Archives Center, National Museum of American History

Jacob Aloysius Dorf Papers

Summary

Collection ID:
NMAH.AC.0193
Creators:
Haviland, Opal Dorf
Dorf, Jacob Aloysius, 1879-1965 (blacksmith, businessman)
Dates:
1909-1972
Languages:
English
.
Physical Description:
0.15 Cubic feet
1 box
Repository:
Papers relating to blacksmith and hardware store owner Jacob Aloysius Dorf of Missouri.

Scope and Contents

Scope and Contents
Newspaper clippings and correspondence relating to Dorf's activities, particularly in the hardware business. Biographical information and obituaries are included as well as samples of his unusual advertising.

Biographical/Historical note

Biographical/Historical note
Jacob A. Dorf was born in Cedar Hill, Missouri. His name was originally Blittersdorf. To Anaconda, Missouri in 1901, where he owned and operated a blacksmith shop. In 1911 he purchased a hardware store in Cuba, Missouri, which he operated for more than 49 years. Throughout his long business career he was an innovative advertiser in the local press and elsewhere, sponsoring a radio program in 1924 which stimulated letters from thirty states and Canada. Dorf was active in community affairs, particularly during the depressed 1930s. In 1933 he led an effort which saved the local bank from failing. He branched into other business lines, including real estate, and once financed the purchase of a better breed of cattle for local farmers.

Administration

Author
Don Darroch
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Collection donated by Opal Dorf Haviland (daughter), 1986, January 16.
Ownership and Custodial History
Donated by Dorf's daughter.
Processing Information
Collection processed by Don Darroch, 1986

Using the Collection

Preferred Citation
Jacob Aloysius Dorf Papers, Archives Center, National Museum of American History. Gift of Opal Dorf Haviland.
Conditions Governing Access
Collection is open for research.
Conditions Governing Use
Collection items available for reproduction, but the Archives Center makes no guarantees concerning copyright restrictions. Other intellectual property rights may apply. Archives Center cost-recovery and use fees may apply when requesting reproductions.

Keywords

Keywords table of terms and types.
Keyword Terms Keyword Types
Advertisements Genre Form Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Blacksmiths Occupation Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
advertising -- 1930-1940 -- California Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Obituaries Genre Form Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Missouri -- 20th century Geographic Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Storekeepers Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Correspondence -- 20th century Genre Form Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Clippings Genre Form Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Hardware stores -- 1900-1970 -- Missouri Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Depressions -- 1929 -- United States Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid

Archives Center, National Museum of American History
P.O. Box 37012
Suite 1100, MRC 601
Washington, D.C. 20013-7012
archivescenter@si.edu