Faribault Woolen Mill Company, Faribault, Minnesota. Papers, 1867-1969. SMHC Manuscript Collection 124. 8 Hollinger boxes, 1 1/2 Hollinger Box, 2 Records Center Boxes, 2 Oversized Records Center Boxes, and 51 Volumes.
The Faribault Woolen Mill Company papers consist of items collected since Carl H. Klemer founded the company in 1867 through the presidency of Robert W. Klemer during the late 1960s. The collection contains bills, receipts and volumes relating to the employees, production and financial records for the Faribault Woolen Mill Company. Materials included are annual inventories, bills and receipts, pension agreements, payroll lists, and production data. The firm manufactured blankets under the trade name "Faribo."
The Faribault Woolen Mill Company was founded in 1865 by Carl H. Klemer, a German-born cabinetmaker. During his twenty-seven years of ownership, the business was gradually expanded from a one-man carding operation to a large wool milling and distributing concern. During this period it had relocated twice (1882 and 1892) and suffered three fires (1888, 1890, and 1892). In 1892, two sons, Ferdinand L. and Henry F., were each given a third of the business and the company was then named C.H. Klemer & Sons.
In 1905, the business was incorporated under its present name with Ferdinand and Henry as senior officers and Frank H., Henry's son, as secretary. During the following decade the company did not grow significantly and as a result the management of the business was turned over to Walter F. Klemer, Ferdinand's son, Frank H. Klemer and Edward A. Johnson in 1913. The business lagged until 1917 when the Faribault Woolen Mill Company received federal government contracts to make army blankets for the war effort.
After the war the company continued to specialize in woolen blankets, selling them to various hospitals, hotels, Indian agencies, department stores, and specialty shops through the nation. During World War II, when the military contracts were renewed, the company began manufacturing blankets from synthetic fibers for civilian use. Widespread acceptance of these man-made blends triggered a postwar boom for the company and resulted in the installation of new machinery and the doubling of manufacturing space.
In 1949, Robert W. Klemer, son of Frank H., assumed the presidency of the company. During the 1950's blanket sales became more diversified as the Faribault Woolen Mill expanded its outlets to mail order houses, advertising specialists, chain stores, and private institutions.
Today the Faribault Woolen Mill produces more than half of the new wool blankets made in the United States and is one of the few remaining woolen mills in the country.
Information was obtained from America's Textile Reporter (8 June 1961) and "History of Woolen Mills 1865-1940" by Frank H. Klemer and other materials in the collection, and the Faribault Woolen Mill website http://www.faribowool.com/.
The Faribault Woolen Mill Company collection is arranged chronologically and topically by series.
Employment Records, 1894-1969: Records in this series are partially restricted and contain information on the company's payroll, pension trust plans, pension trust agreements, correspondence, and personnel lists.
Finance Records, 1867-1966: This series contains bills and receipts, ledgers for accounts receivable and petty cash, check stubs, daybooks, payroll notebooks, reports, and account sheets.
Miscellaneous, ca. 1940-1966: Company histories and a warehouse guest ledger book are contained in this series.
Production Records, 1912-1967: These documents pertain to the company's picking records, color assortment sheets, loom records, production records, and the amount of raw wool processed.
Volumes, 1904-1966: This series contains large volumes that pertain to production, employment, and finance records. A portion of these items are restricted. Included within are record books, registers, journals, ledgers, and payroll transfer sheets.
Some restrictions apply to this collection please see/contact the archivist for more information about these restrictions. The researcher assumes full responsibility for observing all copyright, property, and libel laws as they apply.
Faribault Woolen Mill Company, Faribault, Minnesota. Papers, 1867-1969. SMHC Manuscript Collection 124, Southern Minnesota Historical Center, Memorial Library, Minnesota State University, Mankato.
Robert W. Klemer donated this collection in September 1973.
Archival staff processed this collection in February 1977. Jeff A. Jenson developed the finding aid in September 2002.
Klemer, Frank H., 1878-1953.
Faribault Woolen Mill Company (Faribault, Minn.)
Woolen and worsted manufacture--Minnesota--Rice County.
Business enterprises--Minnesota--Faribault.
Woolen goods industry--Minnesota--Rice County.
Faribault (Minn.)
