Margaret Thatch Hinton Collection
Scope and Contents
This collection consists almost exclusively of materials that document the college career of Margaret Thatch Hinton, a majority of which relate to the "Know Mississippi Better" tour train. Exceptions are a 1922 Colorado Agricultural College Bulletin and some picture story cards found in boxes of cereal.
This collection should be of interest to researchers of the Know Mississippi Better Train, or the history of The University of Southern Mississippi.
Dates
- 1922-1930
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
Margaret Alice Thatch and her twin brother Thomas Marion Thatch were born May 11, 1907, to Cicero Cherry Thatch and Nancy Rebecca “Nan” Black in Jones County three miles Northeast of Eastabuchie. Her father was born October 17, 1859, and died November 3, 1945, and her mother was born December 30, 1870, and died on March 12, 1947. Her parents were married on November 14, 1894 and celebrated their fiftieth wedding anniversary in 1944. They moved their family from Jones County to the 2nd Judicial District in Perry County, Mississippi, shortly after Margaret’s birth. Forrest County was formed from that western part of Perry County, so as an infant, she literally went to sleep in one county and woke up in another, without moving. Margaret and her three siblings attended Grades 1-6 at Eastabuchie School.
She was a 1929 graduate of The University of Southern Mississippi (then State Teachers College), where she played French horn in the marching band. She married John Durwood Hinton, and they had two sons: John Durwood Hinton, Jr. and Thomas Monroe Hinton. In 1956 she received a master's degree from USM (then Mississippi Southern College), and for thirty years, she taught Home Economics in the Petal (Mississippi) Public School District. She was a member of Eastabuchie Baptist Church.
During the years of 1927 and 1928, Margaret Thatch toured with the State Teachers College Band on the “Know Mississippi Better” train. The train was the product of a mass meeting of Mississippi citizens called by Gov. Henry L. Whitfield in 1925. At the meeting, a committee was formed to conceptualize a plan for promoting the resources of the State of Mississippi, and Lt. Gov. Dennis Murphree was elected chairman. The result was a special train assembled to travel throughout the United States and into parts of Canada and Mexico, carrying Mississippi products, entertainers, dignitaries, and other spokespersons. The train ran every summer from 1925 until 1948, except during World War II. It traveled from ten days to two weeks, stopping at most depots and meeting the citizens of the towns. One of the train cars was filled with Mississippi produce and manufactured goods to display for the other states. The mayor of each town in which the train stopped, as well as the governor of each state, was given a Mississippi-grown watermelon.
Margaret T. Hinton died October 24, 2005, at Forrest General Hospital in Hattiesburg, Mississippi. She is interred in Highland Cemetery. She was preceded in death by her husband, Durwood Hinton, Sr., and one son, John Hinton, Jr.
Extent
.70 Cubic Feet
Language of Materials
English
Abstract
Photographs, brochures, news clippings, and mementos pertaining to the State Teachers College Band's participation in the "Know Mississippi Better" tours of the U.S. by train.
Arrangement
The collection is divided into four brief series:
Series I – Brochures:
This series is comprised of travel brochures from some of the states visited by the “Know Mississippi Better” tour train. Also included are brochures from British Columbia, Canada.
Series II – Know Mississippi Better Train:
This series consists of materials pertaining to the Know Mississippi Better Train, including correspondence, newsletters, newspaper clippings, photographs, postcards, and items of memorabilia. Of particular interest is a set of photographs taken during the train's 1927 and 1928 tours.
Series III - State Teachers College:
This series contains band programs, news clippings, photographs, and a yearbook relating to State Teachers College. The photographs in this series were taken during a camping trip on Black Creek, near Hattiesburg, Mississippi in Spring 1929. Participants were members of the Home Management Group at State Teachers College.
Series III – Miscellany:
In this series are a bulletin from Colorado Agricultural College and several picture story cards for children from packages of shredded wheat cereal.
Existence and Location of Copies
For Digitized Materials from this collection, see: External Documents link at bottom of page.
