By Jeff Zdanowicz, August, 1993
Title: Jones Family Papers, 1832-1999
ID: RG 30/107
Creator: Jones, Lynds (1865-1951)
Extent: 34.46 Linear Feet
Arrangement:
SERIES DESCRIPTIONS
Subgroup I. Lynds Jones Papers
Series 1. Diaries, 1883-1951 (1.4 linear feet)
Consisting of two filing units: personal diaries, 1883-1951; and travel diaries, 1898-1926. This series contains diaries kept by Lynds Jones before, during, and after his years at Oberlin College. Information in the personal diaries includes the day-to-day activities of Lynds Jones, as well as temperature and weather data he recorded for each day of the year. Travel diaries also exist from Lynds and Clara Jones in which is recorded their travels between 1898 and 1926--primarily to the western United States.
Series 2. Correspondence, 1896-1954 (0.2 linear feet)
The Correspondence series contains Lynds Jones' contributions to the Jones Family Circular, as well as his general correspondence from family members, ornithologists, and members of the Oberlin College administration and faculty. Begun by his mother Lavinia Jones (d. ?) in the 1880s, the Jones Family Circular is a series of letters written by Lynds Jones and other family members that was annually circulated within the family. The family members mostly wrote the highlights of the year and commented on the activities of other family members. Also included here is the general correspondence of Lynds Jones covering seven decades. The correspondence is largely from his wife Clara, but also includes letters from his son George and his brothers Burton Jones (d. ?), as well as other family members. Of particular interest is Henry Churchill King's correspondence with Lynds Jones regarding Jones' reappointment as Associate Professor of Animal Ecology in 1908.
Series 3. Biographical Files and Genealogy, 1849-1956, 1968, 1977, 1986, n.d. (0.8 linear feet)
The biographical files includes biographical sketches and articles on Lynds Jones, various writings on ornithology authored by Jones, bird migration records, work records, material on Jones' retirement from Oberlin College in 1930, material on his Draft Board service during World War II, and material concerning the various memberships and honors that were bestowed upon Jones during his career. Family trees of the Jones and Tallmon families are also contained within the series
Series 4. Grade Books, 1895-1930 (0.2 linear feet) (Restricted)
This series contains the grade books of Lynds Jones from his Ecology I (1920-1929) and Ornithology 2 (1929-1930) classes. (Added to collection April 1995.)
Series 5. Wider Jones-Tallmon Family Correspondence, 1832-1956 (0.6 linear feet)
Arranged into four filing units (letters received and sent by Clara Tallmon Jones, 1873-1956, n.d.; letters received and sent by Jones family members, 1875-1926, n.d.; letters received and sent by Tallmon family members, 1854-1924, n.d.; and, miscellaneous, 1832-1835), this series contains correspondence from members of the Jones-Tallmon families. The bulk of the series consists of the incoming and outgoing correspondence of Clara Tallmon Jones. Correspondents include her husband Lynds Jones, mother Susan Tallmon, and her siblings Margaret, Susie, and Edith. Other significant documents are the letters received by Susan Tallmon. Included here are letters from husband George W. Tallmon, who served in the Union Army in Vicksburg, Mississippi, between 1862 and 1863. (Included are Confederate stamps and a bullet casing.) Arranged alphabetically and thereunder chronologically.
Series 6. Additional Correspondence, 1880-1954 (1.8 l.f.)
This correspondence was added to the collection as part of an additional installment to the Jones Family Papers. The series contains both personal and professional correspondence of Lynds and Clara Jones, as well as correspondence with colleagues concerning the Wilson Ornithological Club. It includes correspondence with Althea Sherman, an Oberlin graduate and ornithologist who was the first to observe and document the life cycle of chimney swifts.
Series 7. Financial and Property Records (Sample), 1892, 1901, 1905, 1919, 1923-1954, n.d. (0.2 l.f.)
Contains financial and property records for Lynds Jones and family. Also includes the will of Lynds Jones, dated 1951-52.
Series 8. Writings and Notes, 1886-1930, 1944, 1947, 1959, n.d. (1.4 l.f.)
The writings and notes series primarily relates to Lynds Jones’ professional ornithological work as it mostly contains research materials (data sheets and field studies), and articles (drafts and published copies) of the professor’s. Also found here are the personal writings and public speeches of Clara Tallmon Jones, as well as a small amount of miscellaneous writings of others.
