Katherine Brown Scrapbook
Scope and Contents
The Katherine Brown collection is a fascinating group of documents that shed light on the “Bootstrap” program at the University of Southern Mississippi.
Dates
- Creation: circa 1950s-1990s
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
Miss Katherine India Brown was born on February 15, 1912 in Newton, Mississippi, where she spent most of her youth. Her parents were John Hamilton Brown and Kate Mae Poole Brown. She also had one brother, Julian Hamilton Brown. She attended Newton Elementary and graduated from Newton High School in 1929 as Valedictorian. She graduated from Clarke Memorial College in 1931 and two years later in 1933 she graduated from Mississippi Woman’s College (present-day William Carey College) with honors and a degree in English. She then began helping with secretarial duties for her father, who was a dentist in Newton.
In 1953, Mississippi Southern College (now the University of Southern Mississippi) Registrar Dr. O. N. Darby asked Brown to come and work for him. Darby was also an English major from Newton, Mississippi and former Superintendent of Schools there. Brown and her mother moved to Hattiesburg, where they were next door neighbors to Dr. and Mrs. Aubrey Lucas. Dr. Lucas, then Director of Admissions, would later become president of the University of Southern Mississippi. The Lucases and the Browns became very good friends, and Katherine rode to work every day with Dr. Lucas.
Brown’s work in the Registrar’s Office consisted of evaluating academic credentials of students enrolling at Mississippi Southern College, producing transcripts, and secretarial duties. When the Bootstrap program began in 1959, Brown took on the responsibility of handling it. She was named Coordinator of Armed Forces Education in 1959 and was the only person to ever hold that position. She served full-time until 1977, and then part-time until 1987.
The Bootstrap program was so named because the participants were “pulling themselves up by their bootstraps” by means of a college education. Bootstrappers came from all branches of the Armed Services. They were officers seeking further career advancement and enlisted personnel who desired a college degree in order to qualify for officers training. Many were married men with children, and some were women.
As Coordinator, Brown facilitated the admission and enrollment of active duty armed forces personnel pursuing a degree. She evaluated the Bootstrappers’ academic credentials, advised them about what courses to take in order to complete their degree requirements in the time allowed by their branch of the service, and generally counseled them from registration to graduation. She encouraged them, attended social functions sponsored by auxiliary organizations like the awarding of the Ph.T. (Pushing Husbands Through) degree, and responded to their 400-500 Christmas cards each year with a university newsletter for them all.
Brown has received numerous honors during her life. In her youth, she won first place in a piano performance, first place in the state of Mississippi in English Literature, and received the Alpha Sigma Alpha award. Her career at the University of Southern Mississippi also garnered her many honors. The Bootstrappers’ Pen and Sword Fraternity established the Kathy Brown Scholarship in 1965, which is still providing financial assistance to qualified students. She was also named Outstanding Staff Member in 1973. However, possibly her greatest accomplishment was being the first recipient of the Hattiesburg Jaycees’ Boss of the Year award in 1974. She won this award because the Bootstrappers regarded her affectionately as their "boss. "
Brown’s work took her to military bases throughout the United States and in Europe, where former Bootstrappers entertained her. Her very active life has included receiving her Master’s Degree in English at Mississippi Southern College in 1957 by taking evening courses, volunteer work, and serving as pianist at the Court Street Methodist Church. Most impressive of all, Brown accomplished all of this with leg braces and crutches as a result of having polio.
Her former Bootstrappers include Colonels, Majors, Brigadier Generals, and Congressional Medal of Honor winner Major John J. Tominac. Another of her Bootstrappers was David Senne, a professor of military science at the University of Southern Mississippi.
After retirement, Brown continued her she has many interests and hobbies such as composing and listening to music, reading and writing poetry, playing the piano and the organ, and bird watching.
Extent
.70 Cubic Feet
Language of Materials
English
Arrangement
The collection is divided into two series.
Series 1: Katherine Brown’s Scrapbook contains many items that Brown collected throughout the years she worked at the University of Southern Mississippi. There are numerous letters and cards from various people Brown knew. There are also many newspaper clippings that mention both the Bootstrap Program and the Pen and Sword Fraternity. Perhaps most interesting are the pictures Brown collected, most of which portray Brown, Bootstrappers, and their families.
Series II: Office Files contains Brown’s personal files. However, the bulk of this series is lists of the hundreds of Bootstrappers that attended the University of Southern Mississippi. Also included are a selection of letters, programs, and various other documents.
Provenance
Materials in this collection were donated by Miss Katherine Brown in 1998.
