Jacque Mercer Collection 1922-1971

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Jacque Mercer Collection 1922-1971

MSS-57


Overview of the Collection
Creator:	Mercer, Jacque (Jacque Joy), 1931-1982
Title:	Jacque Mercer Collection
Inclusive Dates:	1922-1971
Quantity:	9 Boxes (6.5 Linear Feet)
Abstract:	The Jacque Mercer Collection houses scrapbooks, newsclippings, printed matter, photographs, and correspondence documenting the Mercer's public appearances and promotional activities as Miss America from 1949 to 1950. Also included is genealogical and biographical information documenting Mercer and her family from 1922 to 1971.
Identification:	MSS-57
Language:	Material in English
Repository:	Arizona State University Library. Greater Arizona Collection P.O. Box 871006 Tempe, AZ 85287-1006 Phone: (480) 965-4932 E-Mail: archives@asu.edu Questions? Ask An Archivist!

Biographical Note

Jacquelyn Joy Mercer was born to Arthur Linville and Evelyn Joy (Holman) Mercer in Thatcher, Arizona on January 7, 1931 and spent most of her childhood on a ranch near Litchfield, Arizona. She attended North Phoenix High School and was a freshman at Phoenix College when she was crowned Miss America on September 11, 1949. In December of 1949, Jacque married her high school sweetheart, Douglas Cook, and thus violated her contract with Miss America. Although the pageant allowed her to keep her crown, it instituted a "no marriage, no pregnancy" rule the following year. This rule remained in effect until 1999. Mercer's national tour as Miss America included endorsements and promotions for Catalina swimwear and Lane cedar chests.

Late in 1950, Mercer filed for divorce and entered the University of Arizona. She later transferred to Mexico City College. Mercer married a casual acquaintance, William Oldenburger, in Los Angeles on August 22, 1952. The couple divorced after 11 days, and Mercer entered Arizona State College in the fall semester of the same year. Here, she met ASC football star Dick Curran, who she married in May of 1953. The couple had two children, Richard Jr. and Shannon. Richard Curran Sr. played for the Green Bay Packers before returning to Phoenix and founding an advertising firm, the Curran Company. Jacque Curran appeared in a number of television commercials and performed in eight plays at the Sombrero Playhouse in addition to working with her husband's firm.

Jacque and Richard Curran divorced in 1974. Jacque Mercer went into real eastate and married Marvin Gillespie in Los Angeles on January 21, 1978. Jacque Mercer Gillespie died of leukemia in California on February 2, 1982.

Scope and Content Note

The Jacque Mercer Collection houses scrapbooks, newsclippings, printed matter, photographs, and correspondence documenting the Mercer's public appearances and promotional activities as Miss America from 1949 to 1950. Also included is genealogical and biographical information documenting Mercer and her family from 1922 to 1971.

Arrangement

This collection consists of nine boxes.

Restrictions

Access Restrictions

To view this collection, make an appointment at least five business days prior to your visit by contacting Ask an Archivist or calling (480) 965-4932. Appointments in the Wurzburger Reading Room at Hayden Library (rm. 138) on the Tempe campus are available Monday through Friday. Check the ASU Library Hours page for current availability.

Copyright

Arizona State University does not own the copyright to this collection. We recognize that it is incumbent upon the researcher to procure permission to publish information from this collection from the owner of the copyright.

Related Material

Interested researchers may also wish to consult CP JME: Jacque Mercer Photographs (guide available at http://www.azarchivesonline.org/xtf/view?docId=ead/asu/cp_jme.xml.

Access Terms

Personal Name(s)

Mercer, Jacque (Jacque Joy), 1931-1982.

Subject(s)

Beauty contestants -- United States.

Beauty contests -- United States.

Miss America Pageant.

Models (Persons) -- United States.

Administrative Information

Preferred Citation

[Identification of item], Jacque Mercer Collection, MSS-57, Arizona State University Library.

Provenance

Jacque Mercer donated these materials to Archives and Special Collections in 1974 (Accession #1974-00052).