Series 9. Artifacts, c. 1890-1920 (0.2 l.f.)
The artifacts series holds bird feather specimens collected by Lynds Jones.
Subgroup II. George Jones
Series 1. Biographical and Family History, 1983, 1986 (2.0 linear feet)
Contains the chronicles of two members of the Jones Family that were written by George Jones. The first chronicle is entitled, "The Chronicle of Lynds Jones of Oberlin College". Written in 1983, this chronicle contains very detailed information on the life of Lynds Jones during his years in Oberlin. Background information is also provided regarding his childhood and young adult life in Grinnell, Iowa. One folder of black and white photographs of Lynds Jones and his family are also included with the chronicle. The second chronicle, "Reminiscences of Marcus Eugene Jones," written in 1986, provides a brief synopsis of the life of Marc Jones, the elder brother of Lynds Jones. Other materials relating to George Jones found here include his correspondence with Professors Cowles and Kraus from the University of Chicago, as well as miscellaneous documents concerning Mr. Jones’ education and marriage to Mary Burwell Jones. Biographical files of Mary Burwell Jones are also stored in this series; the materials include a birth certicate and teaching contracts, as well as various Burwell family histories. Several documents of a similar nature also exist here for Frances Burwell Jones.
Series 2. Autobiography, 1970-1991 (2.2 linear feet)
Written in several stages, the "Autobiography of George Tallmon Jones", documents the day-to-day activities of George Jones from his early childhood, up to the time of his last written draft which was in 1991. The autobiography provides information on the family of George Jones and their life experiences in the town of Oberlin. One folder of photographs of George Jones as a young man is also included in this series.
Series 3. Correspondence, 1835-1979, n.d. (0.8 linear feet)
This series is divided into three subseries: 1. Family Correspondence, 2. Former Student Correspondence, and 3. General Correspondence. The first subseries of the represents George Jones' contributions to the Jones Family Circular. His contributions to the Jones Family Circular cover the years 1929-1947 and are arranged chronologically. The second subseries is made up of correspondence between the botanist and his former students. Arranged alphabetically by the former student's last name, the correspondence also contains photographs of several former students and their families. The third subseries consists of letters and memos written to George Jones from friends and associates in the field of Botany as well as from individuals affiliated with Oberlin College. It is also arranged alphabetically by the individual's last name.
Series 4. Writings and Notes of George T. Jones, 1900-1908, 1922-1985, n.d. (2.8 linear feet)
This series contains published and unpublished material written by George Jones during his years as both a student and teacher of botany. Included in the series are Jones' master's thesis, "A Discussion of the Geographical Ecology of Western United States", and his 1935 doctoral thesis, "Dormancy and Leafing in White Elm (Ulmus Americana)". Also included are lecture notes from the various botany classes that Jones taught at Oberlin College. Topics of the lecture notes include dendrology, plant ecology and plant taxonomy. Lastly, this series also consists of essays authored by Jones that relate to various aspects of the history of Oberlin and Oberlin College. These essays cover topics such as: the history of science at Oberlin College, the history of transportation and utilities in Oberlin, and the history of the trees of Oberlin's Tappan Square.
Series 5. Additional Correspondence Received, 1908-1995 (10.6 linear feet)
This correspondence was added to the collection in two installments – one in 2002 and the other in 2003. The series holds letters sent and received by George T. Jones, Mary B. Jones, Frances Jones Whitaker, and Margaret Jones Doyle, spanning the years 1908-1995 and cover both personal and professional matters. The last box in the collection holds correspondence and miscellaneous mementos regarding Lynds Arthur Jones, George and Mary Jones’ son who died a the age of 18 in 1950.
Series 6. Diaries of George T. Jones, 1928-1996 (2.0 linear feet)
Sixty-eight volumes of George T. Jones’ personal diaries are housed in this series, covering covering most the of botanist’s lifetime in the years 1928-1996, with the exception of 1932.
Series 7. Files Relating to the Ecology Trips, 1898-1973 (2.66 linear feet)
The Summer Ecology Trips material consists of detailed written accounts of the trips, (1915, 1919-1926, 1928) in which George Jones participated with his father, Lynds Jones. The information provided in these written accounts was taken from diaries, letters and the strong personal recollections of George Jones himself. Photographs of these trips are also included in each of the individual written accounts. Also included are the planning papers, related correspondence, and notebooks of Mary Burwell Jones’ notebooks. Notecards with attached photographs document field work by student Eleanor Johnson during an Ecology Trip in 1926. A set of 36 photographs by George Jones, previously in frames with notations on the backs, cover several Ecology Trips in the summers of 1921-26.
