Charles L. Marshall Sr. papers

Identity elements

Reference code

Level of description

Collection

Title

Charles L. Marshall Sr. papers

Date(s)

  • 1911–2004 (Creation)

Extent

1.00 Linear Feet, 3.00 Boxes

Name of creator

(1905–1992)

Biographical history

Charles L. Marshall was born on August 31, 1905, in Atchison, Kansas.  He attended Kansas State Agricultural College where he earned a Bachelors degree in architecture in 1927 and a professional degree in architecture in 1929.  Marshall worked as the State Architect for Kansas from 1945 to 1952 and in private architectural practice in Topeka, Kansas from 1952 to 1986.
In 1970, Marshall received the Waldo B. Heywood award from Topeka Civic Theatre.  That same year he was elected Vice-President of Kansas State Federation of Art.  His work was chosen for Kansas Artist Postcard Series in 1980, and in 1983, he received the Kansas Governor's Artist Award.
Charles L. Marshall, Sr. died on November 14, 1992, in Topeka, Kansas.

Content and structure elements

Scope and content

The Charles L. Marshall Sr. papers primarily document his involvement in promoting art in Kansas through his association with several art organizations in the state and at Kansas State University. Materials in this portion of the collection include correspondence, newsletters, reports, meeting information, printed materials, and newspaper clippings. Additional portions of the papers document examples of his artwork and touch on his time as an architect in the state.
he predominant correspondence deals with his involvement in the KSFA and includes originals, carbon copies, and photocopies.  Marshall corresponded with John F. Helm, Jr., Mildred E. Hunter, Francis David Farrell, Russell Thackrey, James McCain, Birger Sandzen (photocopies only), Charles Stroh, Don Louthian, Herschel C. Logan (photocopies only), Ward Lockwood, Charles B. Rogers, Bernard (Poco) Frazier (photocopies only), Zona Wheeler, Oscar Larmer, Bruce Reed, J. Cranston Heintzelman, Dorothy Barfoot, Mrs. Charles Sanderson, Priscilla Pastrick, Joy Jacobs, and Peggy Greene. A 1963 biographical sketch of Marshall is included, as are personal notes, receipts for paintings, newspaper clippings, and exhibition booklets.
The KSU Friends of Art series primarily covers the time period of 1982–1990. Correspondents include Mandy Doolittle, Jessica Reichman, and Charles Stroh. Also included are Friends of Art newsletters and an Executive Committee Report (1985–1986). The printed material (1950–1990) contains flyers, an invitation, and biographies of Evan Lindquist and Edward Starr.
The Kansas State Art Center series deals with the campaign for an art museum at KSU covering the years 1963 to 1991.  It consists primarily of correspondence with Charles Stroh, Jon Wefald, Jerome Frieman, Gilbert E. Johnson, Mrs. John F. Helm, Russell Thackrey, John F. Helm, John E. Brink, Raymond Spilman, Kenneth M. Heywood, and Larry Weigel.  It contains notes, a proposal for the art museum, minutes from the board of directors with a worksheet to augment the brochure A New Resource, art center foundation and committee meetings, an executive report, and art center fund report. Printed materials include newspaper clippings, a page from the K-Stater printer's copy of the flyer for KSU art center and foundation contributions, a copy of the flyer never mailed, and a suggested program for the proposed art center are contained in the printed material section. Several booklets were also included: Summary of Fund Raising Survey Report for Washburn, The Need for an Art Center at Kansas State University, and A New Resource at One of the Cultural Crossroads of Kansas.
The Kansas State Federation of Art series is the largest in the collection and covers the years 1940–1985. It deals with Marshall's time as trustee, president, and board member and extends up to the disbanding of the KSFA.  It contains correspondence with J. Cranston Heintzelman, Robert W. Cooke, Winston A. Schmidt, Ronald L. Reid, Margaret Pelham Greenough, Oscar Larmer, Gordon Zahradnik, Sue Jean Boys, Dan F. Howard, Margaret Hammel, Don Smischny, Margo Kren, Mary Wing, Donna Foster, Zona Wheeler, and Daniel E. Bernard.  This series also contains general information about the organization, by-laws, and two bank statements (1973 and 1976). Meetings, membership lists, bulletin of exhibits, and other exhibition information make up the rest of this series.
The Kansas Society of Artists series covers the time period of 1957 to 1960.  It deals with the Society and Marshall's involvement.  It contains membership lists, minutes, and correspondence with J. Cranston Heintzelman, John F. Helm, Jr., and William Dickerson.
The Zona Wheeler series is made up of photocopies of her files covering the years 1943 to 1978.  It contains correspondence from Ronald L. Reid, Judy Reid, Evelyn A. De Graw, J. Cranston Heintzelman, and John F. Helm, Jr.  It also contains exhibition lists.
Additionally, there is one envelope of negatives documenting some of Marshall's time as a K-State student in the 1920s. Included are social situations and Roughneck Days.
Three folders include materials mostly from Charles L. Marshall, Sr., including copies and original sketches and artwork, clippings, exhibit publications, property deed, 1987 booklet Let’s Start from Scratch and 1979 booklet Thumbnail’s by Marshall, death certificate, funeral services program, KSC engineers’ open house button, KSC Air Force ROTC patch, 1954 Royal Purple, and photos. The latter three items are from when Charles L. Marshall, Jr., attended K-State. Photos include the elder in a 1923 ROTC uniform, as child and adult, Ahearn Field House construction, 1951 basketball game, and on project sites.

