371:. He proposed to her during one of her trips back home from Washington, D.C., where the couple were actually wed. The Rollas built a house on Cottey Street, later moving to a house on Ramey Street where they spent the next four decades of their marriage. The Rollas had no biological children, but took in needy people of all races: "drug addicts, refugees, abused children, orphans, alcoholics and drifters, all of whom called her mother."
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54:, and raised by her grandparents in Neches until the age of five. Her grandfather, William Hall, was a former slave from Mississippi; her grandmother, also born into slavery, had been given as a wedding gift to a white couple who came to Texas from South Carolina. Lenora's father was a farmer and her mother, Amanda Hall, worked as a maid in
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In 1988, Lenora and the
Tarrant County Black Historical and Genealogical Society secured a Texas Historical Marker for the James E. Guinn School in Fort Worth's south side. They attempted to save a group of shotgun houses near Magnolia Avenue, but the structures, historically occupied by blacks, were
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Throughout the 1980s, Rolla took
Tarrant County Black Historical and Genealogical Society displays to local schools and churches in order to correct widely held misconceptions about the role of African Americans in U.S. history. According to Rolla, "There's no such thing as black history in the
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Lenora Rolla was involved with religious and civil rights causes as a strong believer that civil rights group struggle without the support of churches in their communities. In 1946, she was a delegate to the
National Christian Missionary Convention; in 1954, she was elected president of the
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In 1997, the
Tarrant County Black Historical and Genealogical Society's papers were placed at the Fort Worth Public Library Archives. The Society's headquarters on Humbolt Street, which display artifacts and larger items from the collection, have been named the
331:. When this location, too, was outgrown, the collection moved to a two-story house on Humbolt Street. The home was historically significant as it has been the residence of Reverend A.L. Boone, and directly across the street from the Baker Chapel
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Seminar on World Order. She served as vice-president of the
Christian Churches of Texas, a board member of the Fort Worth Area Council of Churches, a board member of the United Christian Missionary Society, and the first female
261:" speech and Rolla called the "high point" of her life. About King, Rolla said, "He gave me motivation to keep on keeping on and to be less disturbed by our position... has given me more steel in my limbs and faith."
58:, sending money back home to the family. Lenora spent the summers in Fort Worth with her mother until she moved there permanently in 1909, living in servants' quarters and helping her mother with laundry and ironing.
30:(March 4, 1904 – June 29, 2001) was an activist, businesswoman, educator, and historian. The granddaughter of former slaves who grew up in poverty, Rolla became a civil rights leader and community activist in the
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Rolla was a longtime member of the
Community Christian Church in Fort Worth. She was a member of the Tarrant County Historical Commission, the Colored Federated Women's Club, American Woodmen, and
619:"Collection: Tarrant County Black Historical and Genealogical Society Records -- see External Documents for finding aid | The Fort Worth Library Local History Archives and Genealogy Collection"
323:. The collection was originally stored in the Rolla family's east Fort Worth home. When donations made it grow too large for the home, the collection was moved to the East Berry branch of the
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Lenora Rolla was described as having a "razor-sharp intelligence, keen sense of humor and courage to speak out." She died on June 29, 2001, and was buried at Cedar Hill
Memorial Park in
335:, a longtime center of the black community in Fort Worth. Lenora Rolla conceived the Society's logo of three interlocking keys, which was later drawn and refined by an inmate at the
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inspired Rolla to form the
Tarrant County Black Historical and Genealogical Society, which formed in 1977 with 21 charter members led by Rolla. Their first meeting was held at
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Rolla supported herself by taking in sewing and working at her uncle's insurance business, an industry in which she worked through the 1920s and 1930s. During the
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planning committee and tasked with gathering the history of
African Americans in early Fort Worth history. This project and the release of Alex Haley's
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Rolla attended the Cooper Street School in
Trezevant Hill, a historic African-American community in what is now Fort Worth's hospital district, and was
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United States of America. We have only one history, American history, and if we taught American history, there'd be no need for me to sit up here."
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292:. She visited a number of African countries in 1980 as a missionary and again in 1994 as part of a "homeland" tour based on Alex Haley's
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218:. In the 1950s, she founded the Hattie Street Haven community center in a former fire station on Fort Worth's east side. She organized
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and was awarded a War Service Certificate for her leadership. By 1949, she had married, returned to Fort Worth, and become a licensed
34:. In 1977, she founded the Tarrant County Black Historical and Genealogical Society, whose history museum is named in honor of Rolla.
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against local businesses that refused to hire blacks and "get out the vote" rallies in Chicago and Fort Worth.
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benefit to end homelessness, standing along Lancaster Avenue with her friend and fellow activist, Opal Lee.