Sources
Case File
Contents of the Collection
Correspondence with Miss Katherine Brown
Photograph Log
8 x 10 B & W ca. 1960s
(Box 1, Folder 8)
Photographer: Mabel Donovan
Publication/Exhibits History: Hattiesburg American
M402-2 Katherine Brown beside Air Force plane, Bedford, Mass.
8 x 10 Color September 18, 1959
Standing beside unidentified man. (Box 1, Folder 8)
Photographer: U.S. Air Force
M402-3 Katherine Brown and Maj. Anne S. Krizanauskas, Bedford, Mass.
8 x 10 B & W September 18, 1959
(Box 1, Folder 8)
Photographer: U.S. Air Force
Publication/Exhibit History: Boston Globe May 15, 1960
M402-4 Katherine Brown at desk, Bedford, Mass.
8 x 10 B & W September 18, 1959
Sitting with unidentified man. (Box 1, Folder 8)
Photographer: U.S. Air Force
M402-5 Katherine Brown with Headphones, Bedford, Mass.
8 x 10 B & W September 18, 1959
(Box 1, Folder 8)
Photographer: U.S. Air Force
M402-6 Katherine Brown and unidentified man, Bedford, Mass.
8 x 10 B & W September 18, 1959
(Box 1, Folder 8)
Photographer: U.S. Air Force
M402-7 Katherine Brown with unidentified men, Bedford, Mass.
8 x 10 B & W September 18, 1959
(Box 1, Folder 8)
Photographer: U.S. Air Force
M402-8 Katherine Brown, Dorothy Moore, and Donna Rhodes at “Pushing Hubby Through" (Ph.T) awards ceremony, Hattiesburg, Miss.
8 x 10 B & W ca. April 1966
(Box 1, Folder 8)
Photographer: USM Photo Services
Publication/Exhibit History: Hattiesburg American April 30, 1966
Inscription: “New Degrees” & “3-col”
M402-9 Katherine Brown and new officers of Pen and Sword military fraternity, Hattiesburg, Miss.
8 x 10 B & W ca. January 1971
Seated is Katherine Brown. Back Row (Left to Right): CM Sgt. Lee R. Bishop, U.S. Air Force, secretary-treasurer; Cmdr. Ronald C. Inman, U.S. Navy, vice president; Lt. Col. Martin D. Julian, U.S. Marine Corps, president; and Lt. Col. James M. McCool, U.S. Army, faculty advisor. (Box 1, Folder 8)
Photographer: USM Photo Service
Publication/Exhibit History: Hattiesburg American, USM Student Printz (January 21, 1971)
M402-10 Katherine Brown and unidentified group of men
8 x 10 B & W ca. 1950s or 1960s
(Box 1, Folder 8)
M402-11 Katherine Brown and Armed Services personnel, Hattiesburg, Miss.
8 x 10 B & W ca. 1950s or 1960s
(Box 1, Folder 8)
M402-12 Katherine Brown and Lt. Col. Donald Webb, Hattiesburg, Miss.
8 x 10 B & W ca. March 1970
Brown “cutting red tape” for Bootstrappers; Webb was a Marine Corps aviator from Heflin, Alabama and student at USM under the Armed Forces Degree Completion Program. (Box 1, Folder 8)
Photographer: USM Photo Service
Publication/Exhibit History: Clarion Ledger (March 22, 1970)
Inscription: “Appears are deceiving” & “2-col”
M402-13 Mrs. Mary Ann Mach, Capt. Frank C. Mach, and Katherine Brown
5 x 7 B & W ca. 1960s
(Box 1, Folder 8)
M402-14 Katherine Brown and Marine Corps personnel
5 x 7 B & W ca. 1960s
From left to right: Capt. Donald J. Webb, Col. Frank Mayberry, Katherine Brown, Capt. Frank C. Mach, Mrs. Mary Ann Mach, Capt. Paul Braten, and Capt. Clement Hawanio. (Box 1, Folder 8)
M402-15 Katherine Brown and group of Army and Air Force personnel
5 x 4 B & W ca. 1960s
(Box 1, Folder 8)
M402-16 CDR. Ronald C. Inman, Katherine Brown, and M/Sgt. Lee R. Bishop, Hattiesburg, Miss.
5 x 3 ½ Color May 22, 1971
Graduation. (Box 1, Folder 8)
M402-17 Katherine Brown, Mary Jo Bishop, and Lee Bishop, Hattiesburg, Miss.
5 x 3 ½ Color May 22, 1971
Dinner at Jimmy Faughn’s after graduation. (Box 1, Folder 8)
M402-18 Katherine Brown on phone, Hattiesburg, Miss.
