John Weaver Collection

Description:

The content of this collection centers on John R. Weaver (sometimes "John B." or "John W." according to the Lansing City Directory), a clerk at the REO Motor Car Company and its later incarnations, from 1903 to 1952. The collection is an amalgamation of personal photographs, newspaper articles mostly relating to John R. Weaver and the REO Company, and pages from what is presumably Weaver's scrapbook. The collection centers on Weaver's professional career and involvement with the REO Motor Car Company (later Olds Motor Works/Oldsmobile) and various organizations that stemmed from the company, such as the bowling team and the Quarter Century Club. He was also a member of the Elf Khurafeh, a unit of the Shriners based in Saginaw, Michigan and having jurisdiction over 26 counties in lower Michigan. All of the photographs in this collection have been digitized. Weaver began working for REO on March 1, 1903, "after a fire burned out the Detroit plant." He was hired as a shipping clerk, and was one of only 100 employees. Several photographs in the collection document his early days at REO. Eventually, he began working in the purchasing department. He was honored for 25 years of service on April 4, 1927; gifts included a gold pen and pencil set, and a bouquet of 25 American Beauties. At that time, he was second in seniority at the company to Charles Blade, of which several articles and photographs in the collection detail. Blade retired sometime between 1943 and 1947. Both Weaver and Blade received their 40 Year rings in February 1943. Weaver was active in the societies within the company. During the 1920s, he was a member of the bowling team with three other men. Several photographs and programs in the collection detail Weaver's attendance at company picnics, Christmas parties, and banquets. He also served as Secretary-Treasurer of the REO Quarter Century Club from the time of its establishment until his retirement in 1942. Many clippings in the collection are of Quarter Century Club meetings, Weaver's employment anniversaries, and company banquets celebrating long-serving members of REO. In a November 1942 company newsletter, the "Oldsmobile Cannoneer," he is referred to as a "veteran," though that could be in reference to his time in the company rather than military service. A photograph of a U. S. Army artillery crew firing a cannon, appearing to date circa late 1890s/early 1900s, may suggest that Weaver served in the U. S. Army as an artilleryman early in life; only his draft registration for World War II was found in genealogical sources. Two other newspaper clippings in the collection are human interest stories of American citizens of Danish descent, suggesting that Weaver may have been Danish. The pages of his scrapbook not only detail some of Weaver's milestones at REO, but several other prominent employees' as well. Charles Blade was the most senior employee of REO until after World War II. Another REO employee featured in the scrapbook is Berthold W. Nichols, who was killed by a crazed gunman in 1932. Several other notable events included in his scrapbook are the "March of Men and Motors" which took place in Detroit on January 11, 1939, and the Fisher Auto Body strike of December 1945. John Rhodes Weaver was born on September 2, 1880, in Addison, Michigan, south of Jackson. He had at least two siblings, Edward and Hazel (later Wyman). He moved to Lansing and began working for REO in about 1903. His 1904 Lansing address is listed as 417 South Sycamore Street. He married Marion (sometimes "Marian") H. whose maiden name may have been Hanse or Hansen, in about 1922, and they then resided at 526 1/2 South Grand Avenue. She was listed as a clerk at a state office. Eventually they moved to 328 Regent Street, where they lived for the rest of their lives. He retired from REO on July 2, 1952. He remained interested in historic REO vehicles after his retirement, attending several gatherings in the Lansing area. John Weaver died on September 18, 1967, at the age of 87. His wife and sister Hazel survived him. Marion Weaver died at age 80, on December 6, 1969. They are buried together in Deepdale Memorial Park in Delta Township, Michigan. This collection was obtained through unknown means, perhaps an estate sale, by David Caterino, who then left it to the Capital Area District Libraries.

Date Created:

[1903 TO 1959]

Data Provider:

Capital Area District Library (Lansing, MI). Forest Parke Library and Archives

Collection:

John Weaver Collection

Subject Topic:

Lansing (Mich.), Automobile industry, Clubs, Fraternal organizations, Strikes, and Reunions

Language:

English

Rights:

Copyright Not Evaluated

URL:

http://cadl.pastperfectonline.com/archive/F4D7C982-105F-4A7B-8E59-973573739208