GRANDMA MELLIE'S
SCRAPBOOK
Copyright © 2001, 2003, by Michael S. Cole, M.D.
Grandma Mellie was born in 1894 in north Arkansas in the midst of the Ozark Mountain country. Growing up before radio, movies, or television, she was frequently told fascinating tales about the adventures of her pioneer grandparents, who were born in Georgia, Tennessee, Alabama, and Arkansas. She learned to be quite a storyteller herself. As one of her grandchildren growing up in the same community where my great-great-great-grandfather had homesteaded, I enjoyed listening to her tales of years gone by. Before I was born she began writing newspaper articles about some of these pioneer stories, as well as about her own life in the Ozarks. Enough of her stories were published in the Springfield [Missouri] Daily News that she received a courtesy subscription. From this and the local newspapers, the Harrison [Arkansas] Daily Times and the Boone County [Arkansas] Headlight, she cut out and pasted into scrapbooks many of her published letters and articles. After her death in 1980, her scrapbooks passed to her daughter, who graciously allowed me to photocopy them. I have reproduced here many of her articles for others to enjoy. She could find something good in everything and help folks feel like life is worth living even in the most difficult circumstances. You may learn more about her life and see some pictures of her in "A Tribute to Grandma Mellie."
- Baskets From Vines - before 1933 (undated)
- Grandma's House - June 1948
- Sorghum Time - September 1948
- Basketry - October 1948
- Memory Quilt - March 1950
- Flowers and Roosters - Spring 1950
- Memory Treasures - September 27, 1950
- Old Lucy - 1879
- Ghosts and Graves - October 1950
- School Days - March 1952
- Springtime Feast - May 1952
- Old Fashioned Gardens - July 20, 1954
- A Happy Christmas - January 7, 1955
- Old Timers - January 1956
- What I'd Like To Do - 1956
- School Days - January 1958
- Between Today and Yesterday - (undated)
- Weather Forecasting - (undated)
- Mother's Flowers - about 1960 (undated)
- Fourth of July - probably about 1960 (undated)
- Preserve Court Park - (undated)
- Bird Talk - (undated)
- Three Scrapbooks - April 18, 1962
- Old Homestead - about 1962 (undated)
- Old Schoolmates - October 1962
- Books and Keepsakes - December 1, 1962
- Railroad Reminiscing - January 29, 1963
- Farm Life - March 8, 1963
- Grand Childhood - July 1963
- Shawnee Mission - September 1963
- Christmas Long Ago - December 1963
- Old Time Revivals - April 1964
- Grandmother's Apron - September 8, 1964
- More About Grandma - October 1964
- Recalls Early School - mid-1960's (undated)
- Blame For Riots - mid-1960's (undated)
- This Old House - March 1965
- Defending Welfare - March 19, 1965
- Remember When? - September 14, 1965
- Remembering Grandma - November 12, 1965
- Farm Cooking - January 18, 1966
- Confidence In People - January 20, 1966
- Dogwood Winter - 1960's (undated)
- Mother's Old Scrapbook - May 26, 1966
- Good Old Days? - July 19, 1966
- Crazy Things Remembered - August 16, 1966
- Courting - September 13, 1966
- Our Beautiful Ozarks - October 20, 1966
- New Road - December 15, 1966
- Gardens - (undated)
- Treasure Chest - June 6, 1967
- Boys School - September 22, 1967
- Telling Time - October 2, 1967
- Beautiful Hands - February 15, 1968
- Spring Arrives - April 24, 1968
- Prison Reform - 1968 (undated)
- Autumn - September 1968
- Special Memories - November 1968
- Embarrassing Moments - July 1969
- Centennial Celebration - July 5, 1969
- Dolls - August 4, 1969
- Community News - August 1969
- Grandmother's Singing - October 24, 1969
- Sounds Of Long Ago - March 2, 1970
- Times Have Changed - April 17, 1970
- Tribute To Dad - June 17, 1970
- Remember the Tramps? - August 13, 1970
- October - October 1970
- Thanksgiving Again! - November 26, 1970
- How It Used To Be - (undated)
- Ghost Stories - May 8, 1971
- Playhouse Memories - July 24, 1971
- Grandmother - 1970's (undated)
- Memories of Summer - 1970's (undated)
- Fall Is Here - 1970's (undated)
- Christmas 1973 - December 1973
- Growing-Up Fun - March 1974
- Old Cemeteries - May 1974
- Cemeteries - July 1974
- A Child At Christmas - 1970's (undated)
- Bygone Springs - 1970's (undated)
- Blackberry Winter - 1970's (undated)
- Independence Day - 1970's (undated)
- Fall Colors - 1970's (undated)
- That Time of Year - 1970's (undated)
- Years Gone By - January 9, 1975
- February Memories - 1970's (undated)
- Springtime Memories - 1970's (undated)
- Fall Memories - 1970's (undated)
- October Memories - 1970's (undated)
- Bygone Days - October 22, 1975
- Sounds of Yesteryear - December 18, 1975
- Spring Ahead - February 1976
- Food Stamps - February 26, 1976
- March Memories - March 12, 1976
- History of Rock Springs - November 1976 (undated)
- The Old Album - (undated)
- Summer Days - (undated)
- Remembering Fall - (undated)
- Preparing For Winter - (undated)
- Christmas Past - (undated)
- Now and Then - (undated)
- My Scrapbook Treasure - (undated)
Link to:
A Tribute to Grandma Mellie
The Boone County Ancestors of Michael Cole
The Genealogy of Michael & Jeannie Cole
E-mail Michael Cole, Mellie's grandson