Skip to Content

Fenton M. Parke papers

 Collection — Multiple Containers
Identifier: MS-0013

Scope and Contents

This collection consists of business records, correspondence, plot maps, property listings; ephemera of civic, religious, fraternal, and cultural institutions; family memorabilia, reminiscences; clippings on local history; pictures; medals; speech notes on clock collecting and Lincolniana. Also included are papers of his wife Margaret Kidd Parke: correspondence, notes from classes at the University at Buffalo, and correspondence related to the Home for the Friendless.

Dates

  • 1841-1967

Creator

Terms of Access

The Fenton M. Parke papers, 1841-1967, are open for research.

Copyright

Copyright of papers in the collection may be held by their authors, or the authors' heirs or assigns. Researchers must obtain the written permission of the holder(s) of copyright and the University Archives before publishing quotations from materials in the collection. Most papers may be copied in accordance with the library's usual procedures unless otherwise specified.

Biographical Note

Born in Leon, New York, Cattaraugus County, Parke studied law at the University of Buffalo and began his real estate career in the office of S.S. Kingsley (1892). He established Parke, Hall and Co. (1902), and as an active member of the Chamber of Commerce organized the Real Estate Association (1904). He was chairman of the Buffalo Citizens Committee of 1,000 for International Celebration of 100 Years of Peace (1912-1915). Parke was President of the Public Education Association of Buffalo, forerunner of the Buffalo City Planning Association, (See Barbara Hollins' paper, Planning in Buffalo, 1918-1945) and an organizer of the Municipal Research Bureau. During his later years, Parke continued an active public life in such organizations as the Old Fort Niagara Association, and the Jesse Ketchum Memorial Fund.

His wife, Margaret Kidd Parke, died in 1925. Margaret Kidd Parke was editor of "Our Record," the official organ of a group of prominent Buffalo women who supported the Home for the Friendless at 1500 Main Street (1924-1925), and attended the University of Buffalo (1915-1922).

Extent

24 linear feet (28 manuscript boxes, 4 half manuscript boxes, 1 film can, 4 flat boxes, 4 oversize boxes, 1 map case drawer)

Language of Materials

English

Abstract

This collection consists of business records, correspondence, plot maps, property listings; ephemera of civic, religious, fraternal, and cultural institutions; family memorabilia, reminiscences; clippings on Buffalo local history; photographs of downtown Buffalo, circa 1910; medals; speech notes on clock collecting and Lincolniana. Also included are papers of his wife Margaret Kidd Parke: correspondence, notes from classes at the University at Buffalo, and correspondence related to the Home for the Friendless.

Arrangement

This collection is arranged in nine series:

  1. Personal Papers
  2. Margaret Kidd Parke Papers
  3. Real Estate and City Planning
  4. Clippings and Printed Materials
  5. Education
  6. Special Interests
  7. Memorabilia
  8. Parke, Hall and Company
  9. Buffalo Area Materials

Acquisition Information

The majority of the collection was donated by Margaret Eastman, Parke's daughter, in three accessions in 1968 and 1971. Additional material was donated to the University Archives by Robert Parke, Parke's son, on October 26, 1976.

Accruals and Additions

No further accruals are expected to this collection.

Separated Materials

A list of books removed and transferred to the Lockwood Memorial Library is available upon request.

Processing Information

Collection processed by Archives staff, circa 1995.

Source

Title
Finding Aid for the Fenton M. Parke papers MS.0013
Status
Completed
Author
Finding aid prepared by Archives staff.
Date
2006
Description rules
Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Language of description
English
Script of description
Latin
Language of description note
Finding aid written in English.

Revision Statements

  • February 2015: Finding aid migrated to ArchivesSpace by Gabrielle Carlo

Repository Details

Part of the University Archives Repository

Contact:
420 Capen Hall
Buffalo New York 14260-1674 US
716-645-2916
716-645-3714 (Fax)