System of arrangement

There are six topical series: 1) personal papers (1936–1986), 2) KSU Friends of Art (1950–1990), 3) Kansas State Art Center (1963–1991), 4) Kansas State Federation of Art (1940–1985), 5) Kansas Society of Artists (1957–1961), and 6) Zona Wheeler (1943–1978). Additionally, there are materials that fall outside this arrangement scheme that are stored together in other folders.

Conditions of access and use elements

Conditions governing access

No Access restrictions: All materials are open for research.

Physical access

Technical access

Conditions governing reproduction

The researcher assumes full responsibility for observing all copyright, property, and libel laws as they apply.

Languages of the material

  • English

Scripts of the material

  • Latin

Language and script notes

Acquisition and appraisal elements

Custodial history

All donations to these papers are from the creator's son, Charles L. Marshall Jr. The original accession was P1993.04. Materials donated on 07/14/1993 received accession number P1994.02; they were first donated to the Marianna Kistler Beach Museum of Art and later transfered to the department. Item donated on 01/28/2002 has accession number U2002.01. Materials sent on 11/10/2014 and 06/01/2015 received accession number U2015.18.

Immediate source of acquisition

Acqusition Source: Charles L. Marshall, Jr.
Acqusition Method: Donation.
Acqusition Date: 19930211

Appraisal, destruction and scheduling information

Marshall Sr. was an alumnus and prominent in the state art and architectural communities. A few materials are from his time at K-State, but most are from after. It documents K-State history, alumni life, and Kansas life and culture.

Accruals

07/14/1993; 01/28/2002; 06/01/2015.

Related materials elements

Existence and location of originals

Existence and location of copies

Related archival materials

Related Materials: Related materials in this repository: Herschel C. Logan Collection of Editorial Cartoons, Kansas State Federation of Art records and John F. Helm papers.

Related descriptions

General note

Separated Materials: Some photographic prints were separated and placed in appropriate Photo Collection files, and a 1954 Royal Purple yearbook was stored with other yearbooks. Examples include photos of Marshall in an ROTC uniform (Photo Collection—Personal: Marshall, Charles L., Sr.), Ahearn construction (Photo Collection—Subject: Ahearn Field House, Construction), and 1951 basketball game (Photo Collection—Subject: Ahearn Field House, Interior).

Specialized notes

  • Citation: [Item title], [item date], Charles L. Marshall Sr. papers, Box [number], Folder [number or title], Morse Department of Special Collections, Kansas State University Libraries.

Alternative identifier(s)

Archon Collection ID

146

Description control element

Rules or conventions

Describing Archives: A Content Standard

Sources used

Archivist's note

Finding Aid Author: Cindy Von Elling
Processing Info: Cindy Von Elling, processor, completed original arrangement and description in April 1994.
Publication Date: 2015-08-05

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