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Howard Edsel (Ed) Benson papers

Howard Edsel (Ed) Benson papers

Descriptive Summary

Title: Howard Edsel (Ed) Benson papers
Creator: Benson, Howard Edsel (Ed)
Inclusive Dates: 1930-2011
Language(s): English
Extent: 5 Linear Feet (5 boxes)
Collection Number: ms3867
Repository: Hargrett Library

Collection Description

Historical Note

In 1917, W. H. Benson (1888-1971) purchased a bakery in Marietta, which he sold in 1918 when he entered military service. After the war, he purchased the old Athens Boston Bakery (corner of West Hancock and Hull Streets), renaming it Benson's Bakery, and operations began on January 1, 1919. As business increased the bakery outgrew its original location and moved to other facility at the corner of Washington and Hull Streets (1937). Eventually, in 1958, Benson's Inc. opened a larger plant in Bogart, Ga. and moved its business offices to Thomas Street. Mr. Benson was active in local civic organizations and heavily invested in state and national politics regarding industry and agriculture.

Mr. Benson's son, H. E. (Ed) Benson, a graduate of the University of Georgia, served in the 48th Fighter Squadron, 14th Fighter Group during World War II. He joined his father's business in 1947 and served as manager of the bakery until 1956, at which time he assumed the presidency of the company. Under Ed Benson's leadership the business expanded the number of production facilities and grew its Old Home Kitchens fruit cake fundraising program. Ed Benson, like his father, has been very active in local civic organizations, especially the Athens Rotary Club and Athens Mentor Program.

Scope and Content

The collection consists of correspondence, clippings, photographs, and printed materials related to Benson's Bakery (Athens, Ga.) and William Howard Benson's political interests, and Ed Benson's civic activities. The personal and civic files document Ed Benson's involvement with the 48th Fighter Squadron (1943-1945) and his local civic engagements, especially highlighting the Athens Rotary Club and Mentor Program. The W. H. Benson papers primarily consist of his letters and telegrams sent to politicians at the state and national level regarding legislation and political agendas. The Benson's Bakery series document the evolution of the bakery from its opening in 1918 through the 1980s. Included are company newsletters, photographs, brochures, and ephemera.

Organization and Arrangement

Organized into 3 series: personal and civic, W. H. Benson papers, and Benson's Bakery.


Administrative Information

Conditions Governing Access

Though the collection is open for research, the audiovisual recordings do not have reference copies; however, reference copies can be made available upon request. Availability is dependent upon the format and condition of the recordings.

Preferred Citation

Howard Edsel (Ed) Benson papers, ms3867, Hargrett Rare Book and Manuscript Library, The University of Georgia Libraries.


Related Materials and Subjects

Subject Terms

Athens (Ga.) -- Buildings, structures, etc.
Athens (Ga.) -- Photographs.
Bakeries -- Georgia -- Athens.
Benson's Bakery
Benson, William Howard, 1888-1971
Businessmen -- Georgia.
Civic leaders -- Georgia.
Correspondence.
Photographs.
Political participation.
Rotary Club (Athens, Ga.)
United States. Air Force. 48th Fighter Squadron

Related Collections in this Repository

Related audiovisual materials from this collection are housed in the Walter J. Brown Media Archive: http://purl.libs.uga.edu/brown/har-ms3867/bmac-coll


Series Descriptions and Folder Listing

 

1. Personal and Civic Activities

boxfolder
1148th Fighter Squadron, 14th Fighter Group - American Aviation Historical Society Journal, 1972
1248th Fighter Squadron, 14th Fighter Group - Diary, 1943-1945
oversized_folder
148th Fighter Squadron, 14th Fighter Group - pilot chart documenting travels
boxfolder
1348th Fighter Squadron Association, 2008-2011
1448th Fighter Squadron Association, 1978-2003
1548th Fighter Squadron - photographs
16Athens High School certificate, 1936
17Barrow Elementary School, 1970-1992
18Boys and Girls Clubs of Athens
19Business and industry
110Chamber of Commerce
111Church - Athens First United Methodist
112Golf
113Harvard seminar speech, 1962
114Holiday Inn employee newsletter, 1976
115LLL (Listening, Learning, and Leadership Group)
116-19Mentor Program, 1991-2011
120Mentor Program - Kevin Epps photographs
121Miscellaneous civic
122Navy Supply Corps. School
123Red Carpet Tour speech, 1963
124-27Rotary Club, 1952-1969
128Rotary Club - Tom Hillery speech, 1979
129Rotary Club, 1987-1999
130Rotary Club - Larry Dunn
131Salvation Army
132United Way
133University Drive Sewing Club Reunion
134University of Georgia, Blue Ridge - group photograph, 1939
135Photographs - Howard Edsel Benson
oversized_folder
2Photograph - Howard Edsel Benson
2Photograph - Rotary Club group with Howard Edsel Benson
boxfolder
321Photographs - Howard, Lottie Benson, Daytona Beach, 1946
 

