THE STATE HISTORICAL SOCIETY OF MISSOURI RESEARCH CENTER-KANSAS CITY

K0069 Oscar David Nelson (1895-1981) Papers 1914-1980 58 cubic feet, oversize flat items Personal, including his philanthropic work, his personal investments, travel and general correspondence, and professional papers of former chairman of the board of Butler Manufacturing Company. BIOGRAPHY: Oscar David Nelson, son of Swedish immigrants, was raised on a Johnson County, Kansas dairy farm. At the age of 15, Nelson left high school to work as an office boy for Butler Manufacturing Company, a large steel fabricating firm. Nelson studied bookkeeping at night school, and by the age of 28, he became treasurer of the company. Six years later, in 1929, Nelson moved up to become general manager. In the late 1930s, Oscar Nelson was instrumental in winning a major government contract for the building of grain storage bins. This accomplishment was credited with helping Butler Manufacturing survive the Depression. While on a hunting trip in Colorado in 1941, Mr. Nelson was seriously injured in a fall from a horse. There followed a series of six operations on his crushed hip. He was able to return to work, and in 1946, Nelson was named president of Butler Manufacturing, a position he held until 1957. He then served as chairman of the board from 1957 until his retirement in 1961. Oscar Nelson served on the boards of the Commerce Trust Company, the Marsh Steel Corporation, and Liberty Mutual Insurance Company; and the executive committee of Midwest Research Institute. His civic and charitable activities were numerous, but those closest to his heart were the activities for crippled children and adults. Even before his accident, Nelson was involved with the Rehabilitation Institute. He served as its president and was a major benefactor. He also held leadership positions with Trinity Lutheran and

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Children’s Mercy hospitals, the United Way, and the Country Club Christian Church. Oscar D. Nelson died on October 8, 1981, at the age of 86. PROVENANCE: This gift was received from Ms. Gloria Nelson as accession KA0121 on November 19, 1981. Accession KA2002 was received from Ms. Jeanette Sutor on January 3, 2012.

COPYRIGHT AND RESTRICTIONS: The Donor has given and assigned to the University of Missouri all rights of copyright which the Donor has in the Materials and in such of the Donor’s works as may be found among any collections of Materials received by the University from others. PREFERRED CITATION: Specific item; folder number; Oscar David Nelson (1895-1981) Papers (K0069); The State Historical Society of Missouri Research Center-Kansas City [after first mention may be abbreviated to SHSMO-KC]. CONTACT: The State Historical Society of Missouri Research Center-Kansas City 302 Newcomb Hall, University of Missouri-Kansas City 5123 Holmes Street, Kansas City, MO 64110-2499 (816) 235-1543 [email protected] http://shs.umsystem.edu/index.shtml DESCRIPTION: The Preliminary Inventory shows these papers to cover the years 19141980. Subject matter includes his business career at Butler Manufacturing; his personal investments in real estate, farms, oil corporations, and stocks; his interests in the Republican Party, education, health services, churches, and travel are also reflected in the papers. These papers deal with both his personal and private life and contain many handwritten notes with his ideas and plans for projects.

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INVENTORY: BOX 001 ALPHABETICAL FILES A-D

Topics include: Butler Manufacturing Company, Clubs, Art, and Antiques, among others.

BOX 002 ALPHABETICAL FILES E-M

Topics include: “FLN” (Florence L. Nelson), Equipment, University of Kansas City, and Magazines.

BOX 003 ALPHABETICAL FILES I

Topics include: I for investments in oil, Carter - Waters, Insurance.

BOX 004 ALPHABETICAL FILES R

Topic includes: the Republican Party: campaigns, fund raiser, and correspondence.

BOX 005 ALPHABETICAL FILES G-M

Topics include: Children’s Mercy Hospital, “1011”, K.C. Foundation for Private Colleges, Insurance, and Dr. Holmes.

BOX 006 ALPHABETICAL FILES M-XYZ

Topics include: Children’s Mercy Hospital, Byron Wolfe, “ODN Retirement”, and individuals filed by their last names.

BOX 007 BRITAIN FILES A-0

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This material covers a trip to Great Britain about 1954. Subjects covered in this box are: Butler Manufacturing Company in Britain, maps, and individuals by last name.

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BOX 008 BRITAIN FILES P-XYZ

This material covers a trip to Great Britain about 1954. Subjects covered in this box are: Butler Manufacturing Company in Britain, maps, and individuals by last name.

