.
By Alisha Rhymer
Collection Overview
Title: Richards/McKinney Family Papers, ca. 1900-1997
Primary Creator: Mary Frances Richards (1900-1987)
Extent: 18.43 Cubic Feet
Date Acquired: 09/27/1989
Subjects: Eastern Kentucky University, Eastern Kentucky University--Alumni and alumnae., Eastern Kentucky University--Faculty and staff., Education--Kentucky., Family history., Great Depression., Kentucky--Genealogy., West (U.S.)--Description and travel., World War, 1939-1945., YMCA, YWCA
Abstract
The Richards/McKinney Family Papers contains correspondence, photographs, genaology, legan and financial documents, and documents related to EKU. The collection follows Mary Frances McKinney Richards (1900-1987) and Rollin Rhoten Richards aka "Dick" (1898 - 1997). Both Mary Frances and Dick were faculty at Eastern for the length of their careers, and remained involved in Alumni affairs until their deaths. Many items in the collection relate to Mary Frances.
Scope and Contents of the Materials
The Richards Family Papers contains correspondence, photographs, genaology, legal documents, financial documents, and documents related to EKU. The collection follows Mary Frances McKinney Richards and R.R. "Dick" Richards for the length of their careers at Eastern Kentucky University. Dick began teaching at Eastern in 1929, while Mary Frances began teaching in 1924. Records indicate that they both retired from teaching in the summer of 1966, but they remained deeply involved in Alumni affairs until their deaths. Mary Frances and Dick stayed in contact with many of their students throughout the years, which is displayed in the large correspondence selection. Additionally, the McKinneys rented out rooms in their home to local boys attending Eastern, and Mary Frances remained close with many of them for years after. Although Mary Frances and Dick never had children of their own, they treated many of these students as their own. The Richards Family enjoyed traveling the globe, taking many interesting and beautiful photos which are represented in the collection. This collection contains a host of genealogical materials from many Madison and Clark County families, which reflects the interest that Mary Frances had in researching her family history. Mary Frances maintained very organized genealogical records, complete with identification numbers and photos. In addition to those records, Mary Frances documented her own family history through written stories. Mary Frances and Dick were also members of the First United Methodist Church in Richmond, Kentucky, so there are many documents related to the church itself as well as the history of the church.
It is important to note that most of the documents in this collection are related to Mary Frances rather than Dick. Born in 1900 to Leatha Griggs McKinney and David B. McKinney, Mary Frances remained unmarried until her early fifties. Therefore, much of the collection highlights her life prior to her marriage to Dick. The collection contains Mary Frances' diaries, beginning as early as 1917, and a variety of early correspondence only addressed to Mary Frances. Additionally, Mary Frances was involved in multiple organizations which are reflected in the collection. For example, Mary Frances' work with the Danforth Foundation in student outreach is represented in this collection, as is her involvement with YWCA and Alumni Affairs. While working as the Alumni secretary, Mary Frances appears in correspondence as opinionated on Eastern's affairs, as well as intelligent in her knowledge of campus politics. From Mary Frances' perspective, this collection also depicts WWII and the impact that the war had on Eastern and its student population.
Finally, due to their life-long involvement with Eastern, this collection illustrates the Eastern experience from the perspective of the Richards Family. Their perspective offers not only experience as faculty, but students as well. Included in this collection are many pieces of ephemera and memorbilia from Mary Frances and Dick's time at Eastern. Additionally, the collection contains many photos of Eastern through the years, including early photos from their time as students and expanding through the many homecoming events at Eastern. The Richardses lived near campus, on Lancaster, and their home at Lancaster is represented in the collection through photos as well.
Collection Historical Note
Mary Frances McKinney was born in 1900 to Leatha Griggs McKinney and David B. McKinney in Richmond, KY, where she lived until her death in 1987. Rollin Rhoten Richards (R.R. Richards) aka "Dick" was born in 1898 in Russell County, KY, to William A. Richards and Lillie Richards. He died in 1997. Mary Frances and Dick were married in 1953. After Mary Frances' death, Dick remarried to Dorothy N. Fields in 1989. Mary Frances had two siblings, Ethel "Walker" McKinney Swofford and David H. McKinney who appear in the collection in correspondence and photographs. Mary Frances and Dick had no children.
