Samuel Kirk & Son, Inc. Papers, 1834-1979, MS. 2720

Descriptive Summary

Baltimore's prominent silver manufacturing company, Samuel Kirk & Son, dates its beginning to 1815 when Philadelphia-trained Samuel Kirk finished his apprenticeship under James Howell and moved to Baltimore. Attracted by the prosperous port, Kirk opened his shop at 212 Market Street (later known as 106 Baltimore Street) with fellow silversmith, John Smith. After the partnership was dissolved in 1821, Samuel Kirk carried on the business alone until his eldest son, Henry Child Kirk, became a partner in 1846.

During this early period Kirk introduced to America the repousse treatment for silverware. “Repousse” means “formed in relief” and refers to a pattern which is beaten or pressed up from the reverse side. Kirk's technique was probably inspired by East India silversmiths, but his patterns were uniquely his own. Eventually he applied this technique to flatware as well as other pieces.

The company prospered greatly. In 1820 Maria Hester Monroe, daughter of President James Monroe, was married in the White House. She chose Kirk Mayflower as her silverware pattern. During his 1824 tour of the United States, General Lafayette ordered a pair of goblets for his Baltimore host, David Williamson. Many of Maryland's prominent families, such as the Carrolls, the Ellicotts and the Ridgelys, were among Kirk's customers.

In 1861 and 1863, respectively, two more sons, Charles Douglas and Edwin Clarence Kirk, were admitted as partners, changing the firm's name to Samuel Kirk & Sons. The Civil War and its aftermath created an economic slump in the silver business causing Charles and Edwin to become discouraged. When they withdrew from the partnership, the firm reverted to the name Samuel Kirk & Son.

Samuel Kirk died in 1872 leaving the business to Henry Child Kirk. The firm's technology advanced as hand-wrought repousse methods were replaced by the use of cylindrical steel rolls and eventually flat steel dies. The repousse patterns were cut in reverse in a steel die, then stamped on the softer silver with a heavy drop hammer.

Following family tradition, Kirk's son, Henry Child Kirk, Jr., was admitted as a partner in 1890. Six years later (1896) the firm was incorporated with Henry Child Kirk, Sr., as president, William Higgins Conkling (Kirk's son-in-law) as vice-president, James F. H. Maginn as secretary and Frederick W. Kakel as treasurer.

Business continued to prosper as the firm's clientele spread beyond Maryland. Customers included the Belmonts, Astors and Roosevelts of New York; the Lowells, Peabodys and Adamses from Boston; the Biddles, Cadwalladers and Ingersolls from Philadelphia; and the Hamptons, Lees and Davises from the South.

The company suffered severe blows in 1903 and 1904 from two separate fires. At 9:30 AM on June 30, 1903 a fire ignited when gasoline leaking from a tank in the cellar came into contact with

the furnace. Much stock and equipment in the workshop were lost but, fortunately, most of the business records and designs were saved.

The firm had barely recovered when the great Baltimore fire of 1904 struck on February 7. Again, vital records and patterns were saved by a quick arrangement between Henry Child Kirk, Jr. and the express company manager across the street. They used express wagons and Kirk employees to save the records of both businesses.

Samuel Kirk & Sons moved into temporary quarters at 309 N. Charles St. until a new building could be completed on the site of the one destroyed. The factory began operating again in May 1904 at Guilford and Girard Aves., then moved to the Baltimore St. building in June 1905. The retail store re-opened there in November.

The beginning of the twentieth century witnessed several changes in the company. In the nineteenth century business had been generated primarily by word of mouth as the founder felt that advertising was associated with commercialism. Placing the company into more modern times at their November 1911 meeting, the Board of Directors authorized spending $1,000 for advertising in the Baltimore newspapers. An additional $1,000 was approved for advertising in September 1912. Samuel Kirk & Son's first retail silverware catalog was produced in 1914 and their first national advertisements appeared in the October 1937 issues of House Beautiful and House and Garden.

In 1911 the company directors began discussing the concept of selling their goods at wholesale prices to authorized dealers, but it was not until 1915 that this method of national distribution began. Another innovation was the purchase in October 1913 of the firm's first “automobile delivery wagon”.

Henry Child Kirk, Sr. died in 1914 and left a deed of trust placing the business in the hands of five trustees. At the termination of the trust agreement in 1924, the company was reorganized as Samuel Kirk & Son, Incorporated with Henry Child Kirk, Jr. as president and treasurer, James F. H. Maginn as vice-president and assistant treasurer, William Higgins Conkling, Jr. (great-grandson of Samuel Kirk) as secretary, and Roderick Douglas Donaldson (grandson-in-law of Samuel Kirk), Martin Laurence Millspaugh (great-grandson of Samuel Kirk), and Charles Markell as directors. Robert E. Coughlan was elected a member of the board soon after.

In addition, the Kirk Realty Corporation was created in 1923 to manage the real estate concerns of the company. A lease was signed with Mano Swartz in October of that year for the four-story building under construction at Charles and Franklin Streets. Swartz agreed to make changes in the building (at Kirk's expense) to accommodate the new tenant's retail operations. At the same time, construction commenced on a new facility at Twenty-Fifth St. and Taylor St. (now Kirk Ave.) for the purpose of handling the wholesale and manufacturing divisions.

The Great Depression of the 1930's had its effect on all businesses including Samuel Kirk & Son, Inc. In spite of the

poor economy, the number of agents selling Kirk silver continued to increase and several improvements were made to the factory. Kirk stock generally continued to pay quarterly dividends.

During World War II, Samuel Kirk & Son, Inc. became very involved with the war effort. The War Production Board closely regulated what and how much could be manufactured. Wages and work weeks were controlled. Silver bullion and other raw materials were rationed. In February 1942 Kirk received its first war contract from Liberty Motors and Engineering Corp. Other contracts followed with many companies including American Hammered Piston Ring, Standard Gas Equipment, and Western Electric for manufacturing surgical instruments, metal hardware or performing services such as silver soldering. Production and price controls remained in effect past World War II until the Korean conflict ended in 1953.

The prosperous post-war 1950's saw a shift of population to the suburbs and the rise of shopping centers. Following this trend, Samuel Kirk & Son, Inc. opened a branch store in Edmondson Village on June 2, 1953. A second branch opened in Towson, Md. on May 6, 1958. By the early 1960's, however, the retail division was lagging behind the wholesale operation. Kirk closed their three retail stores in January 1963, having arranged to lease retail space in three Stewart & Co. stores: downtown, York Road, and Reisterstown Road. The retail division of Kirk closed completely in 1975. The leases were allowed to expire at the Stewart & Co. outlets and the department store absorbed Kirk's retail functions into their own operations.

Late in 1966, S. Kirk Millspaugh, great-great-grandson of the founder, gained a controlling interest in the company by purchasing 80% of the outstanding shares of stock. The Kirk Corporation, as it became known, acted as a holding company which owned several subsidiaries including the original Samuel Kirk & Son, Inc. It began to diversify its interests by acquiring the Coastal Trailer Corporation in the late 1960's and Studebaker Southern, Inc., a Florida-based manufacturer of mobile homes, in 1969.

It was hoped that these companies would provide greater financial opportunities and help maintain overall financial stability during periods of fluctuating economic conditions. However, the anticipated advantages failed to materialize. There was little technical or management crossover between companies which resulted in differences in policies and objectives. A construction slump in 1974-1975 compounded the problem. Studebaker Southern, Inc. was terminated in 1972 and Coastal Trailer Corp. was sold off to its original owners in a 1975-1976 reorganization of the parent company.

Other acquisitions by the Kirk Corp. were more successful due to the similarity of their products: Eisenberg-Lozano, Inc. (an importer of silver plate, stainless and pewter holloware) in 1970 and A. L. Hanle, Inc. (a manufacturer of pewter holloware) in 1971. The name of the latter was changed to Kirk Pewter, Inc. in 1972 and Eisenberg-Lozano became Kirk International, Inc. in 1973. The Kirk Collection was established in 1972 for the production of limited edition collector's pieces. The following

year it ceased to be a subsidiary and became a trade style of Samuel Kirk & Son, Inc.

