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William G. Sullivan papers

 Collection
Identifier: L154

Scope and Contents

This collection includes correspondence, essays, manuscripts, research notes, newspaper articles, reviews, advertisements, photographs, and illustrations--some of which are photostats and reproductions--from William G. Sullivan in Indianapolis, Indiana ranging from 1861 to 1960 and undated, regarding theater and Indiana history and historical figures, particularly the life and works of Hoosier playwright Joseph Arthur and English's Opera House in Indianapolis.

Dates

  • 1861-1960, undated

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

William George Sullivan was born in June of 1884 to George R. and Annie R. Sullivan in Indianapolis, Indiana. He had one brother, Russell. Sullivan graduated from Yale University in 1907. He wrote a number of papers about historical Hoosier playwrights, actors, artists, authors, prominent figures, and institutions, while also reading manuscipts for Bobb-Merrill Company in Indianapolis, Indiana. Sullivan served as the secretary-treasurer of the Sullivan Geiger Company, a family-founded firm, and was the vice president of American States Insurance Company at the time of his death on September 18, 1959. Sullivan is buried in Crown Hill Cemetery, Indianapolis.

Sources:

Ancestry.com. "William G.Sullivan." 1900 United States Federal Census. Accessed April 6, 2015. http://www.ancestrylibrary.com.

"Sullivan, William George." (1974) In Indiana Authors and Their Books, 1917-1966, 594. Crawfordsville, IN: Wabash College, 1974.

"William George Sullivan" Indianapolis Star, September 20, 1959, sec. 4, p. 6. col. 5.

"William George Sullivan papers, 1935-1957." Finding aid. Indiana Historical Society. Accessed April 6, 2015. http://www.indianahistory.org/our-collections/collection-guides/william-george-sullivan-papers-1935-1957.pdf.

Extent

1.2 Cubic Feet (2 manuscript boxes; 1 large oversize box)

Language of Materials

English

Arrangement

This collection is arranged in the following series:

Series 1: Papers, research materials, and photographs, 1861-1960, undated

Series 2: Oversize play scripts, circa 1940-1950

Custodial History

This collection was received by Rare Books and Manuscripts as a donation.

Accruals

No further additions are expected.

Processing Information

Collection processing completed 2015/04/06 by Edythe Huffman. EAD finding aid created 2015/04/06 by Edythe Huffman. Collection reprocessed and EAD finding aid revised 2021/10/21 by Lauren Patton. EAD finding aid revised 2024/06/21 by Brittany Kropf.
Title
William G. Sullivan papers
Status
Under Revision
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