THE STATE HISTORICAL SOCIETY OF MISSOURI RESEARCH CENTER-KANSAS CITY K0548 Ansel Nichols Mitchell (1903-1973) Family Papers ca.1890-1975 9 cubic feet, oversize Personal and financial papers, correspondence, news clippings, and photographs of Mitchell, nephew of real estate developer J.C. Nichols, and onetime vice-president of the J.C. Nichols Company, and his wife and daughters. Also information on their parents, William Ansel and Maude Nichols Mitchell and Robert P. and Bertha Dicken Woods; and documents and photographs relating to J. C. Nichols and his family. BIOGRAPHY: Ansel Nichols Mitchell was born in 1903, the son of William Ansel and Maude Nichols Mitchell. Maude was the sister of J. C. Nichols, a notable real estate developer. Maude's parents were Jesse T. and Joanna Jackson Nichols. Helen Woods was born in 1906, the daughter of Robert P. and Bertha Dicken Woods. Robert was a civil engineer in Kansas City. Helen's sister, Dorothy, married Lester Castle in 1921. Helen and Ansel married in 1929. They had four daughters: twins Jeanne and Joanna were born in 1930; Helen Woods Mitchell was born in 1934; and Margaret Patterson Woods Mitchell in 1936. Ansel Mitchell began his career with the J. C. Nichols Company in 1912 as an office boy during school vacations. This continued until his graduation from the University of Kansas in 1925, where he was a Phi Beta Kappa in business. After graduation, he became a full-time employee of the firm's construction department. In 1929, Mitchell was made superintendent of construction and also a member of the company's board. In 1961, he became a vice-president. He retired in 1966. During his career with the Nichols Company, he supervised the development engineering for Indian Hills, Mission Hills, Prairie Village and other residential areas. He also worked as a partner with Edward Tanner, architect, in the firm Tanner-Mitchell, Inc. during World War II. SHSMO-KC August 27, 2013 REVISED K0548 Ansel Nichols Mitchell (1903-1973) Family Papers Page 2 In the early 1970's, Mitchell and his supporters forced the J. C. Nichols Company to sell its stock to the public, instead of the stock being privately held within the family. Ansel Mitchell died in 1973. PROVENANCE: These materials were received as a gift from Helen Woods Mitchell Thorne on April 8, 1991 as accession KA0629. COPYRIGHT AND RESTRICTIONS: The Donor has given and assigned to the University of Missouri all rights of copyright which the Donor has in the Materials and in such of the Donor’s works as may be found among any collections of Materials received by the from others. PREFERRED CITATION: Specific item; folder number; Ansel Nichols Mitchell (1903-1973) Family Papers (K0548); The State Historical Society of Missouri Research Center- Kansas City [after first mention may be abbreviated to SHSMO-KC]. CONTACT: The State Historical Society of Missouri Research Center-Kansas City 302 Newcomb Hall, University of Missouri-Kansas City 5123 Holmes Street, Kansas City, MO 64110-2499 (816) 235-1543 [email protected] http://shs.umsystem.edu/index.shtml DESCRIPTION: This collection contains personal and financial papers, correspondence, news clippings, and photographs of Ansel and Helen Mitchell and their daughters. Also included is: information on their parents, William Ansel and Maude Nichols Mitchell and Robert P. and Bertha Dicken Woods; and documents and photographs relating to J. C. Nichols and his family. INVENTORY: BOX 001 BUSINESS AND PERSONAL RECORDS ca. 1930-1968 Mrs. W. A. Mitchell Income Tax Returns 1937-1940 incl. Mrs. W. A. Mitchell Income Tax Returns 1942 Mrs. W. A. Mitchell Income Tax Returns 1943-1948 SHSMO-KC August 27, 2013 REVISED K0548 Ansel Nichols Mitchell (1903-1973) Family Papers Page 3 Ansel