In 1968 the Samuel Kirk Museum, Inc. was founded to display Kirk artifacts and develop educational programs on the silver, gold and pewter crafts. The collection was exhibited at the Peale Museum when in Baltimore, but was frequently on tour to art museums throughout the world.

By 1979 the Kirk Corporation found itself in difficult circumstances. The reorganization of 1976 had cost the company a $600,000 commercial loan which increased the company's interest charges and decreased the capital base available for current operations or expansions. The cost of the company's essential raw materials, silver and tin, began to skyrocket and the wildly speculative silver commodity market made it almost impossible to price Kirk's products to meet dealer orders. In addition, the company's manufacturing and office facilities had become severely cramped and a great deal of machinery and equipment needed to be replaced. The high cost of real estate, construction and machinery coupled with the company's reduced financial resources brought the matter to a head.

The Stieff Company, a Baltimore silver and pewter manufacturer since 1892, offered to purchase the assets of the Kirk Corporation. The two companies drew up a proposal which combined management personnel and allowed for the continued production of the Kirk line. The shareholders approved the merger on 10 October 1979 and a new company was born under the name of The Kirk Stieff Company.

Samuel Kirk was born on 15 February 1793 in Doylestown, Pennsylvania, the fifth child of Joseph Kirk, a carpenter, and Grace (Child) Kirk. He was educated at a Friends' school until the age of 17 when he was apprenticed to James Howell, a Philadelphia silversmith. In 1815 Kirk completed his apprenticeship and, declining an offer to join Howell's firm, he moved to Baltimore. In this growing port city Kirk established his shop on Market (now Baltimore) St. and took John Smith as a partner. Early products include spoons, tea urns and pitchers.

Kirk married Albina Powell (1796-1865) on 18 March 1817. She was the daughter of Joshua and Margaret (Carpenter) Powell. They had eleven children, three of whom joined their father in the silver business. Only one son, Henry Child Kirk, remained in the firm.

The partnership with Smith was dissolved in 1821 but Kirk continued alone, creating high quality products and attracting such clients as Lafayette and the Bonapartes. About 1825 Kirk introduced the repousse style in his silverware and initiated repousse flatware around 1845. This technique was to become synonymous with the Kirk name in the future.

Samuel Kirk died on 5 July 1872. Henry Child Kirk, who had been made a partner in 1846, continued the business in his father's place.

HENRY CHILD KIRK, SR.

Born on 9 February 1826, Henry Child Kirk, Sr. was the sixth child of Samuel and Albina (Powell) Kirk. At age sixteen, Henry began to train as a silversmith in his father's shop. He not only developed his craftsmanship, but also served as bookkeeper, salesman and buyer, traveling to New York and other cities.

In 1846 he became a full partner with his father, changing the name of the company to Samuel Kirk & Son. He took over the business after his father's death in 1872.

During Henry Child Kirk, Sr.'s association with the firm, the volume of business greatly increased, along with improvements in methods of production and the use of machinery. In 1890 Kirk's son, Henry Child Kirk, Jr., was admitted as a partner. The complexity of the firm's activities led to its incorporation in 1896 with Kirk, Sr. as President.

Henry Child Kirk, Sr., was a prolific traveler. He took his first of many trips to Europe in 1856 and journeyed throughout the United States, including the far West. When in Baltimore, he was active in civic and church affairs. For more than fifty years he was Treasurer of the Franklin Street Presbyterian Church.

Henry Child Kirk, Sr. was married three times. His wives were Virginia Elizabeth Kent Hardesty (d. 1855), Lucy Ann Strother Buckner (d. 1876), and Elizabeth Hemsworth Hollins (d. 1900). He had five children, of whom his son, Henry Child

Kirk, Jr., carried on the family business after the death of his father on 1 August 1914.

HENRY CHILD KIRK, JR.

The fourth child and only son of HCK, Sr., Henry Child Kirk, Jr. was born on 16 December 1868. Following family tradition he joined his father in the silver business in 1890. It was Henry Child Kirk, Jr. who was instrumental in saving the company records and design patterns from the Baltimore fire of 1904.

At the death of Henry Child Kirk, Sr. in 1914, a trust agreement went into effect regarding the management of the company. In 1924 the terms of the trust had been fulfilled and it was terminated by a unanimous decision. Henry Child Kirk, Jr. became the company's President and Treasurer.

Kirk, Jr. led the company into the twentieth century. The retail shop moved into new quarters on Charles Street and the manufacturing division relocated to the corner of what is now Kirk Ave. and Twenty-fifth Street. Deviating from the policy of the company's founder, Kirk, Jr. advocated newspaper advertising to promote the business. A network of agents was established to sell Kirk products nationwide.

Henry Kirk, Jr. married Edith Huntemuller in 1891 and had three daughters. He died on 28 February 1932 leaving the business to his nephew, Martin Laurence Millspaugh.

MARTIN LAURENCE MILLSPAUGH

M. L. Millspaugh was the first president of Samuel Kirk and Son, Inc. who was not specifically trained as a silversmith. He was born on 8 March 1884 on a cattle ranch in Kansas, the middle child of Alice Virginia Kirk Millspaugh and nephew of Henry Child Kirk, Jr. He was educated at the University of Illinois as a mechanical engineer and spent the early part of his career working for a Canadian steel company.

After serving in World War I, Millspaugh became a consulting engineer in Chicago, then joined an architectural firm. He entered the investment and banking business with his brother-in-law which served him well when he was elected to the Board of Directors of Samuel Kirk & Son, Inc. in 1924.

At the death of his uncle in 1932, Millspaugh was elected President of the Kirk Company, and later became Chairman of the Board. He guided the company through the World War II years, when raw materials and production were tightly controlled, and was instrumental in the expansion of the company's retail outlets in the 1950's.

M. L. Millspaugh married Elisabeth Park in 1921 and had three children. At his death on 7 March 1964, his son, Samuel Kirk Millspaugh, took his place in the family business.

SAMUEL KIRK MILLSPAUGH

Born on 27 July 1930, Samuel Kirk Millspaugh, began working at the family firm at age 13. He was first elected to the Board of Directors in 1959 when he was also named Vice-President of Advertising and Public Relations. The following year he was designated Vice-President of Sales and Advertising.

In 1966, two years after his father had died, S.K. Millspaugh bought a controlling interest (80%) in the company. A period of reorganization took place which resulted in changing the family business to a public corporation by 1969. S. K. Millspaugh directed the acquisition of several subsidiary companies during the early 1970's. He became Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer in 1972. He was still head of the company when it merged with the Stieff Company in 1979.

S. K. Millspaugh married Mary Josephine Bentley Offutt in 1955. They had two daughters and a son.

The FAMILY series (1844-1970) consists primarily of the state papers of several descendants of Samuel Kirk. The bulk revolves around the estate of Henry Child Kirk, Jr. There is a scattering of correspondence regarding family news and financial affairs. Some personal items are present, such as the Bible and passports (1856-1884) belonging to Henry Child Kirk, Sr. One folder contains material on “Wadefield”, an estate in Virginia owned by the Kirk family and eventually used as a rental property.

The HISTORICAL DATA series contains much useful information on the background of the company. There are short essays on the Kirk family and the development of the business. Of special note is a chronological list of “Company Important Events” (1925-1979) which includes personnel changes, facility expansions and improvements, production and marketing innovations, technical advances, and the impact of national and world events upon the company. There is material tracing the development of Kirk silverware patterns and manufacturing techniques. Some information is included on Kirk's 150th anniversary and their claim to be America's oldest silversmiths. The miscellaneous folder contains essays on the history of knives, forks and spoons and includes instructions (1937) for table settings.

The next series contains CERTIFICATES OF INCORPORATION and various amendments from 1923-1957.

The CORRESPONDENCE series consists of an incomplete and uneven gathering of letters spanning 1843-1978. Primary topics relate to historical Kirk pieces, silver analyses and the internal management of the company.

Much of the company's official business is recorded in the MEETING MINUTES series (1896-1966). The Board of Directors' Monthly Meetings (1896-1929) consist of the by-laws (1896) of the Samuel Kirk & Son Company, Incorporated, Treasurer's reports and the Superintendent of the Workshop's reports on production, wages, sales, and policy decisions. Of particular interest are Henry Child Kirk, Sr.'s inventory of property to be sold in return for shares of capital stock and an Aug. 1, 1903 inventory of the wall and counter display cases in connection with the 1903 fire.

