Frank Inge Derby Scrapbook PDF
Location: Archives
Access Note: This collection has been digitized and may be viewed visiting this link: Derby Family Scrapbook.
Frank Inge Derby Scrapbook
Location: First floor display cabinet
Date Span: 1918-1960
Scope/Contents: The scrapbook is contained within the pages of a bound ledger used at one time as a business ledger by Cobb & Derby, and the first pages contain line items detailing business transactions. The scrapbook of clippings, photos and information begins on page 119. It chronicles Derby’s organization and execution of a successful plan to span the Tombigbee River on U.S. Highway 80 with a bridge built from the auction of prize roosters. The project garnered national attention and international support. The scrapbook details the organization of the project, the historic auction and the correspondence, honors and awards following the event, which was held on August 14-15, 1919.
Biographical Note: Frank Inge Derby (1881-1963) was a Sumter County, Alabama, businessman and community supporter. An early trader of livestock in Sumter County, Derby is credited with advancements he made in the cattle-raising industry; he was the first in the State of Alabama to import registered Shorthorn bulls to improve local cattle. He was also the first in the state to dip cattle to kill ticks causing tick fever. Derby is also well known for his ability to raise money and public awareness using livestock and poultry. To raise money for the Red Cross on July 2, 1918, he had Shorthorn bulls shipped to Birmingham; fifty-seven bulls donated by fifty consignors profited the Red Cross at least $100,000. Less than a year later, on June 7, 1919, Derby held a rooster and small livestock sale to raise money to build and improve roads in York, Alabama. After seeing what Derby had done in York, people in Demopolis requested a rooster sale to initiate enthusiasm to build a bridge across the Tombigbee River at the site of the last ferry on the Dixie Overland Highway from Savannah to San Diego. In just over two months, Derby had contacted Congressman Buck Oliver who contacted President Woodrow Wilson at the Versailles Peace Conference who then enlisted roosters from the Big Four world leaders: Woodrow Wilson, David Lloyd George, Vittorio Emanuele Orlando, and Georges Clemenceau. The roosters were shipped from Europe to Washington DC, where a delegation from Alabama met them at the White House. The sale in Demopolis on August 14-15, 1919, raised $56,000 for the State Highway Department. Derby also transported and sold hogs in Atlanta to reclaim Derby Place from the Federal Land Bank after the Great Depression. Derby is identified as a cattleman, conservationist, farmer, timberman, entrepreneur, and a humanitarian, as well as a husband, father, gentleman and churchman. He married Kate Horn (1879-1929), one of the first University of Alabama co-eds, in 1900, and they had nine children. He married Minnie Wade Cory in 1939, and the couple had one daughter, Patsy Wade Derby Chaney. Derby was also an early member of the Elizabeth Presbyterian Church.
Inventory:
Page 119: News clipping, “The Story Behind the Mistletoe Custom,” by Jeannette S. Lockard; publicity flyer, “Love Feast . . . At The Capitol Of Sandtuck / Shelbyville, Ala.,” dated April 19, 1921; news clipping, “Age Is No Matter When You’re In Love, Remember,” by Judy Brown; typed poem, “The Abode of Worship,” by Louis Rothenberg; typed poem, “Women of America,” by Louis Rothenberg.
Page 120: Full page news clipping, “W. O. B. (Copyright by W. O. Broyles 1926)” which bears the relevant article, “Pee-Wee Makes A Hit in York”; news clipping, “Shireman Goes To Indianapolis: Manager of Tutwiler Will Leave Birmingham, According to Report”; news clipping from The Birmingham News, “Ferraline Forces Meet At Banquet: Demopolis Firm Entertains Salesmen, Stockholders And Officials At Dinner.”
Page 122: News clipping photograph and cutline, The Birmingham Age-Herald, September 10, 1921, “The Grubbs-Allison Wedding Party”; news clipping, Sumter County Journal, September 9, 1921, “Grubbs-Allison Marriage”; news clipping, The Birmingham Age-Herald, September 9, 1921, “Bellamy Wedding Sets New Record As Notable Event: Two of Sumter County’s Leading Families United By Allison-Grubbs Nuptials” by Frank Willis Barnett; same news clipping but from September 8, 1921, edition.
