Collections

The Adomeit mss., 2000 BCE - 1995 CE, consists of miniature manuscripts collected by Ruth Elizabeth Adomeit, 1910-1996.

The Allen mss., 800-1972, consists of manuscript pieces collected by William Edward David Allen, 1901-1973, foreign service officer, businessman, and author, and his own writings about Georgian history.

The American literature mss., 1789-2000, consists of an ongoing collection of individual items related to American literature.

This collection consists of American song sheets without music from the mid-19th century.

Immigrants to the United States in the nineteenth century founded organizations that served as social centers, maintained cultural identity, and promoted the ideals and the interests of the immigrants and their American-born descendants. The American Turners is an example of such an organization. Established by German immigrants in 1850, the American Turners advocated a liberal political philosophy and fought to protect both the political rights and the German heritage of the immigrants. The Turners encouraged the practice of exercise and physical fitness, and they convinced school boards in many cities to make physical education a part of the educational curriculum. The American Turner records include annual reports, minutes and correspondence relating to the national officers, correspondence with local societies, national convention minutes and materials, financial and membership records, national committee records, records and materials from national sporting events sponsored by the American Turners, records of the Turner Pioneers and the Women's Auxiliary, Turner publications, and materials from the German Turner movement and other organizations related to the American Turners.

The Ames mss., 1840-1983 consist of the papers, correspondence, photographs, memorabilia and collected items of the Sally Mundy, 1886-1963, her son Richard Ames 1905-1984, and her second husband, author Talbot Mundy 1879-1940.

The Wylie family members represented in this collection are all family or in-laws of Andrew Wylie, Jr., eldest son of Indiana University's first president, Andrew Wylie. The collection consists of correspondence written by Andrew Wylie Jr., his father, his wife, his siblings, aunts and uncles. Also included are letters written by Wylie's father-in-law, Daniel Bryan, other members of the Bryan family, and a few from other individuals.

Andrew Wylie assumed the position as the first president of Indiana College in 1829, and he died on 11 November 1851 of pneumonia which he developed after accidentally cutting his leg while chopping wood. This collection consists of Andrew Wylie's personal papers, and includes records documenting Wylie's tenure at Jefferson and Washington Colleges; correspondence with family and professional colleagues; Wylie's sermons, lectures, and writings; bills, contracts, and receipts relating primarily to building and maintaining the family residence; and biographical information on Wylie.

The Appleton-Century mss., 1846-1962, consists of the office files of the publishing company, its two predecessors, D. Appleton & Co., and the Century Co., and to a small extent its successor, Appleton-Century Crofts, Inc.

The Archer mss., 1838-1940, consists of notes on lectures and papers written by Calvin Beza Kell Archer, 1822-1947, while he was a student at Princeton Seminary (now Hanover College) and Indiana University, 1838-1844.

Arthur R. Metz was a student at Indiana University from 1904-1909 and one of the first recipients of the IU Distinguished Alumni Service Award. He was a doctor who served in multiple capacities including for hospitals, railroads, the military, corporations, and universities and also was a member of many medical organizations. The collection consists of Metz's family records, school materials, personal and professional correspondence, personal photographs, military and travel materials and photographs, magazine and newspaper clippings, medical and organizational publications, and professional certificates. There are also papers and photographs documenting the Metz Foundation and Metz Suite.

The Art mss., 1740-1993, consists of drawings, sketches, etchings, illustrations, and other works of art acquired individually from various artists.

The Ashton mss., 1818-1876, consists of the papers of textile designer William Adolphus Ashton, 1803-1870.

The Atocha mss., 1843-1855, consists of letters sent to businessman Alexander J. Atocha, 1804-1870, during the Mexican-American War.

The Avery, Martha mss., 1800-1970, consist of Mongolian and Tibetan woodblocks and manuscripts collected by Martha Avery.

Avis Tarrant Burke was the wife of Indiana University fine arts professor Robert E. Burke. Avis was active with the IU Extension Division and wrote several articles for its bulletin. Together she and Robert traveled extensively, which served as the subject of articles she wrote for the Bloomington newspaper from 1932-1953. After her husband's death, Avis developed a reputation for her philanthropic work, including her donation of nineteenth-century clothing and eighteenth and nineteenth-century fans to Indiana University, which now comprises a core part of the Elizabeth Sage Costume Collection at IU. The collection consists of correspondence, files on groups and organizations with which Burke was involved, essays, articles, general and travel diaries, as well as a small amount of records from the Tarrant family, including 19th century love letters written to Avis's mother, Avis Booth Tarrant.

