Women’s Suffrage National Monument Foundation Appoints Morgan State University Archivist to Its Council of Advisors

Ida E. Jones, Ph.D., associate director of Special Collections and university archivist at Morgan State University, was recently appointed to the Women’s Suffrage National Monument Foundation Council of Advisors. The Foundation is dedicated to preserving the multitude of diverse histories that collectively tell an inclusive and complete story of women’s fight for equality. With her new appointment, Dr. Jones will join a group of nationally recognized leaders and experts dedicated to recognizing American women’s history, public art, monuments and memorials, and civic engagement.

In 2020, U.S. Congress authorized the Foundation to design, develop, and construct the Women’s Suffrage National Monument in Washington D.C. as a symbol of women’s fight for full equality. With her professional expertise, Dr. Jones is well-equipped to support the work of the Foundation in fulfilling its mission.

An award-winning author, educator, Dr. Jones is a recognized leader in the field of African American women’s history. In her current role as the University Archivist and purveyor of the Beulah M. Davis Special Collections housed in the Earl S. Richardson Library, she successfully obtained three grants totaling $900,000.00 for the digitization of Morgan’s archival collections. Prior to working at Morgan State, Dr. Jones spent 15 years as Assistant Curator of Manuscripts in Howard University’s Moorland Spingarn Research Center, one of the world’s largest and most comprehensive repositories for the documentation of the history and culture of people of African descent in Africa, the Americas, and other parts of the world.

“The Foundation’s leadership model is intentionally structured to elevate a diversity of voices, experiences, and expertise that will collectively guide the organization’s work to build this monument,” said Dr. Colleen Shogan, chair of the Women’s Suffrage National Monument Foundation’s Board of Directors. “The Council of Advisors will play a critical role in guiding the Foundation’s work to establish a national monument in Washington, D.C., to commemorate women’s fight for the vote and honor the pioneers of the early American movement for women’s equality.”

Congratulations Dr. Jones on your appointment. Your selection reflects the truest exemplar of Morgan's award-winning  faculty and the University’s longstanding guardianship of the diverse contributions of African American culture, traditions, and historical figures.