Collections

Philosophy has been taught at Indiana University since its founding, but it was not until 1929 that the Department of Philosophy was officially established as an independent department. This collection consists of administrative records, many having to do with the department's involvement in the Committee on Institutional Cooperation. There are also class descriptions and schedules, departmental reviews, papers relating to the Ewing Essay Prize, staff meeting minutes and agendas, and other miscellaneous records.

Lawrence M. Langer was a physics professor at Indiana University. Aside from Langer's work as an IU faculty member, Langer is widely known for his work on the atomic bomb that was dropped on the city of Hiroshima. The Langer papers represent much of Langer's life during World War II but also features projects and publications that he worked on throughout his career as a physicist.

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.

The Tynan, Kenneth mss., 1939-2001, consists of manuscript diaries of director and theater personality Kenneth Tynan (1927-1980).

Martha Lipton was a prolific performer at the New York Metropolitan Opera as a mezzo-soprano for sixteen seasons. She was a soloist who sang under the direction of many renowned conductors before coming to Indiana University Bloomington as a Professor of Voice in 1960. This collection contains professional promotional materials, clippings and performance programs spanning her career.

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.

Thomas Sebeok (1920-2001) was an internationally renowned semiotician who taught at Indiana University from 1943 to 2001. This collection documents Sebeok's career at Indiana University and contains correspondence, subject files, publications, research and grant materials, and departmental and committee records.

The Depréaux mss., circa 1940–2004, consists primarily of a diary written by Marie Louise (Brent) Depréaux in Paris during the German occupation.

The Money collection includes professional correspondence (1950-2004); lectures, presentations, and audiovisual materials (1960s-2004); articles and clippings (1973-2000); including thousands of reprints and pamphlets on a broad range of sex education and research topics, scientific journals and erotic magazines (1940s-2000); a complete holding of his manuscripts and publications; scientific, erotic and pornographic journals and magazines (1949-1985); conference programs and papers, photo albums, and information, and materials relating to sex research organizations and conferences.

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.

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 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.

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 McGreevey mss., ca. 1942–1972, consist of the correspondence and writings of John William McGreevey, 1922‑2010.

Jack "The Rapper" Gibson was a pioneer in Black radio, as well as an innovator, a leader, and a mentor to many in the radio and music industries. His work as a Black radio deejay spanned the early days of Black radio in the 1940s through the Civil Rights Movement, and included stints at WERD-Atlanta, WLOU-Louisville, WMBM-Miami, WCIN-Cincinnati, and WABQ-Cleveland. After retiring from radio in 1961, he became a successful music industry executive working for Motown, Decca, and Stax Records. In 1976, he launched the industry magazine Jack the Rapper, the oldest Black trade publication targeted to radio, and for the next twenty years organized the annual "Jack the Rapper's Family Affair," a Black music convention drawing generations of performers and music industry executives. His professionalism, continuous fight for racial equality and justice, and endearing human qualities made him a legend in the industry. This collection documents his long career in radio and music through personal correspondence, clippings, memorabilia, photographs, publicity materials, airchecks, interviews, lecture materials, and over 500 issues of his trade magazine "Jack the Rapper's Mello Yello."

Folklore and Ethnomusicology Publications, Inc. was created in 1988 as the umbrella organization for four Indiana University Folklore Institute student publications groups. It encompasses Folklore Forum Society, Folklore Publications Group, Trickster Press, and Ethnomusicology Publications Group. This collection contains mostly articles submitted for publication in the various Folklore and Ethnomusicology publications as well as the journals produced by the different titles.

Since its inception, the Government Publications Department (GPD) at Indiana University has aimed to offer free access of government publications and other information to the general public. The GPD, now known as Government Information and Kent Cooper Services, houses records from city, county, state and federal governments, as well as many publications from foreign governments and international organizations. The collection consists of correspondence, reports, statistics, policy changes, and other information regarding GPD administration.

The Bell mss., 1942-2006, consists of the correspondence, writings, and printer's proofs of the works of author Charles Greenleaf Bell, 1916-2010.

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 Wrancher, Elizabeth mss., 1943-2002, consist of correspondence, photographs, printed material, and personal ephemera related to opera singer Elizabeth Wrancher.

Eugene Chen Eoyang is Professor Emeritus of Comparative Literature and of East Asian Languages and Cultures and was a member of the Indiana University faculty from 1966-2002. Collection consists of papers from his time teaching at Indiana University, as well as papers of his own areas of research and professional projects.

The Corman mss. III, 1943-2004, consists of the papers of poet, translator and editor Cid Corman, 1924-2004.

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.

A. Peter Brown served as a member of the musicology faculty at the Indiana University School of Music from 1974 until his death in 2003. Brown's name is most closely associated with that of the composer Josef Haydn, on whom Brown wrote and co-authored no less than four books, as well as the critical score for Haydn's Die Schöpfung. Representing the whole of his scholarly career, this collection includes materials from Brown's time as a doctoral student, and as a scholar and teacher, comprised of correspondence, teaching files, grants materials, and research and writing files. Brown's research files make up the bulk of the collection.

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 Moody, Carol mss, ca. 1945-1951, documents the creation and work of Quizdown, a highly popular and successful radio show which was also shown on television.

Samuel Fiszman was a professor in the Indiana University Department of Slavic Languages and Literatures from 1970 until 1985. His research interests focused on Polish and Russian literature. The collection consists of teaching materials and publications, as well as correspondence related to these endeavors.

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.

Includes offprints of articles, including book reviews, written by C. R. Boxer.