Subject/Index Terms
Administrative Information
Repository:
Eastern Kentucky University - Special Collections and Archives
Acquisition Source:
Richards, Mary F.
Box and Folder Listing
Browse by Series:
[
Series 1: Correspondence],
[
Series 2: First United Methodist Church Series],
[Series 3: Genealogy Series],
[
Series 4: Newspaper Series],
[
Series 5: Photograph Series],
[
Series 6: Subject Series],
[
All]
- Series 3: Genealogy Series
- Box 21
- Folder 11: College Hill Methodist Churches, Undated
- College Hill Methodist Church history and College Hill Cemetery history
- Folder 12: College Hill Methodist Churches, Undated
- Cemetery and Post Office history, College Hill
- Folder 13: College Hill Methodist Churches, Undated
- Original stockholder documents, College Hill
- Folder 14: Genealogy, Undated
- Owen Family Genealogy. Includes booklets tracing the genealogy of the Owen Family
- Folder 15: Genealogy, Undated
- Continued Owen Family genealogy. Includes some supporting photos and documents, as well as the Owen family crest
- Folder 16: Genealogy, Undated
- Continued Owen Family genealogy. Includes marriage documents, wills, settlements, and family records.
- Folder 17: Genealogy, Undated
- Owen-Barber genealogy. Includes deeds and grave marker information, along with family records
- Box 22
- UnitID: 3 1234 01392391 5
- Folder 1: Genealogy, Undated
- Owen family genealogy, account by James Owen and Luella Owen.
- Folder 2: Genealogy, Undated
- Owen family genealogy, including family records .
- Folder 3: Genealogy, Undated
- Family records for the Owen Family
- Folder 4: Genealogy, Undated
- Family records for the Owen Family
- Folder 5: Genealogy, Undated
- Owen family history, land documents, and Owen-Barber correspondence
- Folder 6: Genealogy, Undated
- Includes Owen Family history, corrections to family records, and copies of documents
- Folder 7: Photos and Supporting Documents, Undated
- Mostly photos of land rights, deeds, and wills of the Owen family
- Folder 8: Photos and Supporting Documents, Undated
- Includes photos of grave markers, copies of documents, and photos of members of the Owen family
- Folder 9: Photos and Supporting Documents, Undated
- Contains photos of members of the Owen family
- Folder 10: Miscellaneous and Supporting Documents, Undated
- Miscellaneous documents regarding the Owen Family genealogy
- Folder 11: Richards-Genealogy Correspondence, Undated
- Correspondence between Robert Owen and Mary Frances regarding Owen family genealogy
- Box 23
- UnitID: 3 1234 01392392 3
- Folder 1: Genealogy, Undated
- Genealogy for the Phelps family. Includes wills, family records, and family history written by Mary Frances
- Folder 2: Genealogy, Undated
- Biography written by Mary Frances for a "good friend", Elizabeth Scott, R.N.
