Cairns, Mary Margaret (1915-2003), Papers, 1901-2004 (C3996)
1.4 linear feet
INTRODUCTION
The Mary Margaret Cairns Papers document the life of a Kansas City area woman who worked at Sears Department Store and traveled across North America and Europe. The papers consist mostly of photographs and slides relating to her travels, as well as travel notes, postcards, and brochures from places she visited. The collection also contains materials concerning the family burial plots at the Huntsville Cemetery in Huntsville, Missouri and relating to her retirement party from Sears.
DONOR INFORMATION
The papers were donated to the University of Missouri by Marian Goodding on 20 April 2005 (Accession No. 6072).
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH
Mary Margaret Cairns was born February 13, 1915 to Hugh Simpson Cairns and Jane Ann Rutherford. In 1931, she graduated from Paseo High School in Kansas City, Missouri. She went on to attend the Junior College of Kansas City (now part of Metropolitan Community Colleges-Kansas City) and graduated in 1933 with an A.A. She worked at Sears in the Kansas City area for 43 years before retiring in 1979. Cairns enjoyed traveling, visiting various locales in North American and Europe, including the Grand Canyon, Yellowstone National Park, the Canadian Rockies, England, and Scotland. Cairns died in 2003.
For more information on the Rutherford and Cairns families, consult the Lela Jean Howat Rutherford, Papers (WUNP6082).
SCOPE AND CONTENT NOTE
The Mary Margaret Cairns Papers consist of photographs, slides, and travel notes from her various trips, along with information about the family burial plots at the Huntsville Cemetery in Huntsville, Missouri, retirement party materials, and correspondence. The papers are arranged into three series:
FOLDER LIST
The Family series has been arranged alphabetically and contains correspondence, genealogical materials, photographs, newspaper clippings, and materials concerning the Rutherford and Cairns family burial plots. The cemetery materials include photographs of headstones and correspondence relating to the upkeep of the burial plots. The series also contains photographs from trips to England taken by two of Cairns' relatives, Mary Elizabeth Crawford Minor and Phoebe Rutherford Gilmour. The miscellaneous folder contains birth and death certificates, the marriage license of Hugh Simpson Cairns and Jane Ann Rutherford, obituaries, and the account of the execution of the estate of William Watson, an English relative of Mary Margaret Cairns.
| f. 1 | Coats of arms, n.d. |
| f. 2 | Correspondence, 1914-2003 |
| f. 3 | Genealogical information, n.d. |
| f. 4 | Huntsville Cemetery, Huntsville, Missouri, 1916-2004 |
| f. 5 | Newspaper clippings, 1915-1953, n.d. |
| f. 6-7 | Family photographs, 1915-1983, n.d. |
| f. 8 | Travel photographs, 1979-1983 |
| f. 9 | Miscellaneous, 1901-2000 |
The Personal series contains certificates, diplomas, photographs, slides, and retirement party materials, including a guest book. The certificates and diplomas folder include Sunday school certificates and commencement programs. The slides and photographs feature various Kansas City area parks and landmarks, including Swope Park, Loose Park, the Liberty Memorial, and the Kansas City Art Gallery. Also included are photographs of Christmas celebrations and a variety of flowers. The miscellaneous folder contains church directories and an aerial view of John Knox Village, a retirement community in Lee's Summit, Missouri, where Cairns lived. The series has been arranged alphabetically.
| f. 10 | Diplomas and certificates, 1915-1933 |
| f. 11 | Photographs, 1934-1988, n.d. |
| f. 12 | Retirement party, 1979 |
| f. 13-14 | Slides, 1953-1961 |
| f. 15 | Miscellaneous, 1997-2003 |
The Travel series is the bulk of the collection and contains slides, photographs, travel notes, and brochures from various places that Cairns visited from 1938 to 1992. She made a number of trips to the Canadian Rockies, Yellowstone National Park, New Mexico, Arizona, and Colorado throughout the years, as well as England and Scotland. The trips from 1938 to 1960 were taken with her parents. Some of the slides from these years have been made into photographs; both slide and corresponding photograph have been retained when they exist. Most of the trips in the later years were group trips taken through various travel agencies. Also included in the series is a list of travel destinations visited by Cairns, not all of which are documented within the collection. The series has been arranged chronologically.
