“We the undersigned citizens of Lamar County would most respectfully protest the removal of the Court House from the Public Square, or the Square being appropriated for any other purpose, than that for which it was originally intended, And think if the Court House and Enclosure, is repaired, which can be done at a small expense, and kept in good condition would meet the required wants…]]> 2008-11-17T17:52:36-06:00 http://www.aikinarchives.org/index.php/harvill/entries/names/ I’m back after an extensive bout of eye surgery—and glad it’s behind me. I apologize for a lengthy hiatus in the journal.

The 2008 PJC homecoming has come and gone. This season of the year usually brings Bat reporters to the archives to research the naming of the PJC newspaper, which is clearly stated in our fiftieth anniversary history book, page 8, copies of which are still available. Believe me, this book contains everything you ever wanted to know about Paris Junior College—and then some. Working on the “book committee” will remain one of my most enduring memories of my…]]> 2008-11-12T20:42:43-06:00 http://www.aikinarchives.org/index.php/harvill/entries/home-front-carmel-vila/ Thanks to Carmel Vila, of Jefferson, La., for this unique description of the wartime dinners that her mother served to servicemen far from home. Paris is now anticipating the many soldiers who will be training at Camp Maxey, but let’s hope that the men and women don’t have to suffer politely such meals from well-intentioned “cooks” (about like me).

Generally there were at least five of them, and my mother would begin dinner with a glass of unsweetened grapefruit juice, served in small jam glasses. She always put a sprig of mint on each glass, trying to make it…]]> 2008-07-16T19:58:50-06:00 http://www.aikinarchives.org/index.php/harvill/entries/home-front-joan-novak/ Joan Novak writes from Baxter, Minn., that she was only 10 years old when the war began. Her mother will be 100 in December. However, Joan remembers much about those years.

“I do think the economy is going to have a severe setback some time in the future. It will not be as bad as the depression, but the younger set will be devastated. They are not used to going without. Too much easy credit is out there floating around to cover their every whim. I think it will be a good thing if it does not last too long.…]]> 2008-07-14T15:59:36-06:00 http://www.aikinarchives.org/index.php/harvill/entries/montague-county/ Here’s an interesting website to investigate: http://www.totty-families.org/diary/jun1876.html.

The great-great-great-granddaughter of Capt. F.M. (Frank) and Rhoda Totty has transcribed numerous years of the diaries that Rhoda kept from 1876-1881, and she has put them online. I am their great-great-granddaughter. John Harvill was their son-in-law, married to Anna, one of their several daughters. My Harvill heritage is long and rather colorful, and its roots are in Montague County, Texas. I return to this scenic county once or twice a year, and each time that I do, I feel it calling to me.

I spent much of my childhood on a big…]]> 2008-07-07T18:37:00-06:00 http://www.aikinarchives.org/index.php/harvill/entries/home-front-letters-lottie-thompson/ I had an interesting letter from Lottie Thompson of Lewistown, Penn. Lottie remembers the ’40s quite well, but she wasn’t writing about the ’40s this time.

She was just telling her news and what she does in her routine, and something she said really caught my attention. I thought to myself: we’re on the way back to how it was in the ‘40s. Give a listen to this.

“... I’m making plans to move up around there to be closer to my girls. They tell me I will be sorry, but I still think I need to be near…]]> 2008-07-02T20:45:00-06:00 http://www.aikinarchives.org/index.php/harvill/entries/pjc-housing-in-1946/ How far we’ve come at Paris Junior College.

On Jan. 7, 1946, The Paris News printed this headline: “Housing Seen for PJC Vet Students.“ Married veteran students were soon to be occupying three-room pre-fabricated houses on campus. Dr. J.R. McLemore, president of the college, had applied through the Federal Housing Authority at Fort Worth for 12 houses for the coming term and a total of 24 for next fall.

