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John S. Benham collection

 Collection — Folder: S0104
Identifier: S0104

Scope and Contents

The collection contains correspondence, pamphlets, a questionnaire about Benham’s family, a photograph with Will H. Mays, an expense sheet, and newspaper clippings about his time in Washington D.C. and local editorials about whether or not to re-elect him.

Dates

  • 1916-1934

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

John Samuel Benham was born in Ripley County, Indiana on October 24, 1863 to John Benham and Mary-Jane Benefiel-Benham. He attended Indiana State Normal School and Indiana University and taught in various teaching positions from 1889-1907. In 1907 he became engaged in the timber milling and contracting business. Benham was twice married, and had three children, Merlin Isaac born 1892 (d. 1893) and John Stanton born 1894 (d. 1896) with Emma and Catherine Frances born 1922 with Bertha.

John Benham was also involved in politics. He was appointed delegate to the Republican national Convention in 1916, and was elected to the Sixty-sixth and Sixty-seventh Congresses (March 4, 1919- March 3, 1923) where he served as chairman of the Committee on Expenditures on Public Buildings. Following a career in politics, he moved to Batesville, and re-involved himself in contracting and became the superintendent of schools for Riley County schools. He retired from active business in 1931 and resided in Batesville until his death on December 11, 1935.

Sources:

Information Found within Collection

"Congress Biographical Directory." http://bioguide.congress.gov/biosearch/biosearch.asp (accessed January 16, 2013).

Extent

0.01 Cubic Feet (1 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 Catherine Benham on 1965/09/27.

Accruals

No further additions are expected.

Item Listing:

2/12/1920 Letter to constituent; 7/13/1922 Letter and envelope from James E. Watson to Benham; 11/19/1925 Letter from Fredrick E. Schortemeier to Benham; 12/13/1926 Pamphlet and envelope with poem and photograph of Ross Alley; 1934 Questionnaire about descendants of James Benham II; n.d. Expense report for General Election; 10/10/16 John S. Benham with Will H. Hays; News Clippings (various dates)

Processing Information

Collection processing and finding aid completed by Sarah Pfundstein during January 2013. EAD finding aid completed by Bethany Fiechter on 2018/05/11.
Title
John S. Benham collection
Status
Completed
Description rules
Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Language of description
Undetermined
Script of description
Code for undetermined script

Repository Details

Part of the Rare Books and Manuscripts Repository

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