Bailey School Parent-Teacher Association. Records, 1930-1972.
(Document/manuscript/pamphlet/archival material)

Materials housed in Special Collections Division of the Main Library, Nashville Public Library.

Housed in Small Collections Box 3.

In library use only. Available by appointment.

Scope and content: Records of the Bailey School Parent-Teacher Association of Nashville, Tenn., 1930-1972 contain a wide variety of information about the activities of the organization, as well as various school and community issues.

Foremost among these records is a history record book, consisting of annual entries documenting activities of the Bailey School PTA throughout the academic year, from 1930 to 1970. Records are most verbose for the period prior to the 1960s, though all contain rich details about a wide variety of subjects. These include the establishment of the Bailey Junior High PTA in 1930 and the numerous projects undertaken that year, including establishing a school library and furnishing it with 1500 books, landscaping school grounds, and sponsoring projects with nearby Eastland School.

Numerous other topics in the volume as a whole include: recovery from the 1933 East Nashville tornado; assistance to needy children by providing free lunch, clothing, and medical assistance; honors for specific teachers, PTA members, government officials, and others; awards, honors, and recognition given to the organization; scrap drives during World War II, as well as a clothing drive for Russian children; the purchase of Civil Defense identification bracelets and tags in 1954-1955; advocacy of certain positions on matters before the City Council and school board, including opposition to the consolidation of city and county schools in the late 1950s; concern about polio and tuberculosis outbreaks; performances by students such as concerts, plays and skits; notes about guest speakers, including government officials and representatives from other PTA organizations; documentation of fundraisers of all types and for many purposes benefiting both the school directly and outside agencies; financial records; and more.

In a separate folder are several items from the 1969-1972 period, including programs, informational flyers, and the Bailey School PTA yearbook for 1969-1970. The yearbook contains a mission statement; list of officers and past-presidents; budget; special school dates; the Bailey Bombers basketball schedule; report card dates; and a list of Room Mothers and school faculty.

Cite as: Bailey School Parent-Teacher Association Records, Special Collections Division, Nashville Public Library.

This material may be protected by copyright law (Title 17 U.S. Code).

Source of acquisition unknown;,Acc. RT-100.

The Bailey Junior High School Parent-Teacher Association (Nashville, Tenn.) was formed in December 1930, not long after the school opened. Mrs. Eugene (Annie Long) Crutcher and Mrs. B.W. Mayfield were hailed as "pioneers in the parent-teacher movement in Tennessee" and aided in the establishment of the organization at Bailey. Mrs. Oury Harris was elected as the first president. Meetings were to be held once a month, with alternate meetings held in the evening "so that fathers might attend." Dues were initially 35 cents per year.

Early records of the parent-teacher association give several variations of the name for the group: Bailey Parent-Teacher Association; Bailey Junior High Parent-Teacher Association; Bailey School Parent-Teacher Association; and perhaps others. Later records show the name consistently as the Bailey School Parent-Teacher Association.

The group was very involved in a wide variety of activities associated with the school and the community. In 1933, Bailey Junior High School was severely damaged by the East Nashville tornado, and the PTA assisted in the recovery effort.

The group participated in educational programs through the national PTA organization; hosted fundraisers of various types, such as dinners, performances, carnivals and other events; and sent representives to meetings of the City Council, the State General Assembly, and meetings of the Nashville, district, and state PTA.

In English.

Unknown provenance.

Process;,2006;,Linda Barnickel;,loose items removed from Schools Ephemera Subject Files and combined with history record book, previously shelved separately, to form this collection.

No further accruals are expected.