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Moellmann family papers

 Collection
Identifier: L188

Scope and Contents

This collection contains personal papers and correspondence of Wilhelm Moellmann from 1825 to 1839, including a diary of his voyage to the United States, as well as the personal papers and correspondence of Wilhemina Moellmann, Augustus Mollmann, Carl Barus, and other family members from 1840 to 1901. The collection also includes a variety of New Year's cards, including a pop-up card, ranging from 1889 to 1902; miscellaneous invitations and programs ranging from 1879 to 1909; and two undated, unidentified portrait photographs.

Many of the items in the collection are written in German. The original spelling of the family name was Möllmann and much of the correspondence is addressed with this surname. Rev. Moellmann's family seems to have change the spelling to "Moellmann" after immigrating to the United States, but his brother, Augustus, used the spelling "Mollmann".

Dates

  • 1825-1909

Creator

Language of Materials

Materials in English and German.

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

Wilhelm Moellmann was born in Germany on November 26, 1804. He and his wife, Wilhemina (1812-1888), came to the United States in 1835. Moellmann was the first minister of the Northern German Lutheran Congregation in Cincinnati, Ohio. They had two daughters, Sophia (1835-1920) and Wilhelmina (1840-1906). He died on May 7, 1840.

Sophia Moellmann (1835-1920) married Carl Barus (1823-1908), a well-known musician and director of the Indianapolis Maennerchor. Their daughter, Alice Sophia (1867-1897) married millionaire Indianapolis brewer, Albert Lieber (1863-1934) in 1887 and they had three children. Their daughter, Edith Sophia (1888-1944), married Kurt Vonnegut, Sr.(1884-1957) on November 22, 1913 and they had three children. Their youngest child was the well known novelist, Kurt Vonnegut, Jr. (1922-2007).

Sources:

Items in the collection.

Ancestry.com. "Alice Sophia Barus." Indiana Marriage Index, 1800-1941. Accessed February 22, 2016. http://www.ancestrylibrary.com.

Findagrave.com. "Alice Sophia Barus Lieber." Find a Grave index. Accessed February 22, 2016. https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/45960379/alice_sophia_lieber.

Findagrave.com. "Edith Sophia Lieber Vonnegut." Find a Grave Memorial. Accessed February 22, 2016. https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/29232876/edith-sophia-vonnegut.

Findagrave.com. "Rev. Wilhelm Moellmann." Find a Grave Memorial. Accessed February 22, 2016. https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/40970685/wilhelm-moellmann.

Extent

0.3 Cubic Feet (1 manuscript box)

Arrangement

This collection is arranged chronologically.

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 2016/02/24 by Laura Eliason. EAD finding aid created 2016/02/24 by Laura Eliason. EAD finding aid revised 2017/12/27 by Brittany Kropf.
Title
Moellmann family 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