INDIANAPOLIS CASKET COMPANY
RECORDS, 1907-1984


Collection #
M 0419
BV 2154-2158
OM 0368


Table of Contents

Collection Information
Historical Sketch
Scope and Content Note
Box and Folder List
Cataloging Information

 Processed
Sally Carr Childs-Helton
January 1985
Reboxed
November 1997

Updated 3 January 2002

Manuscript Collections Department
William Henry Smith Memorial Library
Indiana Historical Society
450 West Ohio Street
Indianapolis, IN 46202-3269
www.indianahistory.org

 


COLLECTION INFORMATION

VOLUME OF COLLECTION:

59 manuscript boxes, 5 Bound Volumes, 2 oversize folders, 5 artifacts.

COLLECTION DATES:

1907-1984

PROVENANCE:

Indiana University Archives, Indianapolis, Indiana, January 1985; Bruce Brown and James R. Lee, Indianapolis, Indiana, February 1985.

RESTRICTIONS:

Box 12 Employee Records, restricted for 50 years due to personal nature of contents.

REPRODUCTION RIGHTS:

Permission to reproduce or publish material in this collection must be obtained in writing from the Indiana Historical Society.

ALTERNATE FORMATS:

None

OTHER FINDING AIDS:

None

RELATED HOLDINGS:

 

ACCESSION NUMBER:

1985.0214, 1985.0216, 1985.0217

NOTES:

 


HISTORICAL SKETCH

The Indianapolis Casket Company was incorporated in South Dakota on September 17, 1907 by Carey D. John of Indianapolis, James McLaren of Shelbyville, Indiana, Daniel F. Randolph of Waldron, Indiana, and Eli T. and N.A. Spencer of Gregory, South Dakota. McLaren served as the first president, John as secretary, and Randolph as treasurer. The original plant was to have been in South Dakota, with business offices in Indianapolis.

The company was reorganized on February 4 or 5, 1908. Seven men, all of Shelbyville, filed articles of incorporation with Fred A. Sims, the Secretary of State of Indiana. The reorganizers listed were: William N. Frechtling, B.A. Harding, Oscar E. Lewis, James McLaren, H.E. Schortermeier, Harvey M. Thompson, and Charles Williamson. Officers were James McLaren, president, H.E. Schortermeier, vice president, and Oscar Lewis, secretary-treasurer. The first annual meeting of the stockholders was held on February 16, 1909, at the company offices in Shelbyville.

In June 1909, the company purchased the building at its 521 W. North Street, Indianapolis location and moved its plant and office from Shelbyville to the new site. H.E. Schortermeier served as president from about 1912 until his death in 1938. His son, Frederick E., took over as president after his father's death. Oscar E. Lewis maintained the position of secretary; his son Ralph W. gained the position in 1941.

The Indiana University Foundation bought the company in July 1984 from Amedco, Inc. for $220,000. The still-functioning business was closed in August of 1984; the building was demolished in the spring of 1985 and was replaced by a parking lot for Indiana University-Purdue University at Indianapolis.

Originally, the company built wooden cloth-covered caskets, with a few hardwood finishes. As the funeral industry changed, the company began producing more hardwood and metal-shelled caskets. The company manufactured its own casket interiors, and most of its casket exteriors as well. A "custom house," it manufactured caskets to the specifications of individual funeral directors, and sold to funeral homes and suppliers in Indiana, Ohio, Illinois, Kentucky, and Michigan.

Sources:
"Casket Company Demolished to Make Way for Parking Lot." The Sagamore, February 25, 1985, p. 4.
"Indianapolis Casket Company Has Golden Anniversary." Unidentified news article, 1958.


SCOPE AND CONTENT NOTE

 

The records of the Indianapolis Casket Company (1907-1984) are contained in 56 manuscript boxes, and 5 bound volumes and include artifacts. The large majority of the materials came from the Indiana University Archives; early minutes, audits, and a casket catalog came from Bruce Brown and James R. Lee, both company directors, officers and employees. The records are far from complete, but do cover the entire history of the company, and all areas of the business are represented.

PART 1, Early Papers and Records, 1907-1935, is contained in Box 1, folders 1-5. The early correspondence and articles and certificates of incorporation include information about the founding and reorganization of the company. The annual reports and miscellaneous records contain information about the stock, officers, and finances of the business. The license board applications give information about the building, number of employees, etc.

PART 2, of the collection contains Sales and Customer Records, 1930-1969. Business correspondence is in Box 1, folders 6-11 (1954-1969) and includes correspondence with the company's insurance company and with its major supplier.
Boxes 1 (folders 12-20) and 2 (folders 1-23) contain correspondence concerning accounts and collection from individual funeral homes. Box 3, (folders 1-7) has records and correspondence from the Funeral Supply Credit Association, an organization created to help funeral industry suppliers and manufacturers collect their debts from funeral homes. The information in Boxes 1 (folders 12-20) 2, and 3 (folders 1-7) is especially interesting in that it points to the economic problem in the funeral industry of the continued indebtedness of many funeral home directors to their suppliers. The correspondence also reveals the attitudes of those working in the funeral industry about the industry and death in general.
Box 3 (folders 8-12) contains convention information and correspondence, 1948-1959. Included are programs of various funeral directors association conventions, applications for merchant display space, etc. Salesmen's commission statements, correspondence, and sales itineraries (1948-1964) are in Boxes 3 (folders 13-18) and 4 (folders 1-5).

