Jerry D. Bailey Collection

Named Collections > B > Bailey, Jerry D.

Biographical Note

Jerry D. Bailey is the great nephew of Earl Stephen Bailey. Both are descendants of the Fondren family of Weatherford, Texas. W. B. Fondren was a friend of General Edward H. Tarrant, for whom Tarrant County is named. Tarrant died at Fondren's home in 1858 and was buried temporarily in the Fondren Cemetery. Earl Stephen Bailey was killed in France during World War I.

Scope and Contents

This collection contains materials related to Bailey family history including correspondence between family members, photographs, military honors, and genealogy research, as well as postcards showing image of life in the U.S. Army during World War I. Materials range in date from 1912 to 2004, with most being from 1918 to 1921, and undated.

View the Jerry D. Bailey Collection image gallery.

Materials in this collection consist of the following:

Cowboy on horse in corral

Earl Bailey, circa 1916

Correspondence
  • From Earl Stephen Bailey to his mother, Lena Bailey from Camp Bowie, typed transcriptions of 7 letters, May 28, 1918 - July 6, 1918. 
  • Postcard message home, Washington DC, July 14, 1918
  • From New York, Camp Upton, Long Island, July 21 and July 26, 1918
  • Correspondence from "Somewhere in France", October 2, 1918
  • From mother to Earl, returned with note attached saying: "Deceased October 8, 1918," September 29, 1918; November 24, 1918 
  • From James A. Dixon to Lena Bailey on conditions of those killed, April 20, 1920
  • From Olive Adams to Lena Bailey on lack of news from Earl; Family had not been informed of his death December 15, 1918
  • Order # 15250, honoring Earl S. Bailey, as a brave and remarkable soldier, October 8, 1918, near St-Etienne, killed in the course of action signed by Petain, Croix de Guerre, April 1, 1919
  • Cover letter from donor giving biographical information on Earl Stephen Bailey March 4, 2004.
Photographs
  • Earl S. Bailey, at Van Horn holding his lasso, wearing spurs, a working cowboy, 1912
  • Earl S. Bailey seated on horse in a corral, wearing chaps. Two women on fence behind him, wearing cloche hats and coats. Van Horn, Texas, 1916
  • Earl S. Bailey in a photographer's studio,  in uniform, wearing leggings, Fort Worth, 1918
  • Cemetery in France, cross with Earl S. Bailey, # 165, U. S. A., 1918
  • Re-burial of Earl S. Bailey, flag draped coffin, several men in Army uniforms behind, Ector County Cemetery, Odessa, Texas, 1921
  • Earl S. Bailey in a photographer's studio, no date

Postcards

  • Scenes from Army Life, undated
    • Bayonet Exercise
    • The Beauty Shop
    • The Canteen
    • Cleaning Rifles
    • Setting-up Exercise