Eaton-Luff Collection (Lindenwood)

Collection

Identifier: RHC-RC-045

Staff Only

Scope and Contents

The Eaton-Luff Collection primarily consists of business records for the Jones-Luff dealers in general merchandise located in Lindenwood, Illinois. These records include goods, freight and bank receipts dating from 1887-1896. Goods and freight receipts offer a fair record of the types of products handled by Jones and Luff as well as those companies the firm traded with regularly. In addition, the collection contains one folder of personal and business letters of the Luff family (1880-1907), several other personal items including deeds, pension claims and invitations and announcements. Also included in the collection are photographs (35), negatives (13) , and tintypes (9), depicting Lindenwood and several of its residents.

Dates

created: 1868-1907
Other: Date acquired: 09/07/1973

Conditions Governing Access

There are no restrictions on access to material in the collection.

Conditions Governing Use

Property rights in the collection are held by the Regional History Center; literary rights are dedicated to the public.

Biographical or Historical Information

Joseph T. Luff (1853-1940) arrived in Lindenwood, Illinois, in 1869 where he opened a grocery/dry goods store that maintained operations for forty-seven years. In 1884 he married Alvina Hamlin (1852-1933) of Lindenwood. The Luffs had two children, only one of whom lived to adulthood, Winnie L. (1885-1951). Winnie married Frank Eaton, operator of the Eaton House in Lindenwood, in 1906. One child was born to the Eaton’s, a son Leslie, who donated this collection.

Note written by