Accession 1993-0294, circa 1896-1976, bulk 1914-1960

Scope and content:

Primarily contains business and Spengler and Kress family correspondence, especially between Joseph and his wife Dot (circa 1919-1976). Also includes manuscripts for Dot's genealogical novel, Family Saga in America (circa 1930s); Joseph's work, Life in America; and Dot's journals and diaries (1924-1939, 1969). There are Christmas cards, postcards, and newspaper clippings; photographs of family and friends, including 2 tintypes, 32 cartes-de-visite, 1 color and 91 black-and-white prints, and 76 healthy nitrate negatives; and lace knitted by Dot's grandmother.

Also includes 6 photograph albums kept by Dot. Two contain photos taken by her with a brownie camera in and of Piqua, OH (1914-1919). One contains photographs and memorabilia depicting her life as a college student at Miami University (OH, 1919-1921). Three contain photos of the Spengler's homes, friends, and life in Tuscon, AZ; Tampa, FL (1930-1938); and Durham, NC and at Duke University (1932-1940). The are also records the 1938 Duke University faculty baseball team.

16 boxes supposedly have "graphic material:" 19, 23, 26, 28, 35, 38, 48, 60, 90-96, and 98.

Processing information:

Technical Services staff may need to reformat newsprint and/or brittle paper in boxes 1-8, 11-15, 20, 24-32, 35-38, 40-41, 48-50, 75, and 82 before use.

Technical Services staff may need to process material in envelopes in boxes 1-2, 4-6, 11-14, 16-22, 24-25, 27-29, 32-34, 38-53, 56-69, 71-84, and 86-88 before use.

Technical Services staff may need to remove rusty fasteners in boxes 2-8, 10, 14, 32-35, 39-41, 44, 48-50, 55-56, 58, 60, 70-71, 84-85, and 91 before use.

Contents

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