Finding aid prepared by Carrie Schwier.
Frank O. and Daisy Beck papers, 1890-1969, bulk 1910-1969
Collection is open for research. Advance notice required for access.
Born July 18, 1872 on a farm near Germantown (Wayne County, Indiana), Frank Orman Beck
came to Indiana University as a student in 1890, receiving his A.B. in 1894 and A.M. in
1895 both in comparative literature. As an undergraduate he wrote a series of editorials
in
The Indiana Daily Student which were instrumental in
the organization of the
Arbutus yearbook which began in
1894. He was a charter member (1892) of the university’s chapter of Sigma Nu fraternity,
and secretary for the YMCA.
While teaching part-time his senior year at Bloomington High School, he met then student
Daisy Woodward– a native of Monroe County and direct descendent of Colonel John Ketcham,
one of the original IU trustees. The two married on July 23, 1899 shortly after she
received her A.B. degree from the University. That fall the two moved to Boston, where
she attended the New England