Z 2146.000 Melton (Anne Jane Williams) Papers, Accretion

Z 2146.000 S
MELTON (ANNE JANE WILLIAMS) PAPERS, ACCRETION

Anne Jane Williams was born in Hazlehurst, Copiah County, Mississippi, on November 15, 1899. She was the daughter of William and Mary Magdalene Gaston Williams. After graduating from Central High School in Jackson, Hinds County, Mississippi, in 1917, Williams entered the Industrial Institute and College (later Mississippi University for Women) in Columbus, Lowndes County, Mississippi. Upon graduating from college in 1921, Williams returned to Jackson where she worked as private secretary to Governor Henry Lewis Whitfield. Williams subsequently married Julius Wemyss Melton of Jackson. The couple had three children, Julius Wemyss, Jr., Mary Gaston, and William E. Melton. After training as a Gray Lady, Melton worked for the American Red Cross in Jackson during World War II. Melton began working for the Mississippi Department of Archives and History as a research librarian in 1954, and she retired from that position in 1968. She was active in the Chaminade, Pioneer, and Research clubs, the Daughters of the American Revolution, the United Daughters of the Confederacy, and she was a founding member of the Mississippi Genealogical Society. Melton died at the age of eighty-eight on August 16, 1988.

This accretion includes the personal papers, academic and organizational papers, memorabilia, and printed material of Anne Jane Williams Melton.

The personal papers consist of correspondence and research notes. The correspondence is primarily concerned with Meltons genealogical research, as well as her activities in organizations such as the Daughters of the American Revolution, the Mississippi Genealogical Society, and the Research Club. Some scattered personal correspondence and receipts are also included. The research notes reflect Meltons genealogical work on the Holland, Pegues, and Travis families and several other allied families in Mississippi. The research notes also include scattered Bible and cemetery records.

The academic and organizational papers consist of American Red Cross certificates, a school notebook, a sewing book, yearbooks, programs, proceedings, a departmental report, and a scrapbook. The certificates document Meltons completion of American Red Cross "Hospital and Recreation Corps" and "Staff Assistance" courses. The school notebook contains Meltons class notes on Shakespeare, probably taken while she attended the Industrial Institute and College in Columbus, Lowndes County, Mississippi. The sewing book was compiled by Melton about 1915, and it contains examples of various types of stitches. The yearbooks and programs are from several of the organizations to which Melton belonged. Among those represented are the Chaminade Club, the Daughters of the American Revolution, Magnolia State Chapter, the Mississippi Genealogical Society, the Research Club, and the United Daughters of the Confederacy. Of interest are a copy of the proceedings of a 1958 genealogical institute, including a paper Melton presented at that meeting, and an annotated copy of the Biennial Report of the Mississippi Department of Archives and History (1957-1959). The scrapbook was compiled by members of the Junior Chaminade Club and later presented to Melton.

The memorabilia consists of a medal, ribbons, paper mementos, and ration books collected by Melton and her husband, Julius Wemyss Melton. Organizations and events represented include the American Legion, the Daughters of the American Revolution, and the Mississippi State Fair. There are also two World War II ration books of Melton.

The printed material consists of brochures, magazine articles, and newsclippings. Most of the newsclippings are of a series of articles entitled "From an Old Scrapbook," which appeared in the Clarion-Ledger of Jackson, Mississippi. The articles concern the history of the Jackson area or its residents. Two articles from the Mississippi Womans Magazine, an article from a 1916 issue of Our Heritage, and three annotated issues of the Confederate Veteran magazine are also included. The magazine articles are entitled "Capture of the Indianola," "Comrades at Jackson, Miss.," "What the South Stood For," and "When Vicksburg Was Besieged." The brochures are entitled "Name it Faith!" and "Visit Natchez, Mississippi."

1. Personal Papers. 1953-1961; n.d. 12 folders.

   Box 1, folders 1-12

2. Academic and Organizational Papers. ca. 1915-1975; n.d. 20 folders.

   Box 1, folders 13-22
   Box 2, folders 1-5
   Box 3, folders 1-5
   Box 4

3. Memorabilia. 1902-1953; n.d. 4 folders.

   Box 2, folders 6-9

4. Printed Material. 1896-1951; n.d. 14 folders.

   Box 2, folders 10-23

• Box 1, folders 1-11: personal papers, 1953-1961.
• Box 1, folders 12-22: academic and organizational papers, 1941-1967.
• Box 2, folders 1-5: academic and organizational papers, ca. 1915; 1957-1959; n.d.
• Box 2, folders 6-9: memorabilia, 1902-1953.
• Box 2, folders 10-23: printed material, 1896-1961.
• Box 3, folders 1-5: academic and organizational papers, 1933-1975.
• Box 4: scrapbook, n.d.