Wednesday, April 22, 2015

Wednesday's Wonderful Collection - W.C. Rodgers Papers, MS.000244

William Champ Rodgers, born in Grand Saline, Texas, was the son of Benjamin K. and Sarah Adams Rodgers. The family moved to West Point, White County, Arkansas, in 1865, before finally settling in Howard County in 1886. W.C. Rodgers established the Feazel and Rodgers law firm in Nashville, Arkansas. Rodgers was elected mayor of Nashville and was a charter member of the Arkansas Bar Association. He became a state senator in 1911 and served two terms. Rodgers married Cora Virginia Williamson, born in Sardis, Mississippi. Both the Rodgers and Williamson families fought for the Confederacy in the Civil War. Benjamin K. Rodgers was in charge of the Confederate Salt Works at Grand Saline, Texas, during the war.

 This collection includes correspondence, financial records, and newsclippings pertaining to the Rodgers and Williamson families. There are publications by the United Daughters of the Confederacy as well as advertisements, pamphlets, and articles about diamond mining in Arkansas.

Full finding aid:
  • Correspondence
    • 1. 1839 January 1: Julia, Glen Moore, to Maria [?] (Box 1)
    • 2. 1851 December 22: Bettie Heath, Marshall F. Institute, C.M.A. Bailey
    • 3. 1859 December 4: "Dolly," Bailey Springs, Alabama, to S.Z. Williamson
    • 4. 1860 April 8: Jince, Bailey Springs, Alabama, to "Darling Lizzie"
    • 5. 1861 May 31: S.Z. Williamson, Camp Barksdale near Union City, to "Sister Mollie"
    • 6. 1862 May 5: Florence, Little Rock, Arkansas, to Lieutenant J.C. Williamson, 12th Mississippi Regiment, Richmond, Virginia
    • 7. 1862 August 7: Lea Williamson, to Lieutenant J.C. Williamson, 12th Mississippi Regiment, Richmond, Virginia
    • 8. 1863 May 6: W.C. West, West Point, White County, Arkansas, to Benjamin K. Rodgers
    • 9. 1864 July 26: William Lanigan, Paris, Texas, to Benjamin K. Rodgers, Jordans Saline, Van Zandt County, Texas
    • 10. 1864 August 2: "Jennie," "Home", to "Darling Sister"
    • 11. 1864 September 9: Major William Lanigan, to Colonel Benjamin K. Rodgers, Jordans Saline, Texas
    • 12. 1864 December 31: Captain G.G. Gregg, Marshall, Texas, to Colonel Benjamin K. Rodgers, Jordans Saline, Texas
    • 13. 1865 February 28: W.L. Williamson, camp near Petersburg, Virginia, to "My Dear Brother"
    • 14. 1865 April 28: Captain John U. [?], to Colonel Benjamin K. Rodgers
    • 15. 1865 May 2: Henry F. Cartine, Marshall, Texas, to Colonel Benjamin K. Rodgers, Jordans Saline, Texas
    • 16. 1865 May 9: Major J.K.P. Campbell, Paris, Texas, to Benjamin K. Rodgers, Jordans Saline, Texas
    • 17. 1872 September 15: M.H. Williamson, Sardis, Mississippi, to his wife
    • 18. 1880 September 5: Cora, Columbia, Tennessee, to Mrs. M.H. Williamson
    • 19. 1880 October 10: Mattie Lee and Mary, Sardis, Mississippi, to "My Dear Sister"
    • 20. 1880 October 11: "Your Mama," Sardis, Mississippi, to "My Dear Child"
    • 21. 1880 December 11: [?], Sardis, Mississippi, to "My Dear Sister"
    • 22. 1882 April 20: Letter, "Your Mama," Sardis, Mississippi, to "My Darling Child"
    • 23. 1882 April 30: "Ella," Sardis, Mississippi, to "Dear Sister"
    • 24. 1882 May 21: "Your Mama," Sardis, Mississippi, to "My Darling Child"
    • 25. 1882 June 25: "Mama," Sardis, Mississippi, to "My Dear Children"
    • 26. 1903 February 16: Fred A. Reutze of B.F. Johnson Publishing Company, Fort Smith, Arkansas, to Fay Tullis
    • 27. 1904 August 2: "Cora" to "Papa"
    • 28. 1904 October 31: Hewlett McReynolds, to "My Darling Mama"
    • 29. 1904 November 6: Hewlett McReynolds, to "My Darling Mama"
    • 30. 1904: S.Z. Williamson, Sardis, Mississippi, to "Dear Wife"
    • 31. 1905 March 30: Mrs. W.C. Rodgers, to "Editor, Gazette"
    • 32. 1906 June 18: H.A. Moody, Florence, Alabama, to Colonel S.Z. Williamson
    • 33. 1906 November 1: Mrs. J.D. Hall, Covington, Tennessee, to "My Dear Annie"
    • 34. 1909 October 19: Mrs. J.D. Hall, Covington, Tennessee, to "My Dear Annie"
    • 35. 1909 December 16: S.Z. Williamson, to Mrs. Carrie Knox
    • 36. 1910 March 9: "Mattie," Como, Mississippi, to Mrs. W.C. Rodgers
    • 37. 1910 August 19: E.W.L., Greenwood, Mississippi, to Mrs. W.C. Rodgers
    • 38. 1910 November 15: Dr. Orta L. Williamson, Marianna, Arkansas, to "Dear Uncle Sam"
    • 39. 1914 March 11: Ella Luca, Greenwood, Mississippi, to Mrs. W.C. Rodgers
