Delmo Housing Corporation Records, 1945-1989 | WUA University Archives

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Collection Overview

Title: Delmo Housing Corporation Records, 1945-1989

ID: WUA/06/wua00107

Primary Creator: Delmo Housing Corporation

Extent: 10.5 Cubic Feet

Languages: English

Scope and Contents of the Materials

Series 01: Delmo Housing Corporation Records

These Delmo Housing Corporation records come from the office of Harold C. Hanke, a St. Louis attorney who was a long-time treasurer of the Corporation. They cover every aspect of the organization, from home purchase records to staffing issues to budget and all other areas, and give an excellent overview of the work of the Corporation. They cover the years 1945 to 1976.

Series 02: Family Health Services

These files, from the office of Harold C. Hanke, cover the development and maintenance of the Family Health Services, which provided health care for the residents of the Delmo communities. These records cover 1970-1976.

Series 03: Ralph E. Pumphrey Files

Ralph E. Pumphrey, professor emeritus of Social Work at Washington University, served for a number of years on the Delmo Board of Directors. These files are a record of his involvement with Delmo. Also included is a copy of a draft of "Delmo Saga" by W. Wilder Towle, a longtime Board member who wrote "Delmo Saga" as an account of the history of the corporation's beginnings.

Collection Historical Note

The Delmo Housing Corporation was formed in 1945 when ten Farm Security Administration communities were being sold. In order to prevent these homes from being sold to commercial interests with a resulting loss of migrant housing, a group of concerned people came together as the Delmo Housing Corporation, a charitable and educational corporation. Among the founding members were Bishop William Scarlett, Henry V. Putzel, Edwin P. Coleman, Jr., Oliver M. Langenberg, and Rev. Charles C. Wilson. They raised some of the down payment money and collected small down payments from the occupants of the homes, and were able to purchase nine of the communities (in 1954 an additional village was added). These homes were then purchased by the tenants at modest prices, allowing them to become homeowners, often for the first time.

In each village a community center, village council and women's club was developed, and some villages also have thrift shops where donated items are sold, with profits generally going to community improvements. Programs and assistance for residents included adult education, health education, high school scholarships, college loans, and special loans and grants. Many churches sent young members to Delmo on work camps, and these high school and college students helped renovate buildings, create playgrounds, and other such projects. From the start the communities were encouraged to be self-governed, maintaining their own community land and buildings and making the decisions on community improvements. Health services for residents were developed, including the Migrant Health Services and the Family Health Services. In 1995 Delmo celebrated its 50th year. The Corporation, once based in St. Louis, is now based in the Bootheel, but still has many active St. Louisans.

Administrative Information

Repository: WUA University Archives

Accruals: There are no accruals.

Access Restrictions: Open

Use Restrictions:

Users of the collection must read and agree to abide by the rules and procedures set forth in the Materials Use Policies.

Providing access to materials does not constitute permission to publish or otherwise authorize use. All publication not covered by fair use or other exceptions is restricted to those who have permission of the copyright holder, which may or may not be Washington University.

If you wish to publish or license Special Collections materials, please contact Special Collections to inquire about copyright status at (314) 935-5495 or spec@wumail.wustl.edu. (Publish means quotation in whole or in part in seminar or term papers, theses or dissertations, journal articles, monographs, books, digital forms, photographs, images, dramatic presentations, transcriptions, or any other form prepared for a limited or general public.)

Acquisition Method: This material was donated to University Archives by Harold C. Hanke and Ralph E. Pumphrey. Some material was transferred from Smith, Hanke, and Batts (Attorneys and Counselors) on August 26, 1975 and six boxes were sent from Ralph Pumphrey on June 29, 1976.

Preferred Citation: [Item description]. From the [collection title, series, box, folder]. University Archives, Washington University in St. Louis.

Processing Information: Processed by Jay Kempen in November 2005. Updated by Gretchen Neidhardt in September 2010.

Finding Aid Revision History: This finding aid was entered into Archon by Hannah Barg in June 2012.