SMHC Manuscript Collection 124 |
Box |
Folder |
Employment Records, 1884-1969 |
|
|
Payroll Records, 1945-1952 |
1 |
8 |
Pension Trust Agreement and Amendments, 1943-1969 |
1 |
3 |
Pension Trust Agreement, Correspondence, 1949-1969 (RESTRICTED) |
1 |
4 |
Pension Trust Plan, Personnel Lists, 1943-1952 (RESTRICTED) |
1 |
6 |
Pension Trust Plan, Personnel Lists and Miscellaneous, 1953-1967 (RESTRICTED) |
1 |
7 |
Pension Trust Plan, Summaries and Inventories, 1944-1956 |
1 |
5 |
Finance Records, 1867-1966 |
|
|
Accounts Receivable Ledger, 1874-1884 |
9 |
12 |
Accounts Receivable Ledger, 1894-1901 |
10 |
1 |
Accounts Receivable Lists, April-June 1950, July 31-September 1950, and October 31- November 30, 1950 |
10 |
2 |
Adjusting and Closing Entries, 1939-1949 |
11 |
4 |
Appraisal Maintenance Service Reports, 1943-1956 |
11 |
2 |
Appraisal Maintenance Service Reports, 1957-1966 |
11 |
3 |
Appraisal of Replacement Values, 1917 |
11 |
1 |
Bank Deposit Book, 1894-1896 |
8 |
5 |
Bills and Receipts, 1891-May 1892 |
5 |
1 |
Bills and Receipts, June-December 1892 |
5 |
2 |
Bills and Receipts, January-July 1893 |
5 |
3 |
Bills and Receipts, 10 July 1893 |
Oversize |
1 |
Bills and Receipts, August 1893-February 1894 |
5 |
4 |
Bills and Receipts, March-September 1894 |
5 |
5 |
Bills and Receipts, October 1894-May 1895 |
5 |
6 |
Bills and Receipts, June-September 1895 |
5 |
7 |
Bills and Receipts, October 1895-February 1896 |
5 |
8 |
Bills and Receipts, March-December 1896 |
5 |
9 |
Bills and Receipts, January-August 1897 |
5 |
10 |
Bills and Receipts, September 1897-March 1898 |
5 |
11 |
Bills and Receipts, April 1898-March 1899 |
5 |
12 |
Bills and Receipts, April 1899-May 1900 |
5 |
13 |
Bills and Receipts, June-December 1900 |
5 |
14 |
Bills and Receipts, January-May 1901 |
6 |
1 |
Bills and Receipts, June-December 1901 |
6 |
2 |
Bills and Receipts, January-June 1902 |
6 |
3 |
Bills and Receipts, July-December 1902 |
6 |
4 |
Bills and Receipts, January-July 1903 |
6 |
5 |
Bills and Receipts, August 1903-January 1904 |
6 |
6 |
Bills and Receipts, February-September 1904 |
6 |
7 |
Bills and Receipts, October-December 1904 and undated |
6 |
8 |
Cashbook, Cash Receipts Journal, Volume 81, 1953-1966 |
12 |
|
Check Register, Volume 86, 1954-1959 |
13 |
|
Check Stubs, 1898 |
8 |
7 |
Check Stubs, 1953-1954 |
8 |
8 |
Check Stubs, 1960-1962 |
8 |
9 |
Check Stubs and Blanks, 1953-1954 |
9 |
4 |
Daybook, 1883-1886 |
9 |
9 |
Daybook, 1886-1891 |
9 |
10 |
Daybook, Inventory, 1893-1896 |
9 |
11 |
Daybook, Spinning and Carding Department, 1867-1871 |
9 |
5 |
Daybook, Spinning and Carding Department, 1873-1876 |
9 |
6 |
Daybook, Spinning and Carding Department, 1879-1884 |
9 |
7 |
Daybook, Spinning and Carding Department, 1884-1893 |
9 |
8 |
Factory Payroll, Mill Record, 1898-1915 (Also Production) |
8 |
2 |
Inventories, 1896-1904 |
6 |
9 |
Inventories, 1906-1918 |
6 |
10 |
Inventories, 1919-1931 |
6 |
11 |
Inventories, 1932-1945 |
6 |
12 |
Inventories, 1946-1955 |
6 |
13 |
Inventories, 1956-1963 |
6 |
14 |
Inventories, 1964 |
6 |
15 |
Loom Payroll, Miscellaneous Supplies, 1913-1919 (Also Production) |
8 |
3 |
Miscellaneous Expense Ledger, 1905-1915 |
9 |
3 |
Office Payroll Book, 1942-1946 |
7 |
8 |
Office Payroll Book and Buyer’s Guide for Machine Parts, 1946-1950 |
7 |
9 |
Office Payroll Notebook, 1950-1951 |
8 |
1 |
Payable, Bank Notes Record, 1938-1951 |
8 |
6 |
Payroll Cash and Check Deductions Books, 1943-1953 and 1954-1956 |
9 |
2 |
Payroll Rate Books, 1884-1887 and 1888-1889 |
7 |
6 |
Payroll Rate Books, 1934 and 1941-1942 |
7 |
7 |
