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.

Russell Kelce

At age 15, Russell Kelce was still in high school in Pittsburg, Kansas, which was unusual for a fourth generation son of coal miners. However this free and easy life came to an abrupt halt that year when his father was seriously injured in a mine explosion. He entered the mines to help support his family, but didn’t stay very long. Russell was a bright and ambitious young man and moved up to become a mine superintendent by the time he was twenty years old.

After service in World War I, his life followed an often repeated but ever inspiring American pattern. Russell Kelce rose to head an industrial empire that included coal mines, oil fields, natural gas and railroads. At his death in 1957, he was President of the Peabody Coal Company and Board Chairman of the Chicago Great Western Railroad.

While still in his twenties, Kelce joined forces with Grant Stauffer who then operated mines in the Pittsburg area. There company, Sinclair Coal, grew to be the third largest in the nation and in 1955 merged with Peabody Coal to be the nation’s largest. During the early years Kelce and his associates purchased two small mine railroads, which made them realize the potential of the industry. In 1944, they purchased stock in the Kansas City Southern Railway and three years later, they invested in the Chicago Great Western. Other ventures included oil and gas properties, a stove company, cattle and a coal ship loading company.

Kelce was not just interested in making money and amassing a huge industrial empire. His mines were among the safest and cleanest in the industry. And employment policies and wages were so liberal that the U.S. Mine Workers had difficulty unionizing them. He also was very active in the reclamation of ugly strip mine wasteland into pastures, forests and lakes.

Sources:
“Leaders In Our Town,” Kansas City Star, 2 April 1950.
“Russell Kelce Is Dead At 59,” Kansas City Times, 1 July 1957.

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.