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Preliminary Inventory of the Joseph John Spengler Papers, [ca. 1896]-1987

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Descriptive Summary

Title
Joseph John Spengler Papers, [ca. 1896]-1987
Creator
Spengler, Joseph John, 1902-
Extent
111.8 Linear Feet
60,387 Items
Repository
Rare Book, Manuscript, and Special Collections Library, Duke University
Language
English.
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Administrative Information

Access Restrictions
Collection is open for research.
However some of the materials are not immediately accessible, because they require further processing before use.
In addition, all or portions of this collection may be housed off-site in Duke University's Library Service Center. Consequently, there may be a 24-hour delay in obtaining these materials.
Please contact Research Services staff before visiting the Rare Book, Manuscript, and Special Collections Library to use this collection.
Use Restrictions
The copyright interests in this collection have not been transferred to Duke University. For more information, consult the copyright section of the Regulations and Procedures of the Rare Book, Manuscript, and Special Collections Library.
Preferred Citation
[Identification of item], Joseph John Spengler Papers, Rare Book, Manuscript, and Special Collections Library, Duke University.
Provenance
The Joseph John Spengler Papers was received by the Rare Book, Manuscript, and Special Collections Library as a gift in 1987-2000.
Processing Information
Processed by Ann G. Langford; other RBMSCL staff
Completed April 25, 2002
Encoded by Ann G. Langford; Ruth E. Bryan
This finding aid is NCEAD compliant.
This collection is unprocessed: materials may not have been ordered and described beyond their original condition.
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Biographical Note

Professor of economics at Duke University, 1934-1979. Spengler married Dorothy "Dot" Kress in 1927. He died in 1991.

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Collection Overview

Chiefly correspondence, printed material, critiques of publications, bibliographies, class notes, and other papers relating to his career, publications, and affiliation with different economics associations (26,378 items, 52.7 linear feet; dated 1928-1987). Some are photocopies of Spengler's correspondence with William Richard Allen. The collection also includes manuscripts of some of his works, information concerning Duke University's administrative policies and staff, reprints of published articles relating to his career, and a charcoal portrait. (1-9-87, 88-010, 93-180, 00-213) No container lists exist for these accessions.
Addition #93-294 (34,009 items, 59.1 linear feet; dated [ca. 1896]-[ca. 1976], bulk 1914-1960) contains primarily business and Spengler and Kress family correspondence, especially between Dot and Joe ([ca. 1919]-[ca. 1976]). Also includes manuscripts for Dot's genealogical novel, Family Saga in America ([ca. 1930s]) and Joe's work, Life in America; as well as Dot's journals and diaries (1924-1939, 1969). There are Christmas cards, postcards, and newspaper clippings; photographs of family and friends, including 2 tintypes, 32 cartes-de-visite, 1 color and 91 black-and-white prints, and 76 healthy nitrate negatives; and lace knitted by Dot's grandmother.
Also includes 6 photograph albums kept by Dot, two of which contain pictures taken by her with a brownie camera in and of Piqua, OH (1914-1919). The other albums contain photographs and memorabilia depicting Dot's life as a college student at Miami University, OH (1919-1921); and two showing views of the Spengler's homes, friends, and life in Tuscon, AZ, Tampa, FL (1930-1938), and Durham, NC and Duke University (1932-1940). The latter also records the 1938 Duke University faculty baseball team.
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Subject Headings

These are searchable subject entries for this collection. Performing a search on these subjects in the Duke University Libraries online catalog will bring up other related research materials.
List of Series in Collection
Accession 1993-294
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Preliminary Description of Unprocessed Collection

