Dorothy Woods Morrow papers

Abstract

The Dorothy Woods Morrow papers (dated 1929-1993, undated; 1.1 cubic feet; 3 boxes) comprise certifcates, newspaper clippings, publications, and photographs related to the life of Dorothy Woods Morrow, an African-American nurse and community leader from Lynch, Kentucky during the mid twentieth century.

Descriptive Summary

Title
Dorothy Woods Morrow papers
Date
1929-1993, undated (inclusive)
Creator
Morrow, Dorothy Woods, 1924-1993
Extent
1.1 Cubic Feet
Subjects
African American college graduates -- Kentucky
African American women -- Kentucky
African Americans -- Kentucky
Diplomas
Lynch (Ky.)
Politicians -- Kentucky.
Rural African Americans.
Improved, Benevolent, Protective Order of Elks of the World
Tuskegee University (Tuskegee, Alabama)
Arrangement
Collection is arranged by format in two series: Papers and Photographs.
Finding Aid Author
Ida Lucille Sell Mangum
Preferred Citation
2021ms102: [identification of item], Dorothy Woods Morrow papers, 1929-1993, undated, University of Kentucky Libraries Special Collections Research Center.
Repository
University of Kentucky

Collection Overview

Biography / History
Dorothy Luretha Woods Morrow was born October 5, 1924, in Benham, Kentucky, to Emma Wood and John Wesley Woods, a coal miner. She graduated from Harlan County Schools and then John A. Andrew Memorial Hospital and Training School for Nurses of Tuskegee Institute as a Registered Nurse. For thirty-five years, she worked for Lynch Medical Services. Dorothy married William H. Morrow, a World War II veteran and former employee of US Steel Works in Lynch, Kentucky. The couple raised two children: Billye Morrow Peeples and Dwain W. Morrow. Dorothy was a member of Rising Star Baptist Church, Star of Benham Chapter No. 77 Order of Eastern Star, Improved Benevolent Protective Order of Elks Rising Sun Temple, and served on the Commission of Human Rights of the State of Kentucky. In 1974, Morrow was appointed to fill a vacancy on the Lynch City Coucil, and was won a full term to the the council in the November 1975 election. She was the first Black woman to hold a city council post. Dorothy Morrow died at age sixty-nine in 1993.
Sources: "Beta Sigma Phi Honored Mrs. Morrow for Nursing", Tri-City News, Cumberland, Kentucky, 1975 October 9.
"Morrow, Dorothy L.," Notable Kentucky African Americans Database, accessed 2023 January 23, https://nkaa.uky.edu/nkaa/items/show/1140.
Scope and Content
The Dorothy Woods Morrow papers (dated 1929-1993, undated; 1.1 cubic feet; 3 boxes) comprise certifcates, newspaper clippings, publications, and photographs related to the life of Dorothy Woods Morrow, an African-American nurse and community leader from Lynch, Kentucky during the mid twentieth century. Certificates in the collection include diplomas and statewide recognition of service. The newspaper and magazine clippings include articles about Dorothy Woods Morrow, her father, John Woods, a coal miner, and a letter to the editor about respect for Lynch High School sports teams. The collection includes publications about Kentucky Black leaders, Eastern Kentucky history, as well as Improved Benevolent Protective Order of Elks of the World (IBPOEW) by-laws, constitution, and ritual books. The Dorothy Woods Morrow papers photographs include portraits and special event images of Black life in Eastern Kentucky. Of note, the collection includes a postcard from Morrow, written while a student at Tuskegee Institute, to her husband, William Morrow during his training in the army for World War II.

Restrictions on Access and Use

Conditions Governing Access
Collection is open to researchers by appointment.
Use Restrictions
The physical rights to the materials in this collection are held by the University of Kentucky Libraries Special Collections Research Center.

Contents of the Collection

Papers, 1929-1993, undated

Scope and Contents

The Papers series (dated 1929-1993, undated) comprises certificates, newspaper clippings, programs, and publications related to the life and family of Dorothy Woods Morrow. Certificates include Morrow's diplomas from Harlan County Schools in Eastern Kentucky and the Tuskegee College of Nursing in Alabama during the 1940's. The series includes book publications about the history of Black leaders in Kentucky and Black miners and their families in Lynch, Kentucky. The series also contains constitution and ritual books for the Improved Benevolent Protective Order of Elks of the World, an African-American fraternal order, and a Bible given to Morrow's father, John Woods, from his Masonic Lodge.

"21 Local Citizens Received Certificate In Emergency Medical Technician Program", Tri-City News clipping, undated

  • Box 1, folder 1
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1976 Kentucky Directory of Black Elected Officials, Fourth Report, Commission on Human Rights, Commonwealth of Kentucky (Dorothy Morrow, page 18), 1976

  • Box 1, folder 2
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"A History of Lynch, Kentucky, 1917-1930", by Thomas A. Keleman, Filson Club History Quarterly, Louisville, 1974 April

  • Box 1, folder 3
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Benham High School Diploma of Graduation, 1942 May 28

  • Box 1, folder 4
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"Beta Sigma Phi Honored Mrs. Morrow for Nursing", Tri-City News, Cumberland, Kentucky, 1975 October 9

  • Box 1, folder 5
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The Book of Lynch, First Edition, Wanda Stewart, editor (Dorothy Morrow on page 35, 52), undated

  • Box 1, folder 6
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Dorothy L. Woods Morrow funeral program, Rising Star Baptist Church, Benham, Kentucky, 1993 November 9

