Alice "Allie" Ferguson collection
Collection — Folder: S2990
Identifier: S2990
Scope and Contents
This 13-page paper entitled "Allie Ferguson of Brown County" was written by Katharine McAfee Parker (Mrs. Albert G. Parker, Jr.) of Hanover College, Hanover, Indiana. She wrote a biography of Alice "Allie" Lucas as well as her sister Malissa, called "Aunt Mollie." Their father was a farmer and "a hauler of loads" in Brown County, where the sisters lived all their lives. Malissa never married. Allie married William Ferguson and had five children. Twins died as infants. In 1900, the census taker listed the family in Washington, Brown County, with two sons and a daughter: Elmer, age 23; Michael A., age 21; and Mertie, age 15. Before William died, he bought the yellow house in Nashville, to which they added six rooms and a screened-in porch. This became the boarding house after he died in 1912. On page 3, Katharine wrote: "Aunt Molly was the older, gentler one of the sisters, content to sit quietly back and let - even enjoy watching - Allie fight the battles." Allie was known to be a hard worker. She cooked and cleaned for 12-14 boarders and did not hire help. There are two photos in the collection. The one of Allie appears to be a studio portrait, while the one of Mollie shows her seated outdoors with a newspaper and glasses in her hand. The sisters both died in 1931.
Dates
- 1856-1931
Creator
- Parker, Katharine McAfee, 1896- (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 Note
Alice "Allie" Ferguson (1856-1931) ran a boarding house in Nashville, Brown County, Indiana. Her older sister Malissa "Aunt Mollie" Lucas, listed as Mary L. Lucas by the census taker in 1930, lived at her sister's boarding house after Allie's husband William (1852-1912) died. Mollie never married. William and Allie had twins who died when they were small. They raised two sons, Elmer and Michael, and a daughter, Mertie. Allie was known to serve very good meals and have comfortable beds in her boarding house. There were usually 12-14 boarders. Both sisters died the same year, 1931.
There are two photos showing the sisters in their old age. The photo of Allie is head and shoulders only. The photo of Aunt Mollie shows her outdoors with a newspaper in her lap and eye glasses in one hand.
There are two photos showing the sisters in their old age. The photo of Allie is head and shoulders only. The photo of Aunt Mollie shows her outdoors with a newspaper in her lap and eye glasses in one hand.
Extent
0.01 Cubic Feet (1 folder)
Language of Materials
English
Arrangement
This collection is arranged as the manuscript is paginated.
Custodial History
This collection was received by Rare Books and Manuscripts as a donation from Katherine McAfee Parker (Mrs. Albert G. Parker, Jr.) in 1941/04.
Accruals
No further additions are expected.
Processing Information
Collection processing and finding aid completed 2015/06/25 by Nikki Stoddard Schofield.
Creator
- Parker, Katharine McAfee, 1896- (Person)
- Title
- Alice "Allie" Ferguson 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
