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Wilbert E. Harp Family Correspondence (Sandusky, Ohio) - MS 754
Introduction | Biographical Sketch | Scope and Content | Series Description | Inventory
The papers of Wilbert E. Harp comprise one linear feet of family correspondence, mostly between Wilbert and his wife, Dora, who resided in Cleveland and Sandusky, Ohio at the turn of the century. Harp was a traveling fence salesman, and the letters are from the time he spent on the road. The letters give a good indication of what life was like for a traveling salesman in the midwest at the turn of the century.
The collection was acquired by the Center of Archival Collections through a gift from Jim and Roberta Pettit from Winston-Salem, North Carolina in January 2002. No restrictions exist on the use of this collection. Duplication is permitted for the purposes of preservation and research. The collection was processed by Marilyn Levinson, Curator of Manuscripts in May 2002, with the aid of BGSU graduate student Becky Dutton. Additional biographical information was added in April 2011 through the cooperation of Gail Harp and Dorothy Harp-Weber.
Wilbert (Bert) E. Harp was born in New York in October, 1876. He spent the majority of his life in Ohio, primarily in Cleveland, and Sandusky. Harp married Dora Spangler on February 1, 1900 in Cleveland, Ohio, and they had six children, three boys and three girls.
Harp was a traveling fence salesman/installer and his business took him to all parts of Ohio, into Michigan, Indiana, and as far west as Chicago, Illinois, and St. Louis, Missouri. Harp worked as an independent dealer and with two fence businesses. During the period of the correspondence in the collection Harp had his own company in 1902 called the “Harp Coop Company” in Sandusky, Ohio, which manufactured and sold folding steel shipping coops and baskets among other products. Harp also worked for the Boley Wire Fence Company, which manufactured heavy woven wire fencing. By 1904, Harp is working for the Anchor Fence and Manufacturing Company. After 1906, it appears that his travels no longer took him from home as often, and some time before 1916 he had a business "W.E. Harp General Hardware", located in Cleveland, Ohio. Due to concerns for his health, he sold the company and moved his family to Wellington, Ohio in 1928. After moving to Wellington, Wilbert was retired.
Information from the family indicated that Wilbert had come up with the idea of the "Cyclone Fence". He gave his invention to the company he was working for at the time, and as a result, received no credit, or any royalties.
After Dora's death in November 1951, Wilbert sold their home and stayed with his youngest son Bob, and family for a short time while preparing for his next relocation to Florida, where two daughters along with their families were living. He remained in Florida until his death in May 1961. Wilbert, Dora and infant son Wilbert (who died October 26, 1914) are buried at Alger Cemetery in Cleveland.
Bert and Dora corresponded regularly during Wilbert's travels, often as frequently as every day. The letters detail Wilbert's experiences on the road, including the means of transportation he used (streetcar, horse, train), the hotels in which he stayed, and the people he encountered along the way.
Harp's letters home reveal not only his business travels, but his personal life as well. He writes of how much he misses Dora, and occasionally sends her a stick of chewing gum or pressed flowers. Both individuals include sketches in their letters and express endearing affection for each other. After their first child is born in 1905, Wilbert addresses his letters to wife and baby, or wife and daughter. After 1906, he appears to have found a non-traveling occupation, and only a few letters from family members exist after 1906.
Letters in the collection are arranged chronologically, then subdivided by correspondent, so the letters for a single year from each individual are grouped.
