Starks Family Papers, 1878-1996
Held by The Filson Historical Society
Creator: Starks Family
Title: Papers, 1878-1996
Rights: For information regarding literary and copyright interest for these papers, contact the Collections Department.
Size of Collection: 0.5 cubic feet
Location Number: Mss. A S795
Scope and Content Note
This collection consists of sixteen folders of memorandum and photographs mostly from deconstructed albums pertaining to the Starks and Ouerbacker families, their close relatives, and their friends in Mississippi, Florida, and Kentucky. Materials primarily relate to Millicent Ouerbacker Starks, Benjamin McClellan Starks, Sr., Benjamin McClellan Starks, Jr., Josephine (Josie) Starks, and Elizabeth (Libby) Millicent Starks, who was the owner of Libby Starks Ballet Company located in Louisville, Kentucky.
Related collections:
Starks Family Photograph Collection [025PC5]
Starks Family Museum Collection [2025.6]
Biographical Note
Millicent Ouerbacker Starks (1871-1947) and Benjamin McClellan Starks, Sr. (1862-1923) were the parents of Benjamin McClellan Starks, Jr., Josephine (Josie) Starks (1911-1967), and Elizabeth Millicent Starks (1916-2001), who all spent a significant part of their lives in Louisville, Kentucky.
Millicent Ouerbacker Starks (1871-1947), born in Chattanooga, Tennessee, on 8 July 1871, was a descendant of Joseph Paul Ouerbacker (1843-1924), who married Mary Ella McNaughton (1847-1880) and was the brother of Frank Samuel Ouerbacker (1841-1922). Frank was a notable coffee merchant in Louisville, Kentucky, and was the namesake of the Ouerbacker neighborhood in Louisville.
Benjamin McClellan Starks, Sr. (1862-1923) was born in Gordonsville, Kentucky, on 11 December 1862. He later moved to Louisville, married Millicent Ouerbacker Starks (1871-1947), and had three children. It was there that he began working with the Louisville & Nashville Railroad Company as a clerk, general manager, and later served as CEO until his death in 1923.
Elizabeth (Libby) Millicent Starks (1916-2001) was born in Louisville, Kentucky, on 31 January 1916. Libby was a notable influence in Louisville and around the U.S. She participated in dance performances with family and acquaintances, including her sister Josephine (Josie) Starks (1911-1967). Later in life, she opened Libby Starks Dance Corp/Company in Louisville, where she furthered her career of teaching dance to young adults and children.
Folder List
Folder 1: Newspaper clippings, 1928-1960.
Folder 2: Poetry, stories, and illustrations by Elizabeth Starks, undated.
Contains poetry, stories, and illustrations written by Elizabeth (Libby) Starks primarily completed as a young adult including essays and a picture story book.
Folder 3 Miscellaneous correspondence and documentation, 1902-1981.
Contains miscellaneous playbills from various theatre performances and entertainment restaurants in the Midwest and Southeastern regions, including Shubert Theatre (New Haven), The Conrad Hilton (Chicago), and Beverly Hills Country Club (Newport, Ky.). Other documents include correspondence and maps regarding deeds, holidays, and health addressed to Anna Norris, Linda D. Owen, Elizabeth (Libby) Starks, and Josephine Starks.
Folder 4: House information – 1707 South 3rd Street, 1995-1996.
Folder 5: Cross-Hill Road House Album: 3rd St. – deconstructed, 1949.
Contains newspaper clippings and photographs pertaining to Libby Starks’s birthplace and childhood home on 3rd Street. The clippings detail the layout of the home.
Folder 6: Libby Starks Ballet Corps/Company material, undated.
Folder 7: Elizabeth Starks correspondence and personal documents, 1922.
Folder 8: Elizabeth Starks personal scrapbook – deconstructed, 1944-1993.
Folder 9: Elizabeth Starks album – deconstructed, 1914-1947.
Includes memorandum addressed to Elizabeth Starks and her parents, newspaper clippings, and photographs. Additional items include a linocut print by Will Rapport, signed and dated 1939.
Volume 10: Elizabeth Starks autograph book, 1923-1928.
Gifted from her mother Millicent Ouerbacker Starks.
Volume 11: Benjamin McClellan Starks, Jr. – Baby’s Record book, 1907-1968.
Contains photographs, memorandums, and correspondence regarding Benjamin McClellan Starks, Jr., throughout childhood.
Volume 12: Benjamin McClellan Starks, Jr., Dub Book – Kappa Sigma: Harvard Gamma-Eta Chapter, 1926.
Folder 13: Millicent Ouerbacker Starks correspondence, 1919-1942.
Folder 14: Benjamin McClellan Starks, Sr., correspondence, 1893-1924.
Volume 15: Ella Ouerbacker autograph book, 1878-1880.
Subject Headings
Ballet dancers.
Columbine Bed and Breakfast (Louisville, Ky.).
Funeral rites and ceremonies.
Hotels.
Kappa Sigma Fraternity.
Libby Starks Ballet Corps (Louisville, Ky.)
Louisville (Ky.)
Louisville and Nashville Railroad Company.
McNaughton, Mary Ella, 1847-1880.
Starks, Benjamin McClellan, Jr., 1907-1959.
Starks, Benjamin McClellan, Sr., 1862-1923.
Starks, Elizabeth Millicent, 1913-2001.
Starks, Josephine, 1910-1967.
Starks, Millicent Ouerbacker, 1871-1947.