Betty Harless Papers
1913-2000
3 linear feet
Collection Number 160
Prepared by Patricia A. Threatt
August 2003
CITATION: Betty Harless Papers, Collection No. 160, Box number, Folder number, Archives and Special Collections Department, Frazar Memorial Library, McNeese State University.
Archives and Special Collections Department
Frazar Memorial Library
McNeese State University
Biographical Sketch
Elizabeth Lee "Betty" Harless was born in Berwick, Louisiana on January 12, 1922. She was the daughter of Denver Lee and Katie Harless. Denver Harless was owner of the Harless Lumber Company, previously the Bass-Harless Lumber Company. Betty Harless graduated from the Northwestern State College (now Northwestern State University of Louisiana) in 1943 with a bachelors degree. For a short time she worked for the school board in Franklin, Louisiana, but the majority of her career was spent as a secretary for the Lake Charles City School System (now the Calcasieu Parish School System). She was involved in the National Secretaries Association and was named Secretary of the Year for the Texas-Louisiana Division in 1961. She was also a member of the Lake Charles Teachers Association, the Louisiana Teachers Association, the National Education Association, Phi Chi Theta (an honorary fraternity for women majoring in business), and the American Association of University Women. In her private life, she was an accomplished artist, working first in oils, then later in watercolor. Her subjects included the flora of Southwest Louisiana and landscape scenes. Betty Harless died September 24, 2002.
Scope and Content Note
The collection, in 3 records storage boxes, consists of four series: Lake Charles City Schools, the National Secretaries Association, the Louisiana Music Educators Association, and Personal papers. The Lake Charles City Schools Series presents a snapshot of the school system during the 1950s and 1960s. During this time, the city school system merged with the parish school system and was desegregated. This series includes payroll and personnel information; school board meeting minutes and notes; financial information; construction documents; teachers handbooks and other pamphlets; lawsuits filed against the school system; and historical information.
The National Secretaries Association Series consists of scrapbooks and photographs of her membership in the association, programs and notes of seminars Miss Harless attended, and booklets outlining good secretarial training.
The Louisiana Music Educators Association Series consists of documents collected by Miss Harless during her membership in the association, 1974-1975. Documents include board meeting minutes, rosters of music teachers, and membership information.
The Personal Papers Series consists of letters to Betty Harless from family and friends, mostly during World War II. Her cousins, George and Charles Gleason wrote of their wartime experiences in the Pacific, Australia, and at the U.S. Maritime Service Training Station at Sheepshead Bay, New York. Government censors clipped out certain words in one of these letters. Miss Harless' brothers, Gerald "Dinkie" Harless and D.L. "Sonny" Harless, Jr. also corresponded from LSU and Camp Wallace, Texas. Also included in the Personal Papers is 23 photographs of the Harless Lumber Company's logging operations and machinery.
Container List
Series I. Lake Charles City Schools
Location
Box
Folder
Description
H-4-11
1
1
Lake Charles City Schools Payroll records 1913-1914; 1921-1949. Lists each employee's name and salary.
2-4
Notebook of teacher salaries with payment schedules. Each page has one employee's salary record, including years of experience and education history. Pages are divided by school. Includes legislative directives on teacher salaries and loose individual employee salary sheets, 1965-67.
5
Blue Cross Insurance information - cards and accounts of various teachers, 1966.
6
Various personnel docs: Retired and deceased teachers [ca. 1966]; List of LCCS Personnel [1966-1967]; Letter from the La. School Boards Assn. explaining the Federal Minimum Wage Law [October 14, 1966]; Leave requests [1966-1967].
7
Changes in the teacher retirement system. House and Senate bills and circulars from the State Department of Education, 1965-1967.
8
School bus drivers minimum salary schedule, July, 1965.
9
Benefit laws for professional personnel employed in the public elementary and secondary schools of La., July 1, 1961.
10
Notes for School Board meetings with accompanying documents and hand-written notes, August, 1948 - 1951 (in reverse chronological order).
11
Notes for School Board meetings with accompanying documents and hand-written notes, 1952 - 1953 (in reverse chronological order).
