Z 1822.000
RANKIN (JAMES E.) COLLECTION


James E. Rankin was involved in planning and coordinating the inaugural activities of governors-elect Paul Burney Johnson, Jr., John Bell Williams, and William Lowe Waller; and the James E. Rankin Collection reflects his sustained involvement in gubernatorial inaugural activities. The collection's greatest strength lies in its documentation of the custom, precedent, protocol, and tradition associated with such important state occasions as gubernatorial inaugurations. The greatest percentage of documentation in the collection lies in the files pertaining to the Waller inauguration. Of special importance are designs for the inaugural platform and seating diagrams for dignitaries and guests.

The collection also contains a variety of political ephemera from the late 1950s to the early 1970s. This material documents numerous federal, state, and local election campaigns for political office during that period. This material was received and/or collected by James E. Rankin from many sources.

The James E. Rankin Collection is divided into the following subgroups and series.

Series Identification

  • Subgroup 1: Inauguration of Governor-elect Paul Burney Johnson, Jr.
    •
    1. Inaugural File. 1964. 11 items.
    2. Inaugural Printed Matter. 1964. 1 item.
  • Subgroup 2: Inauguration of Governor-elect John Bell Williams.
    •
    1. Inaugural File. 1967–1968. 40 items.
    2. Inaugural Printed Matter. 1968. 2 items.
  • Subgroup 3: Inauguration of Governor-elect William Lowe Waller.
    •
    1. Inaugural File. 1971–1972. 171 items.
    2. Inaugural Printed Matter. 1972. 16 items.
  • Subgroup 4: Political Campaign Ephemera.
    •
    1. Political Campaign Ephemera (miscellaneous). 1959; 1963;1971; n.d. 82 items.

Subgroup Listing; Series Identification and Description

  • Subgroup 1: Inauguration of Governor-elect Paul Burney Johnson, Jr.
    •
    1. Inaugural File. 1964. 11 items. Includes correspondence; memoranda; financial papers; programs; invitation lists; and other records of the committee and subcommittees responsible for planning and staging various activities associated with the inauguration of Paul Burney Johnson Jr., on January 21, 1964. Arranged chronologically. Box 1, folder 1.
    2. Inaugural Printed Matter. 1964.1 item. Manual of guidelines for conducting the inaugural parade of Paul Burney Johnson, Jr., scheduled for January 21, 1964. Box 1, folder 2.
  • Subgroup 2: Inauguration of Governor-elect John Bell Williams.
    •
    1. Inaugural File. 1967–1968. 40 items. Includes minutes; correspondence; memoranda; contracts; itineraries; programs; lists of inaugural committee members; VIP guest lists; invitation lists; and other records of the committee and subcommittees responsible for planning and staging various activities associated with the inauguration of John Bell Williams on January 16, 1968. Arranged chronologically. Box 1, folders 3–4.
    2. Inaugural Printed Matter. 1968. 2 items. Program of the inaugural ceremonies of John Bell Williams held on January 16, 1968; manual of guidelines for conducting the inaugural parade of John Bell Williams on January 16, 1968. Box 1, folders 5–6.
  • Subgroup 3: Inauguration of Governor-elect William Lowe Waller.
    •
    1. Inaugural File. 1971–1972; n.d. 171 items. Includes correspondence; memoranda; financial records; contracts; notes; itineraries; lists of inaugural committee members; VIP guest lists; invitation lists; inaugural platform designs; seating diagrams; photographs; and other records of the committee and subcommittees responsible for planning and staging various activities associated with the inauguration of William Lowe Waller on January 18, 1972. Arranged chronologically. Box 1, folders 7–9.
    2. Inaugural Printed Matter. 1972. 16 items. Includes a variety of printed ephemera and memorabilia such as inaugural ball programs; inaugural ceremonies programs; inaugural parade manuals; inaugural passes and tickets; inaugural prayer service programs; and inaugural staff ribbons that would have been used during the inauguration of William Lowe Waller on January 18, 1972. Box 1, folders 10–16.
  • Subgroup 4: Political Campaign Ephemera.
    •
    1. Political Campaign Ephemera (miscellaneous).1959; 1963; 1971; n.d. 82 items. Includes miscellaneous political campaign letters, broadsides, brochures, bumper stickers, cards, and postcards pertaining to various Mississippi federal, state, and local election campaigns. Arranged alphabetically by name of individual. Box 2, folders 1–53.