CORRESPONDENCE
CORRESPONDENCE - WILBERT E. HARP
1899-1906
Arranged chronologically
Letters and postcards written to wife Dora while on the road as a traveling salesman. Content of the letters range from descriptions of his work, impressions of the towns and people he encounters, and personal topics related to the operation of the household in his absence and expressions of affection. Letters occasionally include sketches and during 1902, single sticks of chewing gum are enclosed with some letters as small tokens (marked with a "g" in the item inventory)
CORRESPONDENCE - DORA SPANGLER HARP
1902-1904
Arranged chronologically
Letters written to husband Wilbert while he was away from home for extended periods on sales trips. Topics include general household activities, personal events, and family news, as well as responses to information and questions in Wilbert's letters
CORRESPONDENCE - MISCELLANEOUS
1899-1934
Arranged chronologically
Miscellaneous notes and letters, including a one letter written from Wilbert to Dora before they were married, a letter from Wilbert's mother to him, and several letters from family and friends to Dora, after Wilbert's death
PRINTED MATERIAL
BUSINESS CARDS
n.d.
Business cards for Boley Wire Fence Company and other promotional cards from restaurants and other businesses
ARTIFACTS
PACKETS OF GUM
circa 1902
Sticks of White's Yucatan Chewing Gum, found in several of the letters Wilbert sent to Dora
Box 1
Folder 1
- "Ma" to Wilbert E. Harp, Aug 3, 1899
- Wilbert E. Harp to Dora Spangler, Aug 8, 1899
- Cleveland Dry Goods to Wilbert E. Harp (ref to marriage), Feb 1, 1900
Folder 2--Dora Harp to Wilbert E. Harp
- May 2, 1902
- May 3, 1902
- May 12, 1902
- May 13, 1902
- May 14, 1902
- May 30, 1902
- May 31, 1902
- June 1, 1902
- June 5, 1902
- June 12, 1902
- June 27, 1902
- June 28, 1902
Folder 3--Dora Harp to Wilbert E. Harp
- July 8, 1902
- July 9, 1902
- July 10, 1902
- July 11, 1902 (a.m.)
- July 11-12, 1902
- July 13, 1902
- July 14, 1902 (a.m.)
- July 14, 1902 (p.m.)
- July 15, 1902
- July 15-16, 1902
- July 17, 1902
- July 18, 1902 (a.m.)
- July 18, 1902 (p.m.)
- July 19, 1902
- Aug 11, 1902
- Aug 13, 1902
- Oct 18, 1902
- Oct 29, 1902
- Dec 3, 1902
- (missing pages), n.d. [1902?]
Folder 4--Wilbert E. Harp to Dora Harp
- (postcard), Mar 31, 1902
- Mar 31, 1902
- (postcard), Apr 4, 1902
- May 1, 1902
- May 4, 1902
- May 5, 1902
- May 6, 1902
- May 7, 1902
- May 8, 1902
- May 12, 1902
- May 12-13, 1902
- May 14, 1902
- (postcard), May 15, 1902
- (postcard), May 29, 1902
- (g), May 30, 1902
- May 30, 1902 (p.m.)
- June 1, 1902
- June 3, 1902
- (g), June 3, 1902
- (postcard), June 11, 1902
- June 11, 1902
- June 12, 1902
- (postcard), June 26, 1902
- June 27, 1902
- June 29, 1902
Folder 5--Wilbert E. Harp to Dora Harp
- (postcard), July 7, 1902
- (postcard), July 8, 1902
- (g), July 8, 1902
- July 9, 1902
- (postcard), July 11, 1902
- (postcard), July 14, 1902
- July 14, 1902
- July 15, 1902
- July 16, 1902
- July 18, 1902
- (postcard), July 22, 1902
- (g), July 22, 1902
- (g), July 23, 1902
- (postcard), Aug 7, 1902
- Aug 7, 1902
- Aug 11, 1902
- Sept 8-9, 1902
- (postcard), Sept 8, 1902
- Sept 11, 1902
- Sept 12, 1902
- Sept 23, 1902
- Sept 24, 1902
- (postcard), Sept 26, 1902
- Sept 26, 1902
- Sept 28, 1902
- Sept 29, 1902
- Oct 1, 1902
- Oct 1, 1902 (p.m.)