Box and Folder Listing

Browse by Series:

[Series 1: Delmo Housing Corporation Records],
[Series 2: Family Health Services],
[Series 3: Ralph E. Pumphrey Files],
[All]

Series 1: Delmo Housing Corporation Records

Box 1

Folder 1: Minutes, 1945-1948: Digital content available.
Folder 2: Minutes, 1949-1950 (2 folders): Digital content available.
Folder 3: Minutes, 1951: Digital content available.
Folder 4: Minutes, 1952: Digital content available.
Folder 5: Minutes, 1959-1961: Digital content available.
Folder 6: Board of Directors, 1968-1971: Digital content available.
Folder 7: Minutes of Board of Directors, 1972-1975 (2 folders): Digital content available.
Folder 8: Annual meetings, 1954-1958: Digital content available.
Folder 9: Annual meeting, May 17, 1958: Digital content available.
Folder 10: Annual meetings, correspondence & miscellany, 1959-1962: Digital content available.
Folder 11: Annual meetings, 1963-1965: Digital content available.
Folder 12: Annual meetings, 1966-1967: Digital content available.
Folder 13: Annual meetings, 1968-1969: Digital content available.
Folder 14: Annual meeting, May 4, 1974 - Lilbourn, Mo.: Digital content available.
Folder 15: New Age Federal Savings & Loan Association: Digital content available.
Folder 16: Collection of charges from communities as user charge since Delmo is self-insured: Digital content available.
Folder 17: Assistance from Dan River Mills on Home Crafts, 1969: Digital content available.
Folder 18: Migrant Health Project, Annual Report, 1969-1970. By Francis James.: Digital content available.
Folder 19: Souther Steel & Aluminum Co.--Lease of machinery, 1961: Digital content available.
Folder 20: Boundary lines at North Lilbourn, Lots 75, 30, 65, 68, 52--1958: Digital content available.
Folder 21: Government transactions, 1945-1951: Digital content available.
Folder 22: Contributions, Episcopal diocese of Missouri, 1960-1965: Digital content available.
Folder 23: Loans, 1955-1967: Digital content available.
Folder 24: Deed of Trust, 5381 Pershing Ave. (Reiss, Ben & Anna)--1957: Digital content available.
Folder 25: General Fund, year ended Sept. 30, 1971: Digital content available.
Folder 26: General Fund, year ended Sept. 30, 1972: Digital content available.
Folder 27: General Fund, Migrant Health Family Health Service, June 30, 1973 [photocopy of original]: Digital content available.
Folder 28: General Fund, Migrant Health Family Health Service, June 30, 1974: Digital content available.
Folder 29: Statements of D.H.C. and Scholarship and Aid Fund, year ended Sept. 30, 1967 (2 copies): Digital content available.
Folder 30: Statements of D.H.C. and Scholarship and Aid Fund, year ended Sept. 30, 1968: Digital content available.
Folder 31: Statements of D.H.C. General Fund and Scholarship Aid Fund, year ended Sept. 30, 1969: Digital content available.
Folder 32: D.H.C. General Fund, Scholarship and Aid Fund, year ended Sept. 30, 1970: Digital content available.
Folder 33: D.H.C. Articles of Incorporation, 1945 [photocopy of original]: Digital content available.
Folder 34: Financial reports--Kriegshauser, C.P.A.--1950-1954: Digital content available.
Folder 35: D.H.C. Accountants' report--Sept. 30, 1962: Digital content available.
Folder 36: D.H.C. Accountants' report--Sept. 30, 1963 (3 copies): Digital content available.
Folder 37: D.H.C. Accountants' report--Sept. 30, 1964 [photocopy of original]: Digital content available.
Folder 38: D.H.C. Accountants' report--Sept. 30, 1965: Digital content available.
Folder 39: D.H.C. MO-CAP 6021--Audit report--Jan. 31, 1966: Digital content available.
Folder 40: D.H.C. Report on examination from Jan. 2, 1946 to Dec. 31, 1946: Digital content available.
Folder 41: D.H.C. Report on examination for year ended Dec. 31, 1947: Digital content available.
Folder 42: D.H.C. Report on examination for year ended Dec. 31, 1948: Digital content available.
Folder 43: D.H.C. Report on examination for year ended Dec. 31, 1949: Digital content available.
Folder 44: D.H.C. Report on examination for the year ended Dec. 31, 1950: Digital content available.
Folder 45: D.H.C. Report on examination for the year ended Dec. 31, 1951: Digital content available.
Folder 46: D.H.C. Report on examination for the year ended Dec. 31, 1952: Digital content available.
Folder 47: D.H.C. Report on examination for the year ended Dec. 31, 1953 [photocopy of original]: Digital content available.
Folder 48: D.H.C. Report for the nine months ended Sept. 30, 1954: Digital content available.
Folder 49: D.H.C. Report for the year ended Sept. 30, 1955: Digital content available.
Folder 50: D.H.C. Report for the year ended Sept. 30, 1956: Digital content available.
Folder 51: D.H.C. Report for the year ended Sept. 30, 1957: Digital content available.
Folder 52: D.H.C. Report for the year ended Sept. 30, 1958: Digital content available.
Folder 53: D.H.C. Report for the year ended Sept. 30, 1959 [photocopy of original]: Digital content available.
Folder 54: D.H.C. Report for the year ended Sept. 30, 1960: Digital content available.
Folder 55: D.H.C. Report for the year ended Sept. 30, 1961: Digital content available.
Folder 56: Program regulations, general information, program guidelines, and administrative policies and Projects for Health Services for agricultural migrants-1972: Digital content available.

