The Rickman Photograph Collection - Ohio History Connection

New Collection Spotlight: The Elminie and James Rickman collection

Posted August 12, 2024

Topics: African American HistoryArchives & Library

Tagged with: archival collectionsarchivesarchives/libraryphotographs

The Ohio History Connection recently acquired a new donation of material related to collection AV 10: Rick's Child Guidance Center collection. This new addition had numerous photographs of students, staff, and events at the school. Beyond that, it also contained photographs and ephemera that documented the lives of Elminie Rickman, the founder of the school, and her husband, James Rickman, outside of the school. While much of this new acquisition was added into AV 10, during processing it became clear many of these photographs needed their own collection to better tell the story of James and Elminie Rickman. That new collection became AV 478: Elminie and James Rickman collection.

Elminie Rickman’s biography can be found in the finding aid for AV 10. However, these photographs provided some previously unknown formation. For example, we learned she was a member of the Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority as well as the Top Ladies of Distinction and the Continental Society. However, the most exciting facet of this collection was the information we learned about James Rickman. James did not feature nearly as much in the previous Rick’s Child Guidance collection. This recent donation provided invaluable information about his life and career.

James Rickman was born June 9, 1922 in Middleport, Ohio to parents Earl Rickman and Cassie Bess. He was one of eight children in total: four boys and four girls. Later in life, his siblings lived in Ohio, Michigan, California and Florida. He had an excellent academic career. He graduated from Middleport High School with scholastic honors. He attended Wilberforce University where he graduated cum laude with a Bachelor of Science in Education in 1940. While at the university he also studied history, political and social sciences. He then went on to earn a master’s degree in education at Ohio State University.

After graduating, he served in the army during World War II. He spent three and a half years in the army before being honorably discharged as a Staff Sergeant. Once his military career was over, James Rickman went on to work for the post office. He did so for eleven years before attending Franklin University School of Law to receive a Bachelor of Law. He received his Doctor of Jurisprudence from Capital University School of Law. He was admitted to the bar in 1961 and went to work for the Bureau of Workmen’s Compensation as an assistant attorney general starting in 1963. He later went into private practice. At the start of his legal career, in 1961, Governor Michael Disalle appointed Rickman a Notary Public for the State of Ohio for a three-year term. In 1964 Governor James Rhodes reappointed him “so long as he [remained] in good standing before the Supreme Court of Ohio.” Later Governor Rhodes also appointed Rickman to the Central State University Board of Trustees.

Beyond his legal career, James Rickman was also a member of numerous social and professional organizations. He was a Mason, as well as a member of Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity, the Franklin County Republican Club, Frontiers of America, the Columbus Bar Association and the Ohio State Bar association.

In addition to all of this wonderful information, the collection also showcases the relationship between James and Elminie Rickman. The photographs and documents highlight family functions, vacations, and parties. Photographs of the couple at numerous professional and social events are available to view. There are also six 8mm film reels of their vacations. It adds to the wealth of information already available in other collections related to Rick's Child Guidance center.