Dates: 1923 - 1972.

James Minic Dean

James Minic Dean was born in Monroe County. He attended schools at Smithville and the Iuka Normal Institute at Iuka. Upon graduation, he spent 10 years as a teacher, four of which he served on the board of examiners for public school teachers in Monroe County. Mr. Dean organized the first county fair in Monroe County and also organized the Mississippi Association of Fairs and served as its only executive secretary for thirty years.

This collection contains the following material:

  • a resolution honoring J. M. Dean for fifty years of faithful service, 1956 (ff. 1)
  • an address delivered before the Mississippi Legislature by William D. McCain on "The Life and Labor of Dennis Murphree," March 8, 1950 (ff. 2)
  • a devotional challenge by Chester E. Swor (ff. 3)
  • reports of the Mississippi Agricultural and Industrial Exposition Commission, July 1, 1951–June 30, 1957 (ff. 4)
  • report by J. M. Dean on Mississippi's participation in "A Century of Progress," March 1934 (ff. 5)
  • annual report of J. M. Dean, District Club Agent, 1923 (ff. 6)
  • annual reports of J. M. Dean, Specialist of Community Organization and Fairs, December 1, 1926–July 21, 1930 (ff. 7)
  • a copy of a contract and agreement between the Mississippi Agricultural and Industrial Commission and the city of Jackson, July 13, 1946 (ff. 8)
  • papers concerning the position of County Agent, Monroe County, 1956 (ff. 9)
  • a copy of an early map of Jackson (ff. 10)
  • programs and printed material concerning the Sons of Confederate Veterans, 1953–1965 (ff. 11)
  • a booklet concerning Stewart C. Broom (ff. 12)
  • an issue of the "Jackson, Mississippi 1966 Progress Report" (ff. 13)
  • booklets concerning the Mississippi State Fair, 1956 and 1957 (ff. 14)
  • "Fair Time," an article by J. M. Dean which appeared in the Mississippi Stockman-Farmer, September 1952–September 1955 (ff. 15)
  • "Fairs and Their Educational Value," and "(Rural) Community Organization," articles written by J. M. Dean, May 1947 and January 1928 (ff. 16)
  • program of the Mississippi Association of Fairs and Livestock Shows, held at the Robert E. Lee Hotel, Jackson, February 14, 1952 (ff. 17)
  • a list of prizes awarded at the Greenbrier Fair, Monroe County (ff. 18)
  • papers concerning the early history of the Mississippi State Fair, 1947 (ff. 19)
  • "Official Book of the Fair," 1933 (ff. 20)
  • papers concerning the Mississippi Fair Commission, 1962 (ff. 21)
  • booklets concerning the Mississippi State Fair, 1950–1955 (ff. 22)
  • programs and minutes of the Mississippi Association of Fairs, 1927–1939 (ff. 23)
  • general information concerning the history, itinerary, and personnel of the "Know Mississippi Better Train," 1941 (ff. 24)
  • The Story of the Methodist Children's Home, 1896–1972, by Reverend J. B. Cain (ff. 25)
  • issues of The Jackson Ring, October 3, 1952 and October 14, 1955 (ff. 26)
  • news clippings concerning the life of J. M. Dean and the Mississippi State Fair (ff. 27)
  • invitations (ff. 28);
  • photographs of Delta State and its Experiment Station, University of Mississippi, Mississippi State College and College for Women, hotels in Biloxi, J. M. Dean, Governor Paul B. Johnson and family, "Know Mississippi Better Train" exhibit, Mississippi State Fair, banquets, and various sites in Mississippi (ff. 20–36)
  • an issue of the Clarion Ledger–Jackson Daily News, January 17, 1960, Port Gibson Correspondent (copy), May 18, 1821, and a photograph of the staff of Governor Ross Barnett (box 4).