Frederick, Robert A. mss.

Collection of Robert A. Frederick regarding Colonel Richard Lieber at the Lilly Library, Indiana University

Finding aid created by Ava Dickerson

Creator: Frederick, Robert A.
Title: Frederick, Robert A. mss.
Collection No.: LMC 2871
Dates: dates unknown
Quantity:

Quantity: 21 Boxes

Abstract: The Frederick, Robert A. mss., dates unknown, consist of photographs, clippings, scrapbooks, and research materials gathered and written by historian Robert A. Frederick about conservationist Richard Lieber.
Location: ALF (Auxiliary Library Facility)
Language: English .
Repository: Lilly Library
1200 E. Seventh St.
Bloomington, Indiana 47405-5500
Business Number: 812-855-2452
liblilly@indiana.edu
URL: https://libraries.indiana.edu/lilly-library

Biographical Note

Robert A. Frederick is a historian with an interest in Colonel Richard Lieber, who played a significant role in creating and shaping both the Indiana State Park System and the national park system. His dissertation, "Colonel Richard Lieber, Conservationist and Park Builder: The Indiana Years," completed as part of his history doctorate at Indiana University, sparked his lifelong interest in Lieber.

Richard Lieber, 1869-1944, was a German-American businessman and conservationist. In his early 20's, he settled in Indianapolis, Indiana; his first American job was reporting for the Indiana Tribune. His extensive travels throughout the American West inspired his passion for parks, both national and state. Lieber began acquiring park spaces throughout Indiana in 1916 with private funds, serving as chairman to the State Parks Committee which he had pushed Governor Samuel M. Ralston to create. He became Conservation Commission Chairman in 1919, leading the Department of Conservation that he had convinced Governor Goodrich to create. The Indiana park system, which Lieber was significantly responsible for building and maintaining, became a model for other parks throughout America.

Scope and Contents

The collection consists of photographs, clippings, scrapbooks, and research materials about Lieber gathered by Frederick with the intent of writing a monograph about Lieber's impact on the parks system. Frederick interviewed Lieber's only daughter, Dr. Jeanette Lieber Baker, in the 1980's, at which time Baker gifted a sizeable amount of family memorabilia (scrapbooks, clippings, photographs) that are included in the collection.

Arrangement

The collection is arranged following original order.

Restrictions

Conditions Governing Access:

This collection is open for research.

Many collections are housed offsite; retrieval requires advance notice. Please make an appointment a minimum of one week in advance of your visit.

Conditions Governing Use:

Photography and digitization may be restricted for some collections. Copyright restrictions may apply. Before publishing, researchers are responsible for securing permission from all applicable rights holders, then filling out the Permission to Publish form.

Related Materials

See Lieber mss., Lieber Committee mss., and Ralston, S. M. mss., also located at the Lilly Library, Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana.

Indexed Terms

Administrative Information

Preferred Citation

[Item], Frederick, Robert A. mss., Lilly Library, Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana.

Immediate Source of Acquisition

Gift: 2011

Collection Inventory

Box 18
Photographs
Box 19
Scrapbook in memoriam, Richard Lieber
Box 20
Typed mss extract from a speech given by Lieber , 1912
Box 21
Bound scrapbook memorial to Lieber , 1940-1944