Scope and Content Note:

Letters, business papers, and miscellaneous account books of Thomas E. Helm, a businessman of Jackson, and the diaries of his son, Erskine S. Helm (b. January 16, 1867). Thomas E. Helm served as director, vice-president, and president of the Jackson State Bank, Jackson; president of the Stanton House Company, Chattanooga, Tennessee; vice-president of the Planters Insurance Company, Jackson; president of Helm's Bank, Canton; and engaged in many other business enterprises. Some of the papers pertain to the affairs of John H. Odeneal, a son-in-law of Helm, who served as cashier of the Jackson State Bank; president of the Jackson Piano Company, Jackson; Secretary of the Jackson Gas Company, Jackson; and was a "Real Estate Agent and Breeder of Registered Jersey Cattle."

A few of the papers pertain to the Hugh W. Pierce family. In the papers are some items of interest as follows:

  • Three letters from Hal Runnels, who was interested in Nicaragua and William Walker, Harrisburg and Lynchburg, Texas (June 6, 1858 - February 10, 1859)
  • a receipt for a payment on the subscription of Helm to the "Planters, Manufacturers and Mechanics Fair Association of the State of Mississippi" (August 14, 1869)
  • five letters from W. B. Richardson (a son-in-law of Helm), Newton, to Helm (January 12, 1883 - November 5, 1907)
  • two letters from Sargeant Prentiss Knut, Washington, D.C. to Helm (November 30 - December 12, 1892)
  • three letters from Lamar Fontaine, Leland and Shaw, to Helm (December 21, 1888 - September 24, 1893)
  • five death and reunion notices of Ratliff's Battery, Company A, First Mississippi Regiment (Withers') of Light Artillery, C.S.A. (December 11, 1907 - June 3, 1908)
  • an announcement of the opening of the Capital Commercial College, Jackson (April 11, 1886)
  • letter from Katharine M. Power, "Kate Power's Review," Jackson, to Helm (n.d.)
  • various reports and papers pertaining to the Capital State Bank, the First National Bank of Jackson, the Building and Loan Association of Jackson, and the First Presbyterian Church of Jackson
  • various letters from J. A. P. Campbell, R. H. Thompson, W. L. Nugent, of Jackson; L. D. Powell and M. V. Powell, of Brookhaven; W. H. Powell, of Canton; Charles A. Lyerly, president of the Chattanooga National Bank
  • numerous letters and circulars from investment bankers.

The collection is distributed as to dates as follows:

  • n.d., 258
  • 1848-1849, 1
  • 1850-1859, 9
  • 1860-l869, 11
  • 1870-1879, 47
  • 1880-1889, 139
  • 1890-1899, 373
  • 1900-1909, 377
  • 1910-1917, 172

Most of the undated material is filed alphabetically by the name of the writer or subject and the dated material is filed chronologically. The forty-one volumes of account books and diaries are as follows:

  1. deposit book of Mrs. L. H. Pattison in account with the Capital State Bank, July 24. 1877 - January 25, 1878, pp. 2, 8.5 x 13 cm.
  2. deposit book of Thomas E. Helm in account with Helm's Bank, August 16, 1876 - March 11, 1878, and miscellaneous accounts, August 25, 1880 - June 24, 1888, p. 26, 10.5 x 17 cm.
  3. three deposit books of Thomas E. Helm in account with the Mutual National Bank of New Orleans, Louisiana: 
    1.  January 29, 1882 - November 23, 1883, pp. 7, 10.5 x 17 cm. 
    2.  May 8, 1883 - February 4, 1887, pp. 3, 10.5 x 17 cm.
    3.  July 10, 1886 - February 3, 1887. pp 2, 10.5 x 17 cm.
  4. seven deposit books of Thomas E. Helm in account with the Capital State Bank and its successor, the Capital National Bank, Jackson: 
    1. January 1, 1876 - February 6, 1879, pp. 47, 10.5 x 16.5 cm.
    2. September 8, 1880 - March 17, 1882, pp. 45, 12 x 18 cm.
    3. March 18, 1882 - October 25, 1883, pp. 46, 12 x 18 cm.
    4. October 26, 1883 - July 2, 1891, p. 120, 13 x 19.5 cm.
    5. March 14, 1885 - April 23, 1902, pp. 43, 8.5 x 21 cm.
    6. April 23, 1902 - November 21, 1914, pp. 48, 8.5 x 21 cm.
    7. executor, October 4, 1893 - July 10, 1915, pp. 42, 8.5 x 21 cm.
  5. deposit book of Thomas E. Helm in account with the Chattanooga National Bank, July 29, 1887 - April 25, 1888, pp. 4, 8.5 x 14 cm.
  6. Thomas E. Helm in account with the Building and Loan Association of Jackson, originally belonged to C. A. Lynly, September 1885 - January, 1893, pp. 4, 11 x 15 cm.
  7. Thomas E. Helm in account with the Building and Loan Association of Jackson, September 1885 - January 1893, pp. 8, 11 x 15 cm. 
    1. Volumes 14 and 15 contain "Charter and By-Laws of the Building and Loan Association of Jackson, Mississippi", 1885, pp. 16.
  8. Thomas E. Helm in account with the Building and Loan Association of Jackson, originally belonged to W. H. Potter, January, 1889; January, 1893, pp. 5, 10.5 x 15 cm.
  9. A. Kelly in account with the Building and Loan Association of Jackson, transferred to A. G. Lewis, January-February 24, 1892, p. 1, 10.5 x 15 cm. (Volumes 16 and 17 contain "Charter and By-Laws of the Building and Loan Association of Jackson, Mississippi," as amended April 3, 1886, pp. 16)
  10. five account books; I. and I. Green in account with Thomas E. Helm, July 31,1869 - January 24, 1871, pp. 10, 9.5 x 16 cm.
  11. account of Mary Williams, servant of Mrs. S. A. Pinckard, sister of Thomas E. Helm, February 11, 1879 - January 1, 1883, pp. 4, 10.5 x 17 cm.
  12. miscellaneous accounts, April 12 - June 6, 1881, pp. 5, 10 x 17 cm.
  13. miscellaneous accounts, January 1, October 1, 1891, pp. 19, 9 x 15.5 cm.
  14. memoranda and accounts, September 12, 1900 - September 22, 1907, pp. 62, 10 x 17 cm.
  15. E. S. Helm account and memoranda book, April, 1909 - June 25, 1836, pp. 174, 10.5 x 17 cm.
  16. (Volume 42) scrapbook (Pierce family), October 26, 1858 - November 9, 1871, pp. 17, 24 x 30 cm.
  17. account book (19 x 30.5 cm.) containing:
    1. journal of P. Robinson and Company (Powhatan Robinson, James A. Horne, and Thomas E. Helm), February 12 - August 2, 1866, pp. 6; 
    2. miscellaneous accounts, January, 1881 - June 11, 1883, pp. 8; 
    3. Helm and Ware (H. R. Ware), March 18 - December, 1884, pp. 2; 
    4. Helm, Ware, and Chiles (F. L. Chiles), March 14, 1884 - January 21, 1885, pp. 2; 
    5. Lamarque Plantation in account with Helm and Green, January 1 - September 26, 1885, pp. 13; 
    6. minutes of the organization meeting of the Jackson Delinter Company, September 27, 1890, and accounts, June 14, 1890 - September 30, 1892, pp. 9,