Luther Short papers
Collection — Multiple Containers
Identifier: S1181
Scope and Contents
The majority of this collection consists of Civil War correspondence between Luther
Short and his family and friends. Also included are a few pieces of later
correspondence, documents relating to the Indiana Soldiers' and Sailors' Orphans'
Home, a farm account book, and other miscellaneous items.
The materials are grouped together into correspondence, papers, and the farm account
book, and are filed chronologically.
Dates
- 1833-1914, bulk 1862-1867
Creator
- Short, Luther, 1845-1925 (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
Luther Short was born on May 14, 1845 to Milton and Mary (Tate) Short in Springville,
Lawrence County, Indiana. Short grew up working on his father’s farm until age sixteen
when he decided to fight with the Union Army, and enlisted in Company F, 43rd Indiana
Volunteer Infantry as a musician on September 27, 1861. Short served with
distinguished service for three years, two months and was mustered out as a Corporal
on October 15, 1864. After the war he returned home and worked in the mercantile
business until 1866. In September 1866 Short began attending Northwestern Christian
University (now known as Butler University) in Indianapolis. In the spring 1868 he
attended Indiana Asbury College (now known as DePauw University), and went on to
graduate from Indiana University in 1869. Short graduated with a law degree in 1871
from the University of Michigan.
After obtaining his law degree, Short moved to Little Rock, Arkansas and practiced law
there until 1874. He returned to Indiana in late 1874 and settled in Franklin, Johnson
County. In January 1875 he was appointed deputy prosecuting attorney. In 1879 he
partnered with G. E. Finney to buy the Herald Democrat—changing its name to simply
the Democrat. Short bought out his partner’s interest in the Democrat to become its sole
owner in March 1880. Short married Emma W. Heineken (1843-1917) on April 9, 1883.
In 1891, Short served in the Indiana House of Representatives for one term, and was
also a presidential elector for the fifth congressional district in 1892. He was the U.S.
Consul General in Turkey from 1893-1897. Short was associated with the Indiana
Soldiers' and Sailors' Orphans for sixteen years. He served as vice-president of its
Board of Trustees from 1907-1908, as president of the Board of Trustees from 1909-
1917, and as superintendent from 1918-1923.
Short was a member of the Freemasons, reaching the thirty-third degree, and Odd
Fellows. Luther Short passed away on December 28, 1925.
Sources:
Banta, D. D. History of Johnson County, Indiana. Chicago: Brant & Fuller, 1888.
Branigin, Elba L. History of Johnson County, Indiana. Indianapolis: Bowen & Co., 1913.
Indianapolis Star. "Hoosier, Ex-Consul General to Turkey, is dead." Dec. 30, 1925, p. 1+2.
Shepard, Rebecca A., comp. A Biographical Directory of the Indiana General Assembly, Volume 1, 1816-
1899. Indianapolis: Select Committee on Centennial History, 1980.
Extent
0.03 Cubic Feet (3 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 Emma Byfield on 1936/03/27.
Accruals
No further additions are expected.
Processing Information
Collection processing completed 2006/04 by Elizabeth M. Wilkinson. Finding aid revised 2015/12/03 by Bethany Fiechter. EAD finding aid created 2018/05/29 by Lauren Patton.
Creator
- Short, Luther, 1845-1925 (Person)
- Title
- Luther Short papers
- Status
- Completed
- Description rules
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
- Language of description
- Undetermined
- Script of description
- Code for undetermined script
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
