PP. Personal Papers

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The Nicholson Papers contain correspondence, photographs, publications, clippings, programs, and handwritten notes spanning Nicholson’s early life and career to his death, but concentrating in particular on his 26 years as Baptist Student Union secretary for the Georgia Baptist Convention.

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The Richardson collection contains three notebooks of class/lecture notes. One is dated 1903 and the other two are undated.

Scope and Contents The Sanford collection consists of papers of Shelton Palmer Sanford from 1845-1865 and 1878. The papers include a diary (1878) and account book (1845-1865). The diary discusses day-to-day activities, including the weather, travel, classes taught, and religious and social life in Macon, Georgia. The account book details Sanford’s personal finances (1845-1856) and his account with Georgia Baptist Convention Treasurer Thomas J. Burney for tuition, room, and board for a number of students at...

Scope and Contents The James Ostelle Harrison Papers include typed manuscripts and published articles/columns by Harrison, graduate and professional research, course syllabi and related materials, and news clippings about him. The collection also includes papers created after his death concerning the shrunken head (or “tsantsa”) he brought to Mercer University and attempts to authenticate it prior to its return to Ecuador in 2019. Original folder names (including spelling) and organization have...

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The Manuscript Collection contains correspondence, essays, journals, notes, receipts, and other documents from multiple creators, arranged in alphabetical order. Some of the letters have transcriptions; a few are photocopies.

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The Columbus Roberts Papers include personal records (clippings/time line, correspondence, manuscript, photographs, recordings of interviews, scrapbook, and speeches) as well as materials related to the Georgia Milk Control Board, the Georgia Milk Producers Confederation, the Georgia Temperance League, and Mercer University.

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This collection contains an album of friendship belonging to Willena Sherwood, in which friends wrote notes or poetry to Sherwood from 1863-1869. The collection also contains photocopies of records pertaining to Sherwood and her family, supplied by the Washington Memorial Library.

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The Bridges Smith collection includes 117 illustrated envelopes postmarked between 1894 and 1917 and mailed by family, business associates, and friends. A small amount of correspondence dates into the early 1920s and is a mixture of business and pleasure in subject matter. Smith was related to Miss Sallie Boone, Mercer Librarian (1904-1934) and Librarian Emeritus (1934-1951).

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This collection includes correspondence between acquaintances of Otis Smith, compiled by Otis D. Smith, Otis Smith’s nephew.

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The Walter B. Shurden Papers contains 10 boxes of materials. They consist of biographical sketches, copies of speeches and articles written by Shurden, papers related to Baptist organizations with which Shurden was involved, letters of recommendation, and correspondence. Original folder names and organization have been retained where possible.