Dates: 1904-1910; 1928; 1951-1954; n.d.

Biography:

Clarence D. Witt and Helen A. Moyse

Clarence D. Witt and Helen A. Moyse were married in Greenville, Washington County, Mississippi, on April 7, 1904. They resided in Greenville where at various times Clarence Witt worked as a clerk, a cotton factor, and as a salesman for Bloom and Goldstein, Memphis Paper Company, and Southland Paper Company. The Witts had two daughters: Leona Flora and Sadie Louise.

Leona Witt was born in Greenville on October 2, 1908. She graduated as salutatorian of Greenville High School. Witt then attended Sophie Newcomb College (now part of Tulane University) in New Orleans, Louisiana, and Goucher College in Baltimore, Maryland. She returned to Greenville and worked at the First National Bank and the Virden Lumber Company. Witt was also employed as a secretary for the First Washington County Building and Loan Association and later as an executive secretary for judges William Keady and Earnest Kellner. She died in Greenville on September 1, 1996, and was buried in Greenville Jewish Cemetery.

Sadie Witt was born in Greenville on September 29, 1910. She graduated from Greenville High School and attended Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, in 1927 and 1928. Witt moved to Los Angeles, California, where she owned and operated an advertising agency. She became the advertising manager for the Eastern Department Store in Portland, Oregon, in 1951. Witt returned to Greenville in 1992. She died on August 11, 1996, and was buried in Greenville Jewish Cemetery.

 

Scope and Content Note:

This collection consists of correspondence, postcards, grade reports, a scrapbook, photographs, religious materials, and newspaper articles relating to the Witt family of Greenville, Washington County, Mississippi, and dates from the 1900s to 1950s. The collection provides documentation of family members’ occupations, financial difficulties, travels, and activities in Greenville. The material primarily focuses on Leona Flora and Sadie Louise Witt.

 

Series Identification:

Series 1: Correspondence. 1914; 1916-1917; 1952; n.d. 1 folder.
This series consists of eleven items of Witt family correspondence. Two letters (1916; n.d.) were written by Leona and Sadie Witt of Greenville, Mississippi, to their grandmother, Flora D. Witt. Leona Witt wishes her grandmother a happy birthday and inquires about her health. Sadie Witt discusses going to visit her grandmother. Another letter (1952) was written by Flora D. Witt and addressed to Sadie Witt. In the letter, Flora D. Witt informs her granddaughter that she left a present for her at the Parkview Hotel in Memphis, Tennessee. Five letters (four 1917; one n.d.) were written by Leona and Sadie Witt to their Uncle Jack and Aunt Lula in California. In the messages, they discuss school grades and gifts and make plans to visit. Another note (1917) was written by Aunt Lula and addressed to Sadie Witt. In the message, Lula discusses her family’s finances and refuses to accept a check from Sadie Witt. An additional letter (written on the back of one of Sadie Witt’s letters) was written by Helen Moyse Witt and addressed to Uncle Jack and Aunt Lula. In the note, Witt talks about a train ride from California to Mississippi. A partial letter (1914) was written by Clarence D. Witt from Meridian, Mississippi, and addressed to Helen Moyse Witt. In the message, Witt expresses love for his wife and talks about his children.

Box 1, folder 5
 

Series 2: Grade Reports. 1927-1928. 1 folder.
This series consists of three report cards of Sadie Witt from the 1927-1928 term at Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge.

Box 1, folder 4


Series 3: Scrapbook. 1910-1918; 1927; 1954; n.d. 9 folders.
This series consists of a scrapbook, which was originally created as Sadie Witt’s baby book, and several detached pages from the book. The items relating to Sadie Witt include details about her infancy, a newspaper clipping of Sadie Witt dressed as a Charlie Chaplin silent-film character, and a letter written by a soldier named Gervis Lusk. The letter was written to Sadie Witt while Lusk was stationed at Camp Swep Taylor in Jackson, Mississippi, and awaiting transfer to the Mexican border in 1916. Included in the scrapbook are family photographs, a newspaper clipping announcing the fiftieth wedding anniversary of Clarence D. and Helen Moyse Witt, a newspaper clipping regarding the National Guard service of Ferd Moyse, and an invitation to a play staged by a family friend.

Box 1, folders 8-16
 

Series 4: Photographs and Postcards. 1912-1913; 1918; n.d. 2 folders.
This series consists of fourteen photographs of Leona Witt, Sadie Witt, Clarence D. Witt, Helen Moyse Witt, and Witt family friends. There are also sixteen postcard photographs of Witt family members. Of particular interest are photographs of silent-film star Charlie Chaplin promoting Liberty Bonds at the First National Bank in Greenville on April 22, 1918. One image taken at the bank depicts Sadie Witt dressed as a Chaplin character and sitting next to the famous actor. There are thirteen undated postcard images of Leona and Sadie Witt in their youth. One postcard image depicts Leona Witt engaged in swimming. On the back is a description of the event by Helen Moyse Witt. Three postcards (1912-1913; n.d.) are from out of state and are addressed to Sadie Witt. On the back are cordial greetings written by family friends.

Box 1, folders 2-3
 

Series 5: Religious Materials. 1904; 1924; n.d. 2 folders.
This series consists of a copy of the Torah and a Jewish confirmation program. An inscription in the Torah records the marriage of Clarence D. and Helen Moyse Witt in Greenville on April 7, 1904. The program indicates that Sadie Witt was confirmed at the Hebrew Union Congregation in Greenville on June 8, 1924.

Box 1, folders 1 and 6
 

Series 6: Newspaper Clippings. 1951; n.d. 1 folder.
This series consists of six newspaper clippings regarding Witt family members or events in Greenville. There are two copies of a May 4, 1951, article announcing the promotion of Sadie Witt to advertising manager of the Eastern Department Store in Portland, Oregon. An obituary of Clarence D. Witt is also included. Two articles recount the life and ninety-seventh birthday of Flora D. Witt. Another clipping concerns a captured German submarine that briefly docked in Greenville. An additional article recounts the visit of Charlie Chaplin to Greenville in 1918.

Box 1, folder 7

 

Box List:

Box 1, folders 1 and 6: Religious materials, 1904; 1924; n.d. 

Box 1, folders 2-3: Photographs and postcards, 1912-1913; 1918; n.d.            

Box 1, folder 4: Grade reports, 1927-1928.            

Box 1, folder 5: Correspondence, 1914; 1916-1917; 1952; n.d. 

Box 1, folder 7: Newspaper clippings, 1951; n.d.            

Box 1, folders 8-16: Scrapbook, 1910-1918; 1927; 1954; n.d.