
Linder Family Manuscript Collection
MS L3
For information concerning this collection or
to request copies contact:
speccoll@truman.edu
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Record
Class: Textual The
Linder Diaries have been scanned and
are available to view in our digital
library.
View the Linder Diaries online. Along
with farming, Oran was employed at
Missouri Farmers Association for 15
years and at a Kirksville lumberyard
for 21 years. His diaries include
mention of all such jobs. After
retirement, Oran and Merle spent
time traveling to all 50 states,
keeping up with baseball and
visiting relatives. The bulk of this
part of Oran’s life can be found in
the diaries from 1971 – 1992. Any
diaries from 1932 through 1970 are
not included because they do not
exist to Harold Linder’s knowledge.
The letters written to Harold from
1968 – 1981 also give good insight
into life in Kirksville and the life
of the Linders. It is most certain
that letters were written to
Harold’s three other siblings, but
they have not been preserved to be
included in this collection. Christa (Ude) Linder (1939
– 1981) was born in Hamburg Germany
and resided in Germany until the age
of 29, when she immigrated to
Toronto, Ontario, Canada. In 1969,
she moved to Vancouver, British
Columbia, where she met Harold
Linder. Harold and Christa married
in March 1971, and had two children
together, Tina (1972) and Mark
(1974). After moving the family to
Tempe, Arizona in 1978, Christa was
unfortunately diagnosed with breast
cancer. After a tough fight, Christa
passed at the age of 41 in May of
1981. Harold has worked to preserve
Christa’s life by publishing her
letters she wrote to her parents in
Germany. Harold Linder, Oran’s oldest son, is the donor of this collection. Harold Linder is an exploration geologist who currently resides in Arizona. Besides traveling and prospecting, Harold enjoys learning about his family history and reflecting on his cherished time spent growing up in Kirksville, Missouri. Harold Linder transcribed Oran and O.R.’s diaries, as well as his late wife Christa’s letters and his parents Merle and Oran’s letters, into publications which are beneficial to the Linder family and Adair County. These transcription publications can be found in Special Collections, Pickler Memorial Library, Truman State University. Box 1: Series 1: Farm Diaries of Oran Hubert Linder 1.1 1 January 1926 – 31 December 19261.2 1 January 1927 – 3 January 1928 1.3 1 January 1928 – 24 December 1928 1.4 1 January 1929 – 30 September 1929 1.5 1 January 1930 – 15 January 1931 1.6 16 January 1931 – 30 December 1931 Written at or near the
Linder farm in Adair County,
Missouri, located in the
southwestern corner of the county,
roughly nine miles south of
Kirksville. Daily entries pertaining
to typical farm life in northeastern
Missouri: weather, chores, crop
yield, livestock; mention of social
activities such as trips into
Kirksville and visit from friends
and relatives. Frequently mentioned
persons include O.R. Linder, Nancy
Linder, Mildred Linder, Russell
Linder, and Merle Schillie, among
others. Most diaries include
memoranda pages with personal
information such as banking notes,
important sales, and important
dates. Transcribed in “Farm Diary:
Adair County, Missouri (1926-1931)”
by Oran H. Linder (Pickler Memorial
Library, Special Collections, CT 275
L46823 A3 2008). Series 2 Diary and Farm Ledger of O.R. (Bob) Linder 1.7 1 January 1944 – 31 December 1944 Written at or near the O.R.
Linder farm in Adair County,
Missouri, in an area between Goose
Creek and Hog Creek, near the
Chariton River. Daily entries record
weather, seasons, and farm work, as
well as daily chores of household
importance and in relation to
livestock and crops. Almost no
personal or family information is
included, but rather detailed
information of farm life in Adair
County, Missouri during 1944.
Persons frequently mentioned include
Nancy Linder and Bill Linder. This
diary includes a memoranda page at
the end detailing egg and chicken
sales. Transcribed in “Farm
Ledgers and Diary: Adair County,
Missouri (1902-1956)” by O.R. Linder
(Pickler Memorial Library, Special
Collections, CT 275 L46827 A3 2019). Series 3 Town and Travel Diaries of Oran Hubert Linder
1.9 4 April 1974 – 24 February 1980 1.10 22 March 1981 – 24 October 1983 1.11 25 October 1983 – 31 March 1986 1.12 1 April 1986 – 23 May 1988 1.13 24 May 1988 – 28 January 1991 1.14 7 February 1991 – 21 January 1992
Written at the Linder family
home in the southeastern corner of
Kirksville, 1705 E. Hamilton Street,
as well as wherever Oran and Merle
vacationed - often in Tempe, Arizona
where Harold Linder resided,
Vancouver, British Columbia, and
Honolulu, Hawaii. The entries in
these diaries are not daily, but
rather occur as Oran travels
throughout North America. Entries
include the typical day-to-day life
of a retired couple, travels to
relatives and friends, and notes of
the weather. Persons frequently
mentioned include Merle Linder,
Harold Linder, Melvin Linder, Marvin
Linder, Oran Linder Jr., among
others. Transcribed in “Town and Travel Diary: Kirksville (Adair County), Missouri (1971-1992)” by Oran H. Linder (Pickler Memorial Library, Special Collections, CT 275 L46825 A3 2017). Series 4: Farm Ledgers
of O.R. (Bob) Linder 1.15 14 February 1902 –
14 May 1944 Written at or near the O.R.
Linder farm in Adair County,
Missouri, near Novinger, Missouri.
The entries represent ledger and
account record notes, but are not
consistent with monthly or daily
records – the notes seem to consist
around spring and summer months.
