General William Harrison Kemper papers
Collection — Multiple Containers
Identifier: S0769
Scope and Contents
This collection contains a letter, a photograph, a scrapbook, clippings, certificates, ephemera, a gallery book, a war diary, military documents, and photocopies of political party election tickets from General William Harrison Kemper in Indiana and the United States, ranging from 1854 to 1922, regarding his career as a physician, military service during the U.S. Civil War, Indiana politics, and a variety of interests.
Miscellaneous items inlcude a letter from Oliver Wendell Holmes, dated July 31, 1887; two souvenir cards celbrating Kemper's 50th anniversary as a physician practicing in Muncie; a photograph of a group including Dr. Kemper on a science trip hiking at Winona Lake on August 5, 1916; a Volunteer Medical Service Corps certificate dated June 29, 1918; a card for Kemper acknowledging his 70th birthday on December 16, 1919; and undated undated items, including a biography card on Oliver Perry Morton; Kemper's calling card, "The American's Creed", and a gallery book for Boston's Museum of Fine Arts.
There is also a scrapbook from Kemper (1909-1918) with correspondence, papers, photographs, ephemera, clippings (V054), with the bulk being letters, greeting cards, notes, and calling cards from 1909 to 1910 congratulating him on reaching his 70th year after receiving his card.
Miscellaneous items inlcude a letter from Oliver Wendell Holmes, dated July 31, 1887; two souvenir cards celbrating Kemper's 50th anniversary as a physician practicing in Muncie; a photograph of a group including Dr. Kemper on a science trip hiking at Winona Lake on August 5, 1916; a Volunteer Medical Service Corps certificate dated June 29, 1918; a card for Kemper acknowledging his 70th birthday on December 16, 1919; and undated undated items, including a biography card on Oliver Perry Morton; Kemper's calling card, "The American's Creed", and a gallery book for Boston's Museum of Fine Arts.
There is also a scrapbook from Kemper (1909-1918) with correspondence, papers, photographs, ephemera, clippings (V054), with the bulk being letters, greeting cards, notes, and calling cards from 1909 to 1910 congratulating him on reaching his 70th year after receiving his card.
Dates
- 1854-1922
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
General William Harrison Kemper was born on December 16, 1839 in Rush County, Indiana to Arthur and Patience Kemper. On December 31, 1860, he began the study of medicine under Dr. John W. Moody in Greensburg, Indiana. At the start of the U.S. Civil War, Kemper enlisted as a private in Company B, 7th Indiana Regiment for a three-month term of service. He re-enlisted in September, 1861 and was appointed hospital steward for the 17th Indiana Regiment. Kemper was promoted to assistant surgeon in February, 1863 and completed his service on July 27, 1864. He resumed his medical studies at the University of Michigan and the Long Island Hospital in Brooklyn, New York, graduating in June, 1865. Kemper set up his medical practice in Muncie, Indiana in August of 1865 and continued to practice medicine there for more than 50 years.
Kemper married Harriet Kemper (1844-1914) on August 15, 1865 and they had three children: Georgette (1867-1952), Arthur (1870-1957), and William (1877-1957). He was a member of the Grand Army of the Republic (G.A.R.) and the Military Order of the Loyal Legion of the United States. He authored many articles and books on medical topics, including the title, A Medical History of Indiana. Kemper died on September 26, 1927.
Sources:
Items in the collection.
"Dr. General W. H. Kemper is Dead at 87." Muncie Evening Press. (IN) September 26, 1927.
Findagrave.com. "Dr. General William Harrison Kemper." Find a Grave Memorial. Accessed 2015/12/17. https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/70327457/general_william-harrison-kemper.
"Physician for Fifty Years." Greensburg Standard (IN). Accessed December 18, 2015. NewspaperArchive.
Kemper married Harriet Kemper (1844-1914) on August 15, 1865 and they had three children: Georgette (1867-1952), Arthur (1870-1957), and William (1877-1957). He was a member of the Grand Army of the Republic (G.A.R.) and the Military Order of the Loyal Legion of the United States. He authored many articles and books on medical topics, including the title, A Medical History of Indiana. Kemper died on September 26, 1927.
Sources:
Items in the collection.
"Dr. General W. H. Kemper is Dead at 87." Muncie Evening Press. (IN) September 26, 1927.
Findagrave.com. "Dr. General William Harrison Kemper." Find a Grave Memorial. Accessed 2015/12/17. https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/70327457/general_william-harrison-kemper.
"Physician for Fifty Years." Greensburg Standard (IN). Accessed December 18, 2015. NewspaperArchive.
Extent
0.12 Cubic Feet (2 folders, 1 volume)
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 G. W. H. Kemper on 1921/11/18 and Arthur T. Kemper on 1933/05/04.
Accruals
No further additions are expected.
Processing Information
Collection processed and finding aid created by Philip Williams on 1999/06/17 and Laura Eliason on 2015/12/18. EAD finding aid created 2015/12/18 by Laura Eliason. Collection reprocessing completed 2025/05/13 by Brittany Kropf. EAD finding aid revised 2018/10/12; 2025/05/13 by Brittany Kropf.
- Clippings
- Correspondence
- Decatur County (Ind.)
- Diaries
- Ephemera
- Grand Army of the Republic (U.S.)
- Holmes, Oliver Wendell
- Indiana -- History -- Civil War, 1861-1865
- Indiana -- Politics and government -- 19th century
- Medical care
- Military appointments
- Military discharge
- Military veterans
- Morton, Oliver P. (Oliver Perry), 1823-1877
- Muncie (Ind.)
- Museum of Fine Arts, Boston
- Newspaper articles
- Obituaries
- Photographs
- Physicians
- United States -- History -- Civil War, 1861-1865
- United States -- History -- Civil War, 1861-1865 -- Military life
- United States -- History -- Civil War, 1861-1865 -- Personal narratives
- United States. Army. Indiana Infantry Regiment, 17th (1861-1865)
- United States. Army. Indiana Infantry Regiment. 7th (1861-1864)
- Veterans -- Indiana
- World War, 1914-1918
Creator
- Title
- General William Harrison Kemper 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
