Collection Number: SC#8
Title:
Dolph Shaner Collection
Dates:
1905-1953
Collection Size:
1 Box
Dolph Shaner, previously named Adolph Schoenherr, was born on September 12, 1877, in Mine La Motte, Madison County, Missouri and later passed away in 1966. According to an article found among this collection’s newspaper clippings which announces the court accepted name change, Shaner changed his name to distance himself from the name’s German roots. He is best known for his historian, real estate, insurance, and Rotarian work in Joplin, Missouri.
His parents were Charles and Elizabeth Schoenherr. He had two brothers: William Shaner and Otto Shaner. He was married in 1906 to his wife Nannie Beulah McClelland Shaner.
One of ten founders of the Rotary Club in Joplin (October 13,1915). He was the Secretary from 1916-1923 and stayed involved in the Club’s operations for many years past that. He would frequently write letters to those connected with the Club and over the years gave multiple speeches at Rotary meetings. He also occasionally wrote for the Joplin Chats, the Joplin Rotary Club’s publication. Shaner was also one of the founding members and the first president of the Jasper County Historical Society from 1953-1954.
Shaner authored and published multiple pamphlets, booklets and articles about Jasper County and surrounding areas’ history such as: “Roanoke: Joplin’s Beautiful Residence District” (1944), "Sherwood: The Ghost Town" (1934), and “John Baxter of Baxter Springs: Picturesque Character of Frontier Days” (1943). He also published a book, The Story of Joplin in 1948, in which he tells the story of how the city of Joplin was first founded and how it developed.
- Prepared by Kyleigh Mason, School of Arts and Sciences, Literary Studies, 1/22/25
The Shaner collection includes notes on his history research as well as drafts of some of his related writing, notes and articles on the early years of the Joplin Rotary Club and the Jasper County Historical Society, some of his and other’s creative writings, documents relating to his personal finances, and newspaper clippings he collected.
Within the collection are pamphlets/booklets/articles written by or edited by Dolph Shaner on the topic of local history around the Ozark area. The research and notes that went towards his historical writings are also included. In addition, there is research and correspondence with others where Shaner helps them with their own research and writing. Also included are photos of the Jasper County area, some of which were used in his articles and book, while others were kept for history preservation. There are also several programs from events local to the Jasper County area.
The collection includes information on the formation of the Jasper County Historical Society, associated with the State Historical Society of Missouri. This includes membership lists, meeting information, and newsletters. Also included is correspondence between members as well as notes on historical research in the Jasper County area.
There are also newspaper articles about both the Joplin Rotary and other rotary clubs Joplin’s often interacted with. There are also rosters of the Joplin Rotary Club members and their industry covering several years. Included are Joplin Chats, rotary publications, both those written by Shaner as well as those written by other Rotary members. These Joplin Chats give information both about the club and about general events happening in the Joplin area.
In addition to his historical writing, Shaner also wrote several short stories and poems which are also inside this collection. These short stories and poems vary in subject; some are notable as connecting to Shaner’s history and rotary work such as: “Come to Joplin” and “Onward, Rotary”. Also included is creative writing he received from others or that he found noteworthy to save in the collection.
Within the collection are Shaner’s shareholder letters, bills, and other financial information related to his real estate and insurance work. There is also correspondence from some of the businesses he held stock in. Included is proof of some of the estate that Shaner owned and sold. Also included are articles as well as some of Shaner’s own notes on a notary that was forging documents in the Jasper County area.
The last subseries of the collection includes several newspaper clippings on Shaner’s family including obituaries, articles about real estate deals Shaner has made, and articles on those from the rotary club Shaner is in. In addition, there are articles that are not related to Shaner, but that he found important and saved. These include other real estate articles in the local area, articles relating to the history of Joplin and the surrounding area, articles on Jesse James, as well as articles on various other subjects.
- Prepared by Kyleigh Mason, School of Arts and Sciences, Literary Studies, 1/22/25
Dolph Shaner
Collection donated in the summer of 1972, donator unknown.
The records have been arranged in four series and organized chronologically within those series.
Subseries 1: Jasper County History Creative Works
Subseries 2: Other Jasper County History Work
Subseries 1: Correspondence/Historical Documents
Subseries 2: Rotarian Documents
Subseries 3: Creative Work
Subseries 1: Personal Financial Information
Subseries 2: Business/Real Estate Financial Information
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