Tarter/Miller Papers, 1933-1996 [bulk 1968-1996]

Finding Aid

Prepared by Edith Serkownek, September 28, 2005
1 document case, .33 cubic feet, 11th floor

Biographical Note

In 1983, James B. "Jabe" Tarter and Paul B. Miller committed to donating their personal collection of antique glass, collectibles, dolls, china, porcelain, paintings, and furniture to the Kent State University Museum. The largest portion of the collection, which included over 200,000 objects, was the collection of American glass (much of it created in Ohio, West Virginia and Pennsylvania). In 1997, Paul B. Miller donated additional materials to the Kent State University Archives and Special Collections, a portion of which has become the Tarter/Miller papers.

Jabe Tarter was born in Texas. Tarter graduated from Oklahoma A & M with a B.A. and M.A. in creative design and floralculture and composition and grammar, and received his Ph.D. from the University of Colorado in design and composition. Tarter wrote a column on antiques for Knight-Ridder newspapers for 15 years as well as publishing articles in the Antique Trader, American Collector, Antiques Journal and the Glass Review. Paul B. Miller was born in Watoga, West Virginia and was a graduate of Hammel Business College in Akron. He worked in the engineering department of the Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company until his retirement in 1971. He also served as the secretary-editor of the Stretch Glass Society in the 1970s and 1980s. Jabe Tarter and Paul B. Miller met in military service in 1942 and eventually formed a partnership through a shared interest in antiques. The two moved to Akron in 1946. Jabe Tarter died in 1991 and Paul B. Miller died in 2003.

Source

• The Kent State University Alumni Assocation. (1983, March). Great glass: University receives priceless gift. Kent: The Kent State University Alumni Association, 14:4, 3-4.
  

Scope and Content

This collection is divided into four series: miscellaneous documents, sheet music, Akron Beacon Journal photographs and KSU photographs. The first series includes correspondence of Jabe Tarter and Paul Miller, newsclippings and articles by and about Jabe Tarter, dedication programs and a Tarter family genealogy. Items in this series date from 1968 to 1996 (with a number of undated items) and are organized chronologically. The second series contains sheet music belonging to Paul B. Miller. Items in this series date from 1933-1935 are organized alphabetically by title. The third series contains photographs of antiques taken by Akron Beacon Journal photographers for Jabe Tarter's newspaper columns. Items in this series date from 1968 to 1987 (with a number of undated photographs) and are organized by chronologically. Please note copyright restrictions. The fourth series contains unprocessed KSU photographs taken of Jabe Tarter and Paul Miller at the time of their donation to KSU, circa 1983.

Books from the collection have been catalogued in KentLINK.

Series

• Series 1: Miscellaneous documents including correspondence, newsclippings, magazine articles, dedication programs and a genealogy, 1968-1996 and undated
• Series 2: Sheet Music belonging to Paul Miller, 1933-1935
• Series 3: Photographs of antiques taken by the Akron Beacon Journal for Jabe Tarter's column, 1968-1987 and undated
• Series 4: Photographs of Jabe Tarter and Paul Miller taken by KSU photographs, circa 1983
  

