Documents

Along with being a renowned psychologist, professor, and author, J. Ridley Stroop was a devoted family man. He and his wife, Zelma, had three sons, John Ridley, Jr., Albert and Fred. His collection also contains a number of their papers, as well.

Mark Twain’s Scrapbook

Mark Twain is best known for his writings and satiric wit, but his most profitable book is one with blank pages – a scrapbook. Twain was an avid scrapbooker, but disliked the constant struggle with the glue; it was always too dry or too cumbersome for effecient use. So, he patented a scrapbook with the glue already applied. These scrapbooks became wildly popular and earned Twain over $50,000 in profits; all his other books combined netted about $200,000. Zelma Stroop’s ‘Mark Twain Scrapbook’ is pictured below:

Scrapbook, John Ridley Stroop Collection, Milliken Special Collections, Abilene Christian University, Abilene, TX.

Scrapbook, John Ridley Stroop Collection, Milliken Special Collections, Abilene Christian University, Abilene, TX.

Scrapbook, John Ridley Stroop Collection, Milliken Special Collections, Abilene Christian University, Abilene, TX.

Scrapbook, John Ridley Stroop Collection, Milliken Special Collections, Abilene Christian University, Abilene, TX.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

John Ridley Stroop, Jr.’s War Papers

The collection also includes some of Stroop’s son’s papers from World War II:

This document, dated 1946, lists the personal items sent to J.R. upon his return from the war. Document, John Ridley Stroop Collection, Milliken Special Collections, Abilene Christian University, Abilene, TX.

This document, dated 1946, lists the personal items sent to J.R. upon his return from the war. Document, John Ridley Stroop Collection, Milliken Special Collections, Abilene Christian University, Abilene, TX.

Presumably J.R.'s ticket home, it's dated 1945 and includes the ticket from Memphis to Nashville, ticket sleeve, and excess baggage receipt. Ephemera, John Ridley Stroop Collection, Milliken Special Collections, Abilene Christian University, Abilene, TX.

Presumably J.R.’s ticket home, it’s dated 1945 and includes the ticket from Memphis to Nashville, ticket sleeve, and excess baggage receipt. Ephemera, John Ridley Stroop Collection, Milliken Special Collections, Abilene Christian University, Abilene, TX.

Correspondence

The collection also contains personal letters and photos of the family:

J. Ridley and Zelma in 1959. Photograph, John Ridley Stroop Collection, Milliken Special Collections, Abilene Christian University, Abilene, TX.

J. Ridley and Zelma in 1959. Photograph, John Ridley Stroop Collection, Milliken Special Collections, Abilene Christian University, Abilene, TX.

Letter from J. Ridley to Zelma in 1936, page one. Manuscript letter, John Ridley Stroop Collection, Milliken Special Collections, Abilene Christian University, Abilene, TX.

Letter from J. Ridley to Zelma in 1936, page one. Manuscript letter, John Ridley Stroop Collection, Milliken Special Collections, Abilene Christian University, Abilene, TX.

Letter from J. Ridley to Zelma in 1936, page two. Manuscript letter, John Ridley Stroop Collection, Milliken Special Collections, Abilene Christian University, Abilene, TX.

Letter from J. Ridley to Zelma in 1936, page two. Manuscript letter, John Ridley Stroop Collection, Milliken Special Collections, Abilene Christian University, Abilene, TX.