BOX 009 ALPHABETICAL FILES, 1914-1966 There are apparently 5-6 boxes in this sequence of alphabetical files. The sequence has been disrupted by packing and is recreated from the index tabs where located. The time spans from about 1914-1966. This box includes files on Butler, investments, insurance, and the John Nelson Estate. BOX 010 ALPHABETICAL FILES, 1914-1966 F-H

Topics include: Nursery Data, foods, and individuals by last name.

BOX 011 ALPHABETICAL FILES, 1914-1966 H-N

Topics include: Butler, notes payable, and personal “Momentos” and “Treasures” which date from 1914 forward.

BOX 012 ALPHABETICAL FILES, 1914-1966 The fourth box in the sequence appears to contain primarily Butler Manufacturing material and files on individuals. BOX 013 ALPHABETICAL FILES, 1914-1966 P-V

The fifth box in this sequence contains files for P - V and to be a repository for other materials. Subjects include: Nursery bills, Pennsylvania, Mid - Continent Development Council, and Marsh Steel.

BOX 014 ALPHABETICAL FILES, 1914-1966 This box contains materials on Marsh Steel and Insurance Policies. It may be part of the above sequence. BOX 015 Personal accounts and bills paid: these materials cover the 1960’s. Also included are some files dealing with real estate.

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BOX 016 Personal accounts and bills paid: These materials cover the 1960’s and should be used with box 15 as the materials overlap in both dates and topics. Also included are lists of contributions and meeting notices for 1956, 1957, and 1958. BOX 017 This is another alphabetical series with the sections M - S. Note: A - L was not identifiable within the materials. Materials cover the entire periods of Nelson’s career and are of similar subject matter as files noted above. BOX 018 The files S - W for the series are contained in this box and are the last of the sequence begun in box 17. BOX 019 Marsh Steel Materials and the financial statements for 1951-1960 are in this box. The set is not complete and similar materials are found through the above noted alphabetical files and in later boxes. (See especially box 13) BOX 020 Nelson’s investments in oil companies, “E” bonds, real estate and farms. The dates range from about 1956 - about 1961. BOX 021 Farm records and a few other files on Midwest Research Institute. Farm topics include: wells, cattle, and poultry. BOX 022 Farm records and two bundles marked “Stored at the Farm” which appear to be miscellaneous files. The bundles date c1953-1954. BOX 023 Farm records, insurance, government programs, Herefords, seeds, and plans for the years 1953-1961. BOX 024 Gardner Farm for 1944-1950, Butler Depression data for 19311933, O.D. Nelson’s awards, affiliations, invitations, and the article from “Leaders in our Town”. Also included are materials on Charles R. Butler for c1923-1951.

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BOX 025 Jacomo Farm, Community Blood Bank, Rehabilitation Institute, United Funds campaigns for 1955-1956, Midwest Research Institute, earnings taxes, and Citizens for Eisenhower 1956. Generally the materials cover the 1950’s and 1960’s. BOX 026 Farm operations for 1959-1969, Mrs. Nelson, maps, John Anderson in 1960, and Commerce Trust company. BOX 027 BUTLER MANUFACTURING First in a series of six boxes of primary materials on Butler Manufacturing. This box contains historical materials collected by Nelson on the company and its employees, contracts, and personnel files. BOX 028 BUTLER MANUFACTURING Butler materials c1937-1966. Subject headings include letters, Statements, Divisions, Foundation, “Landing Mat”, and Butler Bee. BOX 029 BUTLER MANUFACTURING Butler materials c1947-1955, includes such topics as Army - Navy “E” Bonds, Kate Butler, Division reports, and publicity advertisements. BOX 030 BUTLER MANUFACTURING Butler material relating to World War II production, tests, and clippings. Included are photograph notebooks. The time period covers c1942 into the early 1950’s. BOX 031 BUTLER MANUFACTURING Butler materials include photographs, reports and sales books for the years 1954-1964.

