Arthur and Ethel Parks papers
Overview
The Arthur and Ethel Parks papers are those of a longtime Kansas couple. A businessman, Arthur Parks served for a time as director of the Office of Economic Opportunity for Kansas.
Dates
- Creation: 1934 - 1981
Creator
- Parks, Arthur L., 1918?-1997 (Person)
Conditions Governing Access
No access restrictions.
Conditions Governing Use
Spencer Library staff may determine use restrictions dependent on the physical condition of manuscript materials.
Biography of Arthur and Ethel Parks
Arthur L. Parks was born around 1918 in Kansas City, Missouri to Mr. and Mrs. J. J. Parks. He attended Kansas City, Kansas public schools, graduating from Sumner High School in 1936. He attended the Kansas City, Kansas Junior College and the University of Kansas, where he studied accounting. Parks worked as an auditor for both the state sales tax department and the railroad mail service. A businessman, working as treasurer for Mid-Central Mortgage, Parks was appointed Director of the Office of Economic Opportunity in 1966. He also held several positions in Los Angeles, California, including Deputy Director of the South Central Improvement Council and as a commercial loan officer at the Bank of Finance. Parks was active in a number of organizations. These groups included the NAACP, First A.M.E. Church, Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity, and the Buccaneer Social Club.
In 1984, Parks' first wife, Thelma, died. He then married Ethel (Ransom) Woodson. Arthur L. Parks died February 17, 1997.
Ethel Ransom was born to Rev. and Mrs. James Ransom. She married James E. Woodson, with whom she had two children, Sharon and James. She worked as a teacher in Topeka, Kansas.
Extent
.25 Linear Feet (1 box + 2 folders)
Language of Materials
English
Scope and Contents
The Arthur and Ethel Parks papers date from 1934 to 1981 and are arranged in a single series. The Papers consist of correspondence, clippings, business information, and a diary. Folder arrangement is alphabetical by topic. Photographs from the collection are located at RH MS-P 421.
Physical Location
RH MS 421
Physical Location
RH MS-P 421
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Gift, Arthur and Ethel Parks, 1986
Subject
- Parks, Arthur L., 1918?-1997 (Person)
- Parks, Ethel Ransom Woodson (Person)
- St. Paul African Methodist Episcopal Church (Wichita, Kan.) (Organization)
- Title
- Guide to the Arthur and Ethel Parks Collection
- Subtitle
- Arthur and Ethel Parks papers
- Author
- Finding aid prepared by mbw, 2007; revised by, cl 2010; Finding aid encoded by mbw, 2007
- Date
- 2007
- Description rules
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
- Language of description
- Finding aid written in <language encodinganalog="language">English.</language>
- Sponsor
- Support for the processing of this Collection was provided by the Dana and Sue Anderson African American Collecting Program Endowment Fund.
- Finding aid permalink
- http://hdl.handle.net/10407/4129692861
- Preferred citation
-
Arthur and Ethel Parks Collection, Kansas Collection, RH MS 421, Kenneth Spencer Research Library, University of Kansas Libraries
Repository Details
Part of the University of Kansas. Kenneth Spencer Research Library Repository