Collection ID: LMC 1178
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Collection context

Summary

Creator:
Catherwood, Mary Hartwell, 1847-1902
Abstract:
The Catherwood mss., 1880-1902, consists of the letters of writer Mary (Hartwell) Catherwood (Mrs. James Steele Catherwood), 1847-1902, to Mary Elizabeth (Riley) Payne (Mrs. Frank C. Payne), 1864-1936, sister of James Whitcomb Riley.
Extent:
1 Box (1 standard)
Language:
Materials are in English .
Preferred citation:

[Item], Catherwood mss., Lilly Library, Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana.

Background

Biographical / Historical:

Mary (Hartwell) Catherwood (Mrs. James Steele Catherwood), 1847-1902, was born in Licking County, Ohio, December 16, 1847. Mary Hartwell moved west with her parents in the 1850's. At age 12, following her parents' death, she returned to Ohio to live with relatives. With the aid of teaching school, she managed to work her way through the Granville Female Seminary. Because her ambition to become a writer was firmly fixed, she varied her teaching at Danville, Illinois and elsewhere by writing various stories, poems, and articles.

On December 27, 1877, she married James Steele Catherwood and moved to Indiana. In 1879, the Catherwoods moved to Indianapolis, and she soon became part of the literary circle of the city and a friend of James Whitcomb Riley. The major part of her married life was spent in Hoopeston, Illinois, where Catherwood was postmaster. After separating from her husband, she spent her summers at Mackinac Island writing or gathering material in Canada or abroad. Her last years were spent in Chicago.

Scope and Content:

The Catherwood mss., 1880-1902, consists of the letters of writer Mary (Hartwell) Catherwood (Mrs. James Steele Catherwood), 1847-1902, to Mary Elizabeth (Riley) Payne (Mrs. Frank C. Payne), 1864-1936, sister of James Whitcomb Riley.

Her first novel, A Woman in Armour (1875), brought widespread recognition. This was followed by The Romance of Dollard (1889) and other historical novels of the French in America.

The letters are characterized by their personal content and reveal the deep affection between the two women during their long friendship, with an occasional mention of Catherwood's works, especially Dollard.

The collection includes a letter from Hazel H. Catherwood (later Mrs. Donald Palmer Cameron) to Mary Elizabeth (Riley) Payne, letters from Catherwood to Lesley Payne and to Mr. Page, and an inscribed photograph of Catherwood . Several of the letters are accompanied by envelopes and typescripts.

Collection size: 79 items

Acquisition information:
Purchase: 1977
Arrangement:

This collection is arranged following original order.

Physical location:
Lilly - Stacks

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], Catherwood mss., Lilly Library, Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana.

CAMPUS:
Indiana University Bloomington
LOCATION OF THIS COLLECTION:
1200 East Seventh Street
Bloomington, Indiana 47405-5500, USA
CAMPUS:
Indiana University Bloomington
CONTACT:
(812) 855-2452
liblilly@indiana.edu