Guide to the Archival Collections.pdf - Missouri History Museum

Collection, 1852-1853. 1 folder [formerly Alphabetical File]
David Rice Atchison was born August 11, 1807, in Frogtown, Kentucky. He was the son of
William and Catherine Allen Atchison. He was educated at Transylvania University and studied
law. He moved west to Liberty, Missouri, and gained some fame while assisting the Mormons in
their attempt to resettle Clay County. Atchison was elected to the Missouri General Assembly
then served as the first judge of the Twelfth Judicial Circuit in 1841. He was appointed to fill the
term of deceased U.S. Senator Lewis F. Linn in 1843. He rose to become the president pro
tempore of the U.S. Senate and served as acting vice president of the United States after the
death of William R. King, vice president under Franklin Pierce. Fiercely pro-slavery, Atchison
fought to expand slavery into Kansas and organized groups of Missourians to cross the border
into Kansas in order to influence the territorial elections in the late 1850s. Atchison sided with
Missouri's exiled secessionist government and fled to Texas with the state's Confederate leaders
at the beginning of the Civil War. He returned to Missouri in 1867 and died on his farm in
Clinton County in 1886.
The collection contains a letter of David R. Atchison and others recommending John Miller
as a midshipman, 1852, and a letter from Milton R. Singleton, Savannah, [Missouri], to
Atchison, November 4, 1853, introducing Captain Napoleon B. Giddings. Also includes article
titled “A Forgotten Man” from The Collector, March 1953, with information about Atchison and
a picture of a letter from Atchison to the president, 1853.
Cite as: David R. Atchison Collection, Missouri History Museum Archives, St. Louis.
A1920
Ater, William Washington.
Papers, 1904. 1 folder [formerly Alphabetical File]
Contains two letters from Emma J. Ater with biographical information on her husband,
William Washington Ater, 1904. One letter is addressed from 3961 Delmar Blvd.
Cite as: William Washington Ater Papers, Missouri History Museum Archives, St. Louis.
A1921
Atkins, Smith D.
Papers, 1853-1860. 1 folder [formerly Alphabetical File]
Contains letters from Smith D. Atkins to his friend John L. Bittinger regarding business and
politics, 1853-1860.
Cite as: Smith D. Atkins Papers, Missouri History Museum Archives, St. Louis.
A1922
Atkinson, Arthur Kimmins.
Collection, 1953-1955. 1 folder [formerly Alphabetical File]
Contains biographical data sheets for the Missouri Historical Society filled out by Arthur
Kimmins Atkinson, 8 Hortense Place and 4399 McPherson Ave., St. Louis. Also includes
attachments and correspondence with the Missouri Historical Society staff, 1953-1955.
Cite as: Arthur K. Atkinson Collection, Missouri History Museum Archives, St. Louis.
A1923
Atkinson, Chilton.
Correspondence, 1942-1943. 1 folder [formerly Alphabetical File]
Contains correspondence of Chilton Atkinson with various members of the Missouri
Historical Society staff, 1942-1943. Also includes blank letterhead of Millam Concrete Fence