   Folder 2/P-4444
Susan Reynolds Awards Luncheon, 1987.
   Folder 3/P-4444
William A. Clement, Jr., undated.

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Items Separated

Separated items include photographs (P-4444) and oversize papers (OP-4444).


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Related Collections

William A. Clement Papers (#4024);
Southern Oral History Program Collection (#4007), Interview C-31