Dates: 1918 - 1932; n.d.

Biography:

Julius Christian Zeller

Julius Christian Zeller (December 15, 1871March 10, 1938) was born at Spring Bay, Woodford County, Illinois. He graduated from the Academy of Northwestern University in 1889 and received in 1893 the Bachelor of Oratory and Bachelor of Arts degrees from East Tennessee Wesleyan University. In that same year, he entered the ministry of the Methodist-Episcopal Church and served charges at Magnolia, Chebanese and Manteno, Illinois. He received the Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Chicago in 1903; the Bachelor of Divinity degree, University of Chicago in 1904; and in the fall of 1904 he accepted the chair of philosophy and education at Illinois Wesleyan University. He received the Master of Arts degree from the University of Chattanooga in 1905 and accepted the presidency of the University of Puget Sound, Tacoma, Washington, in the fall of 1909. The Doctor of Divinity degree was received from the University of Chattanooga in 1909 and the Doctor of Civil Law degree from Illinois Wesleyan University in 1910.

He resigned from the presidency of the University of Puget Sound in 1914, spent some time at the University of Chicago graduate school, after which he came to Mississippi, settling on a plantation (Zelleria) in Yazoo County. He remained on the plantation until 1919, when he moved his family to Yazoo City. He organized the first consolidated school in Yazoo County on his plantation in 1915 and organized the first farm loan association in Mississippi. He was elected to the state senate in 1919 and served for three successive terms. In 1920 he was elected superintendent of the Bolivar Agricultural School in Cleveland. Other official appointments during his legislative career were to the State Soldiers' Land Project (Farm Colony Project), Mississippi State Jefferson Davis Memorial Commission, and the State Printing Plant Investigation Committee. Zeller was appointed chairman of the Joint Legislative Committee on Universities and Colleges in 1920 and was re-appointed to that position for each succeeding term. He made an unsuccessful race for Congress from the eighth district in 1924. In 1930 he was appointed vice-chancellor and dean of men of the University of Mississippi, and he also accepted the chairmanship of the department of philosophy and psychology at the school.

Zeller left the university in 1932 and moved to Kansas City, Kansas, where he remained until his death.

Series Identification:

Series 1: Correspondence (Incoming and Outgoing). 2 linear feet. 

The correspondence covers the period 19181932, is arranged chronologically and reflects Zeller's activities in politics, the legislature, at the University of Mississippi and in his other appointed positions.

Box 1: Correspondence, (n.d.; January 12, 1918February 28, 1920) 186 items

  • folder 1: n.d., 10 items
  • folder 2: n.d., 6 items
  • folder 3: January 12 - December 20, 1918, 5 items
  • folder 4: February 18 - May 20, 1919, 10 items
  • folder 5: May 22 - July 31, 1919, 10 items
  • folder 6, August 13-20, 1919, 8 items
  • folder 7, September 6-13, 1919, 10 items
  • folder 8, September 14 - October 16, 1919, 8 items
  • folder 9, October 21, 1919, 10 items
  • folder 10, October 22, 1919 - November 15, 1919, 9 items
  • folder 11: November 17 - December 31, 1919, 11 items
  • folder 12, n.d. [1920], 4 items
  • folder 13: January 2-14, 1920, 9 items
  • folder 14; January 15-31, 1920, 13 items
  • folder 15: February 2-7, 1920, 12 items
  • folder 16: February 9-14, 1920, 12 items
  • folder 17: folder 117, 1920, 11 items
  • folder 18: February 18-23, 1920, 8 items

  • folder 19: February 24-28, 1920, 15 items

    Box 2: Correspondence (n.d. [March 1920]; March 1, 1920 - June 28, 1923), 122 items.

    • folder 1: n.d. [March 1920]; March 1-15, 1920, 10 items
    • folder 2: March 19-29, 1920, 10 items
    • folder 3: June 5 - October 6, 1920, 8 items
    • folder 4: May 28 - November 30, 1921, 9 items
    • folder 5: December 2-20, 1921, 9 items
    • folder 6: January 9, 1922, 10 items
    • folder 7: January 10, 1922, 10 items
    • folder 8: January 11-18, 1922, 8 items
    • folder 9: February 27 - April 1922, 10 items
    • folder 10: May 1 - November 15, 1922, 10 items
    • folder 11: n.d. [1923], 4 items
    • folder 12: January 1 - April 12, 1923, 12 items

    • folder 13: May 8 - June 28, 1923, 10 items

       

