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William "Bill" Shirk Poorman (born 1945) is a retired American escape artist, actor, entrepreneur, and longtime Indianapolis radio personality. He uses his middle name (also his mother's maiden name), Shirk, as his professional surname. He is frequently billed as the "Modern Day Houdini" for his elaborate and death-defying stunts. Between 1976 and 1980, Poorman set eight world records, including the fastest escape from a straitjacket and the fastest jail break. His work as an escape artist inspired him to write, produce, and star as a fictionalized version of himself in the 1983 film "The Escapist". This collection contains material related to the production of "The Escapist" and Poorman's career as an escape artist.

The Williams, Jonathan mss., 1738-1869, consist of letters and papers of Jonathan Williams, 1750-1815, merchant and soldier, grand-nephew of Benjamin Franklin and first superintendent of the U.S. Military Academy at West Point.

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.

The Williams, K.P. mss., 1820-1958, consists of letters and papers of Kenneth Powers Williams, 1887-1958, professor of mathematics at Indiana University and author of Lincoln Finds a General.

The Williams - Kuhn mss., 1921-1932, are the pen and ink cartoons of Gaar Williams, 1880-1935, and Charles H. Kuhn, 1892-1989, both cartoonists for The Indianapolis News at one time.

The Williamson, H. mss., 1924-1956, are letters from Henry Williamson, 1895-1977, author of Shallowford, North Devon, England, to Ann Thomas; writings by Williamson, and a Synopsis of the Years, 1931-1948, by Ann Thomas.

The Williamson mss., 1885-1940, consist of correspondence and papers of George Charles Williamson, 1858-1942, author, relating to the Sette of Odd Volumes, a London society of which Williamson was a member.

The Williams, Orlo mss., 1924-1952, are letters to Orlo Williams, 1883-1967, author, from Thomas Stearnes Eliot, 1888-1965, poet.

The Williams, Oscar mss., 1920-1966, consists primarily of correspondence, 1927-1966, notebooks, agreements, anthology material, poetry, and financial records of American poet and anthologist, Oscar Williams.

The Williams, R. mss., 1862-1866, are Civil War letters to and from Rudolph Williams, 1844?- , and William H. Rudulph, 1840?- , both of whom served in Company K, 111th regiment, Ohio infantry.