Descriptive Summary
Bisbee, Helen Madora
Helen Madora Bisbee
Papers,
1874-1988 and undated
Correspondence and
personal papers of Helen Madora Bisbee and Bisbee family members from 1874-1988
and undated.
S86.1
Southwest Collection/Special Collections
Library, Texas Tech University
13 Boxes (11.0 linear
feet)
English.
Biographical Sketch
Helen Bisbee, a native of Benjamin, Texas, was born in 1904. She taught school
in Benjamin, Trent, Wink, and Phillips, Texas. During World War II, Bisbee served
in the Women's Army Auxiliary Corps (WAACS) and was stationed for a time in New
Guinea and the Philippines. After retiring from the Phillips school district in
1966, she joined the Peace Corps and helped to train teachers in British Honduras
(now Belize). She returned to Texas in 1968, but soon left to teach Navajo children
at Fort Defiance, Arizona for two years. She returned to Borger, Texas and participated
in community activities until she moved to John Knox Retirement Village (now Carillon
Senior Living Community) in Lubbock.
Scope and Contents
The collection contains materials pertaining to Helen Bisbee's family, her
experiences in World War II, the Peace Corps, and her career as a teacher. Autobiographical
and genealogical accounts are complimented by extensive correspondence between family
members. In addition to letters exchanged between Helen and her mother Myrtle are letters
from her brothers and sister. There is correspondence also between her father, William
Ferris Bisbee, Sr., and his family that lived in Nebraska dating. This correspondence
dates to the late 19th century. Other materials in the collection relate to Madora
Alexander, Helen's maternal grandmother and a pioneer of Benjamin. Of special interest
are family letters exchanged during World War II between Helen and two of her brothers
that served in the Armed Forces. She also wrote another brother who worked in an Oregon
shipyard. The collection also includes numerous pieces of sheet music and music books,
many of which date to the early 20th century.
Organization
The collection is organized into the following series: Correspondence
(Boxes 1-7); Financial Material (Boxes 7-8); Legal Material (Box 8); Literary
Production (Box 8); Peace Corps Papers (Box 9); Phillips School (Box 9);
Photographs (Box 9); Printed Material (Box 10); and Scrapbook Material (Box
10).
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)
Bisbee, Helen Madora
Alexander, Madora
Bisbee, Myrtle
Bisbee, William Ferris, Sr.
Geographical Locations
Benjamin (Tex.)--History
Knox County (Tex.)--History
Phillips (Tex.)
Wink (Tex.)
Subjects
Peace Corps
Women's Army Auxiliary Corps
Teaching--Texas
Collection accession #(s):
87-8885-B, 88-0178-B, 88-0256-B
Gifts, 1986-1988
Access Restrictions
Open for research
Processed by
Karen Hicks, 2004
Preferred Citation
Helen Madora Bisbee Papers, 1874-1988 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:
- Knox County Texas Photograph Collection, SWCPC #70,
1883-1920
Collection Inventory
Correspondence, 1874-1988 and undated
To Bisbee, Helen M.
1
1
From Myrtle Bisbee,
1921-1937
1
2
From Myrtle Bisbee,
1938
1
3
From Myrtle Bisbee,
1939
1
4
From Myrtle Bisbee,
1940
1
5
From Myrtle Bisbee,
1941
1
6
From Myrtle Bisbee,
1942
1
7
From Myrtle Bisbee,
January 4, 1943-June
14, 1943
1
8
From Myrtle Bisbee,
July 5, 1943-December
27, 1943
1
9
From Myrtle Bisbee,
1944
1
10
From Myrtle Bisbee,
1945
1
11
From Myrtle Bisbee,
1946
2
1
From Myrtle Bisbee,
1947
2
2
From Myrtle Bisbee,
1948
2
3
From Myrtle Bisbee,
1948
2
4
From Myrtle Bisbee,
1949
2
5
From Myrtle Bisbee,
1950
2
6
From Myrtle Bisbee,
1951
2
7
From Myrtle Bisbee,
1952
2
8
From Myrtle Bisbee,
undated
2
9
From Charles Bisbee,
1924-1966 and undated
3
1
From James Robert Bisbee,
1934-1942 and
undated
3
2
From James Robert Bisbee,
1943-1977 and
undated
3
3
From Lula B. Blakey (fellow WAAC),
1945-1981 and
undated
3
4
From Richard S. Brannin Jr.,
1932-1973
3
5
From Daughters of the American Revolution,
1928-1932
3
6
From various WAAC Comrades,
1945-1946 and
undated
3
7
From Wink Independent School District,
1938-1946
3
8
General,
1912-1926
3
9
General,
1927
3
10
General,
1928-1929
3
11
General,
1930-1933
4
1
General,
1934
4
2
General,
1935
4
3
General,
1936
4
4
General,
1937
4
5
General,
1938
4
6
General,
1939
4
7
General,
1940
4
8
General,
1941
4
9
General,
1942
4
10
General,
1943
4
11
General,
1944
4
12
General,
1945-1954
4
13
General,
1955-1959
5
1
General,
1960-1986
5
2
General,
undated
From Bisbee, Helen M.
