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Robert Gilmore Collection

Collection Number: M006
Volume: 7 cubic feet

Provenance

The collection was donated on November 5, 1997, by Mrs. Martha Gilmore, Dr. Gilmore’s widow. It was processed in 2004 by Stephanie Hagenhoff. Additional information concerning provenance can be found under the series descriptions.

Copyright

This collection may be protected from unauthorized copying by the Copyright Law of the United States (Title 17, United States Code).

Access

The collection is unrestricted. Single photocopies may be made for research purposes. Permission to publish material from the collection must be obtained from the Department of Special Collections and Archives. Citations should be as follows: Identification of the item, box and folder number, Robert Gilmore Collection (M006), Department of Special Collections and Archives, Missouri State University.

Biographical/Historical Sketch

Dr. Robert (Bob) Gilmore was born in Ash Grove, Missouri, in 1927. At the age of 15, he graduated from high school. When he turned 17, Gilmore enlisted with the Navy as a carpenter’s mate. It was from this experience that he gained an interest in woodworking and a valuable skill that would help him to create numerous stages and props for plays.

Gilmore was able to attend Missouri State University in 1946 by using the G.I. Bill. He was awarded two bachelor’s degrees: a Bachelor of Science in 1949 for business and a Bachelor of Science in Education in 1950 for theatre. Afterward, Gilmore taught for eight years in St. Louis County schools and then went on to receive his master’s degree from St. Louis University in 1956. In 1961, he graduated from the University of Minnesota with a Ph.D. in theatre. From Gilmore’s avid interest in the Ozarks and its history came the idea for his thesis, Theatrical Elements in Folk Entertainment in the Missouri Ozarks, 1885-1910. An adaptation of this same topic was later the subject of his book, Ozark Baptizings, Hangings, and Other Diversions, which was published in 1984.

Gilmore returned to MSU in 1959 as an assistant professor of Speech. He co-founded the popular MSU Tent Theatre in 1963 with his former professor, Dr. Irene Coger. While at MSU, Gilmore directed and participated in numerous performances at community and Missouri State theatre, such as Rashomon, Lil’ Abner, and The 1940’s Radio Hour.

During Gilmore’s years as a professor at Missouri State University, he held various positions. He was elected head of the theatre department for the years of 1965-1967. Gilmore became the dean of Arts and Humanities in 1967 and held that position until 1971. Gilmore served as dean of faculties from 1971 until 1976, when the title provost was added. He served as provost and dean of faculties until 1984. Gilmore became the director for Missouri State’s new outreach program in the White River Valley region in 1985 and continued as director there until 1988. Gilmore was actively involved with helping several local towns develop a greater tourist economy through his position as Director of the Travel and Tourism program at Missouri State University.

Gilmore’s interest in the Ozarks continued to show throughout the years, especially through his research and involvement in several efforts to preserve the region’s history. Shortly after his retirement from MSU in 1993, he and Dr. Robert Flanders (Missouri State University professor of History, 1968-1995) co-founded and co-edited OzarksWatch, a magazine that focuses on the lives and stories of the Ozarks people. In addition, Gilmore was involved at KSMU as the narrator for the bi-weekly show White River Journal. From the scripts of this show, Gilmore published a book, White River Journal RadioBook, in 1997.

Gilmore was also affiliated with the Center for Ozarks Studies. The Center for Ozarks Studies (COS) existed from 1976-1995 under the direction of Dr. Flanders. The COS conducted a number of grant funded projects documenting Ozarks folkways, culture, and history. The Center ceased operations in 1995 following the retirement of Dr. Flanders. The COS records were transferred to the University Archives in March of 1999. (See Missouri State Record Group 8/11)

Dr. Robert Gilmore passed away on October 22, 1997, at the age of 70. A year later, he was posthumously awarded an Ozzie Award by the Springfield Area Arts Council in recognition of his exceptional support and promotion of local artistic achievement.

Note: The information above is taken from the following:

  • Robert Gilmore Collection, 4/22 Subject Files, Resignation, 1983-1984
  • Robert Gilmore, Missouri State Biographical Vertical File

Scope and Content

The collection contains information ranging from 1877 to 1996. It is a compilation of materials from Gilmore’s time as a professor at MSU, his interest in the theatre, and his research of the Ozarks. The collection contains eight series, as outlined below.

Series I: Correspondence
This is a general collection of correspondence from 1949-1993. It contains letters, memos, and cards from both academic individuals and personal friends.