12
Notes for School Board meetings with accompanying documents and hand-written notes, 1954 - June 30, 1955 (in reverse chronological order).
13
Note pages of School Board meetings [in shorthand, n.d.].
Location
Box
Folder
Description
H-4-11
1
14
Policies and regulations of La. School Boards 1959-1960 by Donald E. Shipp and C.W. Hilton, La. Education Research Assoc., Baton Rouge, La. 1960.
15
Bank statements and canceled checks for the City Schools Incidental Fund, 7/1/66 - 6/30/67.
16
Bank statements and canceled checks for the LC School Board Summer School Account, 7/1/66 - 6/30/67.
17
Financial reports from individual schools, 1966-1967.
18
Budget information for Reynaud Junior High, 1964-1966.
19
Approval of the LC City Schools budget, 1966-1967, from the State Dept. of Education.
20
Reports by the Legislative Auditor, 1965 & 1966
21
Report from the State Supervisor of Public Funds, 1963
22
Construction documents for the new junior high at W.O. Boston. Includes photos, descriptions, and legal documents regarding the purchase of houses in the neighborhood by the School Board for demolition to make way for the new school building, August 1962 - July 1963.
23
Construction documents for the installation of a new steam heating boiler in Central School, May-June, 1965.
24
Construction documents for the installation of air conditioning in various schools, 1955-1967.
25-26
Construction documents for various buildings in the school system.
27
Various bids for vehicles, including school bus bids, 1963-67.
28
Leasing of athletic facilities to the LC Pelicans, a semi-professional football club, 1966.
29
Purchasing information for band instruments and uniforms, August, 1965.
H-4-11
2
1
Bond sales, 1963-1967.
2
Desegregation documents, March, 1965 - April, 1967.
3
Consolidation of the city and parish school systems, 1966.
Location
Box
Folder
Description
H-4-11
2
4
State equalization fund program, 1966-1967.
5
LC City Schools Agreements with Drew Manual Training School [to provide part-time vocational training for Watson Jr. HS, Reynaud Jr. HS, and Boston HS students] September, 1959 - September, 1962.
6
School bus reports for each school with the name of each student and attendance records, 1965-1966.
7
School bus reports for each school with the name of each student and attendance records, 1966-1967.
8
Principal's Session Reports for various schools, 1964-1965
9
Inventory of "Shattuck Street," n.d.
10
Order for textbooks, 1967
11
Home Ec reports, 1966-1967.
12
Services for exceptional children, including statistics and an agreement between McNeese State College and the LC City School Board to provide services for exceptional children, 1964-1966.
13
Evaluation of Pearl Watson Junior High School, 1964
14
Biography of H.C. Drew, n.d.
15
Southern Assoc. approval of membership for Boston HS, LCHS, and Pearl Watson, 1967.
16
Annual School report from the state department of education for Lake Charles High School, 1965-66.
17
Southwest Educational Development Lab membership documents, August - September, 1966.
18
Title I & II (Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965), 1966.
19
Title V of the National Defense Education Act of 1958 (Testing, counseling, and guidance) Report, 1965-66.
20
Economic Opportunity Act, 1964
21
Harlon E. Rose v. American Photograph Corporation, et al, 1965. Suit regarding Yearbook production.
Location
Box
Folder
Description
H-4-11
2
22
Rickey Dale County, et al. v. LC School Board, et al., August, 1966.
23
Vocational Education statistics, 1964-1966.
24
List of insurance policies held by the LCCSB, 1966-1971
25
Press releases, news clippings, campaign flyers, etc., 1952-1999, although most are un-dated. Includes an issue of News & Views, the newsletter of the Lake Charles Teachers' Association from May, 1964 announcing "Betty Harless Day."
26
Copy of a letter from BH to Bill Dunn regarding LC City School finances and history [October 23, 1988]. Letter from Bill Dunn thanking BH for the information [October 27, 1988].
27
LC City Schools Teachers' Handbook, August, 1952.
28
LC City Schools Teachers' Handbook, August, 1953.
29
LC City Schools Teachers' Handbook, August, 1954.
30
LC City Schools Teachers' Handbook, August, 1955.
