Finding aid for the Fannie M. Lewis Papers


Repository: Western Reserve Historical Society
Creator: Lewis, Fannie M.
Title: Fannie M. Lewis Papers
Dates: 1965-1976
Extent: 14.00 linear feet (16 containers)
Abstract: Fannie M. Lewis (1926-2008) was an African American activist and Cleveland, Ohio, councilwoman. She was involved in a number of Hough neighborhood improvement programs, including Community Action for Youth, Neighborhood Youth Corps, Model Cities Association, and the Citizen's Participation Organization. She became a city councilwoman from Cleveland's Ward 7 in 1982. The collection consists of personal papers and the records and subject files relating to Lewis' work with the Model Cities Association, Neighborhood Youth Corps, and other community organizations. Included are articles of incorporation, bylaws, trustee minutes, monthly reports, financial records, proposals, correspondence, memoranda, residency lists, posters, and newspaper clippings. The collection is useful to the study of Cleveland community development programs and Fanny Lewis' efforts with these programs. Some materials relate to racism, politics, and local government in Cleveland during the 1960s and 1970s.
MS Number MS 4341
Location: closed stacks
Language: The records are in English

Biography of Fannie M. Lewis

Fannie M. Lewis (1926-2008), was an African-American activist who lived in Cleveland's Hough neighborhood. She was born in Memphis, Tennessee, and moved into northern Ohio, settling in the Hough neighborhood of Cleveland in 1950. She first became involved in the "Hough Good Neighbors" program, then worked on the Hough Community Council for several years prior to her involvement in such neighborhood improvement organizations as Community Action for Youth and Neighborhood Youth Corps. By 1969, Lewis had become chair of the Resident Board of Trustees of the Citizen's Participation Organization (CPO), a division of the Model Cities Program. Federally funded, this program attempted to alleviate the deterioration of inner-city neighborhoods through community action and economic development. Within the Cleveland area, the Model Cities Program served neighborhoods bounded by East 55th and East 79th Streets, Superior Avenue, and Kingsbury Run. Political, personnel, and personal conflicts plagued the organization as a result of the vaguely defined hierarchy and power structure. After an unsuccessful run for city council in 1972, Lewis became project director of Model Cities. During her association with the CPO, she championed the rights of the Model Cities residents, challenging Cleveland mayors Carl Stokes and Ralph Perk in their efforts to directly oversee the program. Lewis won the Ward #7 city council seat in 1982 and continued as an advocate of the urban poor until her death in 2008.

click here to view the Encyclopedia of Cleveland History entry for Fannie M. Lewis

click here to view the Encyclopedia of Cleveland History entry for the Hough Neighborhood


Scope and Content

The Fannie M. Lewis Papers, 1965-1976 and undated, consist of personal papers, and the papers and subject files relating to her work with the Model Cities Association, Neighborhood Youth Corps, and other organizations. Included are articles of incorporation, bylaws, trustee minutes, monthly reports, financial records, proposals, correspondence, memoranda, residency lists, posters, and newspaper clippings.

This collection will be useful to researchers studying the history of Cleveland, Ohio, and neighborhood activism and development on the east side, particularly in the Hough neighborhood. This collection illuminates Fannie M. Lewis's work in community action and community development programs which had their roots in the presidential administration of Lyndon B. Johnson. The Model Cities Association provides an example of a federal self-help program which lacked the economic and human resources to accomplish its mission. Organizations within the Hough neighborhood such as the Hough Area Development Corporation, are also well represented in the collection. Additional issues include racism, politics and local government in Cleveland during the social reform of the 1960s and 1970s.


Statement of Arrangement

The collection is arranged in three series.
Series I: Personal Papers is arranged by document type and then chronologically.
Series II: Model Cities Association is arranged in three sub-series.
Sub-series A: Administrative is arranged by document type and then chronologically.
Sub-series B: Staff Records is arranged alphabetically by subject and then chronologically.
Sub-series C: Subject Files is arranged alphabetically by subject and then chronologically.
Series III: Additional Organizational Files is arranged alphabetically by subject and then chronologically.

Restrictions on Access

None.

Related Material

The researcher should also consult PG 427 Fannie M. Lewis Photographs.

Indexing Terms

The following terms have been used to index the description of this collection in the library's online public access catalog.