The Banta mss., 1836-1888, consists of the papers of James P. Banta, 1814-1873, Civil War soldier of Salem, Indiana, and his wife, Jane P. Lewelling, 1812-.

The Barnhart mss., 1813-1962, consists of the papers of history scholar John Donald Barnhart, 1895-1967.

The Bartholomew mss., 1838-1886, consists of the papers of American businessman, pioneer, and judicial officer Jacob Bartholomew, 1818-1863, and his wife, Emily Ebersole Bartholomew, 1825-1913.

The Batterton, Davies mss., 1847-1848, consists of materials related to Indiana University alumnus Davies Batterton, 1823-1860.

The Bement mss., 1843-1891, consists of the correspondence of Isaac Bush, 1815-1864, farmer of LaPorte County, Indiana, and his wife, Sarah Ann (Bement) Bush, 1821-1891.

The Best mss., 1852-1862, consists of the letters of bricklayer, plasterer, California miner, and farmer A. Jackson Best, 1820-1862.

The Bicknell mss., 1828-1881, consist of the papers of George Augustus Bicknell, 1815-1891, of New Albany, Indiana, professor of law at Indiana University, 1861-1870, and a member of Congress from Indiana, 1877-1881.

The Binford mss., 1837-1871, consists of three ledgers and miscellaneous papers of a Crawfordsville, Indiana, general store operated by William Binford, 1801-1848, and Samuel Binford, 1809-1890.

The Bingham, W. mss., 1752-1891, consist of the correspondence, writings, personal and business papers of American statesman William Bingham, 1752-1804.

The Binkley, Raglind mss., ca. 1450-1842, consist of medieval fragments collected by Thomas and Raglind Binkley.

The Binkley, Raglind mss., 1450-1842, consist of medieval fragments collected by lutenist Thomas Binkley, 1931-1995, and his wife, Raglind Herrel Binkley, 1940-.

The Bissonette mss., 1855-1862, consists of letters and documents of trader and frontiersman Joseph Bisonette, 1814-1894.

The Bissonette mss., 1855-1862, consist of letters and documents primarily of Joseph Bissonette, trader and frontiersman, from Nebraska Territory, relating to claims for losses incurred from depredations committed by the Indians.

The Blackwood mss., 1852-1887, consists of letters to Sir Stevenson Arthur Blackwood, 1832-1893, postal official and reformer, and to his mother, Cecilia Georgiana Byng Blackwood, 1802-1881.

The Blair, M.A.I. mss., 1684-1897, consists of letters and documents collected by art collector and benefactor Mary Anne Italia Mitchell Blair, 1855-1940.

The Blair mss., 1843-1881, consists of letters and papers of Montgomery Blair, 1813-1883, lawyer and postmaster general in the cabinet of President Abraham Lincoln, 1809-1865.

The Blake mss., 1819-1958, consists of letters and documents relating to the Holman family of Aurora, IN.

Collection contains various scrapbooks, publications, yearbooks, reports, and a small amount of correspondence relating to Bloomington, Indiana, and Monroe County.

The Boerner mss., 1779-1828, consist of manuscripts, journals, and correspondence by and relating to German writers Caroline von Wolzogen, Oskar Seidlin, and Friedrich von Schiller, along with related research material from German literary scholar and Goethe researcher Peter Boerner.

The Boone mss., 1791-1868, consists of the letters and papers of lawyer, teacher, merchant, and politician Benjamin Pennebaker Douglass, 1820-1904, and his second wife, Queen Victoria Boone, 1837-1885.

The Boxer mss. II, 1500-1938, consists of manuscripts and documents collected by colonial historian Charles Ralph Boxer, 1904-2000.

The Boxer mss. III, 1647-1999, consists of the correspondence, papers and memorabilia of historian Charles R. Boxer, 1904-2000.

Joseph Bradford began acquiring land in Martinsville, Indiana, in the mid-1800s. The Bradford Sand Mining Company was founded by Joseph's son, Perry Bradford, in 1877 in Morgan County, Indiana. The family business was passed on to Albert and John Bradford in the early 1900s. It remained in the family until 1938 when John Bradford deeded 900 acres of the Bradford property to Indiana University. This property is currently known as the Bradford Woods. The Bradford family papers span 1831-1941 and consist of various financial and business records related to their property, as well as documentation of family history and family correspondence. The correspondence primarily dates from 1898 and consists largely of letters written to the Bradfords by Eliza (Bradford) and husband Dr. Grant Monical from Camp George in Georgia and later Cuba where Grant was a Captain in the Spanish-American War.

