M.H. Russell Papers

Collection

Identifier: MC 1727

Staff Only
Select files to request

Scope and Content Note

The collection includes the personal papers of both M.H. Russell and Irene Croom Russell. Additional materials include speeches given by Russell at educational, religious, and social venues, as well as items documenting his career as an administrator at Henderson State University. Genealogical materials and photographs are also found in the collection. Please note that the compact discs containing genealogical information require Family Tree Maker software and cannot be viewed without that software.

Dates

circa 1890-2020

Creator

Russell, M. H. (Manley Holland), 1908-1969 (Person)

Language of Materials

Materials are in English.

Access Information

Please call (479) 575-8444 or email specoll@uark.edu at least two weeks in advance of your arrival to ensure availability of the materials.

Use Information

No Restrictions Apply.

No Interlibrary Loan.

Standard Federal Copyright Laws Apply (U.S. Title 17).

Biographical Note

Manley Holland (M.H.) Russell was born in Star City, Lincoln County, Arkansas on March 23, 1908, to Dr. Manley Holland Russell, Sr. and Edna Alma Russell. He received his L.I. degree from Arkansas Polytechnic College (now Arkansas Tech University) in Russellville, Pope County, Arkansas in 1929, followed by a Bachelor of Arts degree from Arkansas A & M College (now University of Arkansas at Monticello) in 1937. In 1930, M.H. married Irene Croom (February 13, 1911-August 10, 1991) of Dardanelle, Yell County, Arkansas. Russell received his Masters of Science in Education from Oklahoma A & M College (now Oklahoma State University) in 1943 and an honorary Doctor of Laws degree from Hendrix College in Conway, Faulkner County, Arkansas, in 1965. Russell also did graduate work at George Peabody College for Teachers in Nashville, TN, University of California, and Columbia University.

Russell's educational career began in Selma, Drew County, Arkansas as superintendent from 1929 to 1933. He then served as superintendent in Tillar, Drew County, Arkansas (1934-1942), Lake Village, Chicot County, Arkansas (1942-1947; 1949-1953), Star City, Lincoln County, Arkansas (1947-1949), and Crossett, Ashley County, Arkansas (1953-1963). In 1963, Russell became the President of Henderson State Teachers College (now Henderson State University) in Arkadelphia, Clark County, Arkansas. He served in that position until his death on October 31, 1969.

Along with working as a superintendent and later a university president, Russell served as president of the Arkansas Education Association in the early 1950s, as well as several other education and superintendent associations. He was also regularly involved as a Rotarian, a Mason, and an active layman in the United Methodist Church.

Extent

7.23 Linear Feet (7 boxes and 1 painting)

Additional Description

Arrangement of the Papers

Materials are arranged by topic.

Acquisition Information

The M.H. Russell Papers were donated to the Special Collections Department, University of Arkansas Libraries, on September 7, 2007 by Rita (Riqua) Serebreni of Springdale, Arkansas.

An additional item for the collection, a painting of Russell, was donated by Rita Serebreni in 2015.

Additional materials (Box 1, Folder 18; Box 4, Folders 9-15; Box 6, Folders 5-6; Box 7; and materials incorporated into existing folders) were donated by Rita Serebreni on August 9, 2023.

Separated Materials

Yearbooks from Arkansas Polytechnic College at Russellville (1928, 1929), Tillar High School (1939, 1940), and Lakeside High School, Lake Village, have been removed from the collection and placed in the Arkansas Collection.

Processing Information

Processed by Emily Rogers and Matthew Lammers; completed in March 2008.

Updated by Katrina Windon in April 2018 to include an additional donation (Item 1).

Updated by Katrina Windon in August 2023 to incorporate an additional donation (Box 1, Folder 18; Box 4, Folders 9-15; Box 6, Folders 5-6; Box 7; and materials incorporated into existing folders).