Page 123: News clipping, The Birmingham Age-Herald, September 8, 1921, “Dr. Edmonds In Plane Crash, Escapes Uninjured…Unperturbed, Minister Enters Automobile for Bellamy to Keep Promise to Perform Marriage Ceremony”; news clipping, September 8, 1921, “Bride Unwilling For Dr. Edmonds To Take Such Risk: Independent Church Mothers Wired Her to Release Him From His Engagement”; news clipping, The Birmingham News, September 5, 1921, “Dr. Edmonds To Use Airplane As Way Out Of Engagements That Conflict”; news clipping, The Birmingham Age-Herald, September 12, 1921, “[Grubbs-Allison Wedding] Was Well Advertised.”
Page 124: News clipping, The Birmingham Age-Herald, May 24, 1921, “Dr. Edmonds Will Start Tomorrow: Presbyterian Pastor One of Rotary Delegates to Edinborough, Scotland”; news clipping, May 23, 1921, “Dr. Edmonds Talks To Congregation: Pastor of Independent Presbyterian Church to Leave for Scotland”; news clipping, The Birmingham Age-Herald, September 5, 1921, “Anglo-American Alliance Necessity, Is Impression Dr. Edmonds Got In Europe: Germans Tell Him They Will Be Ready for Another War In Twenty Years – Great Throng Meets Returned Minister”; news clipping photograph and cutline, September 29, 1921, “Back Among His Old Friends: Dr. Henry M. Edmonds”; news clipping, September 8, 1921, “Lloyd Arranged For Trip By Air For Dr. Edmonds: Secretary of Rotary Club Agreed to Pay $75 So He Could Speak Here.”
Page 126: News clippings from the column of Frank Willis Barnett in The Birmingham Age-Herald titled, “Men, Women And Things.” Clippings are from the following issue/dates: June 30, 1921; July 11, 1921; August 14, 1919; November 9, 1920; November 10, 1920; November 10, 1920 [different content that the previous of same date]; September 10, 1921; September 12, 1921; January 21, 1921.
Page 130: News clipping, “Ernie Pyle and David Low With The American Expeditionary Forces In England: Swollen, Sick From Hornet Stings, Eaker Leads Raid,” by Ernie Pyle; news clipping, “50 Hornet Stings Failed to Keep Gen. Eaker From Leading Raid on Enemy,” by Ernie Pyle; news clipping, “With The Army In England: Gen. Eaker Keeps a Date Despite Hornets,” by Ernie Pyle; news clipping, November 19, 1942, “The Roving Reporter: Bomber Night,” by Ernie Pyle; news clipping, November 17, 1942, “The Roving Reporter: Hornets Sting General,” by Ernie Pyle.
Page 137: News clipping illustration and cutline, The Birmingham Age-Herald, June 27, 1918, “President Woodrow Wilson”; news clipping illustration and cutline, The Ensley Enterprise, “I am the proudest Rooster on Earth…”; news clipping, “Board Approves Bridge Projects: ‘Rooster’ Bridge Will Be Constructed Over Tombigbee Near Demopolis”; news clipping, The Birmingham Age-Herald, August 3, 1919, “Wilson Roosters Not Of the Game Varieties: Kansas Boys Were Not Pleased by Governor Allen’s Criticisms, According to Lieutenant Bradley, Who Served With Western Boys – Government Officials Report on Work at Muscle Shoals,” by Hugh W. Roberts; news clipping, The Birmingham Age-Herald, August 8, 1919, “Airplanes To Make Trip To Demopolis”; news clipping, The Montgomery Advertiser, September 16, 1919, “Demopolis Minister Severly [sic] Criticises [sic] Rooster Sale Dance”; pledge card, “Bridge The Bigbee With Cocks”; news clipping, The Birmingham Age-Herald, July 12, 1919, “Derby Coming For French Roosters.”