Subjects:

African Americans -- Ohio -- Cleveland.
Cleveland (Ohio) -- Economic conditions.
Cleveland (Ohio) -- Politics and government.
Cleveland (Ohio) -- Race relations.
Cleveland (Ohio) -- Social conditions.
Community development corporations -- Ohio -- Cleveland.
Community development, Urban -- Ohio -- Cleveland.
Health planning -- Ohio -- Cleveland.
Hough (Cleveland, Ohio)
Housing -- Ohio -- Cleveland.
Lewis, Fannie M., 1926-
Poor -- Ohio -- Cleveland
Social action -- Ohio -- Cleveland.
Urban renewal -- Ohio -- Cleveland.
Youth -- Ohio -- Cleveland.

Preferred Citation

[Container ___, Folder ___ ] MS 4341 Fannie M. Lewis Papers, Western Reserve Historical Society, Cleveland, Ohio

Acquisition Information

Fannie M. Lewis, 1976.

Processing Information

Processed by Daniel J. Linke and Bari Oyler Stith in 1989.

Detailed Description of The Collection

Series I: Personal Papers 1967-1972

Box Folder
1 1-2 Personal papers including University Church of Christ materials, correspondence, Operation Hodge School Project, resumes, job applications, and speeches 1967-1972

Series II: Model Cities Association 1966-1976 undated

Sub-series A: Administrative 1966-1975 undated

Box Folder
1 3-4 Articles of Incorporation, constitutions, bylaws, personnel guidelines, and code of regulations 1966-1973
1 5-8 Resident Board of Trustee minutes, agendas, agreements, resolutions, memoranda, and correspondence 1969-1975
1 9 Resident Board of Trustees committee list 1968-1973
1 9 Resident Board of Trustees 1975 Election materials 1975
1 10-22 Reports, monthly, quarterly, and annual, also projections and plans 1970-1975
Box Folder
2 23 Reports, monthly, quarterly, and annual, also projections and plans 1970-1975
2 24-25 Director's Reports, including weekly, monthly, and reports to agencies, reports to the director, and the director's report before a committee hearing of the United States Congress 1973-1975
2 26 Director's expense reports 1971-1975
2 27-32 Proposals 1969-1973 undated
2 33-37 Correspondence 1967-1975 undated
2 37 Correspondence of Fannie M. Lewis 1973
2 38 Correspondence, of Mrs. Robbie Penman 1973
2 38 Correspondence, telegrams 1974-1975
2 38 Correspondence, form letters 1973-1975
2 39-42 Memoranda 1969-1975 undated
2 42 Memoranda from the Director 1973
2 43 Memoranda to general staff 1972-1975
2 43 Memoranda of Tom Brown 1973
Box Folder
3 44 Memoranda to department heads 1973
3 45-46 Neighborhood residency lists ca. 1973
3 47-50 Questionnaires, about the neighborhood services undated
3 51 Posters 1967 1970-1975 undated
3 52-53 City of Cleveland Citizens Participation Association 1972-1975
3 54 Miscellaneous committee minutes 1969-1975
3 55-58 Newspaper clippings 1967-1975 undated
3 59 Miscellaneous, including contracts, program statements, and transcripts 1968-1975 undated
Box Folder
4 60-67 Miscellaneous, including contracts, program statements, and transcripts 1968-1975 undated

