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James A. Bateman Papers

 Collection
Identifier: M661

Form of Material

Materials generated by Mississippi-born poet and co-author of Cotton Candy & Turnip Greens.

Dates

  • circa early 1970s-1992

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

James Andy Bateman was born near Hazelhurst, Mississippi in 1912 during the Great Depression.[1] After graduation from high school in 1932, he worked during harvest season on vegetable and cotton farms in Mississippi and Tennessee. In between the harvests, he was hitchhiking and hoboing on the railroads.[2] He served in the U.S. Marine Corps from 1937 to 1957, and taught business at Florida State University and Albany Junior College (Georgia) from 1964 to 1974. After his retirement in 1974, he began to write poetry, seriously.

According to his son Joey Bateman, James Batemans’s father was a sharecropper. James joined the Marine Corp to earn enough money for his father to buy the farm that he farmed. Bateman was an expert on Robert Frost in his research and writings; and he also lectured all over the United States on Frost. He wrote poetry until his death from cancer.[3]

This collection includes manuscripts of poems by Bateman; non-poetry writings by Bateman; an unpublished manuscript by Bateman titled Dear Boss (1975); books of poetry by other authors; poetry journals; plus books and pamphlets by James and Doris Bateman.

After searching for information on his death, no information or obituary can be located for James Bateman. According to the online Copiah Monitor, his wife Doris Bateman died on January 7, 2011 and James Bateman had preceded in death before her.[4]

Extent

5.50 Cubic Feet

Language of Materials

English

Abstract

Poetry, essays, manuscripts, and published works by James Andy Bateman.

Arrangement

The materials in the collection were organized by series, then alphabetical order.

Provenance

Donated by Mrs. Doris T. Bateman and Mr. Joseph R. Bateman.

Related Materials

A Book About Ruth: A Compilation of a Few of the Thousands of Good Things That Have Been Inspired by, or Said and Written About Ruth Annette Cason Thomas Harden by Jim and Doris Bateman, 1977. Available in McCain Library, call number Miss PS3552.A37 B66 1977

Wanderings: Thirty-Six Poems Dedicated to Doris Thomas Bateman Commemorating Our Three Dozen Years Together by James A. Bateman, 1977. Available in McCain Library, call number Miss PS3552.A37 W35 1977

Cotton Candy & Turnip Greens: Getting the Best of Tim and Jim by James A. Bateman and Henry Tim Chambers, 1981. Available in McCain Library, call number Miss PS3552.A37x C57x

Worship, With Words by Jim Bateman, 1982. Available in McCain Library, call number Miss PS3552.A37 W67 1982

1 by James A. (Jim) Bateman, 1984. Available in McCain Library, call number Miss PS3552.A37 O6 1984

South of Gallman by Jim and Doris Bateman, 1990. Available in McCain Library, call number Miss PS3552.A37 S68 1990

Of Things, People and Ideas Here and There by Jim and Doris Bateman, 1991. Available in McCain Library, call number Miss PS3552.A37 O5 1991

Sources

Footnote 1 - Bateman, James A., James A. Bateman Papers, M661, Box 9, Folder 4, Historical Manuscripts, Special Collections, The University of Southern Mississippi Libraries.

Footnote 2 - Ibid.

Footnote 3- Information from his son Joey Bateman about his father in a phone call to the archives on July 6, 2001 in collection case file.

Footnote 4- https://www.copiahmonitor.com/2011/01/05/doris-thomas-bateman/

Title
James A. Bateman Papers
Status
Completed
Author
Collection processed and finding aid written by Kimberly Rayborn
Date
April 16, 2021
Language of description
English
Script of description
Latin

Repository Details

Part of the Historical Manuscripts and Photographs Repository

Contact:
118 College Drive - 5148
Hattiesburg MS 39406-0001
601.266.4345