Collection context
Summary
- Creator:
- Indiana University, Bloomington. University Archives (2016-)
- Abstract:
- Walter Q. Gresham, 1832-1895, was an Indiana lawyer. He also served as a brigadier general in the Civil War, a U.S. District Judge, a U.S. Circuit Court Judge, Postmaster-General, Secretary of the Treasury, and Secretary of State. This collection consists of correspondence from Gresham and about Gresham received by Indiana University from multiple sources, as well as some cards designed to display alongside Gresham's Civil War sword, which was donated to the university by Gresham's family in 1911.
- Extent:
- .1 cubic feet (4 folders)
- Language:
- Materials are in English
- Preferred citation:
[Item], Indiana University Archives collection on Walter Quintin Gresham, Collection C649, Indiana University Archives, Bloomington.
Background
- Biographical / Historical:
Walter Q. Gresham was born in 1832 in Indiana. He briefly attended the preparatory school at Indiana University and eventually became a lawyer. He then served as a member of the Indiana General Assembly before serving as a brigadier general in the Civil War. After the war, he was appointed as a U.S. District Judge and received his honorary LL.D. from Indiana University in 1883. Gresham was also briefly the United States Postmaster General and then the Secretary of the Treasury for President Arthur from 1883 to 1884. He then became a U.S. Circuit Court judge until 1893. President Cleveland appointed him as Secretary of State in 1893, a post Gresham held until his death in 1895. In 1911, Gresham's family gave Indiana University Gresham's sword from the war, along with some of Walter Gresham's correspondence. There is a dining hall named for him on the Bloomington campus.
- Scope and Content:
The collection contains correspondence from Walter Gresham to his wife Tillie and correspondence between others about Gresham. The correspondence contain details of Gresham's experience during the Civil War, including his pride in his regiment (the Indiana 53rd) and how he missed his family. It is arranged chronologically by original item, with transcriptions behind the original items. Undated items are at the end of the series. Also included are two signs formerly used in the display of his sword, which was donated to Indiana University in 1911. The sword is no longer owned by the university.
- Acquisition information:
- Accession: 2016/115
- Custodial history:
The items in this collection were removed from the Indiana University Archives reference file on Walter Q. Gresham in October 2016. Most of the correspondence appears to have been transferred from the President's Office to the IU Archives at an unknown date. Other items may have been removed from the IU President's Office records collections (C286 and C270) or received from other sources.
- Processing information:
Processed by Katherine Siebenaler and Mary Mellon.
Completed in March 2018
- Arrangement:
Collection consists of a single series, arranged roughly chronologically. Transcriptions of letters are filed with the original, handwritten versions.
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. 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 Archives staff.
- PREFERRED CITATION:
-
[Item], Indiana University Archives collection on Walter Quintin Gresham, Collection C649, Indiana University Archives, Bloomington.
- CAMPUS:
- Indiana University Bloomington
- LOCATION OF THIS COLLECTION:
-
Herman B Wells Library E4601320 East Tenth StreetBloomington, Indiana 47405-7000, United States
- CAMPUS:
- Indiana University Bloomington
- CONTACT:
-
812-855-1127archives@indiana.edu