1931

William Allen Haynes was an inveterate collector, saving everything from cattle bulletins to the dietary cure for gonorrhea. From 1901-1917 Haynes was primarily interested in ranching, and his papers proved considerable information on range conditions in central Texas, the cattle markets in Ft. Worth, and his efforts to build up and maintain his ranch through the use of numerous loans and mortgages.

About 1918 Haynes obtained an interest in the Leon Valley Oil Company, and for the next few years he received extensive correspondence from his brother Robert on the ups and downs of the oil business. From 1919 to about 1935, Haynes’ business papers cover a much wider spectrum than in previous years. Besides ranching and oil, the papers deal with land speculation, litigation concerning land titles, and banking. Of special interest in the papers is the correspondence concerning Haynes’ efforts to keep the troubled First National Bank of Killeen open. From 1929 to 1935 Haynes served as the president of this bank, and corresponded with prominent Texas bankers as well as Governor Miriam and Jim Ferguson.

The papers for 1935 to 1952 show a decline in Haynes’ business activity. The primary importance of this segment of the collection is the information it gives on the cattle market in Fort Worth, Kansas, Missouri, Oklahoma, and Illinois. Besides business records the Haynes collection contains personal bank records, private correspondence and material pertaining to Bell County Politics from1914 to 1922.

Typical contents: Court Summons, Real Estate Advertisements, Bank Loan Application and General Correspondence, Receipts for Various Business Purchases, Bail Bonds, Jury Summons, Official Complaint Forms, Criminal Subpoena Forms, Livestock Manuals, Farmer’s Bulletins and Advertisements, Life Insurance Forms, Political Messages, Bank Deposit Slips, Tax Receipts, Warrant of Arrest Form.