John H. Vajen papers
Collection — Folder: S1334
Identifier: S1334
Scope and Contents
This collection includes correspondence, ephemera, and an account book from John H. Vajen in Indianapolis, Indiana, ranging from 1861 to 1862 and undated, regarding his work as Indiana's quartermaster general during the U.S. Civil War and his hardware business.
Item listing:
1) Quartermaster general account book, April 29, 1861-October 9, 1861
2) Envelope with three business cards, one for J. H. Vajen, hardware merchant, and two from Joseph Curzon, architect, undated
3) Oliver P. Morton letter to Vajen dated July 15, 1861
4) John H. Vajen letter to H. S. Holman of the U.S. Congressional Investigating Committee, May 17, 1862
5) Document concerning a building owned by Vajen and designed by architect Joseph Curzon, the cornerstone of which was laid on June 30, 1862, during the years of the great slave holders rebellion.
Item listing:
1) Quartermaster general account book, April 29, 1861-October 9, 1861
2) Envelope with three business cards, one for J. H. Vajen, hardware merchant, and two from Joseph Curzon, architect, undated
3) Oliver P. Morton letter to Vajen dated July 15, 1861
4) John H. Vajen letter to H. S. Holman of the U.S. Congressional Investigating Committee, May 17, 1862
5) Document concerning a building owned by Vajen and designed by architect Joseph Curzon, the cornerstone of which was laid on June 30, 1862, during the years of the great slave holders rebellion.
Dates
- 1861-1862
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
John H. Vajen was born March 19, 1828, in Bremen, Hanover, Germany, the son of John Henry and Anna Margaretha Vajen. The Vajen family immigrated to America in 1836 and settled in Baltimore, Maryland. When they moved to Cincinnati, Ohio, John H. Vajen worked in a hardware store at the age of 17. The family relocated to Jackson County, Indiana. In 1850, Vajen married Alice Fugate and they had seven children. He had his own hardware store in Indianapolis in 1856. During the U.S. Civil War, Vajen served as quartermaster general of Indiana, and saw to it that Indiana troops were provided for in the field. In 1864, he helped to organize the banking firm of Fletcher, Vajen and Company, which later merged with the Fourth National Bank. Vajen retired in 1871, and he died on May 28, 1917. He is buried in the family mausoleum at Crown Hill Cemetery, Indianapolis.
Extent
0.01 Cubic Feet (1 folder)
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 Indiana Bell Telephone Company on 1930/12/05 and from Caroline Vajen Colins on 1932/02/03.
Accruals
No further additions are expected.
Processing Information
Collection processing and finding aid completed 2018/1/25 by Nikki Stoddard Schofield. EAD finding aid revised 2025/11/03 by Brittany Kropf.
Creator
- Morton, Oliver P. (Oliver Perry), 1823-1877 (Person)
- Vajen, John H., 1828-1917 (Person)
- Title
- John H. Vajen 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
