Robert R. Fohl, Sr. reminiscences
Collection — Folder: S2524
Identifier: S2524
Scope and Contents
This collection contains photocopies of the handwritten reminiscences that Robert R. Fohl, Sr. started on January 26, 1944 and continued writing over the years up to his final entry on December 25, 1974. Fohl’s memoir relates his experiences growing up on the north side of Indianapolis and provides information regarding family, neighbors, local businesses, and places of interest, including the Empire Theatre, Crown Hill Cemetery, and Fairview Park (now the grounds of Butler University.) He also describes his experiences living in Florida during the Great Miami Hurricane of September 1926 and mentions state and nation events, including the 1963 Halloween night explosion at the Indiana State Fairgrounds Coliseum, President Kennedy’s assassination, and the Apollo 8 space mission. The collection also includes a photocopy of a October 24, 1924 Fort Myers Morning Tropical News article about Bernie Fohl's car trip from Indianapolis to Fort Myers and a typewritten copy of additional memories that Fohl related to his daughter Ruth in 1977.
Dates
- 1924-1977
Creator
- Fohl, Robert R., Sr., 1883-1978 (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 / Historical
Robert Russell Fohl was born January 20, 1883 in Peru, Indiana to Bernard A. and Sarah Jane Russell Fohl. His parents had moved to Peru to operate a greenhouse, but following several unfortunate circumstances that damaged their business, the family moved back to Indianapolis. They lived on Missouri St, at 22nd Street and Tennessee (now 30th and Capitol), and at 22nd and Mississippi St (now 30th St. and Boulevard Place). In 1891, they bought 5 acres of land on the northwest corner of 38th St. and Senate Ave. (now Boulevard Place) and built a new house and greenhouses. The family suffered misfortune again when Bernard left in the fall of 1895 and the family’s home and business were lost to foreclosure. They moved to a small home at 37th and Boulevard and started a new business known as Fohl’s Flowers. In the spring of 1897 when Robert was in 7th grade, he was sent home from school for a transgression and never returned, instead choosing to stay home and help his mother. He married Margaret Jane Wesp on June 29, 1911 and they had three children: Ruth, Robert Jr., and Jane. Following their marriage, they opened a small floral business and specialized in pansies and Shasta daisies. Hoping for a better climate for his younger daughter’s health issues, he rented their property to a friend and moved the family to Florida in 1925. In 1932, they returned to Indianapolis and he found employment in the greenhouse at Garfield Park and worked there for eight years before taking a job with the Eli Lilly family in 1940. He worked for the Lily family until he retired seven years before his death at the age of 95 on July 26, 1978.
Sources:
Information found within collection.
“Robert R. Fohl Dies at Home” Indianapolis News (IN), July 27, 1978.
“Robert R. Fohl Sr.” Indianapolis Star (IN), July 28, 1978.
Sources:
Information found within collection.
“Robert R. Fohl Dies at Home” Indianapolis News (IN), July 27, 1978.
“Robert R. Fohl Sr.” Indianapolis Star (IN), July 28, 1978.
Extent
0.03 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 Robert R. Fohl on 1978/09/12.
Accruals
No further additions are expected.
Processing Information
Collection processing completed in 1998 by Philip N. Williams. Collection reprocessed in 2018/12 by Laura Eliason. EAD finding aid created 2018/12/11 by Laura Eliason.
Creator
- Fohl, Robert R., Sr., 1883-1978 (Person)
- Title
- Robert R. Fohl, Sr. reminiscences
- 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
