The Ella Barksdale Brown Papers document her life as an educator, anti-lynching activist, suffragist and journalist, and span the dates 1885 to 1952, although the bulk is from 1906 to 1926. The papers consist of correspondence, printed material and financial papers documenting Brown’s involvement with war relief efforts, teaching, women’s rights, civil rights and other social issues mostly pertaining to African Americans during the early twentieth century. 

The correspondence documents Ella Barksdale Brown’s personal and professional relationships including those with figures and organizations prominent in the civil rights movement. The printed materials document her interest in education and particularly her life as an educator. Her personal writings include two speeches/essays entitled “The Negro’s Burden” and “The Negro’s Contribution” (both undated) plus other short writings that document her work as a civil rights activist, educator and anti-lynching activist. A group of financial papers document Brown’s and her family’s ownership of property in New Jersey and Georgia.