Association of the United States Army (AUSA), 1960-1966
Scope and Contents
This material details the personal and professional activities of Oscar L. Betts, Jr. and, to a lesser extent, Oscar L. Betts, III (known as Buster), as well as R. H. Taliaferro, the father of Buster's wife, Sue Malone Taliaferro. These papers are arranged in three two series: Series 1 – The Betts Family; Series 2 – The Taliaferro Family and Series 3 – The Crawford Family. Within each series items are generally arranged chronologically, with Betts, Jr. and Betts III materials filed together. Within the Betts series there are three sub-divisions: Association of the United States Army (AUSA); Rotary Club; Spirit of Fort Benning Award.
Among the Betts' areas of interest are such subjects as the Ralston Hotel, the Columbus Airport (also known as the Muscogee County Airport and the Municipal Airport), the Highway 27 Association, Fort Benning, World War II, the Rotary Club, the AUSA (Association of the U.S. Army), the Columbus Chamber of Commerce, The Jordan Company, Tom's Foods, etc.
Among the Taliaferros' areas of interest are Jordan Vocational High School, Taliaferro's retirement in 1967, his fundraising for Brookstone (Trinity) School, other Columbus civic organizations and the genealogies of the Crawford family of R. H Taliaferro's wife, Harriet Crawford.
The scrapbooks kept by both Oscar Betts, Jr. and R. H. Taliaferro are in very poor physical condition.
Dates
- Other: 1960-1966
Extent
From the Collection: 2 Cubic Feet
Language of Materials
From the Collection: English
General
Letter to Betts from Paul L. Freeman Jr. Maj. General, January 15, 1960 Betts photo at reception for Col. Shepard, Chief of Staff, January 6, 1961 Betts photo, speaking to the Columbus-Phenix City Chapter of AUSA, at their semi-annual dinner meeting, October 29, 1964 Newspaper clipping, Columbus Enquirer, "AUSA honors firms," Betts pictured, December 18, 1964 Newspaper clipping, Columbus Enquirer, "Officers elected by AUSA", Betts pictured, January 26, 1965 Newspaper clipping, "AUSA leaders meet", Betts pictured, August 24, 1965 Newspaper clipping, The Bayonet, "AUSA delegates pioneer at Atlanta conference", September 24, 1965 Newspaper clipping photo, Columbus Enquirer, "AUSA Barbecue", photo of Betts, September 21, 1965 Betts visits JFK memorial while in Washington for AUSA, Betts pictured, October, 1965 (?) George Catlett Memorial Dinner head table guest list, 1965 Photo, Betts presents AUSA awards to Callaway, Black, and Spratley, photo, March 7, 1966 News clipping, Columbus Enquirer, "Callaway predicts honorable peace or fight to finish", March 7, 1966 Betts presents Callaway with an infantryman statuette at AUSA meeting, March 7, 1966 Newspaper clipping, "AUSA hears Callaway at mid-winter meeting", Betts pictured, March 7 (?), 1966 Newspaper clipping, Columbus Enquirer, "Local AUSA unit leads in nation", May 6, 1966 Newspaper clipping, Columbus Enquirer, "AUSA names new slate of officers", Betts pictured, May 10, 1966 Letter to Betts from Eben L. Reid, vice president, the Fourth National Bank, thanking Betts for inviting him to the AUSA chapter meeting the week before, May 10, 1966 Newspaper clipping, The Bayonet, "Wisdom of his orders falls on general's head", Betts pictured, May 13, 1966 Letter to Betts from T.G. Reeves, Attorney, thanking Betts for his service as president of the local chapter of the AUSA, May 14, 1966 News clipping, "Regional AUSA meet opens at post today", May 26, 1966 News clipping, "AUSA meet debates stand on reserves", May 27, 1966 Newspaper clipping, Columbus Enquirer, "Williamson sounds note of optimism on war in Viet Nam", Betts pictured, May 27, 1966 Letter from Betts to all conferees – 3rd Region Seminar, thanking them for their presence and contribution, May 26-27, 1966 Letter from Betts to Brig. Gen. Ellis W. Williamson, with a copy of May 13, 1966 The Rote-a-Bit: Rotary Club of Columbus, May 31, 1966 Letter from Betts to Gen. Robert H. York, May 31, 1966 Letter from Betts to Lieutenant Gen. Lewis W. Truman, May 31, 1966 Letter from Betts to Lieutenant Gen. Charles G. Dodge, May 31, 1966 Letter from Betts to Dr. Elvis J. Stahr, May 31, 1966 Letter from Betts to Col. John H. Lattin, May 31, 1966 Letter from Betts to Mr. Ernest L. Massie, Jr., May 31, 1966 Letter from Betts to Captain Bernard W. Abrams congratulating him on his election to the Presidency of 3rd Region, AUSA, May 31, 1966 AUSA newsletter, Betts pictured on back, May, 1966 Letter from Betts to Maj. General Paul A. Gavan, June 1, 1966 Letter from Betts to Col. William H. Preston, June 1, 1966 Letter from Betts to Col. John K. Roberts, Jr., June 1, 1966 Letter from Betts to Col. J. Elmore Swenson, June 1, 1966 Letter from Bernard W. Abrams to Betts, June 2, 1966 Letter from Bernard W. Abrams to Maj. Gen. Paul A. Gavan, June 2, 1966 Letter to Betts from Col. Arthur Symons regarding his gift as an outgoing member of the AUSA Council of Trustee, June 7, 1966 Letter from Betts from Col. Arthur Symons, choosing cuff links as his farewell gift, June 14, 1966 Newspaper clipping, "Baker ROTC awards", Betts awards trophy, June, 1966 (?) Card from AUSA president Elvis J. Stahr to Betts on the occasion of presenting him with a plaque as out-going chapter