Lebanon in Laclede County, Missouri — The American Midwest (Upper Plains)

Eleanor Briggans Ford 1920-1991

Photographed by Duane and Tracy Marsteller, April 6, 2025

1. Eleanor Briggans Ford 1920-1991 Marker

Inscription. Elnora Evelyn Briggans Ford was born on October 11, 1920, in Independence, Kansas.

Elnora grew up near Coffeyville, and graduated from Kansas State Teachers College in Pittsburg. Her first teaching job was in rural Wallace, Kansas teaching the children of migrant workers.

During World War II, Elnora worked at the Kansas Army Ammunition Plant in Parsons. She changed the spelling of her name to reflect her admiration for First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt. In the mid-1940s Eleanor moved to Lebanon, Missouri to teach at the Black Sumner School, later moved to another building and renamed after W.T. Vernon. Eleanor married Adolph Ford in Lebanon. She had two children, Eva Blake Ledbetter and Dr. James Ford.

In 1958, Eleanor Ford became the first African American educator in the newly integrated district. She served as librarian for elementary schools and spent the following twenty-seven years in the Lebanon school system. Known as an excellent storyteller, Mrs. Ford positively impacted thousands of young lives with a love of books and learning. Mrs. Ford was active in many organizations including Wyota Business

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and Professional Women's Club and the Mt. Lebanon United Methodist Church.

Learn more about Eleanor Briggans Ford at goodmorningmrsford.com

Erected 2020.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: African Americans • Education. A significant historical year for this entry is 1958.

Location. 37° 40.919′ N, 92° 39.696′ W. Marker is in Lebanon, Missouri, in Laclede County. It is at the intersection of Washington Avenue and East Commercial Street, on the right when traveling south on Washington Avenue. Marker is next to a mural on the side of a building. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 298 E Commercial St, Lebanon MO 65536, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in South-Central Missouri. It is also in the American Ozarks,

in the Lewis & Clark Corridor,

and in the Corn Belt.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture,

the Louisiana Purchase,

and the Antebellum South.

Other nearby markers. At

Photographed by Duane and Tracy Marsteller, April 7, 2025

2. Eleanor Briggans Ford 1920-1991 Marker

least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Richard Parks Bland (about 700 feet away, measured in a direct line); Lebanon (approx. 0.2 miles away); Ralph E. Burley House (approx. ¼ mile away); Veterans Memorial (approx. 0.4 miles away); War Memorial (approx. 0.4 miles away); “Stormin’ Norman Pipeline” (approx. 0.4 miles away); History of Lebanon African American United Service Organization (U.S.O.) Club (approx. 0.7 miles away); a different marker also named Lebanon (approx. 0.9 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Lebanon.

Also see . . . “Good Morning, Mrs. Ford”. Mrs. Eleanor Ford impacted so many lives: those of her family, friends, and thousands of students in the Lebanon, Missouri school system. (Kris Addison Bullard, webmaster) (Submitted on April 28, 2025, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee.)

Credits. This page was last revised on April 28, 2025. It was originally submitted on April 28, 2025, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee. This page has been viewed 192 times since then and 40 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on April 28, 2025, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee.