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Collection
Willie Siple Collection
Title
The Willie Siple Collection
Object ID
MG0006
Date Range
1935-1962
: Boxers Correspondence Letters Newspaper vendors Blind People with visual disabilities Manuscript groups Finding aids Folder 1 Photographs: Most relate to Willy and his newsstand. One is of Archie Moore, and several of Willy in his boxing stance. Photographs transferred to the Photograph Collection, 3
  1 document  
Collection
Willie Siple Collection
Title
The Willie Siple Collection
Description
The Willie Siple Collection includes photographs, postcards, correspondence, and newspaper clippings about Siple and related to his business and boxing career.
Admin/Biographical History
Wilbur "Willie" Siple (1904-1966) was the operator of Siple's News Stand for many years. He was originally a professional boxer when he was younger, and he had a successful, but short, boxing career. During those six years, Willie fought in 131 exhibitions with 71 wins, 9 losses, 22 draws and 29 KO's. Willie was what was called a "flyweight," weighing only 102 pounds in his heyday. However, Willie's boxing career was cut short after a 1925 automobile accident. Although many people speculated that Willie's loss of his eyesight was because of his boxing career, Willie explained the accident to a local newspaper. According to a sports news article that can be found in the Willie Siple Collection here at LancasterHistory.org, Willie was attempting to fix a car when a car tire exploded in his face, damaging his eyesight beyond repair and blinding him.
However, despite this tragedy, Willie didn't let the accident and blindness take over his life. On September 28, 1935, during the Depression, Willie made a brave move and opened his news stand in the Lancaster City Post Office, and named it Siple's News Stand. Due to an act of Congress, the Rudolph-Sheppard Act of 1935, Willie became "one of the first blind operators to set up shop in Federal Buildings," according to an article in the Willie Siple collection. Willie's news stand featured free news and weather reports, and sold newspapers, magazines, and candy. Rare coins and stamps, a personal passion of Willie's, were also available for purchase. Willie would travel far and wide in order to acquire rare stamps to be sold to stamp collectors. Willie would travel to places like Washington, D.C. Princeton, New Jersey, and Philadelphia in order to buy what were then called "first day issues" of stamps. One newspaper article even calls him a "philatelist," or a stamp expert, much to Willie's surprise. Siple was also extremely passionate about coin collecting, and could identify and appraise coins without needing to see them. Willie also loved to travel, and had even traveled to Canada and all around Pennsylvania with the help of friends.
Willie then became a well-known public figure. He was known for his friendly, talkative personality, and his eye-catching and "loud" shirts. WDAC-FM radio, then a Christian radio station, featured an editorial on Willie, which was subtitled "the personification of good humor." In this editorial, Willie is said to have had a "flamboyant and winning personality," as well as a "belief in man's basic honesty." Despite the fact that Willie was often taken advantage of because of his blindness, and that he "was the victim of an average of $40 worth annually in pilfered stock or dishonest dealings," Willie held on to the belief in the goodness of mankind all his life. This is not to say that Willie was completely dependent on the honesty of his customers. He was able to read dollar bills with his hands, and could tell the difference between each, much to the wonder of skeptical customers, and probably to the dismay of the rare customer who would try and take advantage of him.
Willie became a well-loved figure in the community, and anyone looking through his collection will be able to see just that. Siple was a philanthropist who supported the Tuberculosis Society with the proceeds from sales of Christmas seals (or stamps) for their charity. Willie would also dress up like Santa Claus every year, and would visit infantile paralysis victims. There are also multiple thank-you notes from school classes and the local boys club for his generous gifts of candy.
Many of Willie's friends also willingly helped him with his business, helping him with bookkeeping, driving him to and from work, taking him to lunch, helping take over the stand during lunch, and much more. He called these people his "assistants," and most of them were local business men and women who would take time out of their days to help. These people were unpaid friends, just willing to give Willie a hand. Their kindness, as well as Willie's generosity, show the kinship and kindness in the community that surrounded him in Lancaster city.
written by Elizabeth McIlhenney, 2016
Date Range
1935-1962
Creation Date
1935-1962
Year Range From
1935
Year Range To
1962
Creator
Hauck, Johnny
Storage Location
LancasterHistory, Lancaster, PA
Storage Room
Archives South
Storage Wall
Side 01
People
Siple, Wilbur H. "Willie"
Moore, Archie
Subjects
Blind
Boxers (Sports)
Letters
Newspaper vendors
People with visual disabilities
Search Terms
Boxers (Sports)
Correspondence
Finding aids
Letters
Manuscript groups
Newspaper vendors
People with visual disabilities
Extent
1 box, 3 folders, 2 cubic ft.
