Special Collections &
E. M. VIOLETTE MUSEUM
MANUSCRIPT COLLECTIONS
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Please visit our copyright and services and fees pages for more information. Annotated Table of Contents | A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | J | K | L | M | N | O | P | Q | R | S | T | U | V | W | X | Y | Z | |
| Documents of the Adair County, MO Public School District, 1866-1976 (A1) |
| Collection includes ledgers of sub-districts of the Adair County District, 1866-81, as well as a compilation of district attendance statistics, 1880-1976 [incomplete]. |
| Adair County Infirmary Records, 1881-1942 (A2) |
| Transcripts & photocopies of the County Home Record Residents Roster, 1881-1934; the Adair County Infirmary Patient Registers (2), 1881-1942; and the Adair County Infirmary Grave Register, 1920s [incomplete]. |
| Ross C Allen Letters, 1945 (A3) |
| Sixty-six letters from Cpl Ross C Allen, Herington Army Air Field, KS, to his parents in Kirksville, MO, written as the base was being deactivated at the close of World War II. Ross chats about things he is doing at work and leisure, popular radio shows, the latest movies, his music and friends at home, at the college and on base. |
| Samuel Washington "Wat" Arnold Papers, 1943-1949 (A4) |
| Letters, memos, telegrams, newspaper clippings, and photographs accumulated during Wat Arnold's terms as Representative in the U.S. Congress. Subjects include radio station KIRX, flood control, the Kirksville College of Osteopathy and Surgery, postal matters, elections, rural electrification administration, speeches, and more. | |
| Adair County Historical Collection (A5) | |
| A collection of letters, newspaper clippings, photographs, maps, and other various items which showcase the history of Kirksville and surrounding regions (1832-1994). | |
| Biswell Family Papers, 1795-1912 (B1 Musdp) |
| Approximately 130 documents from the Biswell family of Randolph & Linn Counties, MO, including letters, financial documents, military papers from the early 1800s and newspapers containing family obituaries. Of particular interest are the letters written by brothers Jonathan & Norvell Biswell on their way to and while in the California gold fields, 1850-1852. |
| Amelia & Anna Burk Autograph Album, 1887-1900 (B2) |
| Autograph album with signatures from friends and cousins of Amelia and Anna Burk. |
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| Two small research notebooks Dr Black deposited with the Library when he retired containing notes on fish studies he made while a biologist with the Wisconsin Conservation Department in the 1940s and a scrapbook of Dr Black’s contributions to the field and information regarding the Pre-Osteopathic Club at Truman State University, to which Dr Black was an advisor. |
| The Works of Willis J Bray, 1915-1961 (B5) |
| A collection of 60 articles, addresses and essays by Willis J Bray (1884-1961), a professor of Chemistry at Northeast Missouri State University (now Truman State University), 1912-52 and Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of Missouri, AF&AM, 1945-1946. Topics covered include general education, chemistry, Masonry, religion, family and patriotism. |
| Berenice Beggs Papers (B6) |
| Primarily a collection of some of Miss Beggs' articles, poems and plays for children, these papers also contain items from her mother's scrapbook and a few pieces of personal correspondence. |
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| Helen Cole Dissertation: The Story of Vézelay, 1948 (C2) |
| Helen Rosemary Cole (1906-1964) was Professor of French at Northeast Missouri State Teacher's College (now Truman State University) from 1959 until her death in 1964. This collection is a typed working draft of the dissertation she submitted for her PhD (University of Iowa, 1948) along with some of the materials she collected while studying and traveling in France. |
| Central Wesleyan College Archives (C3) |
| Correspondence; business, legal, and financial records; institutional histories of Central Wesleyan College and Orphan Asylum, Mt. Pleasant German College and Ozark Wesleyan College; some student organizations' records and college publications as well as some records of the St Louis German Conference, Methodist Episcopal Church. Many documents in German. |
