Palmer Family Collection, 1942-1953

INTRODUCTION

Title: Palmer Family Collection

Collection Number: Kingsport Community Manuscript Collection (KCMC) 331

Physical Description: 3 boxes

Creator: Palmer Family

Repository: Archives of the City of Kingsport

 

ADMINISTRATIVE INFORMATION

Provenance: The Palmer Family Collection was donated to the Kingsport Public Library by the family of Colonel E. W. Palmer prior to the establishment of the archives. The materials were located in the archives at the time of the hiring of the fist city archivist in September 1993.

Access/Restrictions: There are no restrictions on use of this collection for research purposes. The researcher assumes full responsibility for observing all copyright, property, and libel laws as they apply.

Processed by: Brianne Johnson processed the collection and developed the finding aid in April 2008.

 

COLLECTION CITATION

This collection should be cited as:

Palmer Family Collection, 1942-1953. KC Manuscript Collection 331, Archives of the City of Kingsport, Tennessee.

 

BIOGRAPHICAL NOTE

Colonel Elbridge Woodman Palmer, born 1886, served as president of Kingsport Press, Inc. from 1925 until his death in 1953. Palmer began his career in the printing business in 1905 as a stenographer with Plimpton Press Company of Norwood, Massachusetts. During his 28 years as president of Kingsport Press, Palmer evolved into one of the country’s leading industrialists as well as a nationally noted civic leader.

Palmer was involved in over 76 different civic and philanthropic organizations throughout his lifetime. One of his primary efforts was the welfare of crippled children. Palmer served as the president of the Tennessee Society for Crippled Children and Adults for 18 years. Palmer was also president an, trustee, and treasurer of the National Society for Crippled Children and Adults.

During World War II, Palmer served as deputy director of the War Production Board’s Printing and Publishing Division which produced bibles and equipment instruction manuals for the U.S. Troops overseas. In 1943, Palmer received the rank of Colonel for his work in the Adjunct General’s Department where he served until 1945. After the war, Palmer was awarded the Legion of Merit for his distinguished service during active duty.

Palmer had two sons, Weymouth and Elbridge William Palmer. Elbridge William Palmer (1920-1945) was killed in action in the Pacific Theater during World War II.

 

SCOPE AND CONTENT

The Palmer Family Collection contains memorial scrapbooks dedicated to Colonel E. W. Palmer and his son Elbridge William Palmer. The scrapbooks contain letters of condolence from friends, family, and business associates of the Palmer family. Included in the collection is a scrapbook of letters written to Mr. and Mrs. Palmer by their son Elbridge William Palmer. The letters were written during his time in the military and document his life during that time.

 

SUBJECTS

Palmer, Colonel Elbridge Woodman (1886-1953)

Palmer, Elbridge William (1920-1945)

Palmer Family

 

BOX AND FOLDER LIST

 

BOX 1

  1. Elbridge William Palmer (1920-1945), scrapbook of letters, 1942-1945

 

BOX 2

  1. Elbridge William Palmer (1920-1945), memorial book, vol. 1, 1945
  2. Elbridge William Palmer (1920-1945), memorial book, vol. 2, 1945

 

BOX 3

  1. Testimonial of Appreciation presented to Elbridge Palmer for 9 years of service as President of the national Society for Crippled Children and Adults, November 16, 1948
  2. Elbridge Woodman Palmer (1886-1953), memorial book, vol. 1, 1953
  3. Elbridge Woodman Palmer (1886-1953), memorial book, vol. 2, 1953