PART 3, Stock, Finance and Tax Records (1907-1984), is in Boxes 4 folder 6 through Box 9 folder 7. Box 4 (folders 6-18) contains stockholders records and correspondence, 1907-1961. Early stock records and certificates date from 1907 to 1912; stockholders lists and correspondence are complete from 1950 to 1961. Financial statements, 1967-1982, are complete for these years and are in Box 5. Box 6 holds administrative and sales payroll records from 1937 to 1953.
Boxes 7 and 8 contain check stubs for the business from April, 1948 to October, 1949. Miscellaneous financial records, 1920-1981, contain reports on audits, a company appraisal, union wage records, a union contract, and an estate settlement. Box 9 contains sales reports, 1977-1984. Sales reports by month and day are complete for 1977-1984, as are gross sales by month. Gross total sales for business years 1977-1980 are also complete.
Box 9 folder 16 through Box 11 hold income tax materials, 1910-19633. Corporation income tax and excess profits returns are in Box 9 folder 16 through Box 10 folder 8, and date from 1910 to 1960. Tax adjustment correspondence and forms for 1917 to 1937 are in Box 10 folders 9-14. Miscellaneous tax records, 1921-1963 are in Box 10 folder 15 through Box 11 and include social security, capitol stock, cotton and property tax materials.

PART 4, Employee Records, 1936-1984, are in four boxes. The cards in Box 12, folders 1-6, give employee information including date of hiring, department, pay scale, and termination; Box 12, folders 7-10 contains similar information. Material in this box is restricted for 50 years due to the personal and sensitive nature of the contents; materials in these boxes may be used for aggregate research only.
Box 13 (folders 1-5) contains employee safety records, 1948-1984. Much of the material is from the Indiana Division of Labor -- IOSHA, the Indiana Department of Commerce and Industry, the U.S. Department of Labor -- Bureau of Labor Statistics, and OSHA. Work injury forms and reports, along with insurance papers, are also included.
Box 13 (folders 6-17) contains contributing reports and eligibility for benefit forms from the Indiana Unemployment Compensation Division (1936-1944) and the Indiana Employment Security Division (1950-1980). These records represent a sampling of materials between 1936 and 1980.

PART 5, Insurance and Property Records, 1924-1965, is in Box 13, folders 18-26. Insurance records (1933-1965) include statements and estimates of value for insurance purposes, and insurance correspondence and policies. Records of the Mae Thompson property, 530-532 N. West Street, contain account books (1924-1939), insurance policies, and mortgage and note records. Property records for various rental properties owned by the Casket Company are samples of rental debit/credit statements for the years from 1941-1955.

PART 6, Manufacturer's Records, dating from 1910 to 1984 are in Box 14. Folders 1-18 contain departmental records and statistics, 1941-1984. Included are departmental expenses, payroll records, statistics, and purchase and supply records. Folders 19-26 hold miscellaneous government reports and surveys, 1914-1952. Ceiling Price Regulation #22 materials date from 1949 to 1952. Questionnaires, surveys, and a census of manufacturers date from 1914 to 1939. Annual Domestic Corporation Reports (1929-1924) and War Production Board Plant Report of Operation forms (1942-1943) are also included. Physical plant records are in folders 27-30 and include dry kiln, showroom addition and floor space apportionment materials, 1910-1951, and blueprints.

PART 7, (Box 15 folders 1-8), Price Lists, Catalogs and Advertising, dates from 1931 to 1984. An illustrated casket catalog and price list from 1931 are included, along with salesmen's pricing notebooks (1949-1984), a notebook of price lists containing suggested retail prices, wholesale sundry prices, casket mark-up tables, and price increase lists for casket shells.

PART 8, Ledgers and Notebooks, is contained in Box 30, folder 9 through Box 46. Box 30 contains small notebooks and ledgers, 1951-1984, listing unit cost, monthly production, cost per unit by job, day-by-day production record by date, model and description, and labor cost per unit.
Ledgers in Boxes 16-46 were removed from their original bindings and kept in their original order. Whenever possible, ledger sections have been placed in separate folders. Many of these ledgers are difficult to date precisely. Most ledgers give no date range on the original bindings, and in many cases the contents are not consecutively dated. Therefore, some date ranges are approximate, but contain the major range of dates represented in the ledger.
Boxes 16-24, folder 3 contain four transfer ledgers dating from 1927 to 1955; dates given are accurate. Four ledgers of accounts payable and receivable are in Boxes 24, folder 4 through Box 32 folder 3, and date from ca. 1918-ca. 1954. These are arranged alphabetically by business, and the dates are approximate. The accounts receivable sections reflect the chronic indebtedness of many funeral homes to their suppliers.
A storage ledger, 1927-1965, is in Box 32 folder 4 through Box 33 folder 6. Boxes 34-36 contains a summary ledger, ca. 1964-ca. 1977, with numerous categories, and an employee records ledger, 1946-1951. The employee ledger is arranged in the original chronologically reversed order. Boxes 37-46 contain five general ledgers dating from ca. 1955-ca. 1976; some of the dates are approximate.

PART 9, Boxes 47 through 59 folder 6, contains shipping orders, 1960 and 1976, and ledger cards, ca. 1955-ca.1970. The shipping orders are arranged by funeral home and are representative of the range of years. Casket descriptions are given in detail. The ledger cards include records of the dry kiln service, inactive accounts, and accounts payable and receivable.