  • Box 1, folder 7
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Dr. George Washington Carver, Tuskegee Institute postcard sent to Private Morrow from Dorothy, 1948

  • Box 1, folder 8
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Governor's Outstanding Kentuckian Award certificate, 1986 December 18

  • Box 1, folder 9
To top

Improved Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks Constitution and By-Laws, 1947

  • Box 1, folder 10
To top

Improved Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks Ritual book, 1950

  • Box 1, folder 11
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Improved Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks Ritual books, 1929

  • Box 1, folder 12
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John A. Andrew Memorial Hospital and Training School for Nurses of Tuskegee Institute Diploma, 1948 May 10

  • Box 1, folder 13
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John Woods clipping, "Benham Coal Mines Magazine", 1945 March

  • Box 1, folder 14
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"Kentucky's Black Heritage", Kentucky Commission on Human Rights, Commonwealth of Kentucky, Frankfort, Kentucky, 1971

  • Box 1, folder 15
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Letter to the editor by Dorothy Morrow regarding Lynch High School sports team, Tri-City News, undated

  • Box 1, folder 16
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Lynch, Kentucky news clipping, undated

  • Box 1, folder 17
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Receipt for insured mail sent to Mrs. Dorothy Morrow, Nurses Home, Tuskegee Institute, Alabama, 1947 October 27

  • Box 1, folder 18
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Registered Nurse License, Board of Nurses' Examiners and Registration, State of Alabama, 1948 July 12

  • Box 1, folder 19
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Second Annual Tuskegee Institute Athletic Hall of Fame Banquet an Annual Reunion Banquet program, 1975 November 8

  • Box 1, folder 20
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Tuskegee Institute Annual Commencement Program, 1948 May 10

  • Box 1, folder 21
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New Standard Alphabetical Indexed Standard Holy Bible presented to John Wesley Woods by Morgan Lodge, Prince Hall Affiliated, 1951

  • Box 2, item 1
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Dorothy Woods, Certificate of Promotion to High School, Harlan County Schools, Kentucky, 1938 May 24

  • Box 3, item 1
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Susie Antoinette Woods, Diploma, Lynch Colored High School, Kentucky, 1934 May 31

  • Box 3, item 2
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Photographs, 1942-1962, undated

Scope and Contents

The Photographs series (dated 1942-1962, undated) contains images from Dorothy Morrow's wedding, Eastern Kentucky social events, and portraits. Of note is a photo of women in uniform, possibly at a commemorative event for the 6888th Central Postal Directory Battalion, an all-black battalion of the Women's Army Corps stationed in England and France during the Second World War.

Wedding: Flora Mae Callaway, Dorothy Luretha Woods Morrow, William Henry Morrow, Susie Williams Evans (Godmother), Anna "Moss" Mullen, Benham Colored School, Benham, Harlan County, Kentucky, circa 1945, copy undated, undated

  • Box 1, folder 22
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Dorothy L. Woods, Benham, Kentucky baseball game, circa 1943 (copy), undated

  • Box 1, folder 23
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Dorothy Morrow portrait, circa 1945

  • Box 1, folder 23
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"Jam Session", 1942-1943, football field, circa 1942

  • Box 1, folder 23
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Parade float, 1962 June

  • Box 1, folder 23
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6888th Central Postal Directory Battalion, unidentified women, circa 1945

  • Box 1, folder 23
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Woman's portrait, circa 1945

  • Box 1, folder 23
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Woman wearing nurse uniform, portrait, circa 1945

  • Box 1, folder 23
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John, Emma, Annette Susie, and Dorothy Woods, Benham, Kentucky, circa 1940, copy, undated

  • Box 1, folder 23
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Wedding: Flora Mae Callaway, Dorothy Luretha Woods Morrow, William Henry Morrow, Susie Williams Evans (Godmother), Anna "Moss" Mullen, Benham Colored School, Benham, Harlan County, Kentucky, circa 1945

  • Box 1, folder 23
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Wedding: Flora MacCallaway, Fredia McDonald with Smott, Dorothy Woods Morrow and William Henry Morrow, Anna Moss, and unidentified persons, Benham Colored School, Benham, Kentucky, circa 1945

  • Box 1, folder 23
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Dorothy L. Woods Morrow, Elite Social Club, Lynch Colored School, Lynch, Harlan County, Kentucky, circa 1950

  • Box 1, folder 23
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Elite Social Club Event, Lynch Colored School, standing: Lula Sunday, Susie Evans, Dorothy Morrow, and three unidentified woman, circa 1950

  • Box 1, folder 23
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Elite Social Club Event, Lynch Colored School, sitting: Lula Sunday, Susie Evans, Dorothy Morrow, and three unidentified woman, circa 1950

  • Box 1, folder 23
To top

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UK Libraries Special Collections Research Center is open Monday to Friday, 9:00am to 4:00pm. Appointments are encouraged but not required. Schedule an appointment here.

Researchers must have an SCRC Researcher Account to request materials. View account set-up and use instructions here.

Questions? Contact SCRC via our Contact Form.

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You may come across language in UK Libraries Special Collections Research Center collections and online resources that you find harmful or offensive. SCRC collects materials from different cultures and time periods to preserve and make available the historical record. These materials document the time period when they were created and the view of their creator. As a result, some may demonstrate racist and offensive views that do not reflect the values of UK Libraries.

If you find description with problematic language that you think SCRC should review, please contact us at SCRC@uky.edu.