Collections

The Young, C. mss., 1935-2014, consist of the writings, correspondence, research materials, and personal papers of journalist and activist Charles M. Young.

The Department of French and Italian at Indiana University was established in 1934, when the Department of Romantic Languages split into French and Italian and the Department of Spanish and Portuguese. This collection covers the period 1935-2015 and consists of administrative files, such as annual reports, minutes, and newsletters, as well as faculty files that include articles, newspaper clippings, curricula vitae, correspondence, and other material.

Papers and audiovisual materials from the career of documentarian and Indiana University professor Michael T. Martin.

The Latino Cultural Center was established at Indiana University in 1973. It is more affectionately known as La Casa. Its purpose was, and continues to be, to achieve through educational and social programs, a greater historical, political and cultural awareness regarding the latine community. The collection consists of records created by the Latino Cultural Center while under the direction of the Office of Latino Affairs, documents from student organizations, such as Latinos Unidos at Indiana University (LUIU), and other documents realted to the history and interests of the Latino Cultural Center including correspondence, publications, events, annual reports, and subject files.

Charles B. Heiser was a Distinguished Professor Emeritus of Botany at Indiana University and considered to be an authority on capsicum, tortora and gourds. The collection consists of his research and correspondence.

The collection of music industry professional Logan H. Westbrooks contains professional and personal papers, photographs, sound recordings, video recordings, digital files, posters, books, memorabilia, artifacts and other material documenting his life and work from the 1930s through the 2010s. Professional papers pertain to his employment at Capitol Records, Mercury Records, CBS Records, CBS International, Soul Train Records, Source Records, and his management firm Ascent Music Inc. Personal papers pertain to his upbringing in Memphis, TN, the Church of God in Christ, lectures at California State University and Indiana University, philanthropic activities, and civic service. Topics include African American music industry executives; record labels; recording industry in United States, Africa, and Jamaica; African American musicians; black churches; rhythm and blues, soul, jazz, and funk music; radio and African American disc jockeys.

Papers and related material documenting the careers of Camille Billops and James Hatch.

Consists of posters, advertisements, and photographs featuring African American actors and actresses, as well as videocassettes and DVDs.

The Edward and Naomi Feil collection, 1937-2011, consist of papers, scripts, correspondence, business records, production materials, ephemera, photographs, and films created by Edward and Naomi Feil. Contents are both of a personal nature as well as related to the business Edward Feil Productions and gerontological research of Naomi Feil.

Charles R. Forker was a professor of English at Indiana University from 1959 to 1992. He was a known Shakespeare scholar and teacher. Collection consists of Forker's correspondence, research, teaching files, and publications.

The Indiana University Physical Plant was the central department for university buildings and grounds upkeep from 1959-2015. Prior to 1959 the Physical Plant was part of the Department of Buildings and Grounds. In 2015 the Physical Plant was renamed Facility Operations. This collection includes annual reports and newsletters issued by the department from 1938-2007.

The papers of Gertrude Rivers Robinson contain music manuscripts and sketches, correspondence, press clippings, class notes and coursework, lecture materials, audio recordings, photographs, slides, films and videos documenting her life and career as a composer, ethnomusicologist and pedagogue, including her research on the Balinese gamelan tradition.

The Bloomington Garden Club mss., 1938-2016, consists of the papers, minutes of meetings, scrapbooks, and photograph albums relating to the activities of the Bloomington Garden Club, especially the annual Garden Walk.

The William T. Patten Foundation was founded at Indiana University in May 1931 by Indiana University alumnus William T. Patten. The Foundation hosts scholars from various institutions and disciplines to give lectures in his/her area of expertise. This collection contains files on each scholar who has assumed the role of Patten Lecturer since 1968. The files include recommendations from IU faculty to the Patten Committee, programs, and correspondence, as well as some audio and video recordings of the lectures.

Denis Sinor was a faculty member of Indiana University in the Uralic and Altaic Program (now the Department of Central Eurasian Studies) from 1962 to 2011. Sinor founded the Department of Uralic and Altaic Studies in 1965 and the Asian Studies Research Institute for Inner Asian Studies (now the Sinor Research Institute for Inner Asian Studies [RIFIAS]), both of which he served as director for until his retirement from IU in 1986. He was active in many organizations during his tenure at Indiana University, most significantly the Journal of Asian History (JAH), Permanent International Altaistic Conference (PIAC), United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), and National Defense Education Act (NDEA). This collection consists of Sinor's correspondence with various organizations, IU, and personal contacts.