The Stockholders' Annual Meeting Minutes (1897-1931) contain their by-laws (1913, 1914), the President's and Treasurer's reports on the financial condition of the company and the value of their stocks. Also included are reports on production from the workshop. After 1931 the Board of Directors meetings and the stockholders meetings are combined. The minutes for 1937 contain

some amendments to the company's charter. Minutes of the Management Committee (1960-1963) and the Retirement Committee (1944-1956) are also found in this series.

The ANNUAL MEETING DATA series (1936-1976) consists of directors' correspondence, notes and financial reports relating to organizing the annual meetings. The STOCKHOLDERS MEETING DATA series contains information pertaining to the company's reorganization in 1976 and its final months in 1979. Also includes some annual reports see contain list.

The ANNUAL FINANCIAL STATEMENTS series (1924-1973) is arranged by year and subdivided for each month. Occasionally the financial statements include meeting minutes. Special reports for each year from 1931 to 1972 provide data regarding inventory and the wholesale and retail divisions. There is a separate section in this series which contains the financial statements (1970-1979) of the various subsidiaries of the Kirk Corporation: S. Kirk & Son, Inc.; Coastal Mobile and Modular Group; Studebaker Southern, Inc.; Eisenberg-Lozano, Inc. (Kirk International); Kirk Pewter, Inc.; The Kirk Collection; and Kirk Imports, Inc.

The AUDITOR'S REPORTS series includes reports for S. Kirk & Son, Inc. in 1906 and 1908, then continues annually from 1936 to 1966. There are separate auditor's reports (1962-1979) for the Kirk Corporation subsidiaries.

The FINANCIAL STATISTICS series includes summaries of earnings as well as factors contributing to the decrease or increase in net current assets for 12 to 15 year time periods between 1950 and 1974. The CAPITAL ASSETS--INVOICES series (1937-1966) consists of receipted bills for office furniture and supplies, shop equipment and structure improvements.

The STOCKS series (1913-1969) includes the accounts (1914-1922) of the trusteeship established by the will of Henry Child Kirk, Sr. This section also contains notes redeemed and preferred stock issued (1913; 1917), new capital stock and a plan of recapitalization (1937), and stock certificates for Studebaker Southern, Inc. (1968-1969). There is information about splitting shares of common stock (1944-1950) and various reports including one to the Securities and Exchange Commission (1969).

The FIVE-YEAR PLAN series (1957-1961) consists of proposed changes in production and marketing to keep pace with changes in the economy and urban growth. The BANK ACCOUNTS series (1918-1972) is arranged by bank and contains data on investments, loans, estate management and company signature authorizations. The RETIREMENT PLAN series includes correspondence (1944-1968), a journal (1944-1967) and actuary's reports (1943-1972).

The GENERAL FINANCIAL ACCOUNTS series (1902-1976) contains many oversize volumes such as ledgers (1902-1975; most include a separate index), journals (1905-1974), retail ledgers and journals (1950-1975), retail sales distribution records (1963-1975), voucher registers (1958-1973), cash receipts and disbursements (1949-1976), and cash books (1925-1949). The series also includes a private general ledger (1926-1960) and a ledger (1914-1923) of the estate of Henry Child Kirk, Sr. Payroll accounts are located in the Employee Records series.

Because of the financial data they contain, the insurance records pertaining to the fires of 1903-1904 are filed in this

series (in oversize folders). The papers provide detailed inventories of equipment and materials lost, labor costs for clean-up and security, and lists of individual workers.

The LEGAL RECORDS series (1896-1971) holds patents (1896-1917) for a paper knife, a perpetual calendar, and methods of manufacturing metal articles by deposit. There is a copy of the deed of trust (1913) established by Henry Child Kirk, Sr. to manage the company after his death and information regarding the company's name change in 1948-1950. The legal documents (1969-1971) pertaining to the acquisition of the Kirk Corporation's several subsidiaries are represented. Also included are documents relating to several lawsuits. Lohmuller vs. Kirk (1917-1918) was a complaint against the noise of the factory. Other action (1932-1959) was initiated by Kirk against several discount houses and retailers over fair trade practices.

The PROPERTY RECORDS series (1892-1963) is composed of correspondence, memoranda and leases pertaining to the various Kirk retail and factory facilities, including the lease for the Guilford Avenue property which served as the temporary quarters after the fire of 1904. The papers describe plans and cost estimates for building maintenance, alterations, expansions and equipment. Many blueprints (some filed in oversize folders) accompany this data. The section of the Charles Street property details a troublesome relationship with Albert Katz (proprietor of S & N Katz Jewelers) who subleased part of the building from Kirk.

Details of the Kirk factory's operations are contained in the PRODUCTION RECORDS series (1868-1978). The earliest item is a memoranda book (1868-1874) with entries relating to the purity of silver for William Astor's dishes, the refining work of George Holbrook, Dr. Clarence Morfit's information on silver standards, formulas and calculations (including ones from Tiffany's and the Gorham Co.), and addresses of spoonmakers and chasers. There is a shipping receipt (1888) for silver bullion and a certificate of silver analysis (1895) prepared for Mrs. J. I. Lovell. Other items include notes (1896-1907) on spoon punches, statistics (1926-1966) on silverware production in ounces, specifications for flatware patterns (1968), a size and weight chart (1908) located in an oversize folder, and an index to drawings (1921-1967) showing the drawing number, the name of the piece, the customer and date.

From 1896-1913 inventories were kept which listed finished products, works in progress, shop fixtures, tools and patterns along with their respective values. Many statistics were recorded showing the cost of materials and labor necessary to produce the company's merchandise. These statistics contain information on workers wages. Comparative Operations Reports were produced for the Manufacturing Division, Kirk Pewter, Inc. and Kirk Imports, Inc. These provide sales, orders and production statistics on a daily, monthly and yearly basis. Fluctuations in the silver market are documented in a section of correspondence and memoranda (1931-1935; 1942-1943). Specific subjects include protests against the increase in the price of silver bullion, cooperation among silversmiths and jewelers in

their efforts to influence legislators, and the shortage of silver during the war years.

World War II had a great impact on Samuel Kirk & Son, Inc. There are a variety of reports prepared by and submitted to the War Production Board regarding the control of production and inventory. Information about the Kirk Company's war contract work is included in this section. After the war, the Office of Price Stabilization generated many reports, memoranda and correspondence (1951-1953) pertaining to ceiling price regulations and decontrol.

The RETAIL RECORDS series (1834-1974) contains data on the marketing of Kirk products. Several early bound volumes record sales of watches and jewelry. The watch books (1846-1893) describe each watch and provide the name and location of the supplier of the internal movements. The date and the customer's name are also given. The brooch book (1907-1918) and the ring book (1903-1918) list the type of stones used and their weight as well as the customer's name and date. A pocket notebook (1904-1910) records monthly and yearly total sales figures. A printed price booklet (1893-1897) contains handwritten notations. Two folders hold customer receipted bills (1834-1917) that were returned to the company as historical documents.

Form letters (1925-1930) to agents provide information on new products, prices, retail sales procedures, catalog direct sales, and marketing tips such as reaching the middle income market (1929) and steps for compiling and maintaining a mailing list. Memoranda taken from officers' meetings (1930-1943) outline marketing strategies and policies, advertising, community involvement and employee insurance and benefits. Financial data, legal agreements, memoranda, correspondence and floor plans (1950-1974) detail the establishment of Kirk outlets in B. Altman Co., Schleisner Co., and Hochschild Kohn Co.

A large portion of the Retail Records series pertains to advertising. The Agents' Advertising Record (1932-1940) is a log of advertising material sent to Kirk agents. Miscellaneous material includes advertising rates, samples, text copy and mock-ups. Oversize boxes contain scrapbooks (1927-1966) of newspaper and magazine ads, including publicity on Luci Johnson's Kirk silverware pattern (1966).