Page 139, left: News clipping, The Montgomery Advertiser, August 14, 1919, “Demopolis In Holiday Attire Ready To Stage The Greatest Event In History Of City: One Thousand Noted Birds Will Go On Auction Block,” by W. S. Goodson; news clipping, The Montgomery Advertiser, July 26,1919, “Letters to Editor: A Toast To The Cock / Mr. Hearin Examines Rooster’s Place in Literature”; news clipping, “Program Bigbee River Cock Sale”; BW photograph identified in handwriting as “Lip of Demopolis”; advertisement card, “Bob Jones’ Cock Sale and Barbecue / Demopolis, Ala. / August 14th and 15th, 1919”; pledge card, “Bridge the Bigbee With Cocks”; small saddle stitched notebook (vendor product) titled, “August Days,” and bearing the company name and location, Robertson Banking Co., Demopolis, Alabama.
Page 139, right: News clipping illustration and cutline, The Washington Post, July 30, 1919, “Roosters To Be Put Upon The Block (Auction) To Help Raise $200,000 For Good Roads In Dixie”; news clippings, The Washington Post, July 28, 1919, “The Washington Post’s Daily Feature Page: Cocks Crow and Everybody Knows The ‘Big Four’ Is Out at the Zoo” and “‘Big Four’ Roosters Arrive At Capital Of The Nation: President Wilson Will Present Famous Birds to Alabama Delegation For Auction at Demopolis.”
Page 140, left: News clipping, The Montgomery Advertiser, Bigbee Edition, August 14, 1919, “To Bridge Bigbee With Cocks”; advertisement, “F. I. Derby of Sumpter [sic] County “The Game Cock County Of Alabama”; news clipping, “Three Famous Checks For Bigbee Roosters.”
Page 140, right: News clipping, Daily National Live Stock Reporter / National Stock Yards, Ill., July 21, 1919, “Interest in Rooster Sale”; news clipping, Stock Reporter, June 30, 1919, “To Make Rooster Sale Bridge Southern River”; news clipping, The Birmingham Age-Herald, August 19, 1919, “Chanticleer At Demopolis.”
Page 141, left: News clipping, “Livestock Sale To Roof Big Pavilion Given Endorsement: Chamber of Commerce Backs Movement / Derby to Be Auctioneer”; news clipping, The Montgomery Advertiser, July 24, 1919, “The Water Is Fine – Let Montgomery Wade In: ‘Bridge The Bigbee With Cocks'”; news clipping, “Looking To Our Livestock Interest”; news clipping, “Western Alabama ‘Live Wires’ Tell Selmians Of Coming Rooster Sale: Derby and Cobb Visit Dallas to Invite People to Attend Auction of the Big Four”; news clipping, “Famous Roosters To Be Delivered July 31: Alabama Delegation Will Go to Washington to Receive Them From President.”
Page 141, right: News clipping, Birmingham News, August 2, 1919, “Chanticleer Rules Birmingham Roost: New War Certain, Says Von Bernhardi / May I Not Contribute? President Wilson Probably Said, Writing His Check For Derby / Famed Roosters Arrive For First State Reception”; news clipping, The Birmingham News, “Cocks In Cages Of Gold to Use Suite Of State”; news clipping, The Birmingham Age-Herald, November 8, 1919, “Tuesday’s Elections Are Standoff Between Parties: Foch and Haig Send Belated Permission for Sale of Their Roosters at Demopolis – More Careful Meat Inspection by Cities Is Urged,” by Hugh W. Roberts; news clipping, “Birmingham Nearly As Big As Demopolis! ‘Bridge The Bigbee With Cocks.'”
Page 142, left: News clipping, The Birmingham Age-Herald, July 18, 1919, “Frank Derby Gets Big Advertising at the Capital – Alabama Man Makes Hit With Rooster Sale Everywhere He Goes – Government About to Give Fair Treatment to Ports of the South,” by Hugh W. Roberts; news clipping, The Birmingham Age-Herald, August 9, 1919, “Events At The State Capital,” by William L . Gormley; news clipping, The Birmingham Age-Herald, July 1, 1919, “French Roosters Coming To Big Sale in Alabama – Highly Bred Fowls Are on Board the George Washington With President – Seven Alabama Census Supervisors Named – Surplus Motor Trucks Now Available,” by Hugh W. Roberts; news clipping, The Birmingham Age-Herald, July 27, 1919, “Kilby Names Committee of 30 to Bring Roosters for Big Demopolis Sale”; news clipping, The Birmingham Age-Herald, August 3, 1919, “Otto Praeger Will See Rooster Sale – Second Assistant Postmaster General Accepts Invitation to Demopolis”; news clipping, The Birmingham Age-Herald, July 20, 1919, “In Hotel Lobbies and Elsewhere – Bridge the Bigbee.”