    • 40. 1923 July 6: [?], Knoxville, Tennessee, to "Dear Ella"
    • 41. 1923 July 6: Ella Lucas, Greenwood, Mississippi, to Mrs. W.C. Rodgers
    • 42. 1923 July 22: W.A. Love, Columbus, Mississippi, to Josie Williamson Boothe
    • 43. 1926 October 6: Octa L. Williamson, Marianna, Arkansas, to "Cousin Cora"
    • 44. 1932 January 8: Ella Lucas, Glenburn, Mississippi, to "My Dear Coar"
    • 45. 1935 May 13: Ella Lucas, Leland, Mississippi, to "Dear Cora"
    • 46. Undated: Lidney Williamson, to "Dear Buddie Free"
    • 47. Undated: Virginia Ellis Hatcher, Mobile, Alabama, to "Aunt Mattie"
  • Williamson records
    • 48. Undated: Williamson family record
    • 49. 1909;1913: Williamson history, obituaries for Samuel Z. and Mary H. Williamson
    • 50. 1839 July 12: Proceedings of a celebration of Huck's defeat at Brattonville, York District, South Carolina Original document, two typed copies and one long-hand written copy
    • 51. 1913-1914: Financial records of Samuel Z. Williamson
    • 52. Undated: Miscellaneous Williamson materials
  • Rodgers records
    • 53. 1852 May 20: Invitation to B.K. Rodgers, Masonic and Odd Fellows' Ball
    • 54. 1860-1875: Deeds to B.K. Rodgers, White County, Arkansas
    • 55. 1866-1891: Receipts to B.K. Rodgers
    • 56. 1869-1890: Tax receipts of Benjamin K. Rodgers, White County and Howard County, Arkansas
    • 57. Undated: Land survey in Jackson and White counties
    • 58. 1911-1912: Newsclippings about W.C. Rodgers
    • 59. 1904-1935: Postcards to Cora and W.C. Rodgers
    • 60. 1915-1923: Military records (National Guard) for Samuel A. Rodgers
    • 61. 1862-1946: Miscellaneous
  • Diamond mining materials
    • 62. Circa 1911: "The Arkansas Diamond Field," by W.C. Rodgers (Box 2)
    • 63. Circa 1908: Leaflet, Arkansas Diamond Company
    • 64. Circa 1908: Blank subscription, Arkansas Diamond Company
    • 65. Circa 1908: Land survey of area in and around Murfreesboro diamond fields, Pike County, Arkansas
    • 66. 1908 July: Survey of Township 8 South, plat of diamond field, Pike County, Arkansas
    • 67. Circa 1910: Survey of Kimberly, the new diamond city, Pike County, Arkansas
    • 68. Circa 1910: Survey of Kimberly, Pike County, Arkansas
    • 69. 1909: Deed to M.M. Mauney land
    • 70. 1909-1919: State and national newsclippings on Arkansas diamonds
    • 71. 1908: "Diamonds in Arkansas; A Brief Account of the Discovery and Investigation and the Official Reports of Geologist and Mining Engineer on the Occurence of Diamonds in Pike County, Arkansas," Arkansas Diamonds Company, Little Rock, Arkansas
    • 72. Circa 1909: "Something About the Diamond Mine of the American Diamond Company, and the Circumstances Leading Up to the Formation of Said Company," by Reece Lamb, Texarkana, Arkansas
    • 73. 1913: "New Areas of Diamond-Bearing Peridotite in Arkansas," Bulletin-U, Washington, District of Columbia, United States Geological Survey
    • 74. 1909: "Production of Precious Stones in 1908," by Douglas B. Sterrett, Washington, District of Columbia, United States Geological Survey
    • 75. 1916: "Gems and Precious Stones in 1915," by Waldeman T. Schaller, Washington, District of Columbia, United States Geological Survey 2 copies
  • United Daughters of the Confederacy material
    • 76. 1899-1903: Form letters and related materials
    • 77. 1899-1910: Arkansas state publications
    • 78. 1899-1910: National publications
    • 79. 1900: Receipts
  • Miscellaneous materials
    • 80. Circa 1911: "A Day's Journey, A True Story," by Faith Lovett
    • 81. Circa 1910: Newsclippings on Arkansas, Mississippi, and Tennessee
    • 82. 1971: "Papers of William Champ Rodgers, Nashville, Howard County, Arkansas," by Jamie McDonnell 2 copies
  • Arkansas diamond mining newsclippings
    • 83. 1908 November 15: "Diamond Fields of Arkansas May Equal the Great Mines of South Africa," St. Louis Daily Globe-Democrat (Box 3)
    • 84. 1909 January: Advertisement, "Big Opening of Kimberley in the Arkansas Diamond Fields"
    • 85. 1910 January 2: Article, "Arkansas to Supply America's Diamonds?" The North American, Philadelphia, Pennslyvania
    • 86. Circa 1912: "Diamond Mines of Arkansas," Nashville News
    • 87. Undated: "First Photos of Diamond Mining in Arkansas"
    • 88. 1912 August 7: "The Nashville News" newspaper
    • 89. 1912 August 10: "The Nashville News" newspaper