Frederick W. Brinkerhoff Papers
Collection 97
Introduction
The Frederick Walter Brinkerhoff papers were donated to the Kansas State Historical Society by his estate on March 22, 1967, with additional material being received in 1979. The collection consists of 9 boxes and dates from 1902 through 1966. The bulk of the material is from the 1940’s and early 1950’s. There are no restrictions on the use of this collection but the researcher is responsible for dealing with copyright concerns. Citations should include “Frederick W. Brinkerhoff Papers, Collection 97, Manuscript Department, Kansas State Historical Society.”
Biography
Frederick W. Brinkerhoff was born February 13, 1885, on a ranch in northwestern Franklin county, Kansas. His father James W. Brinkerhoff was from Pennsylvania and his mother Martha J. Lukins Brinkerhoff was from Illinois. Brinkerhoff attended grade school and high school in Ottawa, Kansas. He also attended Ottawa University and the University of Kansas. He married Pearl Brown of Fort Scott on December 4, 1912.
His first newspaper job was with the Ottawa Herald where he worked for Henry J. Allen and A. L. Miller. In 1908, he became the editor of the Fort Scott Republican. He also served as editor and co-publisher of the Chanute Sun and of the Chanute Tribune when the two were combined and as a reporter and desk man for the Kansas City Star. He went to Pittsburg, Kansas to help with a special waterworks election and was named editor of the evening paper, the Pittsburg Headlight, in 1911. In 1927, he was named editor of the Pittsburg Sun, the morning paper. Oscar Stauffer formed the Pittsburg Publishing Company in 1927 and Brinkerhoff continued to serve as editor of the two newspapers. He was named a vice-president of the Pittsburg Publishing Co. in 1928 and in 1940, in addition to his editorial duties, he was named manager and publisher of the two Pittsburg papers.
Brinkerhoff was also vice-president and a director of Stauffer Publications as well as director of Capper Publications, Inc., the Topeka State Journal Co., and Newton Publishing Co. In addition, he was vice-president of the KSEK Broadcasting Company in Pittsburg.
Brinkerhoff was well known as a journalist, serving as president of the Kansas Press Association in 1935 and as chairman of the Kansas Associated Press in 1946-1947. He also served as a member of the Pulitzer Prize jury for editorial writing in 1950 and 1951. In 1956, he received the William Allen White award to a Kansas editor for journalistic merit. He also was active in establishing and supporting the William Allen White Foundation.
Active in community affairs, Brinkerhoff was a member of the board of the Pittsburg Public Library, served as chairman of the Pittsburg Industrial Commission, and was on the board of directors and served a term as president of the Pittsburg Chamber of Commerce. He was also active in Republican party politics. Brinkerhoff was interested in the history of the state and served as president of the Kansas State Historical Society in 1944.
Brinkerhoff died on August 13, 1966, from a heart attack. He was buried at the Highland Park Cemetery in Pittsburg.
Scope and Content
The collection consists of 9 boxes of material and dates from 1902 through 1966. The bulk of the collection dates from the 1940’s and 1950’s. The collection contains incoming correspondence, carbons of letters sent, speeches, and diaries dating from 1943-1965.
The correspondence is arranged chronologically for the period 1909 through 1946 and from 1960 through 1966. For the period 1947 through 1959, Brinkerhoff used an alphabetical filing system. In this section, correspondence from people with the same first letter in their last name is filed in the same folder in chronological order. Frequent correspondents were given their own folders as were several special subjects. The speeches and diaries are filed in chronological order.
The topics discussed in the correspondence are wide ranging. Much of it relates to the newspaper business. The collection contains correspondence related to the Associated Press and other press services. For example, in the 1920’s, there is extended correspondence about the method of receiving baseball scores because Brinkerhoff was conducting a campaign to change the system. After 1927, there is a great deal of correspondence between Brinkerhoff and Oscar Stauffer and employees of Stauffer Publications, including monthly statistics and other data. There is a great deal of correspondence with editors of newspapers throughout the state. In 1935 and 1936, two folders relate to efforts to establish a radio station in Pittsburg. Brinkerhoff served on the Kansas Press Association’s Right-to-Know Committee from 1957 to 1958 and this is reflected in the correspondence. The collection also contains information on Brinkerhoff’s activities in support of the William Allen White Foundation and on Brinkerhoff’s selection as one of the recipients of the William Allen White award.
Non-professional concerns are reflected in the collection as well. Brinkerhoff was involved in the U. S. Highway 69 Association and the collection contains correspondence on the topic from 1951 through 1957. Correspondence relating to the Civil War Centennial Commission is found in the alphabetical filing system used for the period 1947 through 1959.
Brinkerhoff was active in the Republican Party and corresponded with many of the prominent politicians in the state. (See the attached list of “selected correspondents”). The collection contains material relating to the 1928 Republican National Convention in Kansas City as well as a copy of a speech given March 25, 1936, in support of Alf Landon’s campaign for the Presidency. Brinkerhoff corresponded with the U. S. Representatives from Kansas, and particularly with the representatives from the district that included Crawford county.
