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Martha E. Wright photograph collection

 Collection
Identifier: P032

Scope and Contents

This collection includes photographs, negatives, and postcards from Martha E. Wright in Indianapolis, Indiana ranging from circa 1860 to 1993 and undated regarding individual family members from the Wright, Smythe, and Gill families, family homes, friends, daily life, recreational activities, parades in Indianapolis, industrial scenes, railroads, bridges, and steamboats.

There were also correspondence and papers from Maurie Bailey Wright, Maude Bailey, and Kathryn and Martha Wright ranging from 1898 to 1963 and programs, periodicals, and emphemera from Greencastle High School (1913-1915), Belioit College (1930-1931), and other educational institutions.

Miscellaneous postcards programs, ephemera, publications, and stamp albums and miscellaneou stamp materials, circa 1882-1993 are also found in the collection.

Dates

  • circa 1860-1993, undated

Creator

Conditions Governing Access

This collection is open for research.

Conditions Governing Use

Legal title, copyright, and literary rights reside with Rare Books and Manuscripts, Indiana State Library, Indianapolis, IN. All requests to publish or quote from manuscripts must be submitted to Rare Books and Manuscripts.

Biographical Note

Martha Ellen Wright was born to Howard E. (1901–1981) and Maurie (Bailey) Wright (1899–1974) on September 6, 1934 in Marshall, Parke County, Indiana. She had an older sister, Kathryn Sylvia (1933-1992). Wright attended Clinton Central High School and Arsenal Tech High School. She graduated from Butler University and received her master's in Library Science from Indiana University. Wright worked as a librarian for Indiana State Library for 40 years. She was a member of First Friends Meeting, Indiana State Library Staff Association, Indiana Historical Society, and the Iris Society. Wright enjoyed traveling, photography, and history, as well as national and regional air shows. Wright died on January 16, 2008 in Indianapolis and was buried in Memory Garden Cemetery, Rockville, Indiana.

(Clara) Maurie Bailey was the daughter of Alfred and Maude (also Maud) M. (Smythe) Bailey (1876-1942). Her mother, Maude, was the one of 12 children born to George Virgil and Sarah Elizabeth (Smith) Smythe of Greencastle, Putnam County, Indiana.

Sources:

Ancestry.com. "Maud Smythe." 1880 United States Federal Census. Accessed July 9, 2021. http://wwww.ancestrylibrary.com.

Ancestry.com. "Maud M. Bailey." 1900 United States Federal Census. Accessed July 9, 2021. http://wwww.ancestrylibrary.com.

Ancestry.com. "Martha E. Wright." 1940 United States Federal Census. Accessed July 9, 2021. http://wwww.ancestrylibrary.com.

Ancestry.com. "Martha Ellen Wright." Indiana, U.S., Birth Certificates, 1907-1940. Accessed July 9, 2021. http://wwww.ancestrylibrary.com.

Ancestry.com. "Martha Ellen Wright." Indiana, U.S., Death Certificates, 1899-2011. Accessed July 9, 2021. http://wwww.ancestrylibrary.com.

Findagrave.com. "George Virgil Smythe." Find A Grave Memorial. Accessed July 9, 2021. https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/39050739/george-virgil-smythe.

Findagrave.com. "Martha Ellen Wright." Find A Grave Memorial. Accessed July 9, 2021. https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/146183996/martha-ellen-wright.

"Martha E. Wright." Obituary. Indianapolis Star, January 19, 2008. Accessed July 9, 2021. https://www.legacy.com/us/obituaries/indystar/name/martha-wright-obituary?pid=144834093.

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George Virgial Smythe (1829-1916) was born to Ebenezer (1798–1861) and Elizabeth (Sill) Smythe (1804–1856) in Greencastle, Indiana. He married Sarah Elizabeth Smith (1843-1904) and they had 12 children, including Flora Jane (1861–1924), Walter E. (1862-1900), Herbert E. (1864–1917), Ralph B. (1866-1936), Frederick Henry (1868-1943), Courtland Coffeen (1870–1914), George (1872-1944), Maude M. (1875–1942), Paul (1877-1956), Sarah "Sallie" Pearl (1879-1920), Clyde Lee (1883-1901), and Guy C. (1885–1914). The family lived in the home built by George V. Smythe's father on a farm three miles northeast of Greencastle, Putnam County, Indiana. Smythe was a local Masonic officer. George Virgil Smythe died on April 12, 1916 and was buried in Fillmore Cemetery in Fillmore, Putnam County, Indiana.

Flora Jane Smythe (1861-1924) tended house for her father and brothers in Greencastle, Indiana. She died of chronic nephritis on May 29, 1924 in Greencastle, Indiana and was buried in Fillmore Cemetery.

