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REO publications collection

 Collection
Identifier: 00182

Scope and Contents

The REO publications collection contains several different publications relating to REO Motor Company. The publications in the collection are Reo Spirit (1928-1933), REO EchO (1906-1911), Reo-Items (1952-1953); REO EchO (1974-2012), Reo Spirit (2002-2004) and The Spirit (2009-2013).

Also included are a few folders containing REO Club of America directories and records, REO festival programs, and specifications for REO vehicles.

Dates

  • Creation: 1905-2010, 2012-2013

Creator

Conditions Governing Access

Collection is open for research.

Conditions Governing Use

Permission to publish material from this collection must be obtained from University Archives & Historical Collections, Michigan State University.

Historical Note

The REO EchO started in January 1906 as a "natural outgrowth of thriving conditions in the REO organization." The newsletter was issued by the sales department. In the publication are letters from customers, accounts of trips, information on car shows and jokes. The publications are in one bound volume with volume one, number one dated January 1906. The last issue, number 16, is dated June 1911. (The binding of the volume is stamped December 1905-June 2011.)

The REO Spirit began publication in 1914, although holdings in this collection do not begin until 1928. According to the REO Spirit, it was "published because the Reo family wants it published." It contains information about workers, articles about REO, humor and some regular columns including "For Women Only," "Noon Hour Gossip," "The Sales Department," and "Reo Sportographs."

REO-Items was a magazine for REO Motors employees which kept people informed of present and future activities of the company. The magazine also highlighted employees of the company.

The REO EchO was a newsletter published for members of the REO Club of America. Also in the collection is a "Miscellaneous" folder which contains Oldsmobile and REO Festival pamphlets, correspondence with the REO Club of America, REO model operations manuals, meeting minutes from the REO Company, copies of advertisements for REO automobiles, and REO Club of America directories for the years 1975, 1979, and 1980.

The Reo Spirit (2002-2013) is a newsletter published in East Lansing, Michigan which began printing in 2002. Jim Neal, who in 2000 created the R. E. Olds Transportation Chapter of the REO Club of America, publishes the newsletter. According to the front page, "The Reo Spirit is in recognition of the REO Company newsletter that succeeded the Reo Echo in 1914."

After the centennial celebration, the REO Transportation Museum began publishing The Quarterly Report (date unknown) to its friends and visitors. In spring of 2006, this was changed to The Spirit.

Extent

1 Cubic Feet

Language of Materials

English

Arrangement

Arranged chronologically.

Legal Status

Property Rights: Michigan State University.

Subject

Source

Title
REO Publications Collection
Status
4 Published And Cataloged
Author
P. Vescio
Description rules
Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Language of description
English
Script of description
Latin
Language of description note
Finding aid written in English.

Repository Details

Part of the University Archives and Historical Collections Repository

Contact:
Conrad Hall
943 Conrad Road, Room 101
East Lansing MI 48824 US
517-355-2330