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A Guide to the Records at the Indiana University Archives

Finding aid prepared by Paul C. Heyde

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
Indiana University. President.

Extent
.6 cubic feet (2 boxes)

Language
Materials are in English unless otherwise indicated.

Collection No.
C77

Abstract
David Starr Jordan joined the IU faculty in 1879 as a professor of natural history. In 1885 at the age of 34, Jordan was appointed President of Indiana University. He served in that position until 1891 when he left IU to become the first president of the newly established Stanford University. The records of his presidency consist primarily of administrative files alphabetically arranged. The records also contain a few of Jordan's writings and addresses.

Access Restrictions

Collection is open for research. Advance notice required.

Historical Note

David Starr Jordan was born in Gainesville, New York on January 19, 1851 to Hiram J. and Huldah Lake (Hawley) Jordan. After home schooling and attendance at area schools, Jordan won the local scholarship to the newly founded Cornell University. By his junior year in Ithaca, Jordan was named instructor in Botany. Upon completion of his thesis, "Wild Flowers of Wyoming County" in 1872, Cornell awarded Jordan both his BS and MS degrees.

Following his years at Cornell, Jordan held several short-term teaching posts before coming to Indiana in 1874 as an instructor at Indianapolis High School. He joined the Butler University faculty in 1875, and in 1879, he left Butler for Indiana University, where he was a professor of natural history. In a short time, the popular professor received recognition as an outstanding educator and scientist. In 1885, Jordan was named the 7th President of the University. He was the youngest person as well as the first non-clergyman to hold that position. The election to this post came as a complete (and unwelcome) surprise to Jordan, who was really hoping to receive a permanent position with the United States Fish Commission. As reported in the Bloomington Saturday Courier (January 17, 1885), at a scheduled lecture shortly after the election, Jordan stated, "Let me speak frankly, my friends. I enter these new relations to my adopted state with no feeling of exultation or of gratified ambition....If the duties of the President kill the work of the naturalist, these duties must be taken by another hand."

Dr. Jordan served as Indiana University President until 1891. During his tenure Jordan initiated or promoted several important changes at IU. Among the most important changes were 1) Transformation of the faculty. During Jordan's tenure, the number of IU faculty members increased from 18 to 29. Many of these new faculty represented the type of scholar/teacher that Jordan felt was needed in the modern university; 2) Allowing students more freedom in selecting a major and in designing their own curriculum; and 3) Increasing the number of departments and courses.

Jordan was so successful in this position that in 1891 Senator and Mrs. Leland Stanford asked him to head a new university named for their deceased son. He accepted the position, and persuaded 6 IU professors and 37 students to accompany him to Stanford. Jordan held the post of President at Stanford until 1913, when he moved to the position of Chancellor of Stanford. In 1916, he retired and assumed the position of Chancellor Emeritus until his death in 1931.

Scope and Content Note

The first series contains general administrative files arranged alphabetically for the period from 1884-1891. The files include letters of recommendation for incoming students, solicitation letters to prospective faculty members, applications for leaves of absence, departmental reports, faculty resignations, and letters of acceptance and rejection for faculty positions. Noteworthy correspondents include Amzi Atwater, David Banta, William Lowe Bryan, John Coulter, Joseph Swain, Thomas Van Nuys, and James Woodburn. The second series consists of some of the published as well as unpublished writings of David Starr Jordan during his term of presidency. Included is a history of IU and two commencement addresses.

• 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
  • Indiana University. President --Archives
  • Indiana University. President --Records and correspondence
  • Indiana University --History --19th century --Sources
  • Jordan, David Starr, 1851-1931 --Archives
  • Jordan, David Starr, 1851-1931 --Correspondence
  • Jordan, David Starr, 1851-1931. Speeches. Selections.
  • Jordan, David Starr, 1851-1931. Correspondence. Selections.
• • Topics
  • College presidents --Indiana --Bloomington --Archives
  • College presidents --Indiana --Bloomington --Correspondence
  • College orations --Indiana University

Administrative Information

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Series: Administrative files, 1884-1891  Box 1

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Adams, Henry C., 5 June 1890  View item(s)

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Aley, Robert, 17 April 1891

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Alumni Association, March 1889  View item(s)

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Atkinson, C. Ellsworth, 24 August 18--  View item(s)

