Ray Lewis Badgley papers

Collection

Identifier: Collection 080

Staff Only

Abstract

Ray Lewis Badgley (1878-1958) worked in his father's agricultural implements store in Lake Odessa, Michigan and then as a sales agent and District Manager for International Harvester Company, based in Grand Rapids, Michigan. His papers document a twenty year segment (1889-1919) of his career. They contain personal and business correspondence, financial records of the Badgley Implement Co. (circa 1894-1909), order books, sales agreements, time payment schedules, catalogs and sales information letters from International Harvester (1906-1919). Also included are a few items on the various fraternal organizations Badgley joined to facilitate his traveling sales business. The papers also document Badgley's personal finances and his tenure as Odessa Township Treasurer.

Dates

1889-1919, n.d.

Biographical / Historical

Ray Lewis Badgley (1878-1958) was born in Lake Odessa, Ionia County, Michigan. His father, Lewis Badgley, owned the L. Badgley Agricultural Implements firm in Lake Odessa located at 638 4th Street, Lake Odessa. Ray Badgley joined the firm during the 1890s. One of the agricultural suppliers that the Badgley firm represented was International Harvester Company. The Badgley firm's district included southwestern lower Ionia County, southeastern lower Kent County and northern Barry County.

In 1906 Badgley joined the International Harvester Company as a bonded sales agent. His district included Barry, Allegan, Kent, Ottawa, Muskegon, Newaygo and Mason Counties. His base was at Grand Rapids, the second largest city in the state. By 1909 his sales work was so extensive that he sold the Lake Odessa implement company. In 1912 he became Assistant District Manager for International Harvester's Grand Rapids Office and three years later was appointed district manager. He remained with the firm until retirement in 1938.