Collection ID: C451
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Collection context

Summary

Creator:
Ringer, William Raimond, 1898-1973
Abstract:
William R. Ringer graduated from Indiana University in 1920. After earning his JD at the University of Michigan, he went on to have a successful legal career. This small collection consists primarily of diaries and journals maintained while Ringer was an Indiana University student.
Extent:
.8 cubic feet (2 boxes)
Language:
Materials are in English
Preferred citation:

[Item], William R. Ringer papers, Collection C451, Indiana University Archives, Bloomington.

Background

Biographical / Historical:

William Raimond Ringer was born 11 August 1898 in Williamsport, Indiana, to Victor and Alice Ringer. He entered Indiana University in 1916, where he excelled, graduating in 1920 magna cum laude with an AB in Philosophy. While at IU, he was extremely active and involved in a number of campus organizations, including the Psychology Club, the Writers Club, and the YMCA Cabinet, serving in leadership roles in many of them.

Upon graduation from IU, Ringer entered the University of Michigan Law School, from which he graduated in 1922. In addition to working in practices with family members, he also served as the Trial Deputy Prosecuting Attorney in Criminal Court in Marion County and for the bulk of his career, worked for the National Labor Relations Board, from which he retired as chief trial examiner.

William Ringer died October 4, 1973, in Washington, D.C.

Scope and Content:

This small collection consists of papers of William Ringer that date chiefly from his time as a student at Indiana University. Included are diaries, letters, report cards, and writings from his time as a member of the IU Writers Club. Most prominent in the collection are the 11 volumes of diaries he maintained while a student, which span 1916-1920. Ringer writes frequently and at length about his campus activities, fellow students, and professors. His sophomore year, he joined the Student Army Training Corp and he writes about "the barracks" (actually fraternity housing that was appropriated for the SATC), their training, and the 1918 Spanish Flu outbreak and the resulting quarantine of the men and campus community. Unfortunately, Ringer himself did not escape the flu, but he did recover, unlike a number of the flu victims that year.

Ringer numbered these diaries sequentially, but the first volume actually consists of his outgoing correspondence, which he copied into the journal. Frequent correspondents include his parents, coeds, and friends. There is only 1 incoming letter, which was found tucked into one of the volumes. Also included in the collection is a later diary maintained by Ringer, in 1932. He was married at the time, practicing law and teaching part time.

The last two files of the collection include Ringer family genealogy information sent by the donor and one piece that does not have a clear connection to the collection. The small notebook, which contains poetry and notes, appears to be from the 19th century.

Acquisition information:
Accession numbers: 2011/102 and 2011/118
Appraisal information:

Discarded: German poems and translations that Ringer had copied into a notebook; 1922 University of Michigan Law School Commencement program; Notebook containing poetry by Elizabeth Dury(?) that had been copied into a notebook by WR.

Custodial history:

Gift of Gayle T. Harris, Ringer family friend, in 2011.

In January 2012, Ms. Harris mailed his final IU diary. The volume had also included entries from his time at University of Michigan's Law School; before sending the volume to the Archives, these were razored out and sent to the University of Michigan Archives.

Processing information:

Processed by Dina M. Kellams.

Completed in 2011.

Arrangement:

Papers are arranged chronologically.

Online content

Access

RESTRICTIONS:

Collection is open for research. Advance notice required.

TERMS OF ACCESS:

The donor(s) of this collection have transferred their copyrights for the materials to the Trustees of Indiana University through a Deed of Gift. For more information, please contact the Indiana University Archives staff.

The Indiana University Archives respects the intellectual property rights of others and does not claim any copyrights for non-university records, materials in the public domain, or materials for which we do not hold a Deed of Gift. Responsibility for the determination of the copyright status of these materials rests with those persons wishing to reuse the materials. Researchers are responsible for securing permission from copyright owners and any other rights holders for any reuse of these materials that extends beyond fair use or other statutory limitations.

Digital reproductions of archival materials from the Indiana University Archives are made available for noncommercial educational and research purposes only. If you are the copyright holder for any of the digitized materials and have questions about its inclusion on our site, please contact the Indiana University Archivist.

PREFERRED CITATION:

[Item], William R. Ringer papers, Collection C451, Indiana University Archives, Bloomington.

CAMPUS:
Indiana University Bloomington
LOCATION OF THIS COLLECTION:
Herman B Wells Library E460
1320 East Tenth Street
Bloomington, Indiana 47405-7000, United States
CAMPUS:
Indiana University Bloomington
CONTACT:
812-855-1127
archives@indiana.edu