| Crittenden Family Bible, 1773-1868 (C3 Musdp) |
| Births and marriages from the Bible of the Iairus & Eunice (Sprague) Crittenden family of New York. The Bible was a gift of Hazel Gehrke, a life-long resident of Adair County and a graduate of Northeast Missouri State Teacher’s College (now Truman State University). Her grandfather, Albert I Crittenden (1841-1919), is not among the names listed but was of an age to be a child of one of the couples shown. |
| The William E Connelley Interviews (C4) |
| William E Connelley, avocational historian and author, was Secretary of the Kansas State Historical Society from 1914 until his death in 1930. This collection consists of his interviews with five persons who knew William Quantrill or who survived his August 21, 1863 raid on Lawrence, Kansas. |
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| Correspondence, clippings and photos relating to Collins’ appearance in the original Broadway production of “Dark of the Moon”. He was Northeast Missouri State College (now Truman State University) Speech Instructor and Director of Debate, 1937-1969. |
| Seven typed essays written by Byron Cosby while at Northeast Missouri State Teachers College (now Truman State University) where he was teaching faculty and later an administrator. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Archives of Corporal Dix Post No 22, Grand Army of the Republic, 1882-1934 (D1) |
| .. and of its Auxiliaries: Corporal Dix Post No 14, Woman’s Relief Corps, Kirksville Camp No 119, Sons of Veterans & Captain T.C. Harris Camp No 41, Sons of Veterans. The collection contains the GAR membership applications, and miscellaneous, but by no means comprehensive, records for all 4 organizations; also some member information for the Sons of Veterans. |
| Darrow Papers, 1812-1825, 1864 (D1 Musdp) |
| This collection includes Joseph Darrow’s 1812-25 account book and 1847 court summons, as well as an 1864 Civil War diary, militia accounts book and post war County Collector's ledger maintained by his grandson, Lt. Edwin Darrow. |
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| Personal military & pension records and documents created by Davis as Company Commander, Company H, 63rd Regiment, Illinois Volunteer Infantry. Bi-monthly muster rolls contain enrollment, discharge, promotions & other status changes for all company members Dec 1861-Dec 1863. |
| Darold K Davis - David T Stump Music Library (D4) |
| An extensive collection of over 270 music books and sheet music,1880s-1940s, and more than 340 recordings, 1910s-1970s. The scores are primarily classical and popular arrangements for music students, while the records which are mostly pop, also include classical, juvenile, jazz and county-western. |
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| World War I era scrapbooks & photo album compiled by members of the Ann Haynes Chapter, Daughters of the American Revolution. |
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Records for Forest-Llewellyn Cemetery and the “Old”
City Cemetery: (1) Forest Cemetery Association Minute Book, 1940-1962, 1964, 1974 (2) Forest Cemetery Association Payment Records, 1926-1951 (3) Cemetery Records of Kirksville Cemetery, 1880-1895, 1904-05, 1932-52 (4) Llewellyn Cemetery Register, 1832 [1880s-1910s] 1950 |
| Glenn Frank Papers, 1887-1940 (F2) |
| Speeches, correspondence, and papers from alumnus Glenn Frank. Frank was managing editor of The Century Publishing Company (publisher of books and The Century Magazine) for several years, was later President of the University of Wisconsin and became active in Wisconsin and national politics. |
| James Mickelborough Greenwood Papers, 1874-1914 (G1) |
| Greenwood, Superintendent of the Kansas City Public Schools, 1874-1913, was a leading figure in state and national public school education. Papers include personal & business correspondence; correspondence & documents of the National Education Association and other professional & civic organizations; his own articles & speeches, research and speaking notes; items related to public school administration, particularly to the Kansas City School System; and publications on educational topics. |
