Jerry D. Bailey Collection

Summary: The donor is the great nephew of Earl S. Bailey. They are both descendants of the W. B. Fondren family of Weatherford, Texas. Fondren was a friend of General Edward H. Tarrant, for whom Tarrant County is named. Tarrant died at Fondren's home in 1858 and was buried temporarily in the Fondren Cemetery. Earl Stephen Bailey was killed in France during World War I. The collection contains Bailey family correspondence during this era, photographs, and honors.

Cowboy on horse in corral

Cowboy standing next to chair

Correspondence
 

  • From Earl Stephen Bailey to his mother, Lena Bailey from Camp Bowie May 28, 1918 - July 6, 1918. Typed transcriptions. 7 letters
  • Postcard message home, Washington DC, July 14, 1918
  • From New York, Camp Upton, Long Island. July 21 and July 26, 1918
  • Correspondence from "Somewhere in France", Oct. 2, 1918
  • From mother to Earl, returned. Sept. 29, 1918; November 24, 1918 with note attached saying: Deceased October 8, 1918
  • April 20, 1920, from James A. Dixon to Lena Bailey on conditions of those killed.
  • Dec. 15, 1918, from Olive Adams to Lena Bailey on lack of news from Earl; Family had  not been informed of his death
  • Order # 15250, April 1, 1919, honoring Earl S. Bailey, as a brave and remarkable
     soldier, October 8, 1918, near St-Etienne, killed in the course of action signed by Petain; Croix de Guerre.
  • Cover letter from donor giving biographical information on Earl Stephen Bailey March 4, 2004.

Photographs
 

  • Earl S. Bailey, at Van Horn holding his lasso, wearing spurs, a working cowboy, 1912
  • Earl S. Bailey in a photographer's studio, no date
  • Earl S. Bailey seated on horse in a corral, wearing chaps. Two women on fence behind him, wearing cloche hats and coats. Van Horn, Texas, 1916
  • Earl S. Bailey in a photographer's studio, Fort Worth, 1918, in uniform, wearing leggings.
  • Cemetery in France, cross with Earl S. Bailey, # 165, U. S. A. 1918
  • Re-burial of Earl S. Bailey in Odessa, Texas, 1921. Flag draped coffin, several men in Army uniforms behind. Ector County Cemetery