Lester M. Jones papers

Lester M. Jones was born July 28, 1884 in Missouri to William Allen and Magdeline Cline Jones. Lester Jones graduated from Baker University in 1909. A year later, Jones entered Union Theological Seminary where he received his Bachelor of Divinity in 1913. He received his Master of Arts degree in Sociology from Columbia University. At first, Jones held pastoral charges in Missouri. He quickly became involved in teaching Sociology at Missouri Wesleyan College at Cameron, Missouri, and served as the Head of the Department of Sociology and Economics. From 1916 to 1920, he served as the Dean of the College. In 1920, Jones transferred to Morningside College at Sioux City, Iowa, where he served as Chairman of the Department of Sociology and Economics. Jones worked to complete his doctorate of philosophy by attending the University of Wisconsin in the summer. But, in 1926, he took a leave of absence and spent a year in Madison in order to complete his doctorate. Dr. Jones became a professor of Sociology at DePauw in 1927, and remained there until his retirement in 1952. Lester Jones had married Nellie Roach on June 16, 1909. They had a son, Donald Wayne Jones. After he retired, Jones and his wife moved to Florida. He died on June 16, 1954.