Series 8. Financial and Property Records (Sample), 1924, 1932-84, 1988, 1991-94, 1999 (0.6 linear feet)
The financial and property records series houses various bills, real estate documents, paycheck stubs, savings account information, insurance, and last wills and testaments of George T. Jones and his family.
Series 9. Materials Relating to Mary B. Jones, 1923, 1926-1990 (1.2 linear feet)
This series consists of several collections of writings by Mary Burwell Jones, as well as a couple of baby books for her two sons Frances Burwell and Lynds Arthur Jones.
Series 10. Photographs, ca. 1840s-60s, 1919-1991, n.d. (1.4 linear feet)
The photographic series is made up of family photographs and includes visual documentation of Jones, Tallmon, Burwell, Simpkins, Jewett, and Gillet family members and events. The cased images (daguerreotypes, ambrotypes, tintypes) are in small boxes. Photographs are held in envelopes as well as photo albums (8 vols).
Series 11. Awards and Certificates, 1922, 1980, 1982 (0.2 linear feet)
This series contains three awards/certificates presented to George T. Jones throughout his lifetime; a certificate of affiliated membership to the First Congregational Church in 1922, an alumni award from 1980, and a community service award from 1982.
Series 12. Artifacts, 1935 (0.2 linear feet)
The lone item house in the George Jones artifacts series is a Ph.D. hood from Universty of Chicago, 1935.
Subgroup III. Other Family Members
Series 1. Publius Jones Diary, 1865 (0.02 linear feet)
The diary of Publius Jones contains entries on the birth of Publius Jones' son Lynds Jones and on the family's move to Grinnell, Iowa in the Spring of 1865.
Series 2. Shurtleff/Burton Correspondence, 1835-1944 (0.02 linear feet)
Consists of letters written to various members of the Shurtleff and Burton families. Includes one letter that is addressed to Lavinia Burton Howard from her mother concerning the death of Lavinia's first husband.
Series 3. Missionary Letters, 1839-1844 (0.08 linear feet)
Consists of letters written by young missionaries to India. The majority of these letters were written by a young missionary named Mary Burgess to her parents who lived in Millbrook, Connecticut. Mary Burgess died of Cholera in 1842, and her husband Edwin died two years later. These letters were given to Mary Burton Shurtleff after their deaths. Mary Burgess is thought by some members of the Jones Family to be the aunt of Mary Shurtleff.
Series 4. Scrapbook of Mary Burton Shurtleff (copy), 1888-1922 (0.08 linear feet)
Series consists of photocopied news clippings, articles, and obituary notices,largely taken from the UOberlin on various members of the Shurtleff, Burton, and Jones families, which were kept by Mary Burton Shurtleff as a scrapbook. Also included are news clippings on Oberlin College.
Series 5. Harold C. Jones, 1880-1913, 1956, 1966, 1976-77, n.d. (0.04 linear feet)
Contains biographical materials, family photographs, films, and correspondence of Harold C. Jones, brother of George Tallmon Jones. A scrapbook (1880-1913) of clippings, stories, and illustrations made from a Congressional Record book is also housed here.
Series 6. Shurtleff and Burton Families (Additional materials received), 1853-1863, 1880-1891, 1901, 1923, n.d. (0.04 linear feet)
The series consists of Shurtleff and Burton family mementos. The items include an autobiography and diary of Mary Burton, as well as the correspondence of several family members. Please consult the inventory for a listing of family member correspondence.
Date Acquired: 09/14/1977
The papers of the Jones family document the lives and teaching careers of Lynds Jones and his son George Jones. The papers also document the history of the Jones Family prior to the birth of Lynds Jones, as well as shed light on the history of Oberlin College and the community of Oberlin during the teaching careers of both Lynds and George Jones. The papers are organized into three subgroups: I. Lynds Jones Papers; II. George Jones Papers; and III. Other Family Members. Subgroups I and II both contain papers relating to members of the Jones and Tallmon families, including Clara Tallmon Jones, Mary Burton Shurtleff, and Susan Carhart Tallmon.
