Series 2: Porter family papers, 1845-1940, undated
Series
Scope and Contents
From the Collection:
This collection comprises correspondence, papers, accounts, school and organizational papers, pamphlets, periodicals, publications, broadsides, ephemera, and business records from the Porter and Griffin families, as well as their business enterprises, in Corydon, Indiana and the United States, ranging from 1813 to 1983, regarding their lives and businesses, as well as related family and friends, and the history of Harrison County and Indiana.
The collection is organized in eight series which are as follows:
Series 1: William A. Porter papers
This series includes correspondence and legal papers from William A. Porter, ranging from 1813 to 1883. The material is arranged chronologically starting with Porter's personal papers followed by papers from his legal practice, which include pension requests for soldiers from the Revolutionary War, the War of 1812, the Mexican War, and the Civil War. His practice was primarily debt collections, wills and settling estates. His personal papers include school papers from Miami University in Oxford, Ohio, and an invitation to join the alumni of Miami U, as well as programs from other colleges including Indiana Asbury University and Washington College. There are also papers from organizations to which Porter belonged, like Masonic Lodge Pisgah no. 32 and Harrison County Agricultural Society, during and after his college years, and from his career as head of the Harrison County Seminary. Porter's personal correspondence includes letters from and the Hughes family regarding the purchase of the house in Corydon and a request by the citizens of Corydon for Porter to survey the town. There are legal papers and correspondence, receipts, and account registers for the Harrison County Sawmill, and the Corydon Artisan Well Company. Papers from Porter's time in the Indiana General Assembly and his membership in the Whig Party include speeches, and committee reports, and Governor Noble's inaugural address of 1830, in addition to lists of Indiana legislators.
Series 2: Porter family papers
This series comprises correspondence and school papers of the Porter family daughters from 1845 to 1940. The material is arranged chronologically, in order of birth of the daughters. The Porter family papers include the correspondence of Mrs. Elizabeth Porter, Sarah Elizabeth, Anne Dunlap, Viola, Mary Jane, Aurelia, Attia, and Helen Porter, which include many letters from their father William Porter. The Porter sisters received many letters from cousins and friends serving in the Union Army during the U.S. Civil War. Papers from the a Corydon club of young women formed in 1861, defend Corydon if the Rebel forces attacked, are included in this series. Helen Porter’s folder of farm accounts which contains a hand-drawn map of a farm may be found in the oversize papers (Series 6).
Series 3: Griffin family papers
This series is broken into three subseries containing the papers of Patrick Griffin papers, those of miscellaneous members of the Griffin family, and Daniel Patrick Griffin's papers. Patrick Griffin's papers, ranging from 1857 to 1917, comprise his correspondence and papers, including those from the California Gold Rush, his diary of his return trip around the Horn of South America, and guardianship of the Heth children.
The second subseries contains the correspondence and papers Patrick Griffin's siblings, wife, children, and grandchildren, except for Daniel Patrick Griffin. These materials include Daniel F. Griffin's Civil War papers (1861-1866), family history and genealogical materials, and the correspondence and papers of Margaret Porter Griffin (1885-1931); William Maurice Griffin (1889-1917) and his wife and children (1902-1939); Mary Jane Griffn (1885-1958); Olive Griffin (1891-1958); Annis Griffin (1899-1904); Helen Griffin O'Leary (1900-1949); Sarah Griffin (1894-1905); and a few cousins. There are also records concerning local organizations such as Corydon Presbyterian Church and other religious institutions, political parties, clubs, and schools, as well as materials such as programs, ephemera, invitations, photographs, clippings, broadsides, and papers regarding World War I, the 1918 influenza pandemic, Prohibition, and other events.
The third subseries comprises correspondence, school papers, masonic records, and other materials from Daniel Patrick Griffin ranging from 1897 to 1975, including 1903 map of Purdue, dance club programs and letters concerning the train wreck in 1903 in which thirteen Purdue students were killed.
Series 4: Rupp, Bickel, and Moesser family papers
This correspondence, business, and legal papers from the Rupp, Bickel, and Moesser families, ranging from 1841 to 1925. Much of the material is in German and arranged chronologically.
Series 5: Indiana and Harrison County history materials, 1893-1983, undated
This series includes materials about the Indiana centennial and sesquicentennial celebrations, newsletters of the Indiana Historical Commission, information on Harrison County historical sites, and miscellaneous history of Corydon. There is also correspondence involving the Porter-Griffin home as a state historical site.
