WILLIAM C. KOST FARM RECORDS, 1939-1989  
#481

(17.66 cubic feet: 53 DB)

by: Franklin A. Robinson, Jr., February 2001

History

William Cassel Kost (1917-1989) acquired land and began farming in Vermont, Illinois in 1946. The farm consisted of 120 acres where Kost raised small grains, hay, and cattle. Prior to this time, Kost had been a bookkeeper for local taverns and a tenant farmer. Over the next fifty-three years, Kost worked his own farm as well as renting land, the Maryland Farm and others, on an occasional basis. In the 1950s, Kost secured a position with Hemp & Company, later known as the King-Sealey Thermos Factory, first in a part-time capacity then as a full-time employee, retiring on disability in 1975. He continued to farm until his death in August 1989. He was married to Maxine Elvidge (1916-1987) and had one son, William Elvidge Kost 
(1941- ).

Scope and Content

The William C. Kost Farm Records is an exhaustive collection of bills, receipts, pay-stubs and other financial records relating to a small, mid-western family farm. Beginning with Kost's employment as a bookkeeper in 1942 for some local Vermont, Illinois area taverns, the financial records intensely cover the period until the year before his death in 1989. The collection is important in its completeness of a financial picture of a typical mid-western farm for the post WWII period through the agricultural boom days of the 1950s and 1960s into the trying agricultural times of the late 1970s and 1980s. Through these financial records we can reconstruct a day to day, week to week, and month to month, financial portrait of a mid-western farm. The limited amount of correspondence found in this collection complements the financial record. Tax returns, medical and personal expense records are all included within the collection. Kost and his wife apparently ran the farm operation alone with occasional outside hired help. It is also interesting to note that Kost took a job off the farm to help support his family and their farming in an era when this was not the norm.

The collection is divided into three series: Series 1: Tavern Accounts, 1939-1945, Series 2: Maryland Farm, 1946 and Series 3: William C. Kost Farm, 1946-1989. All materials are arranged in chronological order.

Provenance

Donated to the National Museum of American History, Archives Center by William E. Kost in 1993.

Related Collections

Division of History of Technology (Agriculture Collection), Division of Social History (Costume Collection), NMAH

Container List 

Box   Folder

SERIES 1: TAVERN ACCOUNTS, 1939-1945

1 1 1943-1944, Tavern Ledger
2 November 1942-June 1945, Accounts, Ebberts Tavern, (Floyd Ebbert)
3 November 1942-September 1945, Accounts, Groveland Tavern
4 December 1942-September 1944, Accounts, Liquor Store
5 July 1944-January 1945, Accounts, Minnie's Place
6 October 1944-July 1945, Accounts, Officers Club
7 April 1945-June 1945, Accounts, Ed's Tavern
8 June 1945-September 1945, Accounts, Pleasant Inn, (Gladys Kraus)
9 1939, Receipts and Correspondence
10 1942, Receipts
11 1943, Receipts
12 1944, Receipts
13 1945, Receipts
53 1 1943 Receipts and Correspondence
2 1944 Receipts and Correspondence