Sub-series B: Staff Records 1969-1975 undated

Box Folder
4 68 Bookkeeper Secretary 1973-1974
4 68 Budget Committee 1973
4 68 Community Consultant 1973
4 68 Community Development Staff 1973
4 68 Connectors 1973-1974
4 68 Consultants 1973
4 69 Daily Report Sheets 1973
4 69 Employment Officer 1973-1974
4 69 Executive Secretary 1974-1975
4 69 Field Supervisors 1974-1975
4 70 Grievance Committee 1974
4 71 Grievance Committee, Arnold, Cynthia 1974
4 71 Grievance Committee, Community Relations 1973-1974
4 72 Grievance Committee, Lewis, Fannie 1973-1974
4 73 Job Descriptions 1974
4 73 Manpower 1974
4 73 Personnel 1974
4 73 Report to Board and Residents on problems 1973
4 73 Residency Requirements 1973
4 73 Resident Board of Trustees Orientation ca. 1975
4 74 Resignations 1973
4 74 Secretaries 1975
4 74 Security 1973-1974
4 74 Senior Citizens Advisor 1974
4 74 Staff orientation and addresses 1973 undated
4 75 Staff restructure 1973-1974
4 75 Staff structure 1973
4 75 Student Development program at Cleveland State University 1973-1974
4 75 Training Officer 1974
4 75 Work Program 1974-1975
4 76-77 Miscellaneous 1973-1975
4 78 Staff activity files, Baker, Christopher 1973
4 78 Staff activity files, Barringer, Albert L. 1969
4 78 Staff activity files, Bolling, Joseph 1975
4 78 Staff activity files, Brown, Thomas 1973-1975
4 79 Staff activity files, Bryant, James, including the Bryant, Jones, Jones, incident 1974
4 80 Staff activity files, Dixon, Fedelma 1973
4 80 Staff activity files, Ferguson, Velma 1973
4 80 Staff activity files, Gallaway, Nancy 1973-1974
4 80 Staff activity files, Griffin, Bert 1973
4 80 Staff activity files, Hardin, Sandra 1973
4 80 Staff activity files, Henry, Patrick 1975
4 80 Staff activity files, Jeffrey, Otis 1973
4 80 Staff activity files, Jones, Paulette 1973
4 80-81 Staff activity files, Jones, R. L. 1974-1975
4 81 Staff activity files, Lewis, Fannie 1973-1975
Box Folder
5 82-85 Staff activity files, Lewis, Fannie 1973-1975
5 86 Staff activity files, May, Joe 1974-1975
5 86 Staff activity files, Moore, Lyndia 1973-1974
5 87-92 Staff activity files, Motley, Raymond 1973-1975
5 93-94 Staff activity files, Myers, William 1973-1975
5 93-94 Staff activity files, Pap, Dr. Michael S. 1973
5 93-94 Staff activity files, Penman, Mrs. Robbie 1973-1975
5 95 Staff activity files, Rebha, David 1973
5 95 Staff activity files, Robinson, Lena 1973-1975
5 95 Staff activity files, Roseborough, Rowena 1974-1975
5 95 Staff activity files, Seldon, Phyllis 1973
5 95-96 Staff activity files, Smith, Inez 1975
5 96 Staff activity files, Tall, Booker ca. 1970
5 96 Staff activity files, Thornton, V. R. 1971
5 96 Staff activity files, Toth, Anthony 1970
5 96 Staff activity files, Williams, Edwin 1973
5 97 Staff activity files, Williams, Steven 1975
5 97 Staff activity files, Wolf, Robert 1973
5 97 Staff activity files, Worthy, Stan 1973