Page 142, right: News clipping, The Birmingham Age-Herald, August 1, 1919, “Many Cameras Click As Roosters Are Presented – Notable Group of Alabamians and Prominent Officials Take Part in White House Ceremony – Birds With Pedigrees 200 Years Old Also Presented for Demopolis Sale,” by Hugh W. Roberts; news photo with cutline, The Birmingham Age-Herald, August 6, 1919, “Notable Group of Alabamians / At White House Rooster Presentation”; news clipping, The Birmingham Age-Herald, August 6, 1919, “Prize Rooster To Aid Recruiting / Commander to Take Airplane Trip With Daniel’s Representative”; news clipping, The Birmingham Age-Herald, August 2, 1919, “Birmingham to Wake At The Crowing of Roosters In Many Languages / Under Special Guard Distinguished Roosters Arrive in Birmingham on Special Train and Now Occupy ‘State Suite’ at the Tutwiler – Barnyard Royalty of Two Continents Guests of the City”; news clipping, The Birmingham Age-Herald, August 16, 1919, “Wilson Gets News Of Rooster Sale / Is Delighted and Surprised to Learn High Price Brought by Namesake”; news clipping, The Birmingham Age-Herald, August 3, 1919, “Wide Interest Centers In Sale of Roosters”; news clipping, The Birmingham Age-Herald, August 21, 1919, “Ferraline Cock Was First Sold.”
Page 143, left: News clipping, “Bridge the Bigbee With Cocks”; envelope bearing a print of a rooster in the top, left corner with “Demopolis, Ala.” printed below.
Page 143, right: News clipping, The Frazer Press – Tuscaloosa, Alabama, “Free Exhibition Tonight”; news clipping, “Bridge the Bigbee With Cocks”; small saddle stitched notebook (vendor product) titled, “August Days,” and bearing the company name and location, Robertson Banking Co., Demopolis, Alabama; flattened sanitary drinking cup bearing the company name and location, Ferraline Medicine Co., Demopolis, Ala.; pledge card, “Bridge the Bigbee With Cocks.”
Page 144, left: Full page news clipping, “A Test Of Our Civic Pride.”
Page 144, right: News clipping of advertisement/announcement by the Good Roads Rooster Committee, “The Rooster an International Figure”; four Rooster Good Roads Committee receipt cards, three dated August 15, 1919, and one undated, for funds remitted for the Rooster Bridge.
Page 145, left: Letter dated July 24, 1919, from Demopolis Rooster Road Committee Chairman Jesse B. Hearin to the Honorable Henry P. Herritt, Speaker of the House in Montgomery, Alabama, regarding the governor’s appointment of delegates to Washington D.C. to receive French roosters from the president; letter dated July 18, 1919, from U.S. Navy Captain R. [Drace] White of the U.S.S. Northern Pacific regarding delivery of four roosters to a representative vice-admiral of the Cruiser and Transport Force; Postal Telegraph – Commercial Cables telegram dated July 23, 1919, from W. B. Oliver to Frank Derby regarding several details of the rooster auction planning; Wester Union telegram dated August 12, 1919, from Scottse Milne to F. I. Berthy [sic] regarding his arrival in Demopolis the following morning.
Page 145, right: Resolutions by the Alabama Highway Improvement Association and the Legislature of Alabama endorsing the bridge funding and building project of the Rooster Road Committee of Demopolis; letter to Frank Derby from William G. Mitchell of William G. Mitchell Lumber Co. dated June 5, 1922, regarding taxes on a temporary property donation for the bridge project; notice to whom it may concern from the committee in charge of the funds for the building of Rooster Bridge dated August 1922, addressing untrue statements that Frank Derby profited personally from the rooster auction and signed by committee treasurer R. B. McCants of Demopolis; resolution by the Alabama State House and Senate inviting Frank Derby to address a joint session of the two on “how to get out of the hole of financial depression.”
