William Herschell history and sheet music
Collection — Multiple Containers
Identifier: S0646
Scope and Contents
This collection includes a history of the Indianapolis Gazette and handwritten sheet music from William Herschell in Indianapolis, Indiana, ranging from 1916 to 1943, regarding his work as a poet and journalist.
Dates
- 1916-1943
Creator
- Herschell, William Miller, 1873-1939 (Person)
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 / Historical
William Miller Herschell was born to Martha (Leithch) (1850–1882) and John Todd Herschell (1848–1914), both Scottish immigrants, on November 17, 1873 in Spencer, Indiana. Herschell worked as a railroad machinist, but after losing his job due to a failed strike, he transitioned to a career in journalism. Living in Indianapolis by 1900, Herschell worked for several small newspapers before obtained a position at the Indianapolis Journal where he worked for 37 years. He married Josephine Pugh (1875–1968) on June 3, 1908 in Indianapolis.
Herschell also published 7 books of poetry, the first of which, Songs of the Streets and Byways, was printed in 1915. During World War I, Barclay Walker set Herschell's popular poem, "Long Boy," to music, which proved to be incredibly well-received. One of his most famous works is the poem, " Ain't God Good to Indiana?" Herschell died on December 22, 1939 and was buried in Crown Hill Cemetery in Indianapolis. After his death, Josephine Herschell compiled his last book of poetry, publishing Song of the Morning and Other Poems posthumously in 1940.
Sources:
Ancestry.com. "William M. Herschell." 1900 United States Federal Census. Accessed June 9, 2022. http://www.ancestrylibrary.com.
Ancestry.com. "William M. Herschell." 1910 United States Federal Census. Accessed June 9, 2022. http://www.ancestrylibrary.com.
Ancestry.com. "William M. Herschell." 1920 United States Federal Census. Accessed June 9, 2022. http://www.ancestrylibrary.com.
Ancestry.com. "William M. Herschell." 1930 United States Federal Census. Accessed June 9, 2022. http://www.ancestrylibrary.com.
Ancestry.com. "William M. Herschell." Indiana, U.S., Select Marriages Index, 1748-1993. Accessed June 9, 2022. http://www.ancestrylibrary.com.
Ancestry.com. "William M. Herschell." U.S., World War I Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918. Accessed June 9, 2022. http://www.ancestrylibrary.com.
Boomhower, Ray. "William Miller Herschell." Encyclopedia of Indianapolis, 1994. Accessed June 9, 2022. https://indyencyclopedia.org/william-miller-herschell.
Findagrave.com. "William Miller Herschell." Find a Grave Memorial. Accessed June 9, 2022. https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/45945177/william-miller-herschell.
Herschell also published 7 books of poetry, the first of which, Songs of the Streets and Byways, was printed in 1915. During World War I, Barclay Walker set Herschell's popular poem, "Long Boy," to music, which proved to be incredibly well-received. One of his most famous works is the poem, " Ain't God Good to Indiana?" Herschell died on December 22, 1939 and was buried in Crown Hill Cemetery in Indianapolis. After his death, Josephine Herschell compiled his last book of poetry, publishing Song of the Morning and Other Poems posthumously in 1940.
Sources:
Ancestry.com. "William M. Herschell." 1900 United States Federal Census. Accessed June 9, 2022. http://www.ancestrylibrary.com.
Ancestry.com. "William M. Herschell." 1910 United States Federal Census. Accessed June 9, 2022. http://www.ancestrylibrary.com.
Ancestry.com. "William M. Herschell." 1920 United States Federal Census. Accessed June 9, 2022. http://www.ancestrylibrary.com.
Ancestry.com. "William M. Herschell." 1930 United States Federal Census. Accessed June 9, 2022. http://www.ancestrylibrary.com.
Ancestry.com. "William M. Herschell." Indiana, U.S., Select Marriages Index, 1748-1993. Accessed June 9, 2022. http://www.ancestrylibrary.com.
Ancestry.com. "William M. Herschell." U.S., World War I Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918. Accessed June 9, 2022. http://www.ancestrylibrary.com.
Boomhower, Ray. "William Miller Herschell." Encyclopedia of Indianapolis, 1994. Accessed June 9, 2022. https://indyencyclopedia.org/william-miller-herschell.
Findagrave.com. "William Miller Herschell." Find a Grave Memorial. Accessed June 9, 2022. https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/45945177/william-miller-herschell.
Extent
0.02 Cubic Feet (2 folders)
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 Mrs. William Herschell on 1940/02/04.
Accruals
No further additions expected.
Processing Information
Processing Information: Collection processing completed 2013/08/21 by Jamie Dunn. EAD finding aid created 2013/08/21 by Jamie Dunn. EAD finding aid revised 2022/06/23 by Brittany Kropf.
Creator
- Herschell, William Miller, 1873-1939 (Person)
- Title
- William Herschell history and sheet music
- 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
140 North Senate Avenue
Indianapolis, Indiana 46204 U.S.A.
317-232-3671
