Kirk Family Papers

Collection

Identifier: MS K3

Staff Only

Scope and Contents

Primarily photographs and diplomas belonging to the children of John R. and Rebecca (Burns) Kirk, which supplements the personal photos and documents of the Kirk Presidential Papers in the University Archives.

Dates

Creation: approximately 1882-1957

Creator

Kirk family (Family)

Note on Use of Collections

Copyright

It is the responsibility of the user to obtain permission to publish from the owner of the copyright (the institution, the creator of the record, the author or his/her transferees, heirs, legates, or literary executors). The user agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Board of Governors for Truman State University, its officers, employees, and agents from and against all claims made by any person asserting that he or she is an owner of copyright.

Researchers further agree to indemnify and hold harmless Truman State University, Pickler Memorial Library, and their officers, employees, and agents from and against all suits, claims, actions, and expenses arising out of use of collections held by the library.

Biographical Note

John Robert Kirk (1851-1937), the son of George W. and Mary Jane (Reid) Kirk, was President of the First District Normal School for 26 years (1899-1925). He completed a Bachelor of Pedagogy at the Normal School in 1878, and from then until he returned as President 21 years later, practiced law, was a teacher and administrator in several Iowa and Missouri school systems, and served as Missouri State Superintendent of Schools (1894-1899). After retiring, President Emeritus Kirk became a student again, earning both a BSEd and an MSEd; he was 79 years old when he completed the Masters. Learn more about John R. Kirk here.

His wife, Rebecca Idella Burns (1855-1941), daughter of James D. and Maria (Gilbreath) Burns of Iowa, was also a school teacher. They married in 1875 and became the parents of six children, all of whom graduated from the Normal and went into the teaching profession. Their children included:

Robert L. Kirk (1877-1969) who was a high school teacher, football coach and principal in South Dakota, Kansas and Oregon before retiring in 1949. Robert was married twice, first to Jessie Wright, with whom he had a son Charles G., then to Zetta Galbraith (1895-1985).

Elsie Lucretia Kirk (1878-1976) served as her father's secretary and Normal School Registrar (1899-1912). After completing her Masters, she taught in San Francisco until retirement. Elsie did not marry but did adopt a daughter, Haw Chan.

Todd J. Kirk (1882-1956) taught and coached at DePauw University for a few years then at Kirksville High School for around twenty. He and wife Catharine Johnson (1895-1980) were the parents of John Robert Jr. and Dorothy Elizabeth. Catharine was also a Northeast Missouri State Teachers College (NMSTC) graduate and school teacher.

Victor Kirk (1889-1959) served as assistant football coach while a student at the Normal School, directing the "Bull Pups" for a time. He spent his whole career (1916-1958) teaching and coaching in St. Louis High Schools. He married Cecilia Kennedy (1888-1978) of Wellsville, Missouri, in 1915.

Laura Pauline Kirk (1893-1940) taught high school art and music in Missouri, Indiana and West Virginia before taking the position of Associate Professor of Music at Ball State Teachers College in Indiana. She retired because of ill health and returned to Kirksville in 1935.

Mary Elizabeth Kirk (1893-1977) was a Home Economics teacher in Illinois until her marriage to Warner H. Newcomb, MD (1894-1972) in 1920. Both Mary and her twin, Pauline, were talented potters and pottery collectors. Learn more about John R. Kirk and Marie Turner Harvey's groundbreaking work in rural schools in our digital exhibition.

Extent

1.8 linear feet

Language of Materials

English

Additional Description

Arrangement

This collection is organized into nine series.

Series I: K3/0: Administrative Documents, undated.
Series II: K3/1: John Robert and Rebecca Idella (Burns) Kirk, 1882-1938
Series III: K3/2: Elsie Lucretia Kirk, approximately 1908-1934
Series IV: K3/3: Todd J. Kirk, 1905-1957
Series V: K3/4: Victor Kirk, approximately 1910
Series VI: K3/5: Laura Pauline Kirk, approximately 1912-approximately 1937
Series VII: K3/6: Mary Elizabeth (Kirk) Newcomb, 1902-1926
Series VIII: K3/7: The Twins: Laura Pauline and Mary Elizabeth Kirk, between 1893-1940
Series IX: K3/8: Miscellaneous, approximately 1900-1998

Immediate Source of Acquisition

When Mrs. John R. Kirk turned her husband's papers over to the College Archives shortly after his death, she included some family photos and documents among the professional documents. This collection, primarily photographs and the Kirk children's diplomas, was given to the University to supplement those personal items in the Kirk Presidential Papers. The majority of these items were the gift of the Kirks' grandson, John R. Kirk Jr. in 1998. Subsequent donations occurred in 2012.