Box 1

Folder -- Contents

Series 1: Miscellaneous Documents

1. Dedication program, pamphlet and newsletter for The Old Stone School, Akron. February. 1968 [Miller and Tarter donated a water jar and filter]
2. Article: Sperling, Patricia W.: "Captivating Carnival Glass" in The Wonderful World of Ohio. February, 1968 [including photographs of Jim Tarter]
3. Correspondence [concerning carnival glass]: Donald C. Young to Jabe Tarter. December 19, 1968
4. Correspondence [concerning Jabe Tarter research]: Paul Miller to William Schlemmer. May 15, 1969
5. Newclippings: Articles by Jabe Tarter. 1972-1973 and 1977
6. Nametag for Paul Miller, American Carnival Glass Assocation. 1976
7. Correspondence [concerning Stretch Glass Society]: A. Christian Revi to Paul Miller. March 14, 1977
8. Folder with press release and photographs for Roy Arrington Victorian Casino Antiques Auction with note from Jabe Tarter. [1979]
9. Newsclippings: Articles concerning Tarter/Miller donation and subsequent KSU activities. 1983-1996 and no date
10. Newsclippings: Articles mentioning Jabe Tarter. 1989-1993
11. Genealogy: Hiett, Mollie Jo Tarter. James Buchanan Tarter and Margaret Lu Wertha Trimble Tarter. 1995
12. Program, bookmark and newsclipping [concerning Frances B. Murphey, Akron Beacon Journal columnist]. 1996
13. Handwritten notes: "Jabe Tarter's Class (1st Class Glass)." Participant list with payments. [no date]
14. KSU Museum exhibit handouts for Tarter/Miller collection. [no date]
15. Newsclipping: Beacon Journal advertisement for "What Is It, Jabe?", a compilation of Jabe Tarter's Akron Beacon Journal columns on glassware. [no date]
16. Photograph: Note, "Paul B. Miller at Leo Walter's Stagecoach Antique W. Market St. Akron, OH." [no date]
17. Typed notes: "Where and How to Get Things Done." [no date]

Series 2: Sheet Music

18. BLUE LOVE. Fred Rose. [unidentified publisher]. 1934 [no cover]
19. BY THE LIGHT OF YOUR EYES. Freddie Rose [w & m]. Freddie Rose's Song Shop Radio Station WSM, Nashville, TN. 1933
20. I CAN'T BELIEVE THAT YOU'RE IN LOVE WITH ME. Freddie Rose [w & m]. Freddie Rose's Song Shop Radio Station WSM, Nashville, TN. 1933
21. I'M THROUGH. Freddie Rose [w & m]. Freddie Rose's Song Shop Radio Station WSM, Nashville, TN. 1933
22. JUST ANOTHER NIGHT WITH YOU. Freddie Rose [w & m]. Freddie Rose's Song Shop Radio Station WSM, Nashville, TN. 1933
23. THE LORD'S PRAYER. Carl Deis [arranged]. G. Schirmer, Inc., New York. 1935
24. SWEETHEARTS' PARADISE. Freddie Rose [w & m]. Freddie Rose's Song Shop Radio Station WSM, Nashville, TN. 1933

Series 3: Photographs: Akron Beacon Journal photographs of antiques taken for Jabe Tarter's column. Many with notes by Paul Miller on back.

Donation of this material to the Department does not imply that copyright restrictions have been lifted. Copyright still resides with the creator. To obtain release, the researcher should contact the creator listed with the individual item. Copyright release is not necessary to view the materials, only for reuse.

25. Photographs: Akron Beacon Journal. 1968
26. Photographs: Akron Beacon Journal. 1969
27. Photographs: Akron Beacon Journal. 1970
28. Photographs: Akron Beacon Journal. 1971
29. Photographs: Akron Beacon Journal. 1972
30. Photographs: Akron Beacon Journal. 1973
31. Photographs: Akron Beacon Journal. 1974
32. Photographs: Akron Beacon Journal. 1975
33. Photographs: Akron Beacon Journal. 1976
34. Photographs: Akron Beacon Journal. 1977
35. Photographs: Akron Beacon Journal. 1980s
36. Photographs: Akron Beacon Journal. [no date]

Series 4: Photographs: KSU photographs of Jabe Tarter and Paul Miller highlighting the donation of their antique collection to KSU.

37. Photographs: Michael Schwartz, Jabe Tarter, Paul Miller, unidentified individual and Shannon Rodgers [3 copies], KSU. Circa 1983
38. Photographs: Jabe Tarter and Paul Miller [4 copies], KSU. Circa 1983
39. Photographs: Michael Schwartz, Jabe Tarter and Paul Miller [2 copies], KSU. Circa 1983
40. Photographs: Jabe Tarter [25 copies], KSU. Circa 1983
41. Photographs: Jabe Tarter, Paul Miller and Shannon Rodgers [1 copy], KSU. Circa 1983