PART 10, (Box 59, folder 7 and stored as BV’s 2154-2158) Bound Volumes, date from 1908 to 1984. BV 2154 is the secretary's records and stock accounts, 1908-1910. Early board of directors minutes, 1910-1918, are in BV 2155. BV's 2156 and 2157 are ledgers giving job or model number, job or part description, how many done or made, date, and contain a running ledger of parts completed. BV 2158 is a ledger containing a running inventory of incoming materials and supplies. The left-hand pages give the sender name and how shipped; the right-hand page gives the items delivered and how many of each.

PART 11, Artifacts, (Box 59 folder 8, and stored as R1073, R1074, R1075, R1076) include samples of casket linings, exterior and wood casket finishes.


BOX AND FOLDER LIST

PART 1: EARLY PAPERS AND RECORDS, 1907-1935

Box 1: Early Papers and Records, 1907-1935

FOLDER

CONTENTS

1

Early Correspondence, 1907-1910; ND

2

Articles and Certificates of Incorporation, 1907 By-Laws, 1908?

3

Corporation Annual Reports, 1911-1928

4

Miscellaneous Early Records, 1908-ca. 1919; ND

5

Industrial Board of Indiana - License Board - License Applications, 1930-1935

 

PART 2: SALES AND CUSTOMER RECORDS, 1930-1969

Business Correspondence, 1954-1969; ND

FOLDER

CONTENTS

6

Business Men's Assurance-1958-1969

7

Stanley Supply Company-1954

8

Stanley Supply Company-1955

9

Stanley Supply Company-1956-1957

10

Stanley Supply Company-1958-1960; ND

11

Miscellaneous Business Correspondence-1957-1964

 

Accounts and Collection Correspondence by Funeral Home, A-G 1945-1964

FOLDER

CONTENTS

12

A-1945-1961

13

B-1948-1964

14

C-1952-1963

15

D-1947-1968

16

E-1957

17

Faulkner Funeral Home - 1945-1961

18

FI to FR - 1952-1963

19

G - 1951-1961

20

Grandstaff Funeral Home - 1948-1958

 

Box 2: Accounts and Collection Correspondence by Funeral Home, H-N 1944-1965

FOLDER

CONTENTS

1

HA-1948-1958

2

HE-1956-1963

3

HI to HZ-1953-1961

4

I-1959-1965

5

J-1954-1960

6

K-1956-1959

7

L-1946-1962

8

MA-1949-1965

9

ME to MZ-1946-1961

10

Harry O. Miller Funeral Home, 1950-1955

11

Harry O. Miller Funeral Home, 1956-1961

12

N-1954-1961

 

Accounts and Collection Correspondence by Funeral Home, P-Z 1930-1965

FOLDER

CONTENTS

13

Parpart Funeral Home, 1963-1964

14

Patton Funeral Home, 1952-1961

15

PA to PZ, 1955-1964

16

R-1949-1963

17

S-1951-1963

18

T-1953-1959

19

U-1954-1960

20

V-1951-1955

21

WA-1930-1960

22

WH to WI-1945-1965

23

Y to Z-1954-1960

 

Box 3: Funeral Supply Credit Association Records and Correspondence, 1935-1959; ND

FOLDER

CONTENTS

1

1935

2

1953-1954

3

1955

4

1956

5

1957, January-June

6

1957, July-December

 

7*1958-1959; ND

Convention Information and Correspondence, 1948-1959

FOLDER

CONTENTS

8

llinois Funeral Directors Association-1948-1950; 1952; 1957

9

Indiana Funeral Directors Association-1948-1954; 1956-1959

10

Funeral Directors Association of Kentucky-1948

11

National Funeral Directors Association-1958

12

Ohio Funeral Directors Association-1948-1950; 1952-1957; 1959

 

Salesmen's Commission Statements and Correspondence 1948-1964

FOLDER

CONTENTS

13

Grout, Fred J.-Commission Statements, 1955-1964.

14

Hanson, Webster-Commission Statements, 1955-1959.

15

Savage, Keith-Commission Statements, 1954-1958; Correspondence, 1954-1958

16

Todd, Byron-Commission Statements, 1955-1959; Correspondence, 1948-1958.

17

Trippel, Edward-Commission Statements, 1957-1959; Correspondence, 1957-1959

18

Underwood, Tom-Commission Statements, 1958-1962.

 

Box 4: Salesmen's Correspondence and Sales Itineraries, 1952-1960

FOLDER

CONTENTS

1

Grout, Fred J.-Correspondence, 1952-1959

2

Hanson, Webster-Correspondence, 1955-1960

3

Jackson, John-Correspondence, 1959-1960

4

Jackson, John-Sales Itinerary, 1959-1960

5

Underwood, Thomas-Sales Itinerary, 1958-1959

 

PART 3: STOCK, FINANCE AND TAX RECORDS, 1907-1984

Stock and Stockholders Records and Correspondence, 1907-1961

FOLDER

CONTENTS

6

Stock Records and Certificates, 1907-1912

7

Stockholders List, 1928.

7

Stockholders List, 1950-1951. Includes correspondence 1951

9

Stockholders List, 1951-1952. Includes correspondence 1951-1952

10

Stockholders List, 1952-1953. Includes correspondence 1952-1953

11

Stockholders List, 1953-1954. Includes correspondence 1953

12

Stockholders List, 1954-1955.

13

Stockholders List, 1955-1956. Includes correspondence 1955

14

Stockholders List, 1956-1957. Includes correspondence 1956

15

Stockholders List, 1957-1958. Includes correspondence 1958

16

Stockholders List, 1958-1959.

