Joseph Nesbit Collection

Collection — Box: A29

Identifier: MGC-1166

Scope and Contents

Items in the collection connect Joseph Nesbit and his family to the Hickman Mills School District. Much of the collection pertains to his time as principal or superintendent. The collection is comprised of programs, newspapers, newspaper clippings, histories of the schools, and photographs. Former President Harry S. Truman signed Joseph Nesbit’s copy of the program from the dedication of three schools. The family witnessed the Ruskin Heights tornado in 1957. A photograph of Ruskin High School after the tornado as well as a disaster card filled out by the Nesbit family are among the items in this collection. Other items in the collection relate to the schools that the Nesbit children attended including a private school, Barstow School. The collection is arranged in two series, the first relating to the schools and the second relating to the Hickman Mills area where the family lived.

Dates

Creation: 1950s-1990s

Creator

Nesbit, Joseph, 1915-2006 (Person)
Nesbit, Della Mae Trout, 1928-2017 (Person)

Biographical / Historical

Joseph Nesbit was born November 15, 1915 near Clinton, Missouri. After serving in World War II, he used the G.I. Bill to complete his education. In 1948, he was a principal at Butler (MO) Elementary School where he met Della Mae Trout, the music teacher. They were married in 1952 and had two children. In 1954, Joseph came to work for the Hickman Mills School District (Consolidated School District Number 1) where he stayed until his retirement in 1979. He held many positions in the school district including principal of Burke Elementary, supervisor of elementary schools, Director of Curriculum, Assistant Superintendent of Schools. In 1976, he became the Superintendent of Schools and held that position until he retired. During the time Joseph Nesbit worked for the school district, the district grew from about 1,700 students to over 15,000 students. Joseph died on February 3, 2006.