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By Jackie Couture
Collection Overview
Title: Morton Jett Papers, 1926-1975
Primary Creator: Jett, Morton (1895-1976)
Extent: 1.32 Cubic Feet
Arrangement: Receipts and other papers were found throughout the ledgers, and these materials were removed to folders at the beginning of the collection to prevent further damage to the papers. Receipts that were fastened into the ledger were left where they were fastened as they related to the accounts on that page.
Date Acquired: 07/23/2008
Subjects: Appalachian Region., Great Depression.
Languages: English
Scope and Contents of the Materials
These ledgers from the Morton Jett Grocery Store in Athol, Kentucky illustrate economic life in depression-era and early World War II era Appalachia. The entries itemize all purchases and payments made by each family. These records show not only the necessities that were purchased during the Great Depression, but also the barter system that was in place throughout the mid twentieth century in this small Breathitt County Community.
Biographical Note
Morton Jett was a store keeper in Athol, Kentucky (Breathitt County).
Subject/Index Terms
Administrative Information
Repository:
Eastern Kentucky University - Special Collections and Archives
Acquisition Source:
Gross, Janet
Acquisition Method:
gift
Box and Folder Listing
Browse by Box:
[Box 1],
[
Box 2],
[
Box 3],
[
All]
- Box 1
- Barcode: 31234014045130
- Folder 1: Correspondence, 1931-1975
- Letters written to Morton or Mary Jett relating to store business, the farm operation or family and friends.
- Folder 2: Insurance, 1963-1968
- Documents relating to auto, farm and home insurance policies.
- Folder 3: IOUs, 1935-1951
- Lose IOUs for goods purchased in the store or for cash that was borrowed from Mr. Jett.
- Folder 4: Miscellaneous
- Advertising materials, campaign cards, a photograph of an unidentified man, blank Morton Jett letterhead. Of particular interest is a small flyer titled "Food is a Weapon," apparently from World War II.
- Folder 5: Receipts, 1927-1964
- Various tax receipts, bank receipts, promissory notes, and other miscellaneous receipts. Also included is a small set of cancelled checks written for labor in 1930 and 1931.
- Folder 6: Ledger, 1926-1929
- Store Ledgers from the Jett Grocery
- Folder 7: Ledger, 1930-1931
- Store Ledgers from the Jett Grocery
- Folder 8: Ledger, 1927-1938
- Store Ledgers from the Jett Grocery
- Folder 9: Ledger, 1939-1941
- Store Ledgers from the Jett Grocery
