Brookfield, Dutton (1917-1979), Papers, 1844-1979 2732 72.4 Linear Feet and 5 Audio Cassettes
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C Brookfield, Dutton (1917-1979), Papers, 1844-1979 2732 72.4 linear feet and 5 audio cassettes This collection is available at The State Historical Society of Missouri. If you would like more information, please contact us at [email protected]. INTRODUCTION The papers of Dutton Brookfield contain the business, political and personal papers and photographs of a Kansas City, MO, community leader. Brookfield was President of Unitog Company (1953-1979), a mayoral candidate (1963, 1971), and on boards of numerous corporations and educational and civic organizations. Family papers include letters from the Civil War, World War I and II, and Vietnam. DONOR INFORMATION The papers were donated to the University of Missouri by Arthur D. Brookfield II on 4 December 1979 (Accession No. WUNP4260). BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH Dutton Brookfield, son of Arthur Dutton and Elizabeth Blish Brookfield, was born 31 December 1917, in Kansas City, Missouri. A graduate of Pembroke Country Day School, Brookfield received his B.A. degree from the University of Missouri in 1939 and married Betty Grace Bell, daughter of C. Jasper and Grace Smith Bell. They had four children: Karen Ann, Arthur Dutton II, Charles Rhodes, and Betty Bell (Bebe). Also in 1939, Dutton joined his father's uniform manufacturing and sales company, Unitog. During World War II he served as an army officer in France, and Unitog produced army uni-forms. Following the war Dutton returned to Unitog. He became company president in 1953, upon his father's retirement. In addition to a wide range of business connections, Brookfield was active in civic, social, and political organizations. A Republican, he actively, and financially, supported and sponsored many local, state, and national candidates. He unsuccessfully ran for mayor of Kansas City in 1963 on the Independent Voters Association ticket and again in 1971 as the Citizens Association candidate. He was an active advocate of right- to-work. Brookfield was also active in the Civic Council, Chamber of Commerce, Construction Users Council, and other groups working for city growth. A list of other organizations and clubs with which he was affiliated is filed in the information folder. Brookfield built Unitog Company into a large, multi-branch operation which includes rental and laundry services. Unitog manufactures uniforms for major oil, soft drink, and brewing companies. Brookfield Uniforms, a companion company, serves the U.S. Postal Department. Brookfield was active in industry-related organizations such as the National Association of Uniform Manufacturers (NAUM) and the National Association of Manufacturers (NAM), including their political action, public affairs, and lobbying committees. An avid sports fan, Brookfield helped with University of Missouri recruiting. He also served the university as a trustee and as chairman of the development fund and the Alumni Association. C2732 Brookfield, Dutton (1917-1979), Papers, 1844-1979 Page 2 Brookfield was chairman of the Jackson County Sports Complex Authority. His leadership began with site selection and continued through the bond elections to the planning and construction of the Harry S. Truman Sports Complex. There are few areas of Kansas City business, civic, and political life in which Brookfield did not participate. Dutton Brookfield died 23 July 1979 of burns suffered in a fire at his Minnesota summer home. His son Arthur Dutton II assumed presidency of Unitog Company. SCOPE AND CONTENT NOTE The papers have been arranged into three series: Alphabetical, Family Papers, and Right-To-Work. Each series has been left as close as possible to the original order. The Alphabetical series is in folders 1-5234 and contains alphabetical files of business, civic, social, and personal information. Files are arranged by name of individual, organization, or company; the contents are in chronological order. The miscellaneous section for each letter of the alphabet contains materials of insufficient quantity to warrant establishing a separate file. Subjects in this series cover Kansas City and Jackson County, Missouri politics, the Republican Party, civic groups, social clubs, uniform manufacturing and sales, and personal information on family and friends. Information about a subject, person, or organization will be found in a variety of files. For example, information on uniform sales can be found under the name of the purchasing company, the Unitog employee handling the account, the mill supplying fabric, the plant sewing the garments, and the name of the company representative ordering the garments. While the information is widely scattered, it is often detailed and comprehensive. Unitog Company information covers company growth, branch development, sales conferences, uniform design and testing, fabric purchasing (including fiber content, color, shrinkage, and permanent press development), and