SERIES IX: ALBERT RUTH PAPERS, Undated

SERIES I DAGGETT FAMILY PAPERS (2 boxes) (1839-1953) (bulk 1870-1890)

This series contains the bulk of the oldest materials in the collection. It consists of the personal papers of C. B. Daggett (1812-1888), E. B. Daggett (1838—1911), E. J. Daggett, E. M. Daggett (1810-1883, E. M. (Bud) Daggett (1850-1921). F.B. Daggett (1867-1939) and J P. Daggett (1895-1944). It includes correspondence, deeds, typescripts, receipts, promissory notes, clippings and wills. The deeds include land in Fort Worth owned by the Daggetts. It also includes a receipt signed by John C. Hays of the Texas Rangers during the Mexican War since E. M. and C. B. both served during the War. Many of the oldest documents in the papers are located in this series.

SERIES II STATE AND LOCAL HISTORY (5 boxes)

This series contains material Mary Daggett Lake obtained while doing research on state and local history for her articles for the Fort Worth Star-Telegram. It also includes typescripts of many of the articles she wrote. It also includes several file folders relating to the Regulator and Moderator War including the peace treaty signed between the two factions. This series also contains correspondence between her and various Texas historians including J. Evetts Haley and J. Frank Dobie.

SERIES III GENEALOGICAL NOTES AND MANUSCRIPTS (3 boxes)

This series consists of material she acquired while researching the genealogy of the Lake and Daggett families. They were both prominent families in Texas. Some of the allied families include Hawkins, Farrar, Crank, Ferguson, Palmer/Parmer and Longmiller families.

SERIES IV FIRST HUNDRED FAMILIES (3 boxes) (1825-1925) (bulk 1920s)

This series consists of material that Mary Daggett Lake used to write a series of articles on the early families of Fort Worth. The articles appeared in the Fort Worth Star-Telegram in the 1920s. The material consists of typescripts of the articles, correspondence with family members, genealogies of some of the families and miscellaneous documents. The families include T. I. (Longhair) Courtright, Middleton Tate Johnson, the Peak family and Edward Tarrant.

SERIES V HORTICULTURAL AFFAIRS (6 boxes) (1932-1953) (bulk1930s-1940s)

Mrs. Lake was very involved with the local Garden Club and was a longtime member of the Fort Worth Park Board. Materials include items relating to her involvement with the National Council of State Garden Clubs, the Texas Garden Clubs and the Fort Worth Garden Clubs. There is also material related to conservation and highway beautification. The series also include a box on the Fort Worth Park System and material on the Fort Worth Botanic Garden including a list of plants. Also, included is a typescript history of the Fort Worth Park League.

SERIES VI MARY DAGGETT LAKE SCRAPBOOKS (1 box) (1916-1951)

This series consists of two scrapbooks and loose clippings. The major item is a scrapbook she compiled on a trip to Chicago in 1926.

SERIES VII WOMAN’S WEDNESDAY CLUB & MISCELLANEOUS (2 boxes)

This series contains miscellaneous typescripts and correspondence unrelated to materials elsewhere in the papers. Also, box one has materials relating to the Women’s Wednesday Club. This series also include a few photographs and her applications to various patriotic organizations.

SERIES VIII REV. CHARLES S. G. WORSHAM (2 boxes) (1901-1902)

Mrs. Lake collected documents from various sources. This series and the next three are papers she obtained. Rev. S. G. Worsham was born in Tennessee in June 1842 and soon after he moved to Dallas. He served in the Confederate Army and married Miss Ophelia V. Buchannan of De Soto Parish, LA. He became an ordained Baptist Minister in 1893. He died on July 24th, 1909 in Fort Worth. This series consists of manuscripts of short stories and poems that he wrote.

SERIES IX ALBERT RUTH PAPERS (1 box)

This series consists of correspondence, notebooks, and typescripts relating to Albert Ruth and the Ruth Herbarium. Albert Ruth (1884-1932) was a leading authority in the study of plant life. He was a member of the faculty at the University of Tennessee for ten years after which he became superintendent of the public schools of Knoxville for twenty-six years. He moved to Fort Worth with his collection of plant life. There was over 10,000 specimens when he sold his collection to the Garden Club and the Park Board for $500 although it was worth about $2,500 The Ruth Herbarium was on display at the Carnegie Public Library. It is currently at the Botanical Research Institute of Texas. He died December 17, 1932.

SERIES X GUSTAVE CUSSON WEAVER SCRAPBOOK, J. J. WALKER’S DIARY AND MISCELLANEOUS (1 box) (1834-1938)

This series consists of a scrapbook of Gustave Cousson Weaver, the diary of J. J Walker including the journal of Alice Walker, autograph book of Bettie McKee, miscellaneous documents relating to B. F. and Elizabeth Bennett and a certificate for bounty land for J. J. Wolcomb from 1837. The Walker’s diary and journal which span the years 1834 to 1887 is among the most interesting documents in the collections because it provides a woman’s perspective.

SERIES XI HYDE JENNINGS PAPERS (1 box) (1856-1904)

This series consists of the papers of Hyde Jennings, a prominent Fort Worth attorney. Hyde Jennings was born in Nacogdoches, Texas in August 1849, a son of T. J. and Sarah (Gray) Jennings. He was educated in various parts of Texas. He came to Fort Worth in 1872 with his parents. Jennings was married to Florence Van Zandt, a daughter of Maj. K. M. Van Zandt. He was the father of three sons and one daughter, K. V.; T. J.; Chilton and Martha. He died on November 11, 1903.

This series includes materials relating to his practice of law including attorney’s dockets, case notes and contracts. It is also includes material relating to his personal business deeds, genealogy, receipts, certificates and a list of plants on his residence.

SERIES XII ARTICLES BY MDL (4 boxes)

This collection consists of newspaper clippings of articles written by Mary Daggett Lake. It is arranged by subject.

SERIES XIII ARTICLES BY OTHERS (21 boxes)

This series consists of newspaper clippings of articles written by other people. The majority of the clippings are arranged by subject. The last four boxes include articles by columnists Bess Carroll, Edith A. (Guedry) Deen, J. Frand Dobie, C. L. Douglas, Lilliam Halbert Gantt, Jack Gordon, Robert T. Hill, Howard W. Peak and Frank Reeves.