17

Stockholders List, 1959-1960. Includes correspondence 1959-1960

18

Stockholders List, 1960-1961. Includes correspondence 1961

 

Box 5: Financial Statements, 1967-1982

FOLDER

CONTENTS

1

1967-1968, 1968-1969

2

1969-1970, 1970-1971

3

1971-1972, 1972-1973

4

1973-1974, 1974-1975, 1974-1975 (includes supplemental data)

5

1975-1976, 1976-1977

6

1977-1978, 1978-1979

7

1981-1982

 

Box 6: Administrative and Sales Payroll Records, 1937-1953

Box 7: Check Stubs, April 1948-March 1949

Box 8: Check Stubs, April 1949-October 1949

Box 9: Miscellaneous Financial Records, 1920-1981

FOLDER

CONTENTS

1

Report on Audit, 1920

2

Report on Audit, 1921

3

Accounts and Financial Records, 1955

4

Appraisal of the Indianapolis Casket Company, ca. 1971

5

Notes Receivable, 1932-1941

6

Union Wage Records and Union Contract, 1947

7

Oscar Corbin/Carl Mains Estate Settlement, 1953-1957

 

Sales Reports, 1977-1984

FOLDER

CONTENTS

8

Sales Reports by Month and Day - 1977-1979

9

Sales Reports by Month and Day - 1980-1981

10

Sales Reports by Month and Day - 1982-1984

11

Gross Sales by Month - 1977-1979

12

Gross Sales by Month - 1980-1981

13

Gross Sales by Month - 1982-1984

14

Sales - Gross Total - Business Year July 1977-June 1978

15

Sales - Gross Total - Business Year July 1979-June 1980

Corporation Income and Excess Profits Tax Returns, 1910-1942

FOLDER

CONTENTS

16

1910-1918

17

1918-1919

18

1919-1920

19

1920-1925

20

1933-1937

21

1937-1942

 

Box 10: Corporation Income and Excess Profits Tax Returns, 1942-1957; Corporation Income Tax Returns, 1922-1960

FOLDER

CONTENTS

1

1942-1945

2

1945-1951

 

Corporation Income Tax Returns, 1922-1960

FOLDER

CONTENTS

3

1922-1925

4

1924-1929

5

1929-1933

6

1950-1953

7

1953-1957

8

1957-1960

I.R.S. Tax Adjustment Correspondence and Forms, 1917-1937

FOLDER

CONTENTS

9

1917-1920

10

1921

11

1922

12

1923

13

1924-1929

14

1934-1937

 

Miscellaneous Tax Records, 1921-1963

FOLDER

CONTENTS

15

Employer's Quarterly Tax Returns, 1951-1955

16

Employer's Quarterly Tax Returns, 1956-1959

17

Employer's Quarterly Tax Returns, 1960-1963

 

Box 11: Miscellaneous Tax Records, 1921-1963

FOLDER

CONTENTS

1

Employer's Tax Returns-Social Security, 1938-1945

2

Employer's Excise Tax Returns, 1936-1962

3

Capital Stock Tax, 1921-1945

4

Tax Assessment Records, 1931-1947

5

Cotton Processing and Floor Stock Tax Materials, 1933

6

Miscellaneous Federal Tax Records, 1916-1931

7

Property Taxes-Marion County, 1911-1930

8

Property Taxes-Marion County, 1935-1950

 

PART 4: EMPLOYEE RECORDS, 1936-1984

Box 12: Employment and Pay Scale Records, A-Z, 1946-1984 (50 YEAR RESTRICTION--To Be Used For Aggregate Research Only)

FOLDER

CONTENTS

1

A-F 1946-1984

2

F-H

3

I-L

4

M-O

5

P-R

6

S-Z

7

A-C-1977-1983

8

D-J-1978-1983

9

K-M-1979-1984

10

P-W-1981-1983

 

Box 13: Employee Safety Records, 1948-1984

FOLDER

CONTENTS

1

Indiana Division of Labor-IOSHA Violation Forms and Correction of Violation Correspondence, 1974-1984

2

U.S. Department of Labor-Bureau of Labor Statistics and OSHA Work Injury Forms, 1948-1983

3

Indiana Department of Commerce and Industry-Industrial Board Division. Employer's Report to Industrial Board of Injury to Employees-1954-1983

4

Employer's First Report of Injury Form-Hartford Accident and Indemnity Company - 1949-1954; 1972-1983

5

Correspondence Relating to Employee Injury-1950-1982

 

Indiana Unemployment Compensation Division/Indiana Employment Security Division Records, 1936-1980

FOLDER

CONTENTS

6

Indiana Unemployment Compensation Division-Monthly Contribution Reports-1936

7

Indiana Unemployment Compensation Division-Quarterly Contribution Reports-1937

8

Indiana Unemployment Compensation Division-Quarterly Contribution Reports-1941

9

Indiana Unemployment Compensation Division-Quarterly Contribution Reports-1944

10

Indiana Employment Security Division-Quarterly Contribution Reports-1950

11

Indiana Employment Security Division-Quarterly Contribution Reports-1954

12

Indiana Employment Security Division-Quarterly Contribution Reports-1957

13

Indiana Employment Security Division-Quarterly Contribution Reports-1960

14

Indiana Employment Security Division-Quarterly Contribution Reports-1963

15

Indiana Employment Security Division-Notice of Contribution Rate Determination-1940-1462

16

Indiana Employment Security Division-Determination of Eligibility for Benefit Forms -1951-1963

17

Indiana Employment Security Division-Determination of Eligibility for Benefit Forms -1973-1980

 

