s ly 7^ LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 014 751 763 4 INDIANA HISTORICAL SURVEY UNDER THE DIRECTION OF THE DEPARTMENT OF HISTORY AND POLITICAL SCIENCE OF INDIANA UNIVERSITY Purpose.— The purpose of this Survey is threefold: (1) The conectiou, catalotruinii-. and i)reservation of manuseript and printed materials relating to the history of the State of Indiana. (2) The editing and publishing, so far as practiea])le, of the most important source materials. (3) The preparation and publication of a series of monographic studies on the history of the State with a view to a worthy celebration in 1916 of the first centennial of its political existence. Needof Such Work.— Our neighboring States. Wisconsin. Mich- igan and Ohio, have published scores of volumes of source materials for their State histories. Illinois now has under way a historical survey, conducted by its State University, Avhich in breadth of plan, thoroughness of organization, and extent of resources, promises to surpass anything that has been done for any State west of the Allegheny [Mountains. The history of Indiana has l>een a notable one.^and it is believed that the State feeling of our citizens is as strong as elsewhere; yet so far little has been done in the way of collecting and preserving the materials for its history. The manu- script materials for the territorial period were carted off and sold as waste paper during the building of the present State House. A full set of the published State laws, which are now so rare as to have a market value of .$1,500, was burned not long ago as old .iuiik. :\Iany good collections of old papers and letters are known to have bi^en recently destroyed. Files of Indiana newspapeis. and similar materials, have been sent out of the State to institutions elsewhere. The State Historical Library of Wisconsin pessesses a better col- lection of Indiana historical sources than can be found anywhere in Indiana. Harvard and Columbia universities have standing orders with dealers for the purchase of Indiana source materials. Unless a strenuous effort is made nmv, many valuable documents and publications will soon disappear, or be lost to the State of In- diana. What is Wanted.— Old Indiana newspapers, and books, pam- phlets, and other publications of all sorts by Indiana authors or about Indiana, are among the materials desired. We especially want to secure letters or records of the work of early preachers, farmers, merchants, teachers, doctors, lawyers, and politicians. The Survey proposes to collect materials for a brief, accurate biography of every man or woman who has achieved a State reputation, or who has served the State in an official capacity. It is preparing an historical newspaper directory which proposes to give a brief ac- count of the career of every newspaper ever published in the State ; and any information concerning papers or editors will be welcomed. An annotated bibliography will be issued of all literary works pub- lished by Indiana authors. It is hoped that arrangements can be made for beginning the publication of a series of volumes com- piled from the State archives, which will contain the chief unpub- lished documentary materials relating to the State. Any person prssessing papers or materials of any sort which will assist in this work is invited to correspond with members of the Survey. Mate- rials which the owner may regard as having no value may be highly important for the purposes of the historian. Gift or Loan of Materials. — The Survey will welcome especially gifts of materials which will aid it in its work, and persons making such will be doing a patriotic service to the State. Loans of mate- rials, where gift is not practicable, will also be welcomed. The State University has a fire-proof library where such materials will be safely stored; and persons having valuable collections, with which they are unwilling permanently to part, can have the assur- ance that they will be kept safely here, under lock and key, and subject to recall at any time. Where owners are unwilling to de- posit materials for indefinite custody, arrangements will be made to b.ave them copied and the originals returned to the owner. If neither of these arrangements is suitable, the Survey would like the privilege of copying the documents, at its own expense, at the home of the owner. Owing to present lack of funds, purchase in most cases will not be practit-ablc. <*. tfcie Institution •f 1fashinft«n 1913 Co-operation. — The success of this imdertaUing will of course depend upon the loyalty with which citizens of Indiana co-operate with the Survey. Tiie assistance of all orc^anizations and persons interested in the history of the State is earnestly desired. It is hoped that at an early date a wider organization, in which will l)e included all prominent workers in the field of Indiana history, can be effected. Public Addresses. — -Arrangements can be made for a speaker to address meetings organized to further interest in Indiana history and in the work of the Survey. The cost will not exceed the trav- eling and hotel expenses of the speaker. Correspondence should be addressed to the Secretary of the Indiana Historical Survey, Bloom- ington. Indiana University. June 24. 1912. LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 014 751 763 4 LIBRAF OC \ LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 014 751 763 4