Ethel Harper was an educator, entertainer, Girl Scout leader, and Civil Rights advocate who was a long time resident of Morris County, New Jersey. Born and raised in the South, Ms. Harper moved north in her early thirties. From the 1930's to the 1950's, she called New York City her home though she travelled often as a performer and singer in various roles. From the 1960's to the end of her life she resided in Morris County, New Jersey.
Ethel Earnestine Harper was born in Greensboro, Alabama on September 17, 1903 to Wiley W. Harper and Emma Louise Jones Harper. She was the youngest of five, and the only daughter. Both of her parents were teachers and administrators in the Alabama education system, a vocation she would also choose in her early working life.
When orphaned at the age of nine Ethel was first taken in by an aunt in Selma, Alabama. She would later live with her older brother and his wife. She graduated from high school at the age of fifteen, and by age 17 had graduated from the State Teachers College in Montgomery, Alabama. Like her parents, she taught school at all levels for many years. Unlike her parents however, she was also singing in bands at this time. While teaching at Parker High School in Birmingham, Alabama she also led her own group, the
Ethel moved to New York City in June 1936. Though she pursued teaching jobs at first, she ended up having a career in entertainment instead. Her singing career started when she won first place in an amateur hour at the Apollo Theater. Her prize was a weeks' engagement at the storied club. From there she went on to become part of a vocal trio known as the
In 1942 she joined a vocal quartet called
In May of 1954 she traveled to Italy as the star of a musical revue entitled
It was upon her return to New York City that she took on the role of Aunt Jemima. As the promoter of Quaker Oats Company's pancake syrup, her work consisted of radio, television, and in person appearances. She played the character of Aunt Jemima until 1958, entertaining at pancake festivals, schools, hospitals, and for civic organizations.
At the age of 55, Ethel Harper moved to Morris County, N.J. embarking on yet another career. From 1958 to 1967 she was the first black woman to become a professional in the Morris Area Girl Scout Council. During her time with the Girl Scouts she held various positions: Director, Program Coordinator, Staff Advisor and Committee chair. Other duties consisted of conducting workshops and directing an adult Girl Scout course for the Morris Area Girl Scout Council. After nine years with the New Jersey Girl Scouts, Ethel transferred to the Girl Scout Council of Greater New York. She worked here until June 30, 1969 when she retired from professional Girl Scouting.
Ethel Harper was also the first teacher of Black History in all of Morris County. Beginning in 1962 she began teaching black history courses at area adult, parochial, and private schools; including Morristown Adult School, the Parsippany Adult School, the Assumption School in Morristown and Fairleigh Dickinson University in Madison.
During her "retirement" Ethel Harper continued to work in different capacities in Morristown. She served as a Community Outreach Worker at Wetmore Towers, a senior citizens housing development, and she helped to sponsor an annual benefit program for Meals on Wheels. In addition, she became the host of a radio talk show called
Ethel Harper was an accomplished professional. She excelled in many capacities, garnering the esteem of her colleagues and the respect of many over the years. Ethel Harper died at the age of 76 on March 31, 1979.
The documents in the Ethel Earnestine Harper Papers include correspondence, photographs, personal art work, newspaper clippings, awards, certificates, teaching and lecture materials, speeches and ephemera. The collection materials are divided into five series.
This series contains correspondence, photographs, drawings, legal documents, and obituaries.
Series II details Ms. Harpers professional careers as school teacher, singer/actress, her role as Aunt Jemima, Girl Scout professional, Black History lecturer, and retirement activities. The records in this series include correspondence, news clippings, copies of speeches and lectures, photographs, and printed ephemera.
Series III is concerned with her many activities during her retirement, specifically as activist and lecturer. There was some overlap between her professional life and retirement. This series contains correspondence, newspaper clippings, and printed ephemera.
This series includes an autobiography, radio script, manuscript notes, poems, and speeches.
This collection is open to researchers. Records may be copied for use in individual scholarly or personal research, however, as with all materials in the North Jersey History Center researchers are responsible for obtaining copyright permission to use material from the collection. Material in the Ethel Earnestine Harper collection may be photocopied, but because this material is a permanent part of the History Center's collections, researchers are advised to photocopy with care, using only the edge copier for bound material.
The Papers of Ethel Earnestine Harper were donated to the Morristown and Morris Township Library in 1990, by the executors of Miss Harper's estate, Mrs. Elizabeth J. Robinson and Mr. John B. Robinson.
The Ethel Earnestine Harper Papers. North Jersey History Center, The Morristown and Morris Township Library.
Eileen Calvanelli, Summer 1991. Encoded by Mary McMahon Dawson, 2008. Finding aid revisions made September 2009.