The EMPLOYEE RECORDS series (1890-1957) contains material on personnel organization and wages. The earliest item is an agreement to give employees time off dated 1890-1891. There are several lists of employees showing names, addresses, positions, wages and reasons for terminations (everything from death to “went on a spree and has never been heard from”). Payroll accounts (1901-1919; 1949-1957) are included here, some of which are located with the oversize volumes. Additional employee data can be found in the section relating to insurance coverage after the 1903-1904 fires (in oversize folders). Notes taken from “Key Men” meetings (1932-1955) cover such subjects as employment benefits, business conditions, the federal excise tax, the impact of the Korean War on business, and observations on the competition.

The KIRK SILVER TRAVELING EXHIBITION series (1940-1979)

contains correspondence and promotional material for an exhibition of Kirk silverware organized by the company and loaned to museums throughout the U.S. Of particular interest is the file on the theft of several pieces in the show which occurred at the Vizcaya Museum in Miami, Florida in 1971.

The PUBLICATIONS series (1914-1959) comprises correspondence, notes, mock-ups, and revisions regarding the printing of the booklet “The Story of the House of Kirk”. An oversize box contains a run (1955-1958) of the publication Silver Notes, a company newsletter for its retail agents.

The KIRK REALTY CORPORATION series (1921-1964) includes a copy of the 1923 Act of Incorporation, Board of Directors meeting minutes (1922-1961), annual reports and meetings (1935-1961), financial statements (1924-1961), receipted bills and taxes (1921-1961) and correspondence (1924-1962). Also present are property appraisals (1927-1960), improvements, including blueprints (1935-1960), and lease agreements with Western Union Co. (1924-1960). Information on the dissolution of the Kirk Realty Corp. and sale of property spans 1960-1964.

by

Donna M. Ellis

April 1991

Adams, Irving (1878-1946) served on Board of Directors, 1932-1946; other positions: Treasurer of S. M. Hamilton Coal Co., formerly President of Colonial Trust Co.

Brennan, Joseph T., 2nd (1899-1982) served on Board of Directors, 1963-1967; Secretary and General Counsel, 1963-1967; other positions: lawyer with Niles, Barton, Gans & Markell.

Brenner, Howard T. (fl. 1957-1971) served on Board of Directors, 1957-1971; Vice-President, 1957-1959; President, 1959-1971; Chairman of the Board, 1968-1971; other positions: formerly with Gorham Silver Co.

Comfort, William T., Jr. (fl. 1967-1974) served on Board of Directors, 1967-1974; Chairman of the Board, 1972-1974; other positions: with W. E. Hutton, N.Y.

Conkling, Elizabeth Baldwin (1877-1943) great-granddaughter of Samuel Kirk.

Conkling, Olivia Hardesty Kirk (1850-1934) granddaughter of Samuel Kirk; married William Higgins Conkling, Sr. in 1872.

Conkling, William Higgins, Sr. (fl. 1872-1914) Vice President, 1896-1914; married granddaughter of Samuel Kirk, Olivia Hardesty Kirk, in 1872.

Conkling, William Higgins, Jr. (1879-1931) Secretary, 1924-1931.

Coughlan, Robert E., Sr. (d. 1946) served on Board of Directors, 1924-1943; Secretary, 1929-1943; Vice-President, 1930-1943.

Donaldson, Lydia Hemsworth Kirk (1881-1932) granddaughter of Samuel Kirk; married Roderick Douglas Donaldson in 1911.

Donaldson, Robert Montgomery, II. (b. 1914) served on Board of Directors, 1953-1957.

Donaldson, Roderick Douglas (d. 1953) served on Board of Directors, 1924-1953; married Lydia Hemsworth Kirk, granddaughter of Samuel Kirk, in 1911.

Eagan, James K. (1874-1958) Treasurer, 1932-1949; Consultant, 1949-1953.

Eggleston, J. William (1900-1959) served on Board of Directors, 1946-1952; other positions: with Mercantile-Safe Deposit & Trust Co.

Elderkin, Clarence E., Sr. (1885-1964) served on Board of Directors, 1946-1964; other positions: President of Elvalakes Corp., Chairman of the Board of Consolidated Engineering Co.

Gable, William A., Jr. (1903-1972) served on Board of Directors, 1952-1967; other positions: Vice-President of Safe Deposit & Trust Co.

Hollingsworth, Edith Buckner Kirk (1893-1979) great-granddaughter of Samuel Kirk; married William T. Hollingsworth in 1925.

Huntemuller, Henry William (d. 1909) merchant with H. W. Huntemuller & Son; his daughter, Edith, married Henry Child Kirk, Jr.

Jordan, Mildred McCay (b. 1893) great-granddaughter of Samuel Kirk; married Leslie L. Jordan in 1919.

Jordan, William McCay (fl. 1950-1956) served on Board of Directors, 1950-1956.

Kakel, Rev. Frederick W. (1857-1942) Treasurer, 1896-1924; other positions: Treasurer of Inner Mission Society of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Baltimore.

Katz, Albert (fl. 1949-1957) proprietor of S. & N. Katz Jewelers, a tenant in the Charles St. building.

Kirk, Charles Douglas (1840-1880) son of Samuel Kirk; partner of firm, 1861-1866.

Kirk, Edwin Clarence (1842-1876) son of Samuel Kirk; partner of firm, 1863-1868.

Kirk, Henry Child, Jr. (1868-1932) grandson of Samuel Kirk; joined firm in 1890; served on Board of Directors, 1896-1932; President and Treasurer, 1924-1932.

Kirk, Henry Child, Sr. (1826-1914) son of Samuel Kirk; joined firm in 1846; President, 1896-1914.

Kirk, Samuel (1793-1872) founder of company.

Ladd, William Conkling (b. 1903) served on Board of Directors, 1933-1946, 1948-1949; great-great-grandson of Samuel Kirk.

McCay, Mildred Buckner Kirk (1863-1942) granddaughter of Samuel Kirk; married William T. Walters McCay in 1885.

McElroy, James W. (1892-1971) served on Board of Directors, 1953-1967; other positions: Vice-President of First National Bank.

McGuirk, William E., Jr. (b. 1918) served on Board of Directors, 1967-1979; other positions: Chairman of the Board and CEO of Mercantile-Safe Deposit & Trust Co.

Maginn, James Francis Henry (1873-1946) Secretary, 1896-1924; Vice-President and Assistant Treasurer, 1924-1932; President, 1932-1941; Chairman of the Board, 1941-1942.

Markell, Charles, Jr. (1910-1963) served on Board of Directors, 1949-1963; Secretary and General Counsel, 1949-1963; other positions: lawyer with Niles, Barton, Gans & Markell.

Markell, Charles, Sr. (1882-1955) served on Board of Directors, 1924-1945; Secretary and General Counsel, 1943-1945; left to take appointment as Chief Judge of the Maryland Court of Appeals.

Millspaugh, Martin Laurence (1884-1964) great-grandson of Samuel Kirk; served on Board of Directors, 1924-1964; Vice-President, 1932-1942; President, 1942-1960; Treasurer, 1949-1953; Chairman of the Board, 1959-1964.

Millspaugh, Samuel Kirk (b. 1930) great-great-grandson of Samuel Kirk; served on Board of Directors, 1959-1979; Vice-President of Advertising and Public Relations, 1959; Vice-President of Sales and Advertising, 1960; bought controlling interest in company (80%), 1966; President, 1966-1979; Chairman of the Board, 1972-1979; CEO, 1972.

Myllo, Stanley (fl. 1915-1960) Supervisor of Factory; served on Board of Directors, 1953-1960.

Pierrepont, John (fl. 1967-1968) served on Board of Directors, 1967-1968; other positions: with Delafield & Delafield, N.Y.

Prentis, Morton MacNutt (1887-1956) served on Board of Directors, 1948-1953; other positions: President & Chairman of the Board of First National Bank.

Settle, Henry Kirwan (1916-1977) Assistant Treasurer, 1949-1953; served on Board of Directors, 1950-1973; Treasurer, 1953-1973; Vice-President, 1959-1973; Secretary, 1967-1973.

