David Meeks papers
This finding aid was produced using the Archivists' Toolkit
December 17, 2015
Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Ball State University Archives and Special Collections
Alexander M. Bracken Library
2000 W. University Avenue
Muncie, Indiana, 47306
765-285-5078
libarchives@bsu.edu
David Meeks papers
Table of Contents
Summary Information ................................................................................................................................. 3
Biographical Note.......................................................................................................................................... 4
Scope and Contents....................................................................................................................................... 4
Arrangement...................................................................................................................................................5
Administrative Information .........................................................................................................................5
Related Materials ........................................................................................................................................ 5
Controlled Access Headings..........................................................................................................................6
Collection Inventory...................................................................................................................................... 7
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David Meeks papers
Summary Information
Repository
Ball State University Archives and Special Collections
Title
David Meeks papers
Date
1899-1964
Extent
0.6 Cubic feet 2 boxes
Language
English
Language of Materials
Materials entirely in English.
Text [Box]
2
Text [Box]
1
Preferred Citation
David Meeks papers, Archives and Special Collections, Ball State University Libraries
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David Meeks papers
Biographical Note
David Martin Meeks was born in Muncie on June 19, 1910. After graduating from Muncie High School
in 1928, Meeks attended Kenyon College in Gambier, Ohio, and graduated from Yale University in 1930.
He later attended Harvard Graduate School of Business Administration.
From 1937 to 1940, Meeks lived in Hawaii, working briefly for the Hawaiian Pineapple Company
and then with Shell Oil Company in Honolulu. In 1940, he returned to Muncie to work in his family`s
business, then known as Meeks and Sons Mortuary. The firm was started in 1844 by Meeks` greatgrandfather, Robert, and Robert`s brother, Isaac, and is currently the oldest continuously operated
business in Delaware County.
In 1943, at the height of World War II, Meeks received an appointment as a diplomatic courier with the
U.S. State Department. He was responsible for delivering secret materials to U.S. missions around the
globe. Following conclusion of the war, Meeks returned to Muncie and rejoined the family business,
where he eventually became president. For nearly fifty continuous years as a mortician, Meeks was
involved in arranging funeral services for thousands of local residents and those with family ties in east
central Indiana.
Meeks was very active in the Muncie community and served in several organizations. He served as
chairman of the Salvation Army and Mutual Savings Bank boards and as a member of the board of
directors for the Muncie-Delaware Chamber of Commerce, Boy Scouts, Sheltered Workshop, YWCA,
and the United Way. He was also a past president and member of the Muncie Rotary Club, and a member
of the Muncie Club and First Presbyterian Church.
In addition to his business and community service, Meeks also had an avid interest in aviation. After
receiving his private pilot`s license in 1934, Meeks became a member of the OX-5 Pioneers, a group of
aviators founded to honor the famous aicraft engine. David Meeks died in 1992 at the age of 82.
Scope and Contents
The collection includes correspondence, a daybook, newspaper clippings, a Holy Card, and publications
from David Meeks in Muncie, Indiana ranging from 1899 to 1964 regarding David Meeks and his
activities.
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David Meeks papers
Arrangement
This collection is arranged by subject.
Administrative Information
Publication Information
Ball State University Archives and Special Collections
Conditions Governing Access
This collection is open for research.
Conditions Governing Use
Legal title, copyright, and literary rights reside with Archives and Special Collections, Ball State
University Libraries, Muncie, IN. All requests to publish or quote from manuscripts must be submitted to
Archives and Special Collections.
Custodial History
This collection was received by Archives and Special Collections as a donation from David Meeks on
1981/11/11; 1988/09/22; 1991/06/21.
Accruals
No further additions are expected.
Processing Information
Collection processing completed 1994/04/04 by M. Sears. EAD finding aid created 2011/06/09 by
Bethany Fiechter.
Related Materials
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David Meeks papers
Related Archival Materials
Materials relating to this collection may be found in the following collections in Archives and Special
Collections, Ball State University Libraries, Muncie IN:
PSC.136: David Meeks photographs
Controlled Access Headings
Genre(s)
•
•
•
•
•
Correspondence
Documents
Legal documents
Newspapers
Publications
Geographic Name(s)
•
•
•
•
•
•
Delaware County (Ind.)
Delaware County (Ind.)--History--19th century--Sources
Delaware County (Ind.)--History--20th century--Sources
Muncie (Ind.)
Muncie (Ind.)--History--19th century--Sources
Muncie (Ind.)--History--20th century--Sources
Subject(s)
• Stoeckel Archives of Local History
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David Meeks papers
Collection Inventory
Correspondence, 1948
Daybook, 1904-1905
Newspaper clipping, 1899
Msgr. Felix Seroczymski holy card, 1964
The Lone Pine's Story, undated
Publication, Helicon, 1899
Meeks real estate documents, 1887
Safety fund policy, 1887
Swain family history documents, undated
Newspaper clipping, undated
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