Sources
Bond, Willard F. I Had a Friend. Kansas City: E. L. Mendenhall. 1958.
Contents of the Collection.
Hinton, Thomas M., son.
McCann, Nita. "Citizens Mark County's 90th Birthday," Hattiesburg American, 7 January 1998, 7(A).
Photograph Log
M419-2 Group Posing by a Train Car 3 x 4 B&W ca. 1927-1928 Ed Hulett, Pee Wee Hinton, and three young women standing beside a car on the Know Mississippi Better Train. (Box 1, Folder 23) (Box 2, Folder 9)
M419-3 Pike's Peak 3 x 4 B&W ca. 1927-1928 Pike's Peak (Colorado), viewed from the window of the Know Mississippi Better Train. (Box 1, Folder 23)
M419-4 Pike's Peak Train 2 x 3 B&W ca. 1928-1928 Manitou & Pike's Peak Railway train stopped on a hill. (Box 1, Folder 23)
M419-5 Pike's Peak View 2 x 3 B&W ca. 1927-1928 Pike's Peak, as seen from the window of the Know Mississippi Better Train. (Box 1, Folder 23)
M419-6 Building with Pillars 2 x 3 B&W ca. 1927-1928 A building with paired pillars in front. Two large trees impede the view of the building. (Box 1, Folder 23)
M419-7 Bears 2 x 3 B&W ca. 1927-1928 A large bear is sitting on top of a rock formation. Two other bears stand in front of a log cabin. (Box 1, Folder 23)
M419-8 Valentine Depot 2 x 3 B&W ca. 1927 Train depot in a town named "Valentine," possibly in Texas. (Box 1, Folder 23)
M419-9 Texas Landscape 2 x 3 B&W 1927 Grassland, with hills in the background, as viewed from the Know Mississippi Better Train. (Box 1, Folder 23)
M419-10 Ottis Waites, Bill Dodson, and Mildred East 3 x 4 B&W ca. 1927 State Teachers College Band members on the deck of a boat to Vancouver, British Columbia, in Canada. (Box 1, Folder 23)
M419-11 Touring Bus 3 x 4 B&W ca. 1927 Passengers boarding a Motor Way tour bus. (Box 1, Folder 23)
M419-12 Temple in Salt Lake City, Utah 3 x 4 B&W 1928 Probably the Mormon Tabernacle. (Box 1, Folder 23)
M419-13 Harlan Hilburn and Gladys Turrittin 2 x 3 B&W ca. 1927-1928 The couple are standing on the steps of a train. (Box 1, Folder 23)
M419-14 Cabin on Pike's Peak Trail 3 x 4 B&W ca. 1927 Rustic cabin on a trail at Pike's Peak in Colorado. (Box 1, Folder 23)
M419-15 Country Estate 3 x 4 B&W 1927 A large estate photographed from a train window in Texas. This image is very dim. (Box 1, Folder 23)
M419-16 Cannon on a Beach 3 x 4 B&W ca. 1927 A large cannon positioned on a beach. A small building is behind the cannon. (Box 1, Folder 23)
M419-17 Mississippi Train Cars 3 x 4 B&W ca. 1927 Side view of the Know Mississippi Better Train. Several of the cars have banners that say, "Mississippi." (Box 1, Folder 23)
M419-18 Landscape 2 x 3 B&W ca. 1927 Flatland, with a road in the background. Mountains are visible in the distance. (Box 1, Folder 23)
M419-19 Bill Dodson 2 x 3; 4 x 5 B&W ca. 1927 Bill Dodson, with his head and shoulders extended outside a window of the Know Mississippi Better Train. (Box 1, Folder 23)
M419-20 Monument 2 x 3 B&W ca. 1927-1928 Large monument with a figure on top. (Box 1, Folder 23)
M419-21 Mrs. A. F. Fugitt and Margaret Thatch 2 x 3 B&W ca. 1927-1928 Mrs. Fugitt and Margaret are posed in front of two trees at Pike's Peak. (Box 1, Folder 23)
M419-22 Pavilion 2 x 3 B&W ca. 1927 A large pavilion with huge ferns growing beside its steps. (Box 1, Folder 23)
M419-23 Hills 2 x 3 B&W ca. 1927 Flatland, with hills or mountains in the background. The photo was taken from the train, while en route in Texas. (Box 1, Folder 23)
