Mary Winton Pulley Papers
Scope and Contents
The bulk of the Mary Winton Pulley Papers consists of diaries dating from 1936 until Mary Pulley's death in 1956. She writes of her daily activities as registrar for Mississippi Southern College, as well as about family members, gardening activities, friends and social events, obligations as a sorority sponsor, genealogy, and travel.
Names of colleagues and friends, places of interest, and events of the times are mentioned throughout the 20 year span of her diaries. She writes of many events in the history of Mississippi Southern College (now University of Southern Mississippi) including the ouster of president J.B. George; the R.C. Cook years; and the dawn of a new era with Dr. William D. McCain in 1955.
In addition to the diaries, the collection also contains personal and professional correspondence, newspaper clippings, photographs, genealogical materials, two Mississippi Southern College Christmas cards from the 1940s, professional and personal organizational materials, and other miscellaneous items.
Dates
- 1876-1956
Creator
- Pulley, Mary Winton, 1885-1956 (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).
Biographical / Historical
Mary Winton Pulley was born near Pittsboro, in Calhoun County, Mississippi, on January 1, 1885. She was the daughter of Robert Anderson and Mary Lucinda Murphy Pulley, both of Calhoun County, Mississippi. Educated in the schools of Clay and Calhoun counties, Mary also received training and education from the Industrial Institute and College, Mississippi Agricultural and Mechanical College, the University of Mississippi, and Cedar Rapids Business College. She taught school in Pilgrims Rest, Mississippi (1903-1904); Durant, Mississippi (1904-1907); and West Point, Mississippi (1908-1917) where she was both a teacher and a principal for two years.
In 1918 Mary Pulley came to Mississippi Normal College as an instructor in penmanship. Over the next ten years she became records secretary (1924) and assistant registrar (1927). Mary received her Bachelor of Science degree from Mississippi Southern College in August of 1929 and became College Registrar in 1931.
Mary was active in many professional organizations. She was a member of the American Association of University Women (AAUW); she helped organize the Mississippi Association of College Registrars and served one term as president. She was also active in the American Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admissions Officers, serving on various committees and appearing on many programs for the association.
Mary was a member of Main Street Methodist Church, the John Rolfe Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution, Daughters of the American Colonists, the Daughters of the Founders and Patriots of America, Delta Kappa Gamma, and the Review Club. She was instrumental in bringing sororities to the campus and was a charter member and first sponsor of Beta Delta Chapter of Alpha Sigma Alpha. For eleven years Mary served on the board of directors of the Forrest County Chapter, American Red Cross, and during World War II she was active in the Canteen Corps at Camp Shelby.
In 1953 Mary became Director of Correspondence Study and on June 30, 1953, she worked her last day at Mississippi Southern College. She had been affiliated with the institution for 35 years. She spent much of her retirement with her family and pursued traveling and genealogical interests. Mary Pulley died of heart problems on May 14, 1956, in Hattiesburg, Mississippi.
Extent
.9 Cubic Feet
Language of Materials
English
Provenance
The bulk of the materials have no recorded donor. Other materials were transferred from the Mississippiana Vertical File.
Existence and Location of Copies
For Digitized Materials from this collection, see: External Documents link at bottom of page.
Photo Log
- Clippings (Books, newspapers, etc.). Subject Source: TGM II, Genre and physical characteristic terms
- Cook, R.C., Dr., 4th President of Mississippi Southern College (now the University of Southern Mississippi) (Robert Cecil), 1903-1979
- Diaries. Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Genealogy. Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- George, J. B., Dr., 3rd President of Mississippi Southern College (now the University of Southern Mississippi) (Jennings Burton), 1893-1971
- Greeting cards. Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Hattiesburg (Miss.) -- Social Life and customs. Subject Source: Local sources
- Letter. Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- McCain, William D., Dr., 5th President of Mississippi Southern College (now the University of Southern Mississippi) (William David), 1907-1993
- Mississippi -- Social life and customs. Subject Source: Local sources
- Personal narratives. Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Photographs. Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Pulley, Mary Winton, 1885-1956
- University of Southern Mississippi -- Staff. Subject Source: Local sources
- University of Southern Mississippi. Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Title
- Mary Winton Pulley Papers
- Status
- Completed
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Latin
Repository Details
Part of the Historical Manuscripts and Photographs Repository
118 College Drive - 5148
Hattiesburg MS 39406-0001
601.266.4345