Series II: Curriculum
This series is comprised of Gilmore’s course materials. Included are lecture notes, tests, and general information.

Series III: Subject Files
This series contains varied information such as Gilmore’s research on diverse topics, his involvement in several groups, and news clippings.

NOTE: Materials labeled 19th and early 20th century are photocopies.

Series IV: Photographs
These are photographs Gilmore collected through the years. The majority of the photographs relate to theatrical productions and are not dated.

Series V: Ketchel Materials/Files
This series contains information pertaining to the 1910 murder of Stanley Ketchel, a well known middle weight boxing champion. Included is correspondence, information about each of the individuals involved, trial records, and suspect Walter Dipley’s prison record.
NOTE: Materials labeled 19th and early 20th century are photocopies.

There are two different labels here, Ketchel Materials and Ketchel Files. The Ketchel Materials are the files that were included in the Robert Gilmore Collection. The Ketchel Files were pulled from the COS Collection [RG 8/11] in 2003 and placed in the Robert Gilmore collection because they appeared to be part of Gilmore’s research.

Series VI: Thesis Note Cards
This series is comprised of Gilmore’s note cards from his work and research on his Ph.D. thesis. These note cards were also removed from the COS Collection [RG 8/11].

Series VII: Oversized Materials
This contains oversized items from the previous series such as newspapers, posters, and items from the thesis note cards.

Series VIII: Scrapbooks
The scrapbooks contain clippings about Col. R.P. Dickerson’s life and career. Rollin Dickerson was an avid fan of boxing and helped to further Stanley Ketchel’s career. The scrapbooks also contain a few references to the murder of Stanley Ketchel. There are photocopies of the scrapbooks available for research purposes.

The scrapbooks and much of the information on the Stanley Ketchel murder were obtained by Judge Paul Barrett (1901-1989), from Robert Durst, who was the uncle of R.P. Dickerson’s nephew. Mr. Barrett, in turn, gave them to Gilmore as a source of information for his research into the murder.

