Evelyn Jones Rich Papers

Evelyn Jones Rich, was born in the 1930s in Philadelphia, PA. She enrolled at Bryn Mawr College in 1950, becoming one of the first Black residential students of the institution. While at Bryn Mawr, she was very active in student organizations like Students for Democratic Action. In 1954, she graduated with a Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science, and continued her education at Hunter College where she received a Master’s Degree in Social Studies. Rich later attended Columbia University where she earned a Master’s Degree in Philosophy and Ph.D. in African History and Education. She also obtained a Certificate in Business at New York University. Her first job was in 1962 as a Social Studies teacher in the New York Public School System. She later became Director of the School Services Division of the African-American Institute, Principal of Andrew Jackson High School, Associate Dean at Hunter College, and the Executive Director of Shelley and Donald Rubin Foundation. In 1993, she opened a consulting firm Rich Solutions, and became President of the Labor Arts, which is a virtual web museum which celebrates the artistic and cultural heritage of the labor movement and working people. In 2006, Rich became Executive Director of the NYC Americans for Democratic Action.