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Correspondence and documents, 1874-1984

Manuscript Collection 516

• Information about Daniel W. Lewis, Sr.
• Information about the Collection
• Contents of the Collection

Daniel Webster Lewis, Sr. (1851-1932) started life as a slave in Frankfort, Kentucky.  His parents purchased their family's freedom and moved to Columbus, Ohio, where Daniel received his education.  In 1871, Daniel moved to Marion, Crittenden County, Arkansas, where he obtained
employment as a schoolteacher and began his career in public service. Lewis served as superintendent of Public Instruction, 1873 Clerk of the Crittenden County Circuit Court, 1873 Representative, Arkansas General Assembly, 1880 Crittenden County Judge, 1882.  He left Arkansas in the late 1880s, stopping first in Memphis, Tennessee, and then migrating to Oklahoma Territory in 1891.  Lewis settled in Kingfisher, Oklahoma, where he worked as an attorney.  Daniel W. Lewis Jr. was a
son born to Lewis and his second wife, Mary Nancy Capers Lewis of Birmingham, Alabama.  Daniel Jr. became an educator in Kansas City, Kansas and gathered the materials in this collection.

INFORMATION ABOUT THE COLLECTION

Letters, legal documents, certificates, newspaper clippings, and photographs pertaining to Daniel W. Lewis, Sr. and Daniel W. Lewis, Jr. were donated to Special Collections by Daniel W. Lewis, Jr. of Kansas City, Kansas on June 27, 1984.

The documents in this collection have been arranged in three series.  Papers pertaining specifically to Daniel W. Lewis, Sr. have been arranged in series one, and those papers concerning Daniel W. Lewis Jr. are in series two.  Photographs in the collection have been placed in series three.

Prepared by Kim Allen Scott, Special Collections Division, University of Arkansas Libraries, Fayetteville, Arkansas, in November 1987.
 

CONTENTS OF THE COLLECTION
 
Series 1.  Daniel W. Lewis, Sr. Papers  (Box 1, Folders 1-4)

Letters, clippings, magazine articles, and legal documents pertaining specifically to Daniel W. Lewis, Sr.

Subseries 1.  Biographical materials

Letter, September 27, 1928, from Daniel W. Lewis, Sr. to his son containing biographical information and family news biographical sketch, "What Are You?" by Daniel W. Lewis, Jr., Kansas State Globe, May 16, 1984 magazine article, "Judge Daniel W. Lewis, Sr. Early Arkansas Magistrate," by Daniel W. Lewis, Jr., The Boule Journal, n.d.

Box 1
 
1.  Biographical materials  (3 items)

Subseries 2.  Caper estate papers

Correspondence, tax receipts, leases, and account statements pertaining to the disposition of the  estate of Joseph R. Caper, Blaine County, Oklahoma.  Lewis, who was Caper's son-in-law and an attorney at Kingfisher, Oklahoma, acted as the administrator for the estate and leased it to a series of tenant farmers.  Most of the correspondence pertains to the tenants, private bills owed by the estate, and real estate taxes.  The documents have been arranged chronologically.

Box 1 (cont'd)
 
2.  Caper estate records, 1910-1913  (24 items)
3.  Caper estate records, 1914-1919  (21 items)

Subseries 3.  Certificates and resolutions

Certificate of election as representative of Crittenden County, Arkansas, November 6, 1882. Resolution of Kingfisher County, Oklahoma, Bar Association, February 24, 1932; commission for superintendent of Public Instruction, Crittenden County, Arkansas, January 7, 1874; certificate of election as county judge, Crittenden County, Arkansas, October 30, 1884.

Box 1 (cont'd)

4. Certificates and resolutions (4 items)

Series 2.  Daniel W. Lewis, Jr. Papers
 
Letters, certificates, awards, newspaper and magazine articles and miscellaneous items written by or specifically pertaining to Daniel W. Lewis, Jr.

Subseries 1.  Correspondence, 1960-1984

Letters written to Daniel W. Lewis, Jr., from various correspondents, arranged chronologically.  Two letters are from Vander W. Coontz, an Oklahoma oil speculator interested in leasing the Caper property in Blaine County, Oklahoma.  Two other letters, both from Birmingham, Alabama, appear to be replies to genealogical inquiries made by Lewis.  Also included are a personal letter and an autographed program from author Alex Haley, a form letter invitation for a reception given by the University of Kansas honoring black history, and a letter by Lewis written to Senator Bob Dole regarding Social Security benefits.

Box 1 (cont'd)

5.  Correspondence, 1960-1983  (7 items)

Subseries 2.  Certificates and awards

Certificates and awards presented to  Daniel W. Lewis Jr. for civic accomplishments and donations to various religious groups.  Also included is an invitation for the Lewis"s 25th wedding anniversary,
June 5, 1950.

Box 1 (cont'd)
 
6.  Certificates and awards (9 items)

Subseries 3.  George W. Haley materials

Newspaper clippings, brochures, form letters, and a bank statement pertaining to the political campaign of George W. Haley for Kansas state senator, 1964.  Apparently Daniel W. Lewis, Jr. worked as a volunteer in Haley's bid for office.

Box 1 (cont'd)

7.  George W. Haley materials  (8 items)

Subseries 4.  Miscellaneous materials

Magazine article, "You Made Me," by Daniel W. Lewis, Jr., The Boule Journal, n.d.~ WHEMPSCHED, newsletter of the Kansas City Model Cities Department, January 4, 1971~  newspaper clipping~ stationery sample.

Box 1 (cont'd)
 
8.  Miscellaneous materials (4 items)

Series 3.  Photographs (Box 1, Folder 9)
 
Box 1 (cont'd)
          Folder 9.  Photographs  (5 items)

1.  Daniel W. Lewis, Sr., ca. 1890s:  3/4 length studio portrait of Lewis seated with open book.  Kingfisher, Oklahoma.  8 3/8" x 6 1/4" mounted on 10" x 8" matteboard.

2.  Daniel W. Lewis, Sr., ca. 1920s: Mid-distance outdoor view of Daniel W. Lewis standing on the front steps of a wood-frame residence, flanked by two unidentified children, [Kingfisher, Oklahoma?] 4 1/2" x 3 1/2".

3.  Daniel W. Lewis, Sr., Jr., ca. 1926, Mid-distance outdoor view of Daniel W. Lewis, Sr.,            Daniel W. Lewis, Jr., and Audrey Seals standing in an open field with a large brick structure visible
in background, Kansas City, Kansas. 2 1/2" x 3".

4.  Jennie E. and Daniel W. Lewis, Jr., June 4, 1950: Mid-distance interior view of the Lewises in
formal attire seated on a sofa, Kansas City, Kansas.  4" x 5".

5.  Jennie E. and Daniel W. Lewis, Jr., ca. 1964:  Close-up interior view of a plaque presentation
for forty years of service made to Daniel W. Lewis by the DuBois Teacher's Club, Kansas City, Kansas.  Standing, left to right, Parizada Jones, Daniel W. Lewis, Jennie E. Lewis, Austellina Miller.  "J.W. Lockett, photographer, phone FA1-6197, 2610 No. 5th St., Kansas City, Kansas" stamped on verso.  8" x 10".