Roleson Family Papers
Scope and Contents
The Roleson Family Papers Collection are arranged in 5 series and 16 folders: Ephemera (2 subseries),Family Records(3 subseries), News Clippings (5 subseries), Personal Correspondence (3 subseries), and YMCA (3 subseries).
Dates
- 1918 - 1943
- 1797 - 1992
Creator
- Roleson, James B., (James Brookfield) (Creator, Person)
Conditions Governing Access
This manuscript collection consists of physical materials. This collection has not been digitized. This collection is open for research use only in the Reading Room. It is not available for request through Interlibrary Loan. Please contact the archive via email (archives@astate.edu) at least a week in advance of your arrival to ensure the availability of the material.
Biographical
Erwin B. Roleson and his wife, Mary Laura (Brookfield) Roleson, moved to northeast Arkansas in 1886, becoming one of the first families to settle in the Craighead County area. The Rolesons had three sons – James Brookfield (J.B) Roleson, Charles Fletcher Roleson, and Edward Britton (E.B.) Roleson. J.B. Roleson enlisted as part of the Young Men’s Christian Army in 1917 and served overseas in World War I. While working at Camp Pike he formed friendships with the Crowley and Caraway families. Following the war, he became a lawyer and had four children with his wife Totsie Anna Somervell. Their children were Dorothy Roleson, Franklin Nathan Roleson, James S. Roleson, and Anna Roleson. J.B. Roleson remained an active member of the YMCA and his local church. E.B. Roleson worked as a druggist in Jonesboro and married Allie Yates in 1909. They had five children - Edmund B. Roleson, Margarate Roleson, Evelyn Roleson Mabrey, Richard Roleson, and Ruth Caroline Roleson. His mother, Mary, lived with him until her death in 1940.
Extent
0.4 Linear Feet (This collection is comprised of 16 folders in 1 document box. )
Language
English
Abstract
The Roleson Family was among the early settlers of the Jonesboro area and rose to prominence in the first half of the 20th century. Several members of the family fought in World War I and went on to practice law in Arkansas. The collection consists of personal correspondence between family members and friends, news clippings, material from both World Wars, and a large collection of handwritten family records notating births, deaths, and marriages.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
The collection was transferred to the archive by the Arkansas State University Museum.
Accruals
Further additions to this collection are not expected.
Creator
- Roleson, James B., (James Brookfield) (Creator, Person)
- Roleson, Mary L., (Mary Laura Brookfield) (Creator, Person)
- Title
- Roleson Family Papers Finding Aid
- Status
- Completed
- Author
- Meredith Curtis; Flora Smith, Editor
- Date
- 2014-06-01
- Description rules
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Latin
- Language of description note
- English
Repository Details
Part of the Archives & Special Collections - Dean B. Ellis Library Repository
Arkansas State University
Dean B. Ellis Library
P.O. Box 2040
State University AR 72467 United States
870-972-2960
870-972-3199 (Fax)
archives@astate.edu