Dunaway Family Papers
Scope and Contents
This collection consists of the personal and business papers of Benjamin F. Ellis, J. E. Dunaway, and Samuel W. Oliver, accumulated from 1886 to 1961, described in four series:
Series I: Personal Items. This includes photographs of B. F. Ellis, genealogical information, United Confederate Veterans material, a Masonic manual, and programs from the Agricultural and Livestock Association
Series II: Legal Documents. This series is composed of hand-drawn maps, deeds, mortgages, loan applications and correspondence related to the sale of Samuel W. Oliver’s land to E. F. Ellis.
Series III: Published Materials. Book of Alabama and the South, Commemorating the Silver Anniversary of Protective Life Insurance Company, published by Protective Life Insurance Company, Birmingham, Alabama, 1933.
Series IV: J. E. Dunaway Mercantile Company Ledger. Includes accounts payable to the company from local sharecroppers and tenant farmers.
Dates
- 1886 - 1961
Conditions Governing Access
This collection is open for research.
Biographical / Historical
Benjamin F. Ellis was one of the largest planters in Dallas County, Alabama during the second half of the 19th century. During the Civil War, Ellis served in the 37th Alabama Regiment, in which he endured a grievous wound. After the war, he began a mercantile company, one of the first businesses in Orville, Alabama, near Selma. J. E. Dunaway, the son-in-law of B. F. Ellis took over control of the business in 1898, naming it the J. E Dunaway Mercantile Company. The company was in the business of general merchandise and farm supplies. Benjamin Ellis was also a very active member of the Baptist Church and was a generous supporter of Judson College, Alabama’s earliest institution of higher education for women.
Extent
1 Cubic Feet
Language of Materials
English
Arrangement
This collection is organized by accessions. Each accession represents an addition to the collection. Each accession also represents a transfer of physical and legal custody of archival materials from the donor(s) to Auburn University Special Collections and Archives.
Physical Description
Fair to good
Processing Information
Accession 78-0921 processed by Peter Branum, 07/21/1997. Finding Aid entered into ArchiveSpace by Sameena Massey, 06/10/2024
- Title
- Guide to the Dunaway Family Papers
- Subtitle
- Record Group 0465
- Author
- Peter Branum
- Date
- 07/21/1997
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Latin
Repository Details
Part of the Auburn University Special Collections and Archives Repository
Auburn University
Ralph Brown Draughon Library
231 Mell Street
Auburn Alabama 36849
334-844-1732
archives@auburn.edu