Sub-series C: Subject files 1968-1976 undated

Box Folder
5 98-99 Action City-City of Cleveland Program 1974
5 98-99 Advocate Planner 1973-1975
5 98-99 Agencies 1975
5 98-99 Agendas, Model Cities 1968-1971
5 100 AIM-Jobs 1970-1971
5 101 Alexander, James 1973
5 101 Application 1973
5 102-103 Ashford, Mrs. Alice 1974-1975
5 104 A Miscellaneous 1973-1975
5 105 Binford, Elmer 1972-1973
5 105 Black Women's Advisory and Development Council, Inc. 1974-1975
5 105 Black Women's Congress 1974-1975
5 106 Board of Trustees Workshop 1975
5 107 Bookkeeper Secretary 1974-1975
5 107 Budget undated
5 107 B Miscellaneous 1973-1975
Box Folder
6 108 Call and Post 1974-1975
6 108 Career Opportunities Program 1972
6 108 Catchment Area VI Consortium 1974
6 108 Central Multi Service Center Feasibility Study, Steering Committee 1974
6 109-110 City Demonstration Agency 1972-1975
6 111-114 City of Cleveland Citizens Participation Association 1973-1975
6 115 Citizens for Regional Transit, Reference Book 1975
6 116-124 Citizens Participation Organization, general organizational papers including mailing lists and director's notes 1973-1975
6 125-127 City Council 1973-1975
6 128 City Dismissal Problem 1970
6 128 City Hall 1968-1969 1974
6 129-130 Clean-Up Committee Proposal 1973
6 129-130 Cleveland Black Political Assembly 1975
6 129-130 Cleveland Community Investment Corporation Papers 1973
6 129-130 Cleveland State University 1970 1973
Box Folder
7 131 Cleveland Urban Learning Center 1971-1974
7 132 Coalitions #1, 3, and 4 1974-1975
7 133 Coalition Against Crime 1975
7 133 College 1972-1973
7 133 Committees 1970-1973
7 134 Community Classroom 1974
7 134 Community College undated
7 134 Community Connectors 1973
7 134 Community Consultants 1973
7 134 Community Development 1974
7 135 Community Guidance & Human Services, Inc. 1974-1975
7 135 Community Meeting Programs 1973
7 135 Community Organization 1969
7 136 Comprehensive Economic Development Programs undated
7 136 Conferences of Mrs. Lewis 1974
7 136 Congress of Afrikan People 1974
7 136 Congressional District Caucus 1974-1975
7 136 Consultants and black consultants 1974
7 137 Continuous Planning and Evaluation undated
7 137 Contract Review Committee 1973
7 137 Cook, Mrs. Carabelle 1973
7 137 Council for Economic Opportunities 1973
7 138 Councilmen, Memoranda to 1973-1975
7 139 Cuyahoga Community College 1973-1975
7 140 C Miscellaneous 1973-1975
7 141-142 Daily folders 1973-1975
7 143 Data Profile for Ohio 1973
7 143 Death Notices 1974
7 143 Department of Black Affairs, Cuyahoga Community College 1974-1975
7 143 Department of Information 1975
7 143 Department of Welfare undated
7 144-147 Districts, #1 - 27 (incomplete) 1973-1975 undated
7 148 District Connectors and Maps 1973
7 149-150 District Planning Council 1973
7 151-153 Dixon, Mrs. Katie 1973
7 151-153 Doggett, Robert, of the City Demonstration Agency 1971-1975
7 154 Drafting Committee 1968-1969
7 154 D Miscellaneous 1973-1974
7 155 East Linwood Lawnview Development Corporation 1974-1975
7 155 Economic Development undated
Box Folder
8 156-157 Education Committee Reports 1969 undated
8 158 Elections 1972-1973
8 158 Employment Policies 1973
8 158 Evaluation and Monitoring 1973
8 158 E Miscellaneous 1973-1975
8 159 Fact Sheet--Model Cities undated
8 159 Famine Committee 1974
8 159 Federation for Community Planning 1974
8 159 Finances 1973-1974
8 160 Fiscal 1974-1975
8 161 F Miscellaneous 1973-1974
8 162-164 Grievance Committee 1973-1974
8 165 G Miscellaneous 1974-1975
8 166-167 Harris, Clayton B., Chairman of the Resident Board of Directors 1973-1975
8 168 Helping Hand Half Way House 1974
8 168 Henry, Patrick, Director of Community Development Department 1974
8 168 Hess and Taylor 1974
8 169 Hough Opportunity Center 1974
8 169 Housing 1969 1973
8 170 Housing and Community Development 1974
8 171-175 Housing and Urban Development 1968-1969 1975-1976
8 176 Housing Contract Review 1974
8 176 Housing Our People Economically (HOPE) 1973-1974
8 176 Housing Program (City of Cleveland) 1974
8 177 Human Resources and Economic Development 1974
8 177 H, I, and J Miscellaneous 1973-1974
8 178 Kent State University 1974-1975
8 178 K Miscellaneous 1969 1973
Box Folder
9 179 L Miscellaneous 1972-1973
9 180 Manpower 1973-1975
9 181 Mayor of Cleveland 1969-1974
9 181 Media 1973-1975
9 181 MESBIC (Minority Enterprise Small Business Investment Company) undated
9 182 Miss Model Cities Contest 1974
9 183-187 Model Cities, general organizational papers 1969-1975
9 188 Motley, Raymond 1975
9 189-190 Multi-Racial 1973
9 191 Multi-Service Center 1974
9 192 M Miscellaneous 1973-1975
9 193-194 National Association for Community Development 1969-1971
9 195 National Institute for Citizens Development and Urban Technology 1974
9 196 Newsletters 1972-1973
9 196 N Miscellaneous 1973-1975
9 197 Ohio Black Political Convention 1974-1975
9 197 Ohio Status of Women 1975
9 197 Ombudsman 1972 1975
9 197 Operation Green Book undated
9 198 Orbital Collection Systems, Inc. 1974
9 198 Old Town: A Simulation About Model Cities 1974
9 198 Our Lady Fatima 1973
9 198 Outhwaite Urban Resource Society, Inc. undated
9 199 O Miscellaneous 1974-1975
9 200 Peoples Coalition for Better Communities 1973
9 200 Perk, Mayor Ralph 1973-1974
9 201 Personnel Committee memoranda 1969-1970 1973
Box Folder
10 202-203 Personnel Committee memoranda 1969-1970 1973
10 204 Petitions undated
10 204 PIPE Program (Parents Information Program for Engineering) 1975
10 204 Model Cities Planning undated
10 204 Political participation 1971 1974
10 204 Poverty Task Force 1974-1975
10 204 Pre-Christmas Benefit 1974
10 205 Projects, one-time items 1973
10 205 Projects, from districts 1968-1970
10 205 Public Relations 1973-1974
10 206 P Miscellaneous 1970-1974
10 207-208 Region IV and V, of the Citizens Participation Association 1973-1975
10 209 Reports 1970
10 210 Reprogramming 1974-1975
10 210 Resident input 1973
10 211 Resident Board of Trustees 1975
10 212 Resolutions 1973
10 212 Resolutions, void 1974
10 213 Revenue Sharing 1973-1974
10 214 Rice, Watson, and Company 1973
10 214 Rich, Andrew 1974
10 214 Richison, Anthony 1975
10 215 R Miscellaneous 1970-1975
10 216 Schools 1974
10 216 Senators (U.S.), correspondence 1974-1975
10 216 Senior Citizens 1975
10 216 Southeast Area Planning Inventory 1974
10 217 Special Grand Jury Report on Cleveland's Model Cities 1973-1974
10 217 Special Notice 1975
10 217 Spring Conference Committee 1975
10 218 State Health Board 1973
10 218 State Representatives, correspondence 1975
10 218 Stokes, Louis 1973-1975
10 218 Street Academy 1974
10 218 Stringer, Foster 1973-1974
10 219 S Miscellaneous, including surveys 1970 1973-1974
10 220 Tall, Booker 1973
10 220 Task Forces 1972-1973
10 221 Technical Assistants 1973 undated
10 222 Telegrams 1973
10 222 Title 4A Movies 1974-1975
10 222 Toth, Anthony 1973
10 223-224 Training Materials 1969-1971
10 225 Transition Committee materials 1973-1975
Box Folder
11 226-227 Transition Committee materials 1973-1975
11 228 T Miscellaneous 1975
11 228 U Miscellaneous 1973-1974
11 228 V Miscellaneous 1973
11 229 Wallace, Herbie, Assistant Director, program operation 1974
11 229 Welfare Federation 1975
11 229 Williams, Edwin 1973
11 230 Wilson, Virginia 1973-1975
11 230 Woideck, George 1973-1975
11 231 Women in Crisis 1974-1975
11 232 Woodland Job Center 1971
11 232 W Miscellaneous 1973-1975
11 233 Youth Advisor and Programs 1974-1975
11 234-240 Zelkalns, Kaspars 1974
11 234-240 Miscellaneous 1969-1974 undated

