Irby Family Papers

Collection

Identifier: MC 474

Staff Only
Select files to request

Scope and Content Note

Family and business papers pertaining to the Stephen W. Irby family of Desha County, Arkansas.

The Irby family papers consist almost entirely of business papers concerning the agricultural and legal concerns of Stephen W. Irby. Also included are four volumes of poetry written and copied by Mrs. Mattie E. Moore who was an employee of Irby in the early twentieth century.

Dates

1905-1941

Creator

Irby family (Family)

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 Use Restrictions Apply.

No Interlibrary Loan.

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

Biographical Note

Stephen W. Irby was a cotton planter near Watson, Desha County, Arkansas, and postmaster at Refuge, Arkansas, where he also ran a general store in the late nineteenth and early twentieth century. Irby was involved in many Desha County business transactions as a result of his occupations, including the renting of land to tenant farmers, dealing with the Southeast Arkansas Levee Board over promised improvements to his property and other Desha County landowners, and ginning cotton for himself and other growers in the area.

Extent

0.75 Linear Feet (105 items and 4 volumes in 2 boxes)

Additional Description

Arrangement of the Papers

Materials are arranged in five series by subject.

Series 1: Cotton Farming Materials, 1936-1941 (Box 1, Folders 1-4)
Series 2: General Business Papers, 1930-1941 (Box 1, Folders 5-6)
Series 3: Levee District Documents, 1931, 1940 (Box 1, Folders 7-8)
Series 4: Irby Family Papers, 1937-1941 (Box 1, Folder 9)
Series 5: Poetry Ledgers, 1905-1906 (Box 2, Volumes 1-4)

Acquisition Information

The Irby Family Papers were donated to Special Collections by the children of Stephen W. Irby (Roberta Irby Scheeper, Elizabeth Irby Klutts, Stephen Warren Irby, Jr., Shelby Lavier Irby, Joe George Irby, Holcomb Burton Irby, Jesse David Irby, and Daniel Wallace Irby) on December 30, 1983.