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Meissner Family Papers

 Collection
Identifier: A1025

Scope and Contents

The collection consists primarily of family correspondence to Gustave Meissner and his wife, Alvina Meissner. Principal correspondents include Gustave’s brother Wilhelm Meissner and Wilhelm’s wife, Elfriede Meissner; Gustave’s brother Fritz Meissner; and Gustave’s business partner Isidor Bush and Isidor’s wife, Teresa Bush.

Dates

  • 1862-1953; no date

Creator

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 Sketch

Gustave Edward Meissner was born March 16, 1843, in Muehlhausen, Germany, and came to the United States with his parents (Carl August Meissner and Amelia Roebling Meissner) in 1851, settling on Staten Island, New York. He married Alvina Niemeyer of Staten Island in 1867, and soon thereafter they moved to Waterloo, Iowa. In 1870 he took a position with Isidor Bush & Son, wine growers, in St. Louis. Two years later he became a partner in the firm, now known as Bush & Son & Meissner. In the 1870s, the firm sent vine cuttings to France to help that country reestablish their vineyards, which had been ravaged by attacks of phylloxera. Gustave Meissner became a well-known horticulturist and viticulturist. He died January 2, 1898, at his home in Bushberg, Jefferson County, Missouri. His wife, Mrs. Alvina Meissner died March 22, 1934, in Jefferson County.

Extent

0.5 Cubic Feet ( (1 box))

Language of Materials

German

English

French

Arrangement

The collection is arranged chronologically. English translations of the German letters are available in the PDF finding aid.

Physical and Technical Requirements

There are no physical or technical restrictions.

Donor Information

The papers were donated to the Missouri Historical Society by Mr. and Mrs. Richard J. Merkle in November 1967.

Processing Information

Processed by Dennis Northcott, June 2016. Translations by Sven Eliasson.

Creator

Title
Inventory of Meissner Family Papers
Status
Completed
Author
EAD by Jaime Bourassa using ArchivesSpace
Date
English
Description rules
Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Language of description
English
Script of description
Latin
Language of description note
English

Repository Details

Part of the Missouri Historical Society Library and Research Center Repository

Contact:
225 S. Skinker Blvd.
St. Louis MO 63105 United States
314-746-4510