Descriptive Summary
Rollins, Thomas
J.
Thomas J. Rollins
Papers,
1875-1997 and undated
The personal papers of
Thomas J. Rollins from 1875-1997 and undated.
S 1261.1
Southwest Collection/Special Collections
Library, Texas Tech University
5 boxes, 1 sea chest
and cushion (9 linear feet)
English.
Biographical Sketch
Born July 28, 1924, Thomas (Tom) J. Rollins was a native of
Whitharral, Texas, and a graduate of Texas Technological College. Rollins's
family was originally from Hollis, Oklahoma, and moved to Whitharral, Texas, in
1932. During World War II, he served in the Navy for 35 months. After the war,
he entered the insurance field in Lubbock, Texas, in 1948. For a while he was
assistant purchasing agent at Texas Tech, then he became associated with
Citizens National Life Insurance Company. The Company later merged with Central
American Life in 1953. Rollins served as vice president of Central American
Life Insurance Company then as president. He retired in 1993. Tom and his wife
Nelda had no children. They were active in various civic and university support
groups in Lubbock and Texas Tech.
Scope and Contents
The collection contains the personal papers of Tom Rollins such as
correspondence, financial material, military records from his experience in the
U.S. Navy during the Second World War, printed material, and family scrapbook
material. Also included are some files on Grace Inez Edgar, Tom's sister, who
was a teacher at Idalou (Texas) Elementary. The memorabilia items in the gold
sea chest were placed within oversized shelves along with the red cushion.
Organization
The materials are arranged by series: business records correspondence,
military records, financial material, legal material, literary production,
printed material, scrapbook material, and memorabilia.
Index Terms
The subject headings used by the Southwest Collection/Special
Collections Library are derived from the Library of Congress and/or locally
developed.
Subjects (Persons)
Edgar, Grace
Inez
Rollins, Thomas
J.
Rollins, Thomas
J.--Archives
Rollins, Thomas
J.--Correspondence
Subjects (Organizations)
United States.
Navy
Subjects
Insurance
companies--Texas--Lubbock
Insurance
agents--Texas--Lubbock
World War,
1939-1945
Collection accession #(s):
97-0030-B, 97-0047-B, 97-0053-B
Gifts, 1997
Access Restrictions
Open for research
Processed by
Abel Ramirez, 2000
Preferred Citation
Thomas J. Rollins Papers, 1875-1997 and undated, Southwest
Collection/Special Collections Library, Texas Tech University, Lubbock,
Texas
For related materials located in the Southwest Collection/Special
Collections Library, see the following collections:
- Jack Davis oral history interview [sound recording], 1982
Collection Inventory
Business Records
Mercantile Security Life Insurance Company
1
1
Convention,
1968-1970
1
2
Letters,
1968-1969
1
3
Quarterly Reports,
1969-1970
Republic National Life Insurance Company
1
4
Letter,
1971
Correspondence
1
5
Christmas Photo Card,
undated
Edgar, Grace Inez
1
6
Acknowledgement Letters to Tom,
1969
1
7
Letters to Tom,
1962-1969
1
8
Sympathy Acknowledgements,
1969
1
9
Postcards to Tom,
1965 and undated
1
10
Invitations,
1937-1973 and undated
1
11
From Mrs. Catherine Earnent,
1943-1945
1
12
From Tom Rollins to His Family During World War II,
1945-1946 and undated
1
13
Telegram,
1945
1
14
Postcards to Tom Rollins,
1941-1969
1
15
Telegrams,
1943-1969 and undated
1
16
To Ethel Rollins,
1938-1969 and undated
1
17
