Search

The Thomas Brooks Collection/Colston E. Warne Biography reflects the efforts of Brooks to write a biography on consumer leader, Colston Warne. A professor of Family Economics at Amherst College for 40 years, Warne played an important part in organizing professionals in the consumer affairs field. He was known for his many roles in the consumer movement, including: president of Consumers Union, development of the international consumer movement, serving on numerous governmental committees and advisory boards, and helping to introduce the consumers point of view into economic and political public policy decisions.
The Administrative Files are related to Brooks' management of the biography project, and they are arranged in four subseries. The first subseries from this file contains correspondence between Brooks and other individuals. This includes letters between Brooks and people such as; Warne, individuals who knew Warne, and publishers. The second subseries is financial documents and includes budget statements and store requisitions for the project. The third subseries is miscellaneous files of articles and papers written by Warne. The fourth subseries is the Warne biography research proposal written by Brooks and submitted to the College of Human Resources, Southern Illinois University.
The Research Files series, organized into seven subseries, contains research material on Warne collected by Brooks. The first subseries is Amherst College, 1931-1960. Because Warne spent most of his career at Amherst, this subseries, contains pertinent information about Warne and his profession. The second subseries is articles on Colston E. Warne. These are specific articles written by others about Warne and they include: "Colston Estey Warne: Mr. Consumer", "Dr. Warne is Honored by Unitarian Society", "Advertising: Study Stirs Debate on Values", "Consumer Groups Going International". The third subseries contains biographical notes taken by Brooks while researching Warne. The fourth subseries is organizations. They include: The American Association of University Women, The American Council on Consumer Interests, and Consumers' Union. The fifth subseries contains information about people. Included are: Ralph Nader, Celia Warne, and Colston Warne. The sixth subseries is subjects and includes files on advertising, consumers in the market, cooperatives, labor, the loyalty check, and speeches/statements. The final subseries is the Warne family tree.
In the third series are Warne's personal files consisting of four subseries. The first subseries is activities and associations. They include: Consumer Advisory Committee, Council of Economic Advisors to the President of the U.S., 1947-1951; Consumers Research, Advisory Board, 1929-1935; Consumers' Union, President and member, Board of Directors, 1936-1979; People's Lobby (Washington D.C.), President, 1934-1936, Honorary Vice President, 1941, Board of Directors, 1936-1950. The second subseries is Warne's diary. This is Warne's personal diary for the years 1911-1918. The third subseries is personal papers of Warne's. Included are his address books, a pamphlet written by him, and correspondence. The fourth subseries is organizations and includes: consumer cooperatives, the consumer movement, Consumers Research, People's Lobby, and other miscellaneous organizations. Two dissertations comprise, Literary Works. The first one is titled, "An Historical Analysis of the Growth of the National Consumer Movement in the United States from 1947 to 1967", by Jeanine Gilmartin. The second is titled, "The Consumer Movement in the Sixties", by David R. Case.
The fourth series contains oral interviews Brooks conducted with Warne, and other persons related to his life. There are typed transcripts for the majority of the interviews recorded on cassette audio tapes. The tapes have been separated from the collection and stored in the Consumer Movement Archives Oral History Collection. Among the thirty-two people interviewed were: Senator Paul Douglas, Leland Gordon, Florence Mason, Margaret Warne Nelson, Barbara Warne Newell, Esther Peterson, Celia Warne Tower, Clint Warne, Colston Warne, and Francis Warne.
The fifthth series contains printed material relating to the consumer movement. The majority of the printed material is either written by Warne or written about Warne. Approximately one hundred photographs were removed from the papers and filed in the University Archives Photograph Collection. The photographs are organized in three groups: Ithaca High School year book of 1916; Warne's career involving consumer movement events; and photographs of Warne at Amherst College. Included among the second group are photographs of the Consumer Advisory Council of 1948 and of 1962, Warne's visit to Japan with the Consumer's Association in 1961, Warne's visit to India in 1969, President Kennedy, Frances Warne, Walter Wilcox, and Richard Morse.