SERIES 2: MARYLAND FARM, 1946

1 14 1946 Farm Account Book
15 1946 Farm Accounting Record

SERIES 3: WILLIAM C. KOST FARM, 1946-1989

2 1 1946 Receipts & Correspondence
2 1946 Checking Account, March-July
3 1946 Checking Account, August-December
53 3 1946 Oversize Correspondence & Receipts
2 4 1947 Correspondence & Receipts
5 1947 Checking Account, January-December
6 1948 Checking Account, January-December
3 1 1949 Receipts & Correspondence
2 1949 Checking Account, January-December
3 1950 Receipts & Correspondence
53 4 1950 Oversize Receipts & Correspondence
3 4 1950 Checking Account, January-December
5 1951 Checking Account, January-December
6 1952 Receipts & Correspondence
7 1952 Checking Account, January-December
4 1 1953 Receipts & Correspondence
53 5 1953 Oversize Receipts & Correspondence
4 2 1954 Receipts & Correspondence
3 1954 Checking Account, January-December
4 1955 Receipts & Correspondence
5 1 1955 Checking Account, January-December
2 1955 Checking Account, January-December
3 1956 Receipts & Correspondence, January-June
4 1956 Receipts & Correspondence, July-December
53 6 1956 Oversize Receipts & Correspondence
5 5 1956 Checking Account, January-December
6 1 1957 Receipts & Correspondence, January-June
2 1957 Receipts & Correspondence, July-December
53 7 1957 Oversize Receipts & Correspondence
6 3 1957 Checking Account, January-December
4 1957 Checking Account, January-December
7 1 1958 Receipts & Correspondence, January-June
2 1958 Receipts & Correspondence, July-December
3 1958 Checking Account, January-December
4 1958 Checking Account, January-December
8 1 1959 Receipts & Correspondence, January-June
2 1959 Receipts & Correspondence, July-December
3 1959 Checking Account, January-December
4 1959 Checking Account, January-December
9 1 1960 Receipts & Correspondence, January-June
2 1960 Receipts & Correspondence, July-December
3 1960 Checking Account, January-December
4 1960 Checking Account, January-December
10 1 1961 Receipts & Correspondence, January-June
2 1961 Receipts & Correspondence, July-December
3 1961 Checking Account, January-December
4 1961 Checking Account, January-December
11 1 1962 Receipts & Correspondence, January-June
2 1962 Receipts & Correspondence, July-December
3 1962 Checking Account, January-December
4 1962 Checking Account, January-December
12 1 1963 Receipts & Correspondence, January-June
2 1963 Receipts & Correspondence, July-December
3 1963 Checking Account, January-December
4 1963 Checking Account, January-December
5 William Elvidge Kost
13 1 1964 Receipts & Correspondence, January-June
2 1964 Receipts & Correspondence, July-December
3 1964 Checking Account, January-December
4 1964 Checking Account, January-December
14 1 1965 Receipts & Correspondence, January-June
2 1965 Receipts & Correspondence, July-December
3 1965 Checking Account, January-December
4 1965 Checking Account, January-December
15 1 1966 Receipts & Correspondence, January-June
2 1966 Receipts & Correspondence, July-December
3 1966 Checking Account
4 1966 Checking Account
16 1 1967 Receipts & Correspondence, January-March
2 1967 Receipts & Correspondence, April-June
3 1967 Receipts & Correspondence, July-September
4 1967 Receipts & Correspondence, October-December
5 1967 Payroll Stubs
17 1 Checking Account, December 1966-December 1967
2 Checking Account, December 1966-July 1967
3 Checking Account, July 1967-January 1968
18 1 1968 Checking Account, Stubs
2 1968 Checking Account, January-May
3 1968 Checking Account, May-December
4 Checking Account, December 1968-June 1969
5 1969 Checking Account, June-December
19 1 Checking Account, December 1968-December 1969
2 1969 Payroll Stubs
3 Checking Account, Stubs, December 1969-December 1970
4 Checking Account, December 1969-June 1970
5 1970 Checking Account, June-December
20 1 Checking Account, December 1970-July 1971
2 1970 Payroll Stubs
3 Checking Account, Stubs, December 1970-May 1971
4 Checking Account, Stubs, June-December 1971
5 Checking Account, July-December 1971
21 1 1972 Payroll Stubs
2 Checking Account, Stubs, December 1971-July 1972
3 Checking Account, Stubs, July-December 1972
4 Checking Account, December 1971-July 1972
5 Checking Account, July 1972-January 1973
22 1 1973 Payroll Stubs
2 Checking Account, Stubs, January-November 1973
3 Checking Account, Stubs, October 1973-July 1974
4 Checking Account, January-May 1973
5 Checking Account, May-December 1973
23 1 1974-1975 Payroll Stubs
2 Checking Account, Stubs, July-December 1974
3 Checking Account, December 1973-May 1974
4 Checking Account, June 1974-January 1975
5 Checking Account, January-June 1975
6 Insurance Claim Receipts, January 1975
24 1 Checking Account, Stubs, December 1974-September 1975
2 Checking Account, Stubs, August-December 1975
3 Checking Account, June-December 1975
4 Checking Account, December 1975-May 1976
5 Checking Account, June 1976-January 1977
25 1 Checking Account, Stubs, December 1975-December 1976
2 Checking Account, Stubs, December 1976-December 1977
3 Checking Account, Stubs, January-December 1978
4 Checking Account, January-August 1977
5 Checking Account, August-December 1977
26 1 Checking Account, Stubs, December 1978-July 1979
2 Checking Account, Stubs, July-December 1979
3 Checking Account, December-June 1978
4 Checking Account, June-October 1978
5 Checking Account, October 1978-March 1979
27 1 Checking Account, Stubs, December 1979-July 1980
2 Checking Account, Stubs, July-December 1980
3 Checking Account, Stubs, December 1980-May 1981
4 Checking Account, March-August 1979
5 Checking Account, August 1979-April 1980
6 Checking Account, April-October 1980
28 1 Checking Account, Stubs, May-December 1981
2 Checking Account, October 1980-April 1981
3 Checking Account, April-August 1981
4 Checking Account, September-December 1981
