Mitchell, Orestes, Jr. (1905-1980) and Sr. (1876-1938), Papers, 1899-1980 (C3993)
.8 linear feet
INTRODUCTION
The Orestes Mitchell, Jr. and Sr. Papers contain correspondence, scrapbooks, photographs, newspapers, yearbooks, and miscellaneous material of Orestes Mitchell, Jr., an attorney and member of the University of Missouri Board of Curators; and his father, Orestes Mitchell, Sr., also a lawyer. Both men were active in the St. Joseph, Missouri Rotary Club and Freemasons.
DONOR INFORMATION
The Orestes Mitchell, Jr. and Sr. Papers were donated to the University of Missouri by Marilyn Mitchell Fisher and Kathryn Mitchell Lamont on November 21, 2002 (Accession No. 5959).
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH
Orestes Mitchell, Sr. was born December 26, 1876 near Buena Vista, Indiana, but came to St. Joseph, Missouri, at an early age. He attended the public schools of St. Joseph and graduated from the law school of the University of Missouri in 1900. Mitchell practiced law in St. Joseph and was active in the Freemasons and Rotary Club. In 1924, he was elected Grand Master of the Masons in Missouri. He married Inez Altavia Samuel on April 15, 1902. The couple had four children, including Samuel Orestes Mitchell, Jr. The elder Mitchell died on April 19, 1938.
Orestes Mitchell, Jr. was born on October 11, 1905 in St. Joseph, Missouri. He attended St. Joseph public schools and St. Joseph Junior College. He received a B.A. in law in 1927 and his law degree in 1929 from the University of Missouri. While attending the University, he met Dorothea Davis of Paducah, Kentucky. The couple was married on September 19, 1931 and had two daughters and one son.
From 1935 to 1939, Mitchell served as a member of the Alumni Athletic Advisory Committee for the University of Missouri. He was president of the St. Joseph Bar Association in 1939 and was on the Missouri Bar Board of Governors from 1948 to 1952. Mitchell was also a member of several Masonic bodies and was Grand Master of Masons of Missouri in 1954 and 1955. He was a member of the Rotary and became president of the club in 1952 and District Governor in 1957. He also served as a member of the University of Missouri Board of Curators from 1961 to 1967. Samuel Orestes Mitchell, Jr. died on March 6, 1980.
SCOPE AND CONTENT NOTE
The Orestes Mitchell, Jr. and Sr. Papers consist of correspondence, newspaper clippings, photographs, awards and certificates, along with scrapbooks and other miscellaneous material. They are arranged by type of material. The bulk of the collection focuses on the Mitchells’ membership and participation in service organizations such as the Freemasons and Rotary Club. Orestes Mitchell, Jr.'s service as a member of the University of Missouri Board of Curators is also documented.
The collection also contains University of Missouri student newspapers from 1899 and 1900, and a map and visitor’s guide for the 1904 World’s Fair held in St. Louis.
FOLDER LIST
| f. 1 | Correspondence, 1932-1980 |
| f. 2 | Photographs, c. 1900-1974 |
| f. 3 | Newspaper Clippings, 1944-1975, n.d. |
| f. 4-6 | Yearbooks |
| f. 4 | University of Missouri, 1899 |
| f. 5 | St. Joseph Central High School, 1923 |
| f. 6 | St. Joseph Junior College, 1925 |
| f. 7-11 | University of Missouri |
| f. 7-8 | Student Newspapers, 1899-1900 |
| f. 9-11 | Pamphlets, Programs, etc., 1900-1980 |
| f. 12 | Diplomas, Awards, and Certificates, 1900-1978 |
| f. 13-16 | Scrapbooks |
| f. 13 | Orestes Mitchell, Sr., 1900-1924 |
| f. 14-15 | Orestes Mitchell, Jr., Rotary Club, 1956-1967 |
| f. 16 | Orestes Mitchell, Jr., MU Board of Curators, 1961-1967 |
| f. 17-18 | Miscellaneous: 1904 St. Louis World's Fair map and guide, medals, pins, cards, pamphlets, Rotary Club ribbon, and greeting cards, 1904-1980 |
INDEX TERMS
These index terms are the subjects, people, places, etc. under which this collection is listed in all available indexes at the Western Historical Manuscript Collection-Columbia. If you are interested in a specific index term, please contact the reference staff.
| Index Terms | Location |
| Central High School, St. Joseph, Missouri | f. 5 |
| Dalton, Geraldine Hall | f. 18 (pictorial material) |
| Dalton, John Montgomery (1900-1972) | f. 18 (pictorial material) |
| Freemasons | f. 13 |
| Hearnes family | f. 18 (pictorial material) |
| Kemper Military Academy, Boonville, Missouri | f. 4 (pictorial material) |
| Louisana Purchase Exposition, 1903-1904--Maps | f. 17 (pictorial material) |
| Missouri Bar Association, Board of Governors | f. 2 (pictorial material) |
| Missouri. Governor's Mansion | f. 18 (pictorial material) |
| Mitchell, Orestes, Jr. (1905-1980) | f. 2, 14-16 (pictorial material) |
| Mitchell, Orestes, Jr. (1905-1980) | f. 1, 3, 12, 14-16, 18 |
| Mitchell, Orestes, Sr. (1876-1938) | f. 1, 13, 17 |
| Mitchell, Orestes, Sr. (1876-1938) | f. 2 (pictorial material) |
| Ratchford, C. Brice (1920-1998) | f. 10 |
| Rotary Club, St. Joseph, Missouri | f. 3, 14, 18 |
| Rotary Club, St. Joseph, Missouri | f. 2 (pictorial material) |
| St. Joseph Junior College, St. Joseph, Missouri | f. 8 |
| University of Missouri | f. 3, 4, 7-12, 16 |
| University of Missouri, Board of Curators | f. 16 |
| University of Missouri, Board of Curators | f. 16 (pictorial material) |
| University of Missouri--Columns | f. 2 (pictorial material) |
| University of Missouri--Newspapers | f. 7, 8 |
| Weaver, John C. (1915- ) | f. 10 |
| Weaver, John C. (1915- ) | f. 2, 16 (pictorial material) |
| World War, 1914-1918--Anti-German sentiment | f. 13, 17 |
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