PART 5: INSURANCE AND PROPERTY RECORDS, 1924-1965

Insurance Records, 1933-1965; Mae Thompson Property Records, 1924-1939

FOLDER

CONTENTS

18

Statement of Values for Insurance Purposes-Indiana Inspections Bureau-1934-1938

19

Estimates of Value-Building, Machinery and Equipment-Indiana Lumbermans Mutual Insurance Company-1959

20

Insurance Correspondence, 1933-1942; Insurance Policy on Warehouse, Alger, Ohio-1962-1965

21

Records of the Mae Thompson Property-1924-1939

 

-Account book, 1924-ca. 1929

 

-Account book, 1933-1935

 

-Account book, 1936-1939

 

-Fire and Windstorm Policies Issued to Mae S. Thompson for Properties at 530-532 N. West St, 1930-1939

 

-Mortgage and Note Correspondence, Figures, Certificates-1932-1933; 1939

 

-Miscellaneous Insurance Correspondence

22

519 and 521 N. California St.-1944; 1955-Rental Properties

23

537, 541, 543, 545 N. California St.-1941; 1955-Rental Properties

24

603 and 605 N. California St.-1947; 1955-Rental Properties

25

517 and 519 W. North St -1941; 1955-Rental Properties

26

W. North St. Properties-1941; 1945-Rental Properties

 

PART 6: MANUFACTURER'S RECORDS, 1910-1984

Box 14: Departmental Records and Statistics, 1941-1984

FOLDER

CONTENTS

1

Statistics for Jobbed Accounts, Supplies, Repairs-1952-1981

2

Statistics by Month for Jobbed Accounts, Factory Supplies, Repairs, Purchases-1980-1982

3

Departmental and Factory Expenses by Month-1980-1981

4

Departmental and Factory Expenses by Month-1982

5

Departmental Productive Labor and Overhead Records, 1980-1984

6

Departmental Payroll Records and Statistics, 1952-1984

7

Departmental Operation Numbers, 1951-1978

8

Unit Payroll Costs, 1958

9

Shipping Department Purchase and Supply Records-1979-1984; ND

10

Finishing Room Purchase and Supply Records-1941-1984

11

Sewing Room Purchase and Supply Records-1970-1982

12

Cloth Room Purchase and Supply Records-1980-1983

13

Cabinet Room Statistics and Supply Records-1964-1984

14

Mill Room Purchase and Supply Records-1954-1983; ND

15

Millroom-Labor and Cost Per Unit Figures, 1954-1966

16

Dry Kiln Operations Handbook and Product Flyer - ND

17

Belt Conveyor Purchase and Supply Records-1950-1951

18

Truck Driver Records, 1983-1984

 

Miscellaneous Government Reports and Surveys, 1914-1952

FOLDER

CONTENTS

19

Ceiling Price Regulation #22, Office of Price Stabilization-Manufacturer's Price Adjustment Reports, 1949

20

Ceiling Price Regulation #22, Office of Price Stabilization-Material Cost Adjustment and Cost Summary Forms, 1949-1951

21

Ceiling Price Regulation #22, Office of Price Stabilization-Correspondence and Notices, 1951-1952

22

Ceiling Price Regulation #22, Office of Price Stabilization - Miscellaneous Forms and Papers, 1950-1952

23

Department of Commerce-Census of Manufacturers, 1914-1939

24

Corporate and Industrial Questionnaires and Surveys, ca. 1920; 1928; ca. 1938

25

Annual Domestic Corporation Report for Indiana Corporations, 1929-1939

26

War Production Board Plant Report of Operations, 1942-1943

 

Physical Plant Records, 1910-1951

FOLDER

CONTENTS

27

Dry Kiln Materials, 1910; 1931-1933 (See also OM 0368)

28

Showroom Addition Materials, 1935

29

Floor Space Apportionment, 1951

30

Building Specifications and Plans (See also OM 0368, stored in Flat File: FF 20-b, for architectural drawings)

PART 7: PRICE LISTS, CATALOGS AND ADVERTISING, 1931-1984; ND

Box 15: Price Lists, Catalogs and Advertising, 1931-1984; ND

FOLDER

CONTENTS

1

Casket Catalog "F", 1931

2

Price List for Catalog "F", 1931

3

Salesman's Pricing Notebook, 1949

4

Salesman's Pricing Notebook, 1960-1983

5

Salesman's Pricing Notebook, 1978-1984

6

Notebook - pricing lists. Suggested selling prices, prices of sundries to funeral directors 1975 and 1982, mark-up tables 1964, pricing schedules.

7

Price lists and correspondence-price increases in casket shells, 1966-1981

8

Advertising and order post card, ND

 

PART 8: LEDGERS AND NOTEBOOKS, ca. 1918-1984

Miscellaneous Small Notebooks and Ledgers, 1951-1984

FOLDER

CONTENTS

9

Notebook-Unit cost, 1951-1980; Recap of monthly production, 1954-1968.

10

Notebook-Cost per unit by job, 1976-1983.