Container List

Series I: Correspondence      
Box 1 1 Correspondence 1949, 1951-1959, 1961
  2 Correspondence 1962
  3 Correspondence 1 of 2 1963
  4 Correspondence 2 of 2 1963
  5 Correspondence 1964
  6 Correspondence 1965
  7 Correspondence 1 of 2 1966
  8 Correspondence 2 of 2 1966
  9 Correspondence 1 of 2 1967
  10 Correspondence 2 of 2 1967
  11 Correspondence 1968-1970, 1974
  12 Correspondence 1977-1979, 1982-1983
  13 Correspondence 1 of 2 1984
  14 Correspondence 2 of 2 1984
  15 Correspondence 1 of 2 1985
  16 Correspondence 2 of 2 1985
  17 Correspondence 1986-1987
Box 2 1 Correspondence 1988-1989
  2 Correspondence 1990-1991
  3 Correspondence 1992-1993
  4 Correspondence n.d.
Series II: Curriculum      
  5 [Acting Course Material] n.d.
  6 ["The Antigone of Sophocles", Blocking and Annotations by Robert Gilmore] n.d.
  7 Blocking Movement n.d.
  8 Crowd and Group Scenes n.d.
  9 [Poems] n.d.
  10 Speech 115 1985
  11 Speech 118 - Comedy n.d.
  12 Speech 126 1952-1953, 1962, 1969, n.d.
  13 [Speech 128 - Lecture Notes] 1964-1965, 1967, n.d.
  14 Speech 128 - Play Tests] n.d.
  15 [Speech 128 - Program of Observation] 1966-1967
  16 [Speech 128 - Tests] 1961-1967, n.d.
  17 Speech 346 1968
  18 Speech Syllabus/[Revolution in Grammar] n.d.
  19 Theatre 101 1985-1987, 1989-1990, 1993, n.d.
  20 [Theatre 101 - Lecture Notes, Part 1: Audience and Introduction] n.d.
  21 [Theatre 101 - Lecture Notes, Part 2: Purpose and Perspective, Theatrical Genre] n.d.
  22 [Theatre 101 - Lecture Notes, Part 3: The Playwright - Dramatic Structure] n.d.
  23 [Theatre 101 - Lecture Notes, Part 4: Performers and Directors] n.d.
  24 [Theatre 101 - Lecture Notes, Part 5: The Designers; Part 6: Bringing It All Together] n.d.
  25 [Theatre 101 - Student Papers] 1992-1993, n.d.
  26 [Theatre 101 - Tests] 1985-1993
  27 [Theatre 130 - Dramatic Structure] n.d.
  28 [Theatre 130 - Hamlet] 1993, n.d.
  29 [Theatre 130 - Lecture Notes] 1993
  30 [Theatre 130 - Oedipus Structure] n.d.
  31 [Theatre 130 - Tests] 1993, n.d.
  32 [Theatre 201 - Robert Bradley] 1990, n.d.
  33 [Theatre 210 - Test] 1990
  34 Theatre History n.d.
Series III: Subject Files 35 "7 Biscuits" 1987
  36 American Business Women's Association 1979, 1984, 1987
  37 [Archives Information Bulletin: Missouri's Public Domain - United States Land Sales, 1818-1922] 1980
  38 Bissman, C.A. (Architect) 1942, 1004, n.d.
  39 Bronson, Senator S.E. "A Dog Speech by A Friend of the Dog" 1915
  40 [Budget Problems] 1982-1983
  41 [Casebolt Farm] 1984
  42 [Central States Speech Association] 1970-1973
  43 [Christian County Historian] 1990-1993
  44 Christmas Program n.d.
  45 Craig Hall Opening/Spring Dedication Committee 1965, 1967-1968, n.d.
Box 3 1 Dean's Retreat 1981
  2 [Dogwood Canyon Files] 1 of 5 1877-1996
  3 [Dogwood Canyon Files] 2 of 5 1877-1996
  4 [Dogwood Canyon Files] 3 of 5 1877-1996
  5 [Dogwood Canyon Files] 4 of 5 1877-1996
  6 [Dogwood Canyon Files] 5 of 5 1877-1996
  7 Excellence at SMS 1983
  8 Floyd Jones Memoir ca. 1960
  9 Funk, Erwin. "64 Years of Newspapering in Arkansas" 1960
  10 Galena's 'Y' Bridge n.d.
  11 [Gilmore Barn Research] c. 1986, 1992
  12 Graham Murder 1886, 1930
  13 Gwen Eisenmann Thesis 1996
  14 Harvey, William Hope "Coin", Monte Ne, Arkansas 1953-1977
  15 [A History of the Civil War: Chronological Summary and Record] n.d.
  16 Houssainy, Waleed 1985
  17 Interest Items 1949-1985
  18 Jefferson Awards/Volunteerism 1986-1987, n.d.
  19 Let's Talk About It 1985-1986, n.d.
  20 [Let's Talk About It - The Way to Rainy Mountain] 1986-1987
  21 Lilies, Jim. "Historical Sketches of Boxley Valley, Buffalo National River" 1995
  22 [Meyer Retirement Banquet] 1955, 1983, 1995
  23 [Miscellaneous] 1983, n.d.
  24 Missouri Folklore Society 1989
  25 [Missouri Humanities Council - Calendars] 1994-1995
  26 [Missouri Humanities Council - General Information] 1990-1996
  27 [Missouri Humanities Council - Oral History] 1988-1989
  28 [Missouri Humanities Council - Speakers Bureau] 1990-1993
  29 [Missouri Humanities Council - Speakers Bureau] 1994-1996
  30 [Missouri Humanities Council - Wealth of Weeklies] 1994, n.d.