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Atwater, Amzi,

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10 November 1888  View item(s)

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3 March 1889  View item(s)

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Bamberger, Ralph, 3 March 1890  View item(s)

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Barnes, Earl, 29 May 1891  View item(s)

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Bateman, ---, 4 September 1889  View item(s)

To "President Bateman"

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Batman, Ira C., 11 June 1891  View item(s)

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Benson, Olaf, "Description of the Plan of Improvement of University Park," 1884  View item(s)

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Boone, Richard G.,

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May 1890  View item(s)

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10 June 1890  View item(s)

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Botany/Biology, Department of., Reports,

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29 October 1887  View item(s)

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1 November 1887  View item(s)

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November 1888  View item(s)

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undated  View item(s)

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Branner, John C.,

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23 March 1885  View item(s)

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6 May 1891  View item(s)

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Brayton, Hembert W. 12 December 1884  View item(s)

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Bryan, William Lowe,

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5 Dec. 1890(?)  View item(s)

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9 March 1891  View item(s)

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Broleman, Henry W., 22 March 1887  View item(s)

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Burnet, Percy B.,

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9 February 1886  View item(s)

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12 March 1886  View item(s)

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Buskirk & Buskirk, 4 June 1888  View item(s)

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Campbell, Douglas Houghton, 10 June 1891  View item(s)

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Carr, Bruce,

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6 April 1887  View item(s)

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16 April 1887  View item(s)

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21 May 1887  View item(s)

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24 May 1887  View item(s)

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24 May 1887  View item(s)

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31 October 1887  View item(s)

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19 May 1888  View item(s)

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Chemistry Department, Annual Reports 1887-1891 

Thomas Van Nüys, chair.

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31 October 1887  View item(s)

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5 November 1888  View item(s)

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3 June 1889  View item(s)

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20 May 1890  View item(s)

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21 May 1890  View item(s)

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30 October 1890  View item(s)

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31 October 1890  View item(s)

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8 June 1891  View item(s)

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Clark, O. B.,

Secretary of the Faculty

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6 November 1890  View item(s)

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12 June 1891  View item(s)

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Collett, John, 14 July 1887 

Indiana State Geologist

View item(s)

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Department of Composition and Rhetoric,

James A. Woodburn

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Report, undated  View item(s)

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Purchase recommendations, undated  View item(s)

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H.T. Conde Implement Company, 27 February 1890  View item(s)

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Coulter, John M.,

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1 November 1886  View item(s)

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18 May 1891  View item(s)

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7 June 1891  View item(s)

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Dabney, Richard, 30 May 1887  View item(s)

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Economics and Social Science Department, Report, 4 June 1890 

Jeremiah Jenks, chair

View item(s)

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Eggers, E., Undated  View item(s)

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Eimer & Amend, 7 July 1890  View item(s)

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Elkin, William Baird, 6 May 1891  View item(s)

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English Department, Annual Reports,

O.B. Clark, chair

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November 1888  View item(s)

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5 June 1889  View item(s)

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5 June 1890  View item(s)

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6 November 1890  View item(s)

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11 June 1891  View item(s)

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Farrand, Max, Undated  View item(s)

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Geology Department, Annual Reports,

David Starr Jordan, Acting Professor of Geology

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6 November 1890  View item(s)

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Undated  View item(s)

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Gerber, A. 18 June 1891  View item(s)

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German, Department of, Annual Reports,

C. G. von Fagemann and Gustaf Karsten, Chairs

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2 November 1887  View item(s)

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7 November 1888  View item(s)

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6 November 1890  View item(s)

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9 March 1891  View item(s)

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9 March 1891  View item(s)

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11 June 1891  View item(s)

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Gilbert, Charles H. 1888-1891 

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9 March 1891  View item(s)

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11 June 1891  View item(s)

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Greek, Department of, Annual Reports,

Horace Hoffman, Chair

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2 November 1887  View item(s)

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7 November 1888  View item(s)

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4 June 1889  View item(s)

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4 March 1890  View item(s)

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30 October 1890  View item(s)

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10 June 1891  View item(s)

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Greene, John O., 16 October 1890  View item(s)

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Grummann, Paul H. 1 June 1889  View item(s)

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Grunn, Frank F. 5 March 1890  View item(s)

