Fannie Kyker Collection
Scope and Contents
The Fannie Kyker Collection encompasses a broad time period and includes materials that illustrate regional and national interests. This includes photographs from early Hattiesburg, Camp Shelby during World War I, mid-century college life, and late-century local politics. It also includes correspondence, news clippings, ephemera, and realia. Of note is a collection of postcards from Gulf Coast hotels, many of which were destroyed during Hurricane Camille in 1969. Also of note are photographs from Front Street and the downtown district of Hattiesburg, which span the first half of the twentieth century.
Dates
- circa 1910-2010
Creator
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
Fannie LaVelle “Goodie” Kyker (b. 1926) was a prominent citizen in Hattiesburg, Mississippi. Her parents, Dana H. Kyker and Leo (Fortenberry) Kyker, owned the Kyker Newsstand, located on Front Street in the Saenger Building. Kyker earned a Bachelor’s degree from Sophie Newcomb College and a Master’s degree from Tulane University. She worked as a translator for the International Trade Mart in New Orleans, then became a certified Medical Records Librarian, working for hospitals in New Orleans and in Jackson, Mississippi.
Kyker developed a reputation as eccentric, and became known as “the Cat Lady of Hattiesburg.” Her mother, Leo, may have been partially at fault for Kyker’s reputation, since Leo held a funeral for her pet poodle, even burying her beloved pet in a casket built for an infant. The dog’s funeral made newspapers across the state. Kyker herself was well known for feeding numerous feral cats in her neighborhood.
Kyker was politically active, having served as an honorary “Lady Colonel” for at least three governors of Mississippi. She ran for the position of city commissioner, as well as campaigned for Evelyn Gandy and others.
Kyker’s life illuminates many of the major events in 20th century America. She began college during World War II, reflected in her correspondence with a cousin who was stationed at Trieste. A close friend, Brett F. Jackson, Jr., died within two weeks of contracting infantile paralysis, approximately six years before the Salk vaccine was released. Jackson’s death led to Kyker’s involvement with March of Dimes. Her correspondence and photographs illustrate college life during the mid-twentieth century, and other materials highlight the growing prominence of women in politics and civic life during the latter twentieth century.
Extent
6.50 Cubic Feet (13 boxes)
Language of Materials
English
Abstract
Post cards, correspondence, printed items, photos, and other memorabilia collected by this long time Hattiesburg resident.
Arrangement
Series I: General Correspondence
Series II: William F. Tolbert, Jr., materials
Series III: Brett F. Jackson, Jr., materials
Series IV: News Clippings
Series V: Ephemera & Memorabilia
Series VI: Photographs
Provenance
Collection donated by Kaylene Behm in 2010.
Most materials were generated by Fannie Kyker or her family members.
Sources
Obituary of Fannie LaVelle “Goodie” Kyker. (2009-06-17) in Clarion-Ledger.
Sources held within the collection.
Processing Note
“Camp Regulations, Camp Shelby (1975)” removed to Camp Shelby Collection M517.
- Albums (Books). Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Brochures. Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Camp Shelby (Miss.). Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Certificates. Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Church bulletins. Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Clippings (Books, newspapers, etc.). Subject Source: TGM II, Genre and physical characteristic terms
- Clubs. Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Diplomas. Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Financial documents. Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Fliers (Ephemera). Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Greeting cards. Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Hattiesburg (Miss.) -- Social Life and customs. Subject Source: Local sources
- Hattiesburg (Miss.). Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Kyker, Fannie LaVelle “Goodie”, 1926-2009
- Legal forms. Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Letter. Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Memorabilia. Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Mississippi -- Social life and customs. Subject Source: Local sources
- Obituaries. Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Periodicals. Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Photographs. Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Poetry. Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Political campaigns. Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Postcards. Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Programs (Publications). Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Realia. Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- University of Southern Mississippi. Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Title
- Fannie Kyker Collection
- Author
- Collection processed and Finding Aid written by Lynn Cowles
- Date
- December 2018
- 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
