Scope and Content Note:

Personal letters, business papers, and newspaper clippings of the Satterfield, Drake, Archer, and Turpin families. The bulk of the correspondence is by Elijah Steele Drake, who was born in 1841 in Jefferson County. He attended Centenary College which his father, Dr. Benjamin M. Drake, founded; served in the Confederate States Army; established Phoenix Academy at Fayette after the war; and in 1867 began his practice of law in Port Gibson. E. S. Drake married Ellen Turpin and their children, Joseph T., Ruth, Katie, Nellie D., Henry W., and Laura S., are among the correspondents.

The correspondence is arranged chronologically and is divided by dates as follows:

  • 1812-1814: 2 items
  • 1823-1859: 193 items
  • 1861-1870: 202 items
  • 1871-1890: 1,709 items
  • 1891-1914: 4,813 items
  • 1915-1931: 393 items
  • 1934-1950: 12 items.

Many of the papers concern Centenary College and the Methodist Church of Port Gibson. The volumes are as follows:

  • 4 Scrapbooks of clippings pertaining to Port Gibson and national affairs and obituaries of the members of the Drake, Turpin, and Archer families
  • 1 Treasurer's Book, Junior Epworth League, Port Gibson, 1907-1908
  • 1 Memorandum book of A. F. Drake, 1851
  • 1 Notebook of Ruth Drake, 1884
  • 1 Account Book of B. M. Drake, 1837 and 1877
  • 8 Miscellaneous Memorandum Books
  • 1 Miscellaneous recipe and account book, 1859-1875
  • 1 Teacher's grade book of E. S. Drake, 1865-1867
  • 2 Account Books of E. S. Drake, 1892-1894
  • 1 Miscellaneous Notebook
  • 1 Sunday School teacher's class book, Mrs. Ellen Drake, 1907
  • 1 Memorandum book of Mrs. E. S. Drake
  • 1 Legal directory, 1878
  • 1 Bank book of Rev. J. A. B. Jones, 1897
  • 1 Volume, Suggestions for Young Woman's Christian Temperance Union