Helen Mar Halliburton McReynolds Collection

Ms Collection M12

For information concerning this collection or to request copies contact:
speccoll@truman.edu

Please visit our copyright and services and fees pages for more information.

Record Class: Diaries, School Documents

Date: 1873 – 1884

Creators: Helen Mar Halliburton McReynolds, Juliet Owen Halliburton

Provenance: This collection was donated to Special Collections Department, Pickler Memorial Library, Truman State University in 2004 by Elizabeth McReynolds Rozier, John G. Rozier, and James A. Rozier.

Extent: .209 linear feet

Language: English

Repository: Special Collections Department, Pickler Memorial Library, Truman State University

Access: Open 

Processed by: Emma Christensen

Processing Information: Arrangement scheme for the collection was imposed during processing due to the absence of a usable original order.

Abstract: This collection includes a variety of diaries, scrapbooks, recipe books, and documents such as programs and poems that represent Helen Mar Halliburton McReynolds life while at Kirksville State Normal School (now Truman State University).

Keywords: Diary; Halliburton; Helen; Kirksville State Normal School; McReynolds; Rozier; R

Historical Sketch:    

Helen Mar Halliburton McReynolds (1844–1924) was born to Judge Charles Westley Halliburton (1812–1890) and Armilda Collins Halliburton (1824–1876) in Randolph County, Missouri. Judge Halliburton, Helen’s father, was a renowned judge in Northeast Missouri, and records on his work can be found in History of Adair, Sullivan, Putnam and Schuyler Counties, Missouri in Special Collections (F472.A2 H57). Helen’s mother was her father’s second wife, but his third wife, Juliet Owen Halliburton (1838–1914), was also influential on Helen’s life as her stepmother. Helen first attended school as a child in Chariton County, Missouri, and eventually moved to Kirksville, Missouri. It was in Kirksville when Helen decided to attend Kirksville State Normal School (now Truman State University), where she initially met her husband Samuel McReynolds. Helen then became a teacher at the Normal School, until her husband moved them to Carthage so he could begin his law practice. Samuel became a prominent attorney in Carthage, Missouri, which is where Helen spent the rest of her married life with Samuel. The couple had four children, and it was her eldest son, Allen, who had Elizabeth McReynolds Rozier, one of the donors of this collection.

Elizabeth McReynolds Rozier (1907 – 2010) was the granddaughter of Helen Mar Halliburton McReynolds, on her father’s side. Elizabeth held onto the diaries until late in her life, when she then gave them to her children, John G. Rozier and James A. Rozier.

Box 1:

1.1  Helen Mar Halliburton McReynolds’ 1873 Pocket Diary

Jan 1, 1873 – April 16, 1873; Written when she was a student at the State Normal School; Notes of the daily weather, schoolwork and professors, and briefings about her day; Kept budget and total of cash accounts

3.5 x 5 inch brown leather journal with fold-over clasp

1.2  Juliet Owen Halliburton’s Scrapbook

Includes clippings of various newspaper articles with handwritten notes accompanying the clippings; Undated

6.5 x 8 inch red-patterned journal

1.3  Recipe Book

Includes loose recipes, both handwritten and clipped from newspapers; Unknown owner; Undated

6 x 8 inch black journal with gold lettering

1.4  Normal School Documents

1875 Commencement Week Program ◙ Form letter from President Blanton transmitting class schedule, 1884 ◙ Letter of recommendation for Halliburton signed by Vice President Nason, 1876 ◙ Note from Joseph Baldwin, undated ◙ Speaking Notes for End-of-School Program Speech, undated ◙ Untitled Poem by Helen Mar Halliburton McReynolds, undated

1.5  Jaccard Paper Envelope

Unidentified, undated

For information concerning this collection contact: speccoll@truman.edu

Manuscripts Table of Contents | Special Collections