M91-13 – ROBBINS-GIFFORD FAMILY COLLECTION

The Robbins-Gifford Family Papers is a collection of letters, historical materials, and family and historical photographs dating from the late nineteenth century to the year 1989.  Centering on the life of Mrs. Mary E. Robbins Gifford, this collection is of particular interest to Arkansas historians as it contains much information about the history of North Central Arkansas, especially the towns of Heber Springs and Rose Bud.  Considerable data is also available on several featured organizations in the state.

Mary E. Robbins was born September 3, 1901 in Rose Bud, Arkansas, to John William Robbins and Susan Ida Thomas Robbins.  Educated at Ouachita Baptist University in Arkadelphia, Mary taught in both Heber Springs Public Schools and the Rose Bud Schools.  She married Lt. Col. Joel S. Gifford in 1924 and had two children, a son Joel S. Gifford Jr., and a daughter, Julia Gifford Haines.

Mrs. Gifford was active in church and civic work throughout her life, and as an amateur historian she collected a wealth of information on the organizations in which she was involved.  She compiled a history of Rose Bud itself.  These papers, left after her death on February 26, 1989; make up the bulk of this collection.

NOTE:  When requesting material, please specify collection number (M91-13), box number, series number, and file number.

 

Arrangement:

Series I – J.W. Robbins materials in the form of correspondence, financial records, and funeral materials

Series II – Mary E. Robbins Gifford material in the form of correspondence, financial records, and funeral materials

Series III– Joel S. Gifford Sr. materials in the form of correspondence and general materials

Series IV– Wiley H. Robbins and O.B. Robbins Material in the form of correspondence, financial records and funeral material

Series V – Historical Materials

Series VI– Fraternal Organizations Materials

Series VII– General and Cotton Market Materials

Series VIII– Photographs

Series IX– Oversized: Heber Spring Study Club Scrapbook and St. Mary’s Masonic Lodge  Financial Ledgers

 

Series I – J.W. Robbins Materials

Box 1

File 1 – Correspondence, 1922-1924

File 2 – Correspondence, 1925

File 3 – Correspondence, 1926

File 4 – Correspondence, 1927

File 5 – Correspondence, Jan.- June 1928

File 6 – Correspondence, July- Dec. 1928

File 7 – Correspondence, Jan.- June 1929

File 8 – Correspondence, July- Dec. 1929

File 9 – Correspondence, Jan.- June 1930

File 10- Correspondence, July- Dec. 1930

File 11- Correspondence, 1931

File 12- Correspondence, 1932

File 13- Correspondence, 1933

File 14- Correspondence, 1934

File 15- Correspondence, 1935

File 16- Correspondence, Jan.- June 1936

File 17- Correspondence, July- Dec. 1936

File 18- Correspondence, 1937

File 19- Correspondence, Jan.- June 1938

File 20- Correspondence, July- Dec. 1938

End of Box 1

 

Series I – J.W. Robbins Materials

Box 2

File 1 – Correspondence, 1939

File 2 – Correspondence, Jan.- June 1940

File 3 – Correspondence, July- Dec. 1940

File 4 – Correspondence, 1941

File 5 – Correspondence, 1944

File 6 – Undated Correspondence

File 7 – Correspondence of Mrs. J.W. Robbins, (Ida Thomas)

File 8 – Financial Records

File 9 – Funeral Materials- Sympathy Cards and Notes

File 10- Funeral Materials- Sympathy Cards

File 11- Funeral Materials- General Data

File 12- Funeral Materials- Newspaper Clippings

File 13- Funeral Materials- Memory Book

File 14- General Materials

File 15- Newspaper Clippings

End of Box 2

End of Series I

 