Accession 1993-294

The documents in this accession were minimally processed in the order in which they were received.
Some of the materials in this accession are not immediately accessible because they require further processing before use.
Technical services staff may need to reformat newsprint and/or brittle paper in boxes 1-8, 11-15, 20, 24-32, 35-38, 40-41, 48-50, 75, and 82 before use. Technical services staff may need to process materials in envelopes in boxes 1-2, 4-6, 11-14, 16-22, 24-25, 27-29, 32-34, 38-53, 56-69, 71-84, and 86-88 before use. Technical services staff may need to remove rusty fasteners in boxes 2-8, 10, 14, 32-35, 39-41, 44, 48-50, 55-56, 58, 60, 70-71, 84-85, and 91 before use.
Please contact Research Services staff before visiting the Rare Book, Manuscript, and Special Collections Library to use this collection.
Box 1
Contents of Box 1:
Business Correspondence, 1938-1941
Box 2
Contents of Box 2:
Business Correspondence, 1941-1942, undated
Labeled folders
"Economic Fallacies"
"Text Correspondence"
Box 3
Contents of Box 3:
Foldered materials
Business Correspondence, 1943-1945
Articles
[unlabeled]
Box 4
Contents of Box 4:
Correspondence, 1930s and 1940s, undated
Personal and Business
Miscellaneous
[loose papers]
Box 5
Contents of Box 5:
Business Correspondence, 1948-1949
South Africa Trip, 1968 July
Box 6
Contents of Box 6:
Correspondence
"Personal Interest"
"Important Pre-1940"
Daily Reminder Book
[loose papers]
Box 7
Contents of Box 7:
Manuscript of book by Dot Spengler, Family Saga in America,1939
Box 8
Contents of Box 8:
Attention: Contains inactive mold and mildew.
Correspondence in Journal, 1939-1940
Family Saga in America
Box 9
Contents of Box 9:
Attention: Contains inactive mold and mildew.
Family Saga in America, rewrites and copies
Box 10
Contents of Box 10:
Family Saga in America, rewrites and copies
Box 11
Contents of Box 11:
Family Saga in America, copies
Correspondence From Margaret Blomquist to Spenglers, [1970s-1980s]
Box 12
Contents of Box 12:
Blomquist Correspondence, continued
Life in America, by Joseph Spengler
Correspondence from Dot Spengler to Joseph Spengler, 1928
General and Personal Correspondence, 1929
Box 13
Contents of Box 13:
Notebook with newspaper clippings
General and Personal Correspondence, 1927-1934
[loose materials]
Box 14
Contents of Box 14:
General and Personal Correspondence
Correspondence from Dot Spengler to Joseph Spengler, 1928
"Short Trip, " 1957-1959
Box 15
Contents of Box 15:
" Short Trips," continued
Box 16
Contents of Box 16:
Correspondence between Dot and Joseph Spengler, 1924-1925
Box 17
Contents of Box 17:
Correspondence between Dot and Joseph Spengler, continued
Correspondence from G. Long to Dot Spengler, 1937
Box 18
Contents of Box 18:
Attention: Deteriorated and unremovable rubber bands.
Correspondence
Between Dot and Joseph Spengler, 1925 and 1942
To Dot Spengler, 1939
To Dot and Joseph Spengler
Miscellaneous
Tax, bank, and insurance statements
Box 19
Contents of Box 19:
Attention: Contains graphic materials.
Correspondence
From Joseph Spengler to Dot Spengler, 1942
Miscellaneous
"Pictures of Joe's Home"
Box 20
Contents of Box 20:
Correspondence
Between Dot Kress and Joseph Spengler, 1924-1925
To Spenglers, 1938-1939
Miscellaneous
Bank Book
Box 21
Contents of Box 21:
Correspondence
From Joseph Spengler to Dot Kress, 1924
From Dot Kress to Joseph Spengler, 1926
Miscellaneous
Box 22
Contents of Box 22:
Correspondence
From Dot Kress to Joseph Spengler, 1926
From Joseph Spengler to Dot Kress, 1925
Miscellaneous
Box 23
Contents of Box 23:
Attention: Contains graphic material.
Correspondence
From Joseph Spengler to Dot Kress, 1924-1927
From H. Kress to Dot Spengler, 1930-1933
From Dot Kress to Joseph Spengler, 1925
Personal, [1960s]
Box 24
Contents of Box 24:
Personal Correspondence, 1959-1960 and [1960s-1970s]
Box 25
Contents of Box 25:
Personal Correspondence, 1960-1961
Newspaper Clippings
Magazine Article on Israel, 1960
"Dot's Keepsakes," 1950-1951
Box 26
Contents of Box 26:
Attention: Contains graphic material.
"Dot's Log and Letters"
"Memos on and of Joe"
"Dot's Keepsakes"
Funeral Register for Georgia Long, 1946
Box 27
Contents of Box 27:
Newspaper Clippings
Miscellaneous Correspondence
[loose material]
"Correspondence to and from Joe, " 1969
"Joe's Official Biography and Bibliography"
"Joe's Correspondence," 1963
"To President Knight"
Box 28
Contents of Box 28:
Attention: Contains graphic material.
Business Material
[loose material]
Correspondence
Newspaper Clippings
Speeches
Box 29
Contents of Box 29:
Newspaper Clippings
Business Material and Correspondence, [1950s-1980s]
Box 30
Contents of Box 30:
Labeled folders containing Business related papers, [1960s-1970]
[loose material]
Box 31
Contents of Box 31:
Diaries of Dot Spengler, 1970-1973
Box 32
Contents of Box 32:
Dot Spengler's Material
Birthday book while at Miami University, 1924
Journals, 1930-1931, 1937-1938, and 1938-1939
List of books read with descriptions
Address Book
Correspondence from Dick Harvill to Spenglers, 1968-1972
Box 33
Contents of Box 33:
Correspondence
From Joseph Spengler to Dot Spengler, 1928
From Dick Harvill, 1975-1976
From Dot Kress to Joseph Spengler, 1925
Bills, receipts, and contracts
Box 34
Contents of Box 34:
Correspondence
Miscellaneous letters to Spenglers
Professional
From Dot Kress to Joseph Spengler, 1925
Box 35
Contents of Box 35:
Attention: Contains graphic materials
Farewell Book from Mary Craig to Joseph Spengler
Newspaper clippings and photocopies
[loose papers]
Pictures of Joseph Spengler
Box 36
Contents of Box 36:
[Folder moved to Legal-size Box 86.]
Foldered personal and business materials including newspaper clippings and correspondence [1970s-1980s]
Box 37
Contents of Box 37:
[Folder moved to Legal-size Box 86.]
Foldered materials continued
Box 38
Contents of Box 38:
Attention: Contains graphic materials.
"Family Correspondence," 1944-1950
Includes clippings as well as correspondence, mainly between Dot and Joseph Spengler.
Box 39
Contents of Box 39:
"Family Correspondence," continued
Foldered business and economic material
Box 40
Contents of Box 40:
Foldered business and economic material, continued
Personal Correspondence between Dot and Joseph Spengler, 1959-1960
Box 41
Contents of Box 41:
Personal Correspondence, continued, 1940s-1970s
Box 42
Contents of Box 42:
Personal Correspondence, continued
Box 43
Contents of Box 43:
Personal Correspondence, continued
Dot's Diary, 1969
Journal
Box 44
Contents of Box 44:
Correspondence between Dot Spengler and Ollie Kress, [Dot's mother], [1960s]
Box 45
Contents of Box 45:
Correspondence between Spengler and Kress, continued
Box 46
Contents of Box 46:
Correspondence between Spengler and Kress, continued
Box 47
Contents of Box 47:
Personal Correspondence, 1972-1976
Box 48
Contents of Box 48:
Attention: Contains graphic materials.
Personal Correspondence, continued
"Joe's Recollections of Life"
Professional and economic papers
Manuscripts and magazines belonging to Dot Spengler, early [1900s]
Photographs of the Spenglers taken at various times
Box 49
Contents of Box 49:
Manuscripts and magazines, continued
Correspondence between Dot Spengler and Ollie Kress, 1968-1972
Box 50
Contents of Box 50:
Correspondence between Spengler and Kress, continued
Dot's Christmas Cards, [1950s-1970s]
Box 51
Contents of Box 51:
Dot's Christmas Cards, continued
Correspondence concerning Carol Kress Spence, [1950s-1970s]
Box 52
Contents of Box 52:
Spence correspondence, continued
Box 53
Contents of Box 53:
Spence correspondence, continued
Box 54
Contents of Box 54:
Spence correspondence, continued
Box 55
Contents of Box 55:
Life in America by Joseph Spengler
Labeled folders
Diary entries by Dot Spengler, 1924-1927
Box 56
Contents of Box 56:
"Dot's Manuscript"
Correspondence, 1919-1920
Box 57
Contents of Box 57:
Correspondence, continued
"Western Trip" Correspondence, 1919
Miscellaneous Correspondence
Box 58
Contents of Box 58:
Correspondence from Joseph Spengler to Dot Kress, Summer 1927
Receipts, 1923
Journal and date book
Miscellaneous material
Box 59
Contents of Box 59:
Correspondence from Dot Kress to Joseph Spengler, 1923
Miscellaneous material
Correspondence, 1932
Box 60
Contents of Box 60:
Attention: Contains graphic materials.
Newspaper clippings
Professional correspondence and articles
Family Saga in America Part IV, 1907-1927
Correspondence from Joseph Spengler to Dot Kress, 1923
Pictures of unidentified boy and mother with son and daughter, 1909
Box 61
Contents of Box 61:
Correspondence
"Kid Letters, " 1903-1917
Miscellaneous
Box 62
Contents of Box 62:
Correspondence
Fall 1921
Miscellaneous
Box 63
Contents of Box 63:
Correspondence
Miscellaneous
Fall 1922
1936
Box 64
Contents of Box 64:
Correspondence
1938
1934
1941-1942
Box 65
Contents of Box 65:
Correspondence
Fall 1939
Miscellaneous
1940
Fall 1935-1936
Box 66
Contents of Box 66:
Correspondence
1934
Summer 1935
Miscellaneous
1942
Box 67
Contents of Box 67:
Correspondence
1941
Fall 1940
1938
Fall/Winter 1935-1936
1942
1940-1942
Box 68
Contents of Box 68:
Correspondence
1935
1938
Miscellaneous
Box 69
Contents of Box 69:
Correspondence
Miscellaneous
1935-1936
"New Version " Part I
Box 70
Contents of Box 70:
"New Version, " continued, Parts II, III, and IV
"Old Version" Parts I and II
Box 71
Contents of Box 71:
"Old Version," continued, Parts I, II, III, and IV
Miscellaneous Papers
Correspondence from friends, 1935-1936
Box 72
Contents of Box 72:
Correspondence
"From folks," 1940
From family, 1937
"From Mom, " 1941
"Last Version" Parts I, II, III, and IV
"Dot's Notebook, " 1930
Box 73
Contents of Box 73:
Journal and notebook
Correspondence, 1920-1921
Box 74
Contents of Box 74:
Correspondence
1920-1921
1933
1928
1929
Miscellaneous
Journal and date book
Box 75
Contents of Box 75:
Correspondence
1929
1935-1937
1925
1924
1927
Box 76
Contents of Box 76:
Correspondence
1924-1927
1924
1922
1921-1922
Box 77
Contents of Box 77:
Small journals
Correspondence
1925
1926
1932-1933
Fall 1924
Box 78
Contents of Box 78:
Correspondence
1925
1927-1928
1923
Box 79
Contents of Box 79:
Correspondence
1924
1927
Box 80
Contents of Box 80:
Correspondence
1924
Fall 1928
1926
Miscellaneous papers, [ca. 1933]
Box 81
Contents of Box 81:
Correspondence
1933
1926
1928-1929
1932-1933
1925
[loose papers]
Box 82
Contents of Box 82:
Correspondence
From friends, 1935
From family, 1937
"From Dot to Folks, " 1935
Box 83
Contents of Box 83:
Correspondence
[loose]
From family, 1938
"Joe's Correspondence, " 1936-1940
From Joseph Spengler to Kresses, 1933-1934
Box 84
Contents of Box 84:
Correspondence
From Dot to Family, 1934-1935
1937
From friends, 1939
Box 85
Contents of Legal-size Box 86:
Attention: Needs to be reorganized and refoldered.
Academic and economic papers
[Removed from boxes 36-37.]
Box 86
Contents of box 86:
Novel Miscellaney, 1939
Correspondence, 1934-1940
[Letters were originally rubberbanded together into piles. These piles have been transferred to folders.]
Box 87
Contents of box 87:
Correspondence, friends, family, and business, 1936-1941
[Letters were originally rubberbanded together into piles. These piles have been transferred to folders.]
Box 88
Contents of box 88:
Correspondence, friends, family, and business, 1936-1940
[Letters were originally rubberbanded together into piles. These piles have been transferred to folders.]
[Receipts, including for house repair/building]
"Third Best Copy [of Dot's novel], Part III"
Box 89
Contents of box 89:
"Third Best Copy [of Dot's novel], Part II"
[From inside box labeled:] "Longhand manuscript"
"Dot's Rewrites, Summer 1939"
Box 90
Contents of box 90:
Attention: Contains graphic materials.
"Dot's Rewrites, Summer 1939," continued
"Original copy-Novel Part I"
"1937 [Novel] Parts I-IV minus revisions and minus [perfect] pages"
Loose newspapers, postcards, and photographs removed from 1930-1931 photograph album in box 94
Seven loose, healthy nitrate sheet negatives removed to box 98.
Loose photographs removed from 1919-1921 "Stunt Book" in box 93
69 loose, healthy nitrate sheet negatives removed to box 98.
Box 91
Contents of Box 91:
Attention: Contains graphic materials.
"Dot's Reunions"
Photographs of [primarily Kress] family and friends, including black-and-white prints, tintypes, and cartes-de-visite
Box 92
Contents of box 92:
Attention: Contains graphic materials.
Two photograph albums containing prints taken by Dot Kress in Piqua, OH, with her brownie camera, [ca. 1914-1918]
Box 93
Contents of box 93:
Attention: Contains graphic materials.
"Stunt Book" scrapbook containing photographs and memorabilia created by Dot Kress in college at Miami University, OH, 1919-1921
Loose photographs removed to box 90 and 69 loose, healthy, nitrate sheet negatives to box 98.
Box 94
Contents of box 94:
Attention: Contains graphic materials.
Photograph album reflecting Joe and Dot Spengler's life in Tuscon, AZ, and Tampa, FL, 1930-1931
Loose photographs, newspaper, and postcards removed to box 90. Seven loose, healthy nitrate sheet negatives removed to box 98.
Box 95
Contents of box 95:
Attention: Contains graphic materials.
Photograph album showing the construction and development of Joe and Dot's home and garden in Durham, NC, 1939-1941
Box 96
Contents of box 96:
Attention: Contains graphic materials.
Photograph album depicting Joe and Dot's life in Tuscon, AZ (University of Arizona), Tampa, FL, and Durham, NC (Duke University), 1932-1938
Includes photographs of the Duke University faculty baseball team, 1938 and views of the University and Durham, 1938.
Photographs and information from Joe's retirement dinner, 1972
Cover of box in which scrapbook and photograph albums were originally stored; contains notes by Dot
Box 97
Contents of box 97:
"Lace knitted by Grandmother Kress"
Box 98
Contents of box 98:
Attention: Contains graphic materials.
76 healthy nitrate sheet negatives.
Removed from folders of loose material (housed in box 90) found in photograph albums in boxes 93 and 94.
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Materials Cataloged Separately

The following book was removed from accession #93-294 and cataloged separately:
    The Legend of Sleepy Hollow, ills. Arthur I. Keller, 1906.