Samuel F. Coppage, Sr. Papers, 1908-2011 | Sargeant Memorial Collection

By Sarah Osorio

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Collection Overview

Title: Samuel F. Coppage, Sr. Papers, 1908-2011

Predominant Dates:1950s-1970s

ID: 001/01/MSS 2016-072

Primary Creator: Coppage, Samuel F., Sr. (1886-1977)

Extent: 21.0 Boxes

Arrangement: Arranged roughly by subject: family papers, dental profession, fraternities, schools, political individuals, organizations, and subject files. Some materials are arranged by record type: correspondence, booklets and brochures, small family photographs, CDs, artifacts, and oversized newspapers.

Date Acquired: 09/20/2016

Subjects: African Americans, Boy Scouts of America, Civil rights, Dentists, Fraternal organizations, National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, Nonprofit organizations, Norfolk (Va.), Norfolk (Va.)--Politics and government--20th century, Norfolk Community Hospital, Organizations, Politics and Government, Sports, Virginia--Politics and government, Voting

Forms of Material: Articles, Biographies (documents), Booklets, Brochures, Budgets, Bulletins, Certificates, Church bulletins, Clippings (information artifacts), Compact discs, Correspondence, Cultural artifacts, Minutes (administrative records), Negatives (photographs), Newsletters, Notes, Patches (costume accessories), Photographs, Pins (jewelry), Postcards, Printed ephemera, Programs, Publications (document genre), Reports, Rosters, Speeches (documents)

Languages: English, Japanese

Scope and Contents of the Materials

Personal, professional, political, and family papers of Samuel F. Coppage, Sr. of Norfolk, Virginia. The collection includes Coppage's involvement in various local organizations, particularly the Community Democratic Club, NAACP, and Norfolk Community Hospital. The collection also documents his activities with professional dental organizations such as the Old Dominion Dental Society; fraternal groups including the Elks and Frontiers Club; youth groups such as Boy Scouts of America, YMCA, and Community Boys Club; church involvement at Grace Episcopal Church; and support for organizations such as the Norfolk Council of Social Agencies and Child and Family Service, Inc. The Samuel F. Coppage, Sr. Papers include correspondence with politicians and political campaign brochures and leaflets. The collection documents activities of civic groups such as the Southern Christian Leadership Conference and Tidewater Voter Registration Project. Most of the materials in the collection date from the 1950s-1970s.

Some materials in the collection were created or collected by Coppage's wife, Constance Jordan Coppage, and his son, Samuel F. Coppage, Jr. There are also family photographs, correspondence, and clippings.

Biographical Note

Samuel Francis Coppage, Sr. was born on January 25, 1886 in Durants Neck, Perquimans County, North Carolina. He was a dentist, civil rights leader, and activist. Coppage earned his dentistry degree from Howard University in 1912. He helped organize the Old Dominion Dental Society, and he was on the Board of Directors for Norfolk Community Hospital. Coppage married Eunice Marion Ganey on September 11, 1911 in Pasquotank, North Carolina; she died due to complications from a premature birth in 1916. He married Constance Elizabeth Jordan on December 28, 1943 in Norfolk, Virginia. They had one child, Samuel F. Coppage, Jr. Coppage was a member of Grace Episcopal Church. He founded the Community Democratic Club and was an active member of the NAACP. Coppage was a charter member of CIAA and an active leader for the Boy Scouts. He was also active through Alpha Phi Alpha, the Improved Benevolent Order of Elks, and Frontiers Club of America. Coppage died on February 26, 1977 in Norfolk, Virginia and was buried at Calvary Cemetery in Norfolk, Virginia.

Subject/Index Terms

African Americans
Boy Scouts of America
Civil rights
Dentists
Fraternal organizations
National Association for the Advancement of Colored People
Nonprofit organizations
Norfolk (Va.)
Norfolk (Va.)--Politics and government--20th century
Norfolk Community Hospital
Organizations
Politics and Government
Sports
Virginia--Politics and government
Voting

Administrative Information

Repository: Sargeant Memorial Collection

Access Restrictions: This collection may have restrictions.

Use Restrictions: The status of copyright for these materials is governed by Copyright Law of the United States (Title 17, U. S. C.). Copyright restrictions may apply.

Acquisition Source: Estate of Samuel F. Coppage by donation

Preferred Citation: Samuel F. Coppage, Sr. Papers, MSS 2016-072, Sargeant Memorial Collection, Norfolk Public Library, Norfolk, Virginia.

Processing Information: Processed October 6, 2022.

