Collection context
Summary
- Creator:
- Lockridge, Ross, 1914-1948., Lockridge, Laurence S., 1942-, and Lockridge, Ross F. (Ross Franklin), 1877-1952
- Abstract:
- Lockridge mss. III, circa 1837-2000, consists of the correspondence, unpublished manuscripts, photos, papers, and audio tapes pertaining to the life and work of author Ross Lockridge, Jr., 1914-1948, and the Lockridge family.
- Extent:
- 38 Boxes
- Language:
- Materials are in English .
- Preferred citation:
[Item], Lockridge mss. III, Lilly Library, Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana.
Background
- Biographical / Historical:
Ross Lockridge, Jr., 1914-1948, was an American writer. He was born on April 25, 1914 in Bloomington, Indiana to Ross Lockridge, Sr. and Elsie Shockley Lockridge. The family moved to Fort Wayne for several years, but later returned to Bloomington. After graduating from Bloomington High School in 1931, Lockridge matriculated to Indiana University in Bloomington, where he was known for his impressive academic record. He spent his junior year, 1933-1934, in Paris at Sorbonne University, earning "first honors" among all scholarship winners. Lockridge received an A.B. from Indiana University in 1935 with the highest grade point average ever earned at IU. In 1937, he married Vernice Baker and together the couple had four children, Ernest, Jeanne, Ross, and Lawrence. From 1936-1940 Lockridge had a teaching fellowship at Indiana University. In 1940 he earned a scholarship for advanced graduate study at Harvard, but declined an additional year in order to teach at Simmons College in Boston from 1941-1946.
In 1948, he published his novel Raintree County, considered by some to be the "Great American Novel." The story follows the character John Shawnessey during the course of a single day, July 4, 1892, and features flashbacks to the time period after the Civil War. It is set in the fictional Raintree County, which is in part based on Henry County, Indiana, where Lockridge spent his childhood summers at his grandmother's home. Lockridge died on March 6, 1948 in Bloomington, Indiana, several weeks after the publication of Raintree County. The novel was his only book.
- Scope and Content:
The Family Correspondence and Non-Family Correspondence series consist of letters to Lockridge's family, wife, and children, and others. Correspondents include: Donald Blankertz; Paul Brooks; Malcolm Correll; Dorothy Hillyer; Curtis Lamorey; Brenton Webster Lockridge; Elsie Shockley Lockridge; Ernest Hugh Lockridge; Larry Shockley Lockridge; Lillian Lockridge; Ross Lockridge, Jr.; Ross Lockridge, Sr.; Vernice Baker Lockridge; Vivian Shockley Lockridge; Robert Masters; Marie Lockridge Peters; Robert Peters; Ed Quayle; Emma Rhoton Shockley; Frank Shockley; John Wesley Shockley; William B. Shockley; Don Smalley; Ruth Smalley; Martin Stone; Mary Jane Ward; Francis "Jeff" Wylie; Larry Wylie.
The Unpublished Manuscripts series includes writings from Lockridge's childhood and college years, as well as original draft material for Raintree County. The Riddle of Raintree County series includes a commentary on Raintree County by Lockridge's son Larry Shockley Lockridge. Non-Raintree County Publications includes clippings from the IU Daily Student and materials pertaining to The Old Fauntleroy Home, written by Lockridge's father Ross F. Lockridge with his son's help.
Raintree County Background Materials consists of correspondence, writings, and other materials relating to the Shockley family whose life in Henry County, Indiana partially inspired Raintree County. The Lockridge/Baker Families series includes genealogical materials relating to the Lockridge family and materials relating to Lockridge's wife Vernice Baker, her childhood, and her family. It also includes material pertaining to her marriage to Lockridge and their children. Academic Career consists of grades, diplomas, memorabilia, and other materials relating to Lockridge's time at Indiana University, the Sorbonne, Harvard, and Simmons College.
Photographs includes photo albums, pictures of members of the Lockridge and Shockley families, and pictures from the production of MGM's Raintree County film. The Houghton Mifflin/Book-of-The-Month Club series consists of correspondence, promotional materials, and other files relating to the process of publishing Raintree County. The MGM Series consists of materials relating to the production of the Raintree County film, which was released in 1957 and starred Montgomery Clift and Elizabeth Taylor.
Writings While Ill (1947-1948) consists of notes and other writings produced in the final year of Lockridge's life. The Final Days and Death series includes sympathy correspondence upon his death in March of 1948. RLJ (Ross Lockridge, Jr.) Estate Papers includes tax documents and insurance papers.
The Journalism series includes reviews of Raintree County and the Raintree County film, as well as obituaries of Ross Lockridge, Jr. The Shade of the Raintree series is the research of Larry Shockley Lockridge, second son of Ross Lockridge, Jr., in writing his biography Shade of the Raintree: The Life and Death of Ross Lockridge, Jr. His research includes the audio tapes identified in the Audio-Visual series. The Audio-Visual series also includes recordings of readings, book-signings, lectures, and presentations on Raintree County. The Other series primarily consists of Raintree County musical materials. The Books series consists of inscribed copies of Raintree County and other books signed or inscribed by Ross Lockridge Jr.
- Acquisition information:
- Acquired: 2011
- Processing information:
Processed by Courtney Rookard.
Completed in 2014
- Arrangement:
The collection is organized into the following series: I-II. Correspondence; III. Unpublished Manuscripts; IV. The Riddle of Raintree County Manuscript; V. Non-Raintree County Publications; VI. Raintree County Background Materials; VII. Lockridge/Baker Families; VIII. Academic Career; IX. Photographs; X. Houghton Mifflin/Book-of-the-Month Club; XI. MGM; XII. Writings While Ill (1947-1948); XIII. Final Day and Death; XIV. RLJ (Ross Lockridge, Jr.) Estate Papers; XV. Journalism; XVI. Shade of the Raintree (SOTR); XVII. Audio-Visual; XVIII. Other; XIX. Books.
- Physical location:
- ALF (Auxiliary Library Facility)
Access
- RESTRICTIONS:
-
This collection is open for research.
Many collections are housed offsite; retrieval requires advance notice. Please make an appointment a minimum of one week in advance of your visit.
- TERMS OF ACCESS:
-
Photography and digitization may be restricted for some collections. Copyright restrictions may apply. Before publishing, researchers are responsible for securing permission from all applicable rights holders, then filling out the Permission to Publish form.
- PREFERRED CITATION:
-
[Item], Lockridge mss. III, Lilly Library, Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana.
- CAMPUS:
- Indiana University Bloomington
- LOCATION OF THIS COLLECTION:
-
1200 East Seventh StreetBloomington, Indiana 47405-5500, USA
- CAMPUS:
- Indiana University Bloomington
- CONTACT:
-
(812) 855-2452liblilly@indiana.edu