Richard Owen collection
Collection — Multiple Containers
Identifier: S1036
Scope and Contents
This collection includes Richard Owen's fall geological survey notebook from 1859, photocopies of the December 22, 1860 administrator's sale notice for the Dr. David Dale Owen estate, and seven typewritten copies of letters written by Richard Owen to family members, from 1860 to 1887, transcribed and edited by William M. Hepburn in April, 1945. At the time of the transcription, the original letters were in the possession of the Purdue University Libraries.
Dates
- 1859-1945
Creator
- Owen, Richard, 1810-1890 (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
Richard Owen was born on January 6, 1810, at Braxfield House, Lanarkshire, Scotland. He moved with his brother, David Dale Owen (1807-1860), to New Harmony, Indiana in 1827. He surveyed the Northwest Territory with his brother and was the chair of Natural Science of the U.S. Military Academy for 9 years. In the late 1850s, Owen returned to Indiana and began work on the Indiana Geological Survey. He was appointed Indiana state geologist in 1860. Owen served as a lieutenant colonel with the 15th Indiana Volunteers and as colonel with the 60th Indiana Volunteers during the U.S. Civil War, most notably gaining a reputation for fair treatment of prisoners of war at Camp Morton in Indianapolis. After the war, he became a professor at Indiana University. Owen was elected the first president of Purdue University in 1872, serving until 1874. He returned to teach at Indiana University and then moved back to New Harmony after retiring. Robert Owen died on March 24, 1890 and was buried in Maple Hill Cemetery in New Harmony.
Source:
FindaGrave.com. "Richard Owen." Find a Grave Memorial. Accessed August 16, 2016. https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/7687115/richard-owen.
"Richard Owen: Colonel of the 60th Indiana Volunteers." Indiana Department of Administration. Accessed August 12, 2016. http://www.in.gov/idoa/2783.htm.
Source:
FindaGrave.com. "Richard Owen." Find a Grave Memorial. Accessed August 16, 2016. https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/7687115/richard-owen.
"Richard Owen: Colonel of the 60th Indiana Volunteers." Indiana Department of Administration. Accessed August 12, 2016. http://www.in.gov/idoa/2783.htm.
Extent
0.05 Cubic Feet (2 folders)
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 Purdue University in 1945/05.
Accruals
No further additions are expected.
Processing Information
Collection processing completed 2016/08/16 by Laura Eliason. EAD finding aid created 2016/08/16 by Laura Eliason. EAD finding aid revised 2017/09/19 by Laura Eliason.
Creator
- Owen, Richard, 1810-1890 (Person)
- Title
- Richard Owen 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