5
3
To Myrtle Bisbee,
1921-1940
5
4
To Myrtle Bisbee,
1942-1943
5
5
To Myrtle Bisbee,
1944
5
6
To Myrtle Bisbee,
1945
5
7
To Myrtle Bisbee,
1946-1948
5
8
To Myrtle Bisbee,
1950-1952
5
9
Bisbee Family Round Robin Letters,
1928-1953 and
undated
5
10
Sibling Round Robin Letters,
1953-1958 and
undated
5
11
Miscellaneous,
1964 and undated
Family Members
5
12
To Madora Alexander (Helen's Maternal Grandmother)-
General,
1907-1933 and
undated
5
13
C. G. Bisbee to His Wife (W. F. Bisbee Sr.'s parents),
1907
5
14
To Charles A. Bisbee- General,
1915-1939 and undated
5
15
To Grace Bisbee- General,
1920-1964 and
undated
5
16
To James Robert Bisbee- General,
1921-1950
5
17
From James Robert Bisbee- Bisbee Family Round Robin
Letters,
1945
5
18
To LeRoy Bisbee- General,
1927-1950
5
19
LeRoy Bisbee to his Sister Grace (W. F. Bisbee Sr.'s
siblings),
1905
To Myrtle Bisbee
5
20
From Charles A. Bisbee,
1928-1952 and
undated
6
1
From James Robert Bisbee,
1933-1943
6
2
From James Robert Bisbee,
1944
6
3
From James Robert Bisbee,
1945
6
4
From James Robert Bisbee,
1946-1952
6
5
From William Ferris (W. F.) Bisbee Sr.,
1912
6
6
From Mrs. Hamilton, circa
1910
6
7
General,
1899-1909
6
8
General,
1910-1919
6
9
General,
1921-1926
6
10
General,
1927-1929
6
11
General,
1930-1939
6
12
General,
1940-1949
6
13
General,
1950-1952
6
14
General,
undated
6
15
Bisbee Family Round Robin Letters from Myrtle
Bisbee
6
16
To William Ferris Bisbee Sr. from Myrtle Bisbee,
1912-1913
6
17
To William Ferris Bisbee Sr.- General,
1874-1900
7
1
To William Ferris Bisbee Sr.- General,
1901-1910
7
2
To William Ferris Bisbee Sr.- General,
1911-1922 and undated
7
3
From William Ferris Bisbee Sr., Bisbee Family Round
Robin Letters,
1921
7
4
From William Ferris Bisbee Sr.- General,
1894-1904 and undated
7
5
To William Ferris Bisbee Jr. (Bill),
1931-1937
7
6
Miscellaneous,
1896-1940 and undated
7
7
Education Material- Music Class Notes and Assignment,
1938-1950
Financial Material, 1917-1973 and undated
Helen M. Bisbee
7
8
Bank Deposit Slips,
1930-1941
7
9
Bank Deposit Slips,
1950-1954
7
10
Bank Statements,
1924-1925
7
11
Bank Statements,
1926
7
12
Bank Statements,
1927
7
13
Bank Statements,
1928
7
14
Bank Statements,
1929
7
15
Bank Statements,
1930
7
16
Bank Statements,
1931
7
17
Bank Statements,
1932
7
18
Bank Statements,
1933
7
19
Bank Statements,
1934
7
20
Bank Statements,
1935
7
21
Bank Statements,
1936
7
22
Bank Statements,
1937
7
23
Bank Statements,
1938
8
1
Bank Statements,
1939
8
2
Bank Statements,
1940
8
3
Bank Statements,
1941
8
4
Bank Statements,
1942-1949
8
5
Bank Statements,
1965
8
6
Bank Statements,
1966
8
7
Bank Statements- Arizona,
1970-1971
8
8
Bank Statements- Texas,
1971-1972
8
9
Income Tax- Copy of 1963 Return,
1964
8
10
Insurance- Automobile,
1951-1973
8
11
Insurance- Home Owners,
1954-1956
8
12
Insurance, Life, Premium Receipts,
1931-1942
8
13
Insurance, Mortgage,
1957-1961 and
undated
8
14
Mortgage,
1954-1965
8
15
Notes,
1927-1931
8
16
Property Tax,
1967
8
17
Receipts,
1930-1955 and
undated
8
18
Records of Bonds Cashed- for Income Tax Report,
circa 1954-1955
Family Members
8
19
Charles A. Bisbee- Bank Statement,
1928