Series 6: Oversize papers
Includes four oversize folders: broadsides, maps, and advertisements ranging from circa 1828 to 1930 and undated, including three World War I broadsides and another from the Indiana centennial in 1916 (OBC094, Folder 1); certificates and accounts ranging from 1939 to 1988 and undated, including a phrenology chart (1839), business records, and appointment certificates for Daniel F. Griffin during and after the U.S. Civil War, (OBC094, Folder 2); periodicals and clippings, ranging from 1849 to 1966 and undated, including a 1930 issue of Eugenic News (OBC094, Folder 3); and accounts, maps, and broadsides ranging from 1832 to 1918, including a proclamation from Andrew Jackson in 1832, a hand-drawn farm map from Helen Porter Griffin's farm accounts (circa 1884-1895), and a broadside for the Indiana state centennial (OBD070).
Series 7: Griffin family business papers
This series is organized into two subseries: Griffin and McGrain company records and Miscellaneous business papers. The first subseries comprises correspondence, invoices, accounts, checks, and other business records concerning the company, ranging from 1856 to 1893. Some Applegate, McGrain and Co. records appear at the beginning of these records. The second subseries contains some Applegate, McGrain and Co. records and those from some other associated enterprises and individuals. The volumes (Series 8) contain numerous account books, ledgers, daybooks, and other items from these businesses.
Series 8: Volumes
This series comprises 118 volumes, which mainly comprise account books, daybooks, ledgers, and cashbooks, ranging from 1827 to 1917. They are broken into four subseries: Griffin and McGrain business records; Griffin family volumes; Heth, Applegate and Seig records; and miscellaneous account books and volumes.
The collection is organized in eight series which are as follows:
Series 1: William A. Porter papers
This series includes correspondence and legal papers from William A. Porter, ranging from 1813 to 1883. The material is arranged chronologically starting with Porter's personal papers followed by papers from his legal practice, which include pension requests for soldiers from the Revolutionary War, the War of 1812, the Mexican War, and the Civil War. His practice was primarily debt collections, wills and settling estates. His personal papers include school papers from Miami University in Oxford, Ohio, and an invitation to join the alumni of Miami U, as well as programs from other colleges including Indiana Asbury University and Washington College. There are also papers from organizations to which Porter belonged, like Masonic Lodge Pisgah no. 32 and Harrison County Agricultural Society, during and after his college years, and from his career as head of the Harrison County Seminary. Porter's personal correspondence includes letters from and the Hughes family regarding the purchase of the house in Corydon and a request by the citizens of Corydon for Porter to survey the town. There are legal papers and correspondence, receipts, and account registers for the Harrison County Sawmill, and the Corydon Artisan Well Company. Papers from Porter's time in the Indiana General Assembly and his membership in the Whig Party include speeches, and committee reports, and Governor Noble's inaugural address of 1830, in addition to lists of Indiana legislators.
Series 2: Porter family papers
This series comprises correspondence and school papers of the Porter family daughters from 1845 to 1940. The material is arranged chronologically, in order of birth of the daughters. The Porter family papers include the correspondence of Mrs. Elizabeth Porter, Sarah Elizabeth, Anne Dunlap, Viola, Mary Jane, Aurelia, Attia, and Helen Porter, which include many letters from their father William Porter. The Porter sisters received many letters from cousins and friends serving in the Union Army during the U.S. Civil War. Papers from the a Corydon club of young women formed in 1861, defend Corydon if the Rebel forces attacked, are included in this series. Helen Porter’s folder of farm accounts which contains a hand-drawn map of a farm may be found in the oversize papers (Series 6).
Series 3: Griffin family papers
This series is broken into three subseries containing the papers of Patrick Griffin papers, those of miscellaneous members of the Griffin family, and Daniel Patrick Griffin's papers. Patrick Griffin's papers, ranging from 1857 to 1917, comprise his correspondence and papers, including those from the California Gold Rush, his diary of his return trip around the Horn of South America, and guardianship of the Heth children.
The second subseries contains the correspondence and papers Patrick Griffin's siblings, wife, children, and grandchildren, except for Daniel Patrick Griffin. These materials include Daniel F. Griffin's Civil War papers (1861-1866), family history and genealogical materials, and the correspondence and papers of Margaret Porter Griffin (1885-1931); William Maurice Griffin (1889-1917) and his wife and children (1902-1939); Mary Jane Griffn (1885-1958); Olive Griffin (1891-1958); Annis Griffin (1899-1904); Helen Griffin O'Leary (1900-1949); Sarah Griffin (1894-1905); and a few cousins. There are also records concerning local organizations such as Corydon Presbyterian Church and other religious institutions, political parties, clubs, and schools, as well as materials such as programs, ephemera, invitations, photographs, clippings, broadsides, and papers regarding World War I, the 1918 influenza pandemic, Prohibition, and other events.
