Leon Karel Business Forms Collection
Scope and Contents
Late 19th and early 20th century illustrated letterheads and business forms for Missouri firms, and 1913-1915 display ads clipped from The Kirksville Journal. The bulk of the collection dates from 1868 to 1926. The focus of the collection is on the printed form itself, with emphasis on the illustrations. However, information about the transaction completed or the subject of the letter is provided for those who might have interest in the people involved or in the economic or other historical aspects of the items. Some of the items in the collection are not illustrated, but most have sketches of the buildings in which the firms did business.
Dates
- Creation: 1868-1981
Creator
- Karel, Leon C. (Person)
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Copyright
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Biographical Note
Iowa native Leon Charles Karel (1919-2001) attended the State University of Iowa where he received a Bachelor of Music in 1940, an MA in 1941 and, after serving in the Army Air Corps during World War II, a PhD in 1947. He then joined the faculty of Northeast Missouri State (now Truman State University) as Professor of Music in 1948 and left 35 years later as Professor Emeritus of Aesthetic Education and Humanities. Dr. Karel retired to Florida in 1983 but remained active in professional organizations and as a composer, music critic, and book editor until his death.
Extent
0.2 linear feet
Language of Materials
English
Arrangement
This collection is organized into seven series.
- From St. Louis Wholesale Merchants to Retail Merchant H. C. Finke, California, Mo., 1875-1890
- From California, Mo. (and Other) Merchants to H.C. Finke, 1881-1892
- From Hannibal, Mo. Merchants to George D. Clayton, Hannibal, Mo., 1914-1918
- Miscellaneous Letterheads and Business Forms, 1897-1925
- Other Letters and Documents, 1890-1981
- Display Ads for Kirksville Businesses from The Kirksville Journal, 1913-1915
- Display Ads for Other Missouri Businesses from The Kirksville Journal, 1913-1915
Custodial History
Leon Karel gathered a small collection, primarily of late 19th and early 20th century illustrated letterheads and business forms for Missouri firms, and 1913-1915 display ads clipped from The Kirksville Journal.
An antique dealer (Dave Thomas) responded to Dr. Karel's 1981 inquiry about "old business forms and letter heads" by enclosing the blank letterhead of a firm that went out of business in the early 1960s as a sample of what they had available. At least some of the collection was purchased by Dr. Karel from Dave Thomas of New Hartford Antiques not long before Dr. Karel retired and left Missouri.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Virginia Karel gave her husband's small collection of primarily late 19th and early 20th century illustrated letterheads and business forms to the University after his death.
Function
Geographic
Uniform Title
- Title
- Leon Karel collection, 1868-1981
- Author
- Finding aid prepared by Elaine Doak.
- 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