Box 2

Folder 1: Program evaluations, 1966-1967: Digital content available.
Folder 2: Delmo Doings--v.1-4, 1947-1951: Digital content available.
Folder 3: Delmo Doings--v.5-7, 1952-1954: Digital content available.
Folder 4: Delmo Doings--v.8-10, 1955-1957: Digital content available.
Folder 5: Delmo Doings--v.11-13, 1958-1960: Digital content available.
Folder 6: Delmo Doings--v.14-15, 1961-1962: Digital content available.
Folder 7: Delmo Doings--v.16-17, 1963-1964: Digital content available.
Folder 8: Delmo Doings--v.18-19, 1965-1966: Digital content available.
Folder 9: Delmo Doings--v.20-24, 1967-1969: Digital content available.
Folder 10: Delmo Doings--v.25-27, 1970-1971: Digital content available.
Folder 11: Community organization 1950-1959: Digital content available.
Folder 12: Adult Education Program 1962-1964: Digital content available.
Folder 13: Contributions made to other organizations (M.A.S.W., etc.) 1960-1966: Digital content available.
Folder 14: Use of surplus funds & food 1950-1961: Digital content available.
Folder 15: Ejection of squatters from Lot 53--South Lilbourn 1961: Digital content available.
Folder 16: Sunnen Products--Birth control information 1958-1964: Digital content available.
Folder 17: Recreation 1959-1961: Digital content available.
Folder 18: Report of Elmhurst College students' winter (Jan. 1971) work camp project for one month, 1971: Digital content available.
Folder 19: Mrs. W. Victor Weir--Work with unwed mothers 1971-1972: Digital content available.
Folder 20: OEO Anti-poverty grant 1964-1966 (2 folders): Digital content available.
Folder 21: T.H. Lee--Loan, April 19, 1954--Paid: Digital content available.
Folder 22: Foreclosure by credit union on Rice home at N. Wyatt and dissolution of credit union 1960-1961: Digital content available.
Folder 23: Mrs. Roscoe Anderson's Memorial, 1962: Digital content available.
Folder 24: Goat project, 1959: Digital content available.
Folder 25: Termite control, 1958: Digital content available.
Folder 26: James Davis--Social Security deductions, 1959: Digital content available.
Folder 27: Equipment--Gestetner duplicator, & cash register, 1959-1960: Digital content available.
Folder 28: Corporate limits, extension of--East Prairie, 1958: Digital content available.
Folder 29: United Church Board for Homeland Ministries quarterly report, 1968-1971: Digital content available.
Folder 30: Proposed housing to be financed by FHA, 1967-1968: Digital content available.

