The Champaign County Historical Archives has recently processed the papers of Jean F. Burkholder, a former Urbana School Board president, active community member, and social rights activist.
Storage boxes housing the Jean F. Burkholder papers
Burkholder’s lifelong involvement in the Urbana community began when she and her husband, mathematician Donald Burkholder, moved to Urbana in 1955. Having a background in sociology and Adlerian Psychology, Jean quickly became involved in organizations that focused on the needs of children and low income families, on neighborhood integration and desegregation, and on housing and urban planning. She joined the Council of Community Integration in 1956, served as a co-chairman of the Champaign County League of Women Voters Housing Committee, and became the first chairman of the Urbana Human Relations Commission in 1968. She was passionate about promoting social services, improving low income housing, encouraging people to vote, and lessening the gaps between social and racial groups.
In addition to her interest in improving the city’s housing, Jean was also interested in youth and family education, and served on the Urbana School Board for 22 years (1975-1997). She believed that education was a right of every child, and initiated discussions on individual education, discipline, family problem solving, and the importance of self-esteem. She served as president of the Council of Parent-Teacher-Student Associations (PTSA), has chaired the Urbana PTA Human Relations and Mental Health Committees, co-chaired the Champaign County Youth Services Consortium, and was a study group leader for the Champaign Family Education Association.
Vote for Jean Burkholder! Here is a flyer from Burkholder’s 1975 School Board Election Campaign
The Jean F. Burkholder Collection provides an excellent glance at the Urbana-Champaign community from the early 1960s-1990s. Some of the focus points include Urbana School Board administrative records and correspondence, school board campaign materials, materials on the closing of Leal Elementary School, educational materials and publications, and the records of various community organizations.
Interested in learning more about the history of the Urbana District 116 School District and Urbana community organizations? Come see the Jean Burkholder Collection today!
-Katie, Archives Intern