Indiana and Kentucky boundary collection
Collection — Multiple Containers
Identifier: S1489
Scope and Contents
This collection includes correspondence and reports dealing with a land boundary dispute between Indiana and Kentucky dealing with the Evansville, Indiana Water Works plant and Green River Island ranging from 1938 to 1951.
The items are as follows:
Folder S1489
1938 Dec. 5 Letter, S. J. Kagan to the Evansville City Attorney 1938 Dec. 6 Letter, Leo Warren (Assistant City Attorney of Evansville) to Louis L. Roberts City Attorney 1938 Dec. 6 "Summary of the Facts involved in a land dispute between the state of Indiana and the Commonwealth of Kentucky" (2 copies) 1939 Jan. 20 Letter, S. J. Kagan to Dr. Christopher B. Coleman 1939 May 3 Letter, Louis L. Roberts to William E. Treadway, Administrative Secretary of the Commission on Interstate Cooperation 1943 May 24 H.J. Resolution 131 1951 "The Case of the Missing Slough"
OBD035
1942 Kentucky and Indiana Boundary Commission Report and Plat of Resurvey of Kentucky and Indiana State Boundary Line
The items are as follows:
Folder S1489
1938 Dec. 5 Letter, S. J. Kagan to the Evansville City Attorney 1938 Dec. 6 Letter, Leo Warren (Assistant City Attorney of Evansville) to Louis L. Roberts City Attorney 1938 Dec. 6 "Summary of the Facts involved in a land dispute between the state of Indiana and the Commonwealth of Kentucky" (2 copies) 1939 Jan. 20 Letter, S. J. Kagan to Dr. Christopher B. Coleman 1939 May 3 Letter, Louis L. Roberts to William E. Treadway, Administrative Secretary of the Commission on Interstate Cooperation 1943 May 24 H.J. Resolution 131 1951 "The Case of the Missing Slough"
OBD035
1942 Kentucky and Indiana Boundary Commission Report and Plat of Resurvey of Kentucky and Indiana State Boundary Line
Dates
- 1938-1951
Creator
- Kentucky-Indiana Boundary Commission (Organization)
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.
Historical Note
In 1935, Kentucky filed a claim against the city of Evansville, Indiana to include real estate in the city on Kentucky tax assessment records. The state of Kentucky claimed that the land was actually part of the state of Kentucky. There had been a dispute between Kentucky and Indiana over land boundaries going back to 1820. The case was brought to the United States Supreme Court in Handly’s Lessee v. Anthony and the court decided that the boundary line was the low water mark of the Ohio River. However, when the plat maps were made the boundary line used was the high bank mark.
In 1873, Kentucky and Indiana both created commissions to ascertain the true boundary line between them. In 1877, Kentucky adopted the report of the commission, while Indiana suspended their commission. The legislature of Indiana gave the governor the power to enter into negotiations with Kentucky for all the rights and jurisdiction of Green River Island and any lands on the Indiana side of the Ohio River. The negotiations were unsuccessful and the case again came before the United States Supreme Court in Indiana v. Kentucky in 1890. The court again found the boundary line to be the low water mark of the Ohio River but stated that it was the low water mark of the river at the time the area was controlled by the commonwealth of Virginia. They decided that the land then passed to Kentucky when it entered the Union. In 1944, the boundary was set by the United States Congress and they found that the Evansville Water Works plant was in Indiana.
In 1873, Kentucky and Indiana both created commissions to ascertain the true boundary line between them. In 1877, Kentucky adopted the report of the commission, while Indiana suspended their commission. The legislature of Indiana gave the governor the power to enter into negotiations with Kentucky for all the rights and jurisdiction of Green River Island and any lands on the Indiana side of the Ohio River. The negotiations were unsuccessful and the case again came before the United States Supreme Court in Indiana v. Kentucky in 1890. The court again found the boundary line to be the low water mark of the Ohio River but stated that it was the low water mark of the river at the time the area was controlled by the commonwealth of Virginia. They decided that the land then passed to Kentucky when it entered the Union. In 1944, the boundary was set by the United States Congress and they found that the Evansville Water Works plant was in Indiana.
Extent
0.12 Cubic Feet (1 folder, 1 extra-large oversize 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 L.A. Smith on 1942/04/13 and WPA Historical Records Survey on 1939/01/20.
Accruals
No further additions are expected.
Processing Information
Collection processing completed 2007/03 by Barbaqra Hilderbrand. EAD finding aid created 2007/03 by Barbaqra Hilderbrand. EAD finding aid revised 2015/12/09 by Brittany Kropf.
Creator
- Kentucky-Indiana Boundary Commission (Organization)
- Title
- Indiana and Kentucky boundary 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
