Collections

This project is a compilation of interviews of subjects with strong ties to and memories of Indiana University, primarily at the Bloomington campus, including former students, faculty, and staff, among others. The information spans most of the twentieth century and deals with the administrations under presidents Herman B Wells, John Ryan, Thomas Ehrlich, and Myles Brand. The project occurred in two parts. The first round of interviews was with administrators, trustees, and other high-ranking members of the university hierarchy. The second round of interviews was with senior faculty from a number of departments in the College of Arts and Sciences. The project is a survey of Indiana University's history as a whole including information about various academic departments, athletics, student organizations, campus growth, and the university's growth in the twentieth century. This project was funded by President Emeritus John Ryan.

The central focus of this project is the life of William Fortune, who lived from 1863 to 1942. Interviewees are the daughters of Indiana businessman William Fortune, a friend and father-in-law of Eli Lilly. They tell about their life in Indianapolis at the turn of the century and offer recollections of associations with famous people like the Lillys and James Whitcomb Riley.

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.

This project is a compilation of interviews of subjects with strong ties to and memories of Indiana University, primarily at the Bloomington campus. The interviewees include former students, faculty, and staff, among others. The information contained in the interviews generally spans a little more than the first half of the twentieth century and often deals with the administrations under presidents William Lowe Bryan and Herman B Wells. The project is a survey of Indiana University's history as a whole including information about various academic departments, athletics, student organizations, campus growth, university development, living conditions, segregation and the treatment of African-Americans, the administration, and the importance of jazz at Indiana University. In addition, the impact of specific events, such as the Great Depression, World War I, World War II, the Vietnam War, and water shortages, is detailed in many of the interviews in this project.

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 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 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.

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.

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