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Frank W. Olin collection

 Collection
Identifier: L301

Scope and Contents

The collection includes correspondence, circulars, reports, papers, and diaries from Frank W. Olin in Indianapolis and Peru, Indiana ranging from 1833 to 1941, and undated regarding his life, business, and activities. Included in the documents are insurance and other business papers, including papers related to the Indiana Association of Life Underwriters (1908). There are also political papers, many relating to the Republican Party in Indianapolis (1900s-1910s) and the Citizen's Non-Partisan Movement (1913).

Some papers concern Olin's involvement with organizations, including the Indianapolis Commercial Club and the Indianapolis Chamber of Commerce (1902-1920s); the Indianapolis Civic League (1908); the YMCA (1909-1913); the Layman's Missionary Movement and its Indianapolis convention in 1916; the American Rights Committee (1916); and the Indianapolis Home for Aged Women (1921-1935).

There are also miscellaneous legal and financial documents from LaPorte County (1833-1892), among them, two Civil War military documents concerning supplies from Captain S. A Wiggins of Company E, 9th Michigan Infantry Regiment; and a Kingdom of Prussia passport (1873) and U.S. naturalization document from issued to Frederick Quiel in LaPorte County on October 12, 1874.

Dates

  • 1833-1941, undated

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

Frank Wallace Olin was born to Chauncey C. (1817-1899) and Mary (Church) Olin (1824-1888) on June 22, 1853 in Waukesha, Wisconsin. He had 4 siblings: Chancey C., Jr. (1849-1850), Charlotta, Adaline Beldon (1860-1960), and Stella (1865-1932). His family moved to Indianapolis, Indiana he was 10 years old.

Frank Olin attended City Academy and then Beloit College in Indianapolis, while wokring as a bookkeeper. He was then employed by the Howe Sewing Machine Company in Peru, Indiana (1872-1875) and Indianapolis (1875-1885). Olin next engaged in the typewriter business in Indianapolis until 1897, when he worked for several insurance company until 1917. He helped found the State Automobile Insurance Association that same year, beofre working for the association until his death.

Olin married Lucy B. Moulden (1856-1942) in 1876 and they had 4 children, Mary A. (1878-1968), Gertrude (1879-1884), Virginia Kerrick (1889-1988), and Lucinda M. (1895-1980). He was involved in numerous Indianapolis social and civic organizations, such as the Commercial Club, Columbia Club, Young Men's Christian Association, Indianapolis Civic League, as well as the Broadway Methodist Church. Olin died of heart failure on June 30, 1941 and was buried in Crown Hill Cemetery in Indianapolis.

Sources:

Items in the colleciton.

Ancestry.com. "Frank Olin." 1870 United States Federal Census. Accessed February 20, 2024. http://www.ancestrylibrary.com.

Ancestry.com. "Frank W. Olin." 1870 United States Federal Census. Accessed February 20, 2024. http://www.ancestrylibrary.com.

Ancestry.com. "Frank W. Olin." 1880 United States Federal Census. Accessed February 20, 2024. http://www.ancestrylibrary.com.

Ancestry.com. "Frank W. Olin." 1900 United States Federal Census. Accessed February 20, 2024. http://www.ancestrylibrary.com.

Ancestry.com. "Frank W. Olin." 1910 United States Federal Census. Accessed February 20, 2024. http://www.ancestrylibrary.com.

Ancestry.com. "Frank W. Olin." 1920 United States Federal Census. Accessed February 20, 2024. http://www.ancestrylibrary.com.

Ancestry.com. "Frank W. Olin." 1930 United States Federal Census. Accessed February 20, 2024. http://www.ancestrylibrary.com.

Ancestry.com. "Frank W. Olin." 1940 United States Federal Census. Accessed February 20, 2024. http://www.ancestrylibrary.com.

Ancestry.com. "Frank W. Olin." Indiana, U.S., Death Certificates, 1899-2017. Accessed February 20, 2024. http://www.ancestrylibrary.com.

Ancestry.com. "Frank W. Olin." Accessed February 20, 2024. http://www.ancestrylibrary.com.

Ancestry.com. "Frank W. Olin." Accessed February 20, 2024. http://www.ancestrylibrary.com.

Ancestry.com. "Frank W. Olin." U.S., City Directories, 1822-1995. Accessed February 20, 2024. http://www.ancestrylibrary.com.

Ancestry.com. "Frank W. Olin." U.S., School Catalogs, 1765-1935. Accessed February 20, 2024. http://www.ancestrylibrary.com.

"Auto Insurance Man, 88, Dies." Indianapolis Star, July 1, 1941. Accessed February 20, 2024. ProQuest.

Findagrave.com. "Frank Wallace Olin." Find a Grave Memorial. Accessed February 20, 2024. https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/45984982/frank-wallace-olin.

Extent

1.3 Cubic Feet (4 manuscript boxes)

Language of Materials

English

Arrangement

This collection is arranged by subject.

Custodial History

This collection was received by Rare Books and Manuscripts as a donation from Mrs. Frank Olin on 1941/09/30.

Additionally, a packet of letters was mailed to the collection in 1957.

Accruals

No further additions are expected.

Processing Information

Collection processing completed 2016/03/16 by Patrick Ridout. EAD finding aid created 2016/03/16 by Patrick Ridout. Collection reprocessed 2024/02/20 by Brittany Kropf. EAD finding aid revised 2024/02/20 by Brittany Kropf.
Title
Frank W. Olin 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