Brinkerhoff’s interest in the economy of southeast Kansas is documented in the collection. Other topics are well represented also. A letter dated September 29, 1926 relates to the enforcement of prohibition in the Pittsburg area. Correspondence from the 1930’s discusses the Finney bond scandal. Two items in the 1909 folder relate to the Ottawa Chautauqua Assembly. Brinkerhoff was a friend of Senator Harry F. Byrd of Virginia and their correspondence, dating from 1949, is found in the alphabetical section.
The collection documents Brinkerhoff’s career as a newspaper editor and his involvement in the state’s journalistic affairs. It also reflects his community and political activities. Thus, researchers interested in newspaper journalism or Kansas Republican politics will find the collection useful as will those working on the special topics represented in the papers. Brinkerhoff appears to represent the concerns of a typical newspaper publisher for a relatively small town for the era 1920-1950 and the collection is useful in that sense as well. Because of the extensive correspondence with other newspaper editors and several politicians, the collection would be helpful to researchers working on these individuals. A list of the subject and secondary catalog cards prepared for this collection is attached.
Patricia A. Michaelis
10/28/81
Contents List
Folder Listing
Box 1
Correspondence, 1909-1923
“ January – June, 1924
“ July – December, 1924
“ 1925
“ 1926
“ January – March, 1927
“ April – December, 1927
Box 2
Correspondence, January – February, 1928
“ March, 1928
“ April, 1928
“ May – June, 1928
“ July – August, 1928
“ September – October, 1928
Box 2 (continued)
Correspondence November – December, 1928
“ 1929 – 1936
“ 1935 – Radio
“ 1936 – Radio
“ 1937 – 1942
Box 3
Correspondence, January – February, 1943
“ March – May, 1943
“ June – July, 1943
“ August – September, 1943
“ October – December, 1943
“ 1944 – 1946
“ A – 1948 – 1952
“ Associated Press, 1948 – 1952
“ Associated Press, 1956 – 1958
“ Associated Press Nominating Committee,
1954-1955
“ B – 1948 – 1953
Box 4
Correspondence, B – 1954 – 1958
“ Bailey, Roy F.
“ C – 1948 – 1958
“ Capper, Arthur
“ Civil War Centennial Commission
“ Clymer, Rolla – 1948 – 1952
“ Clymer, Rolla – 1953 – 1957
“ Clymer, Rolla – 1958
“ Colmery, Harry W.
“ D – 1948 – 1958
“ Darby, Harry
“ Denious, Jess C.
“ E – 1950 – 1956
“ F – 1949 – 1956
“ G – 1950 – 1958
“ George, Myron
Box 5
Correspondence, H – 1948 – 1958
“ Huffman, Merl – 1951 – 1956
“ J – 1952 – 1956
“ K – 1948 – 1958
“ Kansas Press Association – Right-to-Know
Committee, 1957 – 1958
“ L – 1948 – 1958
“ M – 1948
Box 5 (continued)
Correspondence, M – 1949 – 1950
“ M – 1951 – 1952
“ M – 1953 – 1954
“ M – 1955 – 1958
“ McCullough Case, 1957
“ N – Q – 1950 – 1958
Box 6
Correspondence, R – 1948 – 1958
“ Reed, Clyde M.
“ Reed, Clyde M. – Eulogy, correspondence and
related material – 1949
“ Robbins, Richard
“ S – 1948 – 1949
“ S – 1950
“ S – 1951 – 1953
“ S – 1954 – 1958
“ Schoeppel, Andrew, 1948 – 1951
“ Schoeppel, Andrew, 1952 – 1957
“ Stauffer, Oscar, 1947 – 1950
“ Stauffer, Oscar, 1951 – 1956
Box 7
Correspondence, T – 1948 – 1957
“ U. S. Highway 69 – 1951
“ U. S. Highway 69 Association – 1956 – 1957
“ V – 1948 – 1957
“ W – Z – 1948 – 1951
“ William Allen White Foundation – Award to
Brinkerhoff – 1956 (includes speech)
“ William Allen White Foundation
“ William Allen White Foundation – 1959 – 1960
“ 1960
“ 1961
“ Kansas State College of Pittsburg – Recognition
Convocation for Frederick W. Brinkerhoff,
September 29, 1961
“ William Allen White Foundation, 1961
“ 1962 – January – June
“ 1962 – July – December
Box 8
Correspondence, 1963 – January – June
“ 1963 – July – December
“ 1964 – January – June
“ 1964 – July – December
“ William Allen White Foundation, 1965 - 1966
Box 8 (continued)
Speeches, 1902 – 1949
“ Columbus, Ohio, March 25, 1936 – Campaign
speech for Alf Landon
“ 1950 – 1966
“ Undated
Miscellaneous materials
Box 9
Diaries, 1943 – 1965
Partial List of Letters in the Fred W. Brinkerhoff Papers
Collection 97
Allen, Henry J.
1920, March 17
1922, Feb. 24, May 5, Sept. 5 & 29, Nov. 24
1928, Feb. 21 & 29, March 5, May 15 (or 14), Dec. 4
1929, June 18
1930, April 19 & 25
1943, March 18
Arn, Edward F.
