Maurice "Footsie" Britt Collection

Collection

Identifier: MC 1238

Staff Only
Select files to request

Scope and Contents

The collection consists of the personal and professional papers of University of Arkansas athlete, World War II officer, and politician Maurice "Footsie" Britt. Materials include scrapbooks, photograph albums, speeches, printed materials, photographs, film, audio and video cassettes, and awards collected by Britt over his sports, military, and political careers. Included are albums assembled by Britt's mother, Virgie; photographs of Britt during World War II and his subsequent acceptance of the Medal of Honor at the University of Arkansas in 1944; speeches made by Britt during his political campaign for governor in 1986; plaques, awards, and other memorabilia from military, political, and service organizations; and photographs of Britt performing the duties of lieutenant governor and Arkansas district director of the Small Business Administration (SBA).

Dates

Creation: circa 1890-2021

Creator

Britt, Maurice (Person)

Language of Materials

Collection materials are in English.

Conditions Governing Access

Please call (479) 575-8444 or email specoll@uark.edu at least two weeks in advance of your arrival to ensure availability of the materials.

Conditions Governing Use

No Use Restrictions Apply.

No Interlibrary Loan.

Standard Federal Copyright Laws Apply (U.S. Title 17).

Biographical / Historical

Maurice "Footsie" Britt was born in Carlisle, Arkansas on June 29, 1919 and raised in nearby Lonoke. He attended the University of Arkansas, graduating in 1941 after enjoying a successful college athletic career in both basketball and football. After one season of playing professional football with the Detroit Lions, Britt was called to active duty in the United States Army in December, 1941. As a platoon commander in the Third Infantry Division, Britt took part in the African, Sicilian, and Italian campaigns. He was seriously wounded on February 12, 1944, loosing his right arm and for his battlefield exploits Britt won numerous decorations including the Congressional Medal of Honor. Following a peacetime career in manufacturing, Britt ran a successful campaign for lieutenant governor of Arkansas in 1966, an office he held until 1970. Afterwards he accepted a position as District Director of the Small Business Administration, 1971-1985, and made an unsuccessful bid for governor in 1986. Britt was active in a number of organizations, particularly veterans groups and their associated reunions. Britt passed away November 26, 1995.

Extent

13.75 Linear Feet (17 boxes and 2 oversize folders)

Additional Description

Arrangement

Series 1. Scrapbooks and photograph albums

Series 2. Manuscript speeches and essays

Series 3. Awards and certificates

Series 4. Letters, manuscripts from others, and family papers

Series 5. Printed material

Series 6. Photographs, films, and recordings

Immediate Source of Acquisition

Photographs, scrapbooks, printed material and papers created or collected by Maurice "Footsie" Britt were donated by him to Special Collections on April 20, 1993. Additional materials were donated circa 2009; these primarily comprise Boxes 13-16.

Additional materials (Box 17 and OV Folders 1-2) were donated by Britt's grandson, Chris Britt of Littleton, Colorado, on December 8, 2021.

Processing Information

Processed by Kim Allen Scott, 1994. Additional materials were incorporated into the collection by Katrina Windon in November 2021; these were primarily incorporated as Boxes 13-16, but when possible, photographs were integrated into Boxes 10-11 following existing images of the same events (images 379a, 429a, 430a, 430b, 430c, 434a, 434b, 446a, 446b, 446c, 444a, 443a, 443b, 443c, 440a, 144a, 478a, 366a, 366b, 373a, 373b, 368a, 370a, 370b, 397a, 394a, 393a, 423a, 409a, 648a, 646a, 628a-d, 644a, 63a, 63b, 58a, 58b, 73a-e, 80a-b, 81a-b, 82a, 83a, 117a, 107a, 85a, 85b, 85c, 134a, 135a-c, 136a, 152a, 178a-b, 181a, and Folders 11-5a and 11-6a).

Additional materials (Box 17 and OV Folders 1-2) were incorporated into the collection by Katrina Windon in January 2022. At this time, Series 4 was renamed from "Letters and manuscripts from others" to "Letters, manuscripts from others, and family papers" to reflect its expanded scope.