Scope and Content Note:

Papers of S. A. Jonas, Aberdeen, a native of Williamstown, Kentucky, and an engineer, who served in Company I, Eleventh Regiment of Mississippi Infantry, C. S. A., and rose to the rank of major. After the war, he returned to Aberdeen and established the Aberdeen Examiner, which he edited until his death on September 13, 1915. He served for a time as Senator L. Q. C. Lamar's secretary and held numerous appointive positions in Washington. He wrote much poetry, and his best known poem is "Lines on the Back of a Confederate Note."

The papers include a letter from L. Q. C. Lamar to R. J. Bright, May 21, 1881; a letter from Lamar to Jonas, June 15, 1884; a sketch of Jonas from the Birmingham News, September 19, 1900; an autobiographical sketch of Jonas, March 24, 1908; two letters from Annie Jonas McWilliams to George J. Leftwich, n.d. and June 26, 1920, in regard to Jonas' poetry; several editorials by Jonas and copies of many of his poems; and various notes on his activities compiled by George J. Leftwich and Dr. W. A. Evans.