Series Description St. Louis Circuit Court Records Hazlett Kyle Campbell Case St. Louis Union Trust Company, et al. v Clarke, Charles H., et al – 23694-C Abstract: The Hazlett Kyle Campbell Case consists of 17 cubic feet of court papers, transcripts, and exhibits ranging in date from 1938 through 1944. The documents in this collection offer a wealth of information on social, cultural, and economic history as it relates to one of St. Louis’s preeminent nineteenth-century families. Provenance: Office of the Circuit Clerk, City of St. Louis. This case originated with the death of Hazlett Kyle Campbell in March 1938. He left behind an estate valued at approximately $1,850,000. More than 1,000 people eventually came forward claiming to be heirs of this estate. The documents included in this finding aid were filed in the St. Louis Circuit Court between 1938 and 1944. Missouri State Archives staff processed and prepared the materials for microfilm in 2006-2007. Series Title: St. Louis Union Trust Company, et al. v Clarke, Charles H., et al - 23694-C Series Inclusive Dates: 1938-1944 Volume: 17 cubic feet (16 cubic feet of legal size file folders and 3 oversized boxes) Physical Description: The series consists of court papers, transcripts and exhibits (photographs, birth and death records, lineage charts, diaries, wills, bibles, etc.). The majority of these documents are original, however, there exists a considerable number of photostat copies as well. All documents have been flattened and cleaned of dirt and dust that accumulated through the years. Items used to attach documents, such as grommets, straight pins, ribbons, paper clips, and staples have been removed to allow for filming and scanning. A few of the documents have sustained damage over the years and are very fragile. These damaged documents have been placed in protective sleeves. 1 Historical/Biographical Note: Hugh Campbell was the son of prominent nineteenth-century St. Louis fur trader and real estate entrepreneur Robert Campbell. When he died in August, 1931, Hugh left the bulk of his estate to Yale University with the stipulation that it was not to be transferred to the university until the death of Hugh’s brother Hazlett who was an invalid and the last surviving son of Robert Campbell. Within months of Hugh’s death the validity of his will, as well as Hazlett’s capacity to manage the sizeable estate, were called into question. Eventually a guardian was appointed for Hazlett but questions surrounding the legality of Hugh’s will lingered. In March 1938 Hazlett Kyle Campbell died. He left no will and shortly thereafter a protracted court battle ensued between the St. Louis Union Trust Company, which was the trustee of the estate, and more than 1,000 defendants who came forward claiming to be heirs to the Campbell fortune. The case was finally settled in the mid-1940s with fewer than 200 defendants ultimately receiving a share of the estate. Scope and Content: Although extensive, this collection is not comprehensive. It contains a majority of the extant court documents as well as a substantial number of exhibits, both original and copies. Throughout the course of the trial extensive copies of court papers, exhibits and other documents were used by the St. Louis Union Trust Company, lawyers, and court officials. These copies have been preserved as part of the original provenance of the case. Arrangement: The Hazlett Kyle Campbell Case is divided into several series of documents: Court Papers, Statements of Account: A.M. Vogel’s Papers, Transcripts, Exhibits, Bill of Exceptions, Bill of Exceptions Exhibits, Bill of Exceptions Copy of Transcripts, Bill of Exceptions Copy of Exhibits and Copies of Volumes of Exhibits. Documents are arranged chronologically according to the original order prescribed by the court. Within the transcripts and exhibits categories they are further subdivided by defendant name. Separated Material: Oversized records have been removed to permit flattening and to provide proper safe storage, handling, and access. References to the separated material have been placed in each folder from which documents have been removed. Oversized documents are located at the end of the container sequence. Related Material: Record books and case files of the St. Louis Circuit Court contain information about other litigation involving various Campbell family members. 2 The Missouri Historical Society in St. Louis possesses a wide variety of materials, originals and photostats, that are part of the Hazlett Kyle Campbell case. Classified as the Hazlett Kyle Campbell Estate Case Records, 1938-1941, these materials complement those held by the St. Louis Circuit Court. This collection is organized differently than that held by the court. It is organized into the following categories: Genealogical Material; Reports, Notices, Orders, Minutes, Diary of Special Master Nangle; Photostats of Exhibits; Photostats and Transcripts of Trustees, Exhibits, Materials on Hearings; Miscellaneous Correspondence, Exceptions to Final Report of Special Master; Ireland/England Trip of Special Master; Testimony of Defendants; Correspondence with Attorneys, Correspondence with Claimants, Correspondence with Parties Defendant; Transcripts of Depositions and Hearings; Campbell Family Bible; Exhibits; Hugh Campbell Journal; Robert Campbell Family Papers. The Mercantile Library at the University of Missouri-St. Louis holds the Robert Campbell Family Collection, which includes 35 linear feet of material pertaining to Robert Campbell’s professional life. The majority of this collection consists of business correspondence, company ledgers, copy books, financial reports, and family letters. The St. Louis Probate Court also holds probate records for Hugh and Hazlett Campbell. Other materials relating to the family or this case are in the custody of the Campbell House Museum in St. Louis. Access Conditions: Original records remain the property of the St. Louis Circuit Court. Researchers may apply for access by contacting the Clerk of the St. Louis Circuit Courts, Civil Courts Building, 10 North Tucker Boulevard, St. Louis, Missouri 63101. The Circuit Court determines policies and prices for copies of original documents. Records are available on microfilm from the St. Louis Circuit Court, Missouri State Archives. Preferred Citation: Plaintiff v. Defendant > Term of Court, Year > Case File Number > (Cite specific document if required) > Circuit Court Case Files > Office of the Circuit Clerk-St. Louis > Missouri State Archives-St. Louis > Office of the Secretary of State 3 Contents: Court Papers: Volumes 1 – 13. Statements of Account: A.M. Vogel’s Papers: Volumes 1 – 4. Transcripts: 1 – 16, 66 – 124, 177 - 179. Last two folders have no volume number. Exhibits: Volumes 1, 10, 13, 17 – 19, 21, 23, 31 – 33, 35, 37, 40 – 44, 47 – 49, 51 – 52, 54, 60 - 61, 65 – 66, 68 – 71, 73 – 82, 84 – 89, 91 – 95, 97 – 127, 130, 132 – 133, 135 – 142, 151, 153 – 154, 156, 158 – 159, 168 – 169, 173 – 174, 176 – 178.. Bill of Exceptions: Volumes 1 – 4. Bill of Exceptions Exhibits: Volumes 1 – 4. Bill of Exceptions Copy of Transcripts: 1 – 16, 38 – 180. Bill of Exceptions Copy of Exhibits: Volumes 1 – 12. Copies of Volumes of Exhibits: Volumes 3 – 5, 9, 11, 1 & 2. 1 Court Papers *****Series description***** Volume #1: Folder #1 of 4: April – May 1938 Summonses Attorney’s letter to court Memoranda for clerk Petitions Court orders Sheriff’s letter to attorneys Folder #2 of 4: June 1938 Memoranda for clerk Motion for leave to file answer Impleadings Suggestion of death Attorney’s letter to court Filing of proof of publication Motion of Kyle Grant, et. al. Application for leave to intervene as additional parties defendant. Folder #3 of 4: April - September 1938 Motions of plaintiffs Memoranda for clerk Petitions of defendants Petitions and answers Petitions and applications for leave to file answers Court orders Oath of Special Master Nangle Motion to investigate heirship Motion to appoint special master Motion for an order in respect to the defense of certain condemnation proceedings Motion for an order authorizing payment of certain expenses prior to Hazlett Campbell’s death Folder #4 of 4: May 1938 Depositions of Charlotte Elizabeth Johnson Pugsley, Margaret Buchanan Campbell Johnson, Paul Nelson, and Jesse Newport Johnson Volume #2: Folder 1 of 3: June 1938 Memoranda for clerk 2 Defendant petitions Joint answers of defendants Separate answers of defendants Suggestion of death of co-defendant Anna Morrison Answers of defendants Application of Isabella Guise Browne to be made co-defendant Suggestion of death of co-defendant James Campbell McIlwaine Cross petition; Application for a hearing to establish relationship to Hazlett Campbell Folder 2 of 3: June 1938 Joint answer of defendants Defendant answers and claims Letter to court from Jennie Gibbons; Memoranda for clerk Letter to court from Marguerite McClure Keeling Separate answers of co-defendants; Petition to be declared an heir First amended answer of co-defendants Letter to court from Mary Chiles Warnock Folder 3 of 3: August – September 1938 Joint answers of defendants Separate answers of defendants Answers of defendants Petitions of defendants Re-estate of the late Hazlett Kyle Campbell Volume #3: Folder 1 of 3: October 1938 – May 1939 Memoranda for clerk Suggestion of death of co-defendant Robert Clarke Separate answers of co-defendants; Plaintiff motions Plaintiff petitions Letter to court from Hon. J. Frank Campbell Court orders Subpoena Folder 2 of 3: September 1938