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 7: Political Individuals, Ashe—Plunkett, 1920-1977

Folder 1: Victor J. Ashe / Citizens Committee, 1946-1973
Folder 2: Peter K. Babalas, circa 1965-1971
Folder 3: Newspaper, The Voice, 1965 July: Volume 1, Number 4. Babalas and Howell for State Senate.
Folder 4: Baecher, Duffy, Fine, and Martin, Candidates for the House of Delegates, 1939
Folder 5: Ballard, Barfield, and Schweitzer, Administration Ticket, Norfolk City Council, 1964
Folder 6: William C. Battle, 1968-1969
Folder 7: Armistead Boothe, 1966
Folder 8: Breeden, Howell, and Roberts, 1967
Folder 9: L. Charles Burlage, 1972
Folder 10: Circular, The King Can Do No Wrong? or the Case of Howard Carwile, circa 1940
Folder 11: Colgate W. Darden, 1934-1942
Folder 12: Newspaper, The Portsmouth Sun, 1936 August 2: Colgate W. Darden, Jr.
Folder 13: Ralph H. Daughton, 1944-1945
Folder 14: William L. Dawson, Democratic National Committee, 1949, 1952
Folder 15: The Professional Committee For Contact, Gov. Thomas E. Dewey for President, 1940s
Folder 16: Duckworth-Etheridge-Page For City Council, 1950
Folder 17: Virginia Foster Durr, 1948
Folder 18: Horace H. Edwards, 1949
Folder 19: James W. Ford, 1934-1936
Folder 20: Mills Edwin Godwin, Jr., 1965-1968
Folder 21: Statement by Raymond Gottlieb, Norfolk City Budget Hearing, 1970 May 15: Includes invitation to cocktails with Raymond L. Gottlieb dated April 19, 1970.
Folder 22: Norman R. Hamilton, 1938
Folder 23: Circular, Even Justice and a Square Deal For All, Vote for Harding and Coolidge, 1920
Folder 24: Winder R. Harris, 1941 April 8
Folder 25: Hart For Senate Committee, James P. Hart, Jr., 1948
Folder 26: James W. Holley III, 1968
Folder 27: Independent Citizens For Holton, Reynolds, and Miller, 1969 October 22
Folder 28: Charles P. Howard, 1948
Folder 29: Henry Howell, 1963-1977
Folder 30: Freedom Democrats for the Johnson-Humphrey Ticket, 1964-1965
Folder 31: Joe Jordan, circa 1958-1977
Folder 32: Circular, Appeal to Reason!, Menalcus Lankford, 1928
Folder 33: Roy B. Martin, Jr., 1953-1970
Folder 34: Advance Norfolk: Martin, Perkins, Adams, and Thornton, 1966
Folder 35: Vote 5 for Norfolk: Martin, Nusbaum, Hughes, Hill, and Perry, 1970
Folder 36: Charles A. McDuffie, 1967
Folder 37: Francis Pickens Miller, 1949-1969
Folder 38: Lester V. Moore, 1966
Folder 39: Thomas W. Moss, Jr., 1967, 1971
Folder 40: Vivian L. Page, 1944
Folder 41: Republican Candidates for State Senate and House of Delegates, 1967: Parsons, Lustig, and Doumar; Keefe, Davis, Berman, Ogg, Baugh, and Hope.
Folder 42: Plunkett for Governor, 1945