    Box 3: Correspondence (July 12, 1923 - February 29, 1924), 162 items

    • folder 1: July 12 - August 18, 1923, 11 items
    • folder 2: August 20-28, 1923, 8 items
    • folder 3: September 1-19, 1923, 11 items
    • folder 4: September 20 - October 9, 1923, 10 items
    • folder 5: October 9 - November 27, 1923, 14 items
    • folder 6: December 4-20, 1923, 12 items
    • folder 7: December 21-24, 1923, 9 items
    • folder 8: December 26, 1923, 7 items
    • folder 9: December 27-28, 1923, 11 items
    • folder 10: December 20-31, 1923, 10 items
    • folder 11: n.d. [1924]; January 2-3, 1924, 7 items
    • folder 12: January 4-17, 1924, 11 items
    • folder 13: January 19-31, 1924, 11 items
    • folder 14: February 3-9, 1924, 9 items
    • folder 15: February 3-9, 1924, 5 items
    • folder 16: February 11-25, 1924, 10 items

    • folder 17: February 27-29, 1924, 6 items

       

    Box 4: Correspondence (March 6, 1924 - December 25, 1925), 145 items

    • folder 1: March 617, 1924, 12 items
    • folder 2: March 1824, 1924, 10 items
    • folder 3: March 2530, 1924, 10 items
    • folder 4: April 27, 1924, 12 items
    • folder 5: April 1020, 1924, 10 items
    • folder 6: May 1June 14, 1924, 8 items
    • folder 7: June 623, 1924, 8 items
    • folder 8: June 24July 23, 1924, 12 items
    • folder 9: August 17, 1924, 10 items
    • folder 10: August 11September 16, 1924, 6 items
    • folder 11: October 22November 22, 1924, 7 items
    • folder 12: n.d. [1925]; January 24April 28, 1925, 9 items
    • folder 13: May 12August 29, 1925, 7 items
    • folder 14: September 2October 26, 1925, 9 items
    • folder 15: October 30December 11, 1925, 7 items

    • folder 16: December 825, 1925, 8 items

       

    Box 5: Correspondence (n.d. [1926]; January 1February 27, 1926), 70 items

    • folder 1: n.d. [1926]; January 15, 1926, 9 items
    • folder 2: January 630, 1926, 13 items
    • folder 3: February 25, 1926, 10 items
    • folder 4: February 56, 1926, 8 items
    • folder 5: February 815, 1926, 7 items
    • folder 6: February 1516, 1926, 5 items
    • folder 7: February 1722, 1926, 8 items

    • folder 8: February 2227, 1926, 10 items

       

    Box 6: Correspondence (March 1December 10, 1926), 118 items

    • folder 1: March 111, 1926, 10 items
    • folder 2: March 1217, 1926, 10 items
    • folder 3: March 1820, 1926, 8 items
    • folder 4: March 2131, 1926, 8 items
    • folder 5: April 516, 1926, 13 items
    • folder 6: April 1728, 1926, 10 items
    • folder 7: May 310, 1926, 10 items
    • folder 8: May 11June 9, 1926, 12 items
    • folder 9: June 1423, 1926, 9 items
    • folder 10: July 16August 21, 1926, 12 items
    • folder 11: September 2October 9, 1926, 10 items

    • folder 12: October 14December 10, 1926, 6 items

       

    Box 7: Correspondence (n.d. [1927]; January 11, 1927January 31, 1928), 121 items

    • folder 1: n.d. [1927]; January 11February 28, 1927, 11 items
    • folder 2: April 5June 20, 1927, 9 items
    • folder 3: June 23August 16, 1927, 9 items
    • folder 4: August 2631, 1927, 9 items
    • folder 5: September 1619, 1927, 11 items
    • folder 6: September 1619, 1927, 8 items
    • folder 7: October 110, 1927, 8 items
    • folder 8: October 1331, 1927, 7 items
    • folder 9: November 115, 1927, 10 items
    • folder 10: November 16December 26, 1927, 9 items
    • folder 11: n.d. [1928], 7 items
    • folder 12: January 417, 1928, 11 items

    • folder 13: January 931, 1928, 12 items

       

  • Box 8: Correspondence (February 1, 1928April 27, 1928), 96 items

    • folder 1: February 15, 1928, 8 items
    • folder 2: February 615, 1928, 15 items
    • folder 3: February 1625, 1928, 10 items
    • folder 4: February 27March 3, 1928, 8 items
    • folder 5: March 57, 1928, 8 items
    • folder 6: March 813, 1928, 12 items
    • folder 7: March 1420, 1928, 9 items
    • folder 8: March 2125, 1928, 6 items
    • folder 9: March 2731, 1928, 5 items
    • folder 10: April 216, 1928, 9 items