Page 146, left: Public announcement, “Bridge the Bigbee With Cocks,” bearing the names at the bottom of Frank I. Derby, field representative, and Jesse B. Hearin, Demopolis chairman; bill from the Postal Telegraph-Cable Company for telegraphs sent and received; bill from The Washington (hotel) of Washington, D.C.; envelope bearing the return address, “United States Railroad Administration, Director General, Passenger Representative, The Capitol, Washington D.C.”
Page 146, right: Cover of the Montgomery Chamber of Commerce Bulletin, Vol. I, No. 4, featuring an article, “Roosters At Demopolis: Unique Occasion Drew 8,000 People To Little City.”
Page 147, left: Six photographs relating to the auction to raise money for the construction of Rooster Bridge. Cutlines are handwritten as is the date at the top of the page: July 31, 1919. Cutline of first photo reads, “Presentation of Roosters to Alabama Delegation by President Woodrow Wilson at White House in Washington D.C.” Cutline of fourth photo reads, “Left to right, front row: F.I. Derby, Col. Bankhead, Cong. Almon, Cong. John Willis Bankhead, Pres. Woodrow Wilson, Admiral Benson, Cong. W.B. Oliver, Sen. Oscar Underwood, Mrs. Oliver (Cong. Oliver’s mother), and Mrs. Ward of Ala. who decorated the rooster cages.” Cutline of fifth photo reads, “1. F.I. Derby, 2. Cong. W.B. Oliver, 3. [left blank], 4. Admiral Benson, 5. Speaker of the House Champ Clark.” The second, third and sixth photos have no cutlines.
Page 149, right: News photo with cutline, The New York Times, August 10, 1919, “President Wilson On Behalf Of The “Big Four” Of The Peace Conference Including Himself and the Premiers of Great Britain, France, and Italy, Presenting the “Big Four” Roosters of Celebrated Breed, Obtained in France by Admiral Knapp, to the State of Alabama to be Sold for the Benefit of the Dixie Highway Project…” Handwritten below the photograph are identifications for some of the people pictured, including Mrs. G. T. Breitling; Col. John Bankhead; G. T. Breitling; Fitzgerald of the U.S. Secret Service; Mr. Harding of the Federal Land Bank, Atlanta; Congressman John Bankhead; F. I. Derby; Cong. Almon of North Alabama; Larry Seaman, White House Police Force; President Woodrow Wilson; J. Thomas Heflin, Congressman, later Senator; Mr. Glass of Birmingham Ledger, former roommate of Wilson; Congressman W. B. Oliver; John Gleissner, United Press; Admiral Benson; Helen Gerber, Cong. Oliver’s sec.; Mrs. Oliver, Cong. Oliver’s mother; Mrs. Ward, who decorated the cages; Senator Oscar Underwood; Champ Clark, Speaker of the House; Cong. McDuffie of Mobile, Ala.
Page 150, left: Photograph of “Lip” of Demopolis; photograph of people on a wagon in Selma, Alabama, with caged roosters for the Rooster Bridge auction; and photograph of Mr. [Granader], Ferraline Dr. with [roosters] “Lloyd George” and “Clemanceau.”
Page 150, right: Photograph of people gathered in a semi-circle around caged roosters for the auction; photograph of three men with umbrellas; letter dated October 4, 1919, to F.I. Derby from Alabama State Representative William B. Oliver regarding a check and an article about the auction in the Birmingham Age-Herald; letter dated August 4, 1919, from Dixie Over-Land Highway Magazine Editor Leland J. Henderson regarding an article in Dixie Borderland Highways Magazine.
Page 151, left: Portrait photograph of people on and grouped around a vehicle carrying the famed Derby roosters with a list to the right of what appears to be purchasers, prices and other such details; also three candid photographs of people clustered and interacting around the caged roosters, one photo bearing the handwritten name, “W. B. Sealey,” above and “Brown” below with the others unidentified.
