Drs. Roy and Callie Mae Coons Papers
Document Type
Finding Aid
Publication Date
11-9-2018
Inclusive Dates--Span
1889-1981
Inclusive Dates--Bulk
1909-1967
Scope and Content Note
This collection contains the correspondence of Drs. Roy and Callie Mae Coons with different universities and organizations. It also contains numerous photographs of both Robert Roy Coons family and Callie Mae Williams family. In addition, there are numerous photographs of Roy and Callie Mae Coons family and friends.
Biographical Note
Robert Roy Coons was born at Webbers Falls, Oklahoma in 1889 and moved with his family to Abilene, Texas in 1909. He enrolled in Abilene Christian College in 1910. He graduated from ACC Academy in 1914 and completed a two-year program by 1916. In 1918, he graduated magna cum laude from Simmons College in Abilene in physical science. He served briefly as principal of Novis, Texas public schools before being drafted into the army during WWI. After attending the University of Texas during the first part of 1919, he was hired by ACC to teach chemistry in ACC's first year as a senior college. He married Callie Mae Williams on September 18, 1919 who was an outstanding scientist. After teaching for two years at ACC both Robert Roy and Callie Mae began doctoral work. Callie Mae Coons completed her PhD in nutrition at the University of Chicago in 1929 and Robert Roy completed his PhD in analytical chemistry at Iowa State University in 1931. In the meantime, Robert Roy taught history and zoology at Harper College from 1922-1923 and was head of the physical science department at Harding College from 1924-1926 and 1933-1937. Robert Roy left Harding College at the request of Batsell Baxter to help start Pepperdine College. Robert Roy and Callie Mae Coons served as heads of the departments of chemistry and home economics at Pepperdine College from 1938-1945. Robert Roy later taught chemistry at George Washington University and American University in Washington, D.C. At this time, Callie Mae served as the highest ranking woman in the U.S. Department of Agriculture, heading research projects in human nutrition. In addition, Robert Roy was responsible for organizing the Alpha Honor Society which served as the precursor to Alpha Chi in 1957.
Donor Note
n/a
Arrangement
The photographs within the collection have been put out of their original order and re-ordered in order to conserve space. The collection has also been reboxed.
Content List
Box #1 List of item level description Personal correspondence George Pepperdine College Correspondence (1937-1942) Publisher Correspondence (1939-1941) Photocopy of Who’s Who of American Women, First Edition, Volume I, 1958-1959 Harding College Correspondence (1932-1944) Washington, D.C. Correspondence (1938) Callie Mae Coons’ Resume State Teachers College, Fredericksburg, VA, Correspondence (1936-1937) Vassar College Correspondence (1937) Photocopies of Abilene Christian College Catalogs (1906-1915) Membership in Societies University of California Correspondence (1943-1945) Photographs of Roy and Callie Mae Coons and Family Framed photograph of Roy Coons Box #2 Photographs of Roy Coons on mats Framed photographs of Roy Coons (2) Photographs of Roy Coons and Family Callie Mae Williams (Coons) black notebook with 6 copies of the Optimist, 1914, a partial copy of The Daily Texan, 1919, and of The O’Collegian, 1930; it also includes sets of outlines by Roy Coons for English, 1909-1910 Photographs of the Coons family on mats Box #3 Photographs of Roy and Callie Mae Coons and Family and postcards Box #4 Framed photographs of Roy Coons (3) Photographs of Roy Coons on mats
Subjects
Churches of Christ--Texas
Language
ENGLISH
Extent of Collection
4 Boxes
Manuscript Number
Center for Restoration Studies Manuscript #365
Physical Location
Center for Restoration Studies
Preferred Citation
[Identification of item], File or Folder Name, Drs. Roy and Callie Mae Coons Papers. Center for Restoration Studies MS #365. Milliken Special Collections, Brown Library. Abilene Christian University, Abilene, TX.
Processing Status
Processed
Finding Aid created by
Sarah Dannemiller
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
Comments
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