The Bright mss., 1832-1873, are mainly letters from, to, and about Jesse David Bright, 1812-1875, U.S. senator. The collection is made up of reproductions (i.e. photostats, typescripts, xerox copies, and microfilms), of material in other libraries, collected by Wayne J. Van der Weele for his doctoral dissertation "Jesse David Bright, master politician from the Old Northwest," at Indiana University, 1958.

The Brooks mss., 1838-1845, consist of letters to Thomas Jefferson Brooks at Mt. Pleasant, Martin County, Indiana, from John Bell of Louisville, Kentucky, agent for trustees of Bell Evans Co., Daniel Hunt of Boston, Massachusetts, David Jones of Belleville, Illinois, Nancy Newell of Pittsford, Virginia, George Brown, Henry B. Shields, Thomas Lacy Smith, and Charles Woodruff of New Albany, Indiana; and to Lewis Brooks at New Albany, Indiana, from Rufus Brown of Mt. Pleasant, Indiana.

The Brown county, Ind., History mss., 1858-1889, consist of election records, school records, bids for paupers, service on roads receipts, and other items, for Johnson township, Brown County, Indiana.

The Browning mss., ca. 1846-1878, consist primarily of letters from poets Elizabeth Barrett Browning, 1806-1861, and Robert Browning, 1812-1889, to Sarianna Browning, 1814-1903, Robert Browning's sister.

The Bruce mss., 1857-1873, consist of correspondence from Alexander H.B. Bruce, Executive Officer, British Army, India, and from his wife Lizzy, to Alex's sister Jane, about the Sepoy Rebellion of 1857-1858.

The Bryan mss., 1849-1863, are chiefly the letters of George Washington Bryan, 1825-1893, physician, exchanged with his wife, Alice (Calhoun) Bryan, during his period of service in 1862-63 with the Union forces along the Mississippi River on the steamers Glasgow, the Tigress, the P. J. Pringle, and at Young's Point, Louisiana.

The Bulwer-Lytton mss., 1827-1872, consist of letters of Edward George Earle Lytton, Lord Bulwer-Lytton, 1803-1873, author.

The Burnham mss., 1848-1977, consist of the papers of Indiana University administrator, Walter Erastus Burnham, 1905-1980, and of his parents, grandparents and other family members.

The Butler mss., 1835-1937, includes papers, 1877-1937, of Amos William Butler, 1860-1937, zoologist, anthropologist, and sociologist, and a few papers, 1835-1871, of his father, William Wallace Butler, 1810-1903, merchant and farmer.

Consists of the papers of Charles Willing Byrd. A member of the prominent Virginia family of that name, Byrd became deeply interested in the Shaker movement, and one of his sons, William Silonwe Byrd, joined the Shaker community at Pleasant Hill, Kentucky. For the years 1826-1828, a considerable portion of the collection consists of letters from this son, dealing with the beliefs of the Shakers and the affairs of Pleasant Hill. The collection also includes letters to Charles Willing Byrd from members of his family, in regard to family matters. Letters from an aunt refer to the death of Washington and to conditions in Philadelphia during the War of 1812. Some light on medical practices of the day is given in letters, 1826-1828, to Byrd from his physicians, prescribing treatment for him.

The Byrnes mss., 1856-1904, consists of papers collected by Robert Francis Byrnes, 1917-1997, historian, for his book Pobedonost͡sev, Bloomington, London, Indiana University Press, 1968, consisting of correspondence of Konstantin Petrovich Pobedonost͡sev, 1827-1907, statesman.

The Byron mss., 1816-1858, consist of letters, documents, drawings and prints of and related to Lord George Gordon Noel Byron, 1788-1824, poet.

The Cammack mss. consists of letters and documents, 1823-1894, of the Cammack and Robinson families, Quakers in Indiana.

The Carroll L. Lurding Library of College Fraternity and Sorority Materials mss., ca 1840-2014, consist of books, pamphlets, histories, yearbooks, and other bound volumes detailing the history of fraternities, sororities, colleges, and universities from all 50 states and the District of Columbia in the United States as well as some colleges in Canada.

This collection consists of the family papers of Indiana University professor Cecilia Hennel Hendricks spanning the period from 1839 through 1970. Included are papers relating to the academic careers of Cecilia, Associate Professor of English, and her sister Cora, Professor of Mathematics at Indiana University, as well as manuscripts and writings by both women. Also found in the collection are papers and correspondence of family members: father Joseph B. Hennel, mother Anna M. Thuman Hennel, Cecilia's husband John Hendricks, and sister Edith Hennel Ellis.

The Champ mss., 1836-1931, consists of the papers of Indiana physician, businessman, and postmaster George W. Champ, 1830-1905.