Box 3

Folder 1: North Lilbourn community center improvements and loans, 1956: Digital content available.
Folder 2: Loan to Cranford, Cletus--cancellation of siding contract--K.V. Builders, 1959: Digital content available.
Folder 3: North Lilbourn Aid Club--Loan of $500, 1957: Digital content available.
Folder 4: Lewis Henry school bus loan, 1955-1957: Digital content available.
Folder 5: Neighborhood Youth Corps grant--July, 1967-1968: Digital content available.
Folder 6: B'nai Brith library contributions, 1967-1971: Digital content available.
Folder 7: Head Start program, 1967-1968: Digital content available.
Folder 8: Brochure & history, 1958-1972: Digital content available.
Folder 9: Treatment of schizophrenics in connection with research project at Mo. Institute of Psychiatry--1971: Digital content available.
Folder 10: New Madrid Bank, 1959-1960: Digital content available.
Folder 11: Special tax for street at Kennett, 1966-1967: Digital content available.
Folder 12: 1969-1971 applications for health educator grant (migrant)--Francis James: Digital content available.
Folder 13: 1970-1971 application for health educator grant (migrant): Digital content available.
Folder 14: Budget--aid fund, 1962-1965: Digital content available.
Folder 15: Montgomery, Warren--Scholarship loan--pd. in full, closed 7/23/71: Digital content available.
Folder 16: Religious education worker, employment of--1956: Digital content available.
Folder 17: Missouri Cotton Producers Association--H.D. Rogers, representative--1954: Digital content available.
Folder 18: Councils--elections, etc. 1954-1956: Digital content available.
Folder 19: Missouri Committee for Rehabilitation of the Sharecropper, 1952-1958: Digital content available.
Folder 20: Gobler and North Lilbourn credit unions--deficits, 1955: Digital content available.
Folder 21: Newell Steward carrying passengers in personally owned truck: Digital content available.
Folder 22: Newell Steward and Mrs. Steward--Injury on 10/27/52 (Insurance): Digital content available.
Folder 23: Home owners--miscellaneous correspondence: Digital content available.
Folder 24: Thrift shops: Digital content available.
Folder 25: House painting: Digital content available.
Folder 26: Claim of Armco Drge. & Metal Prod. Inc. vs. Clyde La Plant (pipe contract) 1948-1950: Digital content available.
Folder 27: Small loan rates: Digital content available.
Folder 28: National Agricultural Workers Union 1952-1953: Digital content available.
Folder 29: Rules for election of councils--1949: Digital content available.
Folder 30: Miller, C.M. Dispute over boundary--Plat, Mississippi County, Mo.: Digital content available.
Folder 31: East Prairie--Dispute over handling of surplus land, community building, thrift shop: Digital content available.
Folder 32: Nursery at East Prairie--1958: Digital content available.
Folder 33: Help with road at East Prairie, Mo.--1955: Digital content available.
Folder 34: Fire plugs at East Prairie--Sunshine Club, 1951: Digital content available.
Folder 35: Annexation of Kennett Project by City of Kennett: Digital content available.
Folder 36: C.B. DeWeese, Kennett, Mo.--1952: Digital content available.
Folder 37: Delmo Kennett agreement on water tank--1954: Digital content available.
Folder 38: Clyde L. Crider--Store on lot at Morehouse--June 1952: Digital content available.
Folder 39: C.L. Crider compensation--Morehouse, 1952-1956: Digital content available.
Folder 40: Morehouse--damage to community building, 1955: Digital content available.
Folder 41: Factory site at South Lilbourn, 1954: Digital content available.
Folder 42: Rex Wilson--removal of shacks, 1950: Digital content available.
Folder 43: North Wardell--shed on boundary between James W. Barker and Robert Baynes 1946: Digital content available.
Folder 44: Stewart, John T.--Wyatt--Loan to pay loan on house (Lot 86) 1957: Digital content available.
Folder 45: Wyatt school district no. 8 ("Bond issue for school at Wyatt for white children; Proposal for school for colored children"): Digital content available.
Folder 46: Tractor purchase--South Wardell--Hometown, 1949: Digital content available.
Folder 47: South Wardell Farmers Co-operative--Loan for tractor (Hometown group) 1954: Digital content available.
Folder 48: Loan for water system from FHA for North Lilbourn, 1963: Digital content available.
Folder 49: General Baptist Church, Circle City, loan for $250, 1957-1959: Digital content available.
Folder 50: North Wardell Berry Non-Profit Cooperative, loan to, 1952-1967: Digital content available.
Folder 51: Ewald, Elwyn--W.U. social worker at North Lilbourn, Mo.--1970: Digital content available.
Folder 52: Associated Natural Gas Company, 1952: Digital content available.
Folder 53: Escrow agreements & contracts, 1945-1946: Digital content available.
Folder 54: Loans--North Wardell Council, 1948-1953: Digital content available.
Folder 55: Easements on property 1946-1953: Digital content available.
Folder 56: Social survey 1947: Digital content available.
Folder 57: Treasurer's reports, 1954-1956: Digital content available.
Folder 58: Treasurer's reports, 1956-1958: Digital content available.
Folder 59: Financial reports, Oct. 1957-Sept. 1958: Digital content available.
Folder 60: Work camp 1953: Digital content available.