Shriver, J. Nicholas, Jr. (1914-1977) served on Board of Directors, 1967-1968; Assistant Secretary, 1968; other positions: with Cross, Shriver, Bright & Washburne; later known as Ober, Grimes & Shriver.

Simpson, Mary Huntemuller Kirk (1896-1941) great-granddaughter of Samuel Kirk.

Stout, Joseph Suydam (fl. 1934-1967) served on Board of Directors, 1942-1967; married Barbara Hume Donaldson, great-granddaughter of Samuel Kirk, in 1934.

Stucliffe, Esmond L. (fl. 1953-1960) General Manager of the Retail Stores; served on Board of Directors, 1953-1960.

Warnken, S. Ralph (1891-post 1973) served on Board of Directors, 1945-1948; Secretary and General Counsel, 1945-1948; appointed to Supreme Bench of Baltimore City, 1948.

FAMILY

Samuel Kirk

Deed to Cemetery Lot, 1844

Memorial

Henry Child Kirk, Sr.

Bible

Passports, 1856-1884

Will, 1914-1937

Memorial, 1914

Estate Bank Book, 1914-1921

Henry Child Kirk, Jr.

Office Files, 1915-1931

Cancelled Note, 1915

Will, 1931

Estate Papers, 1933-1947

(5 folders)

Samuel Kirk Millspaugh, 1968-1970

Lydia H. Donaldson. Will, 1932-1954

Mildred Buckner McCay, 1931-1956

(3 folders)

Olivia H. Conkling. Deed of Trust, 1933

H. W. Huntemuller, 1935-1939

Elizabeth B. Conkling. Will, 1940

E. Buckner Hollingsworth, 1940-1963

BOX 2

Mary H. Kirk Simpson Estate, 1941-1964

Mildred McCay Jordan, 1947-1966

“Wadefield”, 1905-1932

HISTORICAL DATA

Company History

Company Important Events

Kirk Family

List of Officers

150th Anniversary, 1965

History of Techniques and Patterns

“America's Oldest Silversmiths” Claim

Miscellaneous

CERTIFICATES OF INCORPORATION AND AMMENDMENTS, 1923-1957

GENERAL CORRESPONDENCE

1843-1915

1923-1939

1940-1978, n.d.

BOX 3

MEETING MINUTES

Board of Directors Monthly Meetings

1896-1903

1906-1907 (loose items)

1903-1911

1911-1914

1913-1914 (loose items)

1924-1925

1926-1929

Board of Directors and Stockholders

1931-1933

BOX 4

1934-1935

1935-1936

1937

1938-1939

1939

1940-1941

1941-1942

BOX 5

1943-1944

1944

1945

1946

1947

1948

1949

1950

1951

BOX 6

1952

1953

1954

1955

1956

1957

1958

BOX 7

1959

1960

1961

1962

1963

1964

1965

1966

Management Committee

1960-1961

1962-1963

BOX 8

Retirement Committee

1944-1948

1949-1952

1952-1953

1954-1956

Stockholders Annual Meetings

1897-1913

1914; 1918; 1920

1929-1931

ANNUAL MEETING DATA

1936

1937

BOX 9

1938

1939

1940

1941

1942

1943

1944

1945

1946

1956

1957

BOX 10

1958

1959

1959-Executive Changes

1960

1961

1962

1963

1964

1965

1966

1967

1969-1972 Annual Reports

BOX 11

1974 (2 folders) + Annual Report

1975

(2 folders)

1976+annual report

1975 Annual reports

1977 Annual reports

1978 Annual reports

STOCKHOLDERS MEETING DATA

Reorganization, 1976

(2 folders)