Harris Wofford was a Democratic senator from Pennsylvania, the former CEO of the Corporation of National and Community Service (CNCS, now AmeriCorps), a civil rights advocate, university president, lawyer, and writer. This collection focuses on his work supporting national service, including his time as the CEO of CNCS.

Menahem Pressler has been a professor of music at Indiana University, Bloomington since 1955, and an internationally acclaimed concert pianist since 1940. Pressler is recognized as one of the world's premier chamber musicians, solo performers, group artists, and pedagogues, and currently holds the rank of Distinguished Professor of Music as the Charles Webb Chair at Indiana University's Jacobs School of Music. His papers include biographical information, clippings, and program booklets.

The Antioch Review mss., 1940-2007, consists of the records of the literary publication Antioch Review of Antioch College, Yellow Springs, Ohio.

The Heath-Stubbs mss. II, 1940-2000, consists of writings, correspondence, and personal materials of poet John Heath-Stubbs (1918-2006).

Held annually since 1940, the Indiana University Writers' Conference provides workshops and classes that offer writers of all levels the opportunity to learn from a faculty of well-known and award-winning authors. Correspondence between Conference staff and potential faculty members as well as various administrative files are represented in the contents of this collection.

The Baatz mss., 1940-2010, consists of correspondence from prominent literary and political figures to librarian Wilmer Henry Baatz, 1915-1991.

The Boorman, John mss., 1940-2014 consists of the papers, memorabilia, and reel–to–reel films of director–writer–producer John Boorman, 1933-.

The first Halls of Residence Library at Indiana University was created in 1940. It was located in the Men's Residence Center (now the Collins Living-Learning Center). The idea for these libraries came from President Herman B Wells and Halls of Residence Director Alice Nelson, who had visited schools in the east and seen these types of libraries being utilized in university settings. At first administered by the libraries, the Halls of Residence Libraries were transferred to Residential Programs and Services in 2001. This collection includes annual reports, subject files, correspondence and student papers written over the years about the libraries.

The Indiana University South Bend Civil Rights Heritage Center LGBTQ Collection contains materials relating to the experience of people in and around South Bend, Indiana, who describe their sexual and/or gender identity as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgendered, or queer, as well as people who consider themselves allies to the LGBTQ community. South Bend and neighboring cities in north central Indiana and south central Michigan, like so many cities in the United States during the second half of the 20th century and first quarter of the 21st, has experienced a radical transformation in attitudes towards the LGBTQ community. For much of the 20th century, South Bend's LGBTQ community was closed and closeted. With a stronger Catholic and Christian culture than other cities (as evidenced in places like the predominately Catholic University of Notre Dame as well as significant Polish and Eastern European immigration), South Bend had been described as a less welcoming place than larger cities with higher percentages of "out" LGBTQ people and stronger gay cultures, such as San Francisco or New York City. Without the promise of acceptance by their families or protections against discrimination in their workplaces, people often did not identify as LGBTQ publicly. Many felt they could publicly identify only within the few gay-friendly public spaces, such as the Sea Horse Bar and Cabaret. Like much of the United States, South Bend underwent significant changes in the first quarter of the 21st century through the efforts of countless "out" individuals and straight allies. By 2012, those efforts helped make South Bend one of the few cities in Indiana to add LGBT protections to its human rights ordinance. In 2015, South Bend Mayor Pete Buttigieg publicly came out as well, becoming the highest ranking government official in Indiana to do so. The IU South Bend Civil Rights Heritage Center LGBTQ collection — the first of its kind in the city — helps all people understand and reflect upon the major advancements in LGBTQ acceptance over the last fifty years, and how this one Midwest city moved from a place where many people felt they needed to hide their identities into a more welcoming and more open community.

The Jay mss. II, 1940s-2018, consist of the correspondence, research files, and manuscripts of magician Ricky Jay (1946-2018).

Manuscript and printed scores, photographs, biographical material, and recordings by Black composers active from 1950 to present.

The Vonnegut mss., 1941-2007, consists of the papers of novelist Kurt Vonnegut, 1922-2007.

The Lizzani, Carlo mss., 1941-2010, consists of the writings, photographs, scripts, audio-visual materials, correspondence, awards, newspaper and periodical articles, and unpublished diary of Italian filmmaker Carlo Lizzani, 1922-2013.

The Liberian Newspaper Collection is one of the largest collections of Liberian newspapers in the world. An exhaustive list of titles, including many with small circulation or a limited run. The collection is ever growing and the finding aid will be updated frequently to reflect the additional titles.