Mitchell--Correspondence Concerning Professional Engineering License 1941-1948 Horner and Wyatt--Tanner and Mitchell 1942 Tanner and Mitchell 1943-1947 Tanner and Mitchell 1947 Ansel N. Mitchell Business Expense 1942-1948 Mo. Income Tax 1941-1943-Ansel Mitchell Expired [Insurance] Policies 1930-1934 Incl. Expired [Insurance] Policies 1935-1939 Incl. Expired [Insurance] Policies 1940-1944 Incl., 1968 JCN-ANM [J. C. Nichols, Ansel N. Mitchell] Correspondence 1946 concerning personal money matters Ansel N. Mitchell--Property at 5307 Mohawk Lane 1929, 1930, 1936-1944 (2 f.) Mission Hills Country Club 1947-1950 (2 f.) Medical-Dental-Drugs-Hospital [Receipts] 1947-1950 Junior League--Mitchell 1933 Program--Junior League Follies 1934 J. C. Nichols, Jr. Baby Photos 1939 Misc.--Advancements, etc. 1964 (advancements in money) Mitchell, Starnes House [Starnes] 1960-1962, 1964 Detective's Reports, etc. 1964 [James Starnes] Gayle Clevenger 1964 [James Starnes] Legal Documents 1964 [James Starnes] Hospital Correspondence 1964 [Helen Mitchell Starnes] Diary on Jim May-June 1964 [Starnes] Starnes--Payment of Martha Ruble, Nurse 1964-1965 Beta Reunion 25 Mar. 1967 "Four Years at the Foot of Mount Oread" 1920-1960 Alpha Nu-Beta Theta Pi-Reunion 1959, 1960 University of Kansas Class List of 1925 Undated BOX 002 BUSINESS, PERSONAL, AND FAMILY RECORDS ca. 1929-1972 Ansel N. Mitchell Trust-Helen W. Mitchell-Notice of Employer Identification Number Undated Ansel N. Mitchell Trust-Ansel N. Mitchell-Notice of Employer Identification Number Undated Ansel N. Mitchell Trust--Jabez and Joanna MacLaughlin 1969 Blank Application for Employer Identification Number, Internal Revenue Service 1968 Blank J. C. Nichols Stock Agreements 1971 Blank Trust Indenture--Ansel N. Mitchell 1969 SHSMO-KC August 27, 2013 REVISED K0548 Ansel Nichols Mitchell (1903-1973) Family Papers Page 4 Mr. and Mrs. J. T. Nichols includes obituary of Mrs. Nichols, history of the Shawnee Mission J. C. Nichols Trust 1946, 1951 "Autobiography" Jesse Clyde Nichols c. 1950 William A. and Maude Nichols Mitchell 1929, 1951, 1954, 1956, 1958, 1959 Correspondence to Maude 1956 with genealogy information; Maude's death certificate and financial information on her death (1959); photograph of a woman and photograph of a man--unidentified. Patt [Mitchell] 1958, 1960 correspondence from Patt; budget ANM--Receipts for Advancement 1966--Patt's Doctor Amount Mr. and Mrs. Ansel N. Mitchell--Sale of J. C. Nichols Co. Capital Stock December 1971 ANM Stocks 1940, 1944, 1946, 1952-1955, 1960-1966 ANM Retirement 1966 ANM 5527 E. Mission Dr. Information on Mitchell's mother's estate 1959; remodeling bathroom 1963; loan 1957 ANM/OP/Christmas Card List 1962-1964 Blank Agreement for Deferred Compensation [J. C. Nichols Co.] Undated Ansel Mitchell Trust 1966, 1969, 1971 ANM Appraisals of Jewelry and Furs 1929, 1937, 1943, 1944, 1959 Menuet [Jeanne Mitchell and Richard Menuet] 1959, 1960 Purchase of House at 5420 Baltimore Dick and Jeanne [Menuet] 1952, 1953, 1955, 1957, 1958 Photographs--Dinner for Jeanne Mitchell and Richard Menuet 29 Dec. 1952. Dr. and Mrs. Clyde Martin 1964 [Purchase of Starnes Property] MacLaughlin [Joanna Mitchell and Jabez MacLaughlin] 1951, 1954 also a little on sister Jeanne Ed Jackson Obituary Undated Jackson History--Family 1960 inquiry about a written history, most probably refers to: On Both Sides of the Line by Fannie (Oslin) Jackson 1835-1925: Her Early Years in Georgia and Civil War Service as a Union Army Nurse, copyright 1989 by Miller and Jeannette Nichols, Gateway Press Castle 1964, 1965 [inventory] Allen [Eleanor Nichols Allen] 1953, 1955, 1960, 1961 ANM Trust No. 1--Trust Indenture-Helen W. Mitchell Trustee 1969 ANM Trust-Trust Indenture-Jabez