Box 4

Folder 1: Alleviation of flood and windstorm damage to residents 1957: Digital content available.
Folder 2: Harris D. Rodgers-Correspondence 1954-1957: Digital content available.
Folder 3: New community organizer-applications (Dick Rowe, Forrest Brown, H. Voges, Corl Leach) 1957-1958: Digital content available.
Folder 4: Accident on April 18, 1961-Grace Hansen workmen's compensation claim: Digital content available.
Folder 5: Migrant health project financial reports-1967-1968: Digital content available.
Folder 6: Migrant health project financial reports-1969-1970: Digital content available.
Folder 7: Contributions from Project Concern, Inc. "Walk for Mankind"--1972-1973: Digital content available.
Folder 8: Burden, Alex Jr.--Scholarship loan ($750--no payment) 1965-1971: Digital content available.
Folder 9: Ragan, Mr. and Mrs.--Director and Associate Director 1969-1970: Digital content available.
Folder 10: SPA-REDCO, Inc. (possibility of federal grant) 1970: Digital content available.
Folder 11: SPA-REDCO, Inc.--assistance in use of federal grants (per diem basis fee) 1970: Digital content available.
Folder 12: Loans to Mary Evelyn Farmer (college loans) 1971: Digital content available.
Folder 13: Correspondence with Mrs. Barbara Lawrence (Assistant program director) 1969: Digital content available.
Folder 14: Application for family planning program 1970: Digital content available.
Folder 15: Migrant health grant 1968-1969: Digital content available.
Folder 16: Migrant health grant 1967-1968: Digital content available.
Folder 17: 1967-1968 application for health educator grant: Digital content available.
Folder 18: Migrant health grant ($15,000) to females & children for period 4/1/72 to 6/30/72 (Supplemental): Digital content available.
Folder 19: Cemetery at North Lilbourn 1960: Digital content available.
Folder 20: Statement of policy, 1959: Digital content available.
Folder 21: Work camps, 1958-1968: Digital content available.
Folder 22: Wyatt store lease to Wilson City women's community club 1958-1962: Digital content available.
Folder 23: Board of Directors correspondence 1961-1968: Digital content available.
Folder 24: Addition to community building, Gray Ridge (Circle City)--Use by church and Jolly Club: Digital content available.

Browse by Series:

[Series 1: Delmo Housing Corporation Records],
[Series 2: Family Health Services],
[Series 3: Ralph E. Pumphrey Files],
[All]