11

Notebook-Day-by-day production record by date, model and description-1982-1984

12

Ledger-Labor cost per unit, 1984

 

Box 16: Ledger-Transfer General Records, No. 1 March 1927 to Dec. 1928

FOLDER

CONTENTS

1

Comparative P & L Statement, 1927-1928 Comparative Monthly Statements, 1926-1928

2

Cash Received, July 1930-Oct. 1931

3

Cash Received, Nov. 1931-Dec. 1932

4

Cash Received, Jan 1933-Dec. 1933

5

Cash Received, Jan. 1934-June 1934

6

Check Record, Mar. 1927-Dec. 1928

 

Box 17: Ledger-Transfer General Records, No. 1 Jan. 1929 to Oct. 1928

FOLDER

CONTENTS

1

Check Record, Jan, 1929-April 1930

2

Check Record, May 1930-Jan. 1932

3

Check Record, Feb. 1932-June 1934

4

Bank Statement, July 1927-June 1934

5

Invoices Payable, March 1927-Oct. 1928

 

Box 18: Ledger-Transfer General Records, No. 1 Nov. 1928 to July 1934

FOLDER

CONTENTS

1

Invoices Payable, Nov. 1928-June 1930

2

Invoices Payable, July 1930-March 1932

3

Invoices Payable, April 1932-June 1934

4

Journal, March 1927-June 1934

 

Box 19: Ledger-Transfer General Records No. 2 Indianapolis Casket Company, 1927-1939

FOLDER

CONTENTS

1

Cash Received (Outstate), July 1934-Dec. 1936

2

Cash Received (Outstate), Jan. 1937-Dec. 1939

3

Cash Received (Indiana), July 1934-Dec. 1936

4

Cash Received (Indiana), Jan. 1937-Dec. 1939

5

Petty Cash, June 1934-March 1937

6

Petty Cash, April 1937-Dec. 1939

 

Box 20:

FOLDER

CONTENTS

1

Check Record, July 1934-April 1936

2

Check Record, May 1936-Dec. 1937

3

Check Record, Jan. 1938-Dec. 1939

4

Bank Statement, July 1934-Dec. 1939

5

Journal, July 1934-Dec. 1939

6

Invoices Payable, July 1934-Dec. 1935

 

Box 21:

FOLDER

CONTENTS

1

Invoices Payable, Jan. 1936-Dec. 1937

2

Invoices Payable, Jan. 1938-Dec. 1939

3

Distribution, July 1927-June 1939 (dates ca.)

4

General Ledger, June 1927-June 1936 (dates ca.)

5

General Ledger, July 1927-June 1935

6

General Ledger, July 1927-June 1935

 

Transfer Ledger No. 4, 1927-1946

FOLDER

CONTENTS

7

Payroll, July 1942-June 1944

 

Box 22:

FOLDER

CONTENTS

1

Cash Received, Jan. 1944-Dec. 1945

2

Check Record, Dec. 1943-Dec. 1945

3

Distribution, Dec. 1928-Jan. 1937

4

Bank Statement, Jan. 1944-Dec. 1945

5

Invoices Payable, Jan. 1944-Dec. 1945

6

Distribution, July 1927-Jan. 1946

7

Journal, Dec. 1943-Dec. 1945

 

Box 23:

FOLDER

CONTENTS

1

Petty Cash, Dec. 1943-Dec. 1945

2

General Ledger, March 1936-June 1945

 

Transfer Ledger, June 1952-June 1955 (1950-1955)

FOLDER

CONTENTS

3

General Ledger, June 1951-June 1954

4

Cash Receipts, June 1952-June 1955

5

Check Record, May 1952-June 1955

6

Distribution, May 1950-June 1954

 

Box 24:

FOLDER

CONTENTS

1

Bank Statement, Jan. 1952-May 1955

2

Invoice Record, May 1952-June 1955

3

Journal, May 1952-May 1954

 

Ledger - Accounts Payable and Receivable, ca. 1918-ca. 1945

FOLDER

CONTENTS

4

Accounts Payable, A-M-1918-1945

5

Accounts Payable, N-W-1930-1945

6

Accounts Receivable, A-D-1925-1945

 

Box 25

FOLDER

CONTENTS

1

Accounts Receivable, E-J-1928-1945

2

Accounts Receivable, K-P-1923-1945

3

Accounts Receivable, Q-T-1932-1944

4

Accounts Receivable, U-Z-1933-1945

 

Box 26: Ledger Accounts Payable and Receivable, ca. 1920-ca. 1941

FOLDER

CONTENTS

1

Accounts Payable, A-I-1922-1941

2

Accounts Payable, J-P-1925-1941

3

Accounts Payable, R-Y-1926-1941

4

Accounts Receivable, A-B-1926-1941

5

Accounts Receivable, C-D-1929-1940

6

Accounts Receivable, E-G-1919-1941

 

Box 27:

FOLDER

CONTENTS

1

Accounts Receivable, H-I-1920-1940

2

Accounts Receivable, J-L-1923-1937

3

Accounts Receivable, Mc-O-1925-1940

4

Accounts Receivable, P-R-1929-1940

5

Accounts Receivable, S-U-1931-1941

6

Accounts Receivable, V-Z - 1923-1939

 

Box 28: Ledger - Accounts Payable and Receivable, ca. 1925-ca. 1952

FOLDER

CONTENTS

1

Accounts Payable, A-C-ca. 1935-ca. 1950

2

Accounts Payable, D-K-ca. 1937-1950

3

Accounts Payable, L-O-ca. 1940-1950

4

Accounts Payable, P-Y-ca. 1937-ca. 1950

5

Accounts Receivable, A-ca. 1941-ca. 1951

6

Accounts Receivable, B-ca. 1941-ca. 1952

7

Accounts Receivable, C-ca. 1938-ca. 1952

8

Accounts Receivable, D-ca. 1939-ca. 1951

 

Box 29:

FOLDER

CONTENTS

1

Accounts Receivable, E-ca. 1946-ca. 1951

2

Accounts Receivable, F-ca. 1944-ca. 1951

3

Accounts Receivable, G-ca. 1934-ca. 1952

4

Accounts Receivable, H-ca. 1940-ca. 1952

5

Accounts Receivable, I-ca. 1941-ca. 1951

6

Accounts Receivable, J-ca. 1939-ca. 1951

7

Accounts Receivable, K-ca. 1944-ca. 1952

8

Accounts Receivable, L-ca. 1942-ca. 1950

 

Box 30:

FOLDER

CONTENTS

1

Accounts Receivable, M-ca. 1931-ca. 1951

2

Accounts Receivable, Mc-ca. 1944-ca. 1952

3

Accounts Receivable, N-ca. 1944-ca. 1952

4

Accounts Receivable, O-ca. 1940-ca. 1951

5

Accounts Receivable, P-ca. 1939-ca. 1951

6

Accounts Receivable, Q-1947

7

Accounts Receivable, R-ca. 1943-ca. 1950

8

Accounts Receivable, S-ca. 1941-ca. 1950

9

Accounts Receivable, T - ca. 1934-ca. 1951

10

Accounts Receivable, U - ca. 1944-ca. 1952

 

Box 31:

FOLDER

CONTENTS

1

Accounts Receivable, V - ca. 1943-ca. 1952

2

Accounts Receivable, W - ca. 1930-ca. 1950

3

Accounts Receivable, Y - ca. 1925-ca. 1950

4

Accounts Receivable, Z - ca. 1944-ca. 1950

 

Notes and Accounts Receivable, ca. 1942-ca. 1954 Storage Ledger, 1927-1965

FOLDER

CONTENTS

5

Notes Receivable-ca. 1952-ca. 1954

6

Accounts Receivable, A-M-ca. 1942-ca. 1952

7

Accounts Receivable, Mc-Z-ca. 1944-ca. 1953

 

Box 32:

FOLDER

CONTENTS

1

Accounts Receivable, A-G-ca. 1945-ca. 1954

2

Accounts Receivable, H-O-ca. 1948-ca. 1954

3

Accounts Receivable, P-Z-ca. 1946-ca. 1954

 

Storage Ledger, 1927-1965

FOLDER

CONTENTS

4

Assets, Sept. 1944-June 1964

5

Liabilities, June 1927-June 1964; Revenues, June 1954-June 1964

 

Box 33:

FOLDER

CONTENTS

1

Expenses, April 1951-June 1964

2

Outstate Cash Receipts, June 1963-June 1965; Indiana Cash Receipts, June 1963-June 1965

3

Cash Disbursements, July 1963-June 1965

4

Bank Statements, July 1963-June 1965

5

Invoice Record, July 1963-June 1965

6

Journal, May 1963-May 1965

Box 34: Summary Ledger, ca. 1964-ca. 1977 Employee Records Ledger, 1944-1951

FOLDERS

CONTENTS

Folders 1-4

Summary Ledger, ca. 1964-ca. 1977

Ledger contains numerous categories - major ones are listed below.

 

- Merchant's National Bank and Trust, July 1964-June 1977

 

- Accounts Receivable, July 1964-June 1977

 

- Accounts Receivable, Dry Kiln Service, July 1964-May 1968

 

- Accounts Receivable, Employees, July 1964-Dec. 1972

 

- Notes Receivable, July 1965-May 1973

 

- Inventory, June 1964-June 1971

 

- Depreciation - office equipment, office machines, showroom, machinery, heating equipment, etc., July 1964-June 1975

 

- Unexpired Insurance. July 1964-June 1977

 

- Accounts payable, July 1964-June 1977

 

- Notes payable, 1964-1973

 

- State and Local Taxes - ca. 1964-1977

 

- Accrued Salaries and Wages, July 1964-June 1977

 

- Blue Cross Insurance, July 1964-June 1976

 

- Merchandise Sales

 

- Returned Merchandise

 

- Interest

 

- Rental Income

 

- Merchandise Purchased 1964-1975

 

- Freight

 

- Payroll, July 1964-June 1975

 

- Utilities

 

- Repairs

 

- Supplies and Expenses

 

- Commissions, 1964-1975

 

- Salesman Records

 

- Discount on Sales

 

- Travel Expenses

 

- Rental Expenses

 

Some categories later in the ledger duplicate those earlier.

Employee Records, 1944-1951 ( kept in original order)

FOLDER

CONTENTS

5

1951 A-L

6

1951 M-Z

 

Box 35:

FOLDER

CONTENTS

1

1950 A-L

2

1950 M-Z

3

1949 A-Z

4

1948 A-Z

5

1947 A-L

6

1947 M-Z

7

1946 A-L

Box 36:

FOLDER

CONTENTS

1

1946-A-Z

2

1945-A-G

3

1945-H-O

4

1945-P-Z

5

1944-A-Z

 

Box 37: General Ledger, ca. 1955-ca. 1960

FOLDER

CONTENTS

1

Account Balances, 1951-1959

2

Cash Received-1955-1960

3

Cash Received-1956-1959

4

Cash Received-1959-1960

5

Check Record-1955-1956

6

Check Record-1956-1958

 

Box 38:

FOLDER

CONTENTS

1

Check Record - 1958-1959

2

Check Record - 1959-1960

3

Bank Statement - 1955-1960

4

Invoice Record - 1955-1957

5

Invoice Record - 1957-1960

6

Distribution - 1941-1956

 

Box 39:

FOLDER

CONTENTS

1

Journal - 1954-1958

2

Petty Cash - 1951-1956

 