Object Name
Archive
Language
English
Object ID
MG0006
Related Item Notes
Johnny Hauck Collection, MG0063
Photograph Collection
Notes
This material was part of the Johnny Hauck Collection, MG-63. Because of the specific nature of the material, it was extracted to create a separate manuscript group.
Photographs transferred to the Photograph Collection, 3 November 2017.
Access Conditions / Restrictions
No restrictions.
Copyright
Collection may not be photocopied. Please direct questions to Research Center Staff at research@lancasterhistory.org.
Permission for reproduction and/or publication must be obtained in writing from LancasterHistory.
Credit
Courtesy of LancasterHistory, Lancaster, Pennsylvania.
Other Numbers
MG-6
Classification
MG0006
Description Level
Fonds
Custodial History
This material was part of the Johnny Hauck Collection, MG-63. Because of the specific nature of the material, it was extracted to create a separate manuscript group.
Cataloged prior to July 1997; added to database 8 February 2018.
Documents
Less detail
Collection
Johnny Hauck Collection
Title
Johnny Hauck Collection
Object ID
MG0063
Date Range
1909-1975
Collection
Johnny Hauck Collection
Title
Johnny Hauck Collection
Description
This collection contains materials of Johnny Hauck, a boxing historian and brother of Leo Houck (1888-1950), a championship boxer. Consists of personal papers, newspaper clippings, correspondence, drawings, and material on boxing matches and associations.
Date Range
1909-1975
Year Range From
1909
Year Range To
1975
Creator
Hauck, Johnny
Storage Location
LancasterHistory, Lancaster, PA
Storage Room
Archives South
Storage Wall
Side 02
People
Allmuth, Frank
Casola, Juan C.
Chuvalo, George
Collopy, Jack
Hauck, Johnny
Houck, Ed
Houck, Leo
Hubbard, Elbert
Kahl, Emory G.
Kreider, Bob
Leonard, Leo P.
Mantell, Frank
Quarry, Jerry
Rebman, Earl
Taylor, Floyd "Red"
Subjects
Boxing
Boxers (Sports)
Search Terms
Amateur Athletic Union
Andrews and Messier
Boxers (Sports)
Boxing
Correspondence
Drawings
Finding aids
Harry Waller's Physical Culture
Legal papers
Letters
Lists
Manuscript groups
Middle Atlantic Association
National Veteran Boxers Association
Nevin Campbell's Boxing Academy
Newspaper clippings
Old Time Boxers and Sportsmen's Association
Photographs
Poetry
Scrapbooks
Extent
11 boxes, 134 folders, 5.5 cubic ft.
Object Name
Archive
Language
English
Object ID
MG0063
Related Item Notes
Photograph Collection
Curatorial Collection
Access Conditions / Restrictions
No restrictions.
Copyright
Collection may not be photocopied. Please contact Research Staff or Archives Staff with questions.
Credit
Johnny Hauck Collection (MG-63), Folder #, LancasterHistory.org
Classification
MG0063
Description Level
Fonds
Less detail
Collection
Stock Certificates Collection
Title
Stock Certificates Collection
Object ID
MG0326
Date Range
1822-1995
Association Farmers Bank of Lancaster Farmers Oil Company Finding aids Follmer, Clogg and Company Gap Mine Company Goldsmith Brothers International Bank Note Company Lancaster County Farm Bureau Cooperative Association Lancaster Development Company Lancaster Manufacturing Company Lancaster Suburban Water
  1 document  
Collection
Stock Certificates Collection
Title
Stock Certificates Collection
Description
This collection contains stock certificates for businesses and associations in Lancaster County and this region, or for shares held by residents of Lancaster County.
Date Range
1822-1995
Year Range From
1822
Year Range To
1995
Date of Accumulation
1822-1995
Creator
LancasterHistory (Organization)
Storage Location
LancasterHistory, Lancaster, PA
Storage Room
Archives South
Storage Wall
Side 08
People
Barber, John
Bausman, J. B.
Bolton, W. P.
Bowman, Robert K.
Burkholder, Abe W.
Cleveland, S. M.
Dick, William
Dombach, Calvin S.
Eshleman, Kathryn
Fairlamb, Harry
Folmer, Charles John
Frank, J. Barcley
Franklin, Walter M.
Givler, John
Givler, John S.
Good, C. W.
Green, E.
Haines, Joyce
Haines, Karl
Harrison, W.
Hartman, H. W.
Hartman, John F.
Hartzell, H. O.
Hess, Mark S.
Jenkins, William
Jones, J.
Kauffman, I. M.
