Vertical File Biographies

This is an individual biography from the vertical file of biographical information, primarily newspaper clippings, created by the Kansas State Histocial Society Library and Archives division. This is a concise version--there may be more information in this or other sources.

Margaret Lowe Burke

Margaret Lowe Burke had to go back to the trade of her ancestors when her job as a school music supervisor was eliminated in 1934. She returned home to Americus, Kansas and joined her cabinet maker and woodcarver father in his shop.

Ms. Burke began to make toys and walnut plaques with the latter becoming very popular. This soon expanded to silhouettes with figures of children and animals, all of which were sold out of her father’s shop and other outlets in Kansas. Her father was soon spending most of his time assisting her.

By 1940, both her parents were working full-time in the business and they had ten employees. In addition to the plaques and silhouettes, they now made wooden jewelry, buckles, bookends, picture frames and many other novelty items.

About 125 kinds of wood were used in Marlow ( company name) products with enough color variance and shades to match or harmonize with all types of other materials. These woods came from Kansas, other parts of the US as well as foreign countries. Dyes were only used when the desired natural wood colors could not be achieved.
Ms Burke designed and supervised the cutting of all products to insure top quality. Each item was cut with needle-fine electric saws and then hand finished to insure perfection. It was estimated that each piece was handled twenty times.

During World War II, the Marlow Company wanted to help the war effort and made application as a small manufacturer. It was decided that they could make small wooden parts for gliders. However, before they were approved, an inspector had to visit the plant. Some of the inspector’s comments were as follows. “You work as though you have all the competition in the world” and “The nation needs your beautiful craftsmanship.” The War Department decided that Marlow could best service the country by doing the work they had been doing.

Sources:
“Money By Wood Carving,” Kansas City Star, No Date.
“An Americus Girl Now Operating Woodcut Factory,” Topeka Capital, 14 April 1940.
“Woodcuts Flow Afar From Americus, Kas.,” Kansas City Times, 7 June 1962.

The vertical file is on forty-three microfilm reels arranged alphabetically by name. These reels are available through interlibrary loan, or you may contact the reference staff . Please note that many of the clippings had yellowed and it may be impossible to produce a readable photocopy.

Completion of this biography was made possible by volunteer Frank Sotrines.