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A Guide to the Kirkman family collection at the Indiana University Archives

Electronic finding aid encoded by Amanda Harlan

Summary Information

Repository
Indiana University Archives
1320 East Tenth Street
Herman B Wells Library E460
Bloomington, IN 47405-7000
Phone: 812-855-1127
Email: archives@indiana.edu
http://www.libraries.iub.edu/archives

Creator
Kirkman family.

Title
Kirkman family collection,1832-1931,  bulk 1835-1885

Collection No.
C5

Extent
.6 cubic feet

Language
Materials are in English.

Abstract
Indiana family headed by Joseph Kirkman, who served as sheriff of Gibson County for several years. Collection includes correspondence, indentures, receipts, land deeds, and newspaper clippings of Joseph Kirkman, daughter Irene Kirkman Coolidge, and granddaughter Mary Coolidge Kingston. Also included is a series titled Unknown authors, consisting of items of unknown origins but that were deposited with the collection.

Access Restrictions

This collection is open for research.

Advance notice is required.

Biographical Note

Joseph Kirkman was born in Kentucky on 9 September 1809. He moved to Indiana as a young man, where he became a farmer. He also owned one of the first brickyards in the county and later held the prominent position of Sheriff of Gibson County for many years. Kirkman married Jane Demig (b. 1810) of Virginia on 29 July 1828; together they had nine children. Kirkman was a Republican and active in party councils. He was also a deeply religious man, although not an official member of any one church. He died on 9 March 1879.

Among Joseph and Jane’s children were Irene, who is featured in this collection, and Louisa J. (Powell). Son John B., who married Mary Wyat, was a farmer in Princeton, Indiana. Daughter Sophronia married William Snow, who worked as a farm laborer for her father. Son George died shortly after his marriage to Mary Fentress (the exact date is unknown), and Robert died at age 30. The remaining children were Joseph A., who died in 1864 at the age of 10, and two others who died in infancy.

Irene Kirkman Coolidge was born on 20 January 1843 in Princeton, Indiana. As a child she developed an interest in music, learning to sing and play the piano. At 18 she performed the “Star Spangled Banner” for Memorial Day and went on to sing the anthem at every Memorial Day thereafter at various events. Although she attended the Female College (Saint Mary of the Woods) in Terre Haute, Indiana, and briefly taught in Evansville, Indiana, Ms. Kirkman returned to music as a career. She studied voice culture in Chicago and became a full-time voice teacher and leader of choirs when she came back to Princeton, Indiana. Ms. Kirkman married S.E. Coolidge, a distant relative of then-President Calvin Coolidge. Their daughter Mary, who also has papers included in the collection, like her mother showed an interest in music and theater. Mary Coolidge married Roy Kingston and lived in San Diego, California.

Arrangement

Papers organized into four series: Joseph Kirkman; Irene Kirkman Coolidge; Mary Coolidge Kingston; and Unknown authors.

Scope and Content Note

This collection has been organized into four series based on individuals associated with this collection. This collection includes the materials of Joseph Kirkman, Irene Kirkman Coolidge, Mary Coolidge Kingston, and unknown authors. The bulk of the collection involves financial records either belonging to Joseph Kirkman or authorized by him during his time as Sheriff of Gibson County.

The Joseph Kirkman series is organized into five sub-series: Correspondence, Financial records, Legal documents, Clippings, and Programs. Correspondence, Legal documents, Clippings and Programs are arranged chronologically, while the folders within the Financial records are arranged alphabetically. The Financial records comprise the majority of the series. Tax and insurance information are specific to the Kirkman Family, while indentures, mortgages and receipts encompass a variety of other people. Other materials include Kirkman’s insurance policies and two clippings, one telling the story of the rescue of a lost boy when Kirkman was Sheriff.

The Irene Kirkman Coolidge series is organized into three sub-series: Correspondence, Clippings, and Programs. Each of these is organized chronologically. Of particular interest are the newspaper articles and music programs that describe Coolidge’s long and illustrious singing career.

The Mary Coolidge Kingston series has one folder for each of its three sub-series: Correspondence, Clippings, and Invitations. The clippings detail a few theatrical events in which Mrs. Kingston was involved.

Unknown Authors have four sub-series: Correspondence, Drawings, Programs, and Music; each of the sub-series are arranged chronologically. The holiday cards are especially interesting as they are illustrated with intricate drawings.

• Indexing Terms

• The following terms have been used to index the description of this collection in IUCAT, the IU Libraries' online catalog. Materials about related topics, persons or places can be found by searching the catalog using these terms.

• • Names
  • Kirkman, Joseph, 1809-1879 --Archives.
  • Kirkman, Joseph, 1809-1879 --Correspondence.
  • Coolidge, Irene Kirkman, b. 1843 --Archives.
  • Coolidge, Irene Kirkman, b. 1843 --Correspondence.
  • Kingston, Mary Coolidge --Archives.
  • Kingston, Mary Coolidge --Correspondence.
  • Kirkman, Joseph, 1809-1879. Correspondence. Selections.
  • Coolidge, Irene Kirkman, b. 1843. Correspondence. Selections.
  • Kingston, Mary Coolidge. Correspondence. Selections.
• • Topics
  • Kirkman family --Archives.
  • Family archives --Indiana.
  • Sheriffs --Indiana.
  • Deeds.
  • Financial records.
• • Places
  • Indiana --History --Sources.

Related Material

Christmas and religious booklets with Ivy Chamness name on the inside cover have been removed from this collection. Please see Collection C239 for more information.

Administrative Information

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