president, July 25, 1966 Letter to Betts from Paul A. Gavan, discussing chapter membership numbers and the upcoming annual meeting, July 25, 1966 Letter to Betts regarding the Membership Committee from James W. Blanchard of the Columbus bank and Trust Company and First Vice President of AUSA, July 25, 1966 Letter from Abrams to Betts, appointing him as Personal Advisor to the Third Region Staff of AUSA, August 17, 1968 Letter to Bernard Abrams from Betts, accepting the appointment as advisor, August 19, 1966 Letter to Betts from Bernard W. Abrams, August 28, 1966 Newspaper clipping, Columbus Enquirer, "Betts is honored by national AUSA for regional work", September 2, 1966 Newspaper clipping, with a card from Eben Reid, Columbus Ledger, "Betts honored for service to AUSA", September 2, 1966 Letter to Betts from Lt. General C.G. Dodge about the Biddle Award, September 2, 1966 Handwritten letter to Betts from Paul [A. Gavan], congratulating him on winning the Biddle Award, September 2, 1966 Letter to Lt. General C.G. Dodge from Betts regarding his receipt of the Biddle Award, September 6, 1966 The Bayonet, Fort Benning, "National AUSA praises work of Betts", September 9, 1966 Letter to Betts from Bernard W. Abrams about a breakfast to honor him for winning the Biddle Award, September 19, 1966 Letter to Betts (with a telephone message form attached) from Bernard W. Abrams wishing him "a ball on your New England trip" and again congratulating him on the Biddle Award, September 19, 1966 Letter to A. Higgins form Bernard W. Abrams setting up the breakfast in October to honor Betts as the Biddle Award winner, September, 19, 1966 Newspaper clipping, Columbus Enquirer, "Betts named recipient of [Biddle] award from AUSA", September 27, 1966 Newspaper clipping, Columbus Ledger, "Betts will receive AUSA [Biddle] medal", September 27, 1966 Letter to Betts from E. J. Knight congratulating him on winning the Biddle Award, September 27, 1966 Letter to Betts from Burton J. Bell, Executive Secretary, Chattahoochee River Basin Development Commission, regarding his receipt of the Biddle Award, September 28, 1966 Letter to Betts from Eben L. Reid, Vice President of the Fourth National Bank, congratulating him for winning the Biddle Award, and asking for a glassy print of him, September 28, 1966 The Bayonet, "Betts selected for AUSA award" (Anthony J. Drexel Biddle Medal), September 30, 1966 Biographical sketch of Biddle, September, 1966 Newspaper clipping, "Upsonian's husband gets Biddell Medal", September, 1966 Newspaper clipping, "Big sweep of AUSA awards", Betts pictured with the Anthony J. Drexel Biddle Medal, September, 1966 Betts photos accepting Biddle medal, (3 poses) from Elvis J. Stahr, President of AUSA, October 11, 1966 Citation for Biddle Award to Betts by Elvis J. Stahr, President of AUSA (2 copies), October 11, 1966 Memorandum invitation to George Catlett Marshall Dinner reception, October 12 (?), 1966 Salute, AUSA awards go to four, mentioning Betts receiving the Biddle Medal, October 12, 1966 Letter to Betts from C.W. Curry congratulating him on the Biddle award, October 14, 1966 Letter to Betts from William R. Bowdoin, President of the Trust Company of Georgia Associates congratulating Betts on the Biddle Award, October 14, 1966 Note to Betts from Col. Arthur Symons giving him the address of Mrs. A. J. Drexel Biddle, October 14, 1966 Letter to Betts from Major General Paul A. Gavan, regarding his receipt of the Biddle Award, October 17, 1966 Letter to Major General Paul A. Gavan from Betts, thanking him for his note about the Biddle Award, October 20, 1966 Letter to William R. Bowdoin from Betts, thanking him for his note about Biddle Award, October 20, 1966 Letter to C.W. Curry from Betts thanking him for his letter regarding the Anthony J. Drexel Biddle Award, October 20, 1966 Letter to Betts from Julian Marbut editor of the Bayonet, regarding their story on Betts' receipt of the Biddle Award, October 20 (?), 1966 Letter to Julian Marbut from Betts thanking him for sending him the copy of the Bayonet with the Biddle Award story, October 20, 1966 Letter to Betts from William J. McNally, Lt. Colonel, Information Officer, sending him a copy of the Bayonet with the Biddle Award story, October 20, 1966 (?) Letter to E. J. Knight from Betts thanking him for his letter of congratulations on winning the Biddle Award, October 20, 1966 Letter to Eben L. Reid, Vice President of the Fourth National Bank, thanking him for his congratulations on winning the Biddle Award, October 20, 1966 Letter to Burton J. Bell from Betts thanking him for his letter about the Biddle Award, October 21, 1966 Letter to Mrs. A.J. Drexel Biddle from Betts (2 copies), October 21, 1966 Letter to Captain Bernard W. Abrams from Betts, with a blind cc to Major general Paul A. Gavan, October 27, 1966 Letter to Betts from Margaret Biddle, November 18, 1966 Letter from Andes Coochat (?) of Pfaelzer Brothers, with attached Trust Co. of Ga. news article regarding Betts' receipt of the Biddle award, November 28, 1966 AUSA newsletter, Betts pictured on back, November, 1966 (?)
Repository Details
Part of the Columbus State University Archives and Special Collections Repository
4225 University Ave
Columbus Georgia 31907 United States