About The Elmer Grimm Collection Book

Above: Collector Elmer Grimm

I am in the process of writing a book about the Elmer Grimm Collection.

Who was Elmer Grimm?  Elmer Started Collecting when he was about this old. (This is him holding his first collection of Indian artifacts)

Elmer started his collecting with Indian artifacts.  They were inexpensive and he was fortunate enough to find a number of farmers who were willing to sell him their collections of artifacts found on their farms.  He had a great appreciation for Native American history and culture.  He took his family on vacations out west each summer.  They spent many summers on the reservation at Wounded Knee, SD.  He purchased many things from the Indians there.  After a few summers of doing this, he found that they would expect him each summer and they would bring the artifacts to him.  He felt it a duty to preserve these precious remnants of a culture for future generations.  He paid close attention to his record keeping and each artifact came with information about where it was found or who owned it.   Later in his life he turned his attention to Civil War Swords and other important historical artifacts. 

 Elmer Grimm passed away about 13 years ago and between then and now the majority of his collection has been sold through collector friends of his.  All that remains are a few pieces that hold more sentimental value to his family.

About the Book

I have already written about 400 pages for the book including chapters on  Swords, Knives, Firearms, Civil War, Military, Americana, Powder Horns, Indian Misc, Tomahawks, Bows, Pipes, Trade Silver, Indian Rugs, Bead Work, Pottery, Birdstones, Stone Tools.

 Soon to come are sections on Flint, Slate, Necklaces & Beads, and Bone Tools.

Each artifact described in the book will have pictures of all supporting documents I have about the artifact.  For example.  While on vacation July 1969, Elmer purchased a U.S. Army Saddle Bag full of hide tanning tools from an Indian in South Dakota.  These are the items I have to support the provenance of this particular artifact.

 Photo taken by Elmer Grimm of Indian Bag

 Photo of the Indian holding the bag he sold to Elmer. 

Photo taken from a slide photograph developed Jan 1970.

Photograph of this Indian's home

Above:  One of 3 information cards about the saddle bag.  This one has the name of the Indian, where he lived and the price paid for the bag.  The other cards give the date of purchase and one tells about Elmer's impression of the Indian's home (pictured above). 

Elmer had a type writer that typed in cursive.  Elmer's wife said that he never knew how to write in cursive, so he enjoyed using this typewriter.  This cursive type is a signature way of knowing an item came out of Elmer's collection.

Elmer Grimm (left) with Arthur George Smith (Sarge Smith), who taught Elmer a great deal about collecting and authentication of Indian artifacts.  Together they both published articles in the Ohio Archaeologist.  Other close friends Elmer had included Steve fuller, Jim Dresslar, Tommy Haas, Jim Hovan, Ed Valerius, Bill Tiell, Jim Ritchie, Dr. Schultz and Ron Rospert.  Collectors I know associated with Elmer include Richard Kirchoff, Don Ball, Bill Myers, Don Young, Roger Long, Paul, Gray, Jack Hooks, Jeff Dearth, Frank & Martho Otto, Hal Geer, Carl Smith, David Taylor, Tom Parker, John Veverka, Dean Majors, Alvin Waite, Keith Barker, Dave Hays, Henry Sedlon, Dr. Olaf Prufer, Donald Hern, Al Donkin, Clive Gildersleeve, David Kerecz, John Anspaugh, Robert Kuck, Arthur Gilham, Bill Kish, John Horne, Mike Higgins, Claude Britt, Art Rehn, Howard Loitwood, Don Williams, Harold Geer, Hank Jacoby, Orean Barney, Robert Converse, John Dyck, Dale Barney, Kohlbergs, Donald Beer, Thomas Minardi, Robert Kuck, C. M. Jones, Gene Summers, Lar Hothem, Kirk Whaley, Gary Litherland, Ivan Sexton, Dale Schroeder, B. F. Gabringer, Milford Chandler, Al Donkin, Carl Rynolds, Dr. Gordon Meuser, Raymond Baby, Max Shipley, Martha Potter, Hubert Wachtel, John Sarnovsky, Ed Galitza, Dean Majors, Donald McBeth, Eugene Hirzel, Jan Sorgenfrei, Stanley Copeland, Cameron Parks, and Earl Townsend.  Many of Elmer's friends have helped me to put together information for my book.

Elmer Grimm & Jack Hooks
Click on link below to hear part of a conversation they had about collecting.  The conversation took place Sept. 10th, 1987.  The talk about archaeologist Donald Macbeth and collectors Sarge Smith, Copeland, Dr. Meuser, Raymond Vietzen, and Ernie Good.  They talk about how to catalog a collection and the appreciation of artifacts over time and how this is turning into a rich man's hobby.  Some parts may be of little interest to collectors, but I'm sure those who knew Elmer and Jack and others will really enjoy this.
https://docs.google.com/open?id=0B3K8JWCdCdRFRHpKTy1nWEM1WTQ

(There is one spot in the recording that has a loud burst of sound, so use inexpensive speakers)

For more information about the Elmer Grimm Collection contact jamesbarnett1@hotmail.com