Jett Jacob West papers, 1937-1946 | Southern Illinois University Special Collections Research Center

By David Bond

Collection Overview

Title: Jett Jacob West papers, 1937-1946

ID: 1/6/MSS 345

Primary Creator: West, Jett Jacob

Extent: 1.0 Boxes

Arrangement: Arranged inby material type.

Date Acquired: 00/00/2006

Subjects: Coal mines and mining - Illinois

Forms of Material: Flood damage - Illinois - Photographs, Writings.

Languages: English

Abstract

Correspondence, writings, and biographical materials of Jett Jacob West, father of Anne West Lindsey.

Scope and Contents of the Materials

Jett Jacob West (1886-1947) was the father of Anne West Lindsey, Jett West was a traveling auditor for the Peabody Coal Company in Illinois, Kentucky, and West Virginia. He inspected all mines and storerooms for 19 individual coal mines, writing recommendations for reorganization, improvements, and general articles about the Illinois coal industry for local newspapers. He also edited and wrote for an in-house Peabody newsletter, titled “Screenings.”

Besides this work-related writing, West produced creative works for himself and his friends, from high school onward. In this small collection, there are poems and prose by West, as well as non-fiction, correspondence, and some biographical materials. In every case, he displays intelligence, wit, and a great sense of humor. Upon examining this collection, it’s apparent that daughter Elizabeth Anne inherited her writing talent from father, Jett West.

The familial connection between father and daughter is apparent in letters from both Jett and Anne’s collections. Each loved reading, writing, and libraries, as is apparent in one letter thanking Jett and Anne for setting up a library system in Kenvir, Kentucky, through the Peabody Library Association.

Biographical Note

Jett Jacob West was born November 14, 1886 in Blairsville, Illinois to Jacob and Elizabeth West. He married Mae Davis on December 25, 1918. They had one daughter, Elizabeth Ann. He was a traveling auditor for the Peabody Coal Company mines in Illinois, Kentucky and West Virginia for 30 years and died November 1947 in Carterville, Illinois.

Subject/Index Terms

Coal mines and mining - Illinois

Administrative Information

Repository: Southern Illinois University Special Collections Research Center

Access Restrictions: Unrestricted access.

Use Restrictions: To quote in print, or otherwise reproduce in whole or in part in any publication, including on the World Wide Web, any material from this collection, the researcher must obtain permission from (1) the owner of the physical property and (2) the holder of the copyright. Persons wishing to quote from this collection should consult Special Collections Research Center to determine copyright holders for information in this collection. Reproduction of any item must contain the complete citation to the original.

Acquisition Source: Gift

Related Materials: Anne West Lindsay papers.

Preferred Citation: [Item], Jett Jacob West papers, Special Collections Research Center, Southern Illinois University Carbondale.

Box and Folder Listing

Browse by Series:

[Series 1: Biographical materials.],
[Series 2: Writings of Jett West],
[Series 3: West’s correspondence, 1941-46],
[Series 4: Printed material],
[All]

Series 1: Biographical materials.

This series contains four folders of West’s biographical materials; basically, personal items, financial records, a Peabody directory, and photographs.

Box 1

Folder 1: Various personal items belonging to West, including driver’s license, social security card, fishing license, and tickets to 1944 Chicago Democratic National Convention.
Folder 2: West’s financial records, including contract for deed, list of expenses, bonds, and insurance, as well as savings account bank book.
Folder 3: Peabody Coal Company directory statement showing divisional superintendents, mine superintendents, traveling auditors, and chief clerks, 1946 February 7
Folder 4: Three photographs of Ohio River flooding. These photos may or may not have been taken by West, since they are similar to the 111 photographs taken by staff photographers of the Wide World Photograph service during January and February of 1937, which are held in the “Ohio River 1937 Flood Photograph Collection,” also in SCRC., 1937

Browse by Series:

[Series 1: Biographical materials.],
[Series 2: Writings of Jett West],
[Series 3: West’s correspondence, 1941-46],
[Series 4: Printed material],
[All]