ABSTRACT: George Kishmar Collection of Missouri, Gasconade and Osage River Life and Work contains materials relating to the life and works of Mr. Kishmar revolving around river life and work on the Missouri River and its towns. The collection consists of manuscripts by Kishmar as well as related newspaper clippings, correspondence, notes, and excerpts from related works. The subject matter of the collection revolves around Missouri River navigation and work, as well as river signalling, the Army Corps of Engineers, floods, and Mr. Kishmar's life.
DATE: ca 1870 - 1995
SCOPE: The collection maintains its original order, where the organizer, presumably a relative of Mr. Kishmar, put everything together in related packages. The collection contains manuscripts, notes, correspondence, newspaper clippings, publications (newsletters and journals), and excerpts of other works, often transcribed by Mr. Kishmar. Different materials have been described down to the file level, with a description of each attendent work in the file, or in the case of correspondence or clippings, a more general note in the file description. The titles of publications have been included in the file, with publication information when available.
EXTENT: 1.0 Linear feet 1 legal-sized Hollinger clamshell box
HISTORY: George Kishmar was born in 1910 at Chamois, Missouri, to parents John and Marie Dolana Krcmar. George's parents floated down the Missouri River from Omaha, Nebraska, in a houseboat in 1910. They made a living from farming and livestock raising, as well as from the river, by fishing, and working, in John's case, as a ferryman. John Krcmar was also a river freight agent from 1904-21. They had 13 children in all, 8 of which lived to adulthood. George had an eighth grade education when he began his career with the Corps of Engineers in 1927, at the age of 17, constructing willow mattresses. He later worked as a Corps pile driver, and then ran reconnaissance surveys, retiring at age 55 in 1965. George was a president of Chamois Lion's club and a member of the Osage County Historical Society. He compiled four works; The History of Chamois; Osage County and its Three Rivers; My Experiences and Years on the Missouri River; and Facts and Events of the Missouri River. George was wed in 1933 to Edna Bernice Plaster and had a son and two daughters. He died at the age of 89.
ACCESS: This is collection P-036. This collection is available for on-site use only in the Rare Book and Manuscripts Reading Room. Some of the collection may be photocopied, digitally scanned or photographed, depending on condition. Researchers are advised to call ahead concerning changes in hours due to University intersessions and holidays. The St. Louis Mercantile Library is located on levels one and two of the Thomas Jefferson Library building. More information about conducting research with the archival collections of the Library, including current building hours and reading room policies, can be found on our Research page
Preferred Citation note: The preferred citation for this collection is "From the Collections of the St. Louis Mercantile Library at the University of Missouri-St. Louis.”
A finding aid for the collection is available:
George Kismar Collection Finding Aid (.pdf)
