Jordan Massee papers

Descriptive Summary
Title: Jordan Massee papers
Creator: Massee, Jordan
Inclusive Dates: 1926-2000
Language(s): English
Extent: 13 Linear Feet (14 boxes and 1 oversize box)
Collection Number: ms3924
Repository: Hargrett Library

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Collection Description

Historical Note

William Jordan Massee, Jr. was author of the book Accepted Fables which details his life among the elite in Macon, Georgia. He was a cousin of Carson McCullars, and friend of Tennesee Williams. Massee's father, William Jordan Massee, Sr., is often cited as the inspiration for the character Big Daddy from Williams' play Cat on a Hot Tin Roof. Massee, Jr. worked in New York City for many years, returning to Macon in his old age. He passed away in 2002.

Scope and Content

The collection consists primarily of notes, manuscripts, genealogy, and research materials related to Jordan Massee's autobiography Accepted Fables. Also included is a subject file on topics of interest to Massee, including dance, art, and architecture.

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Administrative Information

Preferred Citation

Jordan Massee papers, ms 3924, Hargrett Rare Book and Manuscript Library, The University of Georgia Libraries.

Finding Aid Publication

Finding aid prepared on: 2015.

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Related Materials and Subjects

Subject Terms

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Series Descriptions and Folder Listing

 

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1

Travel diaries and mementos, 1926-1929

 

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2

1

Recap, 1930-1936

 

2

2

Recap, 1937-1939

 

2

3

Recap, 1942-1949

 

2

4

Recap, 1950-1951

 

2

5

Recap, 1952-1953

 

2

6

Recap, 1954-1959

 

2

7

Recap, 1961-1962

 

2

8

Recap, 1963-1966

 

2

9

Recap, 1967-1969

 

2

10

William Jordan Massee and Ethel Oliver Brown genealogy

 

2

11

Accepted Fables, duplicates and lists of copies

 

2

12

Massee History

 

2

13

Assorted chapters

 

2

14

William Jordan Massee and the Jackson Dam

 

2

15

An Anthology of American Verse by Jordan Massee

 

2

16

Correspondence, 1909-1910

 

2

17

Correspondence, 1911

 

2

18

Correspondence, 1912-1914

 

2

19

Correspondence, 1916-1920

 

2

20

Correspondence, 1921-1922

 

2

21

Correspondence, 1923-1925

 

2

22

Correspondence, 1926

 

2

23

Correspondence, 1929 December 3

 

2

24

Correspondence, 1934 August 8

 

2

25

Correspondence, 1936 September 3

 

2

26

Correspondence, 1937

 

2

27

Correspondence, 1948-1949

 

2

28

Correspondence, 1951 July 16

 

2

29

Correspondence, 1954 August 16

 

2

30

Correspondence, 1963-1964

 

2

31

Correspondence, 1960-1962

 

2

32

Correspondence, undated

 

2

33

"Georgia Early History School Project"

 

2

34

Legal and estate papers

 

2

35

Travel itinerary, undated

 

2

36

Notes

 

2

37

Business cards

 

2

38

Calling cards

 

2

39

Printed material

 

2

40

Clippings

 

2

41

Prescriptions, 1917

 

2

42

Hotel and railroad cards

 

2

43

Certificates and membership cards

 

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3

1

In Grateful Memory draft volume 1, 1994 June 12

 

3

2

In Grateful Memory draft volume 2, 1994 June 12

 

3

3

Volume 3 (not final), 1995 April 25

 

3

4

Accepted Fables draft, 1998

 

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4

1

Accepted Fables draft volume 1, 1998

 

4

2

Accepted Fables draft volume 2, 1998

 

4

3

Accepted Fables draft (new material), 2000 June 15

 

4

4

Accepted Fables draft volume 1, 2000 June 15

 

4

5

Accepted Fables draft volume 2, 2000 June 15

 

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5

1

Chronology

 

5

2

Quotations

 

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6

In Grateful Memory original manuscript, 1994

 

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7

Accepted Fables draft, 2000 June 14

 

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8

Accepted Fables draft (with corrections)