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BOX 032 BUTLER MANUFACTURING Letters, reports, and clippings related to Butler Manufacturing which are dated from 1935-1960’s. Issues of the Butler Bee and Butler Builder for c1953-1960’s are also included. BOX 033 Variety of papers concerning Mrs. Nelson, Marsh Steel, Equipment, Clubs, Farm Feed, and entertainment. The time period covered by these materials is the 1950’s and 1960’s. BOX 034 Variety of material with such topics as; Insurance, real estate, taxes, and personal. The majority of papers carry a 1940’s date but some extend into the 1950’s. BOX 035 Files extend from c1938-1960’s and cover topics such as the Lions’ Club Welfare Committee of 1938, Republican Party, Missouri Society for Crippled Children, DeLano School, Butler, George B. Young - Killbride, Scotland, and clubs. BOX 036 Topics covered in this box include the Kansas City Area Hospital Association, Kansas, Kemp, maps and charts, and a file marked: “ODN: Talks and Writings”. The dates range from c1950-1963. BOX 037 Materials related to travel including records of Mr. Nelson’s trips to Boston (1957), Florida (1959), Europe (1965), and F.L. Nelson’s trip to Europe (1961) are included. This box also contains general information books and guide books for Australia, Austria, Mexico, Switzerland, Germany, England, France, Spain, Scotland, and the United States. BOX 038 Materials related to travel including Mr. Nelson’s trips to Europe and England in 1970 and 1971, as well as other trips. The remainder of the box concerns Travel Planners: Requests, Lists, and letters to Butler shareholders which included a Travel Planner, Butler Literature, and the Butler Annual Report for 1956. BOX 039 Christmas lists for 1953-1971, and information on purchases, decorations, and cards in relation to the Holiday Season.

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BOX 040 The United Fund and Fund Raising for 1953-1955 is the major topic of this box. Contributions are generally recorded by company. Also within this box are materials on taxes for 1973 and 1974, Bills Paid, and “Mrs. Nelson”. BOX 041 Papers of John Nelson, father of Oscar Nelson, which relate to his immigration and his trip to Sweden. Many of these papers are in Swedish. Also in this box are materials dealing with the F.L. Nelson Memorial. BOX 042 Files on individuals. The Eisenhower name is predominant. There are also some materials on Sweden in this box. BOX 043 Variety of materials c 1960’s. A few folders relate to the Eisenhower family. Most of the materials concern Children’s Mercy Hospital, Trinity Lutheran Hospital, the Kansas City Museum, and the YWCA and other organizations of a similar nature. BOX 044 Hospitals in the Kansas City area. Information covers contributions, financial statements, budgets, and fund raising campaigns for Children’s Mercy, Trinity, and Wheatley Provident/King hospitals c1953-1970. BOX 045 .

Trinity Lutheran Hospital fund raising, statements, and letters for 1952-1965.

BOX 046 Children’s Mercy Hospital for c1963-1968 which relate especially to various committees and the Governing Board. Other papers in this box concern Butler, Insurance, Shepley for Governor, and the Boicourt Hunting Association. BOX 047 Rehabilitation Institute for 1966. Materials concern contributions, pledges, and letters from Oscar Nelson soliciting funds and acknowledging contributions.

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BOX 048 Rehabilitation Institute, c1956-1969. These papers are particularly concerned with by - laws and financial campaigns. Papers for the Nelson Antioch farm (1949-1953), Quarterly Federal Tax Returns (1951-1968), and a file on “Affiliations” are also within this box. BOX 049 Bethany College and the Palm Sunday Pilgrimages of 1956, 1958, 1959, 1961, and 1968. This box also contains files marked “Basement Files”. BOX 050 Churches and clubs which were of interest to Oscar Nelson for charitable purposes or for membership. Names include: 7-11 Club, Man of the Month Club, Scandinavian Club, Boicourt Hunting Assn., Country Club Christian Church, Unity, Magic Valley Christian College. Within this box are also papers concerning rationing during World War II. BOX 051 Entertainment, Sweden, Fox for Congress, Camp Fire Girls, Commerce Trust Company, and Kansas City on Parade (1949). BOX 052 Community Blood Bank, the 1962 elections, the purchase of a new car and various other topics. The papers date primarily within the early 1960’s. BOX 053 Children’s’ Mercy Hospital, The Last Supper Sculpture by Zappia, “1011”, and Trinity Lutheran Hospital. A number of clippings are also included. BOX 054 Jacomo Farm particularly in regard to the 1967 zoning survey, and papers concerning Butler, clippings, and unidentified and unfoldered papers. BOX 055 Clippings and papers related to Butler, Carter Waters Corporation, and Children’s Mercy Hospital. Most of this material dates in the 197-‘s, but some of the Butler papers are marked 1957 and into the 1960’s.

