Adelaide B. Ball Papers, 1944-1979

Adelaide Buckingham Ball (1898-1983) was born in Newton and had the distinction of becoming the first woman to be elected to the Newton Board of Aldermen.

She spent her life in the family home at 35 Waban Street in Newton Corner, which had been purchased in 1866 by her grandfather the Reverend John A. Buckingham, minister of the Unitarian Church in Chestnut Hill.

Buckingham's father, Joseph T. Buckingham had been a publisher in Boston, editor of the “Boston Courier,” and served in both houses of the Massachusetts Legislature.

Rev. Buckingham's daughter Edith married William Sheldon Ball, also of Newton. Ball served on Newton's Board of Aldermen and Adelaide followed in her father's footsteps, winning a seat in 1953. She served as Ward 1 Alderman for sixteen years, but lost that seat for the 1957-1959 session. In 1959 she ran as an Alderman-at-Large for Ward 1, a post she retained until her retirement in 1971. She died April 29, 1983.

Adelaide Ball was active in the Girl Scouts, the United Fund War Campaign, Newton Community Club, the Human Relations Committee, the Newton Federation of Women's Clubs, the Newton Boy's Club, Newton YMCA, and the Friends of the Jackson Homestead. She served on the Board of Directors for Newton Junior College and the Newton Mental Health Center, and was a member of the Newton Republican Club and the Newton Women's Republican Club.

The papers in this collection pertain to Adelaide Ball's volunteer activities and to her political life. Materials relating to her political life include correspondence, press releases, news clipping, photographs, awards, and campaign ephemera. Photographs include images of Newton Mayors Whitmore, Basbas and Mann, Governor Frank Sargent, Attorney General Elliot Richardson, Senator Edward W. Brook, President Richard Nixon.

Additional materials relate to volunteer organizations and community affairs such as the Newton Housing Authority, Newton-Needham Chamber of Commerce, American Legion Post 440, and development of the Marriott Hotel.

No. of Boxes: 6 MS boxes
Finding Aids: Re-processed by Emily Ross (2013) Finding Aid: Adelaide Ball Papers
Originally processed by Maureen Murphy (1985)

References:
 VF-Ball Family, Finding Aid