Series II – Mary E. Robbins Gifford Materials

Box 1

File 1 – Correspondence with Joel S. Gifford Sr., Jan.- Aug. 1918

File 2 – Correspondence with Joel S. Gifford Sr., Sept. 1918

File 3 – Correspondence with Joel S. Gifford Sr., Oct. 1918

File 4 – Correspondence with Joel S. Gifford Sr., Nov. 1918

File 5 – Correspondence with Joel S. Gifford Sr., Dec. 1918

File 6 – Correspondence with Joel S. Gifford Sr., Jan. 1919

File 7 – Correspondence with Joel S. Gifford Sr., Feb. 1919

File 8 – Correspondence with Joel S. Gifford Sr., March 1919

File 9 – Correspondence with Joel S. Gifford Sr., April 1919

File 10- Correspondence with Joel S. Gifford Sr., May 1919

File 11- Correspondence with Joel S. Gifford Sr., June- July 1919

File 12- Correspondence with Joel S. Gifford Sr., Aug.- Dec. 1919

File 13- Correspondence with Joel S. Gifford Sr., Jan.- July 1920

File 14- Correspondence with Joel S. Gifford Sr., Sept. 1920

File 15- Correspondence with Joel S. Gifford Sr., Oct. 1920

File 16- Correspondence with Joel S. Gifford Sr., Nov. – Dec. 1920

File 17- Correspondence with Joel S. Gifford Sr., Jan.- April 1921

File 18- Correspondence with Joel S. Gifford Sr., May- Nov. 1921

File 19- Correspondence with Joel S. Gifford Sr., 1922

File 20- Correspondence with Joel S. Gifford Sr., 1923

End of Box 1

 

Series II – Mary E. Robbins Gifford Materials

Box 2

File 1 – Correspondence with Joel S. Gifford Sr., 1924

File 2 – Correspondence with Joel S. Gifford Sr., Jan. 1925

File 3 – Correspondence with Joel S. Gifford Sr., Feb. 1925

File 4 – Correspondence with Joel S. Gifford Sr., March 1925

File 5 – Correspondence with Joel S. Gifford Sr., April 1925

File 6 – Correspondence with Joel S. Gifford Sr., 1931, 1939

File 7 – Correspondence with Joel S. Gifford Sr., April 1942

File 8 – Correspondence with Joel S. Gifford Sr., May 1942

File 9 – Correspondence with Joel S. Gifford Sr., June- Oct. 1942

File 10- Correspondence with Joel S. Gifford Sr., 1943

File 11- Correspondence with Joel S. Gifford Sr., Aug. 1944

File 12- Correspondence with Joel S. Gifford Sr., Sept. 1944

File 13- Correspondence with Joel S. Gifford Sr., Oct. 1944

File 14- Correspondence with Joel S. Gifford Sr., Nov.- Dec. 1944

File 15- Correspondence with Joel S. Gifford Sr., Jan.- Feb. 1945

File 16- Correspondence with Joel S. Gifford Sr., March 1945

File 17- Correspondence with Joel S. Gifford Sr., April- May 1945

File 18- Correspondence with Joel S. Gifford Sr., Aug. 1945

File 19- Correspondence with Joel S. Gifford Sr., Sept. 1945

File 20- Correspondence with Joel S. Gifford Sr., Oct.- Nov. 1945

File 21- Correspondence with Joel S. Gifford Sr., 1946

File 22- Correspondence with Joel S. Gifford Sr., Undated

End of Box 2

 

Series II – Mary E. Robbins Gifford Materials

Box 3

File 1 – Correspondence with sister, Vergie Robbins

File 2 – General Correspondence, 1928, 1938

File 3 – General Correspondence, 1939

File 4 – General Correspondence, 1940

File 5 – General Correspondence, 1941

File 6 – General Correspondence, 1970-1985

File 7 – General Correspondence, Undated

File 8 – Greeting Cards

File 9 – General Materials

File 10- School Memory Book of Ouachita College 1922

File 11- Funeral Materials- Memory Book

File 12- Funeral Materials- Newspaper Clippings

End of Box 3

End of Series II

 

Series III– Joel S. Gifford Sr. Materials

Box 1

File 1 – Correspondence, 1939-1940

File 2 – Correspondence at Veterans Hospital, Sept. 1941

File 3 – General Materials

File 4 – Funeral Materials- Memory Book

File 5 – Funeral Materials- General Data

End of Box 1

End of Series III

 

Series IV– Wiley H. Robbins and O.B. Robbins Materials

Box 1

File 1 – Wiley H. Robbins Materials- Personal Correspondence

File 2 – Wiley H. Robbins Materials- Financial and Personal Records

File 3 – Wiley H. Robbins Materials- General Data

File 4 – Wiley H. Robbins Materials- Funeral Data- Memory Book

File 5 – Wiley H. Robbins Materials- Funeral Data- Sympathy Card and Notes

File 6 – Wiley H. Robbins Materials- General Funeral Data

File 7 – O.B. Robbins Materials- General Data

File 8 – O.B. Robbins Materials- Newspaper Clippings

End of Box 1

End of Series IV

 

