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 17: Subject Files, 1913-1962

Folder 1: Ephemera, Black Americana, 1913
Folder 2: Certificate, Piedmont Sanatorium, circa 1920
Folder 3: Sports and Officiating, Samuel F. Coppage, Sr., 1924-1970
Folder 4: Clippings, Sports, 1950-1975
Folder 5: A Statement Concerning Presidential Appointees and Other Colored Men and Women Employed by the Federal Government, circa 1930
Folder 6: Lists, Suggested Work and Projects for Persons Employed or Under Relief with VERA, circa 1930
Folder 7: Voter Registration Card, S. F. Coppage, 1933 December 4
Folder 8: Certificate and Pin, Delegate to 2nd District Democratic Convention, Norfolk, Virginia, 1941 February 28
Folder 9: Air Raid Defense, circa 1941-1942
Folder 10: Advertisements, Negro History Week, 1944, 1956
Folder 11: Circular, One Fourth of Our People by Paul B. Comely, 1945
Folder 12: Resolution, Norfolk Delegates to the State Democratic Convention, Richmond, Virginia, 1946 September 5
Folder 13: Journal and Guide Annual Honor Roll, 1948-1949
Folder 14: Housing, circa 1948-1955
Folder 15: Housing, Oakwood, circa 1956
Folder 16: Clippings, Fair Housing, 1966-1967
Folder 17: Newsletter, NCDH Trends In Housing, 1967 November: Volume 11, Number 9.
Folder 18: Brochure, Our Medical Schools - Will They Be Next? by James E. Buckley, 1949
Folder 19: Madam Daniels' School of Beauty Culture / Negro Beautician of the State of Virginia, 1949, circa 1960
Folder 20: Booklet, Leaders in their fields, presented by Pepsi-Cola Company, circa 1950
Folder 21: Moton Conference Center, circa 1950
Folder 22: Paper, Negro Higher and Professional Education in Virginia, circa 1950
Folder 23: Skit, It Can Happen Here, written by Clarence E. Thompson, circa 1950
Folder 24: Paper, Suggestive Health Education Program For the National Congress of Colored Parents and Teachers, circa 1950
Folder 25: Newspaper, Virginia Education Bulletin, 1950 February
Folder 26: Newsletter, Aging, 1951, 1953
Folder 27: Correspondence, Father Flanagan's Boys' Home, 1951 Christmas
Folder 28: Newspaper, Daily Bulletin, 1952 September 17: Journal of the American Hospital Association.
Folder 29: Newspaper, Public Affairs in Virginia, 1953 April
Folder 30: Article, "Southerners Will Like Integration" by Sarah Patton Boyle, 1955 February 19: The Saturday Evening Post.
Folder 31: Prayer Pilgrimage For Freedom, 1957 May 17
Folder 32: Book Cover, Norfolk, Virginia Emergency Numbers, 1958
Folder 33: Flier, A Pilgrimage of Prayer for Public Schools on Emancipation Day, 1959 January 1
Folder 34: Ordinance No. 19,889, Sidewalks along Myrtle Avenue, 1959 April 21
Folder 35: Questions Submitted to Dr. S. F. Coppage, Civic Leader, Norfolk, Virginia, 1959 June 16
Folder 36: Map and Flag, City of Norfolk, circa 1960s
Folder 37: Roscoe Conkling Brown, circa 1960
Folder 38: Refusal to participate in All-America award presentation, circa 1960 February
Folder 39: Magazine, Norfolk, 1960 May: Volume 22, Number 5.
Folder 40: Correspondence and Clippings relating to racial integration in Norfolk's museums, 1960-1961
Folder 41: Democratic Victory Mary McCloud Bethune Memorial Dinner, 1960-1961
Folder 42: Magazine, Negro History Bulletin, 1960-1961, 1976
Folder 43: Periodical, The Journal of Negro History, 1961 April
Folder 44: Speech, The South and the Nation, Lenoir Chambers, UNC Commencement, 1961 June 5
Folder 45: Program, Conference on The Role of Education in the Field of Aging, 1961 November
Folder 46: Commencement Address, Lawrence E. Spivak, Shaw University, 1962 May 28