 

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9

1

Below X

 

9

2

VII The Bibb Brick Company

 

9

3

X The McCaw-Massee House

 

9

4

XI Daddy's Sayings

 

9

5

XI The Golden Years: The Big House on College Street, 1910-1932 1. The House on College Street,the move, and Alterations

 

9

7

XI 3. Daddy's Illnesses

 

9

8

XI 4. Politics

 

9

9

XI 6. Ethel Brown Massee

 

9

10

XI 7. Mother and Daddy's Friends

 

9

11

XI 9. Emily's Education 10. Emily and Daddy Gambling and Fishing 11. Emily's Friends

 

9

12

XI 12. Escapades

 

9

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XI 13. Martha Lawson Massee

 

9

14

XI 15. Martha and Jordan's Childhood (b)

 

9

15

XI 15. Martha and Jordan's Childhood (c) (d) (f) (g) (h)

 

9

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XI 15. Martha and Jordan's Childhood (i) (j) (k)

 

9

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XI 17. Prominent Macon Families (c)

 

9

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XI 17. Prominent Macon Families (g)

 

9

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XI 17. Prominent Macon Families (h)

 

9

20

XI 18. Colorful Characters (c)

 

9

21

XI 18. Colorful Characters (d) (e)

 

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22

XI 18. Colorful Characters (f)

 

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23

XI 20. Servants in the Big House

 

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24

XI 22. Food at the Big House

 

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25

XI 23. Entertaining

 

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26

XI 24. Guests

 

9

27

XI 25. The Poker Games

 

9

28

XI 27. Fraulein Alwina Eichler

 

9

29

XI 28. Summers: 1915-1928 (a)

 

9

30

XI 28. Summers: 1915-1928 (b)

 

9

31

XI 28. Summers: 1915-1928 (c)

 

9

32

XI 29. Music Has Charms

 

9

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XI 30. Daddy and Martcha in Europe, 1925

 

9

34

XI 31. Otis Dewey Knight

 

9

35

XI 32. Emily Massee Brown: A Grandchild Arrives

 

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XI 34. Lanier High School for Boys: Five Years in Hell

 

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37

XI 35. The Crash 36. Leaving the Big House

 

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10

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XII The Massee Apartments

 

10

2

XIII The Little House on College Street, 1935-1956

 

10

3

XIV European Travels

 

10

4

XV Paul Bigelow (1) (2)

 

10

5

XV Paul Bigelow (3d)

 

10

6

XVII New York (1)

 

10

7

XVII New York (2) (3)

 

10

8

XVI Summers at Sea Island

 

10

9

XVIII Macon 1946-1950

 

10

10

XIX 1. East End Avenue

 

10

11

XIX 2. West End Avenue (b)

 

10

12

XIX 2. West End Avenue (b)

 

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13

XIX 2. West End Avenue (d)

 

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14

XIX 2. West End Avenue (f)

 

10

15

XIX 2. West End Avenue (g)

 

10

16

XIX 2. West End Avenue (m)

 

10

17

XX Death in Macon

 

10

18

XXII 1. Macon Visits 2. A New Home on Arlington Place

 

10

19

XXII 3. Envoi

 

10

20

Table of Contents

 

10

21

Appendix

 

10

22

Miscellaneous

 

10

23

Photographs for Accepted Fables

 

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11

1

Abacus

 

11

2

Maud Alla IV

 

11

3

Allen, Patrick

 

11

4

Anderson, Mary

 

11

5

Apthorp

 

11

6

Architecture

 

11

7

Arenstein, Yetta

 

11

8

Armitage, Merle

 

11

9

Arial, Eugene

 

11

10

Autographs (Miscellaneous)

 

11

11

Bach

 

11

12

Baker

 

11

13

Balanchine

 

11

14

Barlow, David, 1995

 

11

15

Barnes, Djuna

 

11

16

Barnes, Edwina

 

11

17

Bellini, Vincenzo

 

11

18

Benko, Gregor

 

11

19

Benko, Gregor

 

11

20

Bernd, Florence

 

11

21

Bernhardt

 

11

22

Bible

 

11

23

Bigelow, S. Paul

 

11

24

Bizet: Carmen

 

11

25

Bleach Newspaper clippings

 

11

26

Blumenthal

 

11

27

Bonner, Emily

 

11

28

Books (Rare)

 

11

29

Boswell, John E., 1994

 

11

30

Brecht, Hannah

 

11

31

Brennan, Elaine

 

11

32

Brennan, Elaine Luthy

 

11

33

Brewster, Gary, 1985 April

 

11

34

Brighton Pev.

