Collection Details:

Collection Name and Number: Jefferson Military College Papers (Z/0059.001).
Creator/Collector: Jefferson Military College.
Date(s): 1840-1965.
Size: 31 cubic feet.
Language(s): English.
Processed by: MDAH staff.
Provenance: Gift of Donor, of Place, State, on Date; Z/U/XXXX.XXX.
Repository: Archives & Records Services Division, Mississippi Department of Archives & History.

 

Rights and Access:

Access restrictions: Collection is open for research.

Publication rights: Copyright assigned to the MDAH. All requests for permission to publish or quote from manuscripts must be submitted in writing to Reference Services. Permission for publication is given on behalf of the MDAH as the owner of the physical items and as the owner of the copyright in items created by the donor. Although the copyright was transferred by the donor, the respective creator may still hold copyright in some items in the collection. For further information, contact Reference Services.

Copyright notice: This material may be protected by copyright law (Title 17, U.S. Code).

Preferred citation: Jefferson Military College Papers (Z/0059.001), Mississippi Department of Archives & History.

 

History:

Jefferson Military College

The Jefferson Military College Papers is an addition to the Jefferson College Papers, and together the two collections cover almost the entire span of existence of the first chartered institution in the state of Mississippi. A fire in 1947 destroyed nearly everything from 1910 to that date; therefore most of this collection is dated 1947–1964. The period from 1949 to 1964 was one of constant financial trouble and, consequently, extensive fund raising by the board of trustees. After the George Armstrong affair, 1949–1950, donations poured in from all over the country, but soon the school was back in financial straits.

 In 1964, Jefferson Military College closed its doors after 162 years. The Department of Archives and History obtained title to the property from the State Building Commission, and in January and February 1969, the papers were removed to the Department.

 
Scope and Content Note:

The Jefferson Military College Papers is an addition to the Jefferson College Papers, and together the two collections cover almost the entire span of existence of the first chartered institution in the state of Mississippi. A fire in 1947 destroyed nearly everything from 1910 to that date; therefore most of this collection is dated 1947–1964. The period from 1949 to 1964 was one of constant financial trouble and, consequently, extensive fund raising by the board of trustees. After the George Armstrong affair, 1949–1950, donations poured in from all over the country, but soon the school was back in financial straits.

Most of the correspondence, which is arranged alphabetically, concerns appeals to wealthy and influential people for donations. Included in the correspondence files are letters to or from the following: Charlotte Capers, Byron de la Beckwith, Gov. Dan E. Garvey of Arizona, Gov. W. Averell Harriman of New York, Gen. Douglas MacArthur, William D. McCain, Willard L. McIlwain, John J. McKeithen, R. A. McLemore, Rep. George Mahon of Texas, Rear Admiral Hyman G. Rickover, Elizabeth Searcy, Sen. John C. Stennis, Seymour Weiss, Gov. Hugh L. White and Rep. John Bell Williams.

Aside from the general correspondence, the remainder of the collection has been processed into certain groups, arranged chronologically: early college papers; Board of Trustees, correspondence, papers and fiscal papers; fiscal papers, miscellaneous bills and invoices, deposit slips, bank statements, checks and check stubs; miscellaneous papers: correspondence concerning students, staff speeches, JMC printed material, newspaper clippings, and lists of contributors and students. Another file, general fiscal papers, is arranged alphabetically by either subject or name of business.

The collection is arranged in the following order:

  • Box 1. Early College Papers, n.d., 1840–1929; early imprints; blank forms
  • Boxes 2–34. Board of Trustees, correspondence and papers, n.d., 1950–1963
  • Box 39. Board of Trustees, correspondence and papers, 1963–1964; George W. Armstrong, 1949; Fiscal papers, 1948–1953
  • Box 40. Board of Trustees, fiscal papers, 1953–1964; Admiral Merrill's Report to Board, 1949–1950; Check stubs, 1950–1957
  • Boxes 41–57. Fiscal papers, alphabetical
  • Boxes 58–62. Fiscal papers, miscellaneous bills and invoices, n.d., 1960–1965
  • Boxes 63–72. Fiscal papers, deposit slips, bank statements, canceled checks and check stubs, 1947–1958
  • Box 73. Correspondence and papers concerning students, n.d., 1943–1964; testing material
  • Box 74. Speeches: Merrill, Riser, Dupre, Peabody; Photographs; architectural and topographical drawings
  • Box 75. Jefferson Military catalogs; commencement programs; miscellaneous Jefferson Military College printed material
  • Boxes 76–77. Newspaper clippings
  • Box 78. List of contributors
  • Boxes 79–81. List of students
  • Box 82. List of students' and parents' addresses, n.d. (vol. 1); List of students, "Matriculation Pledges," 1900–1902 (vol. 2); List of students' and parents' addresses, Sept. 13, 1938 (vol. 3); List of students and addresses, 1940–1949 (vol. 4)
  • Box 83. vol. 5, Cadet Battalions and Companies, 1900; Library books, 1901–1908; vol. 6, Cadet General Orders, 1908–1910; vol. 7, Cadet General Orders, 1912–1916
  • Box 84. vol. 8, Junior Court Record, Merits and Demerits, n.d.; vol. 9, Merits and Demerits, 1912.; vol. 10, Merits and Demerits, 1915–1918; vol. 11, Merits and Demerits, 1918–1919; vol. 12, Student Class Record, 1906–1910
  • Box 85. vol. 13, Day Pupils Record, 1912–1917; vol. 14, Donations, 1949–1950; vol. 15, Scrapbook of letters received concerning George W. Armstrong, 1949–1950; vol. 16, Scrapbook of letters received concerning George W, Armstrong, 1949–1950
  • Boxes 86–87. Miscellaneous printed material. vol. 17. Donations, 1949–1964; vol. 18. Student Tuition Accounts, 1940–1947; vol. 19. Student Tuition Accounts, 1948; vol. 20. General Bookkeeping Ledger, 1963–1964, unbound, wrapped. Wrapped items: "Bugle and Drums," June 15, 1837; March 1939; January 1940, April 1940.; "The Bugler," February 19, 1955; history of Lorenzo Dow, n.d., broadside
  • Box 88. Guest Register, Historical Park & Museum, April 1972.