Alvan V. Burch, Sr. papers
Collection — Folder: S192
Identifier: S0192
Scope and Contents
This collection includes a typed, signed letter from Robert E. Richey of the Allen County Republican Club in Fort Wayne, Indiana ranging on March 29, 1945 regarding resolutions demanding that no secret agreements be made without the consent of Congress by the President of the United States or his representative. There are also two sets of check stubs from 1945 to 1946, with one check stub labelled "Rep. State Fund."
Dates
- 1945-1946
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
Alvan Vernon Burch, Sr. was born on May 27, 1886 in a log cabin in Crawford County, Illinois to Jasper and Sarah Burch, the parents of a large and poor family. He completed the 8th grade, according to the 1940 census. He first worked as a switchman, then a railroad dispatcher in Indianapolis, Indiana, as an interurban motorman in Evansville, Indiana, a grocery store owner in Mooresville, Indiana, then sold out and became a farm equipment salesman. He eventually worked for Blunt Plow Company of Evansville as a sales manager, vice president, president (1926), then owner and changed the company name to Burch Plow Company.
In 1921 Indiana Gov. Warren T. McCray appointed him to a six year term as vicechairman of Indiana's first highway commission, later becoming chairman. The commission created Routes 50 and 40 (the National Road), and he envisioned Highway 41, which later connected Michigan to Florida. He was instrumental in getting a bridge across the Ohio River, authorized by both Indiana and Kentucky. Congress authorized it to be a publicly owned bridge, paid for by taxes. He was elected state auditor as a Republican and served from 1944-1948. He also served as a delegate to the Republican National Convention from Indiana in 1944. He ran unsuccessfully as mayor of Evansville, governor of Indiana and for Congress.
He was a member of many organizations, including the Elks, Moose, Masons, Shriners, and Downtown Kiwanis which helped organize the Evansville Association of the Blind, and he was the only male member of the Service Star Legion.
He apparently often gave his birthday year as much as five years younger.
He had three sons, Harold and Gerald, twins, and Alvan Jr., all of whom were executives in the Burch Plow Company. Their mother was Violet Hadley, whom he married on November 6, 1907. His second wife was Janet Beckhan, third wife was Velma Bohier. He was survived by all three women when he died on November 21, 1973.
"Blount Plow Works". Historic Evansville. Retrieved 2014/05/12. http://www.historicevansville.com
"Burch, A.V." (1973, Nov. 21). Evansville Press. p. 1, cols. 1-4 and p.5, cols. 3-5
"Burch, A. V., Sr.". Local History Database. Retrieved 2014/05/12. http://local.evpl.org
"Burch, Alvan." 1920 United States Federal Census. Retrieved 2014/05/12. http://archives.ancestry.com
"Burch, Alvan V." Indiana, Marriage Collection, 1800-1941. Retrieved 2014/05/12. http://archives.ancestry.com
"Burch, Alvan V. Political Graveyard Index of Politicians. Retrieved 2014/05/12. http://politicalgrayard.com/bio/burch.html and http://politicalgrayard.com/geo/IN/ofc/aud.html
"Burch, Alvan Vernon." Browning People Study Notecard. Retrieved 2014/05/12. http://local.evpl.org
"Burch, Alvin." 1900 United States Federal Census. Retrieved 2014/05/12. http://archives.ancestry.com
"Burch, Alvin V.". 1940 United States Federal Census. Retrieved 2014/05/12. http://archives.ancestry.com
In 1921 Indiana Gov. Warren T. McCray appointed him to a six year term as vicechairman of Indiana's first highway commission, later becoming chairman. The commission created Routes 50 and 40 (the National Road), and he envisioned Highway 41, which later connected Michigan to Florida. He was instrumental in getting a bridge across the Ohio River, authorized by both Indiana and Kentucky. Congress authorized it to be a publicly owned bridge, paid for by taxes. He was elected state auditor as a Republican and served from 1944-1948. He also served as a delegate to the Republican National Convention from Indiana in 1944. He ran unsuccessfully as mayor of Evansville, governor of Indiana and for Congress.
He was a member of many organizations, including the Elks, Moose, Masons, Shriners, and Downtown Kiwanis which helped organize the Evansville Association of the Blind, and he was the only male member of the Service Star Legion.
He apparently often gave his birthday year as much as five years younger.
He had three sons, Harold and Gerald, twins, and Alvan Jr., all of whom were executives in the Burch Plow Company. Their mother was Violet Hadley, whom he married on November 6, 1907. His second wife was Janet Beckhan, third wife was Velma Bohier. He was survived by all three women when he died on November 21, 1973.
"Blount Plow Works". Historic Evansville. Retrieved 2014/05/12. http://www.historicevansville.com
"Burch, A.V." (1973, Nov. 21). Evansville Press. p. 1, cols. 1-4 and p.5, cols. 3-5
"Burch, A. V., Sr.". Local History Database. Retrieved 2014/05/12. http://local.evpl.org
"Burch, Alvan." 1920 United States Federal Census. Retrieved 2014/05/12. http://archives.ancestry.com
"Burch, Alvan V." Indiana, Marriage Collection, 1800-1941. Retrieved 2014/05/12. http://archives.ancestry.com
"Burch, Alvan V. Political Graveyard Index of Politicians. Retrieved 2014/05/12. http://politicalgrayard.com/bio/burch.html and http://politicalgrayard.com/geo/IN/ofc/aud.html
"Burch, Alvan Vernon." Browning People Study Notecard. Retrieved 2014/05/12. http://local.evpl.org
"Burch, Alvin." 1900 United States Federal Census. Retrieved 2014/05/12. http://archives.ancestry.com
"Burch, Alvin V.". 1940 United States Federal Census. Retrieved 2014/05/12. http://archives.ancestry.com
Extent
0.01 Cubic Feet (1 folder)
Language of Materials
English
Arrangement
This collection is arranged chronologically.
Custodial History
This collection was received by Rare Books and Manuscripts as a donation.
Accruals
No further additions are expected.
Processing Information
Collection processing completed 2014/05/12 by Edythe Huffman. EAD finding aid created 2014/05/12 by Edythe Huffman.
- Title
- Alvan V. Burch, Sr. papers
- 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
140 North Senate Avenue
Indianapolis, Indiana 46204 U.S.A.
317-232-3671
