Alyce Christopher-Ballard papers
Overview
The Alyce Christopher-Ballard papers are those of a long time Wichita, Kansas resident who was executive director of the Wichita Phyllis Wheatley Childrens Home. She was also a very active community member.
Dates
- Creation: 1953 - 1989
Creator
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 Alyce Christopher-Ballard
Alyce Hill was born on March 22, 1914 in Washington, D.C. She earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Home Economics from Howard University and trained at the National Recreation Institute. After working for the Works Progress Administration, Hill became one of Washington's first African American Girl Scout professionals in 1937; she was among the first African Americans in the nation to reach a professional staff status with that organization.
In 1941, Hill married Horace Christopher, moving to Norfolk, Virginia the next year. There, she worked as a secretary at the nearby army base. After a year at the army base, Christopher transferred to the state employment office where she worked as an interviewer; she later became a counselor with that office.
In 1958, the Christophers moved to Wichita. Once in Kansas, Christopher became director of the Phyllis Wheatley Childrens Home. In 1960, she began a day care center at the home. She retired from her director's position in 1978.
Christopher-Ballard was very active in various community activities. She organized and was first president of the Wichita chapter of Iota Phi Lambda sorority and of the Wichita chapter of Links, Inc. She was also a member of the Eastern Star, the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, and the United Way, serving as a board member on the latter two organizations' boards. In 1989, Christopher-Ballard received the First Citizen's Award, becoming the first African American to do so.
Alyce and Horace Christopher had one daughter, Amanda. Horace Christopher died in 1975. In 1981, Alyce Christopher married Benjamin Ballard. Alyce Christopher-Ballard died June 9, 2000.
Extent
.5 Linear Feet (2 document cases + 1 oversize box)
Language of Materials
English
Scope and Contents
The Alyce Christopher-Ballard collection dates from 1953 to 1989 and is arranged in two series based on format. The papers include clippings, certificates, and information about the Phyllis Wheatley Childrens Home. Unless otherwise noted all papers are photocopies. Folder arrangement is alphabetical by subject.
Photographs from the collection are located at RH MS-P 485, are all from the Phyllis Wheatley Home, and, unless otherwise noted, the people portrayed are unidentified. Oversize materials are located RH MS Q194.
Physical Location
RH MS 485
Physical Location
RH MS-P 485
Physical Location
RH MS Q194
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Gifts, Alyce Christopher-Ballard, 1987;unknown, 1988.
Subject
- Christopher-Ballard, Alyce, 1914-2000 (Person)
- Wichita Phyllis Wheatley Childrens Home (Wichita, Kan.) (Organization)
- Title
- Guide to the Alyce Christopher-Ballard collection
- Subtitle
- Alyce Christopher-Ballard papers
- Author
- Finding aid prepared by mbw, 2006; revised by cl, 2010; revised by ea, 2013; revised by mwh, 2017.
- Date
- 2006
- Description rules
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
- Language of description
- Finding aid written in English.
- 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/10407/6177474436
- Preferred citation
-
Alyce Christopher-Ballard Collection, RH MS 485, Kenneth Spencer Research Library, University of Kansas.
Repository Details
Part of the University of Kansas. Kenneth Spencer Research Library Repository