Page 151, right: Photograph of A.R. Smith, President of Commercial National Bank, Demopolis, Ala., holding a rooster; envelope bearing the handwritten words, “Important! Rooster of 1855” and a typed return address of “F.I. Derby / Short Horn Cattle / Ward, Ala.” Inside the envelope is a handwritten note regarding a group of the roosters for the auction. Also on this page are four photographs of people, cages and roosters with no identifying cutlines.
Page 152, left: Unidentified photograph of several men and caged roosters on a flatbed wagon. “Lip” of Demopolis is pictured holding a flag; news clipping, Birmingham Age Herald, July 29, 1919, “Rooster Born in 1855 Enroute to Demopolis: Pennsylvania Man Donates Bird With Pedigree a Mile Long – Bryan’s Influence in Next Democratic Convention Now Serious Matter for Discussion,” by Hugh W. Roberts; two state fair blue ribbons, one from the Delaware State Fair and the other from the Lancaster Fair Poultry Show; manila envelope containing copies of telegrams related to the rooster auction; document detailing the pedigree of Sir Thomas Thompkins, a Rhode Island Red donated to the rooster auction.
Page 152, right: Manila envelope containing “Letters – before and after the Rooster Sale”; two place cards used at a dinner for the rooster auction, one bearing the handwritten label beneath of the “Hon. D. P. Coleman, Mayor of Uniontown ‘The Cook of the Canebrake!’ and the other bearing a handwritten label beneath of “F.I. Derby Jr. of York, Ala. ‘The young cock with the clear vision.”
Page 153, left: News clipping, The Birmingham News/The Birmingham Age-Herald combined, March 14, 1948, two photos bearing the cutlines, “Rooster Bridge – On Road To Moscow” and “Free Politics – In Moscow”; news clipping, The Birmingham News, undated, “Where is it?”; news clipping, “The Alabama bridge built by roosters!” by Kathleen Warren, photograph by Thomas F. Hill.
Page 153, right: News clipping, The Demopolis Times, Feb. 19, 1959, “Bill To Change Name of Bridge To Be Proposed”; transmittal memorandum dated Feb. 11, 1959, to Alabama Senator E. O. Eddins in Montgomery regarding project 5054, a draft of a bill to be proposed to change the name of The Memorial Bridge to the Demopolis Rooster Bridge with a copy of the bill following.
Page 154, left: News clipping, The Birmingham News, April 7, 1960, “On Demopolis route – Rooster Bridge is proud over poultry beginning”; news clipping, Sumter County Journal, April 21, 1960, “Scheduled For Wind-Up Come July: Highway Department Feature Story Relates How Frank Derby Built ‘Rooster Bridge,'” by Ronald Gunter; news clipping, “To Change The Name Of Rooster Bridge?”; news clipping, Birmingham Post-Herald, April 20, 1959, “Alabama Historians Elect Pike Countian”; news clipping, Birmingham Post-Herald, “Historical Group To Meet At ‘Bama.”
Page 154, right: News Clipping, “The Gamecock of Sumter is Honored: ‘Pay Honor To The Bridge, Not Me,’ – Frank I. Derby; news clipping, The Birmingham News, June 25, 1959, “Nearer legislative goal – Governor signs funds bill into law,” by Trudy Cargile and “$42 million project – Work under way to find school funds”; news clipping, The Anniston Star, April 12, 1960, “Event Attracted World Attention – Bridge Built By Rooster Sales Finally Carries Derby’s Name,” by Ronald Gunter.
Page 155, left: Large photograph of the bridge after the sign is erected identifying it as The Demopolis Rooster Bridge.
Page 155, right: Copy of a letter to Frank Derby from Mrs. Woodrow Wilson dated Feb. 9, 1959, wishing Mr. Derby a happy birthday and congratulating him on the dedication of The Demopolis Rooster Bridge; copy of envelope addressed to Frank Derby at The Demopolis Inn which contained the letter from Mrs. Wilson; resolution by Messrs. Pruitt and Manley of the State of Alabama House of Representatives that the Dixie Overland Project authorities and the Alabama Highway Department will recognize Frank Derby’s work on the Rooster Bridge and will erect markers to that effect during any renovations of the bridge(s); State of Alabama certificate resembling a monetary bill; color photograph in sleeve of the Rooster Bridge marker.