M419-24 Unidentified Building 2 x 3 B&W ca. 1927 Full view of the building is obscured by foliage. Possibly a home. (Box 1, Folder 23)
M419-25 Members on Train 2 x 3 B&W ca. 1927 Three men and two women in a wooded setting. Apparently, all were traveling on the Know Mississippi Better Train. (Box 1, Folder 23)
M419-26 Tropical Setting 2 x 3 B&W ca. 1927 Two men and two women are looking at a small pond surrounded by tropical foliage. (Box 1, Folder 23)
M419-27 Entrance to Zane Grey's Estate 2 x 3 B&W ca. 1927 "Keep Out" sign posted at the entrance to author Zane Grey's estate. (Box 1, Folder 23)
M419-28 Gabrielle Anderson
2 x 3 B&W ca. 1927 Gabrielle and an unidentified man are standing beneath a palm tree. Gabrielle is wearing her State Teachers College Band uniform. (Box 1, Folder 23)
M419-29 Gabrielle Anderson and Mildred East 2 x 3 B&W ca. 1927 Gabrielle and Mildred are standing beneath a palm tree. An unidentified little girl is standing between them. (Box 1, Folder 23)
M419-30 Park in Arizona 2 x 3 B&W ca. 1927 A brick pathway with a thick growth of flowers and palm trees on each side. (Box 1, Folder 23)
M419-31 Mildred East, Margaret Thatch, and Gabrielle Anderson 2 x 3 B&W ca. 1927-1928 The girls are posed in front of two tall cacti. (Box 1, Folder 23)
M419-32 Mildred East, Gabrielle Anderson, and Margaret Thatch 2 x 3 B&W ca. 1927 The girls are standing in a road, or parking lot, near a "No Parking" sign. (Box 1, Folder 23)
M419-33 Gabrielle Anderson, Mildred East, and Margaret Thatch 2 x 3 B&W ca. 1927 Gabrielle is standing on one side of a large desert bush. Mildred and Margaret are on the other side. (Box 1, Folder 23)
M419-34 Aviary 2 x 3 B&W ca. 1927 A bird in an aviary, probably in a park in Arizona. (Box 1, Folder 23)
M419-35 Dog and Building 2 x 3 B&W ca. 1927 A dog is standing in the foreground. The building in the background is the same as the one pictured in M419-24. (Box 1, Folder 23)
M419-36 Texas Scenery 2 x 3 B&W ca. 1927 A scene from the train window, while en route in Texas, showing flatland with hills in the distance. (Box 1, Folder 23)
M419-37 Utility Pole 2 x 3 B&W ca. 1927 A utility pole beside a road, somewhere in Texas. (Box 1, Folder 23)
M419-38 Margaret, Mildred, & Gabrielle 2 x 3 B&W ca. 1927 Margaret Thatch, Mildred East, and Gabrielle Anderson are posed in front of three tall cacti. (Box 1, Folder 23) M419-39 Mr. and Mrs. A. L. Fugitt 2 x 3 B&W 1927 Mr. and Mrs. Fugitt are posed at the top of Pike's Peak in Colorado. A tree and a car are in the background. Mr. Fugitt was director of the State Teachers College Band. (Box 1, Folder 23)
M419- 40 Sitting Pretty 2 x 3 B&W ca. 1927 Gabrielle Anderson, Margaret Thatch, and Mildred East are sitting on a concrete step. (Box 1, Folder 23)
M419-41 Valentine Depot 2 x 3 B&W ca. 1927 L. T. (Pee Wee) Hinton and Harlan Hinton are standing in front of the depot in the town of Valentine, possibly in Texas. (Box 1, Folder 23)
M419-42 Mountain 2 x 3 B&W ca. 1927 A large mountain, as seen from a train window. (Box 1, Folder 23)
M419-43 Windmills 2 x 3 B&W ca. 1927 A dirt road in what appears to be a small town. Two windmills tower above the other structures. (Box 1, Folder 23)
M419-44 W. T. Mobley and Donald Hall 3 x 4 B&W ca. 1927 The two men are sitting on a rock, possibly on a mountain. (Box 1, Folder 23)
