Jo Ann Robinson Research Files

Jo Ann Robinson, Professor of History at Morgan State University, collected the materials in this collection while active as a parent volunteer at Barclay Elementary-Middle School. A major portion of the material informed oral interviews conducted by Robinson with Gertrude Williams and Williams’ associates, resulting in the book, "Education As My Agenda: Gertrude Williams, Race and the Baltimore Public Schools" (Palgrave Macmillan, 2005).

This collection consists of reports, correspondence, clippings, oral history interview tapes, transcripts, and photographs documenting Gertrude Williams' career in the Baltimore City Public School System, with particular focus on Barclay Middle School (P.S. 054).

The first series, Barclay Elementary-Middle School, 1970-2009, contains materials specically related to Williams' time with Barclay Elementary-Middle School. Among the research materials in this series are oral history interviews with Barclay Elementary-Middle School alumni and staff members, and other individuals. The second series, Baltimore City Public Schools, 1921-2002, has the broader focus of all Baltimore City Public. This series includes materials documenting advocacy and community groups and management materials among others.

Topics documented in this collection include desegregation in Baltimore City Schools, efforts to institute school based management and school center budgeting, and the perennial struggle over city and state funding for education.