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Benjamin S. Parker papers

 Collection
Identifier: L123

Scope and Contents

This collection contains Benjamin S. Parker’s correspondence and writings, including correspondence E. B. Heiney and publishers about Poets and Poetry of Indiana; correspondence regarding Parker’s poetry, his newspaper work, and requests for advice on writing. Also included is correspondence regarding Republican Party politics, James Whitcomb Riley, and family matters. The collections also contains Parker’s writings including the subjects of the National Road, early Indiana and Midwestern history, Quakers, education in Indiana, social customs, and the natural and political history of Henry County, Indiana; also included are fictional stories, biographical sketches, and poetry by Parker and other Indiana poets.

Correspondents include, Samuel Holden Parsons, James Mitchell Varnum, J.G. Bourinet, Thomas M. Browne, George B. Cottman, Edmund Eitel, Hewitt H. Howland, W.W. Pfimmer, and John J. Piatt. Poets include, Daniel L. Paine, Herman Rave, George York Melbourn, James William Callhan, Lew Harris, Isaac Kingly, Josephine W. Mellette, E.B. Heiney, and W.P. Needleham.

Dates

  • 1844-1923

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

Benjamin S. Parker was born February 10, 1833 in Henry County, Indiana. He attended the Rich Square Friends School where he studied law. He was later admitted to the bar. He married Huldah Wickersham in 1869 and together they had 3 children. He worked as the editor and publisher of the New Castle Mercury and Knightstown Banner. Parker was the trustee of the Lewisville Schools. He was a presidential elector in 1880 and served as U.S. Consul in Sherbrooke, Canada from 1882 to 1885. Parker was the Henry County Clerk from 1888 to 1892. He was a Republican member of the Indiana House of Representatives in 1901. Parker was also a poet and short story writer and worked as co-editor with E.B. Heiney on the book, Poets and Poetry of Indiana. Benjamin S. Parker died on March 14, 1911.

Source:

Rebecca A. Shepherd et al., eds. A Biographical Directory of the Indiana General Assembly, vol. 1. Indianapolis: Select Committee on the Centennial History of the Indiana.

Extent

1.3 Cubic Feet (4 manuscript boxes)

Language of Materials

English

Arrangement

This collection is arranged chronologically.

Custodial History

This collection was received by Rare Books and Manuscripts as a donation from Margaret Griffith on 1932/06/23; Mr. and Mrs. Samuel Bufkin, 1941; Henry County Historical Society, 1987.

Accruals

No further additions are expected.

Processing Information

Collection processing and finding aid completed by Barbara Hilderbrand during April 2007. Finding aid updated by Laura Eliason on 2015/11/14.
Title
Benjamin S. Parker papers
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