Sullivan, John Laurance (1890- ), Collection, 1906-1972 (C3771)

1 linear foot and 5 oversize volumes

INTRODUCTION

Unpublished histories, newspaper and magazine articles, photographs, sketches, newspaper clippings and scrapbooks compiled by John Laurance Sullivan of Flat River, Missouri. The histories cover local events in Flat River and St. François County over the last 150 years and contain extensive information on mining in the region.

DONOR INFORMATION

John Laurance Sullivan donated the Sullivan Collection to the State Historical Society of Missouri over a time period spanning from 1947 to November 12, 1973 (SHS Accession Nos. 37, 282, 284, 425, 568, 605, 617, 868, 869, 896, and 998).

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH

John Laurance Sullivan was born on February 15, 1890, to Eugene Joseph and Martha Melinda Burns Sullivan in Doe Run, Missouri. He was a lifelong resident of St. François County, Missouri.

SCOPE AND CONTENT NOTE

This collection contains information on the growth and development of Flat River and other small towns in St. François County and is divided into five series:

FOLDER LIST

History Series

The History series contains most of the information concerning the establishment of stores, companies, and other businesses. Included in the histories are when and where stores, theaters and other businesses were started, important events in the city's history, and the names of business owners, unions, doctors, and city officials.

A large part of the collection details the history of mining in St. François County, historically of great importance to the region. There is information on all aspects of mining operations, including histories of the mining companies, the location of their mines and plants, the numbers of employees, the amount of money invested in land and plants, the number of mine shafts each company had and the years they were sunk, a list of active labor unions, and the price of lead for a number of years during the period 1913-1965. Also included are descriptions of the mines, smelting plants, mining procedures, statistics on lead production, sales, and consumption and lists of the presidents, managers, and directors of the St. Joseph and Central Lead Companies.

Histories of four railroads that ran through St. François County include information on the routes, mining companies served, freight carried, and lists of the owners and name changes. Included are the Missouri-Illinois Railroad Company, the St. François County Electric Railroad Company, the St. Joe and Desloge Railway, and the Mississippi and Bonne Terre Railroad.

f. 1-5Flat River, Missouri, 1966
f. 6-9Flat River, Missouri, 1967-1970
f. 10Flat River, Missouri—Banks
f. 11Flat River, Missouri—First Baptist Church
f. 12Flat River, Missouri—Lead Belt Mineral Museum Association
f. 13Flat River, Missouri—Miner's Lumber Company
f. 14Flat River, Missouri—Missouri Division Employment Security
f. 15Flat River, Missouri—Post Office
f. 16Big River Mills, Missouri, 1963
f. 17Elvins, Missouri
f. 18Iron Mountain, Missouri
f. 19Rivermines, Missouri, 1963
f. 20St. Joseph Lead Company, 1935-1951
f. 21St. Joseph Lead Company, 1941
f. 22Valley Dolomite Corporation, 1969
f. 23St. Francois County—Mining, 1944-1964
f. 24-30St. Francois County—Mining, 1965-1970
f. 31St. Francois County—Railroads
f. 32History of Flat River, Missouri, 1947
f. 33History of Flat River, Missouri, 1956
f. 34History of Mining in St. Francois County, 1947
f. 35History of St. Francois County, Missouri, 1947

Genealogy Series

The Genealogy series contains limited genealogical material focusing on the Alexander, Burns, and Sullivan families of St. François County, Missouri.

f. 36Alexander, Burns, and Sullivan families

Photographs Series

The Photograph series contains numerous black and white images and picture postcards detailing life in the mining towns of the "Lead Belt" area of southeastern Missouri. Additional depictions of local buildings, churches, and mining sites are also located in the Sketches series.

f. 37Flat River, Missouri, 1900s-1960s

Sketches Series

f. 38Flat River, Missouri

Scrapbook Series

Of particular interest is the Scrapbook series, which comprises scrapbooks containing photographs, sketches, and newspaper clippings detailing the history of lead mining in the Flat River and surrounding "Lead Belt" areas. Also included is additional material on other mining operations and the railroads that passed through the county.

v. 1Mine La Motte
v. 2Mining, St. Francois County, Missouri, 1947
v. 3Flat River, Missouri, 1947
v. 4St. Francois County
v. 5Flat River, Missouri, 1956
v. 6Flat River Missouri—Swimming pool

INDEX TERMS

These index terms are the subjects, people, places, etc. under which this collection is listed in all available indexes at The State Historical Society of Missouri-Columbia. If you are interested in a specific index term, please contact the reference staff.