  31 [MissouriFind - Copyright Permissions for Graphics] n.d.
  32 [MissouriFind - Correspondence] 1992-1994
  33 [MissouriFind - General Information] 1992, 1994, n.d.
  34 [MissouriFind - Units] 1994, n.d.
  35 [News Clippings - General] 1884-1997, n.d.
Box 4 1 [News Clippings - Plays Affiliated with Robert Gilmore] 1948-1987, n.d.
  2 [News Clippings - Robert Gilmore] 1969, 1972, 1984, 1987, 1991, n.d.
  3 [Occasional Memos] 1983
  4 [Ozark Chamber of Commerce] 1986-1993, n.d.
  5 [Ozark Heritage Foundation Minutes] 1992-1993
  6 Ozark Naturalist Outfitters 1994
  7 Ozarks Porch Primitives 1991-1995
  8 [Ozark Writers League] 1989, n.d.
  9 [Peace Lutheran Church] 1964, 1994
  10 [Peace Lutheran Church - Chrismons] 1991-1992
  11 Personal 1962-1977
  12 Plans and Prospects 1976-1981
  13 [Plays - The Dark Hours] n.d.
  14 [Plays - The Life and Passion of Our Lord] c. 1958
  15 [Plays - Rashomon] 1964
  16 [Plays - Untitled] 1983, n.d.
  17 [Plays - The World of Carl Sandburg] 1989
  18 [Poems] 1973, n.d.
  19 [President Marshall Gordon] 1983-1985
  20 [Programs] 1948-1975, n.d.
  21 [Religious] 1972-1973, n.d.
  22 Resignation 1983-1984
  23 [Rotary Club] 1986-1987, 1994
  24 SCOCOG Project 1985, 1993-1995
  25 [Sermons] 1972-1993
  26 [The Sound of Music - Director's Copy] n.d.
  27 [Speeches] 1972-1988, n.d.
  28 [Springfield Little Theatre Policy] 1974
  29 [State Parks] n.d.
  30 [Stone County Local Records Inventory Summary] 1986
  31 [The Successful Television Interview] c. 1985-1986
Box 5 1 [Tri-Lakes Community Theatre] 1985-1989, 1995, n.d.
  2 [University of Minnesota Theatre] 1958-1964
  3 Waldensian Presbyterian Church Centennial, Monett 1975
  4 [White River Valley Program] 1983-1986
  5 [White River Valley Program] 1986-1988, n.d.
Series IV: Photographs      
  6 [Oklahoma Album] n.d.
  7 [Photographs] 1960, 1967, n.d.
  8 [Photographs] n.d.
  9 [Thesis Note Cards - Photographs] 1898, 1905
  10 [Untitled Album] n.d.
Series V: Ketchel Materials/Files      
  11 Delaney 1892-1988
  12 Dickerson n.d.
  13 Dipley Prison Record 1990, n.d.
  14 Jury Selection n.d.
  15 Ketchel 1991, 1993, n.d.
  16 Maps n.d.
  17 Miscellaneous 1948, 1988-1989, 1993, n.d.
  18 Cross Examination Papers 1 of 2 1911-1914
  19 Cross Examination Papers 2 of 2 1911-1914
  20 Deeds 1894-1940
  21 Judge Paul W. Barrett 1987-1989
  22 The Murder of Stanley Ketchel, October 15, 1910: Busiek and Kozyra Correspondence 1983-1987
  23 The Murder of Stanley Ketchel, October 15, 1910: Cobe Shields 1983
  24 The Murder of Stanley Ketchel, October 15, 1910: Newspaper Clippings 1911, 1954, 1976, n.d.
  25 The Murder of Stanley Ketchel, October 15, 1910: Photographs n.d.
  26 The Murder of Stanley Ketchel, October 15, 1910: The Walter Dipley-Goldie Smith Trial and Other Papers 1 of 6 1910-1913
  27 The Murder of Stanley Ketchel, October 15, 1910: The Walter Dipley-Goldie Smith Trial and Other Papers 2 of 6 1910-1913
  28 The Murder of Stanley Ketchel, October 15, 1910: The Walter Dipley-Goldie Smith Trial and Other Papers 3 of 6 1910-1913
  29 The Murder of Stanley Ketchel, October 15, 1910: The Walter Dipley-Goldie Smith Trial and Other Papers 4 of 6 1910-1914
  30 The Murder of Stanley Ketchel, October 15, 1910: The Walter Dipley-Goldie Smith Trial and Other Papers 5 of 6 1910-1914
  31 The Murder of Stanley Ketchel, October 15, 1910: The Walter Dipley-Goldie Smith Trial and Other Papers 6 of 6 1910-1914
Box 6   Walter Dipley and Goldie Smith Trial Records 1911
Series VI: Thesis Note Cards      
Box 7   Thesis Note Cards pre-1962
Series VII: Oversized Materials      
Box 8 1 Forbes Lake of the Ozarks Map and Certificate c. 1983
  2 The Golden Years: That was Then...This is Now, Special Edition - August 27, 1987 1987
  3 The Ozark Headliner, Centennial Edition: July 28, 1988 1988
  4 Theatre Posters n.d.
  5 Thesis Note Cards - Oversized Materials 1893, 1947, 1949, 1960, 1973, n.d.
  6 Walter Dipley's Prison Record n.d.
  7 Webster County Maps n.d.
Series VIII: Scrapbooks      
Box 9   Dickerson Scrapbook One c. 1910-1940
Box 10   Dickerson Scrapbook Two c. 1910-1940