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

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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.

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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.

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Related Materials and Subjects

Subject Terms

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Series Descriptions and Folder Listing

 

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1

1

Correspondence, 1864 July 11- 1891 November 5

 

1

2

Correspondence, 1892 April 28 - 1897 January 22

 

1

3

Correspondence, 1897 February 8 - 1899 September 22

 

1

4

Correspondence, 1900 January 7 - 1905 January 14

 

1

5

Correspondence, 1905 January 20 - 1909 September 2

 

1

6

Correspondence, 1910 February 25 - 1915 February 28

 

1

7

Correspondence, 1915 March 10 - 1916 February 17

 

1

8

Correspondence, 1916 February 24 - 1920 January 1

 

1

9

Correspondence, 1920 May 21 - 1922 May 3

 

1

10

Correspondence, 1922 May 5 - 1925 April 2

 

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2

1

Correspondence, 1925 May 6 - 1928 February 16

 

2

3

Correspondence, 1930 March 5 - 1931 January 16

 

2

4

Correspondence, 1931 January 24 - 1934 December 2

 

2

5

Correspondence, 1935 April 28 - 1939 February

 

2

6

Correspondence, 1939 February 11 - 1942

 

2

7

Correspondence, 1942- 1942 July 10

 

2

8

Correspondence, 1942 September 8 - 1944 October 6

 

2

9

Correspondence, 1944 October 10 - 1945 May 13

 

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3

1

Correspondence, 1945 May 15 - 1945 December 10

 

3

2

Correspondence, 1945 December 19 - 1946 December 8

 

3

3

Correspondence, 1947 February 12 - 1948 November 12

 

3

4

Correspondence, 1948 November 18 - 1950 April 28

 

3

5

Correspondence, 1950 June 6 - 1950 April 28

 

3

6

Correspondence, 1951 August 3 - 1955 March 16

 

3

7

Correspondence, 1955 March 19 - 1957 April 22

 

3

8

Correspondence, 1957 May 7 - 1957 September 18

 

3

9

Correspondence, 1957 September 26 - 1958 January 21

 

3

10

Correspondence, 1958 March 8 - 1958 August 30

 

3

11

Correspondence, 1958 August 30 - 1958 November 17

 

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4

1

Correspondence, 1958 December 5 - 1959 July 8

 

4

2

Correspondence, 1959 July 27 - 1959 October 12

 

4

3

Correspondence, 1959 October 13 - 1959 December 3

 

4

4

Correspondence, 1959 December 3 - 1960 January 29

 

4

5

Correspondence, 1960 February 1 - 1960 May 4

 

4

6

Correspondence, 1960 May 20 - 1961 October 20

 

4

7

Correspondence, 1961 October 24 - 1962 June 16

 

4

8

Correspondence, 1962 June 23 - 1963 February 2

 

4

9

Correspondence, 1963 February 21 - 1963 October 23

 

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5

1-9

Correspondence, undated

 

5

10-11

Miscellaneous Pieces

 

5

12-13

Miscellaneous Printed Material (livestock reports, catalogs, tax forms, booklets, census of agriculture, etc.)

 

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6

1

Postcards

 

6

2

Envelopes

 

6

3

Photographs (family, friends, etc.)

 

6

4

Insurance papers

 

6

5-6

Legal papers

 

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7

1

Church Bulletins

 

7

2

Newspaper Clippings (mostly poems, two death notices for John B. Bell)

 

7

3

Music Books

 

7

4-6

Memorandum booklets

 

7

7

Sunday School Recorder Book

 

7

8

Partial copy of The Good Times Coming

 

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8

1-3

Miscellaneous Printed Material (church, commerce, community, school, 1920s Athens and Atlanta guides, and World War II material)

 

8

4-7

Miscellaneous Handwritten Material

 

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9

1

Christmas cards, 1912-1939

 

9

2

Christmas cards, 1940s

 

9

3

Christmas cards, 1950s

 

9

4

Christmas cards, 1960s

 

9

5

Christmas cards, undated

 

9

6

Invitations and announcements

 

9

7

Commencement announcements

 

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10

1

Birthday cards

 

10

2

Sympathy cards

 

10

3

Assorted greeting cards

 

10

4-9

Miscellaneous Receipts

 

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11

1-6

Miscellaneous Receipts

 

11

7-10

Miscellaneous Bank Statements and Checks

 

11

11

Miscellaneous Checks

 

11

12

Confederate Ten Dollar Bill