5 x 3 ½ Color July 1971
(Box 1, Folder 8)
M402-19 Katherine Brown and Jessie Morrison
3 ½ x 3 ½ B & W April 1962
Tending to flowers from Hawaii. (Box 1, Folder 8)
M396-20 Fred Losch and Katherine Brown, Hattiesburg, Miss.
3 ½ x 3 B & W ca. 1966
(Box 1, Folder 8)
M402-21 The Losch Family, Hattiesburg, Miss.
3 ½ x 3 B & W ca. 1966
(Box 1, Folder 8)
M402-22 Katherine Brown, Hattiesburg, Miss.
5 x 3 ½ B & W May 1960
(Box 1, Folder 8)
M402-23 Group of unidentified people, Hattiesburg, Miss.
5 x 3 ½ B & W May 1960
3 men and 2 women in kitchen. (Box 1, Folder 8)
M402-24 Group of unidentified people, Hattiesburg, Miss.
5 x 3 ½ B & W May 1960
2 men and 1 woman on couch. (Box 1, Folder 8)
M402-25 Dr. Claude Fike, Maj. Anne Krizanauskas, and unidentified, Hattiesburg, Miss.
5 x 3 ½ B & W May 1960
(Box 1, Folder 8)
M402-26 Katherine Brown and Dr. Claude Fike, Hattiesburg, Miss.
5 x 3 ½ B & W May 1960
(Box 1, Folder 8)
M402-27 Dr. John Gonzalez, Maj. Anne S. Krizanauskas, and Dr. Claude Fike, Hattiesburg, Miss.
5 x 3 ½ B & W May 1960
(Box 1, Folder 8)
M402-28 Dr. Claude Fike, Hattiesburg, Miss.
5 x 3 ½ B & W May 1960
(Box 1, Folder 8)
M402-29 Group standing outside USM East Stadium, Hattiesburg, Miss.
8 x 10 B & W ca. 1960s
On stage left to right is Dr. John Nau, President William D. McCain and Lt. Col. Jack H. Murray, Jr. One man in front row is Major Baxter W. Seaton, U.S. Marine Corps (5th from right in tan uniform). (Box 1, Folder 8)
Photographer: USM Photo Service
Inscription: “Major Baxter W. Seaton, USMC”
M402-30 Event outside USM East Stadium
8 x 10 B & W ca. 1960s
Left to right: Dr. John Nau (seated), Lt. Col. Jack H. Murray, Jr. (at podium), unidentified (behind Murray), and President William D. McCain (standing).(Box 1, Folder 8)
Photographer: USM Photo Service
Inscription: “Lt. Col. Jack H. Murray, Jr.
M402-31 Armed Services Graduates at USM-“Bootstrappers”
5 x 7 B & W May 22, 1971
Front row (left to right): T/Sgt. Willaim C. Stanley, Ocean Springs, MS; T/Sgt. Christophe Washington, New Orleans, LA; T/Sgt. Curtis M. Schantz, Harrington Park, NJ, all Air Force. Back row (left to right): Capt. Ronald L. Ladner, Army, Lumberton, MS; Major Roger A. Fetterly, Marine Corps, Peshtigo, WI; M/Sgt. Roscoe B. Bryant, Air Force, Clinton, NC; M/Sgt. Edward B. Rowles, Air Force, Front Royal, VA; Lt. Col. William H. Whitley, Army, Shreveport, LA; and Lt. Col. Jesse R. Greer, Marine Corps, Jackson, MS. (Box 1, Folder 8)
Photographer: USM Photo Service
Publication/Exhibit History: Clarion Ledger (May 23, 1971)
Inscription: “Among the Graduates”
M402-32 Hanscom Field Group, Bedford, Mass.
5 x 7 B & W September 1959
(Box 1, Folder 8)
M402-33 The Inman Family, Hattiesburg, Miss.
5 x 7 ½ B & W May 22, 1971
Left to right: Mrs. Inman, CDR. Ronald C. Inman, and Laura Inman. Ronald Inman was the first Navy man to finish at USM under the Degree Completion Program. He was a Nashville native and received a B.S. degree in personnel management. (Box 1, Folder 8)
Photographer: USM Photo Service
Publication/Exhibit History: Times Education Supplement (July 14, 1971)
Inscription: “May 22, 1971- CDR. Ronald C. Inman Mrs. Inman and Laura
M402-34 S-Sgt. Sharon Ruffin and S-Sgt. Richard C. Dickerson, Hattiesburg, Miss.
5 x 7 B & W ca. 1960s
First students to be enrolled at USM under the U.S. Air Force Airman’s Education and Commissioning Program. (Box 1, Folder 9)
Photographer: USM Photo Service
Publication/Exhibit History: Hattiesburg American
M402-35 Group of people at a party
3 ½ x 3 ½ Color ca. 1960s
(Box 1, Folder 9)
M402-36 “John,” “Barbara,” and Unknown
3 ½ x 3 ½ B & W April 1960s
(Box 1, Folder 9)
M402-37 Picnic at Ashe Lake, Brooklyn, Miss.
