Karl Hickman Klein (1913-2000) Collection (KC0048)

Karl Klein is the grandson of Catherine Josephine and Abraham Pool Barton. Catherine Josephine Barton was an artist and writer in Kansas City. Her son, Ralph Barton (1891-1931), worked on the Kansas City Star before leaving Kansas City to study art in Paris. Barton became a prominent caricaturist during the 1920's. He was listed as an Advisory Editor in the first issues of The New Yorker magazine and contributed to Puck, Life, Judge, Collier's, Cosmopolitan, Vanity Fair, Harper's Bazaar, and Liberty magazines. In addition, Barton illustrated the books Gentlemen Prefer Blondes by Anita Loos and Droll Stories by Balzac, among others. In 1931, Ralph Barton committed suicide in his New York City apartment.

This collection contains photocopies of materials relating to the life and death of Barton. The materials include correspondence with Willard H. Wright (S.S. Van Dine), Alfred Knopf and others; biographical material on Barton; newspaper clippings and magazine articles; letters of condolence; photocopies of photographs and artwork; and a home movie made by Barton of Camille, starring many of his illustrious friends, such as Anita Loos, Paul Robeson, Charlie Chaplin and others. 1890-1990.

3 cubic feet.

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updated: Monday, February 07, 2011
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