MacLaughlin Trustee 1969 ANM Trust-Trust Instrument-ANM Trustee 1969 ANM Trust-Trust Instrument-Joanna MacLaughlin Trustee-Stock Power 1969, 1972 ANM Trust-Trust Instrument-Original 1969 ANM Trust-ANM Trustee-Stock Proxys 1970, 1972; Shareholder's Minutes 1972 ANM Trust-Helen Mitchell Trustee-Stock Proxys 1970, 1972; Shareholder's Minutes 1972 SHSMO-KC August 27, 2013 REVISED K0548 Ansel Nichols Mitchell (1903-1973) Family Papers Page 5 BOX 003 BUSINESS, PERSONAL, AND FAMILY RECORDS ca. 1928-1973 Annual Report--J. C. Nichols Co. 1954-1957 Annual Report--J. C. Nichols Co. 1958-1961 Annual Report--J. C. Nichols Co. 1962-1964 Annual Report--J. C. Nichols Co. 1965 Personal Letters to and from Lester Castle 1943, 1944, 1946, 1949, 1951-1953 P. D. Castle 1928, 1929, 1943 1928, 1929--check register; 1943--obituary, correspondence Correspondence to Helen Mitchell Following Ansel Mitchell's Death 1973 A-B Correspondence to Helen Mitchell Following Ansel Mitchell's Death 1973 C Correspondence to Helen Mitchell Following Ansel Mitchell's Death 1973 D Correspondence to Helen Mitchell Following Ansel Mitchell's Death 1973 E-F Correspondence to Helen Mitchell Following Ansel Mitchell's Death 1973 G-H Correspondence to Helen Mitchell Following Ansel Mitchell's Death 1973 I-J Correspondence to Helen Mitchell Following Ansel Mitchell's Death 1973 K-L Correspondence to Helen Mitchell Following Ansel Mitchell's Death 1973 M Correspondence to Helen Mitchell Following Ansel Mitchell's Death 1973 N, P, Q Correspondence to Helen Mitchell Following Ansel Mitchell's Death 1973 R, S Correspondence to Helen Mitchell Following Ansel Mitchell's Death 1973 T, V Correspondence to Helen Mitchell Following Ansel Mitchell's Death 1973 W Correspondence to Helen Mitchell from and about University of Kansas 1974, 1975 Dorothy Woods Castle--Personal 1928, 1945, 1951, 1953 Correspondence, receipts (Lester Castle) Correspondence to Dorothy Castle from Robert P. Woods 1956 Carson, Pirie, Scott and Co. Christmas Catalog (for Lester Castle) 1956 Tax Data--Lester Castle-1951, 1953 (3 f.) Tax Data Through August 7th 1953 Lester Castle F. 1-3--cancelled checks, receipts F. 4--Check registers 1939-1952 List of People Relating to J. C. Nichols Stock c. 1971 Newspaper Articles--J. C. Nichols Co., BMA, Morgan Maxfield 1971, 1972 Tribute to Joanna Jackson Nichols on her 84th birthday 1938 one is signed by members of family Mrs. J.T. Nichols, Joanna Jackson Nichols, obituary K.C. Times, January 7, 1947, “Wars end with joy, Mrs. J.T. Nichols can recall celebration of 1865”, K.C. Star, September 17, 1944, K.C. Star article January 5, 1947 about Mrs. Joanna Jackson Nichols and her son J.C. Nichols. Solid Waste Management Plan Kansas City, Mo. 1970 Executor Planning Booklet and Bank Deposit Slips 1967, 1968 sale of 5331 E. Mission Dr. 1967 Directory of Business and Investment Publications General Photography Information SHSMO-KC August 27, 2013 REVISED K0548 Ansel Nichols Mitchell (1903-1973) Family Papers Page 6 Blanks--Easement for Placement of Ornamentals and Plantings-Mission Hills; Stationery--Homes Association of Country Club District Flood Problems in the Johnson County Area 1970 (Blue River and Tributaries) BOX 004 BUSINESS, PERSONAL, AND FAMILY RECORDS ca. 1936-1972 Johnson County Library 1971 Baby Book--Margaret Patterson Woods Mitchell c. 1936 Citation of Citizen Engineer Conferred upon Robert P. Woods 1953 Probate--Robert P. Woods Estate 1959 Indian Hills Homes Association 1970-1972 Travel Brochures--Trip to Orient 1966 Maps--Europe, Bavaria, Italy c. 1961 John Watson, Landscape Illumination 1964 Mitchell Stock Trust and Proxy Request 1964-1972 Correspondence re ANM Letter re Stock 1971 Correspondence to Miller Nichols (rough draft) concerning