Examining the Lives of Tenants of Merrehope House in the Twentieth Century
Dublin Core
Title
Examining the Lives of Tenants of Merrehope House in the Twentieth Century
Subject
This collection features oral history interviews and corresponding artifacts about tenants of Merrehope in the twentieth century.
Description
This collection features audio and video recordings, photographs, deeds, and handwritten accounts. Some who were interviewed lived there for only a short period, visited tenants, or were related to people who lived there. In addition, some people were married at Merrehope or held their reception there. This collection aims to paint a picture of the house in the twentieth century and gather the histories of the people who passed through its changing walls.
Creator
Mary Margaret Freeman
Date
The collection was established between May 2025 to July 2025.
Rights
Examining the Lives of Tenants of Merrehope House in the Twentieth Century © 2025 by Mary Freeman is licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 4.0. To view a copy of this license, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0/
Collection Items
Lease from Meridian Restoration Foundation to Wayne Guy
The lease stipulates that the Meridian Restoration Foundation, Inc. rented a property consisting of "The three room and bath furnished apartment at 905 31 Avenue" for $65 a month. The document is a single page with typed text. It is signed at the…
Photograph of Tracy Mevers (Guy) and Jeff Mevers at their Wedding reception on July 23rd, 1997.
This photograph shows Lynn and Wayne Guy's daughter, Tracy, with her husband, Jeff Mevers. Tracy was born while the Guys still lived in Merrehope, and later she held her reception in the house.
Photograph of Tracy Mevers (Guy) and Jeff Mevers at their wedding reception inside Merrehope on July 23rd, 1997.
This photograph shows Lynn and Wayne Guy's daughter, Tracy, with her husband, Jeff Mevers. They are standing in the dining room. Tracy was born while the Guys still lived in Merrehope, and later she held her reception in the house.
Lynn Guy's Wedding Book, "Our First Home"
The wedding book entry includes a description of the house's history as well as how the Guys came to live there. Lynn Guy said that she had been told the information about the history was slightly incorrect, since Gen. Sherman did not use Merrehope…
Photograph of Otto Steen Tibbetts, Sr. and Mabel Clair Swett Tibbetts in early 1900s.
This photograph shows Otto Tibbetts Sr. and Mabel Tibbetts posing in the early 1900s. This is a digital photo replica of the original one at Merrehope.
Photograph of Otto Steen Tibbetts, Sr. and Mabel Clair Swett Tibbetts in mid-1900s.
This is a photograph of Otto Steen Tibbetts, Sr. and Mabel Clair Swett Tibbetts in the mid-twentieth century. They are posing on the front porch of Merrehope, identifiable by the columns and railing.
Interview with Sharon Curran Chatham on July 8th, 2025 at Merrehope in Meridian, Mississippi
The interview features Sharon Chatham discussing her family when they lived in Merrehope. She gives a rundown of her family history before answering a few questions about the time when her father lived in the house.
Photograph of John Curran with Unknown Girl on Front Steps of Merrehope c. 1930s.
This photograph shows John Curran and an unknown girl sitting on the steps of Merrehope sometime in the early 20th century. John Curran was a tenant of the house twice: once before and once after the Great Depression.
Photograph of John Curran as a Railroad Worker
This photograph shows John Curran in his railroad worker uniform. His daughter Sharon points out his hat, which she recalls always being starch white despite her father's working conditions.
Portrait of John Curran, c. early 20th century
This photograph is a portrait of John Curran sometime in the early 20th century.