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BOX 056 1942 Colorado hunting trip when Mr. Nelson was injured and the resulting litigation. Also included in this box are clippings, Butler Fact Book 1974, IRS reports 1974, Minutes of the O.D. and F.L. Nelson Fund, real estate information dating back to 1918, materials related to the Zappia “Last Supper” Sculpture (1964; 1971), condemnation papers on the Jacomo Farm and information on scholarships to a number of colleges and universities. BOX 057 O.D. and F.L. Nelson Fund for c1970-1979, Commerce Trust Company, Children’s Mercy Hospital c1975-1978, Christmas 1972, and correspondence dating from c1919-1929. Removed from this box was a bound copy of the May 1970 K.U. Dissertation by Un Kyung Im entitled: Solubility of Solid Carbon Dioxide in Certain Paraffinic Hydrocarbons: Binary, Ternary, and Quaternary Systems. This volume was presented to the University of Missouri - Kansas City General Library. BOX 058 Check stubs, pass books and 5 folders of unidentified photographs. The banking materials date from c1914 - c1943. Accounts were maintained with Central Exchange Bank, New England National Bank, Fidelity National Bank and Trust, Mercantile Home Bank and Trust, Traders Gate City National Bank, and possibly more. Not all of the books are labeled with the name of the bank the checks are written upon. Some of the books are marked as being used for “Charities”, “ODN Personals”, and “Farm Account”. The photographs lack both names and dates. At least a portion of the photographs appear to be of Sweden and possibly date to John Nelson. (KA2002) Folder 1.

Photographs: Oscar D. Nelson, George C. Dillon, Marion Reno, Calvin Fentress, Jr., 1955-1956, c 1980

Folder 2.

Plaque, Oscar D. Nelson Distinguished Professorship in Business, Bethany College, Lindsborg, Kansas, established 1977

Folder 3.

Photographs: Wedding, unidentified couple, ca 1970s

Folder 4.

Postcards: “Last Supper” sculpture by Domenic Zappia, Kansas City Missouri, shown at Protestant and Orthodox Center, New York’s World Fair 1964-1965. Strauss-Peyton Studios- Price list October 1, 1955.

Folder 5.

Paper enclosure- Butler Steel Products, containing small partial drawing, 1951. Photocopies of title pages from two books

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donated: Leaders in Our Town, 1952; and Who’s Who in Commerce and Industry, 1959. FLAT BOX 001 Folder 1.

Presentation of Army-Navy “E” Award to Butler, Galesburg, 1944- book with invitations, photos, clippings. Butler Home Town plan, 1938- booklet Marsh Steel & Aluminum Co., management expense report, 3rd quarter 1962.

Folder 2.

Photograph/Postcard Album (Maria Nelson, family, Herr Marten Nilsson, Sweden) c. 1903 Butler family photographs Butler Company photographs- John D. Stevens, Butler Business builders-1917, Engineering Dept.-1941, Basketball team-1925, Future Planning Group Meeting-1943, others unidentified Catholic Community Service award, presented to Oscar D. Nelson, November 24, 1953- with remarks by The Most Reverend Edwin V. O’Hara, Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Kansas City.

Folder 3.

Reprint of painting, mounted: “Mount Eisenhower” by Dwight D. Eisenhower, signed on mounting “For Oscar Nelson-With best wished and personal regard Dwight D. Eisenhower”, Christmas 1959, 13.25” x 17.25” Reprint of painting, mounted “Deserted Barn” by Dwight D. Eisenhower, signed on mounting, Christmas 1958, in envelope with presidential seal, 13.5” x 17.5” Reproductions of paintings by Dwight D. Eisenhower: “Abraham Lincoln”, “George Washington”, and “St. Louis Creek”. Reproduced by Hallmark Cards, sent to Oscar Nelson from Mr. Hall, 1962 (letter enclosed), 12” x 9” Program/Menu/Souvenir “Dinner with Ike”, January 27, 1960; includes “Abe Lincoln” by Dwight D. Eisenhower (color and pen sketch), Dwight D. Eisenhower, black and white photo of painting, sketch of Dwight D. Eisenhower by J. Hamil, sketch of Eisenhower by Mrs. Marshall (Todi) Hughes, Jr., 9.75” x 13”

(KA2002) Folder 4.

Certificate of Appreciation: Resolution of Appreciation to honor Oscar D. Nelson . . . an extraordinary benefactor to the Rehabilitation Institute, September 29, 1976 Handwritten note of thanks and color photographs of Kansas City Mayor, Richard Berkley and Oscar D. Nelson, framed with mat

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board, regarding Nelson’s gift of the [Loose Park] rose garden fountain to the people of Kansas City ca 1979 .

Photograph, mounted on board. Group of men seated around table in Oscar D. Nelson’s office. Signed by: Arvid A. Schoning, Paul G. Koontz*, Glen C. Speakman, Elliot Norquist, Fred A. Rufi*, Oscar D. Nelson*, Darius Melcher*, Walter L. Smith. Note * 3 of the 4 members of Initial Board of Trustees of Butler Manufacturing Company Foundation, est. 1952 Portrait of Oscar D. Nelson, black and white.

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