Loose clippings and other items
Item 1: News clipping, the Sumter County Journal, “Highway Department Feature Story Relates How Frank Derby Built ‘Rooster Bridge.'” April 21, 1960.
Item 2: News clipping, The Demopolis Times, “A New Day.” August 21, 1919.
Item 3: News clipping, The Birmingham News, “Alabama Party Line – Salesman Extraordinaire provided missing link.” May 20, 1962.
Item 4: News clipping, The Birmingham News, “Alabama Party Line – Anyone know Demopolis’ [sic] Rooster Bridge origin?” April 26, 1962 (three copies).
Item 5: News clipping, The Birmingham News, “Alabama Party Line – Super Salesman provided vital highway link.” May 21, 1962.
Item 6: News clipping, The Birmingham News, “Alabama Party Line – Rooster sale was festive day to remember.” May 9, 1962.
Item 7: News clipping, The Birmingham News, “Game Cock County inspired Rooster Bridge auction.” May 7, 1962.
Item 8: Rotogravure Picture Section, The New York Times. [President Roosevelt presenting the “Big Four” roosters from the Rooster Bridge benefit project.] August 10, 1919.
Item 9: News spreadsheets, The Demopolis Times, “Excitement of Rooster Bridge lives again.” July 3, 1973.
Item 10: News spreadsheets, The Demopolis Times, “The Roosters Did It.” August 21, 1919.
Item 11: News clipping, Alabama Sunday Magazine, “Something To Crow About,” September 27, 1970.
Item 12: Typed poem, “When It’s Springtime In Tuscaloosa,” by Narcissus. [n.d.]
Item 13: Letter to Mr. J. W. Ridgeway of San Antonio, Texas, from Frank Derby regarding identifying a photograph and reminiscing.
Item 14: Resolution by Messrs. Pruitt and Manley, “Relative to the naming of any new, reconstructed or renovated bridge or bridges across the Tombigbee River at Moscow.” July 29, 1971. [Photocopy of same attached.]
Item 15: Letter to board members of Sumter Nursing Home of York from [Ara] House and Dianne Money of Social Services Activities in invitation to Family Night. October 25, 1978.
Item 16: Several articles regarding Birmingham developer Robert Jemison Jr., his father and grandfather, also prominent citizens, mailed to Mrs. Frank Derby from Jemison Realty Company, postmarked January 13 or 19, 1971. The articles are as follows: Birmingham Post-Herald, “Real Estate Pioneer Jemison, Nearing 90, Working Hard,” February 13, 1968; L & N Magazine, “Mr. Birmingham: Robert Jemison, Jr., who helped to build the Magic City, is still hale and hearty at 87,” July 1965; Birmingham Post-Herald, “Robert Jemison Jr., Developer, Marks 81st Birthday Tomorrow,” February 27, 1959; and a document reprinted from a paper first published by Walter E. Henley in August, 1960, titled “An historic statement of the responsible views of Senator Robert Jemison, Jr., Congress of the Confederate States of America, largest landowner in the secessionist convention of Alabama.” [Envelope bearing the January 1971 postmark attached].
Item 17: BW photograph of the Demopolis Rooster Bridge marker honoring Frank Derby [2 copies].
Item 18: The Alabama Review: A Quarterly Journal of Alabama History. XXV:2. The University of Alabama Press, April 1972. Includes laminate, green-ribboned bookmark with lyrics to Hark! The Herald Angels Sing, which marks p. 119, William Pratt Dale II’s article, “The Tombigbee Rooster Bridge.”
Item 19: Dixie Borderland Highways Magazine. 2:7. Alabama edition. Columbus, Ga., July 1919. Several pages marked with paperclips [now removed, replaced with archival clips] on which appear advertisements or articles regarding the Rooster Bridge and Frank Derby.
Item 20: Typed poem, “What Is A Grandmother?” by a Third Grader. Bears handwritten name, Mr. W. C. Derby in upper right corner.