Skip to main content

William James Cooper Collection

 Collection
Identifier: DC0244s

Scope and Contents

During his student years at Davidson College, Cooper kept a student scrapbook. The scrapbook covers the years from 1919-1923. Information on various R.O.T.C. camps including Camp Henry Knox (Kentucky) and Camp Jackson (South Carolina) is available in the scrapbook. The book also contains some superb photographs of Golf in the 1920's and of Egg Rock, Table Rock and the Gullies near Davidson, N.C. Please see the individual listings for further information. In addition to the scrapbook, the collection includes a small file of correspondence, a script of a play written by Cooper and performed in the 1922 Wildcat Minstrels titled "American Wireless," Coopers Latin Salutatory Address, a brochure from Senior Week in 1923, a brochure from the Farewell Banquet for the Class of 1923, a postcard of the White House, a postcard from the residential home of A. Block in macon, Georgia, and the pamphlet for the rules and regulations of the military department of Davidson College in the 1920's, his college and Eumenean society diplomas (house in oversize) and photographs. The file folder marked "Negatives - Camp Jackson" contains several good negatives taken during training at Camp Jackson. The negatives depict the interior of buildings, the exterior of tents, as well as students in military uniforms. The file folder marked "Photographs - Car Trip Out West" contains photographs from a trip made by 4 students of the class of 1923 who toured the United States after gradution in a Model T named the "Sally Ann." The four students were Harry Kitsum Russell, John Baker McCallum, William Jones Cooper, and John McLaughlin Adams. The photographs contain pictures of the Grand Canyon, several dams, the four students at various campsites, the Contential Divide, etc. The file folder marked "Photographs - Individual Persons" contains photographs of various students in the early 1920's. Most of these individuals have not been identified, though most may be assumed to be members of the Davidson classes of 1921-23. There are several pictures of a woman in a graduation gown and cap. The photographs are useful in identifying the style of clothes in the early 1920's. The file folder marked "Photographs - Sports; Campus Grounds" contains photographs of various athletic games in the early 1920's. There are several photographs of men playing golf, baseball, and of a tennis match in 1920 (see scrapbook pg. 41 for more information). There also is a series of photographs on the burning of Watts Dormitory and a photograph of a three bunker bed. The file folder marked "Miscellaneous" contains a photograph of the Salesman's Club in 1923 -- the Football Squad in 1923 -- the South Carolina Club in 1923 -- the members of the Eumenean Society in 1923 -- the Football Team in 1920 -- Company C of the Reserved Officer Training Corps in 1921 gathered at Mammoth Cave, Kentucky near Camp Henry Knox -- three men standing with a Model T in front of The Commissary -- a path leading up to Shearer Biblical Hall -- a view of the columns of Old Chambers -- and the South Carolina Club in 1921.

Dates

  • Creation: 1919 - 1923

Creator

Biographical / Historical

William James Cooper graduated from Davidson College in 1923. After graduation, he and three other students traveled across the United States in a Model T nicknamed the "Sally Ann."

Extent

9 folders ( 9 folders, + 1 scrapbook )

Language

English