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Linebarger Brothers Papers

 Collection
Identifier: MC 946

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

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.

  1. Series 1. Correspondence. Boxes 1-26
  2. Series 2. Legal papers. Box 27
  3. Series 3. Financial papers. Boxes 27- 37
  4. Series 3. Subseries 1. Ledgers and ledger pages
  5. Series 3. Subseries 2. Other financial papers
  6. Series 3. Subseries 3. Sample of receipts
  7. Series 4. Plans and blueprints. Box 33
  8. Series 5. Promotions. Box 37
  9. Series 6. Travel information collected by Linebarger Brothers. Boxes 38-39
  10. Series 7. Personal papers. Box 40
  11. 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.

Related Materials

Records relating to the Linebarger Brothers Papers include:

Linebarger Brothers Papers Addendum MC 946A

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.

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

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