Linebarger Brothers Papers
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Scope and Content Note
Papers pertaining to the Linebarger brothers and their real estate developments, particularly in Tomball, Texas, and Bella Vista, Arkansas.
The papers had been stored in C. A. Linebarger's office and in the Bella Vista Historical Society. Realizing that the organization lacked the means to care for the papers, the Bella Vista Historical Society encouraged the heirs of C. A. Linebarger to donate the material to Special Collections.
The collection includes correspondence, record books, pamphlets and other printed material, financial records, and photographs, pertaining primarily to Bella Vista. Some materials pertain to the Linebarger brothers' development in Tomball, Texas.
Dates
- 1910-1978
Creator
- Linebarger, Clarence A. (Person)
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
Clarence A. Linebarger, Forrest W. Linebarger, and Clayton C. Linebarger purchased land in Benton County in 1917. Experienced in real estate development (Tomball, Texas, was their most successful early venture), they began promoting Bella Vista as a resort community. Guests could stay in lodges or rent cottages, or could buy lots and have cottages built on them. The Linebarger brothers built most of the cottages, using several standard plans. As Bella Vista grew, amenities were added: a boat dock, swimming pool, dance pavilion, resort photographer, the Sunset Hotel, shops, beauty parlors, a night club in the "Wonderland" cave, golf course, newspaper. The Linebargers licensed some thirty local farmers and craftspeople to sell produce, baked goods, clothing, milk, butter, and other items door to door. In 1951 C. A. Linebarger sold the community to another resort developer, E. L. Keith.
Extent
33.7 Linear Feet (40 boxes and 2 oversize folders)
Arrangement of the Papers
Because of varying sizes of materials and the desire to save space, items were put into boxes of the appropriate size. As a result, the order as given in the finding aid will not correspond to the box-by-box order of the collection. Locations are clearly noted on the finding aid.
- Series 1. Correspondence. Boxes 1-26
- Series 2. Legal papers. Box 27
- Series 3. Financial papers. Boxes 27- 37
- Series 3. Subseries 1. Ledgers and ledger pages
- Series 3. Subseries 2. Other financial papers
- Series 3. Subseries 3. Sample of receipts
- Series 4. Plans and blueprints. Box 33
- Series 5. Promotions. Box 37
- Series 6. Travel information collected by Linebarger Brothers. Boxes 38-39
- Series 7. Personal papers. Box 40
- Series 8. Pictures. Box 33
Acquisition Information
The Linebarger Brothers Papers were donated to Special Collections by Charity A. Linebarger George (for the heirs of C. A. Linebarger, Sr.) of Sacramento, California, October 7, 1989.
Processing Information
Processed by Vera Ekechukwu and Nan Lawler, September 1993. Special Collections Division, University of Arkansas Libraries, Fayetteville, Arkansas. An addendum was processed in 1994. Updated by Katrina Windon in April 2021 to add OV Folders 1-2, which were processed in 1993 or 1994 but had not been listed in the original finding aid.
Creator
- Linebarger, Clarence A. (Person)
- Linebarger, Forrest W. (Person)
- Linebarger, Clayton C. (Person)
Source
- Linebarger George, Charity A. (Donor, Person)
- Title
- Linebarger Brothers Papers
- Status
- Completed
- Author
- Vera Ekechukwu and Nan Lawler
- Date
- September 1993
- 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
University of Arkansas Libraries
365 N. McIlroy Avenue
Fayetteville AR 72701 United States
(479) 575-8444
specoll@uark.edu