Series V – Historical Materials

Box 1

File 1 – “The Autobiography of Carey Smith” by Carey Smith, c.1890

File 2 – Rose Bud History- How Rose Bud was named

File 3 – Rose Bud History- “History of Rose Bud” by Mrs. Mary E. Robbins Gifford

File 4 – Rose Bud History- General Materials

File 5 – Rose Bud History- Newspaper Clippings

File 6 – Rose Bud History- “History of Rose Bud Consolidated School” by Mary E. Robbins Gifford

File 7 – Rose Bud History- “The Rose Bud School” by Henry A. Stroup

File 8 – Rose Bud History- Founders of the Rose Bud School

File 9 – Rose Bud History- Letters from Rose Bud Students to Mary E. Robbins Gifford

File 10- Rose Bud History- Rose Bud School Newspaper Clippings

File 11- Rose Bud History- “History of the Rose Bud Methodist Church” by Rev. Henry A. Stroup and Mrs. Mary E. Robbins Gifford

File 12- Rose Bud History- Early History of the Rose Bud Methodist Church

File 13- Rose Bud History- Rose Bud Methodist Church Memorials and Contributions

File 14- Rose Bud History- Rose Bud Methodist Church Stained Glass Window Materials

File 15- Rose Bud History- Minutes of the Rose Bud United Methodist Women

File 16- Rose Bud History- Rose Bud Methodist Church Bulletins

File 17- Rose Bud History- Rose Bud Methodist Church General Materials

File 18- Rose Bud History- Rose Bud Methodist Church Newspaper Clippings

File 19- Rose Bud History- Copies of “The Upper Room” a United Methodist Publication

File 20- Rose Bud History- Rose Bud Baptist Church Materials

File 21- Rose Bud History- Rose Bud Cemetery Association Materials

File 22- Rose Bud History- The Rose Bud Rambler Yearbook, 1949

File 23- Rose Bud History- The Rose Bud Rambler Yearbook, 1950

File 24- Heber Springs History- General Materials

File 25- Heber Springs History- Newspaper Clippings

File 26- Heber Springs History- Heber Springs Study Club General Materials

File 27- Heber Springs History- Heber Springs Study Club Yearbooks

File 28- Heber Springs History- Heber Springs Study Club Newspaper Clippings

File 29- Cleburne County History- General Materials

File 30- Quitman History- Newspaper Clippings

File 31- White County History- “White County Heritage” White County Historical Society

File 32- Robbins-Gifford Family History

End of Box 1

End of Series V

 

Series VI– Fraternal Organizations Materials

Box 1

File 1 – St. Mary’s Masonic Lodge Materials- General Correspondence

File 2 – St. Mary’s Masonic Lodge Materials- Membership Records

File 3 – St. Mary’s Masonic Lodge Materials- Financial Records

File 4 – St. Mary’s Masonic Lodge Materials- Masonic Supply Catalogs

File 5 – St. Mary’s Masonic Lodge Materials- Masonic Booklets

File 6 – St. Mary’s Masonic Lodge Materials- Masonic Booklets

File 7 – St. Mary’s Masonic Lodge Materials- General Data

File 8 – Order of the Eastern Star Materials- Correspondence

File 9 – Order of the Eastern Star Materials- Pamphlets and Programs

File 10- Order of the Eastern Star Materials- “Proceedings of the 76th Annual Session of the Grand Chapter O.E.S.” 1951

File 11- Order of the Eastern Star Materials- “Proceedings of the 77th Annual Session of the Grand Chapter O.E.S.” 1952

File 12- Order of the Eastern Star Materials- “Proceedings of the 78th Annual Session of the Grand Chapter O.E.S.” 1953

File 13- Order of the Eastern Star Materials- General Data

File 14- Order of the Eastern Star Materials- Newspaper Clippings

File 15- Woodmen of the World Materials- General Correspondence

File 16- Woodmen of the World Materials- Badge, Coins, Constitution, and By-Laws

File 17- Woodmen of the World Materials- General Data

End of Box 1

End of Series VI

 

