Collection context
Summary
- Creator:
- Holman Family
- Abstract:
- The Holman mss., 1822-1894, consist of the papers and correspondence of Richard Henry Holman, 1817-1841, lawyer, written chiefly during his attendance at Indiana College at Bloomington; of his father, Jesse Lynch Holman, 1784-1842, judge; and of his brother-in-law, Allen Hamilton, 1798-1864, Indiana state legislator, largely concerned with land speculation and payments.
- Extent:
- 2 Boxes
- Language:
- Materials are in English .
- Preferred citation:
[Item], Holman mss., Lilly Library, Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana.
Background
- Biographical / Historical:
The Holmans are a notable family in Indiana politics and governance.
Richard Henry Holman, 1817-1841, was an early graduate of Indiana University, Class of 1837. He died of tuberculosis at the age of 24.
Jesse Lynch Holman, 1784-1842, judge, was Richard Henry Holman's father. He served as prosecuting attorney of Dearborn County and as one of the first Justices on the Indiana Supreme Court (1816-1830). After his removal from the Indiana Supreme Court by Governor James Brown Ray, he practiced law and became involved in the Baptist church and Sunday school movement. He also played a role in founding Indiana University, Franklin College, and the Indiana Historical Society. In 1836, Andrew Jackson appointed him federal district judge of Indiana, a position he would hold until his death.
Allen Hamilton, 1798-1864, was Richard Henry Holman's brother-in-law and a prominent public servant in Fort Wayne, Indiana. He married Richard Henry Holman's sister, Emeline Holman, who established a public library in Fort Wayne and was active in the Women's Suffrage Movement. Allen Hamilton served as Allen County's first sheriff, was appointed U.S. Indian agent to the Miami from 1841 to 1845, served one term in Indiana Senate in 1859, and was president of the Fort Wayne branch of Indiana State Bank.
- Scope and Content:
The Holman mss., 1822-1894, consist of the papers and correspondence of Richard Henry Holman, 1817-1841, lawyer, written chiefly during his attendance at Indiana College at Bloomington; of his father, Jesse Lynch Holman, 1784-1842, judge; and of his brother-in-law, Allen Hamilton, 1798-1864, Indiana state legislator, largely concerned with land speculation and payments.
Items of particular interest include: notes by Holman on his last illness (tuberculosis), Oct. 26-Dec. 26, 1841; a letter from Allen Hamilton to Lizzie St. Clair Dill, Jan. 19, 1861, explaining why she had not been elected as librarian; a document signed by the mark of Jean Baptiste Richardville, Mar. 22, 1838 and other documents about him and Francis Godfroy, both Miami Indians; and several letters from the Hamiltons written from Europe in the 1850s. Some of the correspondents include: Lewis Cass, Henry Clay, Schuyler Colfax, William Mitchel Daily, Daniel Drake, George Grundy Dunn, Paris Chipman Dunning, William C. Foster, William Steele Holman, David Hoover, Louise Jane (Howe) Maxwell (Mrs. James Darwin Maxwell), Beaumont Parks, Hugh Thomson Reid, George Seaman Sheets, Jared Sparks, Cyrus Taber, Charles H. Test, Nelson Horatio Torbert, John Sebrie Watts, and Joseph Albert Wright.
Among the miscellaneous materials in the collection are the diary of Richard Henry Holman published in the Indiana Magazine of History, 49: 281-306 (September, 1953) and various other writings; a portrait of him on horn; a poem by Jesse Lynch Holman; and several printed pieces.
Completing the collection and arranged chronologically is a file of letters and papers sent by Cyrus Taber, 1800-1855, to Allen Hamilton. Consisting of ninety items dating 1832-1956, these materials concern the business relationship of Taber in Logansport and Hamilton in Fort Wayne. Throughout the material are references to land sales, Miami Indians, provisioning the store, actions of the state legislature (of which both men at different times were members), and the estate of General John Tipton. Other letters of Taber to Hamilton, chiefly from the 1830s, may be found in the Allen Hamilton papers at the Indiana State Library.
- Acquisition information:
- Gift: 1977 , 1978 .
- Arrangement:
The collection is organized into the following series: I. Correspondence; II. Miscellaneous; III. Taber-Hamilton.
The correspondence is arranged chronologically.
- 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], Holman mss., 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