- Folder 3: Genealogy, Undated
- Genealogy and family history for Jonas Griggs and Family
- Folder 4: Genealogy, Undated
- Continued genealogy for Jonas Griggs and Family
- Folder 5: Genealogy, Undated
- Continued genealogy for Jonas Griggs and Family
- Folder 6: Genealogy, Undated
- Woodward family genealogy and Jeremiah Ayres diary with an added biography by his grandson, Wayne Woodward
- Folder 7: Genealogy, Undated
- Biography for Zerelda McKinney Berry, written by Mary Frances
- Folder 8: Genealogy, Undated
- Genealogy for the family of Molly (Polly) Bell Griggs. Includes family records, biographies, and some supporting photos
- Folder 9: Genealogy, Undated
- Barber family genealogy
- Folder 10: Genealogy, Undated
- William Thomas genealogy
- Folder 11: Genealogy, Undated
- Thomas Barber, copy of 1778 will
- Folder 12: Genealogy, Undated
- Biography for James C. Griggs, written by Mary Frances
- Folder 13: Genealogy, Undated
- Biography for William Taylor Griggs family, written by Mary Frances
- Folder 14: Genealogy, Undated
- Biography for Sarah Bird Griggs Rucker and Irvine Coleman Rucker, written by Mary Frances, with original notes and drafts
- Folder 15: Genealogy, Undated
- Biography for Tabitha 'Bith' Turner, written by Mary Frances
- Box 24
- UnitID: 3 1234 01392393 1
- Folder 1: Genealogy, Undated
- Hiram Douthitt Family, biography by Mary Frances
- Folder 2: Genealogy, 1970
- Biography of Lon Metcalfe, written by R.R. Richards, who was executor of Metcalfe's estate
- Folder 3: Genealogy, 1984
- Genealogy information on James Russell McKinney and family
- Folder 4: Genealogy, Undated
- Reprint of James McKinney's will, 1859
- Folder 5: Genealogy, 1944
- R.R. Richards will, 1944, at Fort Sumner
- Folder 6: Genealogy, Undated
- Genealogy information on the Black Family. Includes a map of the cemetery at College Hill
- Folder 7: Genealogy, Undated
- Genealogy - Judge A.T. Ayres
- Folder 8: Genealogy, Undated
- Anne Elizabeth Roysten and George W. Grinstead history. Includes family records, biographies written by Mary Frances, and genealogical information
- Folder 9: Family Records, Undated
- Alexander family records, compiled by Mary Frances
- Folder 10: Family Records, Undated
- Burrus family records, compiled by Mary Frances
- Folder 11: Family Records, Undated
- Griggs family records, compiled by Mary Frances
- Folder 12: Family Records, Undated
- Grinstead family records, compiled by Mary Frances
- Folder 13: Family Records, Undated
- Homan family records, compiled by Mary Frances
- Folder 14: Family Records, Undated
- Jones family records, compiled by Mary Frances
- Folder 15: Family Records, Undated
- Keeling family records, compiled by Mary Frances
- Folder 16: Family Records, Undated
- King family records, compiled by Mary Frances
- Folder 17: Family Records, Undated
- Owens family records, compiled by Mary Frances
- Folder 18: Family Records, Undated
- Risk family records, compiled by Mary Frances
- Folder 19: Family Records, Undated
- Tribble family records, compiled by Mary Frances
- Folder 20: Family Records, Undated
- White family records, compiled by Mary Frances
- Folder 21: Family Records, Undated
- Contains miscellaneous family records, compiled by Mary Frances
- Folder 22: Family Records, Undated
- Contains miscellaneous family records, compiled by Mary Frances
- Folder 23: Miscellaneous, Undated
- Contains miscellaneous genealogy items, including supporting photos which align to the family records compiled by Mary Frances
- Box 25
- UnitID: 3 1234 01392394 9
- Folder 1: Genealogy, Undated
- Contains genealogy for R.R. Richards
- Folder 2: McKinney Family History, Undated
- Mary Frances intended to create a family history for the McKinney family. Included here is the Introduction to that story, as well as Mary Frances' draft notes
- Folder 3: McKinney Family History, Undated
- McKinney family history: 1893-1906, titled "Part I: Years on a Farm"
- Folder 4: McKinney Family History, Undated
- McKinney family history: 1907-1914, titled "Part II: The First Seven Years in Richmond"
- Folder 5: McKinney Family History, Undated
- Part III of the McKinney family history, as written by Mary Frances
- Folder 6: McKinney Family History, Undated
- McKinney family history: 1917-1918
- Folder 7: McKinney Family History, Undated
- McKinney family history. Details D.B.McKinney's store, 1911-1933
- Folder 8: McKinney Family History, Undated
- Genealogy for the McKinney family, includes various family records and stories regarding the McKinney family
- Folder 9: McKinney Family History, Undated
- McKinney family stories, as written by Mary Frances
- Folder 10: McKinney Family History, Undated
- McKinney family stories, as written by Mary Frances
- Folder 11: Miscellaneous Scrap Data, Undated
- Contains various scrap data used by Mary Frances while compiling genealogical data
Browse by Series:
[
Series 1: Correspondence],
[
Series 2: First United Methodist Church Series],
[Series 3: Genealogy Series],
[
Series 4: Newspaper Series],
[
Series 5: Photograph Series],
[
Series 6: Subject Series],
[
All]