Series VII– General Materials

Box 1

File 1 – Cotton Market Materials- Correspondence

File 2 – Cotton Market Materials- General Data

File 3 – Cotton Market Materials- Newspaper Clippings

File 4 – General Materials

File 5 – General Materials

End of Box 1

End of Series VII

 

Series VIII– Photographs

Box 1

Env 1 – J.W. and Ida Robbins and family, c. 1900

Env 2 – Family of Will and Ida Robbins, Rose Bud, White Co., 1908

Env 3 – Ida W. Robbins, 1912

Env 4 – Home of Ida Thomas Robbins’ parents, where Ida and Will Robbins were married Rose Bud, White Co.

Env 5 – Will Robbins Home at Rose Bud Built, 1907

Env 6 – Bailey Hoggard in front of Will Robbins’ home, 1913

Env 7 – Will Robbins with hay crew at the Bottoms Farm, at Rose Bud, c. 1914

Env 8 – Elbert A. and Will Robbins Rose Bud, c. 1914

Env 9 – Elbert A. Robbins and Will Robbins Rose, White Co., 1915

Env 10- J.W. Robbins Heber Springs November, 1939

Env 11- J.W. (Will) Robbins on 80th birthday Heber Springs, Jan. 1940

Env 12- Will Robbins (left), his sister Mollie Holmes (center), and half brother Otha Gravelly,1940

Env 13- Ice Cream Social at Myrtle Robbins’ home, c. 1914

Env 14- Vergie Robbins, Rose Bud, 1920

Env 15- Wiley Robbins and W.E. Blume Central Church, November 2, 1958

Env 16- Oscar B. Robbins, 1st Lt of 153rd Infantry on Motor cycle at Camp Beauregard, Louisiana, 1917

Env 17- O.B. and Minnie Lee Jones Robbins at Heber Spings, Cleburne County, 1942

Env 18- O.B. Robbins Motor Company, Office at Heber Springs, Cleburne County, March 21, 1932

Env 19- O.B. Robbins, 1942

Env 20-21- Vivian Robbins, c. 1900

Env 22- Vivian Robbins Web Behrens at San Antonio TX, 1986

Env 23- Descendants of Vivian Robbins Web Behrens?

Env 24- Mark Robbins and Sara Jane Fisher Wedding photo, 1985

Env 25- Mary E. Robbins-Gifford Baby picture, 1902

Env 26- Mary E. Robbins Gifford, c. 1920

Env 27- Mary E. Robbins at Rose Bud, 1920

Env 28- Portrait of Mary E. Gifford, 1936

Env 29- Joel S. Gifford and Mary E. Robbins during “Courting days” Rosebud, White County,1918

Env 30- Joel S. and Mary E. Robbins Gifford

Env 31- Joel S. Gifford

Env 32- Joel Gifford and Mary E. Robbins-Gifford

Env 33- Capt. J.S. Gifford

Env 34- Joel and Mary E. Gifford, baby Joel at Tulsa, Oklahoma, November 1926

Env 35- Joel S. Gifford Jr. at 2 months, 1926

Env 36- Joel S. Gifford Jr. at 4 months, 1926

Env 37- Joel S. Gifford Jr. at 1 year

Env 38- Mary E. Robbins-Gifford, Joel Jr., and Julia

Env 39- Joel S. Gifford and Joel Jr., 1929

Env 40- Joel and Julia Gifford with Grandmother Gifford at Rose Bud, 1930

Env 41- Joel S. Gifford Jr. and Julia Gifford Louisville, KY, 1931

Env 42- Mary E. and Joel S. Gifford, 1972

Env 43- James Stanford Gifford (1832-1918), c. 1900

Env 44- Grant S. Gifford (1864-1928), c. 1925

Env 45- Grant G. Gifford, Mattie M. Gifford (1864-1949)

Env 46- Mattie Matilda Smith Gifford, Terry Smith, and Elizabeth Dorothy Smith Young, c. 1900

