Gerald Denison Jones Papers

Born in Hansport, Nova Scotia, on August 24, 1878, Gerald Denison Jones graduated from the Framingham High School and Academy (1899) before entering the Massachusetts Agricultural College with the class of 1903. Known by his peers for his wit, "Gerry" Jones was an active presence on campus as class Secretary and Treasurer and as a member of the QTV Fraternity, the staff of the Index, and the class football and baseball teams, and he later served as agent for his class.

Shortly after graduation, Jones began work as a foreman on a local onion farm owned by Walter D. Cowls, soon becoming his superintendent of trucking. In June 1907, he married Cowls' daughter Sarah, and thereafter joined his father-in-law in his various enterprises, which included substantial lumbering, farming, and realty interests. Jones became a well-respected figure in the Amherst community, serving on the board of investment for the Amherst Savings Bank during the mid-1930s and as a representative to the General Court from Hampshire County. Active in civic and church affairs, he supported both St. Andrews Episcopal Church in North Amherst and the North Congregational Church for many years and was a member of the Pacific Masonic Lodge in Amherst. At the time of his death on April 21, 1968, Jones was president of W.D. Cowls, Inc.

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The papers of Gerry Jones contain a mix of ephemera dating from his days as an active member of the MAC Class of 1903. Beginning with a fine record book documenting meetings of the class from their freshman year through graduation, the collection includes menus, programs, and dance cards related to class events. Of particular interest is a menu from the first football banquet in 1902, celebrating one of the most successful teams of the MAC era, the one-loss team of 1901.

The collection also includes two photographs, the first of what appears to be an early student protest (apparently opposing the "PUT bill") and the second depicting three members of the football team from the class of 1905; brief class notes from courses taken by Jones in 1903 on entomology (presumably taught by Charles Fernald) and physiological botany; and some banners, bunting, and other fabric signs, possibly related to an early reunion of the Class of 1903.

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letter to class secretaries 1926 Apr. 14

Jones, Gerald Denison: biographical information 1903-1968

Jones, Gerald Denison: class notes for entomology and experiments in physiological botany 1903 2 items

Jones, Gerald Denison: personal accounts 1897

Manual of Arms Adapted to the Springfield Rifle, Caliber .45 and to the Magazine Rifle, Caliber .30. New York: Army and Navy Journal 1897

Massachusetts Agricultural College Class of 1903 25th Reunion Program 1923 June 8-10

Massachusetts Agricultural College Class of 1903 Record book 1899-1903

History of the Class of 1903 Prepared for Their First Reunion [Amherst, Mass.] 1906

Massachusetts Agricultural College ephemera: Commencement program 1903; Senior banquet menu, 1903; Senior Promenade dance card, 1903; Commencement program 1916 1903-1916 4 items

Massachusetts Agricultural College: First Annual Foot-ball Banquet menu 1902 Jan. 24

Massachusetts Collegian, vol 26: 1 and vol. 28:18 1915, 1918 2 issues

Photographs 1903 2 items

Student protest (?) with pickets 1903

Student protest

Chet Whitaker, Bill Munson, Chick Lewis (football players) 1903

Football players, 1903: Chet Whitaker, Bill Munson, Chick Lewis

Reserve Officer Training Corps Horse Show: Fifth Annual Spring Horse Show Program (1926) and ROTC Horse Show Ribbon (1928) 1926-1928 2 items

Patriotic bunting 1903 3 items

"1903 Headquarters": large banner, possibly from a later reunion 1903

"'03" bibs: possibly from a later reunion 1903 11 items