Jean Childs Young Papers

"Working for Freedom: Documenting Civil Rights Organizations" is a collaborative project between Emory University's Manuscript, Archives and Rare Book Library, The Auburn Avenue Research Library on African American Culture and History, The Amistad Research Center at Tulane University, and The Robert W. Woodruff Library of Atlanta University Center to uncover and make available previously hidden collections documenting the Civil Rights Movement in Atlanta and New Orleans. The project is administered by the Council on Library and Information Resources with funds from the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation. Each organization regularly contributes blog posts about their progress.

From the moment Andrew and Jean Young moved to Atlanta in 1961, they made it their home. For decades, they dedicated much of their time and lives to improving the lives of the people and the city itself.

By Cheryl Oestreicher, Project Archivist, Jean Childs Young Papers, Auburn Avenue Research Library

"Working for Freedom: Documenting Civil Rights Organizations" is a collaborative project between Emory University's Manuscript, Archives and Rare Book Library, The Auburn Avenue Research Library on African American Culture and History, The Amistad Research Center at Tulane University, and The Robert W. Woodruff Library of Atlanta University Center to uncover and make available previously hidden collections documenting the Civil Rights Movement in Atlanta and New Orleans. The project is administered by the Council on Library and Information Resources with funds from the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation. Each organization regularly contributes blog posts about their progress.

Jean Childs Young devoted much of her professional career to education. With both a bachelor’s and master’s in education, Young taught at Atlanta’s Whiteford and Slaton Elementary Schools in the 1960s. She served as coordinator of elementary and pre-school curriculum for Atlanta Public Schools (APS), in particular the Central City Program started in 1969. Focused on improving standards and staff development for teachers working at inner city schools, the CCP’s objectives included updating curriculum for all subjects, improving reading skills, and emphasizing students' successes not failures.

By Cheryl Oestreicher, Project Archivist, Jean Childs Young Papers

A surprise while processing the Andrew J. Young Papers was the extent of the material from his wife of 40 years, Jean Childs Young. Though her role as Andrew’s wife raised her to prominence locally, nationally, and internationally, she also forged her own identity and career, now reflected in the Jean Childs Young Papers. Her activism extended to the Civil Rights Movement, education, children, women, African-Americans, and many other political and social interests.