Inventory of the Jesse James Bailey Papers, 1916-1964

Collection Number 5260

unc seal
Manuscripts Department, University Library of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Collection Information
block Descriptive Summary
block Administrative Information
block Online Catalog Headings
block Biographical Note
block Collection Overview
plus Detailed Description of the Collection
block Items Separated
block Related Collections
Contact Information:
Manuscripts Department
CB#3926, Wilson Library
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Chapel Hill, NC 27514-8890
Phone: 919/962-1345
Fax: 919/962-3594
Email: mss@email.unc.edu
URL: http://www.lib.unc.edu/mss/
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Descriptive Summary

Repository
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Library. Southern Historical Collection.
Creator
Bailey, Jesse James, 1888-1980.
Title
Jesse James Bailey Papers, 1916-1964 (bulk 1920-1930)
Call Number
5260
Language of Materials
Materials in English
Extent
Items: About 300
Linear Feet: 0.5
Abstract
Jesse James Bailey was born in Madison County, N.C. He served as sheriff of Madison County, 1920-1922, and of Buncombe County, 1928-1930. Much of his career as sheriff was spent enforcing Prohibition laws. In addition to his work as sheriff, Bailey worked for 58 years as a telegrapher and a detective for the Southern Railroad.
The collection is chiefly correspondence relating to Jesse James Bailey's work as sheriff of Madison County, N.C., and of Buncombe County, N.C. The bulk of the correspondence is dated 1920-1923. Most are carbon copies of letters written by Bailey to sheriffs of neighboring counties, often regarding the enforcement of Prohibition laws. Other correspondents include concerned citizens and law offenders. Topics include raids against liquor stills, endorsements for township deputies, tax collecting, and the issuing of warrants. Also included are financial and legal materials; clippings; writings; printed materials; and photographs, among them a picture of Bailey with liquor distilling apparatus.

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Administrative Information

Restrictions to Access
No restrictions.
Acquisitions Information
Purchase from Charles Apfelbaum of Watchung, N.J., February 2006 (Acc. 100333).
Processing Information
Processed by: Margaret Dickson, June 2006
Encoded by: Margaret Dickson, June 2006
Preferred Citation
[Identification of item], in the Jesse James Bailey Papers #5260, Southern Historical Collection, The Wilson Library, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
Copyright Notice
Copyright is retained by the authors of items in these papers, or their descendants, as stipulated by United States copyright law.
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Online Catalog Headings

These and related materials may be found under the following headings in online catalogs.

Bailey, Jesse James, 1888-1980.
Buncombe County (N.C.)--History.
Buncombe County (N.C.)--Social life and customs.
Distilling, Illicit--North Carolina.
Distilling, Illicit--North Carolina--Photographs.
Law enforcement--North Carolina.
Madison County (N.C.)--History.
Madison County (N.C.)--Social life and customs.
Prohibition--North Carolina.
Prohibition--United States.
Sheriffs--North Carolina--History--20th century.
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Related Collections

Jesse James Bailey Oral History, UNC-Asheville Special Collections
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Biographical Note

Jesse James Bailey was born in Madison County, N.C. He served as sheriff of Madison County, 1920-1922, and of Buncombe County, 1928-1930. Much of his career as sheriff was spent enforcing Prohibition laws. In addition to his work as sheriff, Bailey worked for 58 years as a telegrapher and a detective for the Southern Railroad.

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Collection Overview

The collection is chiefly correspondence relating to Jesse James Bailey's work as sheriff of Madison County, N.C., and of Buncombe County, N.C. The bulk of the correspondence is dated 1920-1923. Most are carbon copies of letters written by Bailey to sheriffs of neighboring counties, often regarding the enforcement of Prohibition laws. Other correspondents include concerned citizens and law offenders. Topics include raids against liquor stills, endorsements for township deputies, tax collecting, and the issuing of warrants. Also included are financial and legal materials; clippings; writings; printed materials; and photographs, among them a picture of Bailey with liquor distilling apparatus.

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Arrangement of Collection

1. Correspondence
2. Other Papers
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Items Separated

Photographs, P-5260/1
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Detailed Description of the Collection

1. Correspondence, 1916-1964 and undated.

About 250 items.
Arrangement: chronological.
Folder 1
1916, 1920
There is only one letter dated 1916.
Folder 2
1921
Folder 3
1922-1924
Folder 4
1926-1930, 1964, and undated
There is only one letter dated 1964.

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2. Other Papers, 1925-1974 and undated.

About 50 items.
Folder 5-6
Financial and legal materials, clippings, writings, printed materials
Image Folder P-5260/1
Four photographs
One picture of Jesse James Bailey in front of a pile of liquor distilling materials; one picture of Jesse James Bailey with a banjo and four other men; and two pictures of an unidentified house.

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