Collections

The American literature mss., 1789-2000, consists of an ongoing collection of individual items related to American literature.

The Appleton-Century mss., 1846-1962, consists of the office files of the publishing company, its two predecessors, D. Appleton & Co., and the Century Co., and to a small extent its successor, Appleton-Century Crofts, Inc.

The Bernays mss., 1890-1955, consists of manuscripts collected by Louise (Lee) Bernays, 1888-1974, librarian of The Indianapolis News for twenty-three years.

The Bobbs-Merrill mss., 1885-1983, consists of the records of book publisher Bobbs-Merrill Company, Inc., located in Indianapolis, IN.

The Bottsford mss., 1877-1885, consists chiefly of letters from poet James Whitcomb Riley, 1849-1916, to fellow poet Clara Louise Bottsford, 1852-1910.

The Brunn mss., 1879-1921, are the letters and poems of James Whitcomb Riley, 1849-1916, poet, sent to Elizabeth D. Kahle, 1861?-?, of New Brighton, Pennsylvania.

The Callahan mss., 1894-1898, consists of letters, poems, and photographs from or relating to James Whitcomb Riley.

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.

The Dickey mss., 1872-1941, consists of the papers of John Marcus Dickey, 1859-1950, secretary, platform manager, and biographer of James Whitcomb Riley.

The Evans, W.E. mss., 1892-1900, consists of letters, writings, and sketches of James Whitcomb Riley, 1849-1916, poet, collected by Walter E. Evans, an employee of The Bowen- Merrill Company of Indianapolis, Indiana.

Consists of letters and papers of Charles Warren Fairbanks, 1852-1918, U.S. senator from Indiana and vice president (1905-1909), and his son, Warren Charles Fairbanks, 1878-1938, newspaper publisher. The Charles Warren Fairbanks material, which comprises the bulk of the collection, consists of correspondence with prominent political figures, businessmen, bankers, friends, relatives and constituents; manuscript and printed speeches of Fairbanks; law office papers; bills and receipts; miscellaneous papers; newspaper clippings; invitations; calling cards; pictures; slides of Fairbanks's trip around the world, 1909-1910; and miscellaneous printed matter. The Warren Charles Fairbanks papers, 1918-1938, relate to the settlement of the estate of his father, Charles Warren Fairbanks; the Indianapolis News; the Fairbanks Blue ridge farms in Piatt County, Illinois; and the Fairbanks Valley farms in Greene County, Illinois.

The Hitt mss., 1891-1938, consists primarily of letters from poet James Whitcomb Riley, 1849-1916, to journalist George Cooper Hitt, 1851-1944. George C. Hitt & Co. published Riley's first book, The Old Swimmin'-hole and'Leven More Poems, in 1883.

The Holstein mss., 1892-1916, consist of personal letters from James Whitcomb Riley, 1849-1916, poet, to Charles Louis Holstein, 1843-1901, lawyer, and Mrs. Magdalena (Nickum) Holstein, 1845-1916. Riley lived with the Holsteins at 528 Lockerbie Street, Indianapolis, Indiana for 23 years.

The Jameson, M. mss., 1875-1931, consists primarily of letters to author Booth Tarkington, 1869-1946, or to his sister, Mary "Haute" Booth (Tarkington) Jameson, 1881-1937, writer, suffragist, and clubwoman.

The Lilly Correspondence mss., 1919-1954, consists of the correspondence of Josiah Kirby Lilly, Jr., 1893-1966, corporation executive of the Lilly Pharmaceutical Company of Indianapolis, Indiana, with bookdealers and individuals concerning the purchase of books, manuscripts, portraits, and prints. This correspondence reveals J.K. Lilly's many interests, among these Edgar Allan Poe and James Whitcomb Riley, the construction and equipment of Eaglecrest Libray at his home, and his membership in the Grolier Club.

The Macy mss., 1905-1935, consists of the correspondence of author Albert William Macy, 1853-1940, principally with David Laurance Chambers, 1879-1963, vice-president of The Bobbs-Merrill Company, publishers, Indianapolis, Indiana.

The Mitchell, M.B. mss. are letters, 1939-1949, relating to James Whitcomb Riley and his family, written by Mrs. Minnie Bell (Alexander) Mitchell, author and friend of James Whitcomb Riley.

The Payne, L. mss., 1871-1972, are the papers of Lesley Payne, 1894?-1976, musician, and niece of James Whitcomb Riley.

The Ralston, S.M. mss., 1868-1928, consists of the papers of Indiana Governor and U.S. Senator, Samuel Moffett Ralston, 1857-1925.

The Riley mss., 1858-1944, consist of correspondence and papers of James Whitcomb Riley, 1849-1916, Indiana poet.

Riley mss. II, 1899-1914, consist of letters from Meredith Nicholson, 1886-1947, written to James Whitcomb Riley, 1849-1916.

The Riley mss. III, 1876-1917, consist of correspondence and writings of James Whitcomb Riley, 1849-1916, poet from Greenfield, Indiana, who lived on Lockerbie Street in Indianapolis during his adult life.

The Riley mss. IV, 1875-1917, are those manuscripts by or about James Whitcomb Riley, 1849-1916, poet, which have been acquired as separate pieces.

The Riley mss. V, 1876-1917, consist of the correspondence and writings of James Whitcomb Riley, 1849-1916, poet, born in Greenfield, Indiana. He later lived on Lockerbie Street in Indianapolis, Indiana.

The Riley mss. VI, 1876-1916, consist largely of transcripts of the letters of James Whitcomb Riley, 1849- 1916, poet, of Greenfield and Indianapolis, Indiana.

The Walker, Barclay mss., 1859-1927, consists of musical compositions by Barclay Walker, 1859-1927, an Indiana composer, and by his daughter, Mary Josephine (Walker) Wolff.