| The Gebhart Invitation, 1877 (G1 Musdp) |
| This invitation to a reception hosted by the City of Louisville, KY in honor of President & Mrs Rutherford B Hayes is addressed to Mr & Mrs J F Gebhart of New, Albany, IN. It was the gift of their son David R Gebhart, Professor of Music at the First District Normal School, 1905-16. |
| WC Handy Autographs, 1957 (H1) |
| William Christopher Handy was one of the originators of the music form known as the “Blues”, one of his most famous compositions being “The Saint Louis Blues”. Collection includes signed photos and sheet music as well as miscellaneous items from the Handy Brothers Music Co. |
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| Archives of the H63TC which was incorporated “to fund, promote, plan, design, construct, maintain and operate, the construction of two additional lanes on Highway 63 in Adair County [&] Macon County ... [in] a Cooperative Agreement with the Missouri Highways & Transportation Commission, the County of Adair and the City of Kirksville.” |
| Records of the Hazel Creek Concerned Citizens Committee, 2004-2006 (H5) |
| Archives of the Hazel Creek Concerned Citizens Committee, a group composed of Kirksville and Adair County, Missouri citizens concerned about the water quality of the Hazel Creek Reservoir. Formed in 2004, the group attempted to return a portion of the land surrounding the reservoir to the public after it was sold to a private owner by the Kirksville City Council. |
| Marie Turner Harvey Papers: The Work at Porter Rural School, 1912-1930 (H6) |
| Documents, correspondence and articles covering Mrs Harvey's work at Porter Rural School in Adair County, MO, an internationally recognized "model" of the best in rural education. | |
| Captain Harris House Historical Collection (H7) | |
| Papers, speeches, and publications written by educator William Torrey Harris, as well as correspondence to Harris from educators James Mickelborough Greenwood, Joseph Baldwin, Ira Divoll, and O.P. Davis. | |
| William Torrey Harris Collection, 1871-1909, (H8) | |
| Documents, correspondence, and financial transactions detailing the 1970s restoration of the Captain Harris House, a historical building in Kirksville, MO. | |
| Journal Printing Company Ledgers, 1890-1979 (J1) |
| A set of account ledgers, belonging to the Journal Printing Company, containing accounts payable and accounts receivable information. |
| Kirksville Photos by Drake, 1893: The Clifford Henry Album (K1 Musdp) |
| An album of 35 photos of Kirksville, MO, buildings, businesses and people created by “Drake, Fotografer” and originally owned by Clifford Elmore Henry. Using Kirksville city directories, local histories and articles in Kirksville newspapers of the day, we have been able to determine that most of the photos in this album were taken Jan-Apr 1893, the only period when all the pictured businesses were in operation simultaneously. |
| Leon Karel Business Forms Collection, 1868-1922 (K2) |
| Leon Charles Karel (1919-2001) was Professor of Music at Northeast Missouri State (now Truman State University) from 1948 to 1983. His small collection consists primarily of late 19th and early 20th century illustrated letterheads and business forms for Missouri firms and 1913-15 display ads clipped from The Kirksville Journal. |
| Kirksville Photo Album, 1897 (K2 Musdp) |
| An album of 28 photos of Kirksville, MO, homes, places & events by an unknown photographer. Using Kirksville city directories, local histories, articles in newspapers, and a perpetual calendar, we have been able to identify several events that occurred in early 1897. Other shots seem to have been taken later that summer and fall. |
| Kirk Family Papers (K3) |
| This collection, primarily photographs and diplomas belonging to the children of John R & Rebecca (Burns) Kirk, supplements the personal photos and documents of the Kirk Presidential Papers in the University Archives. Kirk was President of this school from 1899 to 1925. |
| Archives of the Kirksville Kiwanis Club, 1920-2012 (K4) |
| This archive includes documents and publications from the Club's founding in 1920 through 2012. It is composed of two collections, an early one compiled and donated by charter member Paul O Selby and the Club's own accumulation of records. | |
