The Robert Elijah Jones papers document the career of Jones, an African American Methodist Episcopalian clergyman, who committed his life to religion, racial equality, education, and community development through his work as the editor of the Southwestern Christian Advocate, a general superintendent of the Methodist Episcopal Church in the South, and the founder of Gulfside Assembly in Waveland, Mississippi. The papers encompass 4.05 linear feet of correspondence, clerical and educational documents, notes, sermons, speeches, writings, receipts, photographs, and collected items. The main strengths are the contents of the correspondence, collected writings, and sermons. These materials capture his life as an editor and preacher, while communicating his lifelong commitment to civil justice. The papers do not adequately document his dominant role played in the Dryades Street Branch of the Young Men's Christian Association (YMCA), his involvement with the Flint-Goodridge Hospital in New Orleans, and his participation with the first Negro Business League.
The papers include 234 items of correspondence, 202 items of incoming and 32 of outgoing, organized topically by family, general correspondence, condolences, "Black Mammy,"employment, Gulfside, Harry Hosier, and Valena C. Jones. The general correspondence is organized chronologically, while the other categories are arranged by subject. The major subjects include African America education, the Methodist Episcopal Church, Harry Hoosier, and the Gulfside Assembly. Of particular note is the correspondence related to Jones' interest in the persona of the "Black Mammy." Through correspondence, Jones collected stories and questionnaires from various white people about their interactions with and relationships to their African American domestic workers, commonly known by the archetype term "Black Mammy." Of note among the respondents was author William Faulkner. Other notable correspondents in the collection include George Washington Cable, Jonathan Daniels, Rivers Frederick, Edwin Holt Hughes, Grace C. Jones, Valena C. Jones, Willis King, Benjamin Quarles, A. Philip Randolph, Emmet Jay Scott, William Howard Taft, Booker T. Washington, and Harold J. Zeringer.
The papers also include sermons, speeches, and writings by Jones and others. During his time as the editor of the Southwestern Christian Advocate, he amassed an array of articles for publication. For the most part, the writings are arranged in chronological order. Writings and sermons in the collection pertain to the unification of the Methodist Church, distinguished individuals, race, holidays, education, and community. Jones also collected several writings from his daughter, Grace C. Jones, who was a member of the Race Relations Department at Fisk University and a consultant on the topic of intergroup education.
The autograph book contains signatures and messages that reflect a wide range of contacts and the busy schedule of Jones. Though most of the autographs are undated, the largest number of those are dated in a cluster in 1916. Some are in non-Western scripts, with translations; others are from persons who chose to write messages in languages other than English. Several of the autographs are from individuals attending some of the conferences in which Jones was involved as a participant or spectator.
Among the photographs are personal and family photographs, as well as those of acquaintances. The earliest item in the collection a photograph of Jones as an infant of less than a year old. Also included are photographs of his first wife, Valena C. Jones, as well as of his second wife, H. Elizabeth Brown. Photographs of his children at various ages and of his brother comprise the group of pictures about his family. In addition, there are groups of photographs of associates in the ministry and other acquaintances, including such persons as Mary McLeod Bethune and Edward R. Murrow.
Additional collected materials include news clippings, rosters, ministerial documents, diplomas, certificates, and honors that he received throughout his life. The materials highlight Jones' educational achievements, the development of Gulfside Assembly, Jones' lifelong commitment to the Methodist Episcopal Church, and his participation in community organizations and educational institutions throughout New Orleans and the United States. For instance, as an alumnus of Bennett College and as the brother of one of the school's Presidents, David Dallas Jones, Bishop Jones retained a strong connection to the college throughout his life. Within the collection, there is a group of items about his alma mater and his brother. There are such items as wedding invitations, photographs, clippings, obituaries, and other items pertaining to his younger brother, who died several years before Robert E. Jones.