| f. 16 | General, n.d. |
| f. 17 | 1938, Wisconsin |
| f. 18 | 1939, Kentucky |
| f. 19 | 1940, Louisiana |
| f. 20 | 1941, Arkansas, Tennessee, Kentucky, Mississippi |
| f. 21 | 1942, Colorado |
| f. 22 | 1948, Colorado, Utah, Wyoming |
| f. 23 | 1950, Minnesota, South Dakota |
| f. 24 | 1951, Smoky Mountains |
| f. 25 | 1952, Niagara Falls, Canada |
| f. 26-27 | 1953, New Mexico, Arizona, Utah, Colorado |
| f. 28 | 1955, New Mexico, Arizona, Utah, Colorado |
| f. 29 | 1956, Canadian Rockies |
| f. 30 | 1957, South Dakota, Wyoming, Colorado |
| f. 31 | 1960, New Mexico, Colorado |
| f. 32 | 1974, New England |
| f. 33 | 1979, Canadian Rockies |
| f. 34 | 1980, Europe |
| f. 35 | 1982, New York |
| f. 36 | 1984, England, Scotland |
| f. 37 | 1985, Pacific Northwest |
| f. 38 | 1985, Tennessee, Georgia, Virginia, Washington, DC |
| f. 39-40 | 1986, England, Scotland |
| f. 41 | 1987, Pacific Northwest, Canadian Rockies |
| f. 42 | 1987, Hawaii |
| f. 43 | 1988, Smoky Mountains |
| f. 44 | 1988, California |
| f. 45 | 1989, Texas |
| f. 46 | 1991, Mackinac Island, Michigan |
| f. 47 | 1991, Canadian Rockies |
| f. 48 | 1992, Nova Scotia |
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 |
| American Royal Parade, Kansas City, Missouri | f. 13 (pictorial material) |
| Arizona--Description and travel | f. 26-28 (pictorial material) |
| Arkansas, Eureka Springs--Description and travel | f. 14, 20 (pictorial material) |
| Badlands National Park, South Dakota | f. 23, 30 (pictorial material) |
| Banff National Park, Alberta, Canada | f. 29, 33, 41, 47 (pictorial material) |
| Baseball, 1950s | f. 13 (pictorial material) |
| Bayous--Louisiana, 1940s | f. 19 (pictorial material) |
| Bears | f. 11, 18, 24, 29, 30 (pictorial material) |
| Big Spring, Van Buren, Missouri | f. 24 (pictorial material) |
| Birth records | f. 9 |
| Black children, 1940s | f. 19 (pictorial material) |
| Black Hills National Forest, South Dakota | f. 30 (pictorial material) |
| Black laborers, 1940s | f. 19 (pictorial material) |
| Brochures | SEE Pamphlets |
| Bryce Canyon National Park, Utah | f. 28 |
| Bryce Canyon National Park, Utah | f. 26, 28 (pictorial material) |
| Busch Stadium, St. Louis, Missouri, 1970s | f. 32 (pictorial material) |
| Cairns family--Genealogy | f. 3 |
| Cairns family--Heraldry | f. 1 |
| Cairns, Hugh Simpson (1881-1968) | f. 6, 7, 13, 14, 19, 21, 26, 28-31 (pictorial material) |
| Cairns, Hugh Simpson (1881-1968) | f. 3-5, 9 |
| Cairns, Jane Ann "Jennie" Rutherford (1882-1958) | f. 6, 7, 13, 14, 18, 21, 26, 28, 29 (pictorial material) |
| Cairns, Jane Ann "Jennie" Rutherford (1882-1958) | f. 3-5, 9 |
| Cairns, Mary Margaret (1915-2003) | f. 3-5, 9, 10, 12 |
| Cairns, Mary Margaret (1915-2003) | f. 6, 11, 28, 30, 35, 36, 46, 47 (pictorial material) |
| California--Description and travel, 1980s | f. 37 (pictorial material) |
| Canada--Description and travel | f. 25, 29, 33, 41, 47 (pictorial material) |
| Capitols--Buildings | f. 22-24, 28-31 (pictorial material) |
| Cemeteries | f. 4, 13, 14 (pictorial material) |
| Cherries--Harvesting | f. 6 (pictorial material) |
| Christmas decorations | f. 6, 7, 13, 14 (pictorial material) |
| Coliseum, Rome, Italy | f. 34 (pictorial material) |
| Colorado. State Capitol Building, Denver | f. 22, 28, 30 (pictorial material) |
| Colorado--Description and travel | f. 21, 22, 26, 28, 30, 31, 37, 41 (pictorial material) |
| Corn Palace, Mitchell, South Dakota | f. 29, 30 (pictorial material) |
| Country Club Plaza, Kansas City, Missouri | f. 13, 14 (pictorial material) |
| Crazy Horse Memorial, South Dakota | f. 23, 30 (pictorial material) |
| Custer State Park, South Dakota | f. 23, 30 (pictorial material) |
| Devils Tower National Monument, Wyoming | f. 30 (pictorial material) |
| Dogs | f. 6, 7, 11, 19 (pictorial material) |