Payroll Rate Book, 1943-1966 |
9 |
1 |
Payroll Sheets, Volume 88, 1913-1918 (RESTRICTED) |
13 |
|
Petty Cash and Expense Ledger, 1950 |
8 |
4 |
Report on Examination and Balance Sheet Audit, 1917-1918 |
11 |
5 |
Report to Commissioner of Internal Revenue, 1922 |
11 |
6 |
Report to Commissioner of Internal Revenue, 1922 |
11 |
7 |
Salesmen Orders and Employee Tax Ledger, Volume 87, 1936-1951 |
13 |
|
Short Account Sheets, A-D, 1932-1948 |
7 |
1 |
Short Account Sheets, E-J, 1932-1948 |
7 |
2 |
Short Account Sheets, K-O, 1932-1948 |
7 |
3 |
Short Account Sheets, P-S, 1932-1948 |
7 |
4 |
Short Account Sheets, T-Z, 1932-1948 |
7 |
5 |
Miscellaneous, ca. 1940-1966 |
|
|
Company Histories, ca. 1940 and 1961 |
1 |
1 |
Guest Register, 1966 |
1 |
2 |
Production Records, 1912-1967 |
|
|
Batch Book (Picking Record), 1914-1915 |
4 |
1 |
Batch Book (Picking Record), 1916-1920 |
4 |
2 |
Batch Book (Picking Record), 1922-1926 |
4 |
3 |
Batch Book (Picking Record), 1927-1930 |
4 |
4 |
Color Assortment Sheets, 1962 |
2 |
1 |
Color Assortment Sheets, 1963 |
2 |
2 |
Color Assortment Sheets, 1964 |
2 |
3 |
Color Assortment Sheets, 1965 |
2 |
4 |
Color Assortment Sheets, 1965 |
2 |
5 |
Loom Record, Order Book, 1912-1922 |
2 |
6 |
Production Record, January 1914-December 1927 |
3 |
1 |
Production Record, January 1928-1930 |
3 |
2 |
Production Record, 1931-1967 |
3 |
3 |
Raw Wool Processed (Record), 1941-1942 |
4 |
5 |
Volumes, 1904-1966 |
|
Volume |
Accounts Receivable Ledger, 1911-1918 |
|
48 |
Accounts Receivable Ledger, (Short Account Sheets), 1919-1930 |
|
49 |
Batch Book (Picking Record), 1942-1944 |
|
21 |
Batch Book (Picking Record), 1944-1946 |
|
22 |
Batch Book (Picking Record), 1946-1948 |
|
23 |
Cashbook, 1940-1942 |
|
75 |
Cashbook, 1942-1943 |
|
76 |
Cashbook, 1943-1946 |
|
77 |
Cashbook, 1946-1948 |
|
78 |
Cashbook, General Ledger, 1949-1951 |
|
79 |
Cashbook, General Ledger, 1952-1953 |
|
80 |
Check Register, 1929-1938 |
|
83 |
Check Register, 1938-1946 |
|
84 |
Check Register, 1946-1951 |
|
85 |
Daybook, 1904-1917 |
|
45 |
Departmental Production Costs Ledger, 1934-1951 |
|
24 |
General Journal, 1917-1922 |
|
53 |
General Journal, 1923-1928 |
|
54 |
General Journal, 1928-1931 |
|
55 |
General Journal, 1932-1935 |
|
56 |
General Journal, 1935-1937 |
|
57 |
General Journal, 1937-1939 |
|
58 |
General Journal, 1939-1941 |
|
59 |
General Journal, 1941-1944 |
|
60 |
General Journal, 1944-1947 |
|
61 |
General Journal, 1947-1949 |
|
62 |
General Journal, 1950-1951 |
|
63 |
General Journal, 1952-1953 |
|
64 |
General Journal, 1954-1955 |
|
65 |
General Journal, 1956-1957 |
|
66 |
General Journal, 1957-1959 |
|
67 |
General Journal, 1959-1961 |
|
68 |
General Journal, 1961-1962 |
|
69 |
General Journal, 1963-1964 |
|
70 |
General Journal, 1965-1966 |
|
71 |
Payroll Transfer Sheets, 1956-1960 (RESTRICTED) |
|
96 |
Payroll Transfer Sheets, 1961-1965 (RESTRICTED) |
|
97 |
Payroll Sheets, 1936-1939 (RESTRICTED) |
|
89 |
Payroll Sheets, 1939 (RESTRICTED) |
|
90 |
Payroll Sheets, 1940 (RESTRICTED) |
|
91 |
Payroll Sheets, 1941 (RESTRICTED) |
|
92 |
Payroll Sheets, 1942 (RESTRICTED) |
|
93 |
Payroll Sheets, 1943 (RESTRICTED) |
|
94 |
Payroll Sheets, 1944 (RESTRICTED) |
|
95 |
Petty Cash and Expense Book, 1952-1953 |
|
30 |
Petty Cash and Expense Book, 1953-1954 |
|
31 |
Petty Cash and Expense Ledger, 1951-1952 |
|
29 |
Trial Balance Ledger, 1919-1943 |
|
72 |
Trial Balance Ledger, 1926-1944 |
|
73 |
Trial Balance Ledger, 1945-1951 |
|
74 |
Voucher and Check Register, 1951-1954 |
|
82 |
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