3 ½ x 3 B & W Summer 1966
(Box 1, Folder 9)
M402-38 The Fred Losch Family, Brooklyn, Miss.
3 ½ x 3 B & W Summer 1966
(Box 1, Folder 9)
M402-39 Wendell Green
3 x 2 ½ B & W ca. 1960s
(Box 1, Folder 9)
M402-40 John Scott
3 x 2 ½ B & W ca. 1960s
(Box 1, Folder 9)
M402-41 The Main Family
3 ½ x 2 ½ B & W ca. 1960s
(Box 1, Folder 9)
M402-42 John Bacon
3 x 2 ½ B & W ca. 1960s
(Box 1, Folder 9)
M402-43 Walt Godwin
3 x 2 ½ B & W ca. 1960s
(Box 1, Folder 9)
M402-44 Major Marhl Lee Welch
3 ½ x 2 ½ B & W ca. 1960s
(Box 1, Folder 9)
M402-45 Lt. Col. Ralph Brubaker
3 x 2 ½ Color ca. 1960s
(Box 1, Folder 9)
M402-46 The Losch Family
4 x 3 ½ B & W ca. 1970s
(Box 1, Folder 9)
M402-47 Uta Losch and Bill Seaton at “Pushing Hubby Through” Ceremony, Hattiesburg, Miss.
3 ½ x 3 B & W ca. 1960s
(Box 1, Folder 9)
M402-48 The Casey Family, Hattiesburg, Miss.
4 ½ x 3 ½ B & W ca. 1960s
(Box 1, Folder 9)
M402-49 “Pushing Hubby Through” Degree Recipients, Hattiesburg, Miss.
5 x 3 ½ Color August 1968
From left to right: Mrs. Bill Wilkinson, Mrs. Ron Smith, Mrs. Chas Gregory, Mrs. Domingo Dominguez, Ralph Del Bove, and Mrs. Fred Marx. (Box 1, Folder 9)
M402-50 Unidentified girl
1 ½ x 2 ½ Color October 1971
(Box 1, Folder 9)
M402-51 The Seaton Family
3 ½ x 2 ½ B & W ca. 1970s
(Box 1, Folder 9)
M402-52 The Losch Family
4 x 3 B & W ca. 1970s
(Box 1, Folder 9)
M402-53 The Reed Family
3 ½ x 2 ½ B & W ca. 1970s
Ronald, Beverly, and Robin Reed (Box 1, Folder 9)
M402-54 The Losch Family
3 ½ x 3 B & W ca. 1970s
(Box 1, Folder 9)
M402-55 John Andrew Yates
3 ½ x 3 ½ Color ca. 1970s
(Box 1, Folder 9)
M402-56 Kevin and Karin Cain
3 ½ x 3 ½ Color July 1970
The boy is 4-years-old and the girl is 2-years-old. (Box 1, Folder 9)
M402-57 Kevin and Karin Cain
3 x 3 ½ Color November 1971
The boy is 6-years-old and the girl is 4-years-old. (Box 1, Folder 9)
M402-58 The Losch Family
3 ½ x 3 ½ Color October 1975
(Box 1, Folder 9)
M402-59 “John” and “Kathy”
5 x 3 ½ Color October 1974
(Box 1, Folder 9)
M402-60 Unidentified “Bootstrap” family
4 ½ x 3 ½ Color ca. 1970s
(Box 1 Folder 9)
Photographer: George Day
M402-61 Unidentified “Bootstrap” family
5 x 3 ½ Color ca. 1970s
(Box 1, Folder 9)
M402-62 “Eddie” and “Robb”
5 x 3 ½ Color November 1973
(Box 1, Folder 9)
M402-63 The Reed Family
3 ½ x 3 ½ Color ca. 1970s
Ron, Beverly, and Robin Reed. (Box 1, Folder 9)
M402-64 The Losch Family
4 ½ x 2 ½ B & W ca. 1960s
Glued to a Christmas card from Tripoli, Libya. (Box 1, Folder 9)
M402-65 “Rhoda”
7 x 3 ½ Color ca. 1970s
(Box 1, Folder 9)
Photographer: Olan Mills
Inscription: Note from “Ellen” on back
M402-66 “Dan,” “Rose,” “Karen,” and “Danny”
5 x 3 ½ Color ca. 1970s
(Box 1, Folder 9)
- Title
- Katherine Brown Scrapbook
- 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
