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Kirksville Photos by Drake

 Collection
Identifier: MUSDP K1

Scope and Contents

An album of 35 photos of Kirksville, Missouri, buildings, businesses and people created by "Drake, Fotografer" and originally owned by Clifford Elmore Henry. Using Kirksville city directories, local histories and articles in Kirksville newspapers of the day, we have been able to determine that most of the photos in this album were taken 1893 January-April, the only period when all the pictured businesses were in operation simultaneously.

Dates

  • Creation: 1893

Creator

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Copyright

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Biographical Note

Clifford Henry (1873-1959) was the son of Benjamin Franklin and Barbara Isabelle (Bates) Henry. He clerked in his father's drugstore on the south side of the Square in Kirksville, Missouri, as a teenager then, after graduating from Kirksville High School, attended St. Louis College of Pharmacy. He earned a PhG (Pharmacy Graduate) in 1894, followed by an MD in 1896 from Jefferson College of Medicine in Philadelphia. Dr. Henry spent most of his professional life in Minneapolis as a practicing physician and Professor of Anatomy at Northern Institute of Osteopathy. He retired in 1939 and returned to Kirksville for the remainder of his life.

The album donor, Mary Jane (Laughlin) Denslow (1914-1991), was a native of Kirksville and the granddaughter of A.T. Still, founder of osteopathy. She taught History of Osteopathy in Chicago at one time and was later connected with the Kirksville College of Osteopathic Medicine and the Still Museum.

We have been unable to learn anything about the photographer other than that his name was Drake and he was from Aurora, Indiana.

Extent

1 binder

Language of Materials

English

Arrangement

This collection is organized into one series - Photographs of Kirksville – Drake, Aurora, IN, Fotografer, early 1893.

Custodial History

Originally owned by Clifford Elmore Henry.

Immediate Source of Acquisition

This album was gift of Mrs. J. S. Denslow of Kirksville, Mo.

Existence and Location of Copies

The photographs in this album have been digitized and are available to view in our digital library.

Related Materials

Bibliography

Sources used to identify and date photographs in this album include: Annual Catalogue of the Officers, Alumni, and Students of the Missouri State Normal School, First District. Moberly: F.L. Link, Printer, 1894; Directory and Commercial Register of the City of Kirksville, 1892. Kirksville: City Directory Company, [1892]; History of Adair, Sullivan, Putnam and Schuyler Counties, Missouri. Chicago: The Goodspeed Publishing Co., 1888; The Kirksville Daily Express, various issues; Kirksville-Adair County Bicentennial Committee. A Book of Adair County History. Kirksville: Simpson Printing Company, 1976; Pope, Barbara M., Reference Librarian/Archivist, St. Louis College of Medicine to Elaine M. Doak, Special Collections Librarian/Archivist, Truman State University. 2003 September 3; Ryle, Walter H. Centennial History of the First Baptist Church. Kirksville: Simpson Publishing Company, 1968; Selby, P.O. Kirksville Presbyterians. Kirksville: First United Presbyterian Church, 1971; Violette, E.M. History of Adair County. Kirksville: The Denslow History Company, 1911; Wallin's Kirksville City Directory for 1899-1900. Kirksville: Wallin Directory Co., 1900; The Weekly Graphic, various issues, primarily 1892-1895.

Processing Information

This photo album includes 35 5" x 8" black and white photographs by "Drake, Fotografer" mounted on 6.5" x 9.5" cardboard pages. It originally belonged to Clifford Elmore Henry, who wrote his name on the flyleaf.

Using Kirksville city directories, local histories, and articles in Kirksville newspapers of the day, we have been able to determine when most of the pictured businesses were in operation, when homes were built, when folks lived here or moved away or died. From this research, we can tell that most of the photos in this album were taken 1893 January-April, the only period when all the pictured businesses were in operation simultaneously. This was also shortly after several of the homes shown were erected in late 1892. On the premise that an out-of-state photographer would have taken all the pictures for an album in one visit to town, we might guess that the other photos were taken at this time as well.

Various unidentified people have tried to identify the buildings and people in this album, apparently both before and after it was given to the Museum. Typed captions were glued to some of the photos and there are bits of information in different handwriting on the borders and backs of others. We've added our own notes to the confusion as we've attempted to sort things out - and while we haven't identified everything yet, we are making progress.

Title
Kirksville Photos by Drake, 1893
Subtitle
The Clifford Henry Album
Author
Finding aid prepared by unknown person(s).
Date
[1993-2010].
Language of description
English
Script of description
Latin

Repository Details

Part of the Truman State University, Pickler Memorial Library, Special Collections Manuscripts Repository

Contact:

660-785-4537