Container List


Box	Folder
1	1	Awards and Diplomas, 1948-1950, 1954,


1	2		Programs from Plays Starring Jacque Mercer, 1950-1956, Undated


1	3		Programs from Modeling Appearances, 1950, Undated


1	4-4/OV1		Memorabilia, 1949-1950


1	5-5/OV1		Ads with Jacque Mercer, 1949-1956, Undated


1	6		Prince Alfonso: Mexico City, 1950


1	7-7/OV1		Magazines: Ads and Publicity, Undated


Box
2			Magazines: Biographical Articles, 1949-1951


2	1/OV1		Magazines: Biographical Articles, 1949-1951


Box
3			Programs From Beauty Pageants including Miss Arizona and Miss America, 1949-1971


Box	Folder
4	1	Genealogy, Undated


4	2		Baby Book, 1922, 1931-1932 (Scrapbook with Photographs)


4	3		Scrapbook, 1931, Undated (Scrapbook with Photographs)


4	4/OV1		Scrapbook, 1933-1949, Undated (Scrapbook with Photographs)


4	5/OV3		Scrapbook, 1949-1950, Undated (Scrapbook with Photographs)


4	6/OV3		Miss America 1950, 1950 (Scrapbook with Photographs and Correspondence)


4	7/OV3		Miss America 1950, 1950 (Scrapbook with Photographs and Correspondence)


Box	Folder
5	1-1B	Correspondence: Between Lenora Slaughter and the Mercers, 1949-1955


5	2-2A		Correspondence: Between Promotion Companies and the Mercers, 1949-1950


5	3		Correspondence: Personal, 1961, Undated


5	4		Correspondence: Telegrams, 1949-1950


Box	Folder
6	1	Fan Mail: Unidentified, A, 1949-1950


6	2		Fan Mail: B, 1949-1950


6	3		Fan Mail: C, 1949-1950


6	4		Fan Mail: D-E, 1949-1950


6	5		Fan Mail: F-G, 1949-1950


6	6		Fan Mail: H-I, 1949-1950


6	7		Fan Mail: J-K, 1949-1950


6	8		Fan Mail: L, 1949-1950


6	9		Fan Mail: M, 1949-1950


6	10		Fan Mail: Mc, N-O, 1949-1950


6	11		Fan Mail: P-Q, 1949-1950


6	12		Fan Mail: R-S, 1949-1950


6	13		Fan Mail: T, U-V, X-Z, 1949-1950


Box	Folder
7	1	Newspaper Articles: Miss Phoenix (Crowned 1949 June 28), 1949


7	2		Newspaper Articles: Miss Arizona (Crowned 1949 August 10), 1949


7	3		Newspaper Articles: Miss America Competition, 1949 September 5-9


7	4		Newspaper Articles: Miss America Competition (Crowned 1949 September 11), 1949 September 10-12


7	5		Newspaper Articles: September 1949, 1949 September


7	6		Newspaper Articles, 1949 October-December


7	7		Newspaper Articles, 1950 January-February


7	8		Newspaper Articles, 1950 March-May


7	9		Newspaper Articles, 1950 June-August


7	10		Newspaper Articles, 1950 September


Box	Folder
8	11	Newspaper Articles: Miss America vs Mrs. America, Undated


8	2		Newspaper Articles: Dramatics, Undated


8	3		Newspaper Articles: Modeling, Undated


8	4		Newspaper Articles: Marriage to Doug Cook, 1949


8	5		Newspaper Articles: Post Miss America, Undated (1 of 2)


8	6		Newspaper Articles: Post Miss America, Undated (2 of 2)


8	7		Newspaper Articles: Marriage to Dick Curran, Undated


8	8		Newspaper Articles: Dick Curran, Undated


8	9		Newspaper Articles: Family, Undated


8	10		Newspaper Articles: "Under the Sun" by Bert Fireman, Undated


8	11		Newspaper Articles: Miscellaneous, Undated


Box
9			Award Ribbons, 1949, Undated