Guide to the Archival Collections.pdf - Missouri History Museum

A2367
Sparks, Ephraim Ellis (1835-1901).
Diary, 1864 Aug 30-1868 Aug 30. 2 items
Ephraim Ellis Sparks enlisted as a private in the 39th Missouri Infantry (Union) in August
1864, and was mustered out as a 1st sergeant in March 1865. He died January 4, 1901, in Bison,
Kansas.
This 81-page diary describes the movement and affairs of the 39th Missouri Infantry
primarily in Missouri, Kentucky, and Tennessee. Includes accounts of affairs at Hannibal,
Missouri, September 2-21, 1864; at Macon, Paris, and Mexico, Missouri, September 24-
December 2; Sparks’ trip home to Iowa on furlough via steamboat from Hannibal, December 3-
11; return to his regiment at Macon, December 12-15; movement of the regiment via stock cars
through Illinois and Indiana to Louisville, Kentucky, December 16-23; to Ft. Boyle in Hardin
County, Kentucky, December 24-29; to Nashville, Tennessee, by train, December 30, 1864, to
January 3, 1865; to St. Louis by train, January 4-8; at Benton Barracks, January 8-March 27; and
Sparks’ return home to Iowa via steamboat, March 27-29. The entry dated March 29, 1865, is
followed by a single entry dated August 30, 1868. The back of the diary contains six pages of
notes. Also includes transcript of diary (19 pages).
Cite as: Ephraim Ellis Sparks Diary, Missouri History Museum Archives, St. Louis.
A2272
Spatz, Michael E.
Papers, 1936-1993 (bulk 1940s). 4 boxes
Michael E. Spatz was born January 7, 1912, in Louisville, Kentucky, where he attended the
University of Louisville. He married Charleen Spatz and enlisted as a United States Coast Guard
yeoman, 2nd class reserve, on May 2, 1942, in St. Louis, Missouri. He served in the coast guard
as a yeoman, radio reporter in the Pacific, and the representative for the U.S. Coast Guard in the
Four Freedoms War Bond Show. He was honorably discharged as yeoman, first class reserve, in
1945, and then became an area director and spokesman of the American Heritage Foundation for
the Freedom Train tour in 1947-1948.
The collection contains correspondence, newspaper and magazine clippings, photographs,
publications, and business papers relating to the effort to increase patriotism during and after
World War II, ranging from 1942 to 1948, with several letters from 1936. The collection also
includes coast guard patches and a scrapbook detailing Spatz’s experience during his service in
the war. Most of the items relate to either the Four Freedoms War Bond Show tour (1943-1944)
in New Orleans, Louisiana, and Los Angeles, California, or the American Heritage Foundation
Freedom Train tour around the country in 1947-1948. The collection also includes records of the
Four Freedoms and Freedom Train shows in Saint Louis and Missouri.
A1547
Specking, Bernard J.
Cashbook, 1872-1907. 2 volumes; 1 oversize folder
Cash journal of St. Louis County teacher, with ledger entries in rear and inventory of
personal library on back flyleaf (1896); journal, 1903-1907; and certificates.
Cite as: Bernard J. Specking CashBook, Missouri History Museum Archives, St. Louis.
A1548
Spectator (Alton, Illinois).