Collection Title: William Forrester Foster Papers
Series Number: MS71-02
Processed and Cataloged by: Originally processed by Cecilia Droege.
Date Listed: 1971. No exact date listed.
Date Span: 1953-1966
Size of Collection: 0.5 linear feet.
Number of Boxes: 1 legal size document case.
Type of Material: Correspondence, newspaper clippings and press releases.
Condition of Material: Good.
Arrangement: Organized by type of material; chronological arrangement.
Biographical / Historical Information: William Forrester Foster was born in a log cabin in Graves County, Kentucky on August 1, 1895. He attended public schools and after graduating high school entered Mayfield Business College. He began working as a stock boy at the Merit Clothing Company in 1915. By 1938, he had risen through the ranks to president of the multi-million dollar firm. In 1953 and 1954, he was the campaign manager of United States Senator Alben Barkley. Foster was a University of Kentucky Board of Trustee member from 1956 until his death in 1967. In 1966, he received the Horatio Alger Association of Distinguished Americans Award. Foster died on February 28, 1967.
Scope and Content: Collection consists of photocopied correspondence, newspaper clippings and press releases associated with Mayfield, Kentucky businessman William Forrester Foster from 1953 to 1966. The bulk of the collection focuses upon Foster receiving the Horatio Alger Association of Distinguished Americans Award in 1966.
Subject Headings / Descriptors:
Foster, William Forrester, 1895-1967.
Merit Clothing Company (Mayfield, Ky.)
Mayfield (Ky.)
Horatio Alger Association of Distinguished Americans.
Businessmen – Kentucky – Mayfield.
Box List
Box 1
- Correspondence- 1953-1954
- Correspondence- 1955-1956
- Correspondence- 1957-1958
- Correspondence- 1959-1965
- Correspondence- Undated
- Newspaper Clippings- W.F. Foster’s Activities
- Newspaper Clippings- General Tire and Rubber Company’s New Mayfield Plant
- Newspaper Clippings- Religious Activities
- Newspaper Clippings- Merit Clothing Company
- Newspaper Clippings- Miscellaneous
- Mementos
- Horatio Alger Award- Correspondence Press Releases
- Newspaper Clippings- Alben W. Barkley
- Letters of Congratulations from Public Officials 1966
- Letters of Congratulations 1966
- Letters of Congratulations 1966
- Letters of Congratulations 1966
- Letters of Congratulations 1966
- Letters of Congratulations 1966
- Letters of Congratulations 1966
- Letters of Congratulations 1966
- Horatio Alger Award, Acceptance of May 23, 1966