    • folder 11: April 1727, 1928

       

    Box 9: Correspondence (May 1, 1928September 29, 1928), 160 items

    • folder 1: May 13, 1928, 15 items
    • folder 2: May 531, 1928, 12 items
    • folder 3: June 214, 1928, 12 items
    • folder 4: July 120, 1928, 11 items
    • folder 5: July 2126, 1928, 10 items
    • folder 6: July 2830, 1928, 7 items
    • folder 7: August 410, 1928, 8 items
    • folder 8: August 1220, 1928, 14 items
    • folder 9: August 2125, 1928, 11 items
    • folder 10: August 2731, 1928, 15 items
    • folder 11: n.d. [September 1928]; September 18, 1928, 11 items
    • folder 12: September 1215, 1928, 10 items
    • folder 13: September 1724, 1928, 13 items

    • folder 14: September 2529, 1928, 11 items

       

    Box 10: Correspondence (October 1, 1928December 30, 1929), 165 items

    • folder 1: October 115, 1928, 9 items
    • folder 2: October 1631, 1928, 12 items
    • folder 3: November 214, 1928, 8 items
    • folder 4: November 15December 11,1928, 7 items
    • folder 5: January 1927, 1929, 8 items
    • folder 6: April 1May 29, 1929, 12 items
    • folder 7: June 526, 1929, 7 items
    • folder 8: July 627, 1929, 9 items
    • folder 9: August 1430, 1929, 10 items
    • folder 10: November 214, 1929, 10 items
    • folder 11: November 1821, 1929, 11 items
    • folder 12: November 2230, 1929, 10 items
    • folder 13: December 24, 1929, 10 items
    • folder 14: December 57, 1929, 10 items
    • folder 15: December 913, 1929, 15 items

    • folder 16: December 1630, 1929

       

    Box 11: Correspondence (n.d. [1930]; January 1July 29, 1930), 189 items

    • folder 1: n.d. [1930]; January 19, 1930, 15 items
    • folder 2: January 1129, 1930, 13 items
    • folder 3: February 1March 13, 1930, 15 items
    • folder 4: March 17April 19, 1930, 10 items
    • folder 5: April 2130, 1930, 15 items
    • folder 6: May 115, 1930, 17 items
    • folder 7: May 1628, 1930, 13 items
    • folder 8: June 1417, 1930, 16 items
    • folder 9: June 1417, 1930, 15 items
    • folder 10: June 1823, 1930, 17 items
    • folder 11: July 321, 1930, 13 items
    • folder 12: July 1416, 1930, 11 items
    • folder 13: July 1720, 1930, 10 items

    • folder 14: July 2229, 1930, 9 items

       

    Box 12: Correspondence (n.d. [August 1930]; August 2December 31, 1930), 107 items

    • folder 1: n.d. [August 1930]; August 25, 1930, 12 items
    • folder 2: August 6-15, 1930, 12 items
    • folder 3: August 16-22, 1930, 12 items
    • folder 4: August 23-29, 1930, 18 items
    • folder 5: September 2-25, 1930, 11 items
    • folder 6: October 1-28, 1930, 13 items
    • folder 7: November 1-15, 1930, 8 items
    • folder 8: November 18-28, 1930, 4 items
    • folder 9: December 2-15, 1930, 10 items

    • folder 10: December 16-31, 1930, 7 items

       

    Box 13: Correspondence (n.d. [1931]; January 2July 29, 1931), 205 items

    • folder 1: n.d. [1930]; January 2-10, 1931, 13 items
    • folder 2: January 13-31, 1931, 13 items
    • folder 3: February 6-14, 1931, 10 items
    • folder 4: February 16-28, 1931, 10 items
    • folder 5: March 5-31, 1931, 14 items
    • folder 6: April 2-4, 1931, 13 items
    • folder 7: April 6-8, 1931, 12 items
    • folder 8: April 8-9, 1931, 11 items
    • folder 9: April 9-10, 1931, 9 items
    • folder 10: April 11-16, 1931, 11 items
    • folder 11: April 17 - May 31, 1931, 20 items
    • folder 12: June 1-10, 1931, 12 items
    • folder 13: June 11-22, 1931, 13 items
    • folder 14: June 23-29, 1931, 8 items
    • folder 15: July, 1931; July 1-15, 1931, 12 items
    • folder 16: July 16-18, 1931, 13 items