Photographs, correspondence, articles, news clippings, personal papers and other documents describing the life and career of Thomas Cruise Palmer (KSC, 1938), who from 1952 to 1977 served in various editorial positions with the Kansas City Star and Times, including ten years as executive editor. An advocate and supporter of K-State and its journalism program, Palmer was instrumental in acquiring the endowment establishing the A.Q. Miller School of Journalism and Mass Communications. News articles, photographs and military records describe Palmer’s service in the Navy in the Pacific during World War II, including his experience onboard the first Navy ship to enter Shanghai after the end of the war. Materials also include articles written by Palmer during his time at the Star, items related to his activities as a student and, later, a supporter of K-State, personal and family history-related documents and photographs with Robert Kennedy, Richard Nixon, Ginger Rogers and other notables.

The Velma L. Carson Papers comprises of correspondence, records, and photographs of her personal life, academic, and professional careers. The collection is divided into eight series: Manuscripts, Poems, Magazines and Published Articles, Correspondence, Photographs, Drawings, Biographical, Subject, and Artifacts.
The manuscripts of this collection contain scripts from plays, documentaries, and stories written by Velma Carson. Some of these manuscripts provide information regarding "Operation Democracy," a pageant called "Message to Feves," and original stories and essays were written by Velma Carson. The poems in this collection are original poems written by Velma Carson about various topics throughout her lifetime. Magazines and Published Articles consist of newspaper and magazine articles and clippings from her life. There are also a few of her own publications and works that she published during her career as a journalist and writer. The largest portion of this collection is correspondence. This series is organized mostly in chronological order and consists of letters, cards, and postcards. The correspondence is mainly between Velma and her family and friends. The earliest letter is from 1915 and the latest is 1984. This covers her time at Kansas State in 1915 all the way to when she was awarded her degree in 1982. The photographs of this collection include a variety of photos of Velma Carson, her friends, and her family over the course of her life. The drawings are several small pieces created by Velma Carson. The biographical series includes nine folders of information on Velma, two folders of information on Winona Carson, and three folders on Viola and Edward Carson. The subject series is made up of four folders that include information on Belva Lockwood, Wayne Randall, Morganville United Methodist Church, and Clay County taxes. The artifacts include wallpaper and fabric samples, E. L. Carson's black leather wallet, stamps, a small toy monkey, a small puzzle, a copy of a Ten Dollar Confederate bill used as an advertisement for Joe Kay as Sheriff, and a Cigar Box.

The collection documents the family, travels, education, and art practice of Kansas State Agricultural College graduate and teacher Vida Agnes Harris (March 29, 1893-May 25, 1985) from 1915-1970. Correspondence includes a letter Harris wrote while working as a domestic science instructor at the American Missionary Society's Tillotson College in Austin, Texas (1915) and letters received from Margaret Justin, Dean of Home Economics (1923-1954). Three diaries record Harris' international trips: Europe (1930); Mexico (1940) and India (1951). Sketches, block prints, paintings, and handmade greeting cards represent her art and design techniques. One folder contains photocopied, handwritten, and typed recipes, a number of them credited to known associates.
Scant photographs and a notebook (1916-1918) pertain to her father, Samuel Murrell Harris (1858-1944), who operated the Hillside Dairy in Manhattan, Kansas. The photographs were taken during the early 1940s, and used by Ruth Linquist in her 1946 publication, Using and Sharing Our Hours (Chapel Hill, N.C.). Samuel M. Harris is shown at the site of his old barn, located at 700 Harris Avenue. Kansas State's Memorial Stadium, Anderson and Seaton Halls, and power plant may be seen in the distance.

The William B. Hanger Papers document the military career of Hanger from 1929-1955. They also include information about his business career and family during that time as well as after his death in 1955 when information was added to the collection by the family spanning the years 1955-2001. Hanger actively served in the U.S. Marines for almost 20 years, 1929-1948. After his enlistment ended in 1948, he served as a sergeant in charge of the Marine Corps recruiting station. In 1951, Hanger began working as a sales representative for Spe-De-Way Company, a floor wax company that sold supplies to a Pittsburgh company, in Springfield, Missouri where he worked until his death in 1955.

