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Ruffin/Jones Family Collection

 Collection
Identifier: 145

Scope and Contents

The Ruffin/Jones Family Collection contains photographs, cassette tapes with audio recordings of interviews, and printed material such as articles and publications, brochures and programs, school-related items, letters, and research files and notes pertaining to C. Bernard Ruffin, III and members of his family. The life and work of his aunt, Louise Jones Hubbard, is particularly well-documented; material related to her makes up a large portion of the collection.

The collection is divided into seven (7) series: I. Louise Hubbard; II. C. Bernard Ruffin, Jr.; III. C. Bernard Ruffin, III; IV. Mary Carter; V. Ruffin/Jones Family, General; VI. Photographs; and VII. Audio. Series I., Louise Hubbard, is divided into four (4) sub-series: I. Articles and Publications; II. Church; III. Groups and Extracurricular Activities ; and IV. Teaching.

Dates

  • Creation: 1842 - 1999 (bulk 1920s - 1999)
  • Creation: Majority of material found within 1920 - 1999

Language of Materials

English

Conditions Governing Use

Some material may be copyrighted or restricted. It is the patron's obligation to determine and satisfy copyright or other case restrictions when publishing or otherwise distributing materials found in the collections.

Biographical / Historical

The Ruffin/Jones Family contains material related to C. Bernard Ruffin, III and members of his family, especially C. Bernard Ruffin, Jr.; Louise Jones Hubbard; and Mary Jones Nightengale Carter.

C. Bernard Ruffin, III is the Pastor at Lutheran Church of the Holy Comforter in Washington, DC. After graduating from Roosevelt High School in DC, he attended Bowdoin College and Yale Divinity School. He served at several other churches prior to becoming Assistant Pastor at Holy Comforter in 1980. Ruffin also worked as a history teacher at South Lakes High School in Reston, VA. He has written and co-written a number of books, including: Padre Pio: The True Story; The Shroud of Turin; The Twelve: The Lives of the Apostles after Calvary; Miracles of St. Padre Pio; The Days of the Martyrs: A History of the Persecution of Christians from Apostolic Times to the Time of Constantine; The Life of Brother Andre: The Miracle Worker of St. Joseph; Last Words: A Dictionary of Deathbed Quotations; and Profiles in Faith: The Religious Beliefs of Eminent Americans.

C. Bernard Ruffin, Jr. (father of C. Bernard Ruffin, III) grew up in Washington, DC and attended Howard University. He was a Metropolitan Police Officer from 1940 until 1964. He was also head of Division Two of the Metropolitan Police Boys Club from 1952 to 1958, as well as Director of the Police Boys Club Summer Camp from 1950 to 1958. He went on to serve as the Director of Safety and Security at Howard University, the Associate Director of the Pilot Police Project, and the Security Director at Montgomery College.

Lillian Jones Ruffin (mother of C. Bernard Ruffin, III), came from a large family from Chambersburg, PA. Her parents, Lewis and Sarah Jones, had fourteen children in total. Four of these children -- Lillian, Louise, Mary, and Amy -- ended up living in Washington, DC.

Louise Jones Hubbard attended Howard University, Columbia University, and Catholic University. In addition to writing a book and many articles on foreign languages and the teaching of foreign languages, she taught at Bluefield State College, Dunbar High School, District of Columbia Teachers College (now the University of the District of Columbia), and the University of Benin. Louise was a member of the Fifteenth Street Presbyterian Church and Delta Sigma Theta Sorority.

Mary Jones Nightengale Carter attended Howard University, Columbia University, the University of Chicago, and the University of Iowa. She taught business at Terrell Junior High School, Dunbar High School, and Roosevelt High School. Mary was a member of St. Anthony’s Catholic Church, as well as the Woofs Club.

Extent

4.5 Linear feet

8 Boxes

Arrangement

Processed without series.

Custodial History

The Ruffin/Jones Family Collection was donated to the Library by C. Bernard Ruffin, III

Processing Information

This collection was originally processed in 2014 as part of the DC Africana Archives Project, funded by the Council on Library and Information Resources Hidden Collections.

During reprocessing in 2018, the collection was divided into series and arranged chronologically thereunder, with related material grouped together. Items that were not labeled or clearly associated with a family member’s name were placed into series based on context.

Throughout processing, paper clips and loose, rusty, and/or warped staples were removed; folded papers were unfolded and pressed flat; and folders and binders were disassembled. While most photographs were covered in protective sleeves, oversize photos were laid flat and separated with a sheet of legal-size acid-free paper. The processor made redacted copies of items containing personal or private information. The majority of newspaper clippings were photocopied; however, full newspapers and large clippings were separated from other items with a sheet of acid-free paper. The processor relabeled and refoldered, as needed, and any loose items (including a small record) were placed into acid-free folders. Four handmade felt objects were stored in a separate box for preservation purposes.

The following items were removed from the collection and discarded: duplicates (more than two); original newspaper clippings; blank papers; and original folders and binders. The processor shredded any originals containing personal or private information.

Title
Ruffin/Jones Family Collection
Status
Completed
Author
Finding aid prepared by DC Africana Archives Project; Julie Burns
Date
2014; 2018
Description rules
Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Language of description
Undetermined
Script of description
Code for undetermined script
Language of description note
English

Repository Details

Part of the The People's Archive, Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial Library Repository

Contact:
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