Fenton B. Fleming, 1883-1953 [RG3926.AM]

HISTORY NEBRASKA MANUSCRIPT FINDING AID

RG3926.AM: Fenton B. Fleming, 1883-1953

Papers: 1901-1951
Lincoln, Lancaster County, Neb.: Jeweler; insurance salesman; politician
Size: 1.0 cu.ft.; 1 box and 2 scrapbooks

BACKGROUND NOTE

Fenton B. Fleming was born in Athol, Kansas. After attending Kansas State College, he came to Lincoln, Nebraska, in 1903. He married Margaret Royce of Deweese, Nebraska. Mr. Fleming was active in the commercial and political life of Lincoln. He was a member of the Nebraska delegations to the 1928 and 1932 Republican National Conventions. In 1933 he was elected Mayor of the city of Lincoln and served one two-year term. In addition, he served as a member of the Board of Trustees of Sanitary District #1. Mr. Fleming served terms as President of the Nebraska Jewelers Association and the Nebraska Fraternal Congress. He operated a jewelry store at 131 South 13th Street from 1915-1934. From 1935-1951 Fleming was employed by the Woodman of the World Life Insurance Society, the last five years as City Manager for Lincoln. He was active in the Masonic Order. Fenton B. Fleming died on April 4, 1953, at the age of 70.

SCOPE AND CONTENT NOTE

The Fenton B. Fleming collection consists of one box of manuscript materials and two scrapbooks. It is arranged in five series: 1) Correspondence, 1901-1943; 2) Business Records, 1932-1951; 3) Printed Matter, 1927-1939; 4) Scrapbooks; 5) Speeches, 1934; 6) Newspaper Clippings; and 7) Miscellany. The collection relates primarily to Fenton B. Fleming’s political and professional career.

Series 1, Correspondence, consists of a few personal letters. All correspondents have not been identified. Series 2, Business Records, consists of daily memoranda books in which Fleming listed his insurance clients, a sales manual for insurance agents, including lessons completed by Mr. Fleming and a record of diamond sales by the Fleming Jewelry Store, 1914-1934. Series 3, Printed Matter, consists of annual programs for the Colonial Dance Club and the Saturday Night Club, two social dance clubs which included the Flemings among their membership, and several business cards.

Series 4, Scrapbooks, included newspaper clippings relating to Mr. Fleming’s political career and social life in Lincoln. The speech in Series 5 was delivered by Mayor Fleming before the Knife and Fork Club, November 14, 1934. He discusses the government of Lincoln and some of its problems. Series 6 contains newspaper clippings primarily about the Fleming family and items about Fenton B. Fleming in public life. Series 7, Miscellany, consists of an undated diary kept on a European tour by a Violet E. Thorpe, stock certificates, a plat of oil properties of the Mutual Holding Company of Garfield County, Oklahoma, and programs.

Note: See the photo component [RG3926.PH] for related images.

INVENTORY

Series 1 – Correspondence, 1901-1943

Box
Folder

1. Correspondence, 1901, 1905, 1924, 1932, 1933, 1935 and 1943

Series 2 – Business Records, 1931-1951

1. Insurance address and account book, 1932
2. Insurance address and account book, 1932 and 1937
3. Insurance address and account book, 1935
4. Insurance address and account book, 1938-1939
5. Insurance address and account book, 1939-1940
6. Insurance address and account book, 1940-1944
7. Insurance address and account book, 1941-1943
8. Insurance address and account book, 1945-1948
9. Insurance address and account book, 1949-1951
10. Insurance address and account book, 1951
11. Insurance sales training manual
12. Diamond sales record, 1914-1934

Series 3 – Printed Matter, 1927-1939

1. Dance Club Programs and business cards

Series 4 – Scrapbooks

1. Political clippings, etc. (see oversize)
2. Political clippings, etc. (see oversize)

Series 5 – Speeches, 1934

1. Speech, 1934

Series 6 – Newspaper Clippings

1. Newspaper clippings

Series 7 – Miscellany

1. “Diary of a Trip to Europe,” by Violet E. Thorpe (n.d.)
   Programs
   Stock and other certificates (see oversize)
   Plat of oil properties, Mutual Holding Company, Garfield County, Oklahoma (see oversize)

Subject headings:

Fleming, Fenton B., 1883-1953
Fraternal orders
Insurance — Nebraska
Lincoln (Neb.) — Businesses
Lincoln (Neb.) — Politics and government
Masonry
Republican National Convention, 1928
Republican National Convention, 1932

AIF    12-12-1979
Encoded TMM    04-01-2010