The first series, U.S. Marines (1929-1955), is divided into eight subseries: 1) Diaries, consisting of seven diaries written by Hanger from 1931-1934; 1942 while stationed at Pearl Harbor, Oahu (1933), and Guadalcanal (1942). These diaries contain detailed descriptions of Hanger’s military life during that time; 2) Military Service contains records relating to Hanger’s service in the Marines. Organized chronologically, these papers include correspondence, leave requests, financial documents, enlistment and service records, health reports, and orders and itineraries; 3) Military Service Photocopies include a number of photocopied military records obtained by the family regarding Hanger’s time in the military; 4) Literary Works contains a paper entitled “Six Months After Pearl Harbor” that Hanger wrote in 1942; 5) Certificates consists of various certificates that were presented to Hanger during his military career; 6) Identification Cards includes Hanger’s military ID cards; 7) Ration Book consists of a military ration book issued to Willa Jean Hanger; and 8) Printed Material contains newspaper clippings concerning Hanger, a memory book from 1945, and two military periodicals.

Personal (1934-2001) contains ten subseries: 1) Correspondence contains letters, invitations, and greeting cards from family members and others; 2) Financial Documents consists of cancelled checks, tax statements, and bank receipts; 3) Records includes a number of important family documents and records including death certificates, marriage licenses, social security information, insurance papers, and health records; 4) Wedding Programs/Napkins contains programs and a napkin from a wedding in 1976; 5) Organization and Business Membership and Identification Cards consists of Hanger’s membership and organization cards; 6) Organizations-National Sojourners includes a constitution written by the National Sojourners; 7) Speech contains a speech written by Hanger regarding his service in the Marines; 8) Family History Notes includes several handwritten notes regarding the history of the Hanger family; 9) Funeral Related Items contains a program, guest book, and sympathy cards from Hanger’s funeral in 1955; and 10) Printed Material consists of basketball programs, college brochures, and newspaper clippings concerning the Hanger family.

The Business Series consists of six sub-series. The first is Correspondence, which contains letters pertaining to Hanger’s business career in Springfield, Missouri. Financial Documents, the second subseries, contains information regarding yearly expenses and taxes. The third series, Merit System, includes ratings and facts about the state of Missouri’s system. The fourth is the Civil Service Commission which includes notices of ratings for Hanger’s business from the Service Commission. Business Cards is the fifth subseries. The final series, Printed Material, contains company information and sales pamphlets, poultry informational pamphlets, and ‘do it yourself guides.

The Photographs series contains a number of U.S. Marine photographs of Hanger and personal photographs of the Hanger family including portraits of his wife and children. It also includes a number of negatives, a photo album/scrapbook from 1933 that includes Marine photographs, newspaper clippings, ticket stubs, and programs; a photo album of pictures from his time in San Diego, Guam, and Honolulu while in the Marines from 1930-1931; and two class photographs from 1924 and 1927.

The final series, Memorabilia, consist of a confederate note and coin and foreign coins. A number of military-related items including American Legion hats, ration book holders, a USMC Honorable Discharge Certificate Holder, USMC nameplate, and a World War II medal earned by Hanger while in the Marines are also included in the collection.

The William F. Danenbarger Papers (1931_1981) contain personal and business correspondence, speeches, and printed material. The papers, consisting of approximately 450 items, are housed in one document box.

The major portion of the collection consists of correspondence with parents, Kansas governors, members of the Kansas Board of Regents, university presidents, United Press employees, and members of State boards and commissions. Prominent correspondents include Governors Robert Bennett, Robert Docking and John Carlin, and Kansas Senators Ross Doyen and Norman Garr. A letter from U.S. Senator Bob Dole is also included. Many letters are congratulatory in nature, however, some of them reveal information about political events and leaders in Kansas. There are numerous letters concerning Danenbarger's association with the University of Kansas, especially corre­spondence with Chancellor Archie Dykes. Correspondence with officials of Kansas State University is also included, Presidents James McCain and Duane Acker in particular. The series is contained in 16 folders.

The speeches Danenbarger gave at conferences, retreats and public ceremonies in the years 1972_1974 make up the second series. Scripts from a 1972 tele_lecture conference, Board of Regents and Kansas University Liberal Arts retreats, and Kansas State University and Emporia State University commencements are within this series.

The 25 folders of printed material include the years 1931_1979. Newspaper clippings contain articles written by Danenbarger, articles concerning events at various universities, and Kansas Board of Regents announcements. Programs from campus building dedications and articles and minutes of the Kansas State Board of Regents during Danenbarger's terms are also included in this series.

Four photographs have been removed from the papers and filed in the University Archives photograph collection under the heading of Danenbarger. The photographs include President and Mrs. Richard Nixon at Kansas State University (1970), James McCain (1972). and a scene from a 1937 United Press production of The Front Page in which Danenbarger acted.