Mr. Watson arrived in 1900 at the age of 48 to build a flour mill, which opened as the Watson Flour Mill in 1901, sending its first carload of flour on November 9, 1901. The mill was sold to Red Star Mill of Wichita in 1913, about the time that activity within the collection ends. Red Star became part of General Mills in 1928. Mr. Watson died at age 100 on February 14, 1952. The Millers Bleaching Defense Fund was the heading for the pledges which Mr. Watson obtained from mill owners to assist in the defense of the practice of bleaching flour. Over 50 mills are represented, frequently on colorful and well preserved letterhead paper. The defense of bleaching carried out by representatives of the mill owners arose out of efforts to remain competititive with the already established mills, and the Northwestern Millers Association, of the northern states. The government became involved by declaring bleached flour adulterated and seizing bleached flour from mills. The ensuing court cases and appeal are the subject of the collection.
From the description of Millers Bleaching Defense Fund collection, 1909-1913. (Wichita Public Library). WorldCat record id: 40299329