Married students were then occupying two trailer houses and one apartment. Unmarrieds would find plenty of room in the dormitories, he said, and the existing cafeteria could take care of “unlimited…]]> 2008-06-13T15:05:00-06:00 http://www.aikinarchives.org/index.php/harvill/entries/home-front-shirley-larosa/ Shirley writes, from Pahrump, Nev.:

It seems in the old days before the big grocery chains and supermarkets, a lot of food was sold individually. For example, there was a store that sold nothing but fresh fish. Outside this fish store, there was a man who, all day long, ground horseradish (on a grinder) to order. You bought the horseradish from him separately and got it fresh. I believe it was put in a paper container.

Then there was a shop that only sold chickens. The fowls were slaughtered and hung up on hooks until all of the blood drained…]]> 2008-06-11T14:57:00-06:00 http://www.aikinarchives.org/index.php/harvill/entries/world-war-two-archives-exhibit/ When you’re in the Sudent Center at Paris Junior College, check out the Archives exhibit by the north doors into the ballroom. Derald Bulls, our new director of institutional advancement and alumnae affairs, has given the archives 48 World War II photos, which soldiers who had rented rooms from his mother and father, Jo and Derald Bulls, left behind during the war.

Bulls told the story of the photos:

Mom and Dad moved to Paris from Commerce in 1943,“ Bulls said. “Dad went to work with Ayres Department Store (north plaza), and Mom secured employment at Camp Maxey working for…]]> 2008-06-10T16:02:00-06:00 http://www.aikinarchives.org/index.php/harvill/entries/home-front-letters-merrybell-seeber1/ Merrybell has taken a break from making 28 jars of corn cob jelly for church bake sales and gift baskets to write the following:

I grew up on a small farm, and our school and church was two miles from home. The church would hold box socials and bake sales; also, they were noted for their Roast Duck Suppers. This church had no indoor plumbing or water. The ladies had to carry all the water from across the road for everything; also, the people had to use the outdoor 2 holer, also across the road. When my mother passed away…]]> 2008-06-05T19:10:00-06:00 http://www.aikinarchives.org/index.php/harvill/entries/home-front-letters-merrybell-seeber/ Thanks to Merrybell Seeber, from Delavan Wis., for this little solution to the high-priced ingredients of desserts today.

War-Time Cake (Eggless, Milkless, Butterless)

Mix in a saucepan:

1 cup of brown sugar
1 3/4 cups of water
1/3 cup of lard or other shortening
2 cups of seeded raisins
1/2 teaspoon of nutmeg
2 teaspoons of cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon of cloves

Boil for 8 minutes and cool. Add 1 teaspoon of salt and 1 teaspoon of soda, dissolved in 2 teaspoons of water. Blend in 2 cups of sifted flour, mixed with 1…]]> 2008-06-02T16:36:00-06:00 http://www.aikinarchives.org/index.php/harvill/entries/home-front-letters-shirley-la-rosa/ Mrs. Shirley La Rosa, of Pahrump, Nev., writes of church life on the home front during World War II. She says the first thing that came to mind about church activities was bingo.

“They had picnic tables set up outside on warm summer nights for the adults to sit around and play. We used to say bingo, the old corn game, because unlike today, where ink daubers are used to cover your numbers when called, in those days they used hard kernels of corn.“

(I’ve played bingo with kernels of corn before. I guess bingo popularity never fails. Fans play…]]> 2008-05-30T13:25:01-06:00 http://www.aikinarchives.org/index.php/chaney/entries/song-lyrics-and-life/ Not being a very musical person, I have always been intrigued by lyrics, the “words,” which makeup what I might refer to as the narrative nature of songs, rather than the rhythms.  Zelda Fitzgerald contended, as gleaned from reading a major biography of her, that she “wanted to live her life based on the lyrics of popular songs.”  How intriguing to contemplate what might be considered a rather modern perspective, so typically associated with youth. Of course, to an old foggy like me, maybe I am wrong to assume that young people even listen to the lyrics today, and only…]]> 2008-05-06T13:15:01-06:00 http://www.aikinarchives.org/index.php/harvill/entries/preservation/ I found an interesting chart in the June 2008 issue of Family Chronicle about the life expectancies of paper, which is a question I’m often asked by people interested in preservation. According to the author, Gregory Peduto, newsprint/ground wood will last 20-30 years, but has a potential of lasting 50-100 years with proper care.

