Ann Kron papers
Scope and Contents
The Ann Kron papers contain personal biographical records of Kron intermingled with records of the West Side Neighborhood Association (WSNA). Topics of records include resources on anti-racism, the Model Cities program, school desegregation and integration, local Lansing-area news and elections, WSNA meeting minutes, announcements, correspondence, and photographs.
Dates
- Creation: undated, 1927-2014
- Creation: Majority of material found within 1968 - 1980
Creator
- Kron, Ann, 1932-2017 (Person)
- West Side Neighborhood Association (Lansing, Mich.) (Organization)
Conditions Governing Access
The collection is open for research.
Conditions Governing Access
The material is stored off site. Please request 3 working days in advance if you wish to use it.
Conditions Governing Access
A health survey by Ann Kron has been removed from the collection and restricted.
Conditions Governing Use
Copyright is retained by the authors of the items in this collection, or their descendants, as stipulated by United States copyright law. For photocopy and duplication requests, please contact the Stephen O. Murray and Keelung Hong Special Collections, Michigan State University Libraries.
Biographical / Historical
Ann Beckel Kron (1932-2017) was born in Detroit. She attended Antioch College in Yellow Springs, Ohio, a school known for its groundbreaking racial integration policy. She met her husband, Walter Kron, in Ann Arbor. The Krons moved to Lansing in 1964. She spearheaded founding the West Side Neighborhood Association, which met in her living room, and served as its President for seven years. During her tenure, the WSNA saved the community-serving St. Lawrence hospital, spearheaded school racial integration, fought blockbusting and redlining, and fostered a vibrant neighborhood community through cook-outs, parades, and other community-building events. The Lansing State Journal recognized in 2015 that Lansing is the second most racially integrated city in Michigan, largely a result of Kron's community engagement and activism.
Extent
6.5 Linear Feet (8 boxes)
Language of Materials
English
Arrangement
The folders are arranged in alphabetical order. Original bundles have been retained whenever possible.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
The collection was donated by Ann and Walter Kron's daughter, E. Lisa Kron in 2019.
Separated Materials
The following publications were separated for cataloging: Bailey Community Association Newsletter, 1977 Boy's Club Challenge, 1979 City of Lansing Community Development, 1977 Eastside Neighborhood Organization newsletters, 1969-1983 focus: HOPE NEWS, 1978 GPNA Newsletter, 1979 Lansing Parks & Recreation Spring Newsletter, 1979 Lansing Star, 1976-1978 Lansing's Neighborhood Council Newsletter, 1990-1992 MSU Center for Urban Affairs news/notes, 1975-1981 MSU News-Bulletin, 1974 National Neighbors, 1980-1983 North Lansing Community Association Gazette, 1977 North Lansing Gazette, 1978 The Northville Record/The NOVI NEWS, 1969 Westside News, 1969-1970 Westsider, 1968-2003
Processing Information
Lydia Tang processed this collection in 2020. Processing included weeding out many duplicates and separating published newsletters for individual cataloging for enhanced discovery.
Sources consulted in creating this finding aid include:
"Ann Kron" obituary, Lansing State Journal, https://www.legacy.com/obituaries/lsj/obituary.aspx?n=ann-kron&pid=184866283&fhid=12964
Palmer, Ken, "Ann Kron fought for integration, stable neighborhoods," Lansing State Journal, 2017 April 7: https://www.lansingstatejournal.com/story/news/local/2017/04/07/ann-kron-fought-integration-stable-neighborhoods/100142784/
Westside NeighborhoodAssociation: https://www.wnalansing.com
Subject
- Kron, Ann, 1932-2017 -- Archives (Person)
- West Side Neighborhood Association (Lansing, Mich.) -- Archives (Organization)
- Title
- Finding Aid for the Ann Kron papers
- Author
- Lydia Tang
- Date
- 2020
- Description rules
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Latin
Repository Details
Part of the Stephen O. Murray and Keelung Hong Special Collections Repository