| Knobbs Sheet Music Collection (K5) | |
| A collection of folk songs, Civil War era music, musical studies, selections from various operas, and much more, this 19th-20th century sheet music collection was accumulated by Dr. Pauline Dingle Knobbs, professor emeritus of social science and alumna from Northeast Missouri State Teachers College (now Truman State University). | |
| Kirksville Public Schools Documents & Memorabilia, 1885-1982 (K6) |
| This collection includes a variety of items from curriculum documents to sports memorabilia and was gathered from various sources over a span of nearly 100 years. Some items were collected by library and archives staff for the library’s local history collection; others were donated by area residents. |
| Harry H Laughlin Papers, 1910-1939 (L1) |
| Laughlin's professional files from the Eugenics Record Office; includes institutional correspondence, memoranda, and reports; general correspondence; correspondence and printed materials related to eugenical organizations; working manuscripts; notes; some photographs; and miscellaneous collected printed materials. |
| David Owen Long Papers 1938-1970 (L2) |
| David Long began his education at Northeast Missouri State Teachers College (now Truman). This collection includes Long family history, photographs, and unpublished articles and papers. |
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| Partial roster of the pastors, marriages performed, infant baptisms and memberships for Nov 1898 through Aug 1907. |
| John R Musick’s Scrapbook (M4) |
| Scrapbook of articles, stories, poems, and letters to the editor John Roy Musick (1849-1901) wrote under his own name as well as under several pseudonyms. Musick, was a Kirksville newspaper publisher (The Tattler, Jan-July 1875), attorney and author. His best-known work was the 12-volume Columbian Historical Novels (1892); a 13th volume was published about the time of his death. |
| Co M, 4th MO Infantry, MO State Guard, 1942-1943 Scrapbook & Photo Album (M5) |
| “Till the Boys Come Home: Chronicles of the Activities of the Missouri State Guard at Kirksville During World War II, October 1940-February 1947”, compiled by S/Sgt Paul O Selby. A 2-volume scrapbook/photo album of the unit’s 1942-43 activities; includes Volume 1 (Dec 1942-Oct 1943) of the Battalion’s newsletter 3rd Battalion Review. |
| Mulberry School Records, 1904-1910 (M6) |
| Three registers of daily attendance and classification records for the students at Mulberry School in Ninevah Township, Adair County, MO. |
| Morris-Tull Family Bibles, 1801-1936 (M7) |
| This collection, documenting the births, marriages and deaths in the John H & Frances J (Tull) Morris and Nicholas & Frances (McNeill) Tull families, consists of family register pages from three Bibles as well as the few loose documents and photographs that accompanied them. |
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| Record Book containing congregation’s petition for affiliation with the Palmyra Presbytery, Presbyterian Church USA; Session Minutes, Feb 8, 1892 – Dec 4, 1906; Congregational Meeting Minutes, Oct 31, 1905; and Membership Roll, 1892-1906. |
| Kirksville Presbyterian Churches (P3) |
| The Cumberland Presbyterian Church was organized in Kirksville in May 1846 and the Northern, or Old School, Presbyterians (Presbyterian Church USA) organized during the Fall of 1859. These two congregations merged in 1906 under the name First Presbyterian Church. The documents in this collection represent the activities of all three entities and are widely scattered through the years 1883 to 1968. |
| Margaret Lee (Hoffman) Rhea Photo Album, 1910s-1920s (R1) |
| Margaret Hoffman of Paris, MO completed the Elementary Course at First District Normal School in 1912. The album contains 125 photographs (1910-1920s, some later) of her family, friends at the Normal, vacations and early teaching assignments in North Dakota. |
| Emma (Funk) Rieger Photo Album, 1890s (R1 Musdp) |
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This beautiful 32 page photo album with a carved
ivory cover was originally owned and filled by
Miss Emma Funk of Edina, MO in the late 1890s.