31
LC City Schools Teachers' Handbook, August, 1958.
32
LC City Schools Teachers' Handbook, August, 1959.
33
LC City Schools Teachers' Handbook, August, 1960.
34
LC City Schools Teachers' Handbook, 1962-1963.
35
LC City Schools Teachers' Handbook, 1965-1966.
36
LC City Schools Teachers' Handbook, 1966-1967.
37
LC City Schools 1937 to 1967 Booklet [signed by author, G.W. Ford]
38
1967 Evaluation - Title I LC City School Board
39
1929-1979 Graduates of Second Ward High School changed in 1949 to W.O. Boston High School
40
LCHS Class of 1939 40-year Reunion booklet
41
Mandatory curriculum requirements for the public schools of Terrebonne parish, September 1, 1961. Includes resolutions regarding curriculum requirements regarding Communism, Racism, Substance Abuse, and other subjects.
Location
Box
Folder
Description
H-4-11
2
42
"Nothing Matters More" booklet explaining various aspects of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965.
43
Work Conference for Educational Secretaries, University of Texas, 1955. Folder includes topics discussed, newspaper clippings, and itineraries.
44
Financial Accounting for public schools by the Federal Security Agency, Office of Education, Washington D.C. Revised August 1948.
45
Action and Reaction: Public Relations for Educational Secretaries by the National Association of Educational Secretaries, June, 1957.
46
Print it right: How to Plan, Write, and design school public relations materials by the National School Public Relations Association, February, 1953.
47
Various statistics for the 1966-67 school year, list of superintendents, notes on tasks for the School Board office, drivers ed teachers, and the milk program.
48
Statistics for the Speech and Hearing Program, 1965-67
49
One 8 x 10 b/w photo of the school board staff, ca. 1965.
13 slides of children doing science projects, June, 1960.
8 slides labeled, "Mrs. Ford's party, 1960."
7 Unidentified slides, 1958-59.
3 slides labeled, "Christmas '57 Office Party."
6 slides labeled, "LCTA [Lake Charles Teachers Assn.] Party, April, 1958."
One slide labeled, "Kathleen Hoffpaiur, Asa's at Barbecue. Duett camp, June, 1958."
One slide labeled, "Certificate of Accomplishment 'The Gifted Child' July, 1958."
Rubber stamp, City Public Schools, Superintendent's Office
Series II. National Secretaries Association
Location
Box
Folder
Description
H-4-12
3
1
National Secretaries' Assoc. Port Chapter, Lake Charles, La. Fourth Annual Boss Night Dinner [Menu and list of members], February 15, 1951, Pioneer Club.
2-3
Scrapbook of materials regarding the Certified Professional Secretary exam and congratulations on the 'Secretary of the Year' award, 1954-1962.
4
Newspaper clippings and press releases, 1955, 1961, 1964, 1969, n.d.
5
Telephone techniques by Charles Bury, 1955. Gives tips for telephone etiquette and sales improvement.
6
Secretarial Seminar and Workshop Handbook, 1956-1957. Includes notes regarding the "Better Secretaries Mean Better Business" Seminar held at Lake Charles High School, February 27, 1960.
7
Chapter Procedure Manual of the Texas-Louisiana Division of the National Secretaries Association (International), 1957.
8
Photographs, slides, and negatives of various meetings, social gatherings, award ceremonies, and trips, 1957-1962.
9
Workshop for Educational Secretaries, University of Colorado, July, 1958.
10
Certificate from the NSA naming Harless a Certified Professional Secretary, 1960.
11
Secretarial Seminars and Conferences: Winnie, TX, March 9, 1960; Houston, TX, October 31, 1964; Freeport, TX, February 13, 1965; Houston, TX, March 7, 1959; and Alexandria, La., March 23, 1963.
12
The Texana published by the Texas-Louisiana Division, National Secretaries Assoc. September 1961. Includes a letter and a copy of an article written by Harless regarding the "Secretary of the Year" award.
13
The Secretary. Volume 24, number 2, February, 1964. "Let's Talk Business."
H-4-12
3
14
Conference for Secretaries, University of Southwestern Louisiana, January - March, 1965.