Series III: Additional Organizational Files 1965-1975 undated

Box Folder
11 241 Aim-Jobs 1968-1971
11 241 Area Council Associations 1974-1975
11 241 B Miscellaneous 1970-1975
11 241 C Miscellaneous 1968-1972
11 242-245 Community Action For You 1965-1971
Box Folder
12 246-251 Control Systems Research 1970-1973
12 252-262 Hough Area Development Corporation, including board minutes 1968-1975
12 263 Hough Community Agencies Coalition 1975
12 264 Hough Community Agencies Coalition 1975
12 264 Hough Community Council 1968-1975
Box Folder
13 265 Hough Community Council 1968-1975
13 266 Hough Community Guidance and Human Services Planning Committee 1970-1974
13 266 Hough Executives Group 1970-1972
13 266 Hough Federal Credit Union 1973
13 266 Hough-Homes 1972-1975
13 267 Hough Memorial Committee 1969-1975
13 267 Hough Multi-Service Corporation 1968-1975
13 268 Hough Neighborhood Opportunity Center 1968-1970
13 268 Hough Norwood Center 1970-1973
13 268 Hough Parent and Child Center 1974
13 268 Hough Miscellaneous dates vary
13 269 Margie Home, Inc. 1970-1972
13 270-281 Metropolitan Health Planning Council 1972-1975
13 282-284 Neighborhood Youth Corp 1965-1973
Box Folder
14 285-291 Neighborhood Youth Corp 1965-1973
Box Folder
15 292-297 Neighborhood Youth Corp 1965-1973
15 298 Ohio Comprehensive Health Planning Advisory Council, Health Care Services Delivery Committee 1971-1975
Box Folder
16 299-300 Ohio Comprehensive Health Planning Advisory Council, Health Care Services Delivery Committee 1971-1975
16 301 Welfare Federation of Cleveland 1971
16 302 Miscellaneous, including surveys, and questionnaires undated