- Oct 15, 1902
- Oct 16, 1902
- Oct 17, 1902
- Oct 20, 1902
- (postcard), Oct 29, 1902
- (postcard), Nov 18, 1902
Folder 6--Dora Harp to Wilbert E. Harp
- Feb 12, 1903
- Mar 16, 1903
- May 19, 1903
- June 17, 1903
- June 25, 1903
- July 14, 1903
- July 17, 1903
- Aug 5, 1903
- Aug 18, 1903
- Sept 13-14, 1903
- Sept 19, 1903
- Sept 20, 1903
- Sept 22, 1903
- Sept 25, 1903
- Sept 29, 1903
- Oct 16, 1903
- Oct 18, 1903
- Oct 19, 1903
- Oct 21, 1903
- Oct 23, 1903
- Oct 28-29, 1903
Box 2
Folder 1--Wilbert E. Harp to Dora Harp
- (telegram), Jan 10, 1903
- (postcard), Feb 10, 1903
- Feb 11, 1903
- Feb 24, 1903
- Feb 27, 1903 (a.m.)
- (with sketch), Feb 27, 1903 (p.m.)
- Mar 4, 1903
- (with sketch), Mar 5, 1903
- Mar 11, 1903 (a.m.)
- Mar 11, 1903 (p.m.)
- Mar 12, 1903
- Mar 16, 1903
- Mar 17, 1903
- Mar 18, 1903
- Mar 24, 1903
- Mar 25, 1903
- Mar 27, 1903
- [Apr] 4, 1903
- Apr 9, 1903
- Apr 13, 1903
- Apr 21, 1903
- Apr 22, 1903
- Apr 23, 1903
- Apr 30, 1903
- May 4, 1903
- May 7, 1903
- May 19, 1903
- May 26, 1903
- May 27, 1903
- June 18, 1903
- June 23, 1903
- June 24, 1903
- June 26, 1903
- June 28, 1903
- June 30, 1903
- July 8, 1903
- July 16, 1903
- July 17, 1903
- Aug 3, 1903
- Aug 4, 1903
- Aug 5, 1903
- Aug 6, 1903
- Aug 12, 1903 (a.m.)
- Aug 12, 1903 (p.m.)
- (postcard), Aug 19, 1903
- Aug 25, 1903
- (postcard), Aug 28, 1903
- Aug 29-30, 1903
- Sept 10, 1903 (a.m.)
- Sept 10, 1903 (p.m.)
- Sept 11, 1903
- Sept 13, 1903
- Sept 15, 1903 (a.m.)
- (postcard), Sept 15,1903 (p.m.)
- Sept 16, 1903
- Sept 17, 1903
- Sept 18, 1903
- Sept 19, 1903
- Sept 20, 1903 (a.m.)
- Sept 20, 1903 (p.m.)
- Sept 21, 1903
- Sept 22, 1903
- Sept 24, 1903
- Sept 25, 1903
- Sept 27, 1903
- Sept 29, 1903
- Sept 30, 1903
- Oct 1, 1903 (a.m.)
- Oct 1, 1903 (p.m.)
- Oct 2, 1903
- Oct 3, 1903
- Oct 7, 1903
- Oct 9, 1903
- Oct 14, 1903
- Oct 15, 1903 (a.m.)
- Oct 15, 1903 (p.m.)
- (postcard), Oct 17, 1903
- Oct 17, 1903
- Oct 18, 1903
- Oct 19, 1903
- Oct 21, 1903
- Oct 22, 1903 (a.m.)
- Oct 22, 1903 (p.m.)
- (page missing), Oct 23, 1903
- (coal), Oct 25, 1903
- Oct 26, 1903
- Oct 28, 1903
- Oct 29, 1903
- Oct 30, 1903
- Nov 4, 1903
- Nov 5, 1903
- Nov 9, 1903
- Nov 19, 1903
- Nov 21, 1903
- Nov 23, 1903
- (3 postcards enroute), Dec 8, 1903
- Dec 8, 1903 (p.m.)