15
Secretarial Conference, McNeese State College, April 24, 1965.
16
Bylaws and Standing Rules Texas-Louisiana Division, National Secretaries Association (International), 1966-1967.
Series III. Louisiana Music Educators Association, Inc.
H-4-12
3
17
New Orleans District, Louisiana Federation of Music Clubs. Bulletin and Directory, 1972-1973.
18
Membership correspondence and roster of members, 1973-1975.
19
Miscellaneous ephemera (n.d.) and documents, including a report on "Music in our Schools Day" (August 16, 1973) and a list of the parishes in each of the LMEA districts (n.d.).
20
Directories of music teachers:
La. Music Teachers, Nonpublic and Private, 1974-1975
Music Teachers in Institutions of Higher Learning, ca. 1974.
Calcasieu Parish Music Teachers, 1974-1975.
21
Music Teachers, Louisiana Public Schools, 1974-1975.
22
Board meeting minutes, resolutions, and supporting documents, September, 1974 - January, 1975.
23
Expense vouchers, receipts, and budgets, November, 1974 - May, 1975.
Series IV. Personal papers
Location
Box
Folder
Description
H-4-12
3
24
Delta Kappa Gamma Society:
A Brief History, ca. 1970.
Joint meeting [program], May 4, 1974
Initiation Certificate, May 4, 1974.
Louisiana Deltion, May, 1975.
News of the Delta Kappa Gamma Society, Intl., November, 1975.
The Delta Kappa Gamma Bulletin, AOur Golden Anniversary, DKG 1929-1979, Fall, 1979.
Annual report of the Chapter Treasurer, July 15, 1995.
Certificate of Appreciation for 25 years of service, March, 2000.
The Delta Kappa Gamma Song, n.d.
DKG pin in the shape of Louisiana, n.d.
25
Letters to Harless, 1939-1941.
26
Letters to Harless, 1942.
27
Letters to Harless, 1943.
28
Letters to Harless, January - June, 1944.
29
Letters to Harless, July - December, 1944.
30
Letters to Harless, January - March, 1945.
31
Letters to Harless, April - August, 1945; March 31, 1947; and August 7, 1949.
32
Biographies of Harless, including professional positions and artistic associations, n.d.
33
Snapshots of a group of friends known as the "Goosport Five," Betty Harless, Mary Scalisi, Hazel Trouard (Mrs. R.E. Roy), Claudia Trahan, and Marie Landry. 1938-1941. Three photos of the "Splash of Color" watercolorists group, 1999. Five photos of and around the State Capitol, 1939. One photo of Harless, 1939. One photo of Charles W. Gleason, Jr., 1939.
34
11 photographs of the Harless Lumber Company's "Hercules" (a pull boat), logging operations, and mill machinery. 11 photographs taken by the Caterpillar Tractor Company of the Harless Lumber Company operations on the Sabine River. One photograph taken from a Caterpillar sales brochure.
Materials Removed
LC City Schools Teachers' Handbook, August, 1959
2 copies of LC City Schools Teachers' Handbook, 1966-1967
3 copies of LC City Schools 1937 to 1967 Booklet [One cataloged to Special Collections Book Collection]
LCHS 1943 - 1967 Booklet [to the LCHS Collection]
LCHS Class of 1939 40-year Reunion booklet [to the LCHS Collection]
LCHS Classes of 1939 and 1940 Celebrating 50 years Booklet [to the LCHS Collection]
6 copies of LC City Schools Teachers' Handbook, August, 1955 (one missing some pages)
Louisiana's school laws, 1962 [Cataloged to Special Collections Book Collection]
Benefit laws for professional personnel employed in the public elementary and secondary schools of Louisiana
Action and Reaction: Public Relations for Educational Secretaries.
Collection of Review Club yearbooks [duplicated in Review Club Collection]
LCHS scrapbook, Wildcats, and 1939 reunion information [to the LCHS Collection]
Photos, grade sheets, a student handbook, and two Potpourris (1939 and 1940 yearbooks) [Given to the Cammie G. Henry Research Center, Northwestern State University, Natchitoches, La.]