To Ida Lee Rollins from Tom Rollins,
1931-1937
1
18
To Mr, and Mrs. T. J. Rollins from Louie F. Moore (Mayor
of Lubbock),
1945
1
19
To Tom Rollins,
1931-1949
1
20
To Tom Rollins,
1951-1961
1
21
To Tom Rollins,
1962-1979
1
22
To Tom Rollins,
undated
1
23
To Tom Rollins from Alex K. Miller,
1965
1
24
To Tom Rollins from Allie Ticer Martin (Aunt),
1961-1964
1
25
To Tom Rollins from Anna Savage Dunn (Aunt),
1945-1965
1
26
To Tom Rollins from Clifford B. Jones,
1941
1
27
To Tom Rollins from Clifton H. Cummings,
1963
1
28
To Tom Rollins from D.M. Wiggins,
1949
1
29
To Tom Rollins from Grace Edgar and husband Verlon,
1945 and undated
1
30
To Tom Rollins from Hardy Clemons,
1974
1
31
To Tom Rollins from Ida Lee Cummins,
1945 and undated
1
32
To Tom Rollins from Lubbock Auditorium-Coliseum Board,
1965
1
33
To Tom Rollins from Max Tidmore (Mayor of Lubbock),
1965
1
34
To Tom Rollins from Mildred Sullins (Sister),
1965 and undated
1
35
To Tom Rollins from Mother,
1945-1965 and undated
1
36
To Tom Rollins from Mr. and Mrs. H. L. Kent,
1945-1946
1
37
To Tom Rollins from Mr. and Mrs. Stanley Brown,
1958-1969 and undated
1
38
To Tom Rollins from Mr. and Mrs. Ward G. Dixon,
1972-1983 and undated
1
39
To Tom Rollins from Ned P. King,
1965
1
40
To Tom Rollins from Nelda Rollins (wife),
1965 and undated
1
41
To Tom Rollins from Nieces and Nephew,
1963-1965 and undated
1
42
To Tom Rollins from Preston Smith,
1963-1969
1
43
To Tom Rollins from Ralph A. Dungan (White House),
1961
1
44
To Tom Rollins from Robert J. Hearn (Second Baptist
Church),
1962-1965
1
45
To Tom Rollins from Rod (Friend in the Navy),
1944-1945 and undated
1
46
To Tom Rollins from Troy R. Marshall,
1965 and undated
1
47
Unknown Letter Addressed to Mother,
1927
1
48
From Tom Rollins to Nelda Jobe (Wife),
1963-1965
Financial Material
1
49
Bank Statements,
1943-1945
1
50
Bill from Raquest Club Hotel, Puerto Rico,
undated
1
51
Checks,
1940-1963
1
52
Deposit Slips,
1945
1
53
Edgar, Grace Inez, Financial Reciepts,
1967-1968
1
54
Edgar, Grace Inez, Income Tax,
1968
1
55
Edgar, Grace Inez, Tax Reciepts,
1967-1968
1
56
Ledger, Expense Record,
undated
1
57
Loan Forms,
1959-1961
1
58
Tire Rationing Cards,
1944-1945
Legal Material
1
59
Life Insurance Policy for Tom Rollins,
1941
1
60
License for Insurance Practice,
1973
1
61
Vendor's Lien Notes,
1925-1927
1
62
Wedding License,
1911
Literary Productions
1
63
Biography of Ethel Mae Rollins,
undated
1
64
Cookbook/Spelling Book,
undated
1
65
Hand Notes,
1997
1
66
Light Genealogy of Rollins/Savage Family,
undated
1
67
United Way Annual Meeting,
1984
Military Records
2
1
Emergency Leave Orders,
1946
2
2
Financial Records,
1945-1946
2
3
General,
1944-1946
2
4
Naval Change of Duty Records,
1945-1946
2
5
Naval/Military Correspondence,
1945-1946
2
6
Photographs,
undated
2
7
Telegrams,
1945
2
8
Training and Physical Records,
1943-1946
2
9
U.S. Navy Service Record,
1945-1955
Newsclipping File
2
10
Miscellaneous Topics,
1944-1974 and undated
2
11
Inserts,
1945 and undated
2
12
Edgar, Grace Inez (Sister),
undated
Photographs
2
13
Photocopies,
1941 and undated
2
14
Edgar, Grace Inez (Sister),
1965-1966 and undated
Printed Material
2
15
Central American Life,
1963
2
16
Church Programs,
1945-1979 and undated
2
17
Harvard and the Service Schools Book with Two Japanese
Leaflets,
1944
2
18
High School and College Announcements,
1947-1963
2
19
Insurance,
1968-1970 and undated
2
20
Lena Rivers Play,
1936
2
21
Magazines,
1938-1991
2