Ledger, 1958-1963

FOLDER

CONTENTS

3

Journal, June 1958-May 1963

4

General Ledger, Nov. 1958-March 1962

5

Checks Drawn, July 1960-Dec. 1961

6

Checks Drawn, Jan. 1962-June 1963

7

Bank Reconcilement, July 1960-June 1963

 

Box 40:

FOLDER

CONTENTS

1

Invoices Payable, July 1960-June 1963

2

Cash Journal, June 1960-June 1963

3

Indiana (accounts), June 1960-June 1963

4

Petty Cash, Dec. 1956-June 1962

 

Ledger, ca. 1965-ca. 1967

FOLDER

CONTENTS

5

Cash Receipts, 1965-1967

6

Petty Cash, 1962-1967

7

Invoices Payable, 1965-1967

 

Box 41:

FOLDER

CONTENTS

1

Distribution, 1938-1961

2

Distribution, 1965-1967

3

Cash Disbursements, 1965-1967

4

Bank Reconciliation, 1965-1967

 

Ledger, ca. 1967-ca. 1969

FOLDER

CONTENTS

5

Cash Received, June 1967-Dec. 1969

6

Indiana Accounts, June 1967-Dec. 1969

7

Petty Cash, March 1967-May 1969

8

Checks Drawn, July 1967-Sept. 1968

 

Box 42:

FOLDER

CONTENTS

1

Checks Drawn, Oct. 1968-Dec. 1969

2

Distribution, Dec. 1928-July 1968

3

Distribution, Aug. 1927-June 1969

4

Bank Reconcilement, July 1967-June 1970

5

Invoices Payable, July 1967-Sept. 1968

6

Invoices Payable, Oct. 1968-Dec. 1969

7

Distribution, July 1930-Feb. 1969

8

Journal, May 1967-May 1970

 

Box 43: Ledger, ca. 1969-ca. 1973

FOLDER

CONTENTS

1

Accounts Payable, Jan. 1970-Dec.1971

2

Accounts Payable, Jan. 1972-June 1973

3

Journal, June 1970-June 1972

4

Disbursements, Jan. 1970-Dec. 1970

5

Disbursements, Jan. 1971-Dec. 1971

6

Disbursements, Jan. 1972-Dec. 1972

 

Box 44:

FOLDER

CONTENTS

1

Disbursements, Jan. 1973-June 1973; Distribution, 1969-1971 (donations)

2

Bank Statement, July 1970-Dec. 1971

3

Bank Statement, Jan. 1972-June 1973

4

Cash Received, Dec. 1969-June 1973

5

Indiana Accounts, Jan. 1970-Dec. 1971

6

Indiana Accounts, Jan. 1972-June 1973; Petty Cash, June 1969-April 1972

 

Box 45: Ledger, 1972-1976

FOLDER

CONTENTS

1

Outstate Receipts, July 1973-June 1976

2

Indiana Receipts, July 1973-Oct. 1974

3

Indiana Receipts, Nov. 1974-June 1976; Petty Cash, May 1972-May 1976

4

Accounts Payable, July 1973-July 1974

5

Accounts Payable, Aug. 1974-June 1976

 

Box 46: Ledger, 1972-1976

FOLDER

CONTENTS

1

Journal, July 1972-April 1976

2

Disbursements, July 1973-July 1974

3

Disbursements, Aug. 1974-July 1975

4

Disbursements, Aug. 1975-June 1976

5

Bank Statement, July 1973-June 1975

6

Bank Statement, July 1975-June 1976

 

PART 9: SHIPPING ORDERS AND LEDGER CARDS, ca. 1955-ca. 1976

Boxes 47-49: Shipping Orders, 1960 A-L

Boxes 50, 51: Shipping Orders, 1960 M-Z

Box 52: Shipping Orders - 1976 A-L

Boxes 53, 54: Shipping Orders - 1976 M-Z

Box 55: Ledger Cards, ca. 1955-ca. 1970

Box 56: Dry Kiln Service - ca. 1956-ca. 1963; Inactive Accounts - ca. 1968-ca. 1970

Box 57: Accounts Payable - ca. 1955-ca. 1975

Boxes 58, 59: Accounts Receivable - ca. 1955-ca. 1965

PART 10: BOUND VOLUMES, 1908-1984

Box 59:

Folder 7:

CONTENTS

BV 2154

Secretary's Record and Stock Accounts-1908-1910

BV 2155

Minutes, Board of Directors, 1910-1918

BV 2156

Ledger, April 1948-July 1962

 

Handwritten ledger giving job or model number (?), job or part description, how many done or made, and date. Running inventory of parts completed.

BV 2157

Ledger, July 1962-May 1984; Continuation of the ledger above. Ca. 2/3 empty.

BV 2158

Ledger, May 1972-February 1975

 

Running inventory of incoming materials and supplies. The left-hand side of the page gives the vendor name and how shipped. The right-hand page gives the items delivered, and how many of each.

 

Part 11: ARTIFACTS:

Box 59:
Folder 8:

3 sample books of casket linings (See R1073, R1074, R1075)

1 packet of 3 samples of casket exterior finishes (See R1072)

1 sample book of wood casket finishes (See R1076)


CATALOGING INFORMATION

For additional information on this collection, including a list of subject headings that may lead you to related materials:

  1. Go to the Indiana Historical Society's online catalog
  2. Click on the "Local Catalog" icon.
  3. Search for the collection by its call number, using the letter or letters designation and four digits (e.g., M 0715, SC 2234).
  4. When you find the collection, go to the "Holdings" screen for a list of headings that can be searched for related materials.

END