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This collection of interviews primarily delves into the Republican view of Indiana politics from the nineteen twenties to the early nineteen sixties. Major emphasis is placed on both state and national elections and conventions from 1940-1948. The project contains discussions of political campaigns (including finances), the patronage system, and legislation battles. The interviews also reflect on William Jenner by describing his character, beliefs, and influence on Republican politics in Indiana.

The Wolff mss., 1934-2016, consist of the writings, correspondence, and born-digital material of memoirist Tobias Wolff.

The Williams, J.S. mss., 19th cent. consist of reminiscences of John Samuel Williams, 1857-1940, Indiana schoolteacher, titled Skeletons from a Homespunner's Closet.

This project discusses labor in Indiana. The main topics include the labor movement in Indiana, women and work, coal mining, and auto workers. The United Auto Workers, United Mine Workers of America, and other labor unions are discussed. The interviewees discuss participation in labor strikes and the leadership in their unions.

These interviews trace the life histories of five blues musicians in Indianapolis, Indiana. The interviewees discuss their experiences, their knowledge of blues and jazz, and their musical contemporaries. In addition, several comment on the segregation and racism that characterized life in the earlier part of the twentieth century.

This project examines the impact of unionization on Guide Lamp and Delco Remy, two automobile plants in Anderson, Indiana, between the years of 1930 and 1982. It details the events of the 1937 sit-down strike at Guide Lamp and the various improvements in working conditions, wages, job security, and benefits that the United Auto Workers helped to influence at the two plants. The project highlights changes in policy towards women, minority groups, and retirees in the factory workplace, and it offers descriptions of the evolving roles of management and the union and changing relationships among workers in the two plants. Finally, the project details the history of the two plants within the community of Anderson at large, and it offers commentary on the then-current problems and challenges facing the automobile industry as a whole.

This collection of interviews addresses historic preservation in a handful of Indiana towns, such as Madison, New Harmony, Vincennes, and Evansville. The broad emphasis is placed on how the preservation movement began, the major participants, and how it has changed. However, within this broad range, individual historic preservation organizations and projects are not only mentioned, but given much detail.

Ruth Rives discusses her life history growing up in Germany during the World War II era. She speaks of her family and living environment, and the confusion, fear, and hardships she faced. She speaks of the experiences of her young adult life nursing, doing missionary work in Iran, and immigrating to the United States. She talks about her life as it unfolded in America and her return trips to Germany.

The Stevens mss., 1749-1916, consist of papers of William Arnold Stevens, 1839-1910, his wife, Mrs. Caroline (Clarke) Stevens, 1834-1916, and members of their respective families.

The Stevens mss. II, 1805-1911, consist of the correspondence of teacher and editor John Stevens, 1798-1877, and of members of his family.