Benjamin S. Parker papers
Collection
Identifier: L123
Scope and Contents
This collection includes 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. The collection ranges from 1790 to 1923 and undated.
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.
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
- 1790-1923
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.
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 Cubic Feet (3 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. EAD finding aid revised 2024/05/22 by Brittany Kropf.
- Account books
- American literature -- 19th century
- American literature -- 20th century
- American poetry
- Authors and publishers
- Authors, American
- Biography
- Biography -- Indiana
- Children's stories
- Correspondence
- Cumberland Road
- Education -- Indiana
- Henry County (Ind.)
- Indiana -- Politics and government
- Indiana -- Politics and government -- 19th century
- Indiana -- Politics and government -- 20th century
- Literature -- Societies, etc.
- Manners and customs
- Natural history
- Newspaper publishing
- Periodicals
- Poets, American
- Political parties -- Indiana
- Politics and government
- Postcards
- Quakers
- Ribbons
- Roads -- Indiana
Creator
- 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
140 North Senate Avenue
Indianapolis, Indiana 46204 U.S.A.
317-232-3671
