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Edgar Glenn Daft Redpath Chautauqua Papers

 Collection
Identifier: MsC1220

  • Staff Only
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Scope and Contents

The letters in this collection are organized chronologically by year. The letters from Helen Elizabeth are grouped together and placed in chronological order.

Dates

  • Creation: 1917-1920

Creator

Conditions Governing Access

This collection is open for research.

Conditions Governing Use

Copyright status for collection materials may be unknown. Transmission or reproduction of materials protected by U.S. Copyright Law (Title 17, U.S.C.) beyond that allowed by fair use requires the written permission of the copyright owner. Works not in the public domain cannot be commercially exploited without permission of the copyright owners. Responsibility and potential liability based on copyright infringement for any use rests exclusively and solely with the user. Users must properly acknowledge University of Iowa Libraries Special Collections & Archives as the source of the material. For further information, visit https://www.lib.uiowa.edu/sc/services/rights/

Biographical / Historical

Born August 23, 1892 to Edgar William Daft (1860-1943) and Sadie (or Sarah) Elizabeth Shelton Daft (1863-1937), Gleen Daft grew up on a farm in Cass County, three miles northwest of Grant, in the far southwest corner of Iowa. His father raised thoroughbred Hereford cattle and grew corn, alfalfa, oats, and wheat.

Glenn had a sister, Ruth E. (October 13, 1895-February 28, 1981) and two brothers: Guy Kinsey Daft (April 8, 1898-May 3rd, 1974) and Floyd Shelton (May 19th, 1900-?).

Glenn enrolled at Simpson in 1913, when he was 21 years old, and graduated in 1917. he played basketball for Simposon his freshman year and repreented Simpson in college track meets in 1914-1916, running the mile and two mile runs.

During the summers, perhaps as early as 1912, Daft began workign with the circuit chautauquas. In 1917, he enlisted in the army, received officer training at Camp Dodge, Iowa, and Camp Jackson, South Carolina in 1918, and served in France. He returned to the US on July 5th, 1919.

In 1920 he worked with the Redpath-Vawter Chautauqua again, perhaps as a superintendent who traveled with the circuit and then booked talent during the fall.

Around 1920 Daft became co-owner with I.H. Marshall of an Illinois company that published community newspapers. In September 1921, they bought the Prophetstown Echo, a weekly paper, from E.G. Hotchkiss, who had owned it for 25 years. Daft and Marshall also owned the Mendota Sun Bulletin, Spring Valley Gazette, and De Pue Leader.

In 1922, Daft married Ida Bound of Prophetstown, Illinois. They settled in Ponca City, Oklahoma and had one child, Robert Glenn Daft (1923-1937). Edgar died September 9th, 1929, at age 37, while attending an American Legion Convention in Duncan, Oklahoma. his death was attributed to "heart trouble." He was buried in Grant Cemetery, Montgomery County, Iowa. His widow moved back to Illinois with her son. The same year Edgar died, she remarried Hugo Hecht. She died in 1990.

Extent

0.25 Linear Feet

Language of Materials

English

Abstract

This collection is comprised of 11 handwritten letters addressed to Edgar Gleen Daft (1892-1929) from Chautauqua staff and talent.

Author
Jenna Silver, 2023.
Language of description
English
Script of description
Latin

Repository Details

Part of the University of Iowa Special Collections Repository

Contact:
Special Collections Department
University of Iowa Libraries
Iowa City IA 52242 IaU
319-335-5921
319-335-5900 (Fax)