8
20
Charles A. Bisbee- Life Insurance Receipt,
1938
8
21
LeRoy Bisbee- Bank Statement,
1931
8
22
Myrtle Bisbee- Bank Statements,
1926-1927
8
23
William Ferris Bisbee Sr.- Accounts Book,
undated
8
24
William Ferris Bisbee Sr.- Passbook, First National
Bank, Benjamin, Texas,
1917-1920
8
25
Mattie White- Bank Statement,
1928
8
26
Fort Defiance Elementary School,
1969-1970
Legal Material, 1924-1965
8
27
Contract of Sale- Borger House,
1953
8
28
Division Order (Oil Royalty Interest),
1958
8
29
Lease with Option to Buy (Draft) for Benjamin Post,
1928
8
30
Teacher's Contract,
1925-1965
8
31
Texas Teacher Certificate,
1924-1955
Literary Production, 1880-1985 and undated
Helen Madora Bisbee
8
32
Character Sketches of Students, by Helen M. Bisbee,
undated
8
33
Diaries,
1924-1939
8
34
"Duke of Sully"- Student Composition by Helen M.
Bisbee,
1919
8
35
"Fads"- Composition by Helen M. Bisbee,
undated
8
36
"Helen Madora Bisbee"- Brief Autobiographical Account
by Helen Bisbee,
1985
8
37
"My Story", by Helen M. Bisbee,
1977
8
38
Protestantism in Latin America by Helen M. Bisbee,
undated
8
39
Reflections on Love and Loss by Helen Bisbee,
undated
8
40
"Sunday Afternoon Blues", by Helen M. Bisbee,
circa
1937
8
41
"Thoughts on Teaching", by Helen M. Bisbee,
1930s
8
42
"The Way it Was: 1942-1945"- WAAC Experiences, by
Helen M. Bisbee,
undated
8
43
Wink, Texas, by Helen M. Bisbee,
undated
8
44
"Mistress of the C-80", a play by Helen Bisbee,
Dorothy House, and Mabel Moorhouse,
circa
1918
8
45
Myrtle Bisbee- Book Review of Vain Shadow by Hatzell
Spence,
undated
8
46
William Ferris Sr Bisbee.- "Fable",
1880
8
47
William Ferris Sr Bisbee.- Draft Eulogy/Obituary for
Mrs. Coffman,
undated
8
48
William Ferris Bisbee Sr.- Miscellaneous,
undated
8
49
"The Name and Family of Bisbee",
1985
8
50
"Our Alexander Ancestry",
1985
8
51
Student Compositions,
1930-1946 and
undated
8
52
Student Compositions- Who's Who and Class Prophecy,
1931
8
53
"When Women Know Their Rights", hand-written manuscript
of play,
undated
8
54
McMurry College,
1927-1953 and
undated
Peace Corps Papers, 1966-1986 and undated
9
1
Lincoln University Training,
1966 and
undated
9
2
Orange Walk, British Honduras,
1966 and
undated
9
3
Orange Walk, British Honduras,
1967 and
undated
9
4
Orange Walk, British Honduras,
1968 and
undated
Post Peace Corps
9
5
Post Peace Corps- Correspondence,
1969
9
6
Correspondence,
1970-1978
9
7
Correspondence,
1981-1987 and
undated
9
8
Reminiscences,
1984 and
undated
9
9
Printed Material,
1961-1967 and
undated
9
10
Printed Material- Newsclippings,
1969-1986 and
undated
9
11
Trinidad Training,
1968 and
undated
9
12
Phillips Lions Club,
1960-1966
Phillips School, 1946-1977 and undated
9
13
Bisbee Darlings Presented Program- "Take a Sentimental
Journey with the Bisbee Darlings",
1966
9
14
Class Rosters,
1946-1956 and
undated
9
15
Correspondence,
1949-1986 and
undated
9
16
Correspondence- From Students,
1947
9
17
Literary Production- Tribute to Retiring Teachers,
undated
9
18
Photograph- 5th Grade Music Presentation,
1947
Printed Material
9
19
High School Handbook,
1952
9
20
Newsclippings,
1948-1946 and
undated
9
21