BOX 12

Reorganization, 1976

1979

ANNUAL FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

1909

1914

1915

1916

1917

1918

1919

1920

BOX 13

1921

1922

1923

Aug. 1923-Aug. 1924

Sept. 1924-July 1925

Aug. 1925-Mar. 1926

Apr. 1926-July 1926

Aug. 1926-Apr. 1927

BOX 14

May 1927-July 1927

Aug. 1927-Mar. 1928

Apr. 1928-July 1928

Aug. 1928-May 1929

June 1929-July 1929

Aug. 1929-May 1930

June 1930-July 1930

Aug. 1930-Dec. 1930

Jan. 1931-July 1931

BOX 15

Aug. 1931-Dec. 1931

Special Reports, 1931

Jan. 1932-July 1932

Aug. 1932-Dec. 1932

Special Reports, 1932

Jan. 1933-July 1933

Aug. 1933-Dec. 1933

BOX 16

Special Reports, 1933

Jan. 1934-Apr. 1934

May 1934-Aug. 1934

Sept. 1934-Dec. 1934

Special Reports, 1934

Jan. 1935-June 1935

July 1935-Dec. 1935

BOX 17

Special Reports, 1935

Jan. 1936-July 1936

Aug. 1936-Dec. 1936

Special Reports, 1936

Jan. 1937-May 1937

June 1937-Dec. 1937

Special Reports, 1937

BOX 18

Jan. 1938-June 1938

July 1938-Dec. 1938

Special Reports, 1938

Jan. 1939-June 1939

July 1939-Dec. 1939

Special Reports, 1939

Jan. 1940-June 1940

BOX 19

July-Dec. 1940

Special Reports, 1940

Jan.-May 1941

June-Dec. 1941

Special Reports, 1941

Jan.-May 1942

June-Dec. 1942

BOX 20

Special Reports, 1942

Jan.-June 1943

July-Dec. 1943

Special Reports, 1943

Jan.-June 1944

July-Dec. 1944

BOX 21

Special Reports, 1944

Jan.-Apr. 1945

May-Aug. 1945

Sept.-Dec. 1945

Special Reports, 1945

Jan.-Apr. 1946

May-Aug. 1946

BOX 22

Sept.-Dec. 1946

Special Reports, 1946

Jan.-Apr. 1947

May-Aug. 1947

Sept.-Dec. 1947

Special Reports, 1947

Jan.-Apr. 1948

BOX 23

May-Aug. 1948

Sept.-Dec. 1948

Special Reports, 1948

Jan.-Apr. 1949

May-Aug. 1949

Sept.-Dec. 1949

BOX 24

Special Reports, 1949

Jan.-Apr. 1950

May-Aug. 1950

Sept.-Dec. 1950

Special Reports, 1950

Jan.-Mar. 1951

Apr.-June 1951

BOX 25

July-Sept. 1951

Oct.-Dec. 1951

Special Reports, 1951

Jan.-Mar. 1952

Apr.-June 1952

July-Sept. 1952

Oct.-Dec. 1952

BOX 26

Special Reports, 1952

Jan.-Mar. 1953

Apr.-June 1953

July-Sept. 1953

Oct.-Dec. 1953

Special Reports, 1953

Jan.-Mar. 1954

BOX 27

Apr.-June 1954

July-Sept. 1954

Oct.-Dec. 1954

Special Reports, 1954

Jan.-Mar. 1955

Apr.-June 1955

July-Sept. 1955

BOX 28

Oct.-Dec. 1955

Special Reports, 1955

Jan.-Mar. 1956

Apr.-June 1956

July-Sept. 1956

Oct.-Dec. 1956

Special Reports, 1956

Jan.-Mar. 1957

BOX 29

Apr.-June 1957

July-Sept. 1957

Oct.-Dec. 1957

Special Reports, 1957

Jan.-Mar. 1958

Apr.-June 1958

July-Sept. 1958

BOX 30

Oct.-Dec. 1958

Special Reports, 1958

Jan.-Mar. 1959

Apr.-June 1959

July-Sept. 1959

Oct.-Dec. 1959

Special Reports, 1959

BOX 31

Jan.-Mar. 1960

Apr.-June 1960

July-Sept. 1960

Oct.-Dec. 1960

Special Reports, 1960

Jan.-Mar. 1961

Apr.-June 1961

BOX 32

July-Sept. 1961

Oct.-Dec. 1961

Special Reports, 1961

Jan.-Mar. 1962

Apr.-June 1962

July-Sept. 1962

BOX 33

Oct.-Dec. 1962

Special Reports, 1962

Jan.-Mar. 1963

Apr.-June 1963

July-Sept. 1963

Oct.-Dec. 1963

BOX 34

Special Reports, 1963

Jan.-Mar. 1964

Apr.-June 1964

July-Sept. 1964

Oct.-Dec. 1964

Special Reports, 1964

Jan.-Apr. 1965

BOX 35

May-Aug. 1965

Sept.-Dec. 1965

Special Reports, 1965

Jan.-Apr. 1966

May-Aug. 1966

Sept.-Dec. 1966

Special Reports, 1966

BOX 36

Jan.-Mar. 1967

Apr.-June 1967

July-Sept. 1967

Oct.-Dec. 1967

Special Reports, 1967

Jan.-Mar. 1968

BOX 37

Apr.-June 1968

July-Sept. 1968

Oct.-Dec. 1968

Special Reports, 1968

Jan.-Mar. 1969

Apr.-June 1969

BOX 38

July-Sept. 1969

Oct.-Dec. 1969

Special Reports, 1969

Jan.-Mar. 1970

Apr.-June 1970

July-Sept. 1970

BOX 39

Oct.-Dec. 1970

Special Reports, 1970

Jan.-Mar. 1971

Apr.-June 1971

July-Dec. 1971

Special Reports, 1971

Jan.-Apr. 1972

BOX 40

May-Aug. 1972

Sept.-Dec. 1972

Special Reports, 1972

Jan.-Feb. 1973

Mar.-May 1973

June-July 1973

KIRK CORPORATION ANNUAL FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

1970

(2 folders)

BOX 41

1971

(2 folders)

1972

(3 folders)

1973

(2 folders)

BOX 42

1973

(3 folders)

1974

(3 folders)

BOX 43

1974

(3 folders)

1975

(2 folders)

BOX 44

1975

(2 folders)

1976

(4 folders)

BOX 45

1976

1977

(4 folders)

1978-1979

BOX 46

1978-1979

(3 folders)

AUDITORS REPORTS

1906, 1908

1936

1937

1938

1939

1940

1941

1942

1943

1944

1945

1946

1947

BOX 47

1948

1949

1950

1951

1952

1953

1954

1955

1956

1957

1958

1959

1960

1961

1962

1963

1964

1965

1966

FINANCIAL STATISTICS, 1950-1974

AUDITORS REPORTS

Eisenberg-Lozano, Inc., 1962-1979

Kirk Collection, Inc., 1972

BOX 48

Kirk Imports, Inc., 1973-1976

Kirk International, Inc., 1972-1973

Coastal Mobile & Modular Corp., 1971-1972

Kirk Corporation, 1972; 1979

CAPITAL ASSETS--INVOICES

1937-1938

1938-1939

1939-1940

1940-1941

(2 folders)

1941-1942

1942-1943

1943-1944

1944-1945

BOX 49

1945-1946

1946-1947

(3 folders)

1947-1948

(4 folders)

1948-1949

BOX 50

1948-1949

1949-1950

1950-1951

1951-1952

1952-1953

1953-1954

1954-1955

1955-1956

BOX 51

1956-1957

1957-1958

1958-1959

1959-1960

1960-1961

1961-1962

BOX 52

1961-1962

1962-1963

1963

1963-1964

1964-1965

1965-1966

STOCKS

Notes Redeemed; Preferred Stock Issued, 1913; 1917

Trustees Accounts, 1914-1922

New Capital Stock, 1937

Plan of Recapitalization, 1937

BOX 53

Report of Samuel C. Williams of Scudder-Stevens-Clark, 30 Aug. 1943

Splitting Shares of Common Stock, 1944-1950

Stock Certificates--Studebaker Southern, Inc., 1968-1969

187,000 Shares of Common Stock, 11 Mar. 1969

FIVE YEAR PLAN, 1957-1961

BANK ACCOUNTS

Union Trust Co. of Maryland, 1945-1966

First National Bank

General, 1946-1965

BOX 54

James W. McElroy, 1953-1967

Estate of M. L. Millspaugh, 1964-1965

Mercantile-Safe Deposit & Trust Co., William Gable, Jr., 1949-1972

Safe-Deposit & Trust Co., J. William Eggleston, 1938-1948

Merchants-Mechanics-First National Bank, Account Books, 1918-1925

RETIREMENT PLAN

Actuary's Reports

1943

1944

1945

1949

1950

1951

1952

BOX 55

1953

1954

1955

1956

1957

1958-1967

1969-1972

Correspondence

1944-1949

1950-1956

1967-1968

BOX 56

Journal, 1944-1967

(1 vol.)

GENERAL FINANCIAL ACCOUNTS (see also oversize volumes)

Shipping, 1945-1960

Worksheets

1916

1918

1919-1920

1920

(2 folders)

1921

BOX 57

Accounts With McKim & Co.

1904-1906

1906-1907

Cancelled Checks, 1906-1907

BOX 58

LEGAL RECORDS

Patents, 1896-1917

Deed of Trust, 1913

Name Change, 1948-1950

Mergers

Acquisition of Studebaker Southern, Inc., 1969

Acquisition of Studebaker Southern, Inc.--Stockholder Meeting Minutes and Incorporation Papers, 1969

Acquisition of Eisenberg-Lozano, Inc., 1970

Acquisition of Eisenberg-Lozano, Inc.--Profit Sharing Plan and Trust, 1970

Acquisition of A. L. Hanle, Inc., 1971

Lawsuits

Lohmuller et al. vs. Kirk, 1917-1918

Discount House Suits

1932-1954

1955-1959

BOX 59

PROPERTY RECORDS (see also oversize folders)

Guilford Ave. Lease, 1904

Baltimore Street

Receipts for Purchase and Title Fees, 1892-1903

Lease, 1913

Rent Receipts, 1892-1914

Correspondence, 1922-1935

Read & Calvert Streets, 1922-1923

Miscellaneous Propersals, ca. 1923

Howard Street, 1935-1962

Charles & Franklin Streets

Ganther Co., 1925-1926

D. M. Andrew Co., 1924-1925

H. E. Crook Co., 1924-1925

Kingsbury Samuel Electric Co., 1924-1925

Charles Markell, 1925

M. L. Millspaugh, 1925

Charles Morrow, 1925

Mercantile Trust & Deposit Co., 1924-1925

T. W. Pietsch, Architect, 1924-1925

Specifications

Report of an Explosion on Paca Street

General:

1924-1935

BOX 60

1936-1939

1941-1945

1944-1948

1949-1950

1951-1952

1953

1954

1955-1956

1957

BOX 61

1958

1959

1960-1963

Edmondson Village, 1953; 1958

Stewart & Co., York Rd. Shopping Center, 1952-1957

Baltimore County, Towson Area, 1957-1958

Towson Plaza Shopping Center, 1956-1957

Alleghany Avenue

Leases, 1958; 1961

Negotiations, 1957-1961

Factory (blueprints located in oversize folders)

Sprinkler System, 1931-1947

Heating Plant; Driveway, 1933-1935

Claude Neon Sign, 1933-1954

Maintenance and New Equipment

1935-1937

1938-1941

Alterations and Improvements, 1935-1942

BOX 62

Fuel Oil Requirements, 1935-1944

New Roof, 1936-1937

Costs of Additions and New Equipment, 1936-1938

Ajax Electrical Co. re Annealing Furnace, 1936-1940

Ajax Electrical Co., 1937-1944

Remodeling General Offices (Cogswell Co.), 1937-1939

Remodeling Offices, 1937-1946

Future Additions, Improvements, Equipment, and Maintenance, 1937-1945

M. L. Millspaugh's Office, 1939

Extension, 1931

Extension, 1940

Building Permit (Cogswell Construction), 1940

Dorsey Appliance Corp. (Electrical), 1940

Dorsey Plumbing & Heating, 1940

Kelco Manufacturing Co., 1940

Rejected Bids, 1940

Sandlass & Weiman, Architects, 1940

Sprinkler System, 1940

Plating Equipment, 1942

Air Conditioning, 1942; 1951

Automatic Coal Burner, 1942

Fence, 1947; 1961

BOX 63

Extension, 1947-1948

Consolidated Engineering Co., 1948; 1957

Dust Collecting System, 1948-1949

Maintenance, 1950

Water Cooler, 1950

PRODUCTION RECORDS (see also oversize folders)

