Klinefelter, Howard E. (1902-1956) Papers, 1924-1966 (C3858)

1 linear foot

INTRODUCTION

Papers of Howard E. Klinefelter, editor of The Missouri Farmer, the Missouri Farmers Association (MFA) magazine. The papers consist of correspondence and miscellaneous material such as newspaper clippings, photographs and publications.

DONOR INFORMATION

The Howard E. Klinefelter Papers were donated to the University of Missouri by his daughter, Lenora K. Boyle, on August 4, 1987 (Accession No. 4788).

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH

Howard Emanuel Klinefelter was born on July 17, 1902, to Emanuel and Nora Klinefelter in Versailles, Illinois. He quit school in 1914 upon the death of his father. At the age of fifteen he became a telegrapher for the Wabash Railroad and later the Missouri Pacific. He married Milly Scrogum on July 2, 1923, and they had four children: Lenora, Ann, James and Halmar. Klinefelter operated a small farm near Labadie, Franklin County, Missouri. He began writing articles on poultry and other farm topics for the Washington Missourian, a Franklin County newspaper. From these articles he attracted the interest of William Hirth, editor of The Missouri Farmer, to which he contributed articles from 1930 to 1938. Klinefelter was also the secretary for the Franklin County MFA from 1930 to 1938.

In 1938, he moved to Columbia, Missouri, and began work with William Hirth on The Missouri Farmer. In 1940 he became editor of the magazine upon the death of Hirth. Klinefelter was also the Director of the Publishing and Information Division of the MFA and secretary to the Association's legislative committee. Klinefelter was an honorary member of the Farm Writers Guild, a member of the Missouri State Recreation Commission, and chairman of the State Advisory Board of the Farmers Home Administration.

SCOPE AND CONTENT NOTE

The Howard E. Klinefelter Papers are divided into two series: Correspondence and Miscellaneous. The Correspondence series is arranged chronologically from 1924 to 1966 with the majority of the correspondence dating from 1934 to 1939 while Klinefelter was secretary of the Franklin County MFA. The 1924 correspondence is letters to his wife, Milly, when he was working as a railroad telegrapher. The later correspondence is professional and is concerned with the MFA and such topics as poultry, livestock, soil conservation, politics, farming issues and individuals in the MFA.

The correspondence between Hirth and Klinefelter discusses Hirth's political career, farming cooperatives, rural electrification, communism, Klinefelter's writings, politics and farming concerns. Throughout the correspondence from 1934 to 1939, Klinefelter and Hirth communicate their ideas and opinions on concerns important to them and the MFA. The correspondence of 1956 is personal and concerned with Klinefelter's illness and includes condolences to his family upon his death on October 27, 1956.

The Miscellaneous series is divided into four sections concerned with the MFA. The first is newspaper clippings of articles by Klinefelter or about him. A few clippings are about medical concerns that involve the MFA and Hirth's involvement in politics. These papers are arranged in chronological order from 1927 to 1956. The second section consists primarily of photographs of friends and the MFA. These have been arranged alphabetically by person or organization; most are undated. The third section contains publications of the Missouri Farmers Association written by Klinefelter. The publications begin with An Inside View on Legislation, numbers 1-60, which were written by Klinefelter as secretary of the MFA State Legislative Committee about farming legislation. These publications are arranged chronologically from 1951 to 1955. The fourth section is miscellaneous material on governmental events and Klinefelter's interest in the preservation of a historic frieze. These papers are arranged chronologically from 1944 to 1954.

FOLDER LIST

Correspondence Series

f. 1October-November 1924
f. 2 January-April 1934
f. 3May-August 1934
f. 4September 1934-January 1935
f. 5February-April 1935
f. 6May-August 1935
f. 7September-October 1935
f. 8November-December 1935
f. 9January-February 1936
f. 10March 1936
f. 11April 1936
f. 12May 1936
f. 13June-July 1936
f. 14August 1936
f. 15September-October 1936
f. 16November-December 1936
f. 17January 1937
f. 18February-March 1937
f. 19April 1937
f. 20May 1937
f. 21June-July 11, 1937
f. 22July 12-31, 1937
f. 23August-October 9, 1937
f. 24October 10-December 1937
f. 25January-February 1938
f. 26March 9-21, 1938
f. 27March 23-April 1938
f. 28May-June 1938
f. 29July-September 1938
f. 30October 1938-February 1939
f. 311947-1952
f. 321953-1954
f. 331955
f. 34January-February 1956
f. 35March-May 1956
f. 36June-October 1956
f. 37November, 1956-1966, n.d.

Miscellaneous Series

f. 38Newspaper Clippings, 1927-1956
f. 39Photographs, C-L, c. 1930-1950
f. 40Photographs, M-U, c. 1930-1950
f. 41Publication, An Inside View on Legislation 1-11, January-April, 1951
f. 42Publication, An Inside View on Legislation 12-21, May-November, 1951
f. 43Publication, An Inside View on Legislation 22-33, November, 1951-February, 1953
f. 44Publication, An Inside View on Legislation 34-47, March, 1953-November, 1954
f. 45Publication, An Inside View on Legislation 48-60, January-June, 1955
f. 46Miscellaneous, 1944-1954

INDEX TERMS

These index terms are the subjects, people, places, etc. under which this collection is listed in all available indexes at the Western Historical Manuscript Collection-Columbia. If you are interested in a specific index term, please contact the reference staff.

  • Agricultural Adjustment Act
  • Agricultural extension work--Missouri
  • Agriculture, Cooperative
  • Agriculture--Economic aspects
  • Agriculture--Law and legislation
  • Agriculture--Missouri, 19th century
  • Archive of Soil Science
  • Archive of Soil Science
  • Blacks--Clothing and dress, 1850s
  • Cannon, Clarence
  • Church & social problems
  • Clubs, Farm
  • Communism and cooperative movement
  • Congress of Industrial Organizations
  • Costume, 1950s
  • Cummings, George W.
  • Donnelly, Phil M.
  • Electricity in agriculture
  • Four-H Clubs, Missouri
  • Franklin County Soil Conservation Association
  • Grain
  • Hirth, William (1875-1940)
  • Junior Farmers Association
  • Klinefelter family
  • Klinefelter, Howard Emanuel (1902-1956)
  • Livestock, 1930-1950s
  • Market-International Cooperation
  • Missouri Farmers Association
  • Missouri Farmers Association Oil Company
  • Missouri, Franklin County, Farmers Association
  • Pendergast Machine
  • Politics, Missouri, 1934-1956
  • Poultry, Missouri
  • Price fixing
  • Roosevelt, Franklin Delano (1882-1945)
  • Rural schools
  • Soil Conversation
  • Taxation, Missouri
  • Telephone, Rural
  • U.S. Department of Agriculture
  • Unemployment, 1936-1939