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Haines, John I. 10 April 1890  View item(s)

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Halsey, J.J., 20 May 1890  View item(s)

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Harwood, Samuel E. 24 May 1887  View item(s)

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History, Department of, Annual Reports,

R. H. Dabney, Earl Barnes, James A. Woodburn, Chairs

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30 May 1887  View item(s)

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6 June 1887  View item(s)

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2 November 1887  View item(s)

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7 November 1887  View item(s)

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6 June 1889  View item(s)

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3 June 1890  View item(s)

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3 November 1890  View item(s)

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11 June 1891  View item(s)

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Holliday, John H., 12 June 1890  View item(s)

re: The Bogus

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Howe, Walter D., 1 January 1889  View item(s)

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Indiana Student,

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1889  View item(s)

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June 1889  View item(s)

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6 November 1889  View item(s)

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Indiana University Christian Association, 10 June 1889  View item(s)

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Jenkinson, Isaac, 22 March 1890  View item(s)

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Jenks, Jeremiah W.,

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4 June 1890  View item(s)

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8 November 1890  View item(s)

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10 June 1891  View item(s)

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Karsten, Gustaf E.,

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28 September 1886  View item(s)

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4 October 1886  View item(s)

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11 July 1888  View item(s)

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2 November 1888  View item(s)

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8 November 1888  View item(s)

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8 March 1889  View item(s)

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9 March 1889  View item(s)

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11 March 1889  View item(s)

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11 March 1889  View item(s)

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Kingsley, J. S., 24 February 1889  View item(s)

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Latin, Department of, Annual Reports,

Amzi Atwater, Chair

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3 November 1887  View item(s)

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3 November 1887  View item(s)

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8 November 1888  View item(s)

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6 June 1889  View item(s)

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5 June 1890  View item(s)

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5 November 1890  View item(s)

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5 November 1890  View item(s)

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Law Department, Annual Reports,

E. W. Huffcut, Chair

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Undated  View item(s)

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Undated  View item(s)

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4 November 1890  View item(s)

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11 June 1891  View item(s)

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July 1891  View item(s)

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Marsters, V. F. ,

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30 May 1891  View item(s)

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1 June 1891  View item(s)

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8 June 1891  View item(s)

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8 June 1891  View item(s)

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18 June 1891  View item(s)

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Mathematics, Department of, Annual Reports,

Joseph Swain, Chair

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2 November 1887  View item(s)

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3 November 1887  View item(s)

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7 November 1888  View item(s)

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7 March 1889  View item(s)

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5 June 1889  View item(s)

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5 March 1890  View item(s)

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Mess, C. Leo, 26 December 1885  View item(s)

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Mitchell, James L., December 1884  View item(s)

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Morrill, Park,

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15 January 1886  View item(s)

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20 February 1886  View item(s)

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Nichols, Edward L,

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11 September 1886  View item(s)

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21 September 1886  View item(s)

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6 June 1891  View item(s)

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Orr, Henry,

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26 January 1887  View item(s)

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28 April 1887  View item(s)

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Osthaus, Carl,

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10 November 1888  View item(s)

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31 October 1889  View item(s)

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Payne, A. C., October 1888  View item(s)

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Peck, H. T., 13 November 1890  View item(s)

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Pedagogics, Department of, Annual Reports,

Richard G. Boone, Chair

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6 June 1890  View item(s)

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6 November 1890  View item(s)

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June 1891  View item(s)

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Philosophy, Department of, Annual Reports,

William Lowe Bryan, Chair

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4 November 1887  View item(s)

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1 June 1888  View item(s)

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8 November 1888  View item(s)

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6 June 1889  View item(s)

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9 June 1890  View item(s)

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5 November 1890  View item(s)

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10 June 1891  View item(s)

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Undated  View item(s)

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Philputt, Allen B.,

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2 November 1886,  View item(s)

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1888  View item(s)

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Physics, Department of, Annual Reports,

J. P. Naylor, Chair

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31 October 1887  View item(s)

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2 November 1888  View item(s)

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4 June 1889  View item(s)

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4 June 1890  View item(s)

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3 November 1890  View item(s)

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10 June 1891  View item(s)

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Pinkerton, William A. - Pinkerton National Detective Agency, 28 April 1890-5 May 1890  View item(s)

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Poey, Felipe, September 1887  View item(s)

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Preparatory School, Annual Reports,

James K. Beck, Chair

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1 November 1887  View item(s)

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8 November 1888  View item(s)

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5 June 1889  View item(s)

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5 June 1890  View item(s)

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Undated  View item(s)

Letter to DSJ from Robert M. Weir, Secretary of Trustees of the Bloomington Public Schools re: future of IU's Preparatory School

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President's Report to the Board of Trustees, June 1890  View item(s)

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Purchasing Department, Undated 

U.H. Smith

View item(s)

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Rhetoric and Oratory, Department of, Annual Reports,

George W. Saunderson, Chair

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4 June 1890  View item(s)

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3 November 1890  View item(s)

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Robertson, R.S. 1 March 1890  View item(s)

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Romance Languages, Department of, Annual Report, 30 October 1890 

John E. Matzke, Chair

View item(s)

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Romance Languages and Philology, Department of, Annual Report, 3 June 1890 

Gustaf Karsten, Chair

View item(s)

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Schilling, Hugo,

---

3 March 1885  View item(s)

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3 March 1886  View item(s)

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15 May 1886  View item(s)

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29 May 1886  View item(s)

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Senior Class,

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7 June 1889  View item(s)

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27 February 1890  View item(s)

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6 March 1890  View item(s)

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10 April 1890  View item(s)

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Notice to Students re: Senior Serenande, 4 June 1890  View item(s)

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Sidney Planing Mill Company, 10 June 1890  View item(s)

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Social Science and Economics, Department of, Annual Reports,

A. B. Woodford, Chair

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22 October 1887  View item(s)

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8 November 1888  View item(s)

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Summer School Financial Report, 23 June-25 July 1890  View item(s)

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Swain, Joseph,

---

6 April 1886,  View item(s)

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Undated  View item(s)

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Board of Trustees?, 6 November 1890  View item(s)

re: Professor Carl W. Osthaus

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University Extension, 1891  View item(s)

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Van Nuys, Thomas C.,

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3 March 1890  View item(s)

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30 Oct. 1890  View item(s)

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Von Jagemann, Hans Carl Günther,

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10 May 1886  View item(s)

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14 May 1886  View item(s)

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15 May 1886  View item(s)

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20 May 1886  View item(s)

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23 May 1886  View item(s)

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25 May 1886  View item(s)

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3 November 1888  View item(s)

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2 April 1889  View item(s)

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20 April 1889  View item(s)

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12 May 1889  View item(s)

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12 June 1889  View item(s)

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Women's Gymnasium report, June 1891 

Harriet Colburn Saunderson, Director

View item(s)

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Box 2 Woodburn, James Albert,

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24 February 1890  View item(s)

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2 June 1890  View item(s)

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3 June 1890  View item(s)

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Rental receipt, 6 June 1890  View item(s)

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Woodford, A. B., 3 April 1889  View item(s)

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Youse, Lucy, 8 September 1888  View item(s)

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Zoology, Department of,

Note: Includes reports from J. S. Kingsley and David S. Jordan. Jordan served as professor of zoology while president of the university.

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1888  View item(s)

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8 November 1888  View item(s)

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1889  View item(s)

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30 May 1889  View item(s)

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5 November 1890  View item(s)

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Undated  View item(s)

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Unknown and fragments,

Note: Includes a fragment mentioning Vernon F. Marsters and a letter to "Dear Sir" from C. A. Waldo.

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15 December 1885  View item(s)

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1889  View item(s)

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Job Inquiries, 1886-1889 

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References, 1885-1891 

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Series: Writings and addresses, 1886-1888,  Undated 

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Box 2 The Duty of the Scholar Towards the Community. Richmond, Ind: Daily Palladium Book and Printing House, 6 June 1886,  Baccalaureate Address View item(s)

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Eulogy - Death of Elisha Ballantine circa 20 April 1886  View item(s)

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"The Ethics of the Dust." Commencement Address, 1888  View item(s)

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The Value of Higher Education Richmond Ind: Daily Palladium Book and Job Printing House, 1888  View item(s)

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History of Indiana University, undated  View item(s)

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Self-Evaluation of his term in Office, undated 

Photocopy, source unknown.