Collection context
Summary
- Creator:
- Dunn, George Grundy, 1812-1857, Waldo, Daniel, 1762-1864, Carter, James W., Defrees, John D. (John Dougherty), 1810 or 1811-1882, Dewey, Charles, Dunn, W. McKee (William McKee), 1814-1887, Dunning, Paris Chipman, 1806-1884, Ewing, John, Gorman, Willis Arnold, 1816-1876, Hester, James Scott, Hunter, Morton Craig, McDonald, David, McGaughey, Edward W., McPheeters, Joseph, Parker, Samuel W. (Samuel Wilson), 1805-1859, Pendleton, George H. (George Hunt), 1825-1889, Thompson, Richard W. (Richard Wigginton), 1809-1900, Usher, John Palmer, 1816-1889, Trees, John Van, Watson, Lewis L., and Wright, Joseph A. (Joseph Albert), 1810-1867
- Abstract:
- The Dunn mss. II, 1831-1864, consists of the papers of George Grundy Dunn, 1812-1857, lawyer and congressman of Bedford, Indiana.
- Extent:
- 1 Box (1 standard)
- Language:
- Materials are in English .
- Preferred citation:
[Item], Dunn mss. II, Lilly Library, Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana.
Background
- Biographical / Historical:
George Grundy Dunn, 1812-1857, lawyer and congressman of Bedford, Indiana, was born on December 20, 1812, in Washington county, Kentucky, and came to Indiana as a boy, settling in Monroe county. He entered Indiana University but left college his junior year due to difficulties with President Andrew Wylie. After teaching school in Switzerland County, Ind., for a time, he moved to Bedford, Indiana, in 1833, where he continued to teach while studying law. In 1835, he was admitted to the bar and formed a partnership with Richard Wigginton Thompson at Bedford. He held the following public offices: prosecuting attorney, Lawrence county, Indiana, 1842; U.S. congressman, 1847-1849 (as a Whig) and 1855-1857 (as a Republican); Indiana state senator, 1850-1852. He died in Bedford on September 4, 1857.
- Scope and Content:
The Dunn mss. II, 1831-1864, consists of papers of George Grundy Dunn, 1812-1857, lawyer and congressman of Bedford, Indiana.
The collection contains both personal and legal correspondence. Legal correspondence concerns cases ranging from property suits to murder. Several letters and documents deal with the extension of the New Albany and Salem Railroad through Bedford under the direction of Doolittle and Chamberlain, contractors from Cincinnati. Several Bedford men, including Dunn, are later sued by Doolittle and Chamberlain for their actions in an attempt to contain a riot resulting from a labor dispute.
Another group of letters reflect Indiana political activity, particularly in the early 1850's. Among the correspondents are: James W. Carter, John Dougherty Defrees, Charles Dewey, William McKee Dunn, Paris Chipman Dunning, John Ewing, Willis Arnold Gorman, James Scott Hester, Morton Craig Hunter, David McDonald, Edward Wilson McGaughey, Joseph Glass McPheeters, Samuel Wilson Parker, George Hunt Pendleton, Richard Wigginton Thompson, John Palmer Usher, John Van Trees, Lewis L. Watson, Joseph Albert Wright.
Included in the collection are two prayers by Daniel Waldo, Chaplain of the House of Representatives, 1856; an address delivered by Dunn to the Philomathean society, 1833; patriotic speech on George Washington's birthday; several compositions by Dunn, 1831,1832; and two letters on the death of Andrew Wylie, 1851.
- Acquisition information:
- Purchase: 1966, 1967, 1968, 1972
- Arrangement:
This collection is arranged following original order.
- Physical location:
- Lilly - Stacks
Indexed Terms
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], Dunn mss. II, 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