expansion from blue-collar uniforms to include office styles. Also included are statistics on corporate acquisitions, stock offerings, and dividends and executive committee and board of directors materials. Much of the extensive political information concerns Brookfield's two unsuccessful campaigns for mayor of Kansas City, 1963 and 1971. Brookfield was a 1968 delegate to the Republican National Convention and supported candidates, raised funds, and managed campaigns. Brookfield served on the Kansas City Board of Police Commissioners and the Jackson County Board of Visitors and was chairman of the Jackson County Sports Complex Authority, in charge of building the Truman Sports Complex. A more comprehensive list of Brookfield's business, social, and civic affiliations is located in the information folder. Folders 5235-5452 contain the Family Papers series. This series is divided by family member name and includes photographs, genealogical information, correspondence, and memorabilia. Relationships and biographical information on family members is located in the in-formation folder. The Right-To-Work series is in folders 5453-5702 and contains alphabetically- arranged files on Right-To-Work (R-T-W), Freedom-To-Work (F-T-W), Missourians For Right-To-Work, Inc., and the National Right-To-Work Committee. Files established by C2732 Brookfield, Dutton (1917-1979), Papers, 1844-1979 Page 3 Brookfield have been maintained with only minimal processing adjustments for chronology. Index entries are to the series level, not to individual folders. Information on right-to-work, unions, and labor relations is not limited to this series but can be found throughout the collection. Research in this collection will be rewarding though time-consuming. Brookfield conducted much of his business in person or on the telephone. Letters frequently hint at business activities without clearly stating problems or resolutions. Cross-checking for subjects or individuals will be necessary. FOLDER LIST Alphabetical Series f. 1-270 A f. 1-42 Miscellaneous f. 1 1955, 1957 f. 2 1958 f. 3 1959 f. 4 1960-1961 f. 5 1962 f. 6 1963 f. 7 1964 f. 8 1965 f. 9 1966 f. 10-12 1967 f. 13-15 1968 f. 16-17 1969 f. 18-22 1970 f. 23 1971 f. 24-26 1972 f. 27-28 1973 f. 29-32 1974 f. 33 1975 f. 34-35 1976 f. 36 1977 f. 37-39 1978 f. 40 1979 f. 41-42 n.d. f. 43 Acapulco, Mexico, 1966-1967. Vacation with Lyman Field and Thomas Hart Benton. f. 44-47 Acquisitions, 1964. Reports on companies as possible additions to Unitog. f. 48-53 Adams, Joe, 1969-1979. Unitog salesman and regional manager. Correspondence and reports on ac-counts, uniforms, and management. C2732 Brookfield, Dutton (1917-1979), Papers, 1844-1979 Page 4 f. 54 Aetna Life and Casualty Insurance, 1976-1978. f. 55 Affiliated Home Centers, Inc., 1975-1978. f. 56-60 Agricultural Hall of Fame, Bonner Springs, Kansas, 1963-1978. Establishment, construction, fund raising, and programs. f. 61-66 Airplane, 1956-1963. Use of private and commercial planes for business travel, including rental information, schedules, and costs. f. 67-71 Air Refrigeration Corporation, 1958-1960. One of several businesses run by G.T. (Bud) O'Malley. f. 72 Alcoholism, National Council on, 1961-1968. f. 73-78 Allen, Densil E., 1963-1979. Manager of Unitog plant at Warrensburg, Missouri. Plant operations, employee relations, and unions. f. 79 Allen, William C., Jr. f. 80-93 American Apparel Manufacturers Association, Inc. (AAMA), 1966-1979. Industry-related information. f. 94-202 American Can Company, 1972-1979. Brookfield served on the board of directors. Corporate reports and statements, meeting materials, and correspondence with company executives and other board members on business and social matters. f. 203 American Economic Foundation, 1962. f. 204 American Humanics Foundation, 1966-1979. f. 205 American Institute of Architects, 1968-1973. f. 206 American Nurses Association, 1973-1977. f. 207-215 American Polled Hereford Association, 1969-1977. Brookfield was a member and a breeder of herefords on his ranches in Missouri and Nebraska. f. 216-217 American Red Cross, 1963-1978. f. 218-251 American Royal Association, 1958-1979. Brookfield was active in organizing events, entertaining, and fund raising. f. 252-252b American Telephone and Telegraph Company, 1967-1979. f. 253 Anderson Brothers Consolidated Companies, 1961-1965. f. 254-255 Anthony, C.R. (Ross), 1962-1975. f. 256-258 Apparelmaster, Inc., 1974-1975. f. 259 Aristo Dry Cleaners and Dyers, Inc., 1974-1975. f. 260 Armco Steel Corporation, 1967-1977. f. 261 Ascher, James J., 1974-1977. f. 262-265 Ashcroft, John, 1973-1978. f. 266-267 Athletics Baseball Club, 1966-1967. f. 268 Atlanta--Unitog, 1965-1967. f. 269-270 Avila College, 1967-1973, 1978. f. 271-713 B f. 271-354 Miscellaneous f. 271 1956-1957 f. 272 1958 f. 273 1959 C2732 Brookfield, Dutton (1917-1979), Papers, 1844-1979 Page 5 f. 274 1960 f. 275 1961 f. 276 1962 f. 277 1963 f. 278 1964 f. 279 1965 f. 280-282 1966 f. 283-288 1967 f. 289-296 1968 f. 297-303 1969 f. 304-314 1970 f. 315-321 1971 f. 322-329 1972 f.