Mary Doris Comly was born in Oblong, Illinois, on July 27, 1908. She was the daughter of J. Guy Comly of Illinois and Mabel (Redman) Comly of Kansas. The Comly family had moved to Jackson, Hinds County, Mississippi, by 1923. Comly was salutatorian of Central High School in Jackson when she graduated in 1925. Eudora Welty was one of Comly’s friends who also graduated from Central High School in 1925. Comly became a schoolteacher, but she died of tuberculosis in Jackson on July 27, 1929.

This collection consists of one scrapbook entitled "Graduation Days," which was assembled by Mary Doris Comly to commemorate her graduation from Central High School in Jackson in 1925.

The scrapbook is arranged in sections with headings such as or "Gifts" or "Photographs." Although many of Comly’s classmates inscribed portions of the scrapbook, the principal contents are narratives that were written by Comly; black-and-white photographs; newsclippings; and memorabilia such as invitations, napkins, and ticket stubs. Comly’s narratives are usually brief, but a lengthy one in the "Program of the Week" section describes parties and other events taking place during graduation week. The narratives and newsclippings often describe Comly’s activities during high school, including her service as president of the "Early Explorers" in 1924 and as vice-president of the senior class, editor-in-chief of the annual, and vice-president of a historical club in 1925. Comly also decorated most of the scrapbook pages with small paintings of flowers or other designs.

A number of items in the scrapbook concern Eudora Welty, including one of three senior-class mottoes attributed to "Welty and Stevens." Several newsclippings mention Welty in connection with other class activities, and one article describes a garden party at her home on Pinehurst Street on May 13, 1925. There is an invitation to the Welty garden party, and the "Program of the Week" section describes her party in detail. There are a number of photographs of Comly, Welty, and other classmates. In "The Class Prophesy" section, Beth Gainey predicted that Welty would become a popular jazz composer. In the "Autographs, Addresses, and Remarks" section, Welty wrote an inscription to Comly and drew a pictograph for her. A playbill from the Jackson Hi [sic] Dramatic Club’s presentation of "Three Live Ghosts," in which Welty played the role of Peggie Woofers, is included.

1. Scrapbook. 1924-1925; n.d. 6 folders.