Heery-Moss family papers, 1850-2016

Summary

Creator:
Franklin, Mary Jett, 1842-1928, Moss, W. L., Moss, Rufus Lafayette, Moss, Julia Pope, 1842-1931, and Moss, Sarah Hunter
Date:
1850-2016
Extent:
57 Linear Feet 52 boxes, 1 half document box, 5 oversized folders, 4 oversized boxes
Language:
English
Preferred citation:

Heery-Moss family papers, ms4077, Hargrett Rare Book and Manuscript Library, The University of Georgia Libraries.

Background

Scope and content:

This collection contains correspondence from several family members concerning personal matters, medical research, and business in the Athens area. It features a rich collection of photographs, journals, and scrapbooks, as well as numerous property, estate, business, and legal documents from the Moss family and the R.L. Moss Manufacturing Company. Some highlights include photographs from early Tallulah Falls, extensive University of Georgia class of 1897 materials, a small selection of Civil War letters, prohibition literature, Athens Womans Club records having to do with Tallulah Falls Industrial School, 1918 influenza posters, and a rich assortment of blueprints, photographs, and brochures that illustrate various aspects of life in the early 20th Century.

Biographical / historical:

John Dortch Moss (1792-1864) was an Athens businessman who created John D. Moss Cotton Company. He married Martha Strong (1805-1877) in 1824 and their children were Rufus L., Georgia A., James O., Alexander H., Susan M., John C., Sarah A., and Julia P. Moss.

Rufus Lafayette Moss (1825-1912) was an Athens businessman and founding father of Tallulah Falls, Georgia. He established one of the first inns at Tallulah Gorge called the Cliff House, and played an important role in convincing the railroad to lay track through Tallulah Falls in order to promote to tourism to the area. He ran the R.L. Moss Manufacturing Company, which was later called Athens Manufacturing Company, and managed properties both in Athens and Tallulah Falls. He married Elizabeth Luckie (1831-1922) in 1854 and their children were Mary Alice, Rufus L. II, Eliza B., John D. II, Martha S., Sarah H., and William L. Moss.

Sarah Hunter Moss (1871-1950) was a photographer, and advocate of education and womens' rights. A graduate of the Lucy Cobb Institute, she played a role in the creation of the Tallulah Falls Industrial School. After her death the Sarah Hunter Moss Fellowship was created in her honor at the University of Georgia.

William Lorenzo Moss (1876-1958) was a physician, medical reasearcher, Army medical officer, and businessman from Athens, Georgia. Known for his work in developing blood type groupings and researching tropical infectious diseases, he also taught at Yale, Harvard, and Johns Hopkins Hospital. Educated at the University of Georgia (1897), and Johns Hopkins (1905), he traveled the world studying tropical diseases and working on treatments throughout South and Central America, and the South Pacific. He served in the U.S. Army during WWI, remaining a reserve officer afterward, where he continued to research and develop treatments for infectious diseases, including influenza. He married Marguerite Widle (1895-1972) in 1925 and their children were Marguerite R. (Heery), William L. II, and Elizabeth (Schmidt).

Access and use restrictions

Preferred citation:

Heery-Moss family papers, ms4077, Hargrett Rare Book and Manuscript Library, The University of Georgia Libraries.