Mepham Family Papers

Collection

Identifier: A1027

Staff Only

Scope and Contents

The collection consists primarily of receipts, accounts, correspondence, and other papers regarding the businesses of M.S. Mepham & Bro., the St. Louis Paint Manufacturing Company, and George S. Mepham & Co. in St. Louis. The collection also contains receipts, correspondence, and other business papers of M.S. Mepham from the 1830s and 1840s, prior to his arrival in St. Louis; several documents relating to the Civil War, many of which do not appear to be related to the Mepham family; papers regarding the steamboats owned by the Mephams, most notably the M.S. Mepham and the Minnie; a check signed by Brigham Young, 1872; invitation to a Socialist Party demonstration with Mother Jones speaking, 1905; a few items from the maiden voyage of the R.M.S. Olympic, 1911; and some personal Mepham family correspondence and papers.

Dates

1832-1947
Majority of material found within 1832-1899

Creator

Mepham family (Creator, Family)

Conditions Governing Access

The collection is open for research use.

Conditions Governing Use

For permission to publish, quote from, or reproduce material in this collection, please contact the Archives Reference Desk at archives@mohistory.org. Copyright restrictions may apply. The researcher assumes full responsibility for conforming to the laws of copyright.

Biographical Sketches

Michael S. Mepham was born in Kent, England, in 1828, and came to the United States with his family while he was a child. The family settled in Ulster County, New York, then moved to Henderson County, Kentucky, circa 1839, and moved further west to Dardanelle, Arkansas, in the 1840s. In the late 1840s, M.S. Mepham moved to St. Louis, Missouri, where he established the firm of M.S. Mepham & Bro. with his brother William G. Mepham, in the early 1850s. M.S. Mepham & Bro. were importers and wholesale dealers in fruits, nuts, and cigars. In the 1860s, M.S. Mepham & Bro. became the owners of several steamboats that ran between St. Louis and New Orleans. M.S. Mepham was interested in archaeology and had a collection of artifacts and Indian relics. He died May 25, 1882, in St. Louis. After M.S. Mepham’s death, the firm of M.S. Mepham & Bro. was succeeded by the St. Louis Paint Manufacturing Company, with William G. Mepham serving as president. William G. Mepham died August 7, 1894, in St. Louis. George S. Mepham, the son of M.S. Mepham, established the firm George S. Mepham & Co., manufacturers of paint pigments, in 1890. He retired in 1920 and devoted time to his interest in archaeology and antiquities. He was a passenger on the maiden voyage of the steamer Olympic in 1911. He died December 24, 1930, in St. Louis at the age of 74.

Extent

0.68 Cubic Feet ( (1 box; 1 oversize folder; 1 volume))

Language of Materials

English

Additional Description

Arrangement

The collection is arranged chronologically.

Physical and Technical Requirements

There are no physical or technical restrictions.

Donor Information

The letter book of George S. Mepham, dated 1871-1885, was purchased from a manuscript dealer, Paul H. North, Jr., on December 26, 1951. A collection of Mepham family papers and other manuscripts were donated by Mrs. Philo Stevenson on November 10, 1953. The checks signed M. Goldsoll; and Mepham family papers including 1880s tax receipts, cash book, envelopes, and list of Indian curiosities lent by M.S. Mepham for exhibit at Buffalo were donated by Mrs. Philo S. Stevenson (courtesy of Mrs. Arthur C. Hoskins) on November 22, 1963.