The Champney sketches mss. consists of drawings of the post-Civil War South by painter and illustrator James Wells Champney, 1843-1903, made for articles written by Edward Smith King, 1848-1896, author and journalist.

Chase C. Mooney was a professor of history at Indiana University. After receiving his Ph.D. from Vanderbilt University in 1939, Chase Curran Mooney began his teaching career at Brenau College in 1939. In 1946 he joined the history faculty at Indiana University, where he remained until his death in 1973. As a distinguished member of the faculty, Mooney participated in numerous history department committees and successfully worked to bring the Journal of American History to IU in 1963. With research interests focusing upon African Americans, the U.S. Civil War, and the history of the American South, he produced numerous book reviews, articles, and two major monographs, Slavery in Tennessee in 1957 and William H. Crawford, 1772-1834 which was released posthumously in 1974. Mooney's papers contain student files, correspondence, research and manuscripts relating to his publications, including Slavery in Tennessee and William H. Crawford, teaching files, files relating to committees at Indiana University, and subject files all relating primarily to his work as a professor and to his research interests.

The Cinti-Damoreau mss., 1827-1856, consists of letters and a contract of singer and composer Mme. Laure (Cinthie Montalant)Cinti-Damoreau, 1801-1863, who resided much of her life in Paris, France.

The Cinti-Damoreau mss. II, 1844, consists of an autograph letter signed by Mme. Laure (Cinthie Montalant) Cinti-Damoreau, addressed to "O. Moran Esq."

The Clay mss., 1812-1849, consists of a collection of political letters of congressman, U.S. senator, and secretary of state Henry Clay , 1777-1852.

The Cleghorn mss., 1826-1893, consists of correspondence and papers of Indian trader William W. Cleghorn, 1815-1878, and material pertaining to his estate.

The Coleridge mss., 1812-1871, consist of primarily correspondence from Samuel Taylor Coleridge, 1772-1834.

The Coleridge mss., 1812-1871, consists of primarily correspondence from Samuel Taylor Coleridge, 1772-1834.

The Colfax mss., 1853-1884, consists of the papers of South Bend, Indiana, newspaperman, speaker of the House of Representatives, and vice-president of the United States Schuyler Colfax, 1823-1885.

The Colfax mss. II collection consists of letters, 1856-1876, from Schuyler Colfax to various people.

The Cookery mss., circa 1660–circa 1918, consists of bound and individual writings, often on the topic of cookery, of persons involved with cooking by practice or trade.

The Cook mss., 1850-1877, consists of letters from David S. Cook in California to his family and friends in Illinois, and letters to James Willson Temple, 1828- , farmer, writer, from his family in Illinois while he was in California.

The Corbacho/Pezet mss., circa 1853-1946, consists of manuscripts, correspondence, photos and related ephemeral material covering a variety of topics, with a significant emphasis on U.S.-Peruvian relations from 1853-1929, as well as important diplomatic letters relative to the War of the Pacific (1879-1884).

The Cosey mss., 1835-1847, consists of forgeries of Edgar Allan Poe, 1809-1849, by printer and forger Joseph Cosey, 1887-1950.

The Cranstone Sketches mss., 1859-1860, consists of a series of 296 sketches, including 16 panoramas, in pen and ink and wash by Lefevre J. Cranstone, depicting a visit to the United States, September 1, 1859-June 1860.

The Cravens mss., 1850-1872, consists of the correspondence and papers of farmer, soldier, Indiana legislator, and U.S. congressman James Addison Cravens, 1818-1893.

The Crawford mss., 1849-1864, consists of letters and papers of captain, Quartermaster's department, United States volunteers, and member of the Oregon legislature Medorem Crawford, 1819-1891.

The Crull mss., 1835-1904, consists of letters and documents relating to the Crull family of Hamilton County, Indiana.

The Cumback mss., 1835-1904, consists of the correspondence of Indiana congressman Will Cumback, 1829-1905.

Judge David D. Banta was an instructor in the School of Law at Indiana University as well as an officer of the Indiana University Board of Trustees. This collection consists of three series and is largely comprised of manuscripts of Banta's history of Indiana University.

David F. Finley was a Monroe County, Indiana, businessman and landowner during the nineteenth century. His papers are organized into six series: Property records; Tax records and appraisments; Receipts; Correspondence; County highway and building records; and Subject files. Information about Finley's Indiana and Kansas properties is most prominent in the collection.

The David Hovde Civil War Tract Collection contains mostly tract publications from the American Tract Society, the American Sunday School Union, the American Bible Society, and similar nonprofit organizations during the American Civil War. The tracts were used to promote moral and spiritual uplift for soldiers and sailors and to inspire patriotism.

