Finding Aids: PVAMU Special Collections and Archives : Florida Yeldell Papers

Creator: Florida Jackson Yeldell

Title of Collection: Florida Yeldell Papers

Dates: 1966-1975

Extent: 0. 75 Linear feet (1 box)

Abstract: Florida Jackson Yeldell was a history educator at Prairie View University. In the 1960s, Yeldell accepted a position in the History Department at Prairie View A&M University, where she taught courses in Western civilization, American history, and social studies. In the early 1970s, she earned a second master's degree in Geography at California State University at Chico. She remained very active at PVAMU until her retirement in 1979 and continued to teach at Houston Community College for almost a decade.

Biographical Note: Florida Jackson Yeldell was a history educator at Prairie View University. She was born in Georgetown, South Carolina, on January 2, 1915, to Janie Elizabeth Anderson Jackson and Robert Jackson. At age fifteen, she went to boarding school at Morris College in Sumter, where she earned her bachelor’s degree in English in 1936. Upon graduation, she moved to Andrews, South Carolina, and she taught fifth and sixth graders. During the Great Depression, she received a scholarship from the National Youth Administration to study history at Howard University, where she earned a master’s degree in 1941. During World War II, she worked for the War Department, first in Washington and later in Newark, New Jersey. She started her long career teaching at colleges in Texas Butler College, Jarvis Christian College, and Texas College. In the 1960s, Yeldell accepted a position in the History Department at Prairie View A&M University, where she taught courses in Western civilization, American history, and social studies. In the early 1970s, she earned a second master's degree in Geography at California State University at Chico. She remained very active at PVAMU until her retirement in 1979 and continued to teach at Houston Community College for almost a decade. In 2004, she was awarded an Honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters by Coastal Carolina University, which honored her lifelong contributions as an educator. Florida Jackson Yeldell died on May 25, 2006.

Arrangement: Florida Jackson Yeldell was a history educator at Prairie View University. She was born in Georgetown, South Carolina, on January 2, 1915, to Janie Elizabeth Anderson Jackson and Robert Jackson. At age fifteen, she went to boarding school at Morris College in Sumter, where she earned her bachelor’s degree in English in 1936. Upon graduation, she moved to Andrews, South Carolina, and she taught fifth and sixth graders. During the Great Depression, she received a scholarship from the National Youth Administration to study history at Howard University, where she earned a master’s degree in 1941. During World War II, she worked for the War Department, first in Washington and later in Newark, New Jersey. She started her long career teaching at colleges in Texas at Butler College, Jarvis Christian College, and Texas College. In the 1960s, Yeldell accepted a position in the History Department at Prairie View A&M University, where she taught courses in Western civilization, American history, and social studies. In the early 1970s, she earned a second master's degree in Geography at California State University at Chico. She remained very active at PVAMU until her retirement in 1979 and continued to teach at Houston Community College for almost a decade. In 2004, she was awarded an Honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters by Coastal Carolina University, which honored her lifelong contributions as an educator. Florida Jackson Yeldell died on May 25, 2006.

Identification: UA 0027

Repository: Special Collections/Archives Department, John B. Coleman Library, Prairie View A&M University