Bruner, Paul mss., ca. 1967-2011, consist of Paul Bruner's artist's book edition of the 1954 Holocaust era poem, "The Plains," written by Polish poet Tadeusz Rozewicz and translated by Paul Mayewski, as well as accompanying materials.

The Gest, Howard mss., ca. 1941-2011, consist of the correspondence, papers, reprints and copies of the work of Prof. Howard Gest, Distinguished Professor Emeritus of the Indiana University Department of Microbiology.

The Mitchell, R. mss. II, 1941-2014, consist mainly of correspondence and poetry by Professor of English, Roger Sherman Mitchell, 1935- .

The University Division was established at Indiana University Bloomington in 1942, under the name of Junior Division. Originally created as a response to wartime conditions, the University Division currently serves as an academic advising system for freshman and sophomore students who have not yet selected a major. The collection consists primarily of records from Sally J. Dunn's tenure (2000-2007) as Dean of the University Division and includes correspondence, records related to University Division programs, brochures, reports, administrative files, advising files, and publications.

The Indiana University Department of Folklore and Ethnomusicology was formally established in 2000 through the merging of the Department of Folklore (1978-2000) and the Ethnomusicology Institute (1980-2000) and is the parent department of the IU Folklore Institute and IU Ethnomusicology Institute. This collection contains administrative files, subject files, correspondence, files and audio recordings of the Special Projects unit, grant and budget information, and conference files produced by the department and its affiliated institutes from 1942 through 2010.

Howard Gest was a professor of Microbiology and an adjunct professor of History and Philosophy of Science at Indiana University who specialized in microbial psychology and metabolism. The collection consists of Gest's published work, research notes, correspondence and his teaching and lecturing notes during his tenure at Indiana University.

The Ridenour, W.W. mss, 1943-2013, consist of the personal journals of Presbyterian minister and World War II Army veteran, William W. Ridenour.

The Lemasters mss., ca. 1944–1945, consists of the correspondence between Lt. Col. Paul R. Lemasters, 1913-1995, and his family in Shelbyville, Indiana, during his World War II service in New Guinea and the South Pacific. Also included are 3 mimeo–based newspapers.

John Ryan was Indiana University's 14th president and served the institution for 30 years. Ryan was instrumental in the creation and inaugurals of eight I.U. charter campuses. This collection consists of Dr. Ryan's president emeritus records, including documents concerning his activities in international affairs and speeches he gave between 1987-2011.

The collection consists primarily of interviews regarding ska music and musicians conducted by Heather Augustyn. Also included in the collection are interview summaries, research files and ephemera, published books and recordings, and photographic prints and slides.

The Mystery Writers of America mss., 1945-2019, consist of the records and correspondence of the Mystery Writers of America, Inc., the leading association for professional crime writers in the United States.

The Breton mss. II, 1946- , consist of literary works acquired through Jean Breton, proprietor of the firm of Librairie Saint-Germain-Des-Pres in Paris. Some of the writings are accompanied by letters and related materials.

Carlos O. Miller was a faculty member within the Department of Biology at Indiana University from 1957 until his retirement in 1987. This collection includes publications, research notes, and correspondence.

The collection consists primarily of interviews and articles regarding radio stations and music in New Orleans, including information about the first African American deejays in New Orleans and the Poppa Stoppa radio program.

The Sadlier, Darlene J. mss., 1946-2013, consist of the audiovisual material, journals, and the published works of Darlene J. Sadlier, a professor for the Indiana University Bloomington Department of Spanish and Portuguese since 1978 and the current director of the Portuguese Program.

The Boyd, J. mss., 1946-2019, consists of the papers, writings, correspondences, keepsakes, and publications of activist and artist Jerry Boyd.

Consists of documentation of the movement to lower the voting age to 18 culminating in ratification of the 26th Amendment to the Constitution in 1971 and of retrospective interviews and discussions of the movement by those who participated in it.

The Smith, W.J. mss., 1947-2007, consists of writings, translations, correspondence, and research materials of poet and translator William Jay Smith, 1918-2015.

The Russian and East European Institute, comprised of several departments at Indiana University, was established in 1958 and is one of the leading area studies centers in the country. The collection consists of funding applications, projects, programs and administrative files related to the institute and it departments.

The Davis, Nathaniel mss., ca. 1947-2010, consists of the papers of diplomat Nathaniel Davis, 1925-2011.