East Tennessee State University
Archives of Appalachia
Box 70295
Johnson City, Tennessee 37614
E-mail: archives@etsu.edu
Telephone: (423) 439-4338
INTRODUCTION
Title: Papers
Collection Number: Accession No. 165
Physical Desription: 0.5 linear feet; 1 Hollinger box; 1 oversized folder
Creator: Elma Lillian Rankin Beeson
Repository: Archives of Appalachia, East Tennessee State University
ADMINISTRATIVE INFORMATION
Provenance: The papers of Elma Lillian Rankin Beeson were donated to the Archives of Appalachia on June 29, 1983 by her children: D. R. Beeson, Jr., Mary Beeson Ellison, Anne Beeson Gouge, and Betty Beeson Helms.
Access: The papers are open for research.
Processing Information: Karen House completed processing and the papers were opened in 1985.
BIOGRAPHICAL NOTE
Elma Lillian Rankin Beeson was born on May 8, 1889 in Tusculum, Tennessee. She graduated from Tusculum College in 1908 with a degree in music and later studied at music schools in Chicago and New York. She taught music at East Tennessee State Normal School in Johnson City from 1911 until 1914 when bad health forced her to teach privately.
In 1913 Miss Rankin and a group of other instructors traveled to Europe. Elma Rankin became Elma Beeson in 1915 when she married architect D. R. Beeson, Sr. They had four children, D. R. Beeson, Jr.; Mary Beeson Ellison; Anne Beeson Gouge; and Betty Beeson Helms. Elma Rankin Beeson died on January 7, 1979.
SCOPE AND CONTENT NOTE
The Elma Lillian Rankin Beeson Papers contain newspaper clippings, class record books, and photographs pertaining to her teaching career at East Tennessee State Normal School. Also included are extensive photographs, postcards and a diary of her 1913 trip to Europe. The papers also contain part of the Rankin family history and several certificates and awards resulting from Beeson's activities involving Tusculum College and various ladies civic clubs.
Items Removed
A plaque presented to Mrs. Beeson as outstanding member of the Wednesday Morning Music Club, May 1968 has been placed in the Archives of Appalachia artifacts collection. Fifty-five photographs of Mrs. Beeson relating to her association with the Presbyterian Women's Advisory Committee, Community Concert Board, East Tennessee State Normal School and to her trip to Europe have been placed in the special environment storage area for photograph collections under the name of Mrs. Beeson.
Important subjects covered in the collection include:
Beeson, Elma R. (Elma Rankin), 1889-1979
East Tennessee State Normal School
East Tennessee State University
Europe--Description and travel
Music--Instruction and study
Rankin family
Tusculum College
BOX AND FOLDER LIST
Box 1
1. Certificate of Appreciation from Calvary Presbyterian Church, May 16, 1969.
2. Calendar, James Whitcomb Riley, 1914.
3. Europe Diary, 1913.
4. Europe Postcards, 1913.
5. Memorabilia, Including Newspaper Clippings, Part II of Rankin Family History and Fiftieth Wedding Anniversary, 1912-65.
6. Teacher's Class Roll, 1912-13.
7. Teacher's Class Record, East Tennessee State Normal School, 1913-14.
8. Teachers Improved Class Book, Oct.-Jan. ND.
9. Teachers Improved Class Book, Feb.-May ND.
10. Teaching Career, Memorabilia, including Newspaper Clippings, 1908-73.
11. Tusculum Tennessee, Report of Buildings by Chicago Architect Dwight H. McCormick, 1914.
12. Tusculum News, 1973 Vol. II, No. II.
OVERSIZED FOLDER
The following items have been stored in map cabinets by accession number.
1. Tusculum College Diploma, 1914.
2. Tusculum College Instrumental, Music Diploma, May 26, 1904.
3. United States Passport, April 28, 1913.
4. Greeneville Tusculum College, May 14, 1908.
5. Greeneville Tusculum College, Vocal Music Diploma, May 14, 1908.
6. Woman's Auxiliary of the Presbyterian Church, August 17, 1936.
INDEX FOR THE ELMA LILLIAN RANKIN BEESON PAPERS*
*Notation following index term indicates box and folder location of indexed materials. PH means photograph(s) is located in the special environment storage area for photograph collections under accession number.
Anniversary, Fiftieth Wedding; 1-5.
Calvary Presbyterian Church: 1-1; PH.
East Tennessee State Norma School: 1-6; 1-7; 1-8, 1-9, 1-10; PH.
European trip: 1-3; 1-4; PH.
Johnson City Board for Community Concerts: PH.
Rankin Family: 1-5.
Teaching Career: See East Tennessee State Normal School.
Tusculum College: 1-11; 1-12 (Oversized - Map cabinet, drawer 17).
Wednesday Morning Music Club: Archives Artifacts Collection-Beeson, Elma Lillian
Rankin.
MTC 11/00