Willard F. Bond was born in western Stone County on February 22, 1876, and was raised in the home of Laomi Batson. He attended local one-room schools and began teaching himself at the age of sixteen. Bond taught for five years and graduated from Purvis High School in 1897. He served as principal of Wiggins High School from 1902 to 1912. Bond was head of the History and Latin departments at Mississippi Normal College (University of Southern Mississippi) from 1912 to 1916. Governor Theodore G. Bilbo appointed him as Mississippi Superintendent of Education in 1916. Bond served in this post until he became first director of the Mississippi Department of Public Welfare in 1936. He retired from public office in 1955. Bond was married to the former Susie Graham.

This collection is arranged as follows:

• Box 1
  • Folders 1-3: Correspondence (January 20, 1901-February 14, 1964).
  • Folder 4: Teaching license of Susie Graham Bond (April 7-8, 1905).
  • Folder 5: Class book from Mississippi Normal College (1914-1915).
  • Folder 6: Page from 1916 Mississippi Normal College yearbook of Susie Graham Bond.
  • Folder 7: Secretary of State Biennial Report to the Mississippi Legislature (July 1, 1929-July 1, 193l).
  • Folder 8: Memorial service for Dr. R. V. Powers and Thomas Gale (June 23, 1963).
  • Folder 9: Statement of sympathy for Clifford MacGowan from Jackson Rotary Club (March 12, 1956).
  • Folder 10: Certificate of appreciation for Joseph W. Tucker from Jackson Rotary Club.
  • Folder 11: Pamphlet concerning Old Men's Home.
  • Folder 12: Dedication by University of Southern Mississippi (September 18, 1962).
  • Folder 13: Miscellaneous personal materials.
  • Folders 14-15: Speeches (September 3, 1961; September 8, 1962; October 20, 1964).
  • Folder 16: Campaign materials.
  • Folder 17: Certificate as Mississippi Superintendent of Education from Governor Theodore G. Bilbo (July 7, 1916).
  • Folder 18: The Welfare Brief, a publication of Mississippi Department of Public Welfare (September 1955).

• Box 2
  • Folder 19: Issue of Mississippi Educational Advance Retirement (February 1953).
  • Folder 20: Citation from University of Mississippi (January 2l, l961).
  • Folder 2l: Issue of American Legion Magazine (November 1938).
  • Folder 22: Issue of Mississippi College Beacon (May 1958).
  • Folder 23: One hundred thirty-second annual commencement of Mississippi College (May 3l-June l, l958).
  • Folder 24: Program from banquet honoring School Administrator of the Year (October 26, l955).
  • Folder 25: Membership roster of Mississippi Chapter of the Order of the Red, Red Rose (September l960-September l962).
  • Folder 26: Visitors’ guide to Jackson (October 1961).
  • Folder 27: Issue of Southern News and Views, University of Southern Mississippi, (September 1962).
  • Folder 28: Program from dinner honoring Mississippi School Supply Company (October 3, 1963).
  • Folder 29: Certificates (January 19, 1960; February 17, l964).
  • Folder 30: Invitations to various events.
  • Folders 3l-32: Newsclippings.
  • Folder 33: Photographs.