House fly collection
Collection — Folder: S1537
Identifier: S1537
Scope and Contents
Only two small pieces of paper are in this collection. The undated paper states: "No flies mean a clean city. Cleanliness means efficiency, better homes, better schoools, better humanity, less sickness. Swat the fly." On the other side of that paper is: "Swat The Fly Week, April 28 to May 3."
The second paper is entltled "Journal of a Female House Fly," starting with its going into winter quarters on November 2, 1918, and coming out of winter quarters on April 20, 1919. Eight more dates are listed from April 21 through May 21, 1919, giving the number of eggs laid and hatched, with the final statement: "Left alone and unhindered, by Sept. 10, 1919, my descendants will number five trillion five hundred ninety eight billion seven hundred twenty million."
On the opposite side of the female fly's journal is this poem entitled "Swat the Fly" by Walt Mason. "Oh every fly that skips our swatters, Will have five million sons and daughters, And countless first and second cousins; Of aunts and uncles, scores and dozens, And fifty-seven billion nieces; So knock the blamed thing all to pieces."
The second paper is entltled "Journal of a Female House Fly," starting with its going into winter quarters on November 2, 1918, and coming out of winter quarters on April 20, 1919. Eight more dates are listed from April 21 through May 21, 1919, giving the number of eggs laid and hatched, with the final statement: "Left alone and unhindered, by Sept. 10, 1919, my descendants will number five trillion five hundred ninety eight billion seven hundred twenty million."
On the opposite side of the female fly's journal is this poem entitled "Swat the Fly" by Walt Mason. "Oh every fly that skips our swatters, Will have five million sons and daughters, And countless first and second cousins; Of aunts and uncles, scores and dozens, And fifty-seven billion nieces; So knock the blamed thing all to pieces."
Dates
- 1919
Creator
- Mason, Walt, 1862-1939 (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.
Extent
0.01 Cubic Feet (1 folder)
Language of Materials
English
Arrangement
Only two small items are in this collection.
Custodial History
This collection was received by Rare Books and Manuscripts as a donation.
Accruals
No further additions are expected.
Processing Information
Collection processing and finding aid completed 2015/03/12 by Nikki Stoddard Schofield.
Creator
- Mason, Walt, 1862-1939 (Person)
- Title
- House fly collection
- 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
