J. W. Miller papers
Overview
J.W. (John W.) Miller (1872-1945) owned a hardware store at 627 Massachusetts Street in Lawrence, Kansas during the 1920s to the 1940s. He also lived with his family on Louisiana Street, and owned several apartment buildings there. Aside from his entrepreneurial activities he also participated in the Benevolent Order of Elks Lodge #595, serving as the treasurer during 1930. His daughter Wilma R. Miller (1902-1988) was a 1924 graduate of the University of Kansas. She maintained the farm property her father owned after his death, and this property later became the East Hills Business Park. Most of the collection relates to financial matters, Wilma's education and travels, and correspondence amongst the Miller family members.
Dates
- Creation: 1914 - 1988
Creator
- Miller, J. W. (John W.), 1872-1945 (Person)
- Miller, Wilma, 1902-1988 (Person)
Conditions Governing Access
No access restrictions.
Conditions Governing Use
Spencer Library staff may determine use restrictions dependent on the physical condition of manuscript materials.
Biographies of John W. and Wilma R. Miller
John W. Miller was born March 30, 1872 in Meyersdale Pennsylvania. He died May 11, 1945 in Lawrence, Kansas. He owned a hardware store located at 627 Massachusetts Street as well as the Oread Apartments located on Louisiana Street. Additionally he owned farmland in Lawrence, as well as some in Missouri. He had another hardware store in Stillwater, Oklahoma and was a member of the Lawrence Elks Lodge 595.
His daughter, Wilma R. Miller was born in 1902. After her mother's death, she and her father resided at 1101 Louisiana from 1923-1988. While attending the University of Kansas (KU), Wilma was a member of Kappa Alpha Theta sorority and the Dramatics Club. Following her graduation from KU in 1924 she traveled the United States. Upon her death in 1988 she established a piano scholarship in her name and donated money to several local charities, as well as an antique surrey to the Watkins Community Museum.
Extent
8 Linear Feet (9 boxes + 1 oversize box) ; oversize box (20" x 24" )
Language of Materials
English
Scope and Contents
The collection consists of notes, receipts and financial records, correspondence, newspaper clippings, and photographs collected by J.W. and Wilma throughout their lives. Much of the collection relates to Wilma's education at KU and her personal correspondence, including souvenirs and correspondence from Hawaii, New Orleans, and Los Angeles. Financial records of both also comprise a significant portion of the collection.
Physical Location
RH MS 960
Physical Location
RH MS R284
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Gift, University of Kansas Housing Department, 1992.
Subject
- University of Kansas (Organization)
- Title
- Guide to the J.W. Miller Collection
- Subtitle
- J. W. Miller papers
- Author
- Finding aid prepared by sh, 2007. Finding aid encoded by sh, 2007. Finding aid revised by pb, 2010.
- Date
- 2007
- Description rules
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
- Language of description
- Finding aid written in English.
- Finding aid permalink
- http://hdl.handle.net/10407/0307167243
- Preferred citation
-
J.W. Miller papers, Kansas Collection, RH MS 960, Kenneth Spencer Research Library, University of Kansas
Repository Details
Part of the University of Kansas. Kenneth Spencer Research Library Repository