Walter E. Smythe (1862-1900) married Nancy Elizabeth "Lizzie" Jessup (1867-1907) on September 5, 1888 and they had 4 children: Hazel E. (1890-), Sallie A. (1892-), George Walter (1895-1946), and Ruth (1898-). He died on November 8, 1900 of tuberculosis and was buried in Fillmore Cemetery.

Herbert E. Smythe (1864-1917) died of renal tuberculosis on June 3, 1917 in Greencastle and was buried in Fillmore Cemetery.

Ralph B. Smythe (1866-1936) died on April 26, 1936 in Greencastle and was buried in Fillmore Cemetery.

Frederick Henry "Fred" Smythe (1868-19443) married Maude M. Hampton (1875-1897) in 1895 and they had one son, Jesse Virgil (1896-1972). After her death, he married Sylvia Jane York (1888-1979) on October 22, 1907 and they had 3 children, Robert Edmond (1908-1924), James F. (1913-1981), and Maurie Elizabeth (1919-2009). In 1937, the Smythes lived in Logansport, Indiana and Frederick Smythe worked for the railroad industtry. Their son Robert died of typhoid fever on March 10, 1924 and was buried in Mount Hope Cemetery in Peru, Indiana. Maurie E. Smythe (1919-2009) married Robert Dale Jackson (1917-2007) on June 8, 1940 and lived in Peru, Indiana until their deaths, when they were buried in Mount Hope Cemetery. James Smythe lived in Westminster, California.

George Smythe (1872-1944) married Effie J. Vermillion on December 22, 1900 in Putnam County, Indiana. They had a daughter, Pauline B. (1900-1951), who married Vaughn L. Cunningham and had a daughter, Shirley Patricia, and a son, Gary.

Maude (also Maud) M. Smythe (1876-1942) married Alfred Bailey and they had a daughter, (Clara) Maurie Bailey (1899–1974).

Paul Smythe (1877-1956) married Carrie May Hesson on October 5, 1898 and they had 2 children: Harriet Elizabeth (1909-1988) and Paul Albert (1912-1943). He died on July 27, 1956 and was buried in Maple Grove Cemetery in Boonville, Indiana.

Sarah "Sally" (also Sallie) Pearl Smythe (1879-1920) married Lawrence Manier (1882-1948) on August 10, 1910 in Indiana and they had a son, Edgar Eugene (1916-1973). She died on December 31, 1920 in Indianapolis, Indiana and was buried in Fillmore Cemetery.

Clyde Lee Smythe (1883-1901) died of typhoid fever on August 1, 1901 and was buried in Fillmore Cemetery.

Guy C. Smythe (1885-1914) died of pulmonary tuberculosis on May 15, 1914 and was buried in Fillmore Cemetery.

Sources:

"An Old Timer." Coatesville Hearlad (IN), April 6, 1911, 1. Accessed August 9, 2021. NewspaperArchive.

Ancestry.com. "Clyde Lee Smythe." Indiana, U.S., Death Certificates, 1899-2011. Accessed August 9, 2021. http://wwww.ancestrylibrary.com.

Ancestry.com. "Flora Jane Smythe." Indiana, U.S., Death Certificates, 1899-2011. Accessed August 9, 2021. http://wwww.ancestrylibrary.com.

Ancestry.com. "George Smythe." 1910 United States Federal Census. Accessed August 9, 2021. http://wwww.ancestrylibrary.com.

Ancestry.com. "George Smythe." 1920 United States Federal Census. Accessed August 9, 2021. http://wwww.ancestrylibrary.com.

Ancestry.com. "George Smythe." Indiana, U.S., Marriages, 1810-2001. Accessed August 9, 2021. http://wwww.ancestrylibrary.com.

Ancestry.com. "George V. Smythe." 1860 United States Federal Census. Accessed August 9, 2021. http://wwww.ancestrylibrary.com.

Ancestry.com. "George V. Smythe." 1870 United States Federal Census. Accessed August 9, 2021. http://wwww.ancestrylibrary.com.

Ancestry.com. "George V. Smythe." 1880 United States Federal Census. Accessed August 9, 2021. http://wwww.ancestrylibrary.com.

Ancestry.com. "George V. Smythe." 1900 United States Federal Census. Accessed August 9, 2021. http://wwww.ancestrylibrary.com.

Ancestry.com. "George V. Smythe." 1910 United States Federal Census. Accessed August 9, 2021. http://wwww.ancestrylibrary.com.

Ancestry.com. "Frederick H. Smythe." 1920 United States Federal Census. Accessed August 9, 2021. http://wwww.ancestrylibrary.com.

