James Register Estate Collection

Biographical Sketch

    James Register lived in Natchitoches from 1963 until his death. Before then, he had traveled through this area for many years. As a writer, artist and art appreciator, he became acquainted with promoters of art associated with Melrose Plantation. As a guest of Cammie Henry at Melrose Plantation in 1943, Register first met local, primitive folk artist Clementine Hunter. During the 1960s and 1970s, he divided his time between writing, painting and art collecting. Register was also a patron to Clementine Hunter and Billie Stroud. Stroud was another local, primitive-style artist

Scope and Content

    The papers from the estate of James Register contain information on his careers as a writer, poet, photographer and painter.  More specifically, included in the collection are research materials Register used while preparing his book Jallon and various books on Natchez Mississippi.  Two of Register's paintings, and five by Billie Stroud are included, as well as drawings of the Yucca House at Melrose Plantation.  Also included is a letter from Francois Mignon to Register seeking advice regarding a planned collaboration between Mignon and Clementine Hunter to produce a cookbook. 

Inventory

1 Personal matters, correspondence, loan, photo, 1956-1977

2 Ephemeral writings, 1974-1981

3 Register’s shows of his paintings, 1967-1968

4 Letters about photography, 1981

5 Letters to libraries and collections about research, 1971-1978

6 Texts and layouts for Catchword and the Flashdark, typescript

7 Ida Red a Most Historical Mule, typescript

8 The Pig Gate, typescript, clipping, photo of gate

9 The Great Squirting Cucumber Contest, typescripts and drawings

10 Red River Fantasy, typescripts

11 Clementine Hunter and her Creole World, typescripts

12 African House, typescripts, photographs, reduced size measured drawing

13 Cane River Entertainment typescript

14 Miscellaneous free verse

15 Research for Squirting Cucumbers; search for seeds of this plant

16 Research: Images USA, and some published poems from this series

17 Proof America Mississippi, research and steamboat picture

18 Research on Fort Rosalie, Natchez, Mississippi; Indians, Penigault, health

19 Natchez, Mississippi research

20 Natchez, Mississippi research: massacre

21 Natchez, Mississippi research (have been deacidified)

22 Research about 18th century France

23 Research for Natchez Is My Name

24 Research for Jallon, Fort Rosalie, and Natchez history

25 New Orleans research

26 Research about Charles Alexandre Lesueur

27 Joyous Coast, business, Clementine Hunter permission

28 Joyous Coast, proof of Clementine Hunter illustrations (full color)

29 Business papers dealing with publishing, 1981

30 Business papers dealing with Billie Stroud, 1981

31 The Allure of Nonsense scrapbook by James Register

31 Two acrylic Water Plants painting by James Register

31 One small Billie Stroud

31 Five packets of Register’s photographs, some showing local scenes, some photos of Register’s paintings

Oversize Box Billie Stroud painting of eagle, illustrations for Flashdark layout for Natchez Is My Name, maps of Africa from Library of Congress for Jallon

Art Cabinet Folder containing measured drawings of African house on Melrose plantation, from Historic American Buildings Survey, Works Progress Administration, two pages