In contrast, rag paper can last 500 years with a potential of lasting over 1,000 years Archival paper (ISO 11108) will last 100 years with a potential of 500 to over 1,000 years, which is awesome, isn’t it?

Interested in collecting photographs? Color prints will last…]]> 2008-05-01T19:06:00-06:00 http://www.aikinarchives.org/index.php/chaney/entries/pjc-hispanic-club/ The newly created, or resurrected, Hispanic Club at PJC has been a focus of lively interest and activity this college year.  Susan Sanchez and Daisy Harvill have been joined by other advisers, particularly including Kelli Ebel, newly hired Spanish language instructor.  I have made an effort to attend as many regular meetings as feasible and found a wide variety of program topics.  I am sure Mrs. Helen Williams would laud all that has gone on to promote awareness and understanding of other cultures.  Mrs. Williams happens to be in my thoughts since she carried the torch for languages back when…]]> 2008-04-21T17:18:01-06:00 http://www.aikinarchives.org/index.php/harvill/entries/armistice/ I read an interesting article by Maude Neville — daughter of A.W. Neville, Lamar County’s late distinguished historian, both of whom worked for The Paris News — dated Jan. 28, 1973. The series of articles by various journalists recounted the end of wars which they recalled, and Maude wrote about what happened in Paris, Texas, when World War I finally ended. I was struck by the finality of it. Will we live to see the “end” of any other war in our lifetime? Sometimes, I wonder.

She said the telephone call came at 1 o’clock on Monday morning, Nov. 11,…]]> 2008-04-21T18:10:00-06:00 http://www.aikinarchives.org/index.php/harvill/entries/1946-memories/ Going through a collection recently, I came across an interesting pamphlet entitled “Remember When: 1946 Memories.“ Of course, I stopped working and started reading. Well, here are some facts that I certainly didn’t know:

Our life expectancy was only 62.9 years. The President of the United States was Harry Truman, and there was no vice president of the United States. There was no Pulitzer Prize winner that year.

A new house could be purchased for only $5,600, and the average annual income was $2,500. A new car cost $1,125, and if you bought a car and then couldn’t afford a…]]> 2008-04-10T20:55:00-06:00 http://www.aikinarchives.org/index.php/harvill/entries/home-front-letters-john-w-kautz/ From John W. Kautz of Blue Grass, Iowa, we learn the following:

My father made two statements that I remember to this day. (1) when my two older sisters began dating, he would remind them as they departed on a Saturday evening, “If you can force yourself to stay out past midnight, then you can force yourself to get up for church in the morning,“ and (2) when I entered school, he said, “Remember that the teacher takes my place.“ Mom’s favorite was, “In budgeting your father’s paycheck, I never take from one envelope to balance out another at the…]]> 2008-04-09T19:13:00-06:00 http://www.aikinarchives.org/index.php/chaney/entries/creative-awards-at-pjc/ The 32nd annual Creative Awards will be held in the J. R. McLemore Student Center Ballroom, 9 April 2008, at 2:30pm.  Something to be proud of in an era when reading and writing, and being creative in the ARTS, tend to be a lesser priority for most people.  This project was the inception of Dr. Tony Clark when he was at PJC back in the 70s.  We are truly indebted to the likes of Dr. Clark for his own creativity, having been a published poet—one particular volume entitled “Fate - One Mile.“  A literary club of sorts, of which Dr.…]]> 2008-04-08T12:32:01-06:00 http://www.aikinarchives.org/index.php/chaney/entries/roy-bedichek-and-the-university-interscholastic-league/ With the recent UIL events being held here on the Paris Junior College campus, it brought to mind comments made by William A. Owens regarding his good friend Roy Bedichek. In the annals of Texas lore, Roy Bedichek is known as a philosophical figure. My exposure to Bedichek came primarily from what Dr. Owens related to me, and the rather interesting circumstance of my being acquainted with Bedichek’s's daughter, Mary Carroll, who lived here in Paris for a short while. His is a name lost to most if not for such informative relationships. In my mind I will always link…]]> 2008-04-02T14:19:01-06:00 http://www.aikinarchives.org/index.php/harvill/entries/home-front-letters-r-l-simons/ With the writers’ written permission, I will be sharing some of their vivid memories of the past, especially of the 1940s. I have begun a collection in Aikin Regional Archives of the written memories of people who lived through the turbulent years of World War II, including memories of America’s Home Front, and many of them have given me permission to excerpt their wonderful letters for the readers of this Web site.

