The Paul W. L. Jones Papers, ca.1895-1953,ca.1895-1953

Author

Processed by: Betsy Morelock; machine-readable finding aid created by:Eric Weig

Title

The Paul W. L. Jones Papers, ca.1895-1953

Date

ca.1895-1953

Repository

Kentucky State University Blazer Library Special Collections and ArchivesFrankfort, Kentucky 40601 USA

Arrangement

The photographic series covers nearly half of the P.W.L. Jones Papers including six oversize photographs. The remainder includes clippings, correspondence, speeches, poetry, publications, memorabilia and a separate scrapbook which had been previously used to record both grades (1891-1896) and financial records (1891-1894). Each series is organized alphabetically by subject and chronologically within the subject.

Conditions Governing Access note

Collection is open for research

Preferred Citation Note

[Identification of item], The Paul W. L. Jones (1878-1953) Papers, ca.1895-1953, 89MS01,Library Special Collections and Archives, Kentucky State University.

Extent

2.2 cubic ft.

Biography/History

P.W.L. Jones was born in 1878 at Mt. Sterling, Kentucky to Daniel and Sue (Thomas) Jones. His father, Daniel Jones, served in the Union Army from 1864 to 1866. Named William Lawrence Jones at birth, P.W.L. Jones earned the nickname of "Paul" from classmates because of his early love of history and interest in John Paul Jones.

An 1898 graduate of KSU (then Kentucky Normal School for Colored Persons), P.W.L. Jones later went on to become a professor of history and Academic Dean at KSU (then Kentucky Normal and Industrial Institute). He worked at KSU between 1907 and 1928. Along with teaching and administrative duties, he also helped form and served as coach and manager of early baseball, football, and track teams at the school, which earned him the title of "Father of Athletics."

Incorporating his interest in education and athletics, Jones was a member of the Kentucky Negro Education Association, wrote a column for Spalding's Football Guide from 1928 until his death, contributed articles to The Crisis and wrote and published A History of K.N.I.I. in 1912. Jones used one of these volumes to record updates on the faculty, staff and alumni up through 1920.

In 1920, Jones and his family moved to Cincinnati when he was offered the position of Superintendent of the Colored Industrial School of Cincinnati, which was also known as the McCall School, where he worked until his death in 1953. Jones and his wife, Ada Clementina Anderson, had three sons, the youngest born on the campus of K.N.I.I.

Over the years P. W. L. Jones collected books by and about African Americans as well as a wide range of other topics including books about Africa, religion, history, poetry, the horse industry and other sports. This extensive and rare library makes up a large part of the Special and Rare Book collection at Kentucky State University. The collection as a whole is unmatched in the state of Kentucky and rivals the Schomburg Collection at the New York Public Library.

March 1878	Born in Mount Sterling, Kentucky
1898	Graduated from the High School Department of Kentucky Normal School in Frankfort
1899	Married Ada Clementina Anderson
ca. 1900	Graduated from Simmons University, Louisville, Kentucky
1907	Began teaching at Kentucky Normal and Industrial Institute as instructor in the High School Department
1920	Became full professor of history at Kentucky State
1922	Began writing an analysis and summary of "Football in Colored Colleges" for Spalding's Official Intercollegiate Football Guide, which he continued writing until his death in 1953
1928	P. W. L. Jones accepted the position of Superintendent of the Colored Industrial School of Cincinnati, which was also known as the McCall School
1932	Along with Kentucky State's President Atwood, Jones was part of the group which formed the Mid-Western Athletic Conference
1953	Died in Cincinnati, Ohio

Scope and Content

The focus of the Paul W. L. Jones Papers is on his years at Kentucky Normal and Industrial Institute (now Kentucky State University). Though he graduated from the school in 1898, the bulk of the collection covers the years he taught at K.N.I.I. P.W.L. Jones taught history and became academic dean at the school, but he also saw a need for developing the body as well as the mind and organized some of the first football, baseball and track teams. His papers reflect his interest in both academics and athletics. This collection of photographs, printed material, clippings, correspondence, memorabilia, and a scrapbook focuses on the early history of Kentucky State University, education for African Americans in Kentucky during the last decade of the nineteenth century and first three decades of the twentieth century. The photographic series contains 74 images. Complimentary collections include approximately 500 books in the P.W.L. Jones Book Collection and corresponding taped oral history interviews with Paul Jones' son, William L. Jones (2 hours, 30 min.).

Subjects

• Afro-American baseball players - Kentucky - Frankfort - Photographs.
• Afro-American college administrators - Kentucky - Frankfort - Photographs.
• Afro-American college teachers - Kentucky - Frankfort - Photographs.
• Afro-American universities and colleges - Kentucky - Frankfort - Photographs.
• Afro-American universities and colleges - Kentucky - Frankfort - Faculty - Photographs.
• Afro-Americans - Biography.
• Afro-American - Education.
• Baseball teams - Kentucky - Frankfort - Photographs.
• Beckham, J. C. W. (John Crepps Wickliffe), 1869-1940.
• Bradley, William O., 1847-1914
• College presidents - Kentucky - Frankfort - Photographs.
• College sports - Kentucky - Frankfort - Photographs.
• Givens, James Edwards
• Governors - Kentucky - Photographs.
• Hathaway, James Shelton.
• Jackson, John Henry, 1850-
• Jockeys - Photographs.
• Jones, Paul W. L., 1885-1953 - Photograph collections.
• Jones, Paul W. L., 1878-1953.
• Kentucky State University - Baseball.
• Kentucky State University - Faculty - Photographs.
• Kentucky State University - Photograph collections.
• Kentucky State University - Presidents - Photographs.
• McCreary, James B. (James Bennett), 1838-1918.
• Murphy, Isaac Burns, ca.1861-1896.
• Normal institutes - Kentucky - Frankfort - Photographs.
• Photographs.
• Russell, G. P. (Green Pinckney), 1861-1936.
• Speeches.
• Willson, Augustus E., 1846-1931.

Collection Inventory