J. C. Nichols Co. 1971 Correspondence, Stockholders' Minutes, Blank Trust Agreement, List of Stock Buyers, Notes 1971, 1972 1971 J. C. Nichols Stockholders Meeting Minutes and Proposed Resolution 1972 Banks re Acting as Escrow Agents--Stock Sale 1971 J. C. Nichols Annual Report 1971 Trust Indenture Forms 1969 Correspondence Relating to JCN Capital Stock Sale 1971, 1972 JCN Co Stock Sale 1971 Sale of Stocks Agreements 1971 JCN Co. Sale of Stock 1971 Rumors re Miller Nichols 1971 Correspondence to and from Jack Bertoglio Concerning Stock 1971 Correspondence from Bill Bruns, funding services and co. Stock Sale 1971, 1972 Peter Thompson, Merrill Lynch Sale of Stock 1971 ANM-HWM Income Tax Data 1959 ANM-HWM Income Tax Returns and Data 1961 ANM-HWM Income Tax 1963 Income Tax 1969, 1970 Helen Mitchell's Travel Diary 1962 (Europe) School and Camp Brochures c. 1950 BOX 005 PHOTOGRAPHS / SCRAPBOOKS ca. 1930s-1950s Folder 1. Correspondence--Jeanne Mitchell c. 1940's SHSMO-KC August 27, 2013 REVISED K0548 Ansel Nichols Mitchell (1903-1973) Family Papers Page 7 Folder 2. Correspondence/photographs--Jeanne Mitchell c. 1950's Folder 3. Photographs-Jeanne and Joanna Mitchell, 1952 Folder 4. Scrapbook--Lennie Mitchell 1952-1956 Folder 5. Scrapbook--Patt Mitchell 1951-1957 Folder 6. Scrapbook--Jeanne and Joanna Mitchell 1952-1956 Folder 7. Wellesley College Scrapbook--Jeanne and Joanna Mitchell 1948- 1950 Folder 8. Photographs of Family Folder 9. Photographs of Nichols vacation, Cap K Ranch, Colorado 1959 Folder 10. Photographs of Family Travel, c 1930s-1950s (2 folders) Folder 11. Photographs and Negatives of Family and Travel 1930's-1950's (4 folders) Folder 12. Photographs--Dinner with Robert Woods; Negatives; Slides of Jeanne and Joanna Undated Folder 13. 8 mm. film-Ansel Mitchell, 6 rolls BOX 006 CORRESPONDENCE, PERSONAL BUSINESS Folder 1. Correspondence to Helen Woods 1925-1927, 1929, 1930 Folder 2. Correspondence to Ansel Mitchell from Mother 1930; Beowulf; Dahlia News 1929, Food Notes (were all in same box) Folder 3. Correspondence to Ansel Mitchell 1929, 1959, 1967, 1968, 1970, 1971, Undated Folder 4. Correspondence to Helen Mitchell (mother) 1944, 1952 Folder 5. Correspondence to Maude from J.T. Nichols, 1904; to Helen Mitchell from Clyde 1945 Folder 6. Sunday School Promotion--Helen Woods 1922 Folder 7. Trip to Europe 1923-Woods Folder 8. Bradford Academy- Helen Woods c. 1926-1929 Folder 9. Calling Cards and Invitations--Helen Woods c. 1920's Folder 10. Theatre and Music Programs c. 1924-1926 Folder 11. Sorority Pledges 1926 Folder 12. University of Kansas 1926 Folder 13. Wedding Cards (Woods-Mitchell) Folder 14. Ansel Mitchell (Delayed) Birth Certificate SHSMO-KC August 27, 2013 REVISED K0548 Ansel Nichols Mitchell (1903-1973) Family Papers Page 8 Folder 15. Place Cards and Tallies--Helen Woods Folder 16. K. C. Jockey Club Official Program c. 1928 Folder 17. Robert Patterson Woods Memoir by Engineers 1959 Folder 18. Information on Birmingham, Alabama 1928, 1929 Folder 19. "A Broken Song" Sheet Music Folder 20. Mexican Playing Cards 1908 Folder 21. Theater Program 1954 Folder 22. ANM Calling Cards, Address Cards Folder 23. Blank Stationery (Mrs. Ansel Mitchell) Folder 24. Address Book c. 1960 Folder 25. Humorous Stories written by Josh Billings, "Dooley'"; Bill Nye; Marshall Wilder Folder 26. Survey 5331 Mission Dr. E. and Sale of House 1964, 1968 Folder 27. Information on appliances, 1960s Folder 28. KC Section--American Society of Civil Engineers Supplemental Roster 1970-1971 Folder 29. Blank Job Cards and Elements of Cost, Time and Place Sheet Folder 30. ANM Engineer License 1942 Folder 31. ANM--Engineering License 1948 Folder 32. Ansel N. Mitchell Retirement 1966 Key to City of Prairie Village presentation