The letters, pictures, and other papers which they have sent me become a permanent part of this collection in Aikin Regional Archives. Since I cannot possibly answer and…]]> 2008-03-24T21:02:00-06:00 http://www.aikinarchives.org/index.php/harvill/entries/pete-humphries/ On November 12, 1942, according to the Pete Humphries Co. ad (“The People’s Friend: Not Too Big for Little Business, Not Too Little for Big Business”) in The Paris News, Gold Medal flour went for 6 pounds for 35 cents, or 12 pounds for 65 cents. Sugar came in cloth bags at 5 pounds for 35 cents, or 10 pounds for 65 cents. Spuds, on the other hand (Idaho Russets) were 10 pounds for 47 cents. Read it and weep. Fresh, “krisp” Post Toasties were two 14-ounce boxes for 19 cents. (How much is cereal today?)

Let’s proceed to fresh…]]> 2008-03-13T15:42:00-06:00 http://www.aikinarchives.org/index.php/harvill/entries/359th-infantry-texas-brigade-1918/ A unique item being catalogued for Aikin Regional Archives is “A Short History and Photographic Record of the 359th Infantry Texas Brigade, Lt. Col. W.A. Cavenaugh commanding, 1918.“ It is illustrated with pictures of the members of the 359th. I’ve included a list of the counties making up the various companies whose members are pictured:

Co. A: Collins and Grayson
Co. B: Cooke, Denton, Parker, and Wise
Co. C: Johnson and Tarrant
Co. D: Ellis, Navarro, and Hill
Co. E: Delta, Fannin, and Lamar
Co. F: Dallas
Co. G: Anderson, Henderson, and Kaufman
…]]> 2008-03-12T22:04:00-06:00 http://www.aikinarchives.org/index.php/harvill/entries/quilts-and-los-cuatro-gatos/ Aikin Archives is interested in collecting traditional handmade quilts and quilt tops, especially with a local or regional connection, for preservation as well as display purposes on the PJC campuses. These historic handmade items are original folk art, and we want to preserve them for posterity.

If you would like to donate quilts or quilt tops to Aikin Archives, contact Daisy Harvill, Archivist, at either 903-782-0411 or dharvill@parisjc.edu. You may also contact the following interested parties at PJC: Dwight Chaney, Diann Mason, or Rita Tapp.

Diann and Rita have recently completed a colorful quilted wall hanging, “Los Cuatro Gatos”…]]> 2008-02-29T17:08:00-06:00 http://www.aikinarchives.org/index.php/harvill/entries/world-war-two-project/ Aikin Regional Archives invites letters or e-mails with first-hand accounts of life in Paris, Lamar County or this region of Texas in the earlier years of our century, especially the 1940s.

Who remembers the home-front in your hometown and the joys and sorrows, the challenges and the hidden rewards of those days? Share them with our readers. Your letters and e-mails will become a permanent part of a special Aikin Archives Collection dedicated to preserving those fast-disappearing memories.

We cannot collect too many of them, as “the greatest generation” is rapidly leaving us. What is a better project in which…]]> 2008-02-28T21:54:00-06:00