 

11

35

Brown, Emily Massee, 1994

 

11

36

Brown, Massee "Macon in the 30's" on TV

 

11

37

Bryan, William

 

11

38

Butler, Sammuel

 

11

39

Busoni, Ferruccio

 

11

40

Bryne, Celeste J.

 

11

41

Carnegie Hall

 

11

42

Carnegie Hall

 

11

43

Carp, Augustus

 

11

44

Carr, Virginia Spencer

 

11

45

Carr, Virginia Spencer

 

11

46

Carriere, Eugene

 

11

47

Cassettes to make

 

11

48

Castrati

 

11

49

Cerquetti, Anita, 1994 November

 

11

50

Cervantes Saavedra

 

11

51

Champion, David

 

11

52

Cherry Blossoms

 

11

53

China

 

11

54

China, Asia

 

11

55

Chinese Art

 

11

56

Chomsky, Noam

 

11

57

I Ching by Elaine Luthy

 

11

58

Clark, Lorilotte

 

11

59

Collazo, Raphael

 

11

60

Columbus Museum

 

11

61

Comer, Phil; Fuller, Frederick

 

11

62

Corn, Chuck

 

11

63

Cox, Dona

 

11

64

Dance

 

11

65

Dance Films

 

11

66

Denby, Edwin

 

11

67

Dowben, Bob

 

11

68

Dews, Carlos

 

11

69

Dews, Carlos; Dews, Barney

 

11

70

Duse

 

11

71

Duse

 

11

72

Edwards, Harry Stilwell

 

11

73

Eichter, Alwina

 

11

74

Einstein

 

11

75

Eliot, George

 

11

76

Eltinge, Julian

 

11

77

Feibelman, Peter

 

11

78

Flowers, Dried

 

11

79

Freise, Paul

 

11

80

Frost, Deirdre

 

11

81

Fuggette

 

11

82

Furniture Finishing

 

11

83

Galli-Curci

 

11

84

Genee, Adeline

 

11

85

Georgia Museum of Art

 

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12

1

Georgia Museum of Art

 

12

2

Giannini, Dusolina

 

12

3

Gide

 

12

4

Gibran, Kahlil

 

12

5

Girandoles

 

12

6

Glazier-Cox

 

12

7

Graham, Martha

 

12

8

Greek Drama

 

12

9

Grove Park Inn (Asheville, NC) souvenir postcards

 

12

10

Guilbert, Yvette

 

12

11

Harris, Roger

 

12

12

Harwood, Jerry

 

12

13

Hayes, Roland

 

12

14

Hill, Howard

 

12

15

History

 

12

16

Hathaway, Byron

 

12

17

Hogan, Jasper

 

12

18

Holbein and the Court of Henry VIII

 

12

19

Hopper, Edward

 

12

20

Hutto, Richard

 

12

21

Inventory

 

12

22

Inventory

 

12

23

Japanese Music

 

12

24

Jennings, Sibley

 

12

25

Kelly, Alan

 

12

26

Karajan, Herbert von

 

12

27

King, Kenneth

 

12

28

Kschessinska

 

12

29

Landowska

 

12

30

Language

 

12

31

Languages

 

12

32

Lawton, Ralph

 

12

33

Leichtling

 

12

34

Lesley, Bill

 

12

35

Lippe

 

12

36

Lists: 20th Century

 

12

37

Little, Arnold

 

12

38

Lyndon, Andrew

 

12

39

Lyrics

 

12

40

Macon Museum

 

12

41

McIntyre

 

12

42

Magnolia Leaves

 

