NEBRASKA STATE HISTORICAL SOCIETY MANUSCRIPT FINDING AID
RG3958.AM: Viola H. (Bush) Chism, 1871-1959
Papers: 1918-1959
Stella, Richardson County, Neb.: Farm wife; homemaker
Size: 1 box; 0.5 cu.ft.
BACKGROUND NOTE
Viola H. Bush, daughter of Asa and Olive Bush, was born in Nebraska on August 27, 1871. In 1890 she was married to John C. Chism, a native of Kentucky who had come to Nebraska in 1885. The 1900 census shows the Chisms living with Viola’s parents in Porter Precinct, Richardson County, Nebraska. John supported his wife and two children by farming. The census also records that he owned 160 acres in Greeley County, Kansas. Viola Chism was a lifetime resident of Stella, residing within a half-mile radius all of her life. John died on January 8, 1950, but she maintained their home in Stella. She died June 21, 1959.
SCOPE AND CONTENT NOTE
This collection consists of one box of manuscript material arranged in two series: 1) Account Books, 1918-1959 and 2) Miscellany. This material relates to the expenses incurred by Viola and John C. Chism and their family, farmers in Stella, Richardson County, Nebraska. The bulk of this collection consists of the Account Books, 1918-1959, of Series 1 kept by Viola Bush Chism. Entries show a detailed description of items and services bought by the Chism family over a forty-year period. Entries show the date of transaction, the item or service bought, and the cost. Taxes paid are also shown. Volume 4 is the only book which goes into detail on items sold by the Chisms. This volume is in diary form rather than in a list format. The Miscellany of Series 2 includes the constitution of the Porter Center Lyceum, undated, newspaper clippings, and a map.
DESCRIPTION
Series 1 – Account Books, 1918-1959
Box 1
Volume
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- 1918-1923
-
- 1924-1930
-
- 1931-1933
-
- 1932-1941 (items sold)
-
- 1934-1938
-
- 1939 (fractional amount of material)
-
- 1939-1941
-
- 1942
-
- 1943-1945
-
- 1946-1947
-
- 1948
-
- 1949
-
- 1950-1952
-
- 1953-1954
-
- 1955-1959
Series 2 – Miscellany
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- Porter Center Lyceum constitution, undated
Newspaper clippings
Map
- Porter Center Lyceum constitution, undated
ADDED ENTRIES:
Chism, John C., 1865-1950
Chism, Viola H. (Bush), 1871-1959
Economic conditions — Nebraska — Richardson County
Farm life — Nebraska — Richardson County
Porter Center Lyceum (Richardson County, Neb.)
Richardson County (Neb.) — History
Stella (Neb.) — History
AIF/psw 02-22-1980
Encoded TMM 03-10-2010