Memoranda Book and Notes, 1868-1874

Receipt for Silver Bullion, 1888

Certificate of Silver Analysis, 1895

Spoon Punches, 1896-1907

Inventory

1896-1913

1905

1913 (Rough Notes)

1913-1915

1914

1914 (Rough Notes)

1914-1917

1915 (Rough Notes)

BOX 64

1915 (Rough Notes)

1916 (Rough Notes)

1918

1919 (Rough Notes)

Index to Drawings, 1921-1967

Silverware Production in Ounces, 1926-1966

Costs, 1919-1926

Costs for Flat Ware, 1919-1927

Costs for Flat Ware, 1934-1935

Costs for Hollow Ware, Jan. 1935

Costs for Flat Ware, Apr. 1935

Costs for Hollow Ware, Apr. 1935

BOX 65

Costs for Hollow Ware, June 1935

Costs for Flat Ware, July 1935

Costs for Discontinued Items, Oct.-Nov. 1935

Costs for Hollow Ware, 1939-1940

Costs for Flat Ware, 1939-1940

(2 folders)

Costs for Hollow Ware, 1941

Costs for Flat Ware

1963

1964

1965

1967

1968

BOX 66

Flat Ware Specifications

Calvert, 1968

Cynthia, 1968

King, 1968

Quadrille, 1968

Repousse, 1968

Rose, 1968

Severn, 1968

Signet and Kingsley, 1968

Skylark, 1968

Wadefield, Primrose, Mayflower, Old Maryland Engraved, 1968

Winslow, 1968

Miscellaneous, 1968

Comparative Operations Reports

Manufacturing Division

Jan.-Mar. 1978

Apr.-July 1978

Aug.-Dec. 1978

Kirk Pewter

Apr.-July 1978

BOX 67

Aug.-Dec. 1978

Kirk Imports, Jan.-July 1978

Silver Market

1931

Apr.-May 1935

June-Aug. 1935

Feb.-June 1942

July-Dec. 1942

1943-1944

World War II

War Production Board Instructions, 1942-1943

Application for Priority Assistance, 1942-1943

(2 folders)

BOX 68

War Production Board Reports, 1942-1943

War Production Board

Consumer Goods Inventories, 1942-1947

Office of Civilian Requirements, 1943

Smaller War Plants Corp., 1943-1945

Form M-199 (Silver)

Silver Reports

1942

1943

1944-1945

Steel Reports, 1943

Tin and Lead Reports, 1945

BOX 69

Miscellaneous, 1942-1943

U. S. Navy Department, 1942-1943

Contracts, 1942-1944

(2 folders)

Office of Price Stabilization

Applications and Price Data, 1951

General, 1951-1952

Selling Price Regulation #7, 1951-1952

(2 folders)

BOX 70

Selling Price Regulation #22, 1951-1952

Letters to Agents, 1951

Price Relief, 1951

Decontrol, 1952-1953

RETAIL RECORDS

Sales Record Books

Watches

1846-1864

1867-1893

Brooches, 1907-1918

BOX 71

Rings, 1903-1918

Pocket Notebook, 1904-1910

Price List, 1893-1897

Form Letters Sent to Agents, 1925-1930

Receipted Bills

1834-1858

1860-1886, 1917, n.d.

Officers' Meetings, 1930-1943

Retail Outlets

1950

Stewart's

Legal Agreements, 1962-1970

Memoranda and Correspondence

1962-1966

1967-1969

1970-1974

BOX 72

Advertising (see also oversize boxes)

Agents' Advertising Record

A-G, 1932-1936

H-O, 1932-1936

P-Z, 1932-1936

A-E, 1936-1938

F-L, 1936-1938

M-Z, 1936-1938

A-G, 1938-1940

H-L, 1938-1940

M-Z, 1938-1940

Mock-ups

Miscellaneous, 1918-1923

EMPLOYEE RECORDS (see also oversize volumes)

Agreement to Give Employees Time Off, 1890-1891

Letter Requesting a Raise, 1922

Personnel Organization and Policies, 1938-1947

Salary Changes, Hirings and Discharges, 1929-1932

BOX 73

Positions and Salary Schedules, 1944

Payroll Data

1959

1960

Salesmen's Bonuses

1936-1947

1947-1948

1957-1960

“Key Men” Meetings

1932-1947

1949-1955

Miscellaneous, 1958-1959

KIRK SILVER TRAVELING EXHIBITION

Collection Acquisition, 1940-1943

Packing Lists, 1971-1974

Insurance, 1964-1973

(2 folders)

Special Order Masterpieces, 1968-1975

News Releases, 1970's

Newspaper Clippings

BOX 74

Publicity, 1965-1976

(2 folders)

Allentown Art Museum, Allentown, Pa., 1973-1974

Anglo-American Art Museum, Baton Rouge, La., 1974

Arkansas Art Center, Little Rock, Ark., 1974

California Museum of Science & Industry, Los Angeles, Cal., 1976-1977

Carroll Mansion, Baltimore, Md., 1979

Cedar Rapids Art Gallery, Cedar Rapids, Ia., 1973

Charleston, S.C., 1973-1977

Charleston, W. Va., 1979

Chrysler Museum of Norfolk, Va., 1975-1976

Columbia, S. C., 1973-1974

Columbus Gallery of Art, Columbus, Ohio, 1975

Delaware Art Museum, Wilmington, Del., 1975-1977

Evansville Museum of Arts & Sciences, Evansville, Ind., 1975

Flagler Museum, Palm Beach, Fla., 1974-1975

Ft. Wayne, Ind., 1973

Grand Rapids Art Museum, Grand Rapids, Mich., 1975

Hallmark Gallery, Kansas City, Mo., 1968

Hudson River Museum, Yonkers, N.Y., 1969-1977

Hunter Museum of Art, Chattanooga, Tenn., 1970-1977

Joslyn Art Museum, Omaha, Neb., 1975

Kalamazoo, Mich., 1974

Lexington Museum, Lexington, Mass., 1976

Loch Haven Art Center, Orlando, Fla., 1977-1978

Lyman Allyn Museum, New London, Conn., 1975-1977

Mint Museum, Charlotte, N. C., 1976

Mobile Art Gallery, Mobile, Ala., 1974-1975

Montgomery Museum of Fine Arts, Montgomery, Ala., 1974-1975

Museum of Fine Arts, Springfield, Mass., 1975

Museum of Our National Heritage, Lexington, Mass., 1974-1976

New Jersey State Museum, Trenton, N.J., 1977

Peale Museum, Baltimore, Md., 1969-1977

Philbrook Art Center, Tulsa, Ok., 1973

BOX 75

Roanoke Fine Arts Center, 1979

St. John's Art Gallery, Wilmington, N. C., 1975-1976

St. Petersburg, Fla., 1975-1976

San Jose Museum of Art, San Jose, Cal., 1975

South Bend Art Center, South Bend, Ind., 1974-1978

Tampa Bay Art Center, 1976

Telfair Academy, Savannah, Georgia, 1973-1974

Topeka Public Library, Topeka, Kansas, 1975-1978

University of Texas Art Museum, Austin, Texas, 1977-1978

Vizcaya Museum Theft, Miami, Fla., 1971-1972

Miscellaneous Museums, 1974-1976

PUBLICATIONS (see also oversize boxes)

