James Whitcomb Riley collection
Collection
Identifier: L135
Scope and Contents
The collection contains letters, postcards, handwritten poems and printed copies, and a calling card from James Whitcomb Riley in Indiana, including a scrapbook of letters from Riley to Kentucky author Madison Cawein, as well as other materials such as clippings, postcards, biographies, regarding Riley, ranging from 1876 to 1947 and undated.
There are also broadsides and printed portraits of Riley, ranging from 1900 to 1947 and undated (OBD038).
There are also broadsides and printed portraits of Riley, ranging from 1900 to 1947 and undated (OBD038).
Dates
- 1876-1947
Creator
- Riley, James Whitcomb, 1849-1916 (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 Note
Born in Greenfield, Indiana on October 7, 1849, James Whitcomb Riley was a famed American poet and writer, best known for his Hoosier dialect verse in noted works, "Raggedy Man" (1907), "The Little Orphan Annie" (1908), and The Old Swimmin’ Hole and Other Poems (1912). Riley was also a prominent Indianapolis resident, whose house at 528 Lockerbie St. later became a historic building and museum of his work that was named a National Historic Landmark in 1962. James Whitcomb Riley died July 22, 1916 from complications resulting from a stroke. Riley is buried at Crown Hill Cemetery and his tomb sits on one of the highest points in Marion County.
Extent
0.4 Cubic Feet (1 manuscript box, 1 extra-large oversize folder)
Language of Materials
English
Arrangement
This collection is arranged by subject.
Custodial History
This collection was received by Rare Books and Manuscripts as donations from H. J. Mahan in 1929; G. Michelmore and Co. in 1931; and Mrs. A. W. A. Lybrad in 1965.
Accruals
No further additions are expected.
Processing Information
Collection processing completed 2011 July by Brent Abercrombie. EAD finding aid created 2011 July by Brent Abercrombie. EAD finding aid revised 2018/04/12. Collection reprocessing completed 2024/06/11 by Brittany Kropf. EAD finding aid revised 2024/06/11 by Brittany Kropf.
- American poetry -- 19th century
- American poetry -- 20th century
- Authors -- Indiana
- Authors and publishers
- Authors, American -- Indiana -- 19th century
- Authors, American -- Indiana -- 20th century
- Cawein, Madison Julius
- Clippings
- Correspondence
- Ephemera
- Essays
- Newspaper articles
- Pamphlets
- Photographs
- Poetry
- Poets, American
- Postcards
- Riley, James Whitcomb, 1849-1916
- Scrapbooks
Creator
- Riley, James Whitcomb, 1849-1916 (Person)
- Title
- James Whitcomb Riley collection
- 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
