Summary Information
George R. Gilkey Papers
1886-1910, 1959-1974
- Gilkey, George R., 1909-1974
Stevens Point Mss AI; Stevens Point Micro 16; Micro 839
0.4 c.f. (1 archives box) and 3 reels of microfilm (35mm)
UW-Stevens Point Library / Stevens Point Area Research Ctr. (Map)Wisconsin Historical Society (Map)
Papers of Gilkey, a Merrill, Wis., businessman and local historian, including correspondence, writings, research notes, and other papers related to his research on the history of Merrill and Lincoln County and on lumbering in that area. Present are biographies of early residents, and papers by and about Gilkey's father, George L. Gilkey, which include several short accounts of hunting.
English
http://digital.library.wisc.edu/1711.dl/wiarchives.uw-whs-stpt00ai ↑ Bookmark this ↑
Biography/History
George R. Gilkey, a prominent Merrill businessman and local historian, was born November 21, 1909 in Aurora, Illinois, the son of George L. and Madge Gilkey. He graduated from Merrill High School and the University of Wisconsin in Madison. For most of his life, Gilkey was associated with the Anson & Gilkey Company, a door and sash factory, which was one of Merrill's largest industries. The Gilkey family had been active in lumbering and millwork from 1884 when Gilkey's grandfather, George F. Gilkey, co-founded the Gilkey & Anson Lumber Company. George R. Gilkey was vice-president of the Anson & Gilkey Company in 1972 when the firm was sold to Kiechefer Industries Incorporated of Milwaukee. At the time of his death, Gilkey was president and secretary of Merrill Equipment Company and a director of Page Milk Company.
Gilkey was an amateur historian who researched and wrote on the history of Merrill, Lincoln County, and vicinity. He was a founder, president, and treasurer of the Lincoln County Historical Society, a member of the State Historical Society of Wisconsin and the Northland Historical Society of Woodruff, and he served on the board of trustees of T.B. Scott Free Library. Gilkey died February 13, 1974.
Scope and Content Note
The Gilkey Papers (mostly dated between 1959 and 1974) are related to Gilkey's work as historian of Merrill and Lincoln County; there is virtually nothing concerning his business and family activities. Included are a few letters and writings of Gilkey's father, George L. Gilkey. The emphasis of Gilkey's history of Merrill and Lincoln County is on the lumber industry and lumberjack life from the mid 1800's to the early 1900's. Also included are brief biographies of prominent, early residents of Merrill and Lincoln County. The collection is arranged in six categories: Biographical Material, Correspondence, Research Material, Writings, Newspaper Clippings, and Miscellaneous Papers.
The Biographical Material (1974, undated) contains a brief biography of Gilkey's father, George L., and a newspaper obituary for George R. Gilkey.
The Correspondence (1889-1910, 1959-1970, undated) consists mainly of the incoming letters of George R. Gilkey from persons providing information related to his research on the history of Merrill and Lincoln County. There are only three letters dated from 1889 to 1910 which Gilkey may have acquired from persons supplying him with historical information. There are a few letters addressed to George L. Gilkey.
The Research Material (undated) contains Gilkey's outline for his history of Merrill, notes, and historical vignettes concerning Merrill and Lincoln County that were incorporated into his general history of the area. The material has been generally maintained in its original order.
Included in the Writings (1949, undated) are a handwritten, microfilmed version of Gilkey's history of Merrill and Lincoln County and biographies of early residents of Merrill who were prominent in government, churches, retail businesses, and the lumber industry. Volume 1 of the biographies contains an alphabetical name index of persons included. The papers also include a photocopied, typewritten history of Merrill, Lincoln County, and vicinity which contains much of the same information that is in the handwritten version. There are several accounts of bear, wolf, and lynx hunting in Wisconsin written by George L. Gilkey.
The Newspaper Clippings (1886-1972, undated) contain a few obituaries for prominent residents of Merrill, accounts of the sale of the Anson & Gilkey Company, and other articles concerning the history of Merrill. The clippings are arranged chronologically.
The Miscellaneous Papers (1898-1972), arranged chronologically, include the 1898 agreement of the R.G. Kingsley Lumber and Box Company concerning the sale of its plant to the Gilkey & Anson Company; a memorial tribute to George L. Gilkey by the Basenji Club of America; several printed programs concerning historical events of Merrill; and a few hand-drawn maps indicating points of historical interest in Lincoln County.
Administrative/Restriction Information
Presented by Mrs. Edna Gilkey, Merrill, Wisconsin, 1979. Accession Number: M77-516, M79-383
Processed by William Cunningham, October 1980.
Contents List
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Stevens Point Mss AI
Box
1
Folder
1
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Biographical Material, 1974, undated
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Box
1
Folder
2
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Correspondence, 1889-1910, 1959-1970, undated
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Box
1
Folder
3-4
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Research Material, undated
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Stevens Point Micro 16/Micro 839
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Writings
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Reel
1-2
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History of Merrill and Lincoln County: handwritten, microfilmed version, undated
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Reel
3
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Biographies, undated
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Stevens Point Mss AI
Box
1
Folder
5-10
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History of Merrill, Lincoln County, and Vicinity: typewritten version, undated
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Box
1
Folder
11
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Hunting in Wisconsin, 1949, undated
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Box
1
Folder
12
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Newspaper Clippings, 1886-1972, undated
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Box
1
Folder
13
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Miscellaneous Papers, 1898-1972, undated
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