Emmett J. Culligan collection, 1878, 1915-1999

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Summary

Creators:
Culligan, Emmett J. (Emmett Joseph), 1893-1970
Abstract:
The Emmett J. Culligan collection contains the personal and professional records of Emmett Culligan, entrepreneur and founder of the water conditioning company, Culligan, Inc.
Language:
English
Preferred citation:

[Folder Title], Box # Folder #, Emmett J. Culligan collection, Copley Library, University of San Diego, Archives and Special Collections.

Background

Scope and content:

The Emmett J. Culligan collection gives insight into the founding of Culligan, Inc. (now Culligan International Company) and the life of Emmett Culligan by way of his letters and writings on water, business, and religion. Dated during the time of World War II and the Cold War, contemporary topics of race, war, environment, Communism, Catholicism and prophecies are included throughout these records.

Emmett Culligan's personal and professional records of are included. Genealogical records, correspondence, and family photographs comprise the bulk of the personal records. Of particular significance are the 1919 letters between Emmett and Anna Harrington during their early courtship, and letters between Emmett, Anna and their son Tom through the 1940s. Their perceptions of world events, and impacts of World War II on their lives are themes throughout these letters. Also of significance among Culligan's personal records are documentation of the Knight of Malta and Horatio Alger Awards. These include photographs, articles, and a booklet created by the family.

Culligan's professional records document his array of entrepreneurial ventures, primarily his founding of what became Culligan, Inc. The records of Culligan, Inc. cover the growth of Culligan's soft water business from the Culligan Zeolite Company to Culligan, Inc. Information about the founding in Northbrook, Illinois and expansion in San Bernardino, California, Culligan's challenges to create silica gel during World War II, and the international growth of the franchise business are included. The process of Culligan's retirement, his service on the Culligan, Inc. Board, and his perceptions of the changing company are documented throughout this collection.

Culligan's keen interest in many topics of water including softening water, water's impact on health, desalination of water, and ways of locating water, are documented throughout this collection by way of correspondence with researchers, colleagues, and government officials, Culligan's writing and speeches, and invention and patent information. Other interests, projects, and investments pertaining to land, elk, health, and fertility tracking are also included.

This collection also contains materials from Culligan Publications, Inc. These include Culligan's publications on water and religion, advertisements for books, and other authors' works published by Culligan Publishing, Inc.

Demonstration of Culligan's ties to his Catholic faith are prevalent throughout these records. His speeches, articles, and publications often focused on Catholicism and faith. These records document his friendships with many Catholic leaders, including Bishop Charles Buddy. Culligan's friendship with Bishop Buddy, and Culligan's contributions to the University of San Diego founding are documented within this collection.

Biographical / historical:

Emmett Joseph Culligan was born in Yankton, South Dakota in 1893 to John and Mary Culligan. His grandparents, Annie and Thomas Culligan, were born in Ireland and immigrated to Iowa in 1860. Emmett spent much of his young adult life in south-western Minnesota, interested in rural life and farming. In 1919, he and Anna Harrington married, residing at their farm in Porter, Minnesota. When crop prices fell during the Great Depression, Culligan began seeking ventures other than farming to earn money for his growing family. He became interested in finding and perfecting ways to soften water. During this time he spent three years in Yuma, Arizona where he produced zeolite for softening water.

Culligan later moved his zeolite operation to a Northbrook, Illinois subdivision where he acquired eleven miles of land for solar drying of zeolite. He decided to market soft water on a monthly service basis through franchised dealers. The first franchise was established in 1938 in Wheaton, Illinois. In order to produce zeolite year round, Culligan built a plant in San Bernardino, California. During World War II, the War Department enlisted Culligan to create silica gel using the same methods used for zeolite production.

