LeRoy Howard papers

Collection — Box: 1-4

Identifier: 114.3440

Collection Scope and Content Note

The LeRoy Howard papers contain materials from 1892 through 1952, with the bulk of the papers dated from 1930-1952. The items in this collection include game development information, business correspondence, patent papers, photographs, and published game instructions created or retained by LeRoy Howard (and later, his wife’s estate). Additional scope and content information is listed for each series under the “Contents List” section of this finding aid.

The LeRoy Howard papers are arranged into two series, one of which has been further divided into subseries. The materials are housed in four archival document boxes and one oversized flat folder.

Dates

Creation: 1892 - 1952
Creation: Majority of material found within 1930 - 1952

Creator

Howard, LeRoy (Person)

Conditions Governing Use

This collection is open for research use by staff of The Strong and by users of its library and archives. Though the donor has not transferred intellectual property rights (including, but not limited to any copyright, trademark, and associated rights therein) to The Strong, she has given permission for The Strong to make copies in all media for museum, educational, and research purposes.

Biographical Note

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LeRoy (“Roy”) Howard (c. 1894-1963) was an American board game designer and former executive at Parker Brothers, Inc. Howard previously worked at McLoughlin Brothers in New York City, where his father, Charles, was an illustrator for their books and stationery products.

Howard served as a games editor, designer, and development manager for Parker Brothers in Salem, Massachusetts, during the 1930s through the 1950s. Howard advised George S. Parker and Robert Barton on the purchase and development of the game Monopoly in 1935. As the main employee performing research and development tasks, Howard encouraged Parker Brothers executives to play-test prototype games. These sessions aided in refining rules, discovering flaws, and determining game strategies.

Later in his career, Howard assisted in developing successful Parker Brothers games Clue, Risk, and Senet. He married Frances O’Leary, a telephone operator at Parker Brothers, and they resided in Beverly, Massachusetts until his death in 1963.

Extent

2 Linear Feet (4 boxes, 1 oversized folder)

Language of Materials

English

Additional Description

Abstract

The LeRoy Howard papers are a compilation of business papers, patents, notes, and published game instructions from a former executive at Parker Brothers, Inc. The bulk of the materials are dated from 1930 through 1952.

System of Arrangement

Series I: Business papers, 1892-1952

Subseries A: Game development

Subseries B: Patents and related correspondence

Subseries C: Notes and miscellaneous papers

Series II: Published game instructions, 1893-1952

Custodial History

The LeRoy Howard papers were donated to The Strong in April 2014 as a gift from Kathleen A. O’Leary, niece of Frances O’Leary Howard, the widow of LeRoy Howard. The papers were accessioned by The Strong under Object ID 114.3440. The papers were received from Kathleen A. O’Leary along with several Parker Brothers games, prototypes of games, Parker Brothers catalogs, and other materials.

Related Materials

For related archival materials, see also the Philip E. Orbanes papers in the Brian Sutton-Smith Library and Archives of Play at The Strong. Trade catalogs from Parker Brothers are also housed within the library’s stacks.

Game prototypes from the estate of LeRoy Howard, as well as published Parker Brothers games, are held within the museum collections of The Strong National Museum of Play.