William J. Castleman collection
Collection
Identifier: L367
Scope and Contents
The collection includes a typescript of Through Myrtie Barker’s Window, a biography written by William J. Castleman, copyright 1985, and photocopies of research materials related to Barker. Also included are photocopies of newspaper clippings dated from June 24, 1958, to March 1985, although most are undated. Photographs are mixed in with the text in later chapters.
Folder 1 contains “A Myrtie Barker Album,” compiled photocopies of clippings concerning Barker and her first published work. The folder also contains three tables of contents for Castleman’s biography. The remainder of the collection contains typescript chapters of the work. Chapters 40 through 45 are not included in the collection.
Folder 1 contains “A Myrtie Barker Album,” compiled photocopies of clippings concerning Barker and her first published work. The folder also contains three tables of contents for Castleman’s biography. The remainder of the collection contains typescript chapters of the work. Chapters 40 through 45 are not included in the collection.
Dates
- 1958-1985
Creator
- Barker, Myrtie Lillian, 1910-1983 (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
William James Castleman, biographer of Myrtie Lillian Barker, was born January 5, 1908, in Indianapolis, Indiana, the son of William Rodman and Rosa Pearl (Stovall) Castleman. His academic degrees (an A.B., 1954; an M.A., 1956; and M.Div., 1956) were from Butler University. Castleman married Hazel Dessa Yater on December 6, 1931. The Castlemans had one daughter, Rosemary. Castleman became an accountant for the Conkle Funeral Home, Indianapolis, in 1931 and a minister of the Disciples of Christ in 1956. He edited both the Garden City News (1946-1962) and the Christian Communication Reporter (1962-1972). Castleman died in 1991.
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Myrtie Lillian Barker, author, was born in Indianapolis on July 24, 1910, the daughter of Harry G. and Mary A. (Bush) Barker. She attended college classes at the Indiana University Extension Center in Indianapolis. She graduated from the Indianapolis Piano School in 1928. Barker’s first published work was a four-line poem submitted to the Junior Home Magazine shortly after her eleventh birthday. In her late 20s, she wrote a weekly column entitled “The Lighthouse” for the Sherdian News. Barker became a columnist for The Indianapolis News in 1949, writing “My Window.” Her stories were published in Prairie Farmer, the Christian Herald, and the Christian Science Monitor. Her books included My Window—Parade of Days, I Am Only One, and Where is Everybody?. Barker was an active member of the Women’s Press Club of Indiana, the National League of American Pen Women, and the National Federation of Press Women. In 1953, Barker received a citation for accomplishment from the Marion County Society for Crippled Children and Adults. She died on January 1, 1983.
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Myrtie Lillian Barker, author, was born in Indianapolis on July 24, 1910, the daughter of Harry G. and Mary A. (Bush) Barker. She attended college classes at the Indiana University Extension Center in Indianapolis. She graduated from the Indianapolis Piano School in 1928. Barker’s first published work was a four-line poem submitted to the Junior Home Magazine shortly after her eleventh birthday. In her late 20s, she wrote a weekly column entitled “The Lighthouse” for the Sherdian News. Barker became a columnist for The Indianapolis News in 1949, writing “My Window.” Her stories were published in Prairie Farmer, the Christian Herald, and the Christian Science Monitor. Her books included My Window—Parade of Days, I Am Only One, and Where is Everybody?. Barker was an active member of the Women’s Press Club of Indiana, the National League of American Pen Women, and the National Federation of Press Women. In 1953, Barker received a citation for accomplishment from the Marion County Society for Crippled Children and Adults. She died on January 1, 1983.
Extent
0.2 Cubic Feet (1 small manuscript box)
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.
Accruals
No further additions are expected.
Processing Information
Collection processing completed in 1999 by Philip N. Williams. Collection re-processed in 2012/05 by Laura Williams. EAD finding aid created 2018/05/04 by Lauren Patton. EAD finding aid revised 2025/03/19 by Brittany Kropf.
Creator
- Barker, Myrtie Lillian, 1910-1983 (Person)
- Castleman, William James, 1908-1991 (Person)
- Title
- William J. Castleman 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