| Dwight D. Eisenhower Presidential Library and Museum, Abilene, Kansas | f. 28, 30 (pictorial material) |
| Education, Higher | f. 9, 10 |
| Education, Secondary | f. 10 |
| Eiffel Tower, Paris, France | f. 34 (pictorial material) |
| England--Description and travel, 1980s | f. 8, 34, 36, 39 (pictorial material) |
| Executors and administrators | f. 9 |
| Farm life | f. 6, 19 (pictorial material) |
| Flowers | f. 11, 13, 14, 29, 30, 33, 37, 39, 41 (pictorial material) |
| France--Description and travel, 1980s | f. 34 (pictorial material) |
| Gardens | f. 6, 14, 29, 33, 37, 41 (pictorial material) |
| Georgia, St. Simons Island | f. 38 (pictorial material) |
| Georgia, St. Simons Island | f. 38 |
| Germany--Description and travel, 1980s | f. 34 (pictorial material) |
| Grand Canyon National Park, Arizona | f. 27, 28 |
| Grand Canyon National Park, Arizona | f. 26, 28 (pictorial material) |
| Grand Hotel, Mackinac Island, Michigan | f. 46 (pictorial material) |
| Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming | f. 22, 30, 37 (pictorial material) |
| Great Salt Lake, Utah | f. 22 (pictorial material) |
| Hawaii--Description and travel, 1980s | f. 42 (pictorial material) |
| Holland--Description and travel, 1980s | f. 34 (pictorial material) |
| Hoover Dam, Arizona | f. 26 (pictorial material) |
| Hot Springs National Park, Arkansas | f. 20 (pictorial material) |
| Hotels, motels, etc. | f. 24, 28, 30, 31, 33, 34, 42, 46, 47 (pictorial material) |
| Huntsville Cemetery, Huntsville, Missouri | f. 4 |
| Huntsville Cemetery, Huntsville, Missouri | f. 4, 13, 14 (pictorial material) |
| Indians, 1950s | f. 26, 28 (pictorial material) |
| Indians--Dances | f. 28, 31 (pictorial material) |
| Italy--Description and travel, 1980s | f. 34 (pictorial material) |
| Junior College of Kansas City, Missouri | f. 10 |
| Kansas City Athletics (Baseball team) | f. 13 (pictorial material) |
| Kansas. State Capitol Building, Topeka | f. 28 (pictorial material) |
| Kentucky--Description and travel | f. 18, 24 (pictorial material) |
| Lake of the Ozarks, Missouri | f. 13, 20 (pictorial material) |
| Lake Taneycomo, Missouri | f. 20 (pictorial material) |
| Liberty Memorial, Kansas City, Missouri | f. 11, 13, 14, 30 (pictorial material) |
| Log cabins and houses | f. 20, 21, 25, 29, 30 (pictorial material) |
| Longstaff family--Genealogy | f. 3 |
| Longstaff family--Heraldry | f. 1 |
| Loose Park, Kansas City, Missouri | f. 13, 14 (pictorial material) |
| Louisiana--Description and travel, 1940s | f. 19 (pictorial material) |
| Meyer Boulevard United Methodist Church, Kansas City, Missouri--Directory, 2000 | f. 15 |
| Michigan, Mackinac Island--Description and travel, 1990s | f. 46 (pictorial material) |
| Minnesota. State Capitol Building, St. Paul | f. 23 (pictorial material) |
| Minnesota--Description and travel, 1950s | f. 23 (pictorial material) |
| Minor, Mary Elizabeth Crawford (1914-1999) | f. 2, 9 |
| Mississippi--Description and travel, 1940s | f. 20 (pictorial material) |
| Missouri, Kansas City--Skyline | f. 11, 13, 14 (pictorial material) |
| Montana--Description and travel, 1950s | f. 29 (pictorial material) |
| Mount Rushmore National Memorial, South Dakota | f. 23, 30 (pictorial material) |
| Municipal Stadium, Kansas City, Missouri | f. 13 (pictorial material) |
| New England--Description and travel, 1970s | f. 32 (pictorial material) |
| New Hope United Methodist Church, Kansas City, Missouri--Directory, 2003 | f. 15 |
| New Mexico. State Capitol Building, Santa Fe | f. 31 (pictorial material) |
| New Mexico--Description and travel | f. 26, 28, 31 (pictorial material) |
| New York--Description and travel | f. 25, 35 (pictorial material) |
| Niagara Falls, New York and Ontario | f. 25, 32 (pictorial material) |
| North Carolina--Description and travel | f. 24, 38 (pictorial material) |
