Emma Lou Roberts Papers
Scope and Contents
The Papers of Emma Lou Roberts contain booklets, pamphlets, and programs from various concerts and activities in Hattiesburg, a letter to her mother and father, certificates and correspondences from the Office of Price Administration, war bonds and a sugar coupon, a ration book holder with the family’s ration books, and two articles from 1982. “The Colonial Wedding” program includes reference to Emma Louise Roberts, the donor. The names on the ration books are Emma Louise Jones, Emma L. Jones, Harris C. Jones Jr., Mrs. Harris C. Jones Jr., Emma Liddel Jones, Harris Cleveland Jones III, Harris Cleveland Jones, and Harris C. Jones III.
According to the Office of Price Administration papers, the Jones family rented a room at the 111 Capitol Street home to an R.W. Yost in 1942. The maximum legal rent for the room was twenty-five dollars a month. Another tenant signed a change of tenancy form on March 3, 1943. This tenant by the name of Mrs. V. J. Zebrowski was charged six dollars a week. According to the Landlord’s Copy, Mrs. Jones handled the paperwork for both renters.
Dates
- Creation: 1928-1982
Conditions Governing Access
Noncirculating; available for research.
Conditions Governing Use
This collection may be protected from unauthorized copying by the Copyright Law of the United States (Title 17, United States Code).
Biographical / Historical
Harris Cleveland Jones, Jr. and his wife, Emma Liddel Jones, and their children, Harris Cleveland III and Emma Louise, lived at 111 Capitol Street in Hattiesburg, Mississippi. Mr. Harris C. Jones was the supervisor of McGough Cake Shop on the corner of River and Buschman in Hattiesburg, Mississippi. The McGough Bakeries was originally Mattingly’s Bakery; however, it was sold to McGough Bakeries of Birmingham, Alabama in 1939. Mr. Harris Cleveland Jones, Jr. lived from December 11, 1909 to January 23, 1946. Mrs. Emma Liddel Finney Jones lived from November 25, 1906 to September 10, 1993.
Emma Lou Roberts, the wife of Jim Roberts and Hattiesburg native, not only attended The University of Southern Mississippi (USM) for two years but also worked in the College of Liberal Arts as an administrative secretary for twenty-four years. She worked in a candy room in downtown Hattiesburg, Mississippi as her first job. She worked at Exxon before applying to USM. While at USM, she stated that the most unforgettable moment was to know four out of the six presidents and had the opportunity to work for three different deans. Mrs. Roberts said that “USM has expanded my mind and given me the confidence to trust myself.”
Extent
.25 Cubic Feet
Language of Materials
English
Abstract
Pamphlets and programs from various Hattiesburg area activities, certificates and correspondence from the Office of Price Administration, and war bonds and ration books.
Arrangement
The materials in the collection did not receive significant arrangement. It’s arranged by programs, booklets, handwritten letter, certificates and correspondence from the Office of Administration, war bonds and ration book holder, and articles.
Provenance
Emma Lou Roberts
Sources
Case File
Polk’s Hattiesburg City Directory 1944
- Title
- Emma Lou Roberts Papers
- Author
- Collection processed and finding aid written by Shawna Guidry
- Date
- February 18, 2015
- Language of description
- Undetermined
- Script of description
- Code for undetermined script
Repository Details
Part of the Historical Manuscripts and Photographs Repository
118 College Drive - 5148
Hattiesburg MS 39406-0001
601.266.4345