Keller, Dean
Kendall, L. A.
Kreider, Elam
Long, John F.
Loose, John Ward Willson "Jack"
Lorch, George A.
Lutz, P. H.
Martin, Isaac
Maxwell, Joseph R.
Maxwell, Mrs. Joseph R.
Metzger, H. R.
Metzler, Christian E.
Meyer, Anna Magdalen
Miller, William
Mowrer, J. H.
Nissley, J. H.
Parkins, R. B.
Pickle, J. Harry
Pollard, Myron A.
Price, Samuel
Riddick, Frank A.
Rudy, James K.
Rush, E. W.
Sahm, Norman R.
Shand, William
Shurler, F.
Smith, Jacob
Smith, W. J. B.
Snavely, Helen
Snyder, P. F.
Sweigart, S. F
Wagner, F. D.
Webster, George W.
Yost, J. F.
Zimmerman, Elmer D.
Subjects
Stock certificates
Search Terms
Agricultural Trust and Savings Company
American Bank Note Company
Armstrong World Industries, Inc.
Associations, institutions, etc.
Broun-Green Company
Columbia Pennsylvania Library Company
Conestoga Aero Corporation
E. A. Wright Bank Note Company
Eastern Livestock Cooperative Marketing Association
Farmers Bank of Lancaster
Farmers Oil Company
Finding aids
Follmer, Clogg and Company
Gap Mine Company
Goldsmith Brothers
International Bank Note Company
Lancaster County Farm Bureau Cooperative Association
Lancaster Development Company
Lancaster Manufacturing Company
Lancaster Suburban Water Company
Lancaster, Oxford and Southern Railroad Company
Linglestown Fair Association
Lone Star Gas and Oil Company
Manheim, Petersburg and Lancaster Plank Road
Manheim, Petersburg and Lancaster Turnpike
Manufacturing
Manuscript groups
New Holland Airport
Railroads
Reynolds and Company
Seed-leaf Tobacco Growers Company
Service and Parking Garage Company
Sicily Island Fishing Club
Silver Springs Dairy Company Ltd.
Stock certificates
Tobacco
Turnpikes
United Ice Company
West End Water Company
William F. Murphy's Sons Company
Winslow Petroleum Company
Extent
1 box, 13 folders, .25 cubic ft.
Object Name
Archive
Language
English
Object ID
MG0326
Location of Originals
LancasterHistory, Lancaster, Pennsylvania
Notes
Preferred Citation: Title or description of item, date (day, month, year), Collection Title (MG#), Folder #, (or Object ID), LancasterHistory, Lancaster, Pennsylvania. URL if applicable. Date accessed (day, month, year).
Access Conditions / Restrictions
Original documents may be used by researchers--contact Research@LancasterHistory.org prior to visit or request at Reference Desk.
Copyright
Collection items may be photographed. Please direct questions to Research Center Staff at Research@LancasterHistory.org.
Permission for reproduction and/or publication must be obtained in writing from LancasterHistory. Persons wishing to publish any material from this site must assume all responsibility for identifying and satisfying any claimants of copyright or other use restrictions. Publication fees may apply.
Credit
Courtesy of LancasterHistory, Lancaster, Pennsylvania.
Other Numbers
MG-326
Classification
MG0326
Description Level
Fonds
Custodial History
Added to database 9 September 2021.
Documents
Less detail
Collection
Menu Collection
Title
"Nostalgia Marks Hotel's Last Night"
Object ID
MG0339_F007_In02
Date Range
1963
Collection
Menu Collection
Title
"Nostalgia Marks Hotel's Last Night"
Description
Newspaper article, "Nostalgia marks hotel's last night: Owner's eyes filled with tears as guests sign 'Auld Lang Syne'," by Gerald S. Lestz. Lancaster New Era.
Date Range
1963
Creation Date
[1963]
Creator
Lancaster New Era
Storage Location
LancasterHistory, Lancaster, PA
Storage Room
Archives South
Storage Wall
Side 08
People
Andes, William D., Jr.
Barr, Richard
Burnett, C. E. "Tex"
Cohen, Burrell
Dunlap, Anne Louise Reist
Dunlap, James Cecil
Farkas, Albert A.
Fournaris, James F.
Hopf, Richard
Lestz, Gerald S.
Mack, J. Edward
Means, Grant
Myers, Bernard J.
Myers, Margaret
Rengier, Charles F.
Rengier, John B.
Schneebeli, Otto J.
Schock, Dorothy
Seibel, M. J.
Seibel, Martin
Shand, Dorothy Schaeffer
Shand, William
Shoemaker, Robert Reed
Shoemaker, Mabel Alexander "Bubbles"
Stauffer, Claude R.