M419-45 Know Mississippi Better Tour Group 8 x 10 B&W Aug. 11, 1928 The tour group is posed in front of the Davenport Hotel in Spokane, Washington. (Box 1, Folder 23)
M419-46 Group Resting Negative B&W ca. 1927-1928 Four women and one man are seated on the ground. (Box 1, Folder 24)
M419-47 Margaret Thatch, Mildred East, and Gabrielle Anderson Negative B&W ca. 1927 The girls are standing in front of three large cacti. (Box 1, Folder 24)
M419-48 Unidentified Building Negative B&W ca. 1927-1928 A large building with a flag on top. Possibly a government building. (Box 1, Folder 24)
M419-49 Railroad Track Negative B&W ca. 1927-1928 A railroad track going up a long hill. (Box 1, Folder 24)
M419-50 Girls and Cactus Negative B&W ca. 1927-1928 Three girls kneeling behind a low-growing cactus. (Box 1, Folder 24)
M419-51 Margaret Thatch, Fishing 2 x 3 B&W Spring 1929 Margaret is sitting on the bank of Black Creek, fishing. (Box 2, Folder 8)
M419-52 Olive Cline 2 x 3 B&W Spring 1929 Miss Cline was an instructor in Household Arts and Supervisor of the Home Management Cottage at State Teachers College. In this photo, she is posed in a wooded area, wearing denim overalls. (Box 2, Folder 8)
M419-53 Margaret Thatch, Driver 2 x 3 B&W Spring 1929 Margaret Thatch is standing in front of a car, dressed in denim overalls. (Box 2, Folder 8)
M419-54 Group Outside 2 x 3 B&W Spring 1929 A group of nine people seated outdoors on camp cots. A rustic cabin is in the background. (Box 2, Folder 8)
M419-55 Girls Swimming in black Creek 2 x 3 B&W Spring 1929 Four girls are facing the photographer, and four girls are in the background. (Box 2, Folder 8) M419-56 Girl in Creek 2 x 3 B&W Spring 1929 An unidentified girl is standing in knee-deep water, holding a crooked pole. (Box 2, Folder 8)
M419-57 Women Relaxing 2 x 3 B&W Spring 1929 Five women are sitting on camp cots under a pine tree. A sixth woman is reclining on a cot. An automobile is in the background. (Box 2, Folder 8)
M419-58 Girl on Creek Bank 2 x 3 B&W Spring 1929 An unidentified girl wearing overalls is posed on the bank of Black Creek. (Box 2, Folder 8)
M419-59 On the Creek Bank 2 x 3 B&W Spring 1929 A group of girls posed on the bank of Black Creek. The girl in the foreground is Wilma Smith Hembee. (Box 2, Folder 8)
M419-60 Girls on a Bench 2 x 3 B&W Spring 1929 Three girls are seated on a bench between two pine trees. Lula Thomas is on the left, and Margaret Thatch is on the right. A fourth girl is standing behind the bench. (Box 2, Folder 8)
- Brochures. Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Clippings (Books, newspapers, etc.). Subject Source: TGM II, Genre and physical characteristic terms
- Letter. Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Memorabilia. Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Mississippi -- History. Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Newsletters. Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Photographs. Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Postcards. Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Programs (Publications). Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Teachers. Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- University of Southern Mississippi -- Students. Subject Source: Local sources
- Yearbook. Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Title
- Margaret Thatch Hinton Collection
- 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