Env 47- Carey Smith with Buffalo Bill troupe, c. 1870

Env 48- Mattie Gifford near Rose Bud, c. 1923

Env 49- Mattie M. Gifford, c. 1925

Env 50- Mrs. Grant Gifford, c. 1942

Env 51- Rosewood Grove No. 117 Rose Bud, c. 1900

Env 52- Copper Spring School Group, Rose Bud, c. 1900

Env 53- Bessie Walters, Ethel Best, Myrtle Walters, Maude Starns, Lee Walters, Alice Brooks, Myrtle Taylor, Vergie Robbins, and Violet Taylor.  Rose Bud, c.1907

Env 54- Rose Bud School, 1907

Env 55- Youth outing at Buffalo Hump near Quitman, Cleburne County on Easter, c. 1908

Env 56- Youth outing near Rose Bud, c. 1908

Env 57- Youth picnic, c. 1909

Env 58- Rose Bud Youth outing, c. 1910

Env 59- Eighth Grade Girls: Zair Williams, ? Marwood, Madge ?, Hora Hamilton, Cara Sandford, ? Silby, and Lillian Stuart, 1912-1913

Env 60- Eighth Grade picture: Cara Sandford, Zair Williams, ? Marwood, Ray Martin, Bernie Issacs, ? Silby, Madge ?, Flora Hamilton , Lillian Stuart, ? Hamilton, 1912-1913

Env 61- Singing School, Rose Bud, c. 1913

Env 62- 1st Rose Bud High School, 1914

Env 63- Lena Hassell with children (Winnie Bly, Cleo, and Dane Hassell) and Maggie May Hall in front of old Robbins’s Store at Rose Bud, c. 1915

Env 64- Quitman High School Basketball Team: Lucille Tarver, Maurine Tarver, Mary Ella Robbins, Eva Robbins, Clarice Beasley, Mabel Wood, Mavis Flowers, and R. L. Newton, 1915-1916

Env 65- Children’s Day Service Rose Bud Methodist Church, c. 1916

End of Box 1

 

Series VIII– Photographs

Box 2

Env 1 – Rose Bud Faculty and Students, Elementary and High School, 1919

Env 2 – Heber Springs High School Graduating class, c. 1923

Env 3 – Senior Class Rose Bud High School, 1949

Env 4 – Original Methodist Church Rose Bud

Env 5 – Rose Bud Baptist Church 1973

Env 6 – “New” Methodist Church Rose Bud 1967

Env 7 – Maggie May Holl and possibly Pearl Owens Biles, Bridge near Mt. Vernon c1900

Env 8 – Unidentified photograph c1915

Env 9-10 – B. Marwood and male friend

Env 11- Old College friend Elizabeth, Ouachita College, 1918

Env 12- College friends, Fountain at Ouachita Campus, Arkadelphia 1918-1919

Env 13- Olive Webb, Ouachita College, Arkadelphia, 1921

Env 14- Ima Zoe Curtis 1921

Env 15- College friend Gladys, 1918-1922

Env 16- Candle stick Rock near Heber Springs, Cleburne County c 1900

Env 17- Gathering on Saturday Heber Spring, Cleburne County

Env 18- Sweet Home Pike, Little Rock, Pulaski County

Env 19- Co-Ed Classroom c1900

Env 20-21 – Unidentified school photograph c1900

Env 22-28 – Unidentified women

Env 29-32 – Unidentified

Env 33- Indian woman with crafts

Env 34-37 – Mid Continental Petroleum Corporation, c. 1930s

 

Series IX– Oversize

Box 1

Item 1 – Heber Springs Study Club Scrapbook

Item 2 – St. Mary’s Masonic Lodge Financial Ledger

Item 3 – St. Mary’s Masonic Lodge Financial Ledger

Item 4 – 19.5″ x 23″ Framed black/white photo of John William (Will) Robbins – father of Mary E. Robbins Gifford, 1860-1941

Item 5 – ‘Smith-Robinson Club’ Presidential campaign announcement, c. 1928

Item 6 – Political candidate cards

Item 7 – “Thomas McRae: Candidate for Governor” political circular, c. 1920

Item 8 – “Vincent M. Miles: Candidate for United States Senator” political circular, c. 1932

Item 9 – “Smith’s ‘Let Whiskey Rule’ Propaganda Gets Him in Bad” political article, c. 1920

Item 10- “Hodges the Candidate of Machine Politicians” political article, c. 1915

Item 11- “Complete, Unofficial, Returns of Bradley County” – political article, March 30, 1916

End of Box 1

End of Series IX

End of Collection