Correspondence, 1914-1959

Original Art Work, Mock-ups

Notes and Revisions

BOX 76

KIRK REALTY CORPORATION

Certificate of Incorporation (copy), 1923

Incorporation and By-Laws, 1923

Minutes

1922-1924

1925

1926

1927-1928

1929-1930

1931

1932

1933

1934

1935

BOX 77

1936

1937

1938

1939

1940

1941

1942

1943

1944

1945

1946

1947

BOX 78

1948

1949

1950

1951

1952

1953

1954

1955

1956

1957

1958

BOX 79

1959

1960

1961

Financial--Trustee's Accounts, 1889-1923

Financial Statements

1924

1924-1939

1925

1926

1940-1945

1959-1961

Annual Reports and Meetings

1935-1936

1938

1939

1940

1941

1942

1943

1944

BOX 80

1945

1946

1947

1948

1949

1950

1951

1952

1953

1954

1955

1956

1957

1958

1959

1960

1961

Receipted Bills and Taxes

1921-1929

1930-1939

1940-1944

1945-1949

1950-1953

1954-1959

BOX 81

1960-1961

Mortgage, 1932

Leases and Agreements with Western Union, 1924-1960

Extension of Lease with Western Union

1944-1945

1945-1946; 1960

Appraisals, 1927-1960

Tax Valuation of Baltimore St. Property, 1946-1947

Improvements at Baltimore St. Property, 1935-1960

Memoranda to Stockholders, 1957-1961

Memoranda to the Directors, 1958-1961

General Correspondence

1924-1929

1930-1936

1937-1939

1940-1949

BOX 82

1952-1959

1960-1962

Dissolution

Correspondence with Kirk Family, 1960-1961

Correspondence with Stockholders, 1961

Sale of Property, 1960-1961

Final Data, 1960-1964

OVERSIZE BOX 83

RETAIL RECORDS

Advertising

Scrapbooks

1927-1931

1932-1936

OVERSIZE BOX 84

1935-1936

1936-1937

1937-1938

1938-1939

1939-1940

OVERSIZE BOX 85

1936-1940

1939-1941

1940

OVERSIZE BOX 86

1958

1959-1960

1966

OVERSIZE BOX 87

Luci Johnson's Kirk Silverware Pattern, 1966

PUBLICATIONS

Silver Notes, 1955-1958

OVERSIZE FOLDERS

GENERAL FINANCIAL ACCOUNTS

Insurance--Fire of 1903

Plant Inventories, Settlements, Employee Records

(2 folders)

Insurance--Fire of 1904

Plant Inventories, Employee Records, Notes

(2 folders)

PRODUCTION RECORDS

Size and Weight Chart, 1908

PROPERTY RECORDS

Factory and Retail Blueprints

Alleghany Ave. Contract Drawings

OVERSIZE VOLUMES

EMPLOYEE RECORDS

Payroll Data

1901-1906

1906-1912

1912-1919

1949-1955

1955-1957

GENERAL FINANCIAL ACCOUNTS

Ledgers

#33 1902-1903 (with index)

#34 1903-1904 (with index)

#35 1904-1905 (with index)

#36 1905-1906 (with index)

#37 1906-1907 (with index)

#38 1907-1908 (with index)

#39 1908-1909 (with index)

#40 1909-1910 (with index)

#41 1910-1911 (with index)

#42 1911-1912 (with index)

#43 A-K 1912-1913 (with index)

#43 L-Z 1912-1913 (with index)

#44 A-K 1913-1914 (with index)

#44 L-Z 1913-1914 (with index)

#45 A-K 1914-1915 (with index)

#45 L-Z 1914-1915 (with index)

1925-1927

1927-1930

1930-1933

1933-1936

1937-1953

1963-1968

1972-1975

Journals

1905-1914

1908-1911

1911-1914

1914-1923

1914-1917

1917-1920

1920-1923

1923-1927

1925-1931

1926-1956

1931-1936

1937-1940

1940-1943

1943-1946

1946-1948

1949-1954

1953-1960

1954-1961

1956-1961

1961-1963

1961-1965

1961-1975

1965-1967

1968-1971

1971-1974

Standard Journal, 1958-1961

Standard Journal, Retail Division, 1968-1975

Retail Journals

1967-1970

1970-1974

1974-1975

Retail General Ledgers

1950-1960

1963-1974

(2 vols.)

Retail Sales Distribution

1963-1972

1967-1969

1969-1972

1972-1975

Purchase Book, 1972-1973

Stock Ledger (Merchandise), 1961-1969

Depreciation Ledger, 1947-1980

Voucher Registers

1958-1959

1959-1960

1962-1964

1966-1967

1973

Bank Drafts

1950-1960

1960-1961

Trial Balance, 1904-1915

Workpapers, 1923-1928

Store Transfer Ledger, 1950-1957

Accounts Payable Ledger, 1973-1974

Cash Receipts and Disbursements

1949-1959

1959-1970

1960-1962

1963-1975

1970-1974

1972-1973

1974-1976

Cash Books

1925-1931

1931-1938

1938-1949

Daily Sales Recapitulation, 1958-1962

Private General Ledger, 1926-1960

Ledger/Henry C. Kirk Estate, 1914-1923

“Wadefield”, Virginia, 1905-1932

Adams, Irving (1878-1946)

Advertising, 1911-1966

Baltimore, Md--Businesses, 1834-1979

Brennan, Joseph T., 2nd (1899-1982)

Brenner, Howard T. (fl. 1957-1971)

Coastal Mobile and Modular Corporation, 1971-1976

Comfort, William T., Jr. (fl. 1967-1974)

Conkling, Elizabeth Baldwin (1877-1943)

Conkling, Olivia Hardesty Kirk (1850-1934)

Conkling, William Higgins, Jr. (1879-1931)

Conkling, William Higgins, Sr. (fl. 1872-1914)

Coughlan, Robert E., Sr. (d. 1964)

Donaldson, Lydia Hemsworth Kirk (1881-1932)

Donaldson, Robert Montgomery, II (b. 1914)

Donaldson, Roderick Douglas (d. 1953)

Eagan, James K. (1874-1958)

Eggleston, J. William (1900-1959)

Eisenberg-Lozano, Inc., 1962-1979

Elderkin, Clarence E., Sr. (1885-1964)

Employees--Records, 1890-1957

Factories--Buildings, 1931-19614

Fires, Baltimore, Md., 1903-1904

Gable, William A., Jr. (1903-1972)

Hanle, A. L., Inc., 1969-1971

Hollingsworth, Edith Buckner Kirk (1893-1979)

Huntemuller, Henry William (d. 1909)

Insurance--Fire, 1903-1904

Jewelry Trade, 1846-1918

Jordan, Mildred McCay (b. 1893)

Jordan, William McCay (fl. 1950-1956)

Kakel, Rev. Frederick W. (1857-1942)

Katz, Albert (fl. 1949-1957)

Katz, S. & N. Jewelers, 1953-1957

Kirk Corporation, 1966-1979

Kirk Imports, Inc., 1973-1979

Kirk International, Inc., 1972-1979

Kirk Pewter, Inc., 1972-1979

Kirk Realty Corporation, 1921-1964

Kirk, Charles Douglas (1840-1880)

Kirk, Edwin Clarence (1842-1876)

Kirk, Henry Child, Jr. (1868-1932)

Kirk, Henry Child, Sr. (1826-1914)

Kirk, Samuel & Son, Inc., 1834-1979

Kirk, Samuel (1793-1872)

Ladd, William Conkling (b. 1903)

Maginn, James Francis Henry (1873-1946)

Manufacturers, Baltimore, Md., 1834-1979

Markell, Charles, Jr. (1910-1963)

Markell, Charles, Sr. (1882-1955)

McCay, Mildred Buckner Kirk (1863-1942)

McElroy, James W. (1892-1971)

McGuirk, William E., Jr. (b. 1918)

Millspaugh, Martin Laurence (1884-1964)

Millspaugh, Samuel Kirk (b. 1930)

Museums, 1969-1979

Myllo, Stanley (fl. 1915-1960)

Office of Price Stabilization, 1951-1953

Pierrepont, John (fl. 1967-1968)

Prentis, Morton MacNutt (1887-1956)

Real Estate--Baltimore, Md., 1892-1963

Retail Trade, 1834-1974

Settle, Henry Kirwan (1916-1977)

Shriver, J. Nicholas, Jr. (1914-1977)

Silversmiths, 1834-1979

Simpson, Mary Huntemuller Kirk (1896-1941)

Stieff Company, 1979

Stout, Joseph Suydam (fl. 1934-1967)

Studebaker Southern, Inc., 1968-1972

Sutcliffe, Esmond L. (fl. 1953-1960)

Wages, 1901-1960

War Production Board, 1942-1947

Warnken, S. Ralph (1891-post 1973)

Western Union Co., 1924-1960

Women--Employment, 1890-1960

Women--Wages, 1901-1960

World War II--Industry, 1942-1947