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F.T. Marple Lumber Company Catalog

 Item — Box: 1 of 1
Identifier: RH-A-4315

Scope and Contents

The collection is composed of one catalog dated 1927, from the F.T. Marple Lumber Company located in Kalamazoo, Michigan from approximately in 1920 to 1929.

The catalog is approximately 100 pages filled with black and white pictures, house plans and information of houses shown in pictures that can be built by the F.T. Marple Lumber Company which advertises as a building supplies company and help you decide what you need and pricing for a new home. Most pages are front and back in black and white. Included in front of catalog is an index to house models, also a title page and a page with more information about their services.

Dates

  • Creation: 1927

Creator

Biographical / Historical

The F.T Marple Lumber Company founded by Floyd T. Marple (1880- 1959), began approximately in the 1920s located at East Lake Street Kalamazoo Michigan. F.T. Marple was a building buyer and contractor since 1913. The earliest known advertisement for the F.T. Marple Lumber Company is seen in the Kalamazoo Gazette in 1920 and it was first seen in the Kalamazoo city directory in 1921. The ad stated F.T. Marple Lumber Co. below that, Lumber and Building including owner F.T. Marple in the left-hand corner and R.S. Marple Jr in right-hand corner. These ads are seen in the Kalamazoo city directory until 1929, which in 1929 the ad is the same but drops of the owner’s name. The Company is still listed in the directory just under only its name and it is listed like this until 1931.

The F.T Lumber Company after 1931 became only a building and contracting company located at 625 Wheaton which is listed under building and contracting in the Kalamazoo Gazette. They take out ads in the newspaper frequently and in the 1941 Kalamazoo Gazette they are listed as F.T. Marple Homebuilder. In the city directory F.T. Marple is listed in the Contractors-general in 1947, 1948, 1949, and 1950 but continue to take ads out in the local newspaper. In August of 1959 the founder of F.T. Marple Lumber Company, F.T. Marple passed away which is listed in the Kalamazoo Gazette. After his passing there is no more mention of the F.T. Marple as a homebuilder company.

Extent

.05 Cubic Feet

Language of Materials

English

Immediate Source of Acquisition

This catalog was purchased with funds from the Starring Endowment.

Physical Description

The collection amounts to .05 cubic feet and is composed of one catalog, dated 1927, for the F.T. Marple Lumber Company located in Kalamazoo Michigan. It measures 12”x 9”x ½” and is bound by red tape with white coated paper.

The catalog is in good condition. There is some discoloration in the front and back cover, and also along the border of catalog but also on top half of the cover. Some dirt spots on the front and back cover. The binding is worn and missing parts of the tape, also can see black spots and stables along the binding. The printed pages inside the catalog appear to be slightly discolored but otherwise still legible.

Genre / Form

Title
F.T. Marple Lumber Company Catalog finding aid
Status
Completed
Author
Stephanie Chapman
Date
2022-07-28
Description rules
Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Language of description
English
Script of description
Latin

Repository Details

Part of the Western Michigan University Archives & Regional History Collections Repository

Contact:
Charles C. and Lynn L. Zhang Legacy Collections Center
1650 Oakland Drive
Kalamazoo MI 49008-5307 US
(269) 387-8490