The Lilly Library is the rare books, manuscripts, and special collections library of the Indiana University Libraries, Bloomington. Its collections represent a diversity of subjects, including literature; children’s literature; history; folklore; science; radio, film and television; book collecting and bookselling; journalism; and translation.
The Bicknell mss., 1828-1881, consist of the papers of George Augustus Bicknell, 1815-1891, of New Albany, Indiana, professor of law at Indiana University, 1861-1870, and a member of Congress from Indiana, 1877-1881.
The Boone mss., 1791-1868, consists of the letters and papers of lawyer, teacher, merchant, and politician Benjamin Pennebaker Douglass, 1820-1904, and his second wife, Queen Victoria Boone, 1837-1885.
The Bowers mss. III, 1868-1972, consist of correspondence, speeches, writings, photographs, newspaper clippings, and memorabilia relating to Claude Gernade Bowers. The correspondence, dating from 1902-1972, is chiefly between members of the Bowers family, with almost five hundred letters from Sybil (McCaslin) Bowers to Claude Bowers before their marriage. Of particular interest are the letters of the 1930's written by Bowers to his daughter Patricia, giving information about personalities and events in Spain. There are also a number of letters from Holman Hamilton to Patricia Bowers.
The Brown mss., 1933-1955, are letters and papers of Paul Van Dyke Brown, 1899- , executive of the Indiana State Department of Conservation, the U.S. National Park Service, and the Washington State Department of Parks.
The Colfax mss., 1853-1884, consists of the papers of South Bend, Indiana, newspaperman, speaker of the House of Representatives, and vice-president of the United States Schuyler Colfax, 1823-1885.