22
Naval/Military and College Pamphlets,
1944-1971 and undated
2
23
Naval/Military Magazines,
1944 and undated
2
24
Naval Graduation Ceremony
2
25
New Testament Bible,
undated
2
26
Plays,
1926-1963
2
27
YMCA Pamphlet and Church Election Pamphlet,
1960-1963
2
28
Scrapbooks,
1936-1959
Scrapbook Material
3
1
Blank Postcards,
undated
3
2
Certificates,
1935-1938 and undated
3
3
Commencement Exercise Programs,
1941-1963
3
4
Edgar, Grace Inez, Memorial Programs,
1969
3
5
Funeral Guestbooks,
1969
3
6
Funeral of Ethel Mae Rollins,
1974
3
7
Early Report Cards and Gas Ration Coupons,
1939-1945
3
8
Edgar, Grace Inez, Church Pamphlets,
1968-1969
3
9
Edgar, Grace Inez, General Materials,
1974 and undated
3
10
Edgar, Grace Inez, Mercantile Daily Calendar and Address
Book,
1969
3
11
Edgar, Grace Inez, Texas Tech Graduation Booklet,
1937
3
12
General Items,
1940-1950 and undated
3
13
Greeting Cards, Anniversary Cards to Tom Rollins,
undated
3
14
Greeting Cards, Birthday Cards to Tom Rollins,
1957-1967 and undated
3
15
Greeting Cards to Ethel Rollins and T. J. Rollins,
1943-1960 and undated
3
16
Greeting Cards, Christmas Cards to Tom Rollins,
1944-1974 and undated
3
17
Greeting Cards, Get Well Cards to Tom Rollins,
1944 and undated
3
18
Greeting Cards, Miscellaneous Cards to Tom Rollins,
1941-1965 and undated
4
1
Greeting Cards, Sympathy Cards to Tom Rollins,
1945 and undated
4
2
Greeting Cards to Tom Rollins from Nelda Rollins (Wife),
undated
4
3
Greeting Cards, Valentine Cards to Tom Rollins,
undated
4
4
Greeting Cards, Wedding Cards to Tom and Nelda Rollins,
undated
4
5
High School Diploma,
1941
4
6
Invitations, Inaugural Festivities,
1941-1971
4
7
Invitations, Social Clubs,
1942-1947 and undated
4
8
Name Cards and Identification Cards,
1941-1966 and undated
4
9
Naval Military Experience,
1945-1946 and undated
4
10
Remembrance Pamphlets and Leaflets,
1943-1978
4
11
Ribbons,
1940 and undated
4
12
Restaurant Menu and Placement,
undated
4
13
Tom Rollins' Sister's Business Letter,
1943
4
14
Tie, Shaving Brush, and Rose with Nina R. Mann
Correspondence,
1969
Memorabilia
4
15
Borden Milk Bottle,
undated
Books
4
16
Introduction to Naval History,
1944
4
17
The United States Navy,
1943
Newspapers
5
Boston Traveler,
1945
(3 issues)
5
Amarillo Sunday News-Globe,
1956
(1 issue)
5
Hockley County Herald,
1954
(1 issue)
5
Gazette-Telegraph,
1969
(1 issue)
5
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
1956-1963
(3 issues)
5
Dallas Times Herald,
1968
(1 issues)
5
Lubbock Morning Journal,
1945
(1 issue)
5
Lubbock Avalanche-Journal,
1960-1991
(13 issues)
5
Toreador (Texas Tech),
1942
(1 issue)
5
Boston Herald,
1945
(2 issues)
6
Memorabilia: Navy Sea Chest and Red Cushion
6
Towel
(1 item)
6
Peach Colored Coin Purse
(1 item)
6
Knives
(2 items)
6
Empty Razor Box
(1 item)
6
Razor Hone
(1 item)
6
Belts
(2 items)
6
Red Metal Container
(1 item)
6
Pair of Eyeglasses with Cases
(4 items)
6
Yellow-Blue Shirt
(1 item)
6
Green (Velvet) Pillowcase
(1 item)
6
Navy Bags
(2 items)
6
Cream Colored Army Blanket
(1 item)
6
Box with Blue Ribbon
(1 item)
6
Flashlight
(1 item)
6
Pair of Eyeglasses
(1 item)
6
Yellow Wallet
(1 item)
6
Yellow Beach Bag
(1 item)
6
Bishop National Bank of Hawaii Bag
(1 item)
6
Mackenzie Lodge Leather/Cloth Id
(1 item)
6
Black Skirt
(1 item)
6
Black Net Hat
(1 item)
6
Green Long Wooden Paddle
(1 item)
6
Black Sea Cap
(1 item)
6
Silver Bracelet
(1 item)
6
Empty Tube for Girdle
(1 item)
6
Red Cushion
(1 item)