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NANNETTE WILLIAMS ELSASS PAPERS

Scrapbooks, Travel Journals, Certificates and other documents,1903-1969.
Manuscript Collection MC 806

• Information about the Delony-Purkins-Williams Family
• Information about the Collection
• Contents of Collection (1 box)
  • Series 1. Scrapbook and papers of Marie Antoinette Purkins, 1910-1962. Box 1.
  • Series 2. Scrapbook and papers of Sophia Purkins Williams, 1902-1969. Box 1.

THE DELONY-PURKINS-WILLIAMS FAMILY

Also included are papers pertaining to Du Val L. Purkins and Nannie Purkins, brother and sister of Sophia Purkins and Marie Antoinette Purkins; Marie Antoinette Williams Tipton (Menette), sister of Nannette Williams Elsass; and Lucy Elise Delony, maternal first cousin of Sophia, Marie Antoinette, Du Val L., and Nannie Purkins. (See also the Nannette Elizabeth Williams Elsass Genealogical Papers.)

THE COLLECTION

The papers contain two scrapbooks. Marie Antoinette Purkins's scrapbook details the kindergarten she founded and taught in Hope, Arkansas from 1938-1962. Of special interest is the Christmas photocard of the child William Jefferson (Billy) Blythe III, who later became Arkansas Governor Bill Clinton. Sophia Delony Purkins's scrapbook documents her husband's death in 1934 and special events in her immediate family. Also included are two travel journals from the 1920s which document rail travel from Arkansas to California and life in Japan after World War I. An early 20th century Wedding Book, campaign literature from the chancery judge and attorney general campaigns of Du Val L. Purkins, and other papers pertaining to the Delony-Purkins- Williams family complete the collection.

Processed by Norma Ortiz-Karp, January 1989. Special Collections Division, University of Arkansas Libraries, Fayetteville, Arkansas.

Series 1. Scrapbook and papers of Marie Antoinette Purkins, 1910-1962. Box 1.

This series contains the scrapbook and papers of Marie Antoinette Purkins. The scrapbook documents by photographs, cards, correspondence, programs, and registration lists her kindergarten in Hope, Arkansas from 1938-1962. Also included are her travel journal to California of September 1928, an essay on education, a short story, and two Arkansas Teacher's Licenses.

Box 1

1. Kindergarten scrapbook, 1938-1962.
2. Travel Journal, Sept 1928.
3. Educational essay and short story, n.d.
4. Arkansas Teacher's Licenses, 1910-1916.

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   Return to "Contents of Collection"

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   Series 2. Scrapbook and papers of Sophia Purkins Williams, 1902-1969. Box 1.

   The series contains the scrapbook and papers of Sophia Purkins Williams. The scrapbook contains report cards, birthday cards, clippings, condolences on the death of her husband, and family memorabilia. Grammar School and High School diplomas as well as a handmade music book of Sophia Purkins Williams are included. Additional family papers include a wedding book, a travel journal about Japan after World War I, and a compilation of Purkins genealogy.

   Volume 1 Scrapbook, 1902-1943

   Box 1 (cont.)

5. Music Book, n.d.
6. Grammar School and High School diplomas, 1909 and 1913.
7. Wedding book of Mrs. William Edgar Briant, ca. 1912.
8. Travel journal of Lucy Elise Delony, n.d.
9. Purkins genealogy, essay on "Mrs. Purkins", and Children of the Confederacy certificate.
10. Certificates of Nannie Purkins and letter from John W. Jones to Nannie Purkins, 1950.
11. Campaign literature for Du Val L. Purkins for Chancery and Probate Judge and Attorney General of Arkansas in the Democratic primary election and program cover and programs from Magazine Academy, 1914-915 and 1919.
12. 5 x 7 photograph of the forty-fourth wedding anniversary party of Mrs. William Edgar Briant.
13. 4 1/2 x 7 1/4 photograph of Mrs. T.A. Dorby and Mrs. Sol Durland at U.D.C. Convention in Hot Springs, Arkansas, 1903.
14. 8 x 10 photograph of Du Val L. Purkins, September 21, 1969.