Arthur J. Kiser Papers
Abstract
Arthur J. Kiser (1871-1962) was a dentist and amateur poet from Colorado Springs, Colorado, and a graduate of the Baltimore College of Dental Surgery. His papers are comprised of his poetry, sheet music, political cartoons, and a letter to University of Maryland President Harry Clifton Byrd. Topics include dental work, politics, the World Wars, gold mining, and Spiritualism. Documents pertaining to his involvement in the Modern Gold Placer Company of Colorado Springs, Colorado, and Silver City, New Mexico, are also included.
Important Information for Users of the Collection
This collection is open for research.
Arthur J. Kiser Papers, Special Collections, University of Maryland Libraries.
Photocopies of original materials may be provided for a fee and at the discretion of the curator. Please see our Duplication of Materials policy for more information. Queries regarding publication rights and copyright status of materials within this collection should be directed to the appropriate curator.
This collection is PROCESSED.
Historical Note
Arthur J. Kiser was born in Ohio on February 23, 1871, to Henry Kiser (b. June 1, 1836) and Matilda Bucher (b. circa 1839). Henry Kiser and Matilda Bucher were married on November 4, 1858, in Seneca, Ohio.
Arthur J. Kiser graduated from the Baltimore College of Dental Surgery in 1894 and, upon graduation, was the recipient of the Mechanical Prize.
Arthur J. Kiser married Mary Ann Tallmadge (August 31, 1873-April 9, 1958) on June 5, 1901, in Lansing, Michigan. Their daughter, Dolores, was born in 1904. The family eventually moved to Colorado Springs, Colorado, where their second daughter, Genevieve, was born in 1910. The family lived for a time in a rental home at 34 West Byon Street, Colorado Springs, Colorado. Arthur practiced dentistry in Colorado Springs; and his practice is first listed in the Colorado Springs Business Directory in 1916.
Arthur J. Kiser died on December 16, 1962, and was buried with his wife Mary and daughter Genevieve (d. 1945) in Evergreen Cemetery, Colorado Springs, Colorado.
Scope and Contents of the Collection
The Arthur J. Kiser papers span the years 1920 through 1947 with the bulk of the material dating between 1942 and 1947. The collection contains poetry; sheet music; political cartoons; documents pertaining to the Modern Gold Placer Company of Colorado Springs, Colorado, and Silver City, New Mexico; and a letter to University of Maryland President Harry Clifton Byrd. Subjects covered include dental work, politics, gold mining, the World Wars, Prohibition, and Spiritualism.
Custodial History and Acquisition Information
The source of Arthur J. Kiser's papers is unknown.
Processing Information
Processed by Ashley Locke, May 2007.
The materials were placed in acid-free folders and stored in an acid-free box.
EAD markup created using EAD database in Microsoft Access. Markup completed by Jennie A. Levine.
Arrangement of Collection
Organized as five series.
Detailed Description of the Collection
Series 1: Poetry, 1923-1947 and undated (45 items)
This series consists of poetry by Arthur J. Kiser. Three poems are in manuscript form, and the remaining poetry is printed in the form of postcards, bookmarks, calendars, and pamphlets. The poetry printed on bookmarks is accompanied by an order form for the bookmarks stating that Arthur J. Kiser routinely distributed his poetry among his dental patients. Arthur J. Kiser's poetry is predominately political in nature and includes such topics as the Western United States, the New Deal, Franklin D. Roosevelt, Woodrow Wilson, Calvin Coolidge, World War I, World War II, Hitler, the Ku Klux Klan, Prohibition, and the Great Depression. Poetry related to Kiser's dental practice is also included. Arrangement is chronological.
| Description | Series | Box / Reel | Folder / Frame | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Poetry, 1923-1947 and undated | series 1 | box 1 | folder 1 | |
Series 2: Music, 1920-1946 (6 items)
The bulk of this series consists of published sheet music for which Arthur J. Kiser composed the lyrics. Also included is a manuscript for song lyrics composed by Kiser: "Jean, Frances or Daisy" (December 9, 1946). Like his poetry, Arthur J. Kiser's lyrics are mainly political in nature, and include such topics as World War II, Prohibition, Herbert Hoover, and Hawaii. Arthur J. Kiser's musical collaborators included Bob Carleton and Edouard Hesselberg (1870-1935), a Latvian pianist and composer. Arrangement is chronological.
| Description | Series | Box / Reel | Folder / Frame | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Music, 1920-1946 | series 2 | box 1 | folder 2 | |
Series 3: Political Cartoons, 1932 and undated (4 items)
This series consists of political cartoons by Arthur J. Kiser. Kiser appears to have written the text for the political cartoons, but it is not clear if Kiser penned both the text and the accompanying drawings. The place and form of publication for these political cartoons is also unclear. Subjects include the Gold Standard, Spiritualism, the Mayor of Colorado Springs, and taxation. Arrangement is chronological.
| Description | Series | Box / Reel | Folder / Frame | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Political Cartoons, 1932 and undated | series 3 | box 1 | folder 3 | |
Series 4: Modern Gold Placer Company, undated (3 items)
This series consists of promotional pamphlets and a business card pertaining to the Modern Gold Placer Company of Colorado Springs, Colorado, and Silver City, New Mexico (a mining company). Arthur J. Kiser acted as Secretary and Treasurer for the Modern Gold Placer Company, and the pamphlets incorporate further examples of his poetry.
| Description | Series | Box / Reel | Folder / Frame | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Modern Gold Placer Company, undated | series 4 | box 1 | folder 4 | |
Series 5: Correspondence, 1947 (1 item)
This series consists of a letter addressed to University of Maryland President Harry Clifton Byrd, signed on March 2, 1947, and stamped as received by the President's Office on March 5, 1947. The letter appears to be Arthur J. Kiser's response to the receipt of an Alumni History Record form sent by the University. The letter briefly details the whereabouts of the Baltimore College of Dental Surgery graduate, Dr. W. S. Twilley, and contact information for Twilley's adopted son. The bulk of the letter consists of a four-page essay detailing Dr. Kiser's Spiritualist knowledge and experiences and his desire to share this knowledge with his alma mater and the rest of the world.
| Description | Series | Box / Reel | Folder / Frame | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Letter, 1947 | series 5 | box 1 | folder 5 | |
Related Material
For other related archival and manuscript collections, please see the following subject guides.
Selected Search Terms
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Subjects
- Dentists -- Colorado -- Colorado Springs -- Archives.
- Gold mines and mining -- Colorado.
- Kiser, A. J. (Arthur J.), 1871-1962 -- Archives.
- Poets -- Archives.
- Political ballads and songs -- United States.
- Spiritualism.
- United States -- Politics and government -- Caricatures and cartoons.
- United States -- Politics and government -- Poetry.