Ancestry.com. "Frederick Henry Smythe." Indiana, U.S., Marriages, 1810-2001. Accessed August 9, 2021. http://wwww.ancestrylibrary.com.

Ancestry.com. "F. H. Smythe." Ohio, U.S., County Marriage Records, 1774-1993. Accessed August 9, 2021. http://wwww.ancestrylibrary.com.

Ancestry.com. "Fred H. Smythe." U.S., City Directories, 1822-1995. Accessed August 9, 2021. http://wwww.ancestrylibrary.com.

Ancestry.com. "Herbert E. Smythe." Indiana, U.S., Death Certificates, 1899-2011. Accessed August 9, 2021. http://wwww.ancestrylibrary.com.

Ancestry.com. "Maurie Elizabeth Smythe." Indiana, U.S., Birth Certificates, 1907-1940. Accessed August 9, 2021. http://wwww.ancestrylibrary.com.

Ancestry.com. "Paul Smythe." Indiana, U.S., Marriages, 1810-2001. Accessed August 9, 2021. http://wwww.ancestrylibrary.com.

Ancestry.com. "Pauline Smythe." 1940 United States Federal Census. Accessed August 9, 2021. http://wwww.ancestrylibrary.com.

Ancestry.com. "Pauline Smythe." Indiana, U.S., Marriages, 1810-2001. Accessed August 9, 2021. http://wwww.ancestrylibrary.com.

Ancestry.com. "Pearl Manier." 1920 United States Federal Census. Accessed August 9, 2021. http://wwww.ancestrylibrary.com.

Ancestry.com. "Robert Edmond Smythe." Indiana, U.S., Death Certificates, 1899-2011. Accessed August 9, 2021. http://wwww.ancestrylibrary.com.

Ancestry.com. "Sallie Pearl Smythe." Indiana, U.S., Marriages, 1810-2001. Accessed August 9, 2021. http://wwww.ancestrylibrary.com.

Ancestry.com. "Walter E. Smythe." 1900 United States Federal Census. Accessed August 9, 2021. http://wwww.ancestrylibrary.com.

Findagrave.com. "Clyde L. Smythe." Find A Grave Memorial. Accessed August 9, 2021. https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/39050717/clyde-l.-smythe.

Findagrave.com. "George Smythe." Find A Grave Memorial. Accessed August 9, 2021. https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/216200586/george-smythe.

Findagrave.com. "George Virgil Smythe." Find A Grave Memorial. Accessed August 9, 2021. https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/39050739/george-virgil-smythe.

Findagrave.com. "James F. Smythe." Find A Grave Memorial. Accessed August 9, 2021. https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/17215792/james-f.-smythe.

Findagrave.com. "Maurie E. Smythe Jackson." Find A Grave Memorial. Accessed August 9, 2021. https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/37394768/maurie-e.-jackson.

Findagrave.com. "Paul Smythe." Find A Grave Memorial. Accessed August 9, 2021. https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/60036968/paul-smythe.

Findagrave.com. "Ralph B. Smythe." Find A Grave Memorial. Accessed August 9, 2021. https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/38431665/ralph-b.-smythe.

Findagrave.com. "Robert F.[sic] Smythe." Find A Grave Memorial. Accessed August 9, 2021. https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/17216840/robert-f.-smythe.

Findagrave.com. "Sally Pearl Smythe manier." Find A Grave Memorial. Accessed August 9, 2021. https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/38431759/sally-pearl-manier.

Findagrave.com. "Walter E. Smythe." Find A Grave Memorial. Accessed August 9, 2021. https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/39051660/walter-e.-smythe.

"Masonic Officers in Greencastle, 1873." Greencastle Banner (IN), January 2, 1873, 3. Accessed August 9, 2021. NewspaperArchive.

Extent

2.6 Cubic Feet (7 manuscript boxes, 1 volume, 1 oversize folder)

Language of Materials

English

Arrangement

This collection is arranged by subject.

Custodial History

This collection was received by Rare Books and Manuscripts as a donation from Martha E. Wright.

Accruals

No further additions are expected.

Processing Information

Collection processing completed 2021/08/10 by Brittany Kropf. EAD finding aid 2021/07/09 by Brittany Kropf. EAD finding aid revised 2021/08/10 by Brittany Kropf.
Title
Martha E. Wright photograph collection
Status
Completed
Description rules
Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Language of description
English
Script of description
Latin

Repository Details

Part of the Rare Books and Manuscripts Repository

Contact:
140 North Senate Avenue
Indianapolis, Indiana 46204 U.S.A.
317-232-3671