    • folder 17: July 20-29, 1931, 11 items

       

    Box 14: Correspondence (August 1December 30, 1931), 200 items

    • folder 1: August 1-8, 1931, 19 items
    • folder 2: August 10-12, 1931, 12 items
    • folder 3: August 13-19, 1931, 21 items
    • folder 4: August 21-31, 1931, 10 items
    • folder 5: September 2-10, 1931, 15 items
    • folder 6: September 11-30, 1931, 18 items
    • folder 7: October 3-15, 1931, 17 items
    • folder 8: October 16-26, 1931, 11 items
    • folder 9: October 27-29, 1931, 7 items
    • folder 10: November 2-5, 1931, 13 items
    • folder 11: November 7-17, 1931, 11 items
    • folder 12: November 19-30, 1931, 15 items
    • folder 13: December 4-8, 1931, 11 items
    • folder 14: December 10-19, 1931, 11 items

    • folder 15: December 21-30, 1931, 9 items

       

    Box 15: Correspondence (January 2August 29, 1932), 122 items

    • folder 1: January 2-15, 1932, 14 items
    • folder 2: January 18-30, 1932, 13 items
    • folder 3: February 3-20, 1932, 18 items
    • folder 4: March 1-9, 1932, 15 items
    • folder 5: March 11-17, 1932, 12 items
    • folder 6: March 21-31, 1932, 15 items
    • folder 7: April 16, 1932, 13 items
    • folder 8: April 11-July 8, 1932, 12 items
    • folder 9: August 22-29, 1932

 

Series 2: Legislative Papers. 1 linear foot. 

The legislative papers include legislative bills and committee reports and material dealing with special legislative investigations.

  • Box 16: Legislative Papers, 66 items
    • folder 1: legislative bills, not numbered & incomplete, n.d., 4 items
    • folder 2: legislative bills, not numbered, n.d., 5 items
    • folder 3: legislative bills, not numbered, n.d., 12 items
    • folder 4: legislative bills, not numbered, n.d., 8 items
    • folder 5: legislative bills, not numbered, n.d., 1 item
    • folder 6: senate resolutions, not numbered, n.d., 8 items
    • folder 7: senate concurrent resolutions, not numbered, n.d., 6 items
    • folder 8: house bills, not numbered: n.d., 3 items
    • folder 9: senate bills, not numbered, n.d., 8 items
    • folder 10: senate bills, not numbered, n.d., 6 items
    • folder 11: senate bills, not numbered, n.d., 5 items
  • Box 17: Legislative Papers, 21 items
    • folder 1: house bills, numbered, n.d., 6 items
    • folder 2: senate bills, numbered, n.d., 7 items
    • folder 3: senate bills, numbered, n.d., 2 items
    • folder 4: senate bills, numbered, n.d., 4 items
    • folder 5: senate bills, numbered, n.d., 2 items
  • Box 18: Legislative Papers, 26 items
    • folder 1: house bills, 19281929, 6 items
    • folder 2: house bills, 1930 (regular session), 5 items
    • folder 3: house bills, 1930 (regular session), 1 item
    • folder 4: house bills, 1931 (regular session), 5 items
    • folder 5: house concurrent resolutions, 1930 (regular session), 1 item
    • folder 6: senate bills, 1928; 1929 (extraordinary session, 1930), 6 items
    • folder 7: senate concurrent resolutions, 1929 (extraordinary session); 1930, 2 items
  • Box 19: Legislative Papers, 51 items
    • folder 1: explanation of votes, n.d., 4 items
    • folder 2: reports of committees, n.d.; 1930, 10 items
    • folder 3: amendments and committee substitutes to legislative bills, n.d., 7 items
    • folder 4: amendments and committee substitutes to legislative bills, n.d.; 1930 (regular session), 8 items
    • folder 5: amendments and committee substitutes to legislative bills, n.d., 8 items
    • folder 6: biennial report, Mississippi Agricultural Service Department, (19281930), 2 items
    • folder 7: topical indices of legislation, 1928, 8 items
    • folder 4: forms and blanks, n.d., 4 items
  • Box 20: Legislative Papers, 13 items
    • folder 1: State Printing Plant Investigation Committee miscellany, n.d., 11 items
    • folder 2: Report of State Printing Plant Investigation Committee, 1928 (manuscript), 1 item
    • folder 3: Report of State Printing Plant Investigation Committee, 1928, cont. (manuscript), 1 item
  • Box 21: Legislative Papers, 72 items
    • folder 1: finance and taxation information, n.d., 7 items
    • folder 2: finance and taxation information, n.d., 8 items
    • folder 3: finance and taxation information, 19281929, 4 items
    • folder 4: petitions and resolutions, n.d., 13 items
    • folder 5: petitions and resolutions, 19241928, 7 items
    • folder 6: legislative conferences, 19301931, 3 items
    • folder 7: Universities and Colleges Committee working papers, n.d., 19211929, 17 items
    • folder 8: press releases and editorials, n.d.; 1929; 1931, 13 items
  • Box 22: Legislative Papers, 106 items
    • folder 1: speeches and statements, n.d., 9 items
    • folder 2: speeches and statements, n.d., 7 items
    • folder 3: speeches and statements, n.d., 7 items
    • folder 4: telegrams, n.d., 8 items
    • folder 5: telegrams, February 6, 1920May 29, 1924, 11 items
    • folder 6: telegrams, February 3, 1926March 19, 1927, 20 items
    • folder 7: telegrams, February 7November 3, 1928, 32 items
    • folder 8: September 12, 1929January 5, 1932, 12 items
  • Box 23: Legislative Papers, 84 items
    • folder 1: impeachment trial of Lester Franklin, 1930, 7 items
    • folder 2: impeachment trial of Lester Franklin, 1930, 5 items
    • folder 3: impeachment trial of Lester Franklin, 1930, 5 items
    • folder 4: form letters, n.d., 12 items
    • folder 5: form letters, 19251926, 3 items
    • folder 6: form letters, JanuaryMay, 1928, 13 items
    • folder 7: form letters, JuneDecember, 1928, 8 items
    • folder 8: form letters, 19291930, 11 items
    • folder 9: form letters, 1931, 8 items
    • folder 10: miscellany, n.d., 17 items
    • folder 11: miscellany, n.d., 3 items