See alphabetical arrangement after 1947
Bailey, Roy F.
1924, July 17
1928, Nov. 15
See also alphabetical arrangement after 1947
Benson, Alfred W.
1914, Oct. 3
Byrd, Harry F. (Sen./VA)
See alphabetical arrangement after 1947
Campbell, Philip P.
1909, Oct. 15
1922, Jan. 31
Capper, Arthur
1916, April 8, May 6
1917, May 23 & 26
Capper, Arthur (continued)
1923, May 15
1929, Oct. 30
1943, Jan. 20, Feb. 11, Aug. 2
1945, March 29
See also alphabetical arrangement after 1947
Carruth, Arthur J.
1933, June 21
1943, July 9
See also alphabetical arrangement after 1947
Carlson, Frank
1942, Nov. 23
1943, March 6 & 31, May 15
See also alphabetical arrangement after 1947
Clymer, Rolla M.
1930, Oct. 4
See also alphabetical arrangement after 1947
Colmery, Harry W.
See alphabetical arrangement after 1947
Curtis, Charles
1910, March 19
1926, Nov. 18
1927, Dec. 16
Darby, Harry
1943, March 17, April 9, Dec. 13
See also alphabetical arrangement after 1947
Denious, J. C.
1943, Feb. 4, June 14 & 29, Aug. 10, Oct. 13
See also alphabetical arrangement after 1947
George, Myron
See alphabetical arrangement after 1947
Griffith, C. B.
1925, Aug 26
Haldeman, Julius, Emanuel
1927, Sept. 1
Hoch, Homer
1928, Dec. 8
Hodges, George H.
1927, Sept. 4 & 9
Hopkins, Richard
1926, Oct. 8
Huffman, Merl
1947
Landon, Alfred M.
1928, Dec. 31
1933, Aug. 16 & 24, Sept. 23, Oct.7, Nov. 14, 16 & 25, Dec. 8
1935, Jan. 12, Aug. 27, Sept. 4
1937, Sept. 11
1939, Nov. 17
1943, April 27, May or June 7, June 14, Aug. 4 & 18 (2)
1945, March 1
See also alphabetical arrangement after 1947
McDermott, George T.
1930, April 18
McLaughlin, Drew Sr.
See alphabetical arrangement after 1947
McNally, Thomas
See alphabetical arrangement after 1947
McVey, Walter
See alphabetical arrangement after 1947
Mason, Henry F.
1916, Jan. 14
Meyer, Herbert A.
See alphabetical arrangement after 1947
Morgan, W. Y.
1922, Dec. 13
1924, July 21
Motter, Harvey H.
1920, Mar. 22 & 26
Motter, Harvey H. (continued)
1922, Feb. 15, April 15
Motz, Frank
See alphabetical arrangement after 1947
Murdock, Marcellus
1927, Jan. 7
Paulen, Ben
1927, April 21
1932, June 1
See also alphabetical arrangement after 1947
Ratner, Payne
1928, Oct. 6
1943, Jan. 19
Reed, Clyde M., Jr.
1928, Mar. 10
1929, Jan. 28
1943, Feb. 5, March 8, April 5, July 29, Oct. 4, 26 & 30, Nov. 1 (or Jan. 11)
Nov. 3
1945, March 30
See also alphabetical arrangement after 1947
Reed, Ed H.
Throughout collection
Robbins, Richard W.
See alphabetical arrangement after 1947
Schoeppel, Andrew
1943, Jan. 25, Feb. 1, May 14 & 24, June 5, July 3 & 22, Aug. 5,
Oct. 9 & 25, Dec. 6
See also alphabetical arrangement after 1947
Scott, Angelo
1942, March 13
See also alphabetical arrangement after 1947
Scott, Charles F.
1910, Feb. 28
1926, July 23
1928, March 19
Skubitz, Joesph
See alphabetical arrangement after 1947
Sproul, W. H.
1924, Dec. 16
1926, Sept. 20, Dec. 7
Stauffer, Oscar
1927, July 11, Aug. 9
1928, Sept. 15 & 24, Nov. 15, Dec. 10
1929, Oct. 15
1930, March 26
1935, Sept. 23
1942, Feb. 10, 12 & 23
1943, Jan. 30
See also alphabetical arrangement after 1947
Thomas, C. Y.
See alphabetical arrangement after 1947
White, William Allen
1918, Feb. 22
1926, Aug. 16
1927, July 9 & 29
1930, May 12, Aug. 6
1931, Feb. 20, March 5 & 9, April 9
1933, Oct. 28, Nov. 6 & 14
1936, May 29
1938, Feb. 4
1940, Feb. 2, June 7, Oct. 26 & 29, Dec. 13
1941, April 3 & 7, June 4, 6 & 10, Aug. 11, Sept. 30, Oct. 8 & 18, Nov. 14
1942, Feb. 4, July 10, 14 & 18, Sept. 21
1943, June 11 & 16, Sept. 21 & 27, Dec. 3