The Davis mss., 1814-1902, consists of the letters and papers of Emily Davis, teacher and Quaker, of Liberty, Indiana.

The Day mss., 1855-1906, consists of letters and papers of Silas J. Day, first lieutenant, Company G, 2nd regiment, Oregon mounted volunteers.

The Day, S. mss., 1857-1895, consists primarily of a diary and related papers of Civil War soldier Samuel Day.

The Dearborn County, Ind. mss., 1826-1871, consists of nine volumes of court dockets and miscellaneous papers related to the history of Dearborn County, Indiana.

The Dixon mss., 1845-1876, consists of letters to William Hepworth Dixon, 1821-1879, historian, traveler, and editor of the Athenaeum from January 1853 to August 1869.

The Dobell mss., 1849-1947, consists of personal letters written by Sydney Thompson Dobell, 1824-1874, poet, to friends, and a few by friends about Dobell.

The Dodd, Mead mss., 1855-1992, consists of the author/translator agreements, correspondence, and copyright statements of publisher Dodd, Mead & Company.

The Drake mss., 1848-1849, consists of the letters of physician Daniel Drake, 1785-1852, to his children, copied by U.S. senator Charles Daniel Drake, 1811-1892.

The Draper mss., 1780-1854, consists of photostats of documents in the State Historical Society of Wisconsin, Madison, Wisconsin, assembled by historian Lyman Copeland Draper, 1815-1891.

The Dunihue mss., 1821-1899, consists of papers of Alexander H. Dunihue, 1807-1891, merchant of Bedford, Ind., and his brother, Daniel R. Dunihue, 1812-1887, cashier of the Bedford branch of the Indiana State Bank and operator of a summer resort at Indian Springs, eighteen miles west of Bedford.

A prominent family in the Bloomington community, Indiana University purchased land from the Dunn family in order to relocate the university to its current site after the devastating fire of 1883 at the Seminary Square location. Family members represented in this collection include George Grundy Dunn Sr., Moses Fell Dunn, and William McKee Dunn. The collection includes correspondence, writings, deeds and other real estate documents, insurance contracts, miscellaneous receipts, cemetery drawings and plot plans for Dunn Cemetery, located on the I.U. Bloomington campus, and family photos.

The Dunn mss., 1834-1850, consists of the papers of George Grundy Dunn, 1812-1857, lawyer and congressman of Bedford, Indiana.

The Dunn mss. II, 1831-1864, consists of the papers of George Grundy Dunn, 1812-1857, lawyer and congressman of Bedford, Indiana.

Ecuadorian Imprints, 1825-1849, consists of broadsides, periodicals, and pamphlets from the Mendel Collection.

The Edgeworthalean Society was a ladies' literary society founded in 1841 by twelve women of Monroe County in Bloomington, Indiana, and was named after the English author, Maria Edgeworth. The goal of the society was to cultivate and improve the minds of the women through recitations, composition arguments, reading, writing, diction, analyzing sentences, and so on. Each meeting a question for debate was posed and roles assigned for the next meeting. The society met on a weekly basis in the Monroe County Female Seminary which was founded for women in 1818. The date of the last recorded meeting minutes was June 14, 1844. There is no indication of why the society ended. The collection consists of one minute book containing the society's constitution, by-laws, and meeting minutes.

The Ege mss. II, 1240-1923, consists of Otto Ege's Original Leaves from Famous Books - Eight Centuries portfolio of leaves collected from books deemed historically significant.

​The Eigenmann mss., 1851-1971, consists of the papers of Carl H. Eigenmann, 1863-1927, ichthyologist, and his wife, Rosa Smith Eigenmann, 1858-1947, ichthyologist.

The Elliott, J.B. mss., 1851-1853, are letters written by and to John Bennett Elliott, 1836-1904, student at Indiana University, 1852-1853, and later farmer and fruit grower of Harmony Township, Posey County, Indiana.

The Ellison mss., 1790-1949, consist of materials compiled by Robert Spurrier Ellison.

The Ellison mss. II, 1857-1940, consist of copies of articles, talks, extracts, etc. that were duplicates in the Ellison collection at the Harold B. Lee Library of Brigham Young University in Provo, Utah.

The Ellsworth mss., 1843-1874, consists of the papers of Stukely Ellsworth, -1876, lawyer.

The English History mss. is a miscellaneous collection of manuscripts in English history.

The English legal documents, 1510-1858, consist of mortgages, deeds, indentures, wills, leases, marriage settlements and contracts and powers of attorney.