12

43

Magnolia Manor

 

12

44

Mallarme, Stephane

 

12

45

Mann, Thomas

 

12

46

Marhefska, Joe

 

12

47

Marlowe

 

12

48

Marshall, Sarah

 

12

49

Marston

 

12

50

Massee, J.- Driver's License

 

12

51

Massee, J.- Birth Certificate

 

12

52

Massee- Property Division

 

12

53

Massee- Vital Statistics

 

12

54

Massee, E. B.- Will

 

12

55

Massee- Daddy to Mother

 

12

56

Massee- Miscellany

 

12

57

Meehan, John

 

12

58

McCullers, Carson

 

12

59

Melba, Dame

 

12

60

Melton, Bo

 

12

61

M-, C.

 

12

62

Mendelssohn, Eleonora von

 

12

63

Merrill, James

 

12

64

Meyer, Paula

 

12

65

Mickee

 

12

66

Moller, Hans

 

12

67

Morris, William

 

12

68

Moseley, Rufus

 

12

69

Met Opera

 

12

70

Muecke, Henry

 

12

71

Muscadine field day

 

12

72

Museum of Arts and Sciences (Macon, GA)

 

12

73

Music

 

12

74

Namara

 

12

75

Museum of Degenerate Art

 

12

76

Nazimova

 

12

77

New Yorker

 

12

78

Nietzsche

 

12

79

Nin, Anais; Guiler, Hugo

 

12

80

Nordyke, Terence

 

12

81

Norman, Jessye

 

12

82

Novels 100 Best

 

12

83

Obolensky

 

12

84

Pachelbel

 

12

85

Paqua, Frederick

 

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13

1

Patti

 

13

2

Payne, Calder

 

13

3

Peirce, C. S.

 

13

4

Pergamont, Lola

 

13

5

Philosophy

 

13

6

Pickard, Carey

 

13

7

Plessis- Paterson

 

13

8

Poetry

 

13

9

Ponselle, Rosa

 

13

10

Porter, Katherine

 

13

11

Quotations

 

13

12

Records

 

13

13

Records

 

13

14

Reichert

 

13

15

Reine: Silver

 

13

16

Religion

 

13

17

Ribblesdale, Ava

 

13

18

Richardson, Henry

 

13

19

Robbery- Bogota, 1981 January

 

13

20

Romophone

 

13

21

Roney, Lisa

 

13

22

Sacks, Oliver

 

13

23

Sada Yacco, Madame

 

13

24

St. Denis, Ruth

 

13

25

Schonberg, H. C.

 

13

26

Science

 

13

27

Seely

 

13

28

Seals, Charles

 

13

29

Shonberg, Harold

 

13

30

Silver

 

13

31

Singers

 

13

32

Sitwell, Edith

 

13

33

Skaters (Ice)

 

13

34

Soong, Charlie

 

13

35

Southby, Kadin

 

13

36

Stapleton, Maureen

 

13

37

Stone, Elly

 

13

38

Supervia

 

13

39

Swift, Jonathan

 

13

40

Skelton, Scott

 

13

41

Steck, Mary

 

13

42

Taylor, Laurette

 

13

43

Tetrazzini Broadcast

 

13

44

Truitt, Richard

 

13

45

Tuggle, Robert

 

13

46

Turbide, N.

 

13

47

Turbide, N.

 

13

48

Twain, Mark

 

13

49

Van Vechten, Carl

 

13

50

Vidal, Gore

 

13

51

Wagner Handbook

 

13

52

Wagner: Tristan

 

13

53

Waite, John

 

13

54

Washington Memorial Library

 

13

55

Wilde, Oscar

 

13

56

Woodson, Anne

 

13

57

Woodson, Anne

 

13

58

Yeats, William

 

13

59

McCullers, Carson

 

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14

Keys

 

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1

Certificates: William DeVaughn and Martha Massee's marriage certificate, Martha DeVaughn's high school diploma, and William DeVaugh's Scottish Rite certificate, 1930-1959

 

1

Carson McCullers newspaper articles

 

1

Tennessee Williams magazine article