Subjects
Clippings (Books, newspapers, etc.)
Restaurants
Search Terms
Clippings (Books, newspapers, etc.)
Finding aids
Manuscript groups
Newspaper clippings
Restaurants
Stevens House
Toby Room
Extent
1 items, 1 page to scan
Object Name
Clipping, Newspaper
Language
English
Condition
Good
Condition Date
2021-11-26
Object ID
MG0339_F007_In02
Location of Originals
LancasterHistory, Lancaster, Pennsylvania
Related Item Notes
Stevens House Hotel Records (MG0246)
Menu Collection (MG0339) https://collections.lancasterhistory.org/en/permalink/d6e0ab70-3f53-499e-823d-636215654400
Notes
Preferred Citation: Title or description of item, date (day, month, year), Collection Title (MG#), Folder # (or Object ID), LancasterHistory, Lancaster, Pennsylvania.
Access Conditions / Restrictions
No restrictions.
Copyright
Items may not be photocopied. Please direct questions to Research Center Staff at research@lancasterhistory.org.
Permission for reproduction and/or publication must be obtained in writing from LancasterHistory.
Credit
Courtesy of LancasterHistory, Lancaster, Pennsylvania.
Accession Number
2014.MG0339.F7
Other Numbers
MG-339, Folder 7, In 2
Other Number
MG-339, Folder 7, Insert 2
Classification
MG0339
Description Level
Item
Custodial History
Added to database 26 November 2021.
Less detail
Collection
Diary Collection
Title
Diary Collection
Object ID
MG0247
Date Range
1836-1978
  1 document  
Collection
Diary Collection
Title
Diary Collection
Description
The Diary Collection contains diaries and journals of individuals from Lancaster County. The diarists recorded daily events such as social activities, household chores, farm life, and business activities. Some writers copied published works and newspaper articles or recorded national events. Subjects that are mentioned include the Stock Market crash of 1929, "The Volstead Blues," travel, World Wars I and II, weather, genealogy, and items of local interest.
System of Arrangement
By name of individual or family.
John R. Bitzer
John J. Bowman, Sr.
Lizzie H. Gottshall
Anna M. Haverstick
Alexander Hays
Maria C. Heinitsh
Elsie Kreider
Lightner family
William Shand, Jr.
George W. Silvey
Abraham Herr Smith
Harry Smith
Unknown
Date Range
1836-1978
Year Range From
1836
Year Range To
1978
Date of Accumulation
1836-1978
Creator
LancasterHistory (Organization)
Storage Location
LancasterHistory, Lancaster, PA
Storage Room
Archives South
Storage Wall
Side 06
People
Bitzer, John R.
Bowman, John Jacob
Gottshall, Lizzie H.
Haverstick, Anna M.
Hays, Alexander L.
Heinitsh, Maria C. Reed
Kreider, Elsie May Harman
Shand, William
Silvey, George W.
Smith, Abraham Herr
Smith, Harry
Subjects
Diaries
Search Terms
Manuscript groups
Finding aids
Diaries
Extent
8 boxes 4.5 cubic ft.
Object Name
Archive
Language
English
Object ID
MG0247
Notes
Preferred citation: Diary Collection (MG-247), Name of diary set, Box #, Folder #, LancasterHistory, Lancaster, Pa.
Access Conditions / Restrictions
No restrictions, unless noted within the finding aid.
Copyright
Collection may not be photocopied. Please direct questions to Research Center Staff at research@lancasterhistory.org. Permission for reproduction and/or publication must be obtained in writing from LancasterHistory.
Credit
Courtesy of LancasterHistory, Lancaster, Pennsylvania.
Other Numbers
MG-247
Other Number
MG-247
Classification
MG0247
Description Level
Fonds
Documents
Less detail
Collection
History Collection: Person, Johnny Hauck
Object ID
2004.039.5
Date Range
1950-1970
Collection
History Collection: Person, Johnny Hauck
Description
Wallet embossed with boxing gloves, gift to Johnny Hauck from Lena and Guy
Date Range
1950-1970
Year Range From
1950
Year Range To
1970
Last Owner
Hauck, Johnny
Storage Location
LancasterHistory, Lancaster, PA
Storage Room
DAC
Storage Wall
North Wall
Storage Cabinet
Unit 04
Storage Drawer
Drawer 16
Subcategory
Personal Gear
Object Name
Wallet
Material
Leather
Length (in)
5
Width (in)
7
Condition
Good
Object ID
2004.039.5
Accession Number
2004.039
Less detail

6 records – page 1 of 1.