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John B. Bell family papers

John B. Bell family papers

Descriptive Summary

Title: John B. Bell family papers
Creator: Bell family
Inclusive Dates: 1864-1963
Bulk Dates: 1891-1963
Language(s): English
Extent: 4.4 Linear Feet (11 document boxes)
Collection Number: ms740
Repository: Hargrett Library

Collection Description

Historical Note

John B. Bell lived in Oglethorpe County at the turn of the century and was a leading lawyer in the area. His family lived near Stephens, Georgia. He married once and had seven children - three sons and four daughters. John owned a considerable amount of land stretching from Stephens to Washington, Georgia, which was passed on his children and so on. John B. Bell died at age 82. The Bell family appeared closely connected to local Baptist churches, in particular the Antioch Baptist Church.

T. J. Bowling also lived in Oglethorpe County, Georgia. He had a number of children. Included are two daughters named Hallie (who died before him) and Anna, and five sons named Joe, Walter, Willie, Tom, and Harry. He had at least one grandchild by Hallie before she died. He also owned a good deal of land in the area, which he passed down to his children.

Scope and Content

The collection consists of papers of John B. Bell and the Bell and Bolling families of Stephens, Oglethorpe County, Georgia from 1864-1963. The papers include correspondence, bills, receipts, legal papers, bank statements and checks, printed material, and letters of dismission from various Baptist churches in Georgia. The correspondence is mainly personal between family members and friends but also includes letters pertaining to John B. Bell's law practice and business interests (1891-1920), the Georgia Baptist Convention, farming and the Agricultural Adjustment Administration (1926-1945), and letters between Florence B. Hawkins and her son Walter H. Bolling during his army service in England during World War II. Correspondents include Nolda Bell, Edward H. Bell, Elizabeth C. Bell, Mollie S. Bell, and Joseph S. Bolling.

Organization and Arrangement

Arranged by record type.


Administrative Information

Preferred Citation

John B. Bell family papers, ms740, Hargrett Rare Book and Manuscript Library, The University of Georgia Libraries.

General Notes

Cataloged as part of the Georgia Archives and Manuscripts Automated Access Project: A Special Collections Gateway Program of the University Center in Georgia.


Related Materials and Subjects

Subject Terms

Baptists -- Georgia.
Christmas cards.
Correspondence.
Farm management -- Georgia.
Georgia Baptist Convention
Lawyers -- Georgia.
Oglethorpe County (Ga.) -- History.
Practice of law -- Georgia.
Soldiers -- United States.
Stephens (Ga.)
United States. Agricultural Adjustment Administration
World War, 1939-1945 -- England.

Series Descriptions and Folder Listing

 
boxfolder
11Correspondence, 1864 July 11- 1891 November 5
 
12Correspondence, 1892 April 28 - 1897 January 22
 
13Correspondence, 1897 February 8 - 1899 September 22
 
14Correspondence, 1900 January 7 - 1905 January 14
 
15Correspondence, 1905 January 20 - 1909 September 2
 
16Correspondence, 1910 February 25 - 1915 February 28
 
17Correspondence, 1915 March 10 - 1916 February 17
 
18Correspondence, 1916 February 24 - 1920 January 1
 
19Correspondence, 1920 May 21 - 1922 May 3
 
110Correspondence, 1922 May 5 - 1925 April 2
 
boxfolder
21Correspondence, 1925 May 6 - 1928 February 16
 
23Correspondence, 1930 March 5 - 1931 January 16
 
24Correspondence, 1931 January 24 - 1934 December 2
 
25Correspondence, 1935 April 28 - 1939 February
 
26Correspondence, 1939 February 11 - 1942
 
27Correspondence, 1942- 1942 July 10
 
28Correspondence, 1942 September 8 - 1944 October 6
 
29Correspondence, 1944 October 10 - 1945 May 13
 
boxfolder
31Correspondence, 1945 May 15 - 1945 December 10
 
32Correspondence, 1945 December 19 - 1946 December 8
 
33Correspondence, 1947 February 12 - 1948 November 12
 
34Correspondence, 1948 November 18 - 1950 April 28
 
35Correspondence, 1950 June 6 - 1950 April 28
 
36Correspondence, 1951 August 3 - 1955 March 16
 
37Correspondence, 1955 March 19 - 1957 April 22
 
38Correspondence, 1957 May 7 - 1957 September 18
 
39Correspondence, 1957 September 26 - 1958 January 21
 
310Correspondence, 1958 March 8 - 1958 August 30
 
311Correspondence, 1958 August 30 - 1958 November 17
 
boxfolder
41Correspondence, 1958 December 5 - 1959 July 8
 
42Correspondence, 1959 July 27 - 1959 October 12
 
43Correspondence, 1959 October 13 - 1959 December 3
 
44Correspondence, 1959 December 3 - 1960 January 29
 
45Correspondence, 1960 February 1 - 1960 May 4
 
46Correspondence, 1960 May 20 - 1961 October 20
 
47Correspondence, 1961 October 24 - 1962 June 16
 
48Correspondence, 1962 June 23 - 1963 February 2
 
49Correspondence, 1963 February 21 - 1963 October 23
 
boxfolder
51-9Correspondence, undated
 
510-11Miscellaneous Pieces
 
512-13Miscellaneous Printed Material (livestock reports, catalogs, tax forms, booklets, census of agriculture, etc.)
 
boxfolder
61Postcards
 
62Envelopes
 
63Photographs (family, friends, etc.)
 
64Insurance papers
 
65-6Legal papers
 
boxfolder
71Church Bulletins
 
72Newspaper Clippings (mostly poems, two death notices for John B. Bell)
 
73Music Books
 
74-6Memorandum booklets
 
77Sunday School Recorder Book
 
78Partial copy of The Good Times Coming
 
boxfolder
81-3Miscellaneous Printed Material (church, commerce, community, school, 1920s Athens and Atlanta guides, and World War II material)
 
84-7Miscellaneous Handwritten Material
 
boxfolder
91Christmas cards, 1912-1939
 
92Christmas cards, 1940s
 
93Christmas cards, 1950s
 
94Christmas cards, 1960s
 
95Christmas cards, undated
 
96Invitations and announcements
 
97Commencement announcements
 
boxfolder
101Birthday cards
 
102Sympathy cards
 
103Assorted greeting cards
 
104-9Miscellaneous Receipts
 
boxfolder
111-6Miscellaneous Receipts
 
117-10Miscellaneous Bank Statements and Checks
 
1111Miscellaneous Checks
 
1112Confederate Ten Dollar Bill