"Wee Hawks"- Yearbook,
1963
9
22
Memorabilia- Guest Register,
1966
9
23
P. T. A., Christmas Program Presentations,
1960-1965
9
24
Miscellaneous,
1946-1977 and
undated
Photographs, late 1930s-1975 and undated
9
25
Students and Colleagues "School Pictures",
undated
9
26
Wink, Texas, in the Late 1930s,
1930s
9
27
Miscellaneous,
1951-1975 and
undated
Printed Material, 1910-1988 and undated
10
1
"A Bit of Cheer",
1922
10
2
Child's Cloth Book,
undated
10
3
"The Incas" by Raul Braun, The Rosicrucian Digest,
March and
May,1967
10
4
Lebanese and Syrian Costumes, Portfolio of watercolor
prints by Georges Cyr
undated
10
5
"Life-Care Retirement Living", John Knox Village of West
Texas, Lubbock, Texas, by Christian Services International,
circa
1978
10
6
Magazine Clippings- Home Plans/Home Decorating,
undated
10
7
"The Mayan Civilization" by Raul Braun, of The
Rosicrucian Digest,
January,
1968
10
8
Music Books and Sheet Music,
1918-1975 and
undated
10
9
Music Books- Religious,
1910-1922 and
undated
Newsclippings
10
10
Helen Bisbee,
1952-1978 and
undated
10
11
Family and Friends,
1935-1984 and
undated
10
12
Music Programs,
circa 1969 and
undated
10
13
Ring Lardner,
undated
10
14
Will Rogers,
1935
Franklin Delano Roosevelt,
1943
10
16
Trent School,
undated
10
17
Miscellaneous,
1933-1985 and
undated
10
18
Newsletter- Ex-Student Association: Benjamin, Texas,
1975-1988
10
19
Newsletter- Teacher Retirement Systerm,
1982
10
20
The Reader's Digest, November,
1945
10
21
Residential Retirement Center- Hendrick Medical Center,
Abilene, Texas,
undated
10
22
Santa Barbara County Courthouse,
undated
10
23
"Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs",
undated
10
24
"The Story of St. Andrew United Methodist Church",
Borger, Texas,
1983
10
25
United Methodist Women,
1978
10
26
"Welcome, San Francisco Port of Embarkation" (Camp
Stoneman), by Post War Information Center,
undated
10
27
The Wink Wildcat- Yearbook,
1939
Teaching, 1936-1976 and undated
10
28
Delta Kappa Gamma National Honor Society for Women
Teachers,
1936-1976
10
29
Delta Kappa Gamma- Plaque for Founder's Banquet, Beta
Kappa Chapter,
1937
10
30
"Planting a Garden: The Development and Portrayal of a
Unit of Work in Elementary Science- Third Grade" by Margaret Logsdon,
undated
10
31
Printed Material- "Music Questions and Answers for
Public School Use", by Glen Smith,
undated
10
32
Schedule, Benjamin School,
undated
Scrapbook Material, 1896-1975 and undated
10
33
Myrtle Bisbee,
1933 and
undated
10
34
William Ferris Bisbee Sr.,
1896 and
undated
10
35
Certificate of Honor- Best Teacher Nomination,
1948
10
34
Memorabilia,
undated
10
37
Music, Drama, Commencement Programs,
1922-1975 and
undated
10
38
Poems, Various Authors,
undated
10
39
Recipes,
undated
10
40
Scrapbook,
undated
10
41
Weight and Fortune Cards from Scale,
1926-1927
10
43
Miscellaneous,
undated
10
43
Miscellaneous,
1934 and
undated
11
1
Scrapbook- Empty,
undated
11
2
Printed Material- Music Books and Sheet Music,
1886-1927 and
undated
12
1
Printed Material- Music Books and Sheet Music,
1881-1946 and
undated
13
1
Printed Material- Music Books and Sheet Music,
1890-1945 and
undated