The third subseries comprises correspondence, school papers, masonic records, and other materials from Daniel Patrick Griffin ranging from 1897 to 1975, including 1903 map of Purdue, dance club programs and letters concerning the train wreck in 1903 in which thirteen Purdue students were killed.
Series 4: Rupp, Bickel, and Moesser family papers
This correspondence, business, and legal papers from the Rupp, Bickel, and Moesser families, ranging from 1841 to 1925. Much of the material is in German and arranged chronologically.
Series 5: Indiana and Harrison County history materials, 1893-1983, undated
This series includes materials about the Indiana centennial and sesquicentennial celebrations, newsletters of the Indiana Historical Commission, information on Harrison County historical sites, and miscellaneous history of Corydon. There is also correspondence involving the Porter-Griffin home as a state historical site.
Series 6: Oversize papers
Includes four oversize folders: broadsides, maps, and advertisements ranging from circa 1828 to 1930 and undated, including three World War I broadsides and another from the Indiana centennial in 1916 (OBC094, Folder 1); certificates and accounts ranging from 1939 to 1988 and undated, including a phrenology chart (1839), business records, and appointment certificates for Daniel F. Griffin during and after the U.S. Civil War, (OBC094, Folder 2); periodicals and clippings, ranging from 1849 to 1966 and undated, including a 1930 issue of Eugenic News (OBC094, Folder 3); and accounts, maps, and broadsides ranging from 1832 to 1918, including a proclamation from Andrew Jackson in 1832, a hand-drawn farm map from Helen Porter Griffin's farm accounts (circa 1884-1895), and a broadside for the Indiana state centennial (OBD070).
Series 7: Griffin family business papers
This series is organized into two subseries: Griffin and McGrain company records and Miscellaneous business papers. The first subseries comprises correspondence, invoices, accounts, checks, and other business records concerning the company, ranging from 1856 to 1893. Some Applegate, McGrain and Co. records appear at the beginning of these records. The second subseries contains some Applegate, McGrain and Co. records and those from some other associated enterprises and individuals. The volumes (Series 8) contain numerous account books, ledgers, daybooks, and other items from these businesses.
Series 8: Volumes
This series comprises 118 volumes, which mainly comprise account books, daybooks, ledgers, and cashbooks, ranging from 1827 to 1917. They are broken into four subseries: Griffin and McGrain business records; Griffin family volumes; Heth, Applegate and Seig records; and miscellaneous account books and volumes.
Dates
- 1813-1983
Language of Materials
From the Collection:
Materials in English and German.
Conditions Governing Access
This collection is open for research.
Extent
From the Collection: 35.9 Cubic Feet (44 manuscript boxes, 3 large oversize folders, 1 extra-large oversize folder, 118 volumes)
Creator
- From the Collection: Brewster, Aurelia Porter, 1842-1919 (Person)
- From the Collection: Griffin, Annis, 1879-1904 (Person)
- From the Collection: Griffin, Charlotte Adaline Rupp, 1882-1961 (Person)
- From the Collection: Griffin, Daniel F., 1833-1865 (Person)
- From the Collection: Griffin, Daniel Patrick, 1885-1975 (Person)
- From the Collection: Griffin, Frederick Porter, 1915-2008 (Person)
- From the Collection: Griffin, Helen Porter, 1844-1940 (Person)
- From the Collection: Griffin, Henry Patrick, 1910-1991 (Person)
- From the Collection: Griffin, Margaret Porter, 1872-1934 (Person)
- From the Collection: Griffin, Mary Jane, 1874-1961 (Person)
- From the Collection: Griffin, Olive, 1876-1958 (Person)
- From the Collection: Griffin, Patrick, 1831-1917 (Person)
- From the Collection: Griffin, William Maurice, 1873-1951 (Person)
- From the Collection: McGrain, Thomas 1835-1908 (Person)
- From the Collection: McKnight, Attia Porter, 1847-1917 (Person)
- From the Collection: O'Leary, Helen Elizabeth Griffin, 1881-1950 (Person)
- From the Collection: Porter, William Anderson, 1800-1884 (Person)
- From the Collection: Griffin family (Family)
- From the Collection: Porter family (Family)
- From the Collection: Maurice Griffin and Company (Corydon, Ind.) (Organization)
- From the Collection: Griffin and McGrain (Corydon, Ind.) (Organization)
Repository Details
Part of the Rare Books and Manuscripts Repository
Contact:
140 North Senate Avenue
Indianapolis, Indiana 46204 U.S.A.
317-232-3671
140 North Senate Avenue
Indianapolis, Indiana 46204 U.S.A.
317-232-3671
