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United States National Park Service Business Records of Hot Springs, Arkansas Bathhouses

 Collection
Identifier: MS Un3nps 367

Scope and Content Note

Correspondence, memoranda, reports, payrolls, contracts, charts, certificates, tax returns, invoices, financial statements, architectural drawings, personnel files, bulletins, registers, minutes of meetings, printed advertising and promotional materials, and other records documenting the management, maintenance, operation, business and financial affairs, personnel administration, and patron relations of three of the larger and more popular former establishments of Hot Springs' celebrated "Bathhouse Row,” the Fordyce, the Maurice, and the Ozark bathhouses, especially as regards their relationship, as concessionaires, with the U.S. Department of the lnterior’s National Park Service.

Dates

  • 1903-1975
  • Majority of material found within 1925-1969

Creator

Language of Materials

Materials are in English.

Access Information

Please call 479-575-8444 or email specoll@uark.edu at least two weeks in advance of your arrival to ensure availability of the materials.

Use Information

No Use Restrictions Apply.

No Interlibrary Loan.

Standard Federal Copyright Laws Apply (U.S. Title 17).

Biographical Note

Hot Springs National Park, located in Garland County, Arkansas, was established in 1832, and is the National Park Service's oldest park. Medicinal qualities have been attributed to the hot springs in the area, which were traditionally used by Native Americans in the region and are have been used by patients and tourists through the present day. Throughout the park's history, various concessionaires have operated bathhouses along historic Bathhouse Row in downtown Hot Springs, which makes up the core of the park.

Extent

28 Linear Feet (43 boxes and 1 oversize folder)

Arrangement of the Papers

The collection is arranged and described in three series of four or more sub-series each:

  1. Series 1. Records of Fordyce Bathhouse
  2. Series 1. Subseries 1. Management Correspondence of Principal Owners
  3. Series 1. Subseries 2. Financial Records
  4. Series 1. Subseries 3. Correspondence and Other Records Pertaining to National Park Service
  5. Series 1. Subseries 4. Monthly and Annual Reports to National Park Service
  6. Series 1. Subseries 5. Payroll and Personnel Records
  7. Series 1. Subseries 6. Miscellaneous Records
  8. Series 2. Records of Maurice Bathhouse
  9. Series 2. Subseries 1. Business and Financial Records
  10. Series 2. Subseries 2. Correspondence and Other Records Pertaining to National Park Service
  11. Series 2. Subseries 3. Monthly and Annual Reports to National Park Service
  12. Series 2. Subseries 4. Payroll and Personnel Records
  13. Series 2. Subseries 5. Patron Correspondence
  14. Series 2. Subseries 6. Miscellaneous Records
  15. Series 3. Records of Ozark Bathhouse
  16. Series 3. Subseries 1. Business and Financial Records
  17. Series 3. Subseries 2. Correspondence and Memoranda Pertaining to National Park Service
  18. Series 3. Subseries 3. Patron Correspondence
  19. Series 3. Subseries 4. Advertising and Promotional Materials

Acquisition Information

The United States National Park Service Business Records of Hot Springs, Arkansas Bathhouses was deposited with the Special Collections Department by Hot Springs National Park in March 1980.

Processing Information

Processed by Samuel Sizer; completed in October 1981. Bulk of collection materials were rehoused into new boxes and finding aid updated by Drake Fitzwater in March 2017.

Title
United States National Park Service Business Records of Hot Springs, Arkansas Bathhouses
Status
Completed
Author
Samuel Sizer
Date
October 1981
Language of description
English
Script of description
Latin
Language of description note
Finding aid is written in English.

Repository Details

Part of the Special Collections Department Repository

Contact:
University of Arkansas Libraries
365 N. McIlroy Avenue
Fayetteville AR 72701 United States
(479) 575-8444