Folder 33. Ansel N. Mitchell Retirement 1966 Johnson County Herald Folder 34. Ansel N. Mitchell Retirement 1966 The Scout Folder 35. Ansel N. Mitchell Retirement 1966 Kansas City Star and other notices Folder 36. Newspaper--K.C. Flood 1951 Folder 37. Wedding Instructions--Mitchell-MacLaughlin Folder 38. Miscellaneous Folder 39. Clippings-Misc. Folder 40. Clippings-Jessie Miller Nichols (Mrs. J. C.) 1951 Folder 41. Newspaper Clippings-Family Folder 42. Newspaper Clippings-Marriage of Helen Woods Mitchell and James Starnes 1957 SHSMO-KC August 27, 2013 REVISED K0548 Ansel Nichols Mitchell (1903-1973) Family Papers Page 9 Folder 43. Mrs. Ansel Mitchell File (in small accordian file), undated: contains swatches of wallpaper, rugs; newspaper clippings Folder 44. Envelope Portfolio containing newspaper clippings, samples of job printing for newspapers, and letters to newspaper editors, 1881- 1900 (mentions a General Robert Mitchell) BOX 007 PHOTOGRAPHS Folder 1. Jesse Miller Nichols, 1916- portrait Folder 2. Maude Nichols [Mitchell]- group portrait Folder 3. J.C. Nichols-portraits Folder 4. Bradford Academy, c. 1925 Folder 5. Ansel N. Mitchell ? –portraits Folder 6. Ansel Mitchell, c. 1930s- photographic proofs, poor condition Folder 7. Helen Woods Mitchell c. 1928, unidentified woman-portraits Folder 8. Jeanne and Joanna Mitchell, c. 1930s Folder 9. Silhouettes, Jeanne and Joanna Mitchell 1940 Folder 10. Family dogs and children, c. 1930s-1950s Folder 11. Mrs. Joanna Jackson Nichols Folder 12. Negatives Folder 13. Nichols Family; Miller, Eleanor, family home 1936, 1941 Folder 14. Photograph Album, primarily Jeanne and Joanna Mitchell, 1930s- 1950s Folder 15. Joanna Jackson [Nichols]-group portrait Folder 16. Joanna Jackson Nichols Folder 17. 19th Century Photograph Album- Mitchell, Kenea, Thorn, names mentioned Folder 18. Pugs, 1963 Folder 19. Trip, 1952? Folder 20. Grant and Steven? Folder 21. Postcard Collection (1 of 3) Folder 22. Postcard Collection (2 of 3) Folder 23. Postcard Collection (3 of 3) SHSMO-KC August 27, 2013 REVISED K0548 Ansel Nichols Mitchell (1903-1973) Family Papers Page 10 BOX 008 PHOTOGRAPHS Folder 1. Photographs--Nichols Family (?) Unidentified c. 1900, early 1900's Folder 2. Photographs--Nichols/Mitchell (?) Unidentified c. 1900 Folder 3. Photographs--Nichols Family (?) Unidentified c. 1900 Folder 4. Photographs--Ansel, Helen Mitchell and Children Folder 5. Photograph--E. Miller 1929 Folder 6. Photographs--Z. N. (?) and Fannie Jackson Folder 7. Photograph--Joanna Jackson Nichols Folder 8. Photograph--Maude Nichols Mitchell Folder 9. Photographs--Clyde Nichols Family c. 1940's Folder 10. Photographs--Family and Friends c. 1900-1950's Folder 11. Photographs--J. C. Nichols family at Christmas c. 1930's Folder 12. Photographs--J. C. Nichols High School picture (also Miller and Eleanor?) Folder 13. Photographs--W. A. Mitchell Folder 14. Photographs--Miller and Eleanor Nichols as children (?) c. 1917. Folder 15. Photographs--Eleanor Nichols c. 1912, and Family c. 1940's Folder 16. Photographs--Miller Nichols and family Folder 17. Photographs--Miller and Clyde Nichols as children Folder 18. Photographs--Nichols Family (and Mitchell ?) Folder 19. Photographs--Ansel Mitchell: At age 10 (?); graduation from University of Kansas (1925) Folder 20. Photographs--Ansel Mitchell: Childhood friends and unidentified adult (all undated) Folder 21. Minnesota - Lake Darling, 1937 Folder 22. Hot Springs, Arkansas, 1937, 1940, 1987 Folder 23. Taos, New Mexico, 1941 Folder 24. Louisiana - Grand Isle, 1946 Folder 25. Cruise to Haiti, 1947 Folder 26. New Orleans, Summer 1947 Folder 27. Bandera, Texas, Spring 1949 Folder 28. Waynesville, Missouri - Pippin Place, Fall 1949 SHSMO-KC August 27, 2013 REVISED