Recently, a paper fan was given to the Mercantile Library at the University of Missouri St. Louis. While the origins of the fan go back to over 80 years ago to the store Stix, Baer & Fuller, it was Miss Christine Erkman, an avid fan collector, who found out the history of the fan.
Through a letter written by J.A. Baer II to Miss Erkman, she was told that the company presented a gift when new account was opened. One of the gifts given was a paper fan. Mr. Baer II also had a few fans from that time period and he said they were now a collector's item because gifts of that quality were no longer given in 1976 when the letter was written.
The next year Mr. Baer II wrote a letter responding to Miss Erkman stating that he would be delighted to see her fan collection. He would also try to locate his fans so that she may see them when she visited, if he could locate them.
This delicate paper fan has not only lasted over 80 years, but its history has also been preserved through the correspondence between Miss Erkman and Mr. Baer II.
For more information about the Stix, Baer & Fuller Collection see M-231