Subgroup I contains material relating mainly to the life and career of Oberlin College professor and ornithologist Lynds Jones, but also includes some records relating to his wife Clara and the Tallmon-Jones family. Included in Subgroup I are diaries written by Lynds Jones. The diaries document the daily life of Lynds Jones for almost 70 years, as well as his travels to the East and West Coasts of the U.S. in the early 20th century. The collection also contains numerous letters received by Lynds Jones from family members, friends, and associates. The correspondence, most of which is from his family, reports on the Jones’ day-to-day activities in Oberlin, Ohio. These letters provide details of Lynds' and Clara's relationship. Other correspondents include his colleagues at Oberlin College; such as president Henry Churchill King; professor G. Frederick Wright; college secretary George M. Jones (d. 1948); and Althea Sherman, Oberlin graduate and ornithologist (1853-1943). Other significant files include a substantial amount of correspondence of the Tallmon-Jones families. The bulk of the letters, which were written to Clara Tallmon Jones before 1920, share details of home life in Grinnell, Iowa, and the Tallmon family, as well as Clara’s marriage to Lynds Jones.
Subgroup II contains a detailed autobiographical account of the life and career of botanist George Jones. It also contains the written chronicles of Lynds Jones, the father of George Jones, and Marcus Jones, the uncle of George Jones. Other types of material in this subgroup include: letters written to George Jones by family members, former students, and various individuals in the field of botany, the major writings of George Jones when he was both a student and a teacher, and materials relating to Jones' work and involvement in the Oberlin College Herbarium, and the summer ecology trips of the 1920s.
Subgroup III consists of material relating to other members and distant relatives of the Jones Family. These individuals include Publius and Lavinia Jones, the parents of Lynds Jones, Mary Burton Shurtleff, the aunt of Lynds Jones, and William Burton, the father of Mary Burton Shurtleff. Materials in this subgroup include correspondence from the Burton and Shurtleff families that date back to the 1830's, an 1865 diary of Publius Jones, a copy of the Mary Burton Shurtleff scrapbook, and missionary letters from India which also date back to the 1830s.
Accruals: Accession Nos: 1977/22, 1991/28, 1996/021, 1996/051, 2001/018, 2002/051, 2002/068, 2003/011, 2003/074, 2004/090, 2005/020, 2006/078, 2008/010, 2013/007, 2013/008
Access Restrictions: Subgroup I. Lynds Jones Papers, Series 4. Grade Books, Restricted
Acquisition Method: The papers of the Jones Family were received by Oberlin College in a series of installments. The first installment, accessioned in 1977, came from George T. Jones. Between 1978-1991, there were a number of additional installments in which none of the material was formally accessioned. The last two installments from George T. Jones were received in 1995. An additional eleven installments were received from Margaret Doyle and others from 1996-2008. The Biology Department transferred a set of 36 photographs by George Jones in 2013.
Related Materials: Additional material regarding the Jones Family may be found in the following institutional collections: Former Faculty and Staff (28), Paper of the Presidents, Henry Churchill King (2/6), Ernest Hatch Wilkins (2/7), William E. Stevenson (2/8), and Robert K. Carr (2/9), the Dean of Arts and Sciences, Botany Department (9/15), and Presidential Assistant, Thomas E. Harris (3/4). The personal papers of Giles Waldo and Mary Burton Shurtleff (30/32) include material relating to members of the Jones family. Records in these groups primarily pertain to either Lynds Jones, George Jones, or to both individuals.
Processing Information: Processed by Jeff Zdanowicz, August, 1993. Revised by Thomas Steman September 1997, assisted by student Tara Ikenouye; revised April 2008 by Benjamin Bor; revised February 2013 by Anne Cuyler Salsich; December 2016 by Robert Bartels; October 2019 by Anne Cuyler Salsich.
Other URL: http://www.oberlin.edu/archive/archon_pdfs/Jones_Family_Inventory.pdf
"Rev. William Burton," by Mary Shurtleff
Accounts of Dr. Susan B. Tallmon Sargent's time in Lintsingchow, China
Copies of lettters written between 1844-1862
Jones Family Tree
"Reminiscences of Marcus Eugene Jones," by George Tallmon Jones
1950, 1958
Boxes 27-29 were part of accession 2003/074.
Family friends, relatives, pets.
1912, 1955, 1956