Barton Family Papers
Scope and Content Note
The Barton Family Papers primarily consists of materials pertaining to Elizabeth and Lillian Barton. These include personal correspondence, materials pertaining to the Bartons’ involvement in public life and education, and memorabilia. There is also material related to Winfield and Beechie Barton along with David Barton.
Dates
- Creation: 1885-1977
Creator
- Barton, Elizabeth B. (Person)
- Barton, Lillian (Person)
Conditions Governing Access
This manuscript collection consists of physical materials. This collection has not been digitized. This collection is open for research use only in the Reading Room. It is not available for request through Interlibrary Loan. Please contact the archive via email (archives@astate.edu) at least a week in advance of your arrival to ensure the availability of the material.
Biographical Note
David, Elizabeth, and Lillian Barton were three of six children born to Winfield Decatur Barton and Beechie Norvell. Married in 1888, Winfield and Beechie Barton were able to trace their family tree back to the elder David Barton, who served in the American Revolutionary War.
Lillian Barton was born in December of 1901. She excelled in school as a child and went on to earn a Licentiate Instructors degree from Arkansas State College in 1926. Shortly after, Lillian attended George Peabody College for Teachers in Nashville, TN and graduated in 1935. She taught in Jonesboro for several years before obtaining her master’s degree in 1951 from Washington University in St. Louis, Missouri. After receiving her master’s degree, she returned to Jonesboro where she taught at Arkansas State College training school and served as a Sunday school teacher at First Baptist Church. Lillian was also active in community groups such as the Daughters of the Revolution (DAR), the American Association of University Women (AAUW), the Delta Kappa Gamma Society, and after her retirement, the Retired Teachers Association. Lillian was the recipient of many awards and honors. She was named an outstanding Educator of America and the ASU Student National Education Association chapter chose to name their chapter after her. Lillian never married and died at the age of 78 in 1979.
Her older sister Elizabeth Barton, born in 1899, was also active in the Jonesboro community. Elizabeth graduated from the Baptist Woman’s Missionary Union Training School in 1926 and then continued her education at Arkansas State College where she earned a Licentiate Instructors degree in 1928. Similar to her sister, Elizabeth obtained her master’s degree in teaching from Washington University in 1953. Both Elizabeth and Lillian received their teaching licenses from Arkansas State College. She was honored in the 1970 edition of “Personalities of the South” as a distinguished community leader in Arkansas. Elizabeth never married and died at age 82 in 1981.
Their older brother, David Arthur Barton was born in 1891. He attended the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville where he was a part of the ROTC program. Upon graduating, he was commissioned as an officer in the Army in 1910.
Extent
5.375 Linear Feet (The collection consists of 41 folders in 2 document boxes. There are also 2 oversized boxes.)
Language of Materials
English
Abstract
Siblings Lillian and Elizabeth Barton were active community members and teachers in Jonesboro, Arkansas during the mid-20th century. Lillian in particular was instrumental in developing educational curricula and training teachers in Northeast Arkansas. The collection largely consists of community and school related material including the awards, degrees, and certificates given to the family.
Arrangement
The Barton Family Papers Collection is arranged in seven series:
Series 1: Personal Correspondence. The “Personal Correspondence” series contains letters and Christmas cards between family members and friends, primarily addressed to and from Lillian and Elizabeth Barton. There are several postcards between Lillian and Elizabeth, some of which are annotated.
Series 2: Legal & Financial. The “Legal & Financial” series contains Winfield and Beechie Barton's marriage license, various tax record, business records, and warranty deeds.
Series 3: Public Life. The “Public Life” series is comprised of certificates and letters of appreciation from various events or organizations where the Barton family was involved. There are also invitations to participate in community events, thank you notes, a daily planner with annotations, newspaper clippings related to the Bartons and their students, programs from events attended, Sunday school material, and membership materials for organizations, including Daughters of the Revolution.
Series 4: Visual Materials. The “Visual Materials” series holds a variety of material that is non-textual in nature. It is largely comprised of unmarked photographs, geological maps, blank postcards and souvenir photo series, original artwork (watercolors and sketches), advertisements, collectible poster series of Naval Uniforms, and military photographs.
Series 5: School Files. The “School Files” series contains degrees, awards, and certificates earned by Lillian, Elizabeth, and David Barton. This series documents their lives as students and as educators. Included are programs for commencements, teaching materials, school work, report cards, correspondence related to or from Arkansas State College/Arkansas State University, teaching licenses, a salary schedule, and a staff directory
Series 6: Juvenile Literature Class. The “Juvenile Literature Class” series contains material collected by Lillian Barton for use in her Juvenile Literature course at Arkansas State College. Included are photographs, biographies, literature analysis, essays, and letters regarding children’s books authors who were selected to be the focus of a class session.
Series 7: Artifacts. The “Artifacts” series is comprised of Oversized Boxes 4 and 5 that contain such materials as photographs, prints, paintings, certificates, diplomas, and miscellaneous memorabilia.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Materials in this collection were originally donated to the Arkansas State University Museum in 1979 and 1980 by Elizabeth Barton. These materials were later transferred to Archives & Special Collections.
Accruals
Further additions to this collection are not expected.
Processing Information
This collection was processed by Meredith Curtis, Jennifer Hardin, and Flora Smith.
Subject
- Arkansas State College (Organization)
- Arkansas State University (Organization)
- Barton, David (Person)
- Barton, Winfield D. (Person)
- Norvell, Beechie (Person)
Genre / Form
Geographic
Occupation
Topical
- Title
- Barton Family Papers
- Subtitle
- 1885-1977
- Author
- Meredith Curtis; Flora Smith, Editor
- Description rules
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Latin
Repository Details
Part of the Archives & Special Collections at A-State Repository