Holcomb E.M. Jones Photograph Album, 1936-1943, bulk 1936-1940

Summary Information

Abstract

This album documents Holcomb E.M. Jones's time as a student at Columbia College from 1936 to 1940.

At a Glance

Arrangement

Arrangement

This collection is arranged in one series.

• Series I. Photograph Album, 1936-1943

Description

Scope and Content

This collection consists of one-29 x 39 cm-photo album with 125 leaves. Jones documented his days at Columbia College: photographs of his dorm rooms in Hartley Hall, the Columbia Boathouse and crew teams, Varsity Show rehearsals and behind-the-scenes action, a night at the Lion's Den, and football games both at Baker Field and away. Jones also took photographs of King George VI's visit to campus in 1939, the World's Fair in Queens in 1939, and Commencement days 1939 and 1940. The album also includes family portraits and vacations: summers in Lakewood, NJ; Boston, 1938 and 1940; Washington, DC, 1939; Los Angeles road trip, 1939.

• Series I. Photograph Album, 1936-1943

  The album contains Jones's photographs, starting from his arrival at the Columbia College campus in October 1936. At the top right corner of each page, Jones notes the month and year. He includes page headings and captions as well as lists of names of those featured in the photographs. He placed a Sigma Chi designation next to names of his fraternity brothers. The album ends in June 1940. On the next to last page, there is a photograph of Lieutenant Jones (in uniform) at the Ambassador Hotel in Los Angeles, California. Based on the inscription in the back – Madame Chiang Kai-Shek (Soong Mei-ling) was at the Hotel – the photograph is from April 1943.

Using the Collection

Rare Book and Manuscript Library

Restrictions on Access

You will need to make an appointment in advance to use this collection material in the Rare Book and Manuscript Library reading room. You can schedule an appointment once you've submitted your request through your Special Collections Research Account.

This collection is located on-site.

This collection has no restrictions.

Terms Governing Use and Reproduction

Single photocopies may be made for research purposes. The RBML maintains ownership of the physical material only. Copyright remains with the creator and his/her heirs. The responsibility to secure copyright permission rests with the patron.

Preferred Citation

Identification of specific item; Date (if known); Holcomb E.M. Jones Photograph Album; University Archives, Rare Book and Manuscript Library, Columbia University in the City of New York.

Selected Related Material at Columbia

Historical Photograph Collection, 1855-2012 (UA#0003)

Historical Biographical Files [18--?] – 2012 (UA#0004)

Diplomas and Certificates Collection, 1714-2003 (UA#0023)

Accrual

No additions are expected

Ownership and Custodial History

Holly K. Roy donated Jones's photograph album, three portrait photographs and his Columbia College diploma in Summer 2006.

Immediate Source of Acquisition

Source of acquisition--Holly K. Roy. Method of acquisition--Gift; Date of acquisition--2006.

About the Finding Aid / Processing Information

Columbia University Libraries, Rare Book and Manuscript Library

Processing Information

This collection was processed by Jennifer Ulrich. Finding aid written and encoded by Joanna Rios in June 2017.

Revision Description

2017-07-01 File created.

2019-05-20 EAD was imported spring 2019 as part of the ArchivesSpace Phase II migration.

Subject Headings

The subject headings listed below are found in this collection. Links below allow searches at Columbia University through the Archival Collections Portal and through CLIO, the catalog for Columbia University Libraries, as well as ArchiveGRID, a catalog that allows users to search the holdings of multiple research libraries and archives.

All links open new windows.

Genre/Form

Subject

History / Biographical Note

Biographical / Historical

Holcomb "Hokes" E.M. Jones was born September 17, 1914, and grew up in New Britain, Connecticut. He entered Columbia College in the fall of 1936 and joined Freshman Football, Freshman Tennis and Crew. Jones was also active in Columbia Dramatic Group and Columbia University Players. He served as the Captain of the Varsity Show's Pony Ballet in 1940. He was a member of the Sigma Chi fraternity on campus, served twice as its president, and, in his senior year, moved to the fraternity's "new" house on 113th Street. A popular member of the Class of 1940, Jones was voted both "most handsome" and permanent Class President. After graduation, Jones worked in sales for the Vick Chemical Company in New York, but soon after (October 1941), he joined the Army Air Forces (AAF). He trained at Helena Aerotech, in Helena, Arkansas (May 1941) and later at the Selfridge Air Field in Michigan (November 1941). While transporting men and supplies in Alaska, Lieutenant Jones' plane crashed on July 29, 1943 and he died as a result of the injuries a week later.