Meyer Family Papers, 1907-1986
Held by The Filson Historical Society
Creator: Meyer Family
Title: Papers, 1907-1986
Rights: For information regarding literary and copyright interest for these papers, contact the Collections Department.
Size of Collection: 0.37 cu. ft.
Location Number: Mss. A M612
Scope and Content Note
The collection consists of papers of the Meyer family, primarily those of Edward Henry Meyer (1882-1948) and his son Edward Crawford Meyer (1910-1977), owners of Meyer’s Pharmacy in Louisville, Kentucky.
Folders 1-4 hold material from the 1900s-1930s likely belonging to Edward H. Meyer, including his notary public ledger from 1909-1936, a minute book from 1907-1914 for the Delmont Bowling League (Edward was a member), a 1916 war registration list for Louisville’s Fifth Precinct First Ward, and newspaper clippings from World War I through the early 1920s. There are miscellaneous papers and pamphlets: an 1893 Ayer’s almanac; an 1896 program for the Delmont Meteors; an 1899 program for “minstrels for the benefit of the German Protestant Orphan Asylum,” which features racist images on the front; a pamphlet titled “Harrodsburg’s National Historic Pre-eminence”; and the will of Katie C. Hitt, who bequeathed money to Edward.
Folders 5-8 hold material from the 1930s-1970s likely belonging to Edward Crawford Meyer. There are publications relating to pharmaceutical organizations and a drug store in Kentucky: a Kentucky Pharmaceutical Association song book (undated) and convention program (ca. 1940-1941); a report of the Kentucky Board of Pharmacy from 1936; and a history of the R. H. Moore Drug Company in Franklin. There is information about the McDowell Apothecary dedication in 1958 and the Ephraim McDowell stamp dedication in 1959; a year-by-year history of the Veterans Drug Club of Louisville from 1966-1986; and records relating to Butchertown Inc., including histories of Butchertown and programs from Butchertown Oktoberfest in 1971 and 1973.
Related collections:
Meyer family added papers [Mss. A M612a].
Mrs. E. Crawford Meyer Photograph Collection [011PC17].
Meyer-Crawford Family Photograph Collection [025PC6].
Meyer family museum objects [2025.12.1-2].
Delmont Club papers [Mss. C D].
Saxton family scrapbooks [Mss. SB S273].
Biographical Note
Edward Henry Meyer (1882-1948) was a pharmacist and a notary public. In the 1900s through 1925, he worked at Bader’s Drug Store, owned by Otto J. Bader and located at 1335 Story Avenue in the Butchertown neighborhood of Louisville, Kentucky. By 1926, Edward had taken over the business and renamed it Meyer’s Pharmacy. Edward was married to Claudine Crawford Meyer (1885-1952). Their son Edward Crawford Meyer was born on December 1, 1910.
Edward Crawford Meyer, known as “E. Crawford” or “Crawford,” also became a pharmacist. He took over Meyer’s Pharmacy during or after World War II. In the years after World War II, the pharmacy was independently owned by Crawford as a franchise of the Rexall chain of American drugstores. The business remained on Story Avenue until the mid-1960s, when it was moved to 2039 Frankfort Avenue and became Gohmann and Meyer Drugs Inc.
Over his 26-year career, Crawford served as an executive officer or president of many local, state, and national pharmaceutical organizations. He was president of the National Association of Retail Druggists in 1971, the Kentucky Pharmaceutical Association in 1959, and the Louisville Retail Druggist Association in 1951 and 1952. In 1960 he was named Pharmacist of the Year by the Kentucky Pharmaceutical Association, and in 1970 he was named man of the year by the Jefferson County Academy of Pharmacy.
Bernadine Louise Saxton Meyer (1910-2006) was born on August 27, 1910, to Harvey Saxton (1887-1957) of Henry County, Kentucky, and Matilou Saxton (1890-1973) of Louisville. Bernadine and Crawford married in 1933 and had two children, Judith and Berl. Crawford died in 1977, and Bernadine in 2006.
Folder List
Box 1
Folder 1: Delmont Bowling League minute book, 1907-1914
Folder 2: Notary public ledger of Edward H. Meyer, 1909-1936
Folder 3: Miscellaneous papers and pamphlets, ca. 1893-1932
Folder 4: War registration lists and news clippings, ca. 1916-1923
Folder 5: Pharmaceutical association and R. H. Moore Drug Company publications, 1938-1974
Folder 6: Dedications for McDowell Apothecary and Ephraim McDowell stamp (includes photographic negative), 1958-1959
Folder 7: Veterans Drug Club history, list of members, and news clipping, 1966-1986
Folder 8: Butchertown Inc. miscellaneous material, 1967-1974
Subject Headings
Butchertown (Louisville, Ky.)
Delmont Club (Louisville, Ky.)
Drugstores – Kentucky.
German Protestant Orphan Asylum.
Harrodsburg (Ky.)
Hitt, Katherine C., 1860-1935.
McDowell, Ephraim, 1771-1830.
Meyer, Edward Crawford, 1910-1977.
Meyer, Edward Henry, 1882-1948.
Minstrel shows – Kentucky – Louisville.
Notaries – Kentucky – Louisville.
Pharmacists – Kentucky.
H. Moore Drug Company (Franklin, Ky.).
Racism.
Veterans Drug Club of Louisville.
World War, 1914-1918.