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Special Collections &
E. M. VIOLETTE MUSEUM
MANUSCRIPT COLLECTIONS
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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]. |
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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]. |
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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. |
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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. |
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Adair County Historical Collection
(A5) |
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A collection of letters, newspaper
clippings, photographs, maps, and other various
items which showcase the history of Kirksville
and surrounding regions (1832-1994). |
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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. |
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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. |
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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. |
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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. |
Lewis R. Binford Collection (B7)
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The collection of Lewis R.
Binford (1931-2011) currently resides in the
Special Collections department of Pickler
Memorial Library, Truman State University.
Binford's personal library has been cataloged
and is accessible through the
Pickler
Memorial Library catalog. The
manuscript collection is currently unprocessed
and is not available for researchers at this
time. Please contact the Special Collections
department for more information. |
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Helen Cole Dissertation:
The Story of Vézelay,
1948 (C2)
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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. |
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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. |
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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. |
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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. |
Byron Cosby Essays,
1910-1935 (C7)
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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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.. 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. |
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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. |
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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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Collection of three early
Chautauqua programs from northern Missouri
communities - Hannibal, Unionville & Salisbury. |
DAR Scrapbooks Collection
(D6) |
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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 |
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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.
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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.
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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. |
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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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The Heartland
Chautauqua made the first stop on its “west
tour” in Kirksville the summer of 2000. The
modern Chautauqua is reminiscent of the
traveling culture platforms of the early 20th
Century but takes a slightly different approach
with scholar/actors presenting historical
figures. |
Records of the Highway 63
Transportation Corporation, 1999-2006
(H3) |
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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.” |
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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. |
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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. |
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Captain Harris House Historical Collection
(H7) |
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Documents,
correspondence, and financial transactions
detailing the 1970s restoration of the Captain
Harris House, a historical building in
Kirksville, MO. |
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A set of account ledgers, belonging to
the Journal Printing Company, containing
accounts payable and accounts receivable
information. |
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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. |
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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.
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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. |
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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. |
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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. |
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Knobbs Sheet Music Collection (K5) |
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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). |
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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. |
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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.
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Albert P. Miller, a merchant from Winchester, Augusta
County, VA, was in partnership with N.A. Baylor in
Kirksville, MO, for about one year from mid-1881 to
mid-1882. The collection is miscellaneous personal
documents from prior to his move and letters from Naylor
urging him to come to Kirksville; some publicity for the
Kirksville store. |
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Records of Adair County’s Militia units: Muster Roll,
Provisional Detailed Company, 86th Regiment of Enrolled
Militia of Missouri, July-Aug 1864; Pay Records for 86th
Regiment, Organized Missouri Militia, April-May 1874;
Pay Records for 50th Regiment, Enrolled Missouri
Militia, May 1874; Pay Records for Simler’s Company,
Adair Co Militia, April-May 1874. |
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Partial roster of the pastors, marriages performed,
infant baptisms and memberships for Nov 1898 through Aug
1907. |
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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. |
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“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. |
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Three registers of daily attendance and classification
records for the students at Mulberry School in Ninevah
Township, Adair County, MO. |
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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. |
Mead Civil War Collection (M9)
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Mead and Chandler family
collection composed of 81 documents of letters,
indentures, payment records, marriage
certificates, telegraphs, envelopes, poetry,
photographs, and newspapers from 1824-1968.
The majority of the documents pertain to the
Civil War, but the California Gold Rush and WWI
are also mentioned. |
Vincent Price Library and Memorabilia
(P1) |
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Materials in this collection include books, letters,
memorabilia, films, interviews, photographs, WWII documents and cartographic
material, newspaper clippings, and more. This collection contains materials
pertaining to Vincent Price’s life, family, career, and relationship with Truman
State University. |
Belle Porter Memorial Presbyterian
Church, Sullivan County, MO, 1892-1906 (P2)
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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. |
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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. |
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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. |
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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. |
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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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The County Superintendent's Report to
the State Superintendent of Schools providing
enrollment, personnel & financial data &
statistics. |
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Papers of Fred Schwengel (S8) |
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Correspondence, photographs, newspaper
clippings, publications, and assorted government
documents belonging to Fred Schwengel from his
time in the Iowa legislature and the United
States Congress. The collection centers
around Lincoln's history and legacy, and
Schwengel's part in preserving and celebrating
that legacy during the centenary of Lincoln's
presidency. |
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Sanborn Smith House Architectural Plans, 1924
(S9) |
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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. |
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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. |
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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. |
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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.
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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. |
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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. |
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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.
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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. |
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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. |
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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. |
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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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This collection contains
materials regarding military training and
administration during WWI, American soldiers'
experiences in Europe, civilian involvement in
America, and the world disarmament movement. The
documents were acquired by the E. M. Violette
Museum from various donors. |
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Donated in 2014, this
collection contains documents, photos, and
artifacts from the life of Mildred (Brown)
Willows. From 1943-1970, Willows owned and
operated "Mildred's Beauty Shop", a local
business in Kirksville, MO. |
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Zeigler Civil War
Letters, 1864-1865 (Z1) |
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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. |
Special Collections |
E. M. Violette Museum
