Collections

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.

The Vawter mss., 1919-1922, consists of those paintings prepared by John William "Will" Vawter, 1871-1941, Indiana artist, for illustrating The Youth of James Whitcomb Riley and The Maturity of James Whitcomb Riley by John Marcus Dickey.

This project interviews people living in Spencer, Indiana. The interviewees include a variety of ages and the time period of their experiences span the 1910s-1970s. The interviews include discussion of small town life and changes throughout the past sixty years. The education system, religious beliefs, and economic conditions of the town and surrounding county are discussed. Many interviewees discuss the Great Depression and its effect on the business owners and farmers of the area. Changing moral standards and generational differences are themes throughout the project.

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 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. 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. 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.

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

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

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