Box and Folder Listing

Browse by Box:

[Box 1: Correspondence, 1909-1995],
[Box 2: Family Papers / Individuals / Clippings, circa 1919-2010],
[Box 3: Dental Profession, 1918-1976],
[Box 4: Churches / Church Leaders, circa 1920-1983],
[Box 5: Fraternities and Sororities, 1922-1976],
[Box 6: Schools, 1912-1977],
[Box 7: Political Individuals, Ashe—Plunkett, 1920-1977],
[Box 8: Political Individuals, Reid—Young / Politics, 1922-1977],
[Box 9: Organizations, AFL-CIO—Community Boys Club, 1930-1976],
[Box 10: Organizations, Community Democratic Club, 1933-1975],
[Box 11: Organizations, CIAA—NAACP, 1924-1977],
[Box 12: Organizations, NAACP, circa 1945-1977],
[Box 13: Organizations, National Business League—Norfolk Community Hospital, 1918-1973],
[Box 14: Organizations, Norfolk Community Hospital, 1930-1976],
[Box 15: Organizations, Norfolk Council of Colored Social Agencies—Tidewater Voter Registration Project, circa 1925-1973],
[Box 16: Organizations, United Black Federation of Norfolk—ZANU Support Committee, 1918-1975],
[Box 17: Subject Files, 1913-1962],
[Box 18: Subject Files, circa 1920s-1994],
[Box 19: Booklets and Brochures, 1910s-1970s],
[Box 20: Postcards, Photographs, CDs, and Artifacts, circa 1900-2011],
[Box 21: Newspapers and Artifact, circa 1950s-1960s],
[All]

Box 6: Schools, 1912-1977

Folder 1: Program, Abraham Lincoln School Eighth Grade Graduating Exercise, 1920 June 14
Folder 2: Correspondence, Booker T. Washington High School, 1941-1976
Folder 3: Dedication Program, Bowling Park School, 1953 March 8
Folder 4: D. G. Jacox School, 1951-1971
Folder 5: Floor Plan, Diggs Park School, 1953 September 8
Folder 6: Information Sheet, Francis E. Willard School, circa 1950
Folder 7: John T. West School, 1959
Folder 8: Program, May Day, Liberty Park School, 1959 May 18
Folder 9: Robert E. Lee School, undated
Folder 10: Ruffner Junior High School, 1956-1964
Folder 11: Program of Study for S. C. Armstrong Elementary School, 1947-1948
Folder 12: Program, Closing Ceremonies S. C. Armstrong School, 1953 January 23
Folder 13: Correspondence, Titustown School, 1954-1955
Folder 14: Newsletter, NEA News, 1952-1953
Folder 15: Newsletter, Norfolk City Schools, 1972 April 30: Volume 3, Number 8.
Folder 16: Booklet, Photo-Gravures, Amherst College, circa 1930
Folder 17: Program, Graduation Commencement, Fisk University, 1935 June
Folder 18: Publication, The Hampton Bulletin, 1946: Hampton Institute.
Folder 19: Correspondence, Hampton Institute, 1970
Folder 20: Correspondence and Printed Materials, Howard University, 1912-1977
Folder 21: Newspaper, The Howard Medical News, 1929 August
Folder 22: Publication, Howard University Bulletin, 1945 July 1: Volume 25, Number 1.
Folder 23: Howard University Newsletter, 1956 May 15: Volume 1, Number 2.
Folder 24: Bulletin, The Educator, Howard University, 1974-1976
Folder 25: Magazine, New Directions, 1976 October, 1977 January: Howard University.
Folder 26: Program, Graduation Commencement, Meharry Medical College, 1947 June 2
Folder 27: Norfolk Mission College Alumni Association, 1949-1976
Folder 28: Norfolk Polytechnic College, 1942-1943
Folder 29: Norfolk State College, 1947-1975
Folder 30: Newspaper, The Daily Collegian, Pennsylvania State College, 1948
Folder 31: Correspondence, Princess Anne County Training School, 1943-1951
Folder 32: Correspondence, Teachers College, 1943 September 15
Folder 33: St. Vincent's Hospital / Norfolk Division, Virginia State College, circa 1950
Folder 34: Newspaper, The University of Virginia News Letter, 1941 December 15: Public Education in the South.
Folder 35: Virginia State College, 1945-1975
Folder 36: Printed Materials, Virginia State College, 1966-1967
Folder 37: Correspondence, Norfolk Unit, Virginia Union University, 1936-1956
Folder 38: Clippings, Schools and Education, 1930s-1970s
Folder 39: Schools, Miscellaneous, circa 1950-1975