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Jere A. Sullivan Papers, 1874-1935

By Tasha Perkins

Collection Overview

Title: Jere A. Sullivan Papers, 1874-1935

Predominant Dates:1901

Creator: Sullivan, Jere A. (1862-1931)

Extent: 0.44 Cubic Feet

Date Acquired: 05/30/2017

Languages: English [eng]

Scope and Contents of the Materials

The Jere Sullivan Paper's cover a wide range of topics but focuses mainly on Sullivan's education efforts in Kentucky. The collection contains correspondence between Jere Sullivan and other political figures like Elliott Beard (Shelby County Attorney and Kentucky Legislator), Governor James B. McCreary, and Clarence Woods (Mayor of Richmond when Eastern was founded). In addition, there is correspondence between Mary Sullivan (Jere's sister) and Clarence Woods. The collection also includes legal documents that explain the creation of Eastern Kentucky State Teachers College. Those legal documents include information on Central University and Walters Collegiate Institute.

Biographical Note

Jere Andrew Sullivan was born to Patrick and Catherine (Brennan) Sullivan on January 6, 1862. He attended many private schools in Richmond, Kentucky and then began attending Central University in 1876. When he graduated in 1880, he did so with the highest honors of his class. Eventually, he was appointed deputy clerk of the Madison County Clerk. Afterward, he began studying law under Judge Thomas J. Scott. Sullivan began attending law school in September 1883 at the University of Virginia. He was nominated, and ran, for the county attorney position in Madison County not once, but twice; first in 1885 and again in 1890. However, at the end of his second term as county attorney, he declined another opportunity to become a candidate again in order to devote his time to private practice.

Sullivan did go on in 1907 to serve as the Madison County Representative in the Kentucky State Legislature. With such a position, he used it to better, not only public, but higher education. He wrote the bill, which was passed by the Kentucky legislature, which established Eastern and Western Kentucky State Teachers College. He also wrote the "county school administration law," which would require there to be at least one high school in each county of Kentucky. He was on the House Committee on Rules and was chairman of the Agricultural and Mechanical College and State Normal School. He served on the Board of Regents of Eastern Kentucky State Normal School Teacher's College from 1906-1930.

Throughout his life, Jere Sullivan did not marry and he had no children. Therefore, when he passed away on September 12, 1931, the only members of his family that survived him were his nieces and nephews and his two sisters: Mary Sullivan and Sister Mary Florentia, who was a member of the Sisters of Charity in Louisville and a teacher there.

Administrative Information

Acquisition Source: Black Swan Books

Box and Folder Listing

Box 1Add to your cart.
Barcode: 31234014140329
Folder 1: Central University, Unknown, 1901Add to your cart.
Documents including an agreement for consolidation, a list of graduates of Central University, an interview from Jere about Central University, an agreement for the consolidation of the Presbyterian Seminaries, correspondence about the consolidation  (6 items)
Folder 2: Early Eastern Kentucky State Normal School, Unknown, 1901-1920Add to your cart.
Correspondence about Eastern, legal documents, statements about school budget, bills about normal school budget, land surveyor map and land deeds for Central University and Walter Collegiate, Jere Sullivan's History of Eastern KY Normal School and Teachers College, other documents about budget concerns and surrounding schools (16)
Folder 3: Correspondence with Jere A. Sullivan, 1901-1935Add to your cart.View associated digital content.
Correspondence regarding the consolidation of Central University and Centre College, politics, Jere's health, religion and the Harry B. Hanger estate. Some letters are handwritten copies of correspondence Jere sent to Governor Sampson about Eastern and rural education. One letter is from Clarence Woods to Dr. J.T. Dorris. Woods was the mayor of Richmond when Eastern was established and in this letter he writes the founding of Eastern from his perspective. (9 items)
Folder 4: Correspondence with Elliott Beard, 1911Add to your cart.
Correspondence throughout 1911; including prohibition, Kentucky government, state primary 1911, "Railroad District," political parties, Catholics in politics, nomination of Governor McCreary  (30 items)
Folder 5: Correspondence with Governor McCreary, 1904-1915Add to your cart.
Correspondence regarding John Bowman's death sentence, political parties in KY, democratic party (5 items)
Folder 6: Correspondence with Clarence Woods, 1926-1934Add to your cart.
Correspondence about Eastern Campus Views, Lexington Herald (4 items)
Folder 7: Documents about Jere Sullivan, Unknown, 1906-1932Add to your cart.
Death Resolutions, newspaper clips about Jere Sullivan's death, family history, letter to the editor, other newspaper clippings (13 items)
Folder 8: Gillispie Memoranda, 1907Add to your cart.
An account of Wm. J. Gillispie death and estate (1 item)
Folder 9: Mary Sullivan Correspondence, Unknown, 1934Add to your cart.
Telegraph from the Sacred Heart of Jesus, Gregorian Masses document (2)
Folder 10: Mary Sullivan Correspondence with Clarence E. Woods, Unknown, 1926-1935Add to your cart.
Correspondence; check for 1,800 for shares, facts about Eastern KY and Normal School (13)
Folder 11: Photographs, 1874, 1927Add to your cart.
Photographs of Central University 1874, Administration Building 1927 (2)
Folder 12: Walters Collegiate Institute, Unknown, 1901-1921Add to your cart.
Legal documents, file copies, correspondence, agreement between Central University and Walters Collegiate, Memorandum Southern Presbyterian (7)