In 1952, Culligan Zeolite Company changed to Culligan, Inc. Culligan's company continued to grow and achieved great notoriety in 1958 with the "Hey, Culligan Man" advertising campaign which began on Los Angeles radio stations. The first international franchise opened in Belgium in 1964 and in 1970, the company became the Culligan International Company. After retiring from Culligan, Inc., Emmett continued his connection to the company as Chairman of the Board.

Culligan's entrepreneurial nature extended beyond his soft water business. He invented a range of products including a new type of medical gauze and a fertility calendar. He tried his hand at creating dishwashers, and managing an elk ranch. He researched ways of mining for water and was interested in Stephen Reiss' theory of Primary Water. Culligan was continually seeking new opportunities for investments, whether it be properties or projects. He also owned the Blarneystone Ranch in West Yellowstone, Montana from 1950 until it was destroyed by an earthquake in 1959.

Over all, Culligan was a devout Catholic. He demonstrated his strong Catholic faith through speeches and writing. Later in life, he created Culligan Publishing, Inc. to publish his own, and others' writing, primarily on religious topics. Culligan authored faith-based books including Life Begins With Marriage in 1932, The Last World War in 1952, Triumphant Peace in 1956, The Last World War and the End of Time in 1965, and Fatima Secret in 1967. Beyond writing and speaking on Catholicism, Culligan donated to and raised money for causes of importance. He was a key contributor to the founding of the University of San Diego, served as chairman of the University Foundation activities in San Bernardino County, and was present for the University ground breaking in 1949.

Culligan received high honors for his contributions to the Catholic church. In 1949, Culligan was named Papal Knight in the Order of St. Gregory the Great by Pope Pius XII. In 1962, he was awarded the Knight of Malta by Pope Pius XII. In 1969, he received the Horatio Alger Award for his business and personal achievements.

Emmett Culligan had a large family, often producing elaborate holiday photograph books for friends and colleagues. Upon his passing on June 4, 1970, Culligan was survived by his wife Anna, four sons, two daughters, thirty-eight grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.

Acquisition information:
Gift of the Culligan Family, 1979.
Custodial history:

Initial donation of this collection came to the University of San Diego in 1979. Solicitation was sent by members of the Culligan family to friends, family, and colleagues requesting additional materials to be added to the collection. Correspondence reflecting these requests and their responses are included in Series I at the beginning of these records. Another substantial addition to the collection came from John Culligan in 1999 which included genealogy records, photographs, books, and holiday cards.

Processing information:

This collection was processed and encoded by Ashley Toutain in 2018.

Arrangement:

This collection is arranged into eight series:

Series I. Personal and Family records

Series I is further arranged into three subseries:

  1. A. Personal and Family History
  2. B. Thomas Culligan Contribution
  3. C. Correspondence

Series II: Emmett J. Culligan Offices files

Series II is further arranged into two subseries:

  1. A. Business Correspondence
  2. B. Personal

Series III: Culligan, Inc.

Researchers interested in Culligan, Inc. are advised to also examine records in the Thomas Culligan Contribution and the Emmett J. Culligan Office files as business correspondence related to Culligan, Inc. are included throughout these series. Soft water conditioning topics are also included within the "Inventions and Projects", and "Interests" series'.

Series IV: Culligan Publications

Series V: Inventions and Projects

Series VI: Speeches and Articles

Series VII: Interests

Series VIII: Audio Recordings

The majority of these records remain in original order. Later additions have been integrated where applicable. Cabinet drawer of unorganized miscellaneous records have been incorporated as applicable.

Physical description:
30 linear feet (22 boxes, 3 oversize boxes, 7 oversize folders, 4 framed items)
Rules or conventions:
Finding aid prepared using Describing Archives: a Content Standard

Access and use

Restrictions:

This collection is open for research.

Preferred citation:

[Folder Title], Box # Folder #, Emmett J. Culligan collection, Copley Library, University of San Diego, Archives and Special Collections.

Location of this collection:
5998 Alcalá Park
San Diego, CA 92110 2492, US
Contact:
(619) 260-2730
spcoll@sandiego.edu
Website