Rudy H. Leverett Collection
Scope and Contents
This collection contains the personal papers, research, and published writings of Rudy H. Leverett during his lifetime. Also included are the research materials collected by Leverett for the publication of his genealogical sketches on Amos McLemore and Thomas Leverett, his work The Legend of the Free State of Jones, and multiple writing on religion, language, philosophy, and ethnicity. The materials document not only the life of Leverett, but also the lives of the Leverett and McLemore families.
Dates
- circa 1934-1999
Creator
- Leverett, Rudy H., -1999. (Person)
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). Reproduction of original materials may be provided for a fee and at the discretion of the curator. Provision of photocopies or digital reproductions does not constitute permission to publish, distribute, provide internet access to, or otherwise display images of materials in this collection. Copyright is retained by the lawful copyright holder, and it is the responsibility of the permission seeker to contact and secure permission from the copyright holder. Where copyright permission is not granted, images are only for use in private study subject to the Fair Use exceptions made in U.S. Copyright Law.
Biographical / Historical
Rudy H. Leverett was born on January 9, 1934 near Hattiesburg, Mississippi and died on January 9, 1999. Leverett was a graduate of the class of 1952 of Hattiesburg High School, having served on the staff of the Purple and Gold magazine where his first story “Picturesque” was published. Leverett would also win recognition for his work in the 1952 creative writing contest sponsored by Scholastic Magazine and New Orleans State. He received his undergraduate degree in English through the G.I. Bill and completed undergraduate work at the University of Southern Mississippi. Leverett also was on staff for the university’s first literary magazine, the Crux. He received a graduate degree in library science at the University of Washington and a doctoral degree in education from the University of Idaho.
Leverett began and completed his military service during the Korean War, serving as a Military Policeman in Korea and a counterintelligence agent in West Germany. Leverett was married to Susana Conde, who also served on the staff of the University of Southern Mississippi’s magazine, the Crux. Leverett would later work as an Educational Consultant for the Idaho State Department of Education, lead a project establishing the state’s high school graduation requirements, and begin numerous workshops in humanities and critical thinking. Leverett also directed the Whittenberger Summer writing workshop for gifted students.
In addition to his many academic contributions, Leverett also wrote a genealogical sketch of his great grandfather, Amos McLemore, also known as Ole Rosinheels, of the 27th Mississippi Regiment, C.S.A., which was published in 1977. In addition to his genealogical sketch, Leverett also wrote articles and books on a number of subjects ranging from philosophy, education, history, and religion. Additionally, Leverett was inspired to write a book on the secession of Jones County, Mississippi during the Civil War, entitled Legend of the Free State of Jones, that was published by the University Press of Mississippi.
Before his death in 1999, Leverett had begun work on a novel based on “the great war” and the people of the area in which he grew up. Leverett was survived by his wife, three daughters, three grandchildren, and his sister.
Extent
18 Cubic Feet : MC2/D15
Language of Materials
English
Abstract
The Rudy H. Leverett Collection contains the personal papers, correspondence, drafted writings, and publications of author and professor Rudy H. Leverett. This collection would be of interest to researchers focusing specifically on language, religion, education, and Civil War history. Topics included among Leverett’s writings consist of genealogical studies on the McLemore and Leverett families, as well as Jones County, Mississippi history and Southern culture.
Arrangement
The materials in this collection have been divided in ten series.
Series I includes the biographical and family materials of Rudy H. Leverett, including notes, personal college papers, letters, inventories, military history, awards, and photographs.
Series II consists of research and the family materials of Thomas Leverett, including primary documents, articles, correspondence, military records, family trees, and photographs.
Series III consists of research and family materials of Amos McLemore and Thomas Leverett, including primary documents, correspondence letters, articles, military records, family trees, and photographs.
Series IV is a collection of Mississippi county records, including tax rolls, marriage records, census data, and death dates.
Series V is a collection of research used by Leverett in the publication of his work, The Legend of the Free State of Jones, including articles, correspondence, notes, and letters.
Series VI includes a number of materials on the topic of education, including notes, articles, uncompleted/completed writings, and correspondence.
Series VII consists of materials pertaining to religion, including notes, articles, uncompleted/completed writings.
Series VIII consists of materials on language, including notes and articles.
Series IX includes various materials on ethnicity, southern culture, and impoverished Southern agrarian culture (labeled by Leverett as “cracker culture”), including notes and articles.
Series X consists of all the publications by Rudy H. Leverett, including notes, books, and articles.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Donated by Ingrid Leverett in 2004 and Erica Leverett in 2005
- Clippings (Books, newspapers, etc.). Subject Source: TGM II, Genre and physical characteristic terms
- Covington County (Miss.). Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Ethnicity. Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Genealogy. Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Georgia -- History -- Civil War, 1861-1865. Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Jones County (Miss.). Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Kentucky -- History -- Civil War, 1861-1865. Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Lauderdale County (Miss.). Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Letter. Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Leverett, Rudy H., -1999.
- Linguistics. Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Mississippi -- History -- Civil War, 1861-1865. Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- North Carolina -- History -- Civil War, 1861-1865. Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Perry County (Miss.). Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Philosophy. Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Photographs. Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Records (Documents). Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Religion. Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- South Carolina -- History -- Civil War, 1861-1865. Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Tennessee -- History -- Civil War, 1861-1865. Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- United States -- History -- Civil War, 1861-1865. Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Virginia -- History -- Civil War, 1861-1865. Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Wayne County (Miss.). Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Title
- Rudy H. Leverett Collection
- Status
- Completed
- Author
- Amy D. Myers
- Date
- July 19, 2019
- Description rules
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
- Language of description
- Undetermined
- Script of description
- Code for undetermined script
- Language of description note
- English
Repository Details
Part of the Historical Manuscripts and Photographs Repository
118 College Drive - 5148
Hattiesburg MS 39406-0001
601.266.4345