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and then to a dedicated building on East Rosedale next door to the home of Manet Helen Fowler, daughter of
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presented a congressional resolution honoring Lenora Rolla and a similar resolution was presented in the
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1990 - Received the William E. Jary, Jr. Memorial Award from the Tarrant County Historical Commission
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1999 - March 4 declared Lenora Rolla Day in Fort Worth in celebration of her 95th birthday
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405:. 450 people attended a dinner at the Sycamore Park Recreation Center honoring Rolla.
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Through her leadership in the civil rights movement, Rolla met and was influenced by
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World Convention in Ontario, Canada. She was a delegate at both the 1950 and 1955
862:"Tarrant County Historical Commission Annual Historical Program Award Recipients"
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Tong, Betsy C.M. (1989-02-17). "Alumni to thank teachers of I.M. Terrell High".
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Gilberto, Julie (1987-01-18). "Fort Worth recalls King's magnetism, dream".
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1999 - Inducted into the Pioneer Hall of Fame at Jarvis Christian College
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Yee, Laura (1986-01-20). "Gospel jubilee honors Martin Luther King Jr".
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Edwards, Frances (1964-10-03). "Missionary Society Gets New President".
155:, Rolla worked as the supervisor of the clerical and typing pool at the
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1971 - March 19 declared Lenora Rolla Day by the mayor of Fort Worth.
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1994 - Named a Forum Fellow by the Leadership Fort Worth organization
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movement, an anti-poverty social movement that was still subject to
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Lenora Rolla (née Butler) was born March 4, 1904, near the towns of
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Porter, Louis (1981-06-20). "Society preserves history of blacks".
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Yee, Laura (1986-03-06). "She's 'mom' to all who need nurturing".
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Precinct Workers Council, which advocated for elimination of the
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speak at Howard University and worked with civil rights activist
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Tarrant County Black Historical and Genealogical Society Records
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1983 - Received a First Century Distinguished Alumni Award from
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Tarrant County Black Historical and Genealogical Society images
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Jones, Jim (1989-03-12). "Black churches' light still aflame".
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Lenora married Jacob "Jake" Rolla (1888-1984), a native of
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1986 - Inducted into the Texas Black Women's Hall of Fame
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Rolla's efforts were recognized locally and nationally:
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Tarrant County Black Historical and Genealogical Society
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Life of Lenora Rolla : a citizen shapes her world
249:'s Conference on Community Leaders, sponsored by the
816:"First Century Distinguished Alumni Award Winners".
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In 1974, Lenora Rolla was appointed to Fort Worth's
378:. Rolla helped found the Fort Worth Urban League.
257:, in which Martin Luther King, Jr. presented his "
210:In the 1940s and 1950s, Rolla was a member of the
177:in East Texas. She worked for Texas state senator
740:Brady, Jim (1988-02-28). "Black History Month".
457:1989 - Named the Outstanding Woman of Fort Worth
419:I Lenora: The Woman Who Triumphed Over All Odds,
69:in 1916. In 1921, she graduated from the famous
23:Lenora Rolla and Lyndon B. Johnson in the 1960s
927:in Fort Worth Public Library Digital Archives
429:National Conference for Community and Justice
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207:at Fort Worth's Community Christian Church.
966:Activists for African-American civil rights
463:1994 - Received the Pioneer Award from the
337:Fort Worth Federal Correctional Institution
580:"Mrs. Rolla Honored for Life of Service".
562:: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (
831:Jones, Jim (1989-05-13). "Going strong".
194:organization. In 1953 Rolla spoke at the
785:"Fort Worth Home Displays Black History"
296:saga and organized by the author's son.
245:. In 1963, she was selected to serve on
183:Fort Worth Museum of Science and History
88:. She completed a mathematics degree at
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251:Equal Employment Opportunity Commission
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890:"Fellows – Leadership Fort Worth"
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423:University of Texas at Arlington
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530:Augusta., Gooch (19 May 2013).
449:National Endowment for the Arts
427:1987 - Received award from the
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417:1986 - Biographical exhibit,
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175:Jarvis Christian College
71:I.M. Terrell High School
38:Early life and education
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439:African American Museum
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846:"Community Calendar".
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243:Montgomery bus boycott
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756:"LENORA ROLLA MUSEUM"
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941:Activists from Texas
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435:They Showed the Way
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255:March on Washington
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196:Disciples of Christ
141:Mary McLeod Bethune
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961:2001 deaths
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179:Don Kennard
147:during the
145:White House
118:proofreader
94:Mississippi
935:Categories
896:2018-12-08
875:2018-12-08
799:2018-12-08
770:2018-12-08
628:2018-12-08
481:References
399:Jim Wright
282:Alex Haley
134:First Lady
56:Fort Worth
52:East Texas
558:cite book
550:867742817
149:Roosevelt
50:in rural
44:Palestine
793:Archived
764:Archived
220:boycotts
216:poll tax
189:Activism
63:baptized
120:at the
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443:Dallas
284:, and
108:Career
48:Neches
865:(PDF)
317:Roots
294:Roots
205:elder
564:link
546:OCLC
536:ISBN
534:. .
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