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Thatcher Family papers

 Collection
Call Number: RH MS 1250

Overview

The Thatcher Family Papers are those of a Kansas City, Kansas family who, beginning in 1912, owned and operated the Thatcher Funeral Home.

Dates

  • Creation: 1926 - 2006

Creator

Conditions Governing Access

No access restrictions.

Conditions Governing Use

Spencer Library staff may determine use restrictions dependent on the physical condition of manuscript materials.

Biography of Thatcher Family

Nathan W. Thatcher, Sr. (circa 1884-1952) and wife Jennie began the Thatcher Funeral Home in 1912 in Kansas City, Kansas. The Thatcher's had four children: James, Harold, Nathan Jr., and Marion.

Following his father's death, Nathan W. Thatcher, Jr. took over as general manager of Thatcher Funeral Home. He later became the Kansas State Board of Embalming's first black president. Thatcher, Jr. married Myrtle E. Green (b. circa 1910), who was also a Kansas City, Kansas native and Sumner High School graduate. Mrs. Thatcher became a licensed funeral director and worked alongside her husband in the family business. Beyond the funeral home, Myrtle Thatcher was an active community member; she was a long-time member of Pleasant Green Baptist Church, the Kansas Citians and L'Esprit Clubs, and the Alice M. Brown Chapter No. 40 of the Order of the Eastern Star.

Nathan, Jr. and Myrtle Thatcher had one child, Quintelle, born in 1928. After graduating from Sumner High School and attending the University of Kansas, Quintelle worked in community service groups in several states before returning to the family business. Following her father's death in 1980, Quintelle Thatcher Davis took over as general manager of Thatcher Funeral Home, where she worked alongside her mother. Like Myrtle Thatcher, Davis was also a member of the Kansas Citians, as well as the Greater Kansas City Chapter of the Links and Phi Delta Sigma Sorority. Quintelle Thatcher Davis had three children, Robert L. Davis, Jr., Judy Johnson, and Jackie Hams. Upon Quintelle Thatcher Davis's 2007 death, her son Robert Davis took over as Thatcher Funeral Home general manager.

Extent

2 Linear Feet (4 boxes + 3 oversize boxes + 1 oversize folder)

Language of Materials

English

Scope and Contents

The Thatcher Family Collection dates from 1926-1927, 1939-1947, 1949-1950, 1952-1957, 1959-1961, 1963, 1965-1969, 1972-1976, 1978-1982, 1986-1987, and 1990-2006 and is arranged in two series, Business Papers and Family Papers. Business Papers consist of materials such as convention programs, funeral programs, and business directories. Family Papers consist of items such as clippings, club and school yearbooks, and church programs. Folders within each series are arranged alphabetically.

Due to poor condition, in which use would create further damage, some clippings were photocopied and the photocopies retained. Others that consisted of whole newspaper issues or sections, which are already available in the KU Libraries were removed. The removed newpaper issues are: The Kansas City Call: 7 Dec 1945, 12 Sept 1952, 14 Jan 1955, 25 April 1958, and 26 Nov 1956; these are available on microfilm (Watson Library). There were also two issues of The Chicago Defender: 5 Feb 1944 and 28 March 1953; these are available both on microfilm (Watson Library) and in online databases (via the KU Libraries webpage).

Photographs from the collection are located at RH MS-P 1250, RH MS-P 1250 (f), and RH MS-P 1250 (ff). Oversized materials from the collection are located at RH MS Q349 and RH MS R316.

Series List

The Thatcher Family Collection dates from 1926-1927, 1939-1947, 1949-1950, 1952-1957, 1959-1961, 1963, 1965-1969, 1972-1976, 1978-1982, 1986-1987, and 1990-2006 and is arranged in two series.

Business Papers, 1944, 1959-1961, 1968, 1973-1975, 1981-1982, 1986-1987, 1990-1992, 1996-2000, 2002-2006 Family Papers, 1926-1927, 1939-1947, 1949-1950, 1952-1957, 1959, 1963, 1965-1967, 1969, 1972, 1974, 1976, 1978-1982, 1986, 1991, 1993-1996, 1998, 2001-2006

Physical Location

RH MS 1250

Physical Location

RH MS-P 1250

Physical Location

RH MS-P 1250 (f)

Physical Location

RH MS-P 1250 (ff)

Physical Location

RH MS Q349

Physical Location

RH MS R316

Immediate Source of Acquisition

Gift, Robert Davis for Myrtle Thatcher, 2010.

Title
Guide to the Thatcher Family Collection
Subtitle
Thatcher Family papers
Author
Finding aid prepared by mbw, 2012 ; Finding aid encoded by mbw, 2012; Finding aid encoded by mbw, 2012
Date
2012
Description rules
Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Language of description
Finding aid written in English.
Sponsor
Support for the processing of this Collection was provided by the Dana and Sue Anderson African American Collecting Program Endowment Fund.
Finding aid permalink
http://hdl.handle.net/10407/3037542689
Preferred citation
Thatcher Family Collection, Kansas Collection, RH MS 1250, Kenneth Spencer Research Library, University of Kansas Libraries

Repository Details

Part of the University of Kansas. Kenneth Spencer Research Library Repository

Contact:
1450 Poplar Lane
Lawrence KS 66045-7616 United States
785-864-4334