- Dec 10, 1903
- (postcard), Dec 11, 1903
- Dec 30, 1903
- Jan 6, 1904
- Jan 26, 1904
- Mar 9, 1904
- Mar 9, 1904
- Mar 10, 1904
- Oct 31, 1904
- Jan 6, 1904
- Jan 7, 1904
- (telegram), Jan 9, 1904
- Jan 26, 1904
- Jan 27-28, 1904
- Feb 2, 1904
- Feb 3, 1904
- Mar 1, 1904
- Mar 7, 1904
- Mar 8, 1904
- Mar 9, 1904
- Mar 10, 1904
- Mar 15, 1904
- Mar 16, 1904
- Mar 17, 1904
- Mar 28, 1904
- Mar 30, 1904
- (misdated as 5/13), Apr 13,1904
- (misdated as 5/16), Apr 16,1904
Box 3
Folder 1--Wilbert E. Harp to Dora Harp
- May 3, 1904
- May 10, 1904
- (postcard), May 12, 1904
- May 14, 1904
- May 17, 1904
- (postcard), May 26, 1904
- May 31, 1904
- June 1, 1904
- June 7, 1904
- June 9, 1904
- June 27, 1904
- June 28, 1904
Folder 2--Wilbert E. Harp to Dora Harp
- July 7, 1904
- July 8, 1904
- July 12, 1904
- July 27, 1904
- July 28, 1904
- (postcard), Aug 3, 1904
- (postcard), Aug 5, 1904
- (postcard), Aug 6, 1904 (a.m.)
- (postcard), Aug 6, 1904 (p.m.)
- Aug 16, 1904
- Oct 11,1904
- (now with Anchor Fence), Oct 13, 1904
- Oct 25, 1904
- (postcard), Nov 1, 1904
Folder 3--Wilbert E. Harp to Dora Harp
- Aug 6, 1905
- Oct 24, 1905
Folder 4--Wilbert E. Harp to Dora Harp
- Aug 26, 1906
- (postcard), Aug 27, 1906
- Aug 29, 1906
- Aug 30, 1906
- Sept 2, 1906
- Sept 3, 1906
- Sept 4, 1906
- Sept 6, 1906
- Sept 10, 1906 (a.m.)
- Sept 10, 1906 (p.m.)
- (postcard), Sept 12, 1906
- Sept 12, 1906
- (postcard), Sept 18, 1906
- Sept 18, 1906
- Sept 20, 1906
- (postcard), Sept 22, 1906
- Sept 24, 1906
- (postcard), Sept 25, 1906
- Sept 26, 1906
- (postcard), Sept 27, 1906
Folder 5--Wilbert E. Harp to Dora Harp
- Oct 2, 1906
- Oct 4, 1906
- Oct 7, 1906
- Oct 9, 1906
- Oct 12, 1906
- Oct 13, 1906
- (postcard), Oct 16, 1906
- (postcard), Nov 1, 1906
- (postcard), Nov 12, 1906
- Nov 12, 1906
- (postcard), Nov 19, 1906
- Nov 20, 1906
- (postcard), Nov 24, 1906
Folder 6 (Misc family letters to Dora)
- Sister (unnamed) to Dora Harp, Feb 5, 1904
- May to Mother and Daddy, Dec 9, 1909
- Ella and George Watters to Dora Harp and Family, Mar 13, 1929
- Ella and George Watters to Dora Harp and Family, Feb 26, 1931
- Ella and George Watters to Dora Harp and Family, Feb 16, 1932
- Ella and George Watters to Dora Harp and Family, July 6, 1932
- Ella and George Watters to Dora Harp and Family, Oct 19, 1932
- Pearl F. Watters to Dear Friends, Mar 24, 1934
Folder 7--Unmatched sheets, undated, or empty envelopes
Folder 8--Miscellaneous business cards
Folder 9--Sticks of gum
MS 754 - Harp Family Papers - List of Transcripts
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