 

Series 3: University of Mississippi Papers. 1 linear inch. 

The University of Mississippi papers include routine campus correspondence (form letters and announcements) and various papers relating to Zeller's tenure.

  • Box 24: University of Mississippi Papers, 79 items.
    • folder 1: campus correspondence (form letters and announcements), September 3June 14, 1931, 20 items
    • folder 2: campus correspondence (form letters and announcements), September 15, 1932June 14, 1932, 18 items
    • folder 3: working papers, n.d., 15 items
    • folder 4: working papers, n.d., 13 items
    • folder 5: working papers, n.d., 6 items
    • folder 6: working papers, n.d., 7 items

 

Series 4: Printed Matter and Broadsides. 2 linear inches. 

Contained in this series are various pamphlets, announcements and broadsides including a variety of political and campaign bulletins.

  • Box 25: Printed items, 95 items.
    • folder 1: passes, programs, cards and invitations, 34 items
    • folder 2: printed material, n.d., 19 items
    • folder 3: printed matter, n.d., 16 items
    • folder 4: printed matter, n.d., 15 items
    • folder 5: printed matter, n.d., 11 items
  • Box 26: Broadsides, 52 items. folder 1: n.d., 17 items
    • folder 2: n.d., 13 items
    • folder 3: n.d., 22 items

 

Series 5: Newsclippings. 3 linear feet. 

The newsclippings, dated and identified by paper, reflect the topics covered in the correspondence. The clippings are arranged by subject and, thereunder, chronologically.

  • Box 27: Newsclippings: Race Problems, n.d. [1931]; February 4November 4, 1931, 108 items
  • Box 28: Newsclippings: Politics, n.d.; JanuaryFebruary, 1920
  • Box 29: Newsclippings: Politics, March 1920February 1922
  • Box 30: Newsclippings: Politics, February 20December 1922
  • Box 31: Newsclippings: Politics, January 1923March 20 1924
  • Box 32: Newsclippings: Politics, March 20, 1924February 19 1926
  • Box 33: Newsclippings: Politics, February 20, 1926January 20 1928
  • Box 34: Newsclippings: Politics, January 21April 30 1928
  • Box 35: Newsclippings: Politics, May 1December 1928
  • Box 36: Newsclippings: Politics, January 5December 1929
  • Box 37: Newsclippings: Politics, January 1March 20 1930
  • Box 38: Newsclippings: Politics, March 21, 1930May 15, 1930
  • Box 39: Newsclippings: Politics, May 16, 1930December 1930
  • Box 40: Newsclippings: Politics, January 1931June 1931
  • Box 41: Newsclippings: Politics, July 1931February 15, 1932
  • Box 42: Newsclippings: Politics, February 16, 1932October 1932