William Karl Kleaver

1895 - 1975

William K. Kleaver is a master in creating designs of classic and original beauty. His ideas on paper make possible the actual product. The fine drawings that flow so easily from his pen are the result of many years of study and hard work.

Mr. Kleaver was born in Grand Rapids and attended Arthur Kirkpatrick’s School of Design. He started in the furniture industry by serving apprenticeship for one year at the John D. Raab Chair Co. He attended night drawing classes at the same time under the instruction of Richard Iamucci at his school, Grand Rapids School of Industrial Art. After World War I he became associated with Berkey & Gay until that company was sold to Simmons.

Mr. Kleaver’s association with Imperial began in 1930. By 1953 over 2,000 Kleaver-designed patterns had carried the Imperial green shield. In addition to traditional mahogany, French and American Provincial pieces for Imperial, Mr. Kleaver also designed upholstered furniture for the Schoonbeck Co.