5 Checking Account, December 1981-April 1982
29 1 Checking Account, Stubs, January-September 1982
2 Checking Account, Stubs, August-December 1982
3 Checking Account, Stubs, December 1982-July 1983
4 Checking Account, April-August 1982
5 Checking Account, August-December 1982
30 1 Checking Account, Stubs, July-December 1983
2 Checking Account, Stubs, January-December 1984
3 Checking Account, December 1982-May 1983
4 Checking Account, June-September 1983
5 Checking Account, September 1983-January 1984
31 1 Checking Account, Stubs, 1985
2 Checking Account, January-June 1984
3 Checking Account, June-October 1984
4 Checking Account, September-December 1984
5 Checking Account, December 1984-June 1985
6 Checking Account, June-December 1985
32 1 Checking Account, June 1985-April 1986
2 Checking Account, May-December 1986
3 Checking Account, December 1986-May 1987
4 Checking Account, May-October 1987
5 Checking Account, October-December 1987
33 1 Checking Account, December 1987-April 1988
2 Checking Account, April-September 1988
3 Checking Account, August 1988-January 1989
4 Farm Sale, video, August 17, 1989
34 1 1968 Receipts & Correspondence, January-March
2 1968 Receipts & Correspondence, April-June
3 1968 Receipts & Correspondence, July-September
4 1968 Receipts & Correspondence, October-December
35 1 1969 Receipts & Correspondence, January-March
2 1969 Receipts & Correspondence, April-June
3 1969 Receipts & Correspondence, July-September
4 1969 Receipts & Correspondence, October
5 1969 Receipts & Correspondence, November
36 1 1969 Receipts & Correspondence, December
2 1970 Receipts & Correspondence, January-March
3 1970 Receipts & Correspondence, April-June
4 1970 Receipts & Correspondence, July-September
5 1970 Receipts & Correspondence, October-November
6 1970 Correspondence & Receipts, December
37 1 1971 Payroll Stubs
2 1971 Receipts & Correspondence, January-March
3 1971 Receipts & Correspondence, April-June
4 1971 Receipts & Correspondence, July-September
5 1971 Receipts & Correspondence, October-December
38 1 1972 Receipts & Correspondence, January-March
2 1972 Receipts & Correspondence, April-June
3 1972 Receipts & Correspondence, July-September
4 1972 Receipts & Correspondence, October-December
39 1 1973 Receipts & Correspondence, January-March
2 1973 Receipts & Correspondence, April-June
3 1973 Receipts & Correspondence, July-September
4 1973 Receipts & Correspondence, October-December
53 8 1973 Oversize Receipts & Correspondence
9 1973 King Seeley Thermos Co. & United States Steelworkers
39 5 Vermont Sanitary District vs. Kost, 1972-1973
53 10 Oversize Vermont Sanitary District vs. Kost, 1973
40 1 1974 Receipts & Correspondence, January-March
2 1974 Receipts & Correspondence, April-June
3 1974 Receipts & Correspondence, July-September
4 1974 Receipts & Correspondence, October-December
41 1 1975 Receipts & Correspondence, January-March
2 1975 Receipts & Correspondence, April-June
3 1975 Receipts & Correspondence, July-September
4 1975 Receipts & Correspondence, October-December
42 1 1976 Receipts & Correspondence, January-March
2 1976 Receipts & Correspondence, April-June
3 1976 Receipts & Correspondence, July-September
4 1976 Receipts & Correspondence, October-December
43 1 1977 Receipts & Correspondence, January-March
2 1977 Receipts & Correspondence, April-June
3 1977 Receipts & Correspondence, July-September
4 1977 Receipts & Correspondence, October-December
5 1978 Receipts & Correspondence, January-March
6 1978 Receipts & Correspondence, April-June
44 1 1978 Receipts & Correspondence, July-September
2 1978 Receipts & Correspondence, October-December
3 1979 Receipts & Correspondence, January-March
4 1979 Receipts & Correspondence, April-June
5 1979 Receipts & Correspondence, July-September
45 1 1979 Receipts & Correspondence, October-December
2 1980 Receipts & Correspondence, January-March
3 1980 Receipts & Correspondence, April-June
4 1980 Receipts & Correspondence, July-September
5 1980 Receipts & Correspondence, October-December
53 11 1980 Oversize Receipts & Correspondence
46 1 1981 Receipts & Correspondence, January-March
2 1981 Receipts & Correspondence, April-June
3 1981 Receipts & Correspondence, July-September
4 1981 Receipts & Correspondence, October-December
5 1982 Receipts & Correspondence, January-March
47 1 1982 Receipts & Correspondence, April-June
2 1982 Receipts & Correspondence, July-September
3 1982 Receipts & Correspondence, October-December
4 1983 Receipts & Correspondence, January-March
48 1 1983 Receipts & Correspondence, April-June
2 1983 Receipts & Correspondence, July-September
3 1983 Receipts & Correspondence, October-December
4 1984 Receipts & Correspondence, January-March
5 1984 Receipts & Correspondence, April-June
49 1 1984 Receipts & Correspondence, July-September
2 1984 Receipts & Correspondence, October-December
3 1985 Receipts & Correspondence, January-March
4 1985 Receipts & Correspondence, April-June
5 1985 Receipts & Correspondence, July-September
50 1 1985 Receipts & Correspondence, October-December
2 1986 Receipts & Correspondence, January-March
3 1986 Receipts & Correspondence, April-June
4 1986 Receipts & Correspondence, July-September
51 1 1986 Receipts & Correspondence, October-December
2 1987 Receipts & Correspondence, January-March
3 1987 Receipts & Correspondence, April-June
4 1987 Receipts & Correspondence, July-September
52 1 1987 Receipts & Correspondence, October-December
2 1988 Receipts & Correspondence, January-March
3 1988 Receipts & Correspondence, April-June
4 1988 Receipts & Correspondence, July-September
5 1988 Receipts & Correspondence, October-December

by: Franklin A. Robinson, Jr.

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E-mail: archivescenter@si.edu
Revised: June 15, 2001