| North Dakota. State Capitol Building, Bismarck | f. 29 (pictorial material) |
| Observation Park, Kansas City, Missouri | f. 11 (pictorial material) |
| Ohio. State Capitol Building, Columbus | f. 24 (pictorial material) |
| Oregon--Description and travel | f. 37, 41 (pictorial material) |
| Ozarks--Description and travel | f. 13, 14, 20 (pictorial material) |
| Pamphlets--Travel | f. 24, 25, 27, 28, 31, 36, 39, 42-47 |
| Paseo Bridge, Kansas City, Missouri | f. 13 (pictorial material) |
| Paseo High School, Kansas City, Missouri | f. 10 |
| Passion plays | f. 23, 30, 37 (pictorial material) |
| Passion plays | f. 37 |
| Photography--Portraits | f. 11 (pictorial material) |
| Pioneer Mother Statue, Kansas City, Missouri | f. 11, 13 (pictorial material) |
| Postcards--Travel | f. 27, 31, 34, 36, 38, 39, 42, 46 (pictorial material) |
| Ralls County Courthouse, New London, Missouri | f. 25 (pictorial material) |
| Retirement | f. 12 |
| Round Spring, Eminence, Missouri | f. 24 (pictorial material) |
| Rutherford family--Genealogy | f. 3 |
| Rutherford, Sarah (1874-1946) | f. 2, 3, 5, 9 |
| Rutherford, Sarah (1874-1946) | f. 6, 7 (pictorial material) |
| Rutherford, William, Jr. (1917-2000) | f. 6, 7, 35 (pictorial material) |
| Rutherford, William, Jr. (1917-2000) | f. 2, 3, 9 |
| Sacred space--Description and travel | f. 8, 23, 30, 31, 34, 36, 38, 39 (pictorial material) |
| Sacred space--Description and travel | f. 30, 31, 34, 36, 38, 39 |
| School crossing guards | f. 7, 13 (pictorial material) |
| School crossing guards | f. 5 |
| Scotland--Description and travel | f. 8, 36, 39 (pictorial material) |
| Sheep | f. 8, 30, 36 (pictorial material) |
| Shepherd of the Hills Homestead and Outdoor Theatre, Branson, Missouri | f. 14, 20 (pictorial material) |
| Sod houses | f. 21 (pictorial material) |
| South Dakota. State Capitol Building, Pierre | f. 23 (pictorial material) |
| South Dakota--Description and travel | f. 23, 29, 30 (pictorial material) |
| Sunday schools, 1920s | f. 10 |
| Switzerland, Lucerne--Description and travel, 1980s | f. 34 (pictorial material) |
| Swope Park, Kansas City, Missouri | f. 11, 13 (pictorial material) |
| Tennessee. State Capitol Building, Nashville | f. 24 (pictorial material) |
| Tennessee--Description and travel, 1950s | f. 20, 24 (pictorial material) |
| The Independent, Columbia, Missouri | f. 9 |
| Tourism | f. 32-34, 36-48 |
| Travel | f. 16, 24, 25, 27-34, 36, 38-48 |
| Travel | f. 32-34, 36-39, 41, 42, 46, 47 (pictorial material) |
| Travel photography | f. 8, 17-26, 28-39, 41, 42, 46, 47 (pictorial material) |
| Travelers' writings | f. 28-31, 33, 34, 36, 39, 41, 43, 45 |
| Union Station, Kansas City, Missouri | f. 11, 13, 14 (pictorial material) |
| Utah--Description and travel | f. 22, 26, 28 (pictorial material) |
| Washington, D.C.--Description and travel, 1970s | f. 32 (pictorial material) |
| West Virginia. State Capitol Building, Charleston | f. 24 (pictorial material) |
| Will Rogers Memorial, Claremore, Oklahoma | f. 27 (pictorial material) |
| William Rockhill Nelson Gallery of Art, Kansas City, Missouri | f. 7, 13, 14 (pictorial material) |
| Wisconsin--Description and travel, 1930s | f. 17 (pictorial material) |
| World Methodist Council, World Headquarters, Lake Junaluska, North Carolina | f. 38 (pictorial material) |
| World Trade Center, New York, New York | f. 32 (pictorial material) |
| Wyoming. State Capitol Building, Cheyenne | f. 22 (pictorial material) |
| Wyoming--Description and travel | f. 22, 30, 37 (pictorial material) |
| Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming | f. 22, 30 (pictorial material) |
| Zion National Park, Utah | f. 28 |
| Zion National Park, Utah | f. 26, 28 (pictorial material) |
| Zoos | f. 11, 13, 14, 17, 20 (pictorial material) |
|