The Donald G. Jefferys Collection consists of materials assembled by Jefferys documenting his student experience at Oregon State College (OSC), his family's turkey farm near Albany, Oregon; and his interest in national and worldwide news events.
Materials from his OSC student years include programs for band concerts and other music events during 1938-1940. A copy of the April 2, 1938 issue of the Orange Baton and the May 5, 1939 Oregon State Barometer are included. The Orange Baton was published annually on the occassion of the Annual High School Band Contest to summarize the work of the Oregon State Band for the preceding year and provide news about graduates. A news clipping and a program documenting Edward Goman's (Jefferys' cousin) participation in the OSC band in 1942 are also included.
The bulk of the collection consists of accounting ledgers, tax records, correspondence and other business documents for Jefferys' family turkey farm, J.M.J. Turkey Farms. These date from the mid-1930s until 1950. Of special note is a handwritten journal of farming activities and notable weather events for 1942-1945.
The collection also includes issues of several newspapers with notable headlines including the death of Will Rogers in a plane crash, the Hindenburg disaster, World War II battles and developments, and the 1969 moon landing. The newspapers include the Albany Democrat Herald, Oregonian, and News of the World (London). Copies of 1933 issues of Current Events with completed quizzes and crossword puzzles were probably acquired by Jefferys during his school years in Albany, Oregon.
The collection also includes a portrait photograph of Ronald Badger as a young teen.
An addition to the Jefferys Collection (accession 2012:034) contains materials that document Jefferys' student experience at Oregon State College and the operation of the family turkey farm in Albany. Among the items reflecting the business and other general financial transactions include an account ledger, check stubs, patches, receipts, and World War II ration stamps. Most of the items related to Jefferys' student years pertain to his involvement in the ROTC Band (2 jacket patches, event programs, concert ticket stub) but also include a research paper written during middle school. Certificates awarded to Jefferys' wife, Meridee Brown, for her volunteer service to 4-H in Benton County are also part of this accession. Technical manuals for IBM punch card data entry equipment were also found in this transfer. Donald used these manuals in his work for the Southern Pacific Railroad.