2. W. H. Benson papers

boxfolder
136Book - In My Opinion, It's A Fact
boxfolder
32Book - In My Opinion Its A Fact
boxfolder
137Clippings
138Clipping/correspondence - Lottie Moor Benson, 1961, 1971
boxfolder
33Clippings
boxfolder
139-42Correspondence, 1940-1957
boxfolder
21-11Correspondence, 1958-1971
box
4Correspondence, 1967-1970
boxfolder
36298 Barber Street playground
37Athens Boosters Club, 1925
38Athens Crime Prevention Committee
39Athens Regional Library fountain
310Athens Service Center progress report, 1944
311B. F. Goodrich Retail Outlet, Hull & Hancock, blueprints, 1957
316-17Cobern Kelley Memorial Fund and YMCA tennis courts
312Georgia Better Farms, 1944-1950
boxfolder
212Lumpkin Street property gift to UGA, 1978
boxfolder
313Lyndon House financial statement, 1944
boxfolder
213Memorial Park
boxfolder
314Memorial Park, 1945-1950
315Memorial Park
boxfolder
214Photographs
oversized_folder
1Photograph - Ella, Oscar, Reiley, Lena, Clinton and Howard Benson , circa 1895
boxfolder
215Reach Out & Touch Club Scholarship
216Rock Eagle 4-H Center Cottage
217Rotary Club
boxfolder
318Rotary Club
319Rotary Club
34Speeches and Thoughts
35Speeches and ephemera
320University Demonstration School Cannery, 1946
31WWI discharge papers, 1918
322W.H. Benson - obituaries, 1971
323Correspondence, 1938-1969
324Correspondence - Opinions
325Printed material - Jokes, anecdotes
326Anecdotes, personal and business philosophy
 

3. Benson's Bakery

boxfolder
218Advertisement - Radio, 1950
boxfolder
59Advertisements - Radio scripts
51Benson and Morris / Benson and Son (Marietta, Ga.) contract and marketing material
515Bogart Operating Committee
boxfolder
219Correspondence, 1940, 1959
boxfolder
52Correspondence, 1925-1967
boxfolder
220Ephemera
boxfolder
53Ephemera and history
55Financial - Benson's Inc. trial balance, 1926
514Fruit cake
boxfolder
221Guide for employees
222Handbook - You and Benson's
223History
224Holsum Bread
boxfolder
56List of raw materials for candy, bread, and cake, 1935-1936
520Management Operational Meetings
boxfolder
225Manager Development , 1959
boxfolder
519Miscellaneous meetings
boxfolder
226Mrs. Fambrough
boxfolder
54Mrs. Fambrough
boxfolder
227Newsletter - Inside the Over, 1958-1959
boxfolder
57Newsletter - Old Home News, 1960
boxfolder
228Newsletter - Holsum Horizons, 1970
229Newsletter - The Spotlight, 1970-1984
230-31Old Home Kitchens, 1960-1972
232Old Home Kitchens - Fundraising brochures
233Old Home Kitchens - Kitchens Kronicle, 1969
boxfolder
58Oscar Benson - land deeds
boxfolder
234Photograph - Benson's Bakery, 1918
235Photograph - Benson's Bakery, corner Hull and Hancock, circa 1920-1925
236Photograph - Benson's Bakery parade, 1924
237Photograph - Benson's Bakery delivery truck, 1925
238Photograph - Benson's Bakery corner of Washington and Hull
239Photograph - Benson's Bakery Washington Street
240Photograph - Benson's new bakery dedication, 1938
241Photograph - Benson's
242Photograph - Bogart plant, 1958
243Plans and operations of retail bakery, 1946
244Press
boxfolder
516-17Production Committee
boxfolder
245Program - Benson's Bakery parade, 1924
boxfolder
510-12Recipes
521Recipes
boxfolder
246Unionism , 1965
boxfolder
513White Fruit Cake recipe
518Wholesale Bakery Operating Committee
boxfolder
247Benson's Sliced Old Home Fruit Cake box and tin
boxfolder
522Open House invitiation, 1938
523Employee Handbook - You and the Bensons
524Correspondence - Bakery
525Scripts
526Formulas
527Ad Contest - Hartwell Elementary School, 1982
528Advertisement
529Bread wrapper, agreement - Pinocchio promotional campaign - Kalamazoo Vegetable Parchment, 1939
530Fruitcake labels
531Newspaper clippings