Entries include notes about
livestock breeding, items sold and
purchased, and account balancing and
budgeting. This ledger was obtained
by Harold Linder’s cousins Margie
Linder Daniels, Neil Linder, and
Carol Linder Roberts. Transcribed in “Farm
Ledgers and Diary: Adair County,
Missouri (1902-1956)” by O.R. Linder
(Pickler Memorial Library, Special
Collections, CT 275 L46827 A3 2019). 1.16 1920 – 1952 Written at or near the O.R.
Linder farm in Adair County,
Missouri. The entries represent
account records and notes, but are
not consistent with monthly or daily
records. The ledger is not written
in chronological order, and is
divided between account records with
specific people. Entries include
notes about livestock breeding,
items sold and purchased, and
account balancing and budgeting. Transcribed in “Farm
Ledgers and Diary: Adair County,
Missouri (1902-1956)” by O.R. Linder
(Pickler Memorial Library, Special
Collections, CT 275 L46827 A3 2019). Box 2: Series 5: Letters from
Kirksville written by Merle and Oran
H. Linder to Harold Linder Written at the Linder Family home
in the southeastern corner of
Kirksville, 1705 E Hamilton Street,
however known as RR 4 at the time
most of the letters were written.
The letters were addressed to Harold
Linder and his family, and were
written as a team effort between
Merle and Oran. Letters included
information about the weather,
Kirksville happenings, family
updates, and other pertinent
information as to keep Harold and
his family updated on life in
Kirksville. Response letters are not
included. 2.1 1 June 1964 Addressed to University of
Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota.
Envelope included. 2.2 11 January – 21 November
1966 Addressed to Geology Department,
University of Minnesota,
Minneapolis, Minnesota. Envelopes
included. 2.3 2 January – 2 December
1967 Addressed to Thurlow Street,
Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada;
Haro Street, Vancouver, B.C.
Envelopes included. 2.4 7 January – 9 December
1968 Addressed to Thurlow Street,
Vancouver, B.C.; Haro Street,
Vancouver, B.C.; Stewart, B.C.
Envelopes included. 2.5 3 January – 18 December
1969 Addressed to Haro Street,
Vancouver, B.C. Envelopes included. 2.6 6 January – 12 December
1970 Addressed to Haro Street,
Vancouver, B.C. Envelopes included. 2.7 10 January – 29 November
1971 Letters are not postmarked so
addresses are unknown, though most
likely to Vancouver, B.C. Envelopes
not included. 2.8 January – 3 December 1972 Letters are not postmarked so
addresses are unknown, though most
likely to Vancouver, B.C. Envelopes
not included. 2.9 7 January – December 1973 Letters are not postmarked so
addresses are unknown, though most
likely to Vancouver, B.C. Envelopes
not included. 2.10 6 January – 8 December
1974 Letters are not postmarked so
addresses are unknown, though most
likely to Vancouver, B.C. Envelopes
not included. 2.11 5 January – 4 December
1975 Addressed to West Tenth Avenue,
Vancouver, B.C.; Most letters are
not postmarked so addresses are
mostly unknown, though most likely
to Vancouver, B.C. Most envelopes
not included. 2.12 6 January – 11 December
1976 Addressed to West Tenth Avenue,
Vancouver, B.C.; Most letters are
not postmarked so addresses are
mostly unknown, though most likely
to Vancouver, B.C. Most envelopes
not included. 2.13 16 January – 8 December
1977 Addressed to West Tenth Avenue,
Vancouver, B.C.; Most letters are
not postmarked so addresses are
mostly unknown, though most likely
to Vancouver, B.C. Most envelopes
not included. 2.14 10 February – 12 December
1978 Addressed to West Tenth Avenue,
Vancouver, B.C; South Kenwood Lane,
Tempe, Arizona. Envelopes included. 2.15 2 January – 9 December
1979 Addressed to South Kenwood Lane,
Tempe, Arizona. Envelopes included. 2.16 7 January – 4 December
1980 Addressed to South Kenwood Lane,
Tempe, Arizona; Doncaster Way,
Vancouver, B.C. Envelopes included. 2.17 30 March – 5 April 1981 Addressed to M.D. Anderson
Hospital, Houston, Texas. Envelopes
included. Box 3: Series 6: Letters to
Germany by Christa Linder 2.18 1968 – 1970 Binder 2.19 1968 – 1972 Box 2.20 1973 – 1974 Binder Written in German by
Christa (Ude) Linder to her parents,
Paul and Elfriede Thees, in Hamburg
and Appen, Germany. The letters
contain information about Christa’s
immigration to Canada, employment,
her courtship and marriage with
Harold Linder, their children, and
other pertinent information as to
keep her parents updated on her
life. Christa wrote an average of
two letters per week, and ceased
writing in 1974 when her mother
passed and her father moved in with
her family in Tempe, AZ. The letters
were translated by Christa’s friend
Jutta Krause for the transcription
publication. Response letters are
not included. The letters are organized
in two binders and one expandable
folder, which is how the letters
were donated. The binders and folder
include the letters transcribed in
the publication, postcards, greeting
cards, various photos, maps, and
brochures. It is assumed that these
were all items that were sent to
Christa with the letters from her
parents. The letters are not
necessarily in chronological order. Transcribed in “Letters to Germany (1968-1974)” by Christa Linder (Pickler Memorial Library, Special Collections, CT 275 L4682 A4 2020).
For
information concerning this
collection contact:
speccoll@truman.edu |