West family papers

Collection

Identifier: MSS 335

Staff Only

Scope and Contents

The West family papers, 1885-1928 and undated, consists of correspondence (1894-1915 and undated), financial records (1913-1928), advertisements (undated), and other papers (1885-1921 and undated). Correspondence contains letters (1894-1914 and undated) to and from members of the the West family, including personal postcards (1906-1915) to Ruth E. West. Financial records primarily include bills and receipts addressed to L.E. West and his wife, Ella. Advertisements include materials produced by the L.E. West Publishing Company on behalf of other firms and advertisements for the L.E. West Gum Company. See the container list below for an item-level description of advertisements. Also included are other papers, including newspaper clippings (1914 and undated), graduation and wedding announcements (1906-1914), the Dixon School of Business College Journal (1885), and ephemera (1890-1921 and undated) consisting of membership cards, club information, business cards, trivia cards, and event tickets.

Dates

Creation: 1885-1928 and undated

Creator

West Family (Family)

Conditions Governing Access

There are no restrictions on the use of this collection.

Conditions Governing Use

Unpublished manuscripts are protected by copyright. Permission to publish, quote, or reproduce must be secured from Augustana College Special Collections and the copyright holder.

Historical Note

Lewis Edgar (L.E.) West was born 13 April 1854 in St. Louis, Missouri, to Harmon E. and Mary E. West. The family settled in Rock Island, Illinois, in 1861. On 10 October 1888, L.E. West married Ella C. Clarkson of Galesburg, Illinois. They had one child, Ruth Elizabeth West, who was born 23 July 1889. Ruth attended Rock Island High School and graduated in 1908. She then attended Wellesley College in Wellesley, Massachusetts, from 1911 to 1914.

L.E. West was a member of the Modern Woodmen of America, the Fraternal Tribune, the United Commercial Travelers, and the Illinois Commercial Traveling Men’s Association. He established two businesses in Rock Island: the L.E. West Publishing Company, which published advertisements, pamphlets, and specialty advertising materials; and the L.E. West Gum Company, whose slogan was “West’s Cream Gum – The creamiest of all chews.”

Extent

0.4 Cubic Feet (/ 1 box)

Language of Materials

English

Additional Description

Abstract

Lewis Edgar (L.E.) West was born 13 April 1854 in St. Louis, Missouri, to Harmon E. and Mary E. West. The family settled in Rock Island, Illinois, in 1861. On 10 October 1888, L.E. West married Ella C. Clarkson of Galesburg, Illinois. The West family papers, 1885-1928 and undated, consists of correspondence (1894-1915 and undated), financial records (1913-1928), advertisements (undated), and other papers (1885-1921 and undated).