Jessie Morrison Collection
Scope and Contents
Materials in this collection span more than a century of activities relating to Jessie Morrison and her family. Most of the materials have been photocopied, due to water and insect damage.
Dates
- 1864-1990
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
Jessie Hagler "Miss Jessie" Morrison was born on February 5, 1919, in Forrest County, Mississippi, one of nine children born to Eva B. Morrison and William Sylvester Morrison. The family moved to Hattiesburg, Mississippi, in 1903, where William Morrison became the manager of a small brickyard on the banks of the Bouie River, just northwest of Hattiesburg. In 1904, Mr. Morrison and Mr. Ira Gaston purchased the company and renamed it Riverside Brick and Manufacturing Company.
Jessie graduated from the Demonstration School on the State Teachers College (now USM) campus in 1937. In 1947, she received a Bachelor's degree from Mississippi Southern College (now USM).
In 1943 she enlisted in the U. S. Waves, and was sent to Hunter College in New York for training. Afterward, she served in the hospital corps at the U. S. Naval Hospital in Corpus Christi, Texas, and was later transferred to New Orleans. She left the service in 1944.
She was employed by Western Union and Cranston's Commercial School before landing a job as secretary to the dean of Mississippi Southern College, Dr. R. A. McLemore, in 1953. From 1955 until her retirement in 1986, she served as secretary, executive secretary and administrative assistant to the president of the University of Southern Mississippi. Once Jessie retired, she continued to work part time in the same office.
Miss Jessie was a lifetime member of Trinity Episcopal Church in Hattiesburg, Mississippi. She was also a member of the Mississippi Association of Office Personnel, National Association of Office Personnel, the Mystic Krewe of Zeus, and the Daughters of the Confederate States of America.
Jessie H. Morrison died on February 22, 1991. She is interred in the Roseland Park Cemetery in Hattiesburg, Mississippi.
Extent
1.80 Cubic Feet : MC2/D11
Language of Materials
English
Arrangement
Series:
Series I: Jessie Morrison and Family
Series II: Receipts
Series III: The Riverside Brick and Manufacturing Company
Series I - Jessie Morrison Family
This series contains records that deal with the Morrison family as a whole. Included are correspondence, a short history of the Morrison family in Hattiesburg, insurance policies, newspaper clippings, grocery lists, record book, high school bulletins, and records regarding Jessie Morrison's involvement in various organizations and community issues. In addition, there are day planners relating to Miss Jessie's work at the University of Southern Mississippi. Noteworthy items in this series are the beautifully written correspondence, and materials pertaining to Kamper Park.
Series II - Receipts
Receipts in this series apparently relate to both personal and business expenses. They provide insight into the types of goods and services used by the Morrison family between 1903 and 1938.
Series III - Riverside Brick and Manufacturing Company
This series consists of materials relating to the daily operation of the Riverside Brick and Manufacturing Company from 1903 - 1935. Included are company ledgers, shipping orders, receipts, payroll, a court case, stock sheet and the notice of incorporation.
Sources
U. S. Census Records, 1920, 1930
M108 Riverside Brick and Manufacturing Company
RG 4 Faculty and Staff Biographies
Neka Camon, 1939
Photograph Log
M422-2 Woman with Baby 2 1/2 X 3 1/2" B&W Undated An unidentified elderly woman in a white dress is holding a very young baby. (Box 1, Folder 18)
M422-3 Standing in Uniform 2 1/2 X 3 1/2" B&W Undated A man in uniform is standing in a wooded area. The image is very dim. (Box 1, Folder 18)
M422-4 Child on a Porch 3 1/2 X 5 1/2" B&W ca. early 1900s Postcard image of a young child sitting on a porch. (Box 1, Folder 18)
- Account books. Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Business records. Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Calendar. Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Clippings (Books, newspapers, etc.). Subject Source: TGM II, Genre and physical characteristic terms
- Clubs. Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Financial documents. Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Invitation cards. Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Legal case and case notes. Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Legal forms. Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Legal instruments. Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Letter. Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Minutes (Records). 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
- Records (Documents). Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Riverside Brick and Manufacturing Company (1904-1927)
- University of Southern Mississippi -- Staff. Subject Source: Local sources
- University of Southern Mississippi -- Students. Subject Source: Local sources
- Title
- Jessie Morrison Collection
- 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