It
contains 58 photos, only 15 of which are
identified, and was donated to the Violette
Museum after her death. |
| Book of Jim Rouse, 1904-1913 (R2) |
| Clippings and photos, primarily of the First District Normal School’s football and baseball teams, collected by Jim Rouse during his years as student and member of the faculty. Rouse was an “All-Missouri” star athlete who joined the faculty as Associate Professor of Agriculture after graduation. |
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| Register of 90 loyalty oath questionnaires for Jasper Township, Ralls County, MO taken 22 Sept – 20 Oct 1866. Each questionnaire contains personal information about registrant, his family and his/their loyalties during “the recent war”. |
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| Personal papers, research notes and writings of Paul Owen Selby, consisting of files and records he gave during his lifetime as well as those cleared from his campus office after his death; the majority are concerned with Kirksville & Adair County history, genealogies of Adair County families, and Mark Twain. |
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| E Sanborn Smith House Architectural Plans, 1924 (S9) |
| This brick and stucco Colonial Revival style residence in Kirksville, MO, designed and built 1924-25, was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2009. The collection consists of the original architectural plans and specifications as well as the NRHP nomination with its detailed description of the structure and history of the house, its owners and architect. |
| Ruth Warner Towne Papers (T1) |
| Dr Towne retired from the Northeast Missouri State University (now Truman State University) faculty in 1988 as Professor of History and Dean of Graduate Studies. Her papers include family records dating from as early as the 1820s, her own personal & professional papers and correspondence, as well as some of the research for her dissertation on Congressman William Joel Stone, and other books and articles. |
| Gladys E Tull Scrapbook, 1908-1929 (T2) |
| This 189-page scrapbook contains programs, photos and other memorabilia kept by Miss Tull during her high school & college years at Kirksville Jr & Sr High Schools and Northeast Missouri State Teachers College, along with a few childhood photos. |
| Enlistment Records, US Army Recruiting Station, 1916-18 (U1 Musdp) |
| These enlistment forms contain personal information provided by prospective soldiers who enrolled at the Kirksville Recruiting Station during World War I, including name, age, occupation, current residence, next of kin and physical description. |
| Documents of Unknown Origin, 1807-1965, (U2 Musdp) |
| A small artificial collection of letters, military records, receipts, slave & land sales, and political memorabilia placed in the Violette Museum by unidentified or unknown donors. |
| Eugene Morrow Violette Papers, 1875-1940 (V1) |
| EM Violette was Professor of History and Head of the Department of History & Government at Northeast State Missouri Teachers College (now Truman State University), 1900-23. His papers consist of numerous draft versions of his books & articles, professional files primarily from his years in Kirksville, and personal papers, including diaries, scrapbooks and photos from childhood to shortly before his death. |
| Violette Collection of WWI Soldiers’ Letters, 1918 (V1 Musdp) |
| Letters written from the field in Europe relating living and battle conditions; many in response to a campaign by the Normal School and Kirksville Rotary Club to see that Adair County soldiers received mail, some donated by the soldiers’ families; nearly all were printed in the Kirksville Daily Express or Normal School Index. |
| Volunteer Registrations, Adair Co Women’s Committee, Nat'l Council of Defense, 1917 (W1 Musdp) |
| Registration forms Adair County women “who desire to help win the war” completed to provided the Council of Defense with a roster of those willing to help in the war effort if a need arose. Data on the registration card includes: name, address, telephone, age, marital status, race, dependents, country of birth, citizenship status, current occupation and level of education attained, and also what type of services the applicant was offering. |
| White Sisters Records & Photos, ca 1918-1928 (W2) |
| Academic Records for Mildred Genevieve (White) McKim (Class of '22) & Marian Kathleen White (Class of '28) graduates of Northeast Missouri State Teachers College (now Truman State University). The collection also includes Mildred's album of school and family photos. |
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| The civilian war effort during World War II included rationing of goods needed by the military and the purchase of Defense Savings Bonds. This collection contains stamp booklets used in the administration of these two campaigns. |
| Elisha Cotton Winchell Letters, 1849 (1850-1854) 1912 (W3) |
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Elisha C Winchell moved to California from
Missouri during the “Gold Rush” to establish his
law practice while others were seeking riches in
the gold fields.
Most of these 64 letters were written during his
first years in the brand new state and describe
the citizens, society and culture of Sacramento
as well as the climate & scenery of the
Sacramento Valley. |
| Wohlschlaeger Papers, 1862, 1873-1878 (W3 Musdp) |
| During the Civil War, merchant Jacob Wohlschläger of Georgetown, MO, organized a drive to raise money for a United States flag to fly over the village. Jacob’s flag subscription list, the flag itself and a ledger from his store containing the account of President US Grant make up this collection. |
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| Zeigler Civil War Letters, 1864-1865 (Z1) |
| Letters from Samuel and Clark Zeigler written home during military service in Arkansas with the 7th Missouri Volunteer Cavalry, and to John Zeigler from a friend [relative?] serving in North Carolina; added background information and photos from Zeigler family members. |