Finding Aid
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Papers of the Leopold Desk Company Access and Restrictions: This collection is open for research. Digital Surrogates: Except where indicated, this document describes but does not reproduce the actual text, images and objects which make up this collection. Materials are available only in the Special Collections Department. Copyright: Please read The University of Iowa Libraries' statement on Property Rights, Copyright Law, and Permissions to Use Unpublished Materials. Use of Collections: The University of Iowa Libraries supports access to the materials, published and unpublished, in its collections. Nonetheless, access to some items may be restricted by their fragile condition or by contractual agreement with donors, and it may not be possible at all times to provide appropriate machinery for reading, viewing or accessing non-paper-based materials. Please read our Use of Manuscripts Statement. Acquisition and Processing Information: The Leopold Desk Company was an office furniture manufacturing firm which operated out of Burlington, Iowa, for 102 years before closing in 1990. Photographs: none |
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Scope and Contents
The records of the Leopold Desk Company document the first eighty years of its history with annual reports, property accounts, minutes from stockholders and directors meetings, and time books. Their products are showcased in catalogs dating from 1888 to 1927.
Agency Note
The company was located at the 900 block of Osborn Street until 1972, when it moved to 2825 Mount Pleasant Street.
Related Materials
It is sometimes possible to date Leopold desks from the images that appear in the company catalogs (see Box 2 below). Note that three of these (for 1888 and 1891) have been digitized; to view them, simply click on the links. We can generally look through the catalogs not yet digitized if you supply a scan or picture. Special Collections staff, however, have no expertise whatsoever in estimating the possible fair market value of desks or other furniture; we're simply unable to offer any opinion. We suggest that you consult an antiques dealer or the manager of an antiques and collectibles mall.
John Roth of Burlington, Iowa has a web page devoted to Leopold desks which provides additional information about the company and its history. You may contact Mr Roth for further information.
Box Contents List
Box 1
Annual Reports 1922 -- 1964, 6 folders
Balance Sheet at December 31, 1914
Brochures
Catalogs: Our collection of catalogs has been fully digitized. You may visit the collection's home page and conduct a search across all of the catalogs, or you may choose a particular catalog from the list below:
National Furniture Company: 1888 [view digitized version]
National Furniture Company: January 1888 [view digitized version]
National Furniture Company: 1891 [view digitized version]
Rand & Leopold Desk Company: 1895 [view digitized version]
Rand & Leopold Desk Company: 1897 [view digitized version]
Rand & Leopold Desk Company: 1898 [view digitized version]
Rand & Leopold Desk Company: 1899 [view digitized version]
Rand & Leopold Desk Company: 1900 [view digitized version]
Rand & Leopold Desk Company: 1909 [view digitized version]
Rand & Leopold Desk Company: 1910 [view digitized version]
Rand & Leopold Desk Company: 1911 [view digitized version]
Rand & Leopold Desk Company: 1912 [view digitized version]
Rand & Leopold Desk Company: 1920 [view digitized version]
Rand & Leopold Desk Company: 1927 [view digitized version]
Rand & Leopold Desk Company: 1927 (supplement) [view digitized version]
Leopold News, 1923 -- 1924; October 15, 1929; April 15, 1930
Minutes of Stockholders & Directors Meetings, 1886 -- 1891
Miscellaneous
Obituary, Frederic Leopold (1896 -- 1989)
Property Account of Rand & Leopold, 1886 -- 1891
Scrapbook of Factory Notices, 1919 -- 1930
Secretary's Records of Stockholders & Directors Meetings, 1886 -- 1891; 1891 -- 1907
"Things to remember" Books (Leopold), 1888, 1889, 1891, 1893, 1911
Time Books 1902; 1906 -- 1910; 1910 -- 1912; 1912 -- 1914; 1914 -- 1916; 1916 -- 1917
2002 Addendum
Box 3 continued
Copies of materials in the Burlington Public Library.
Brochure
Catalog
Clippings
Roth, John. A Brief History of Leopold Desks Company. http://www.burlingtonfirestation.com/leopold.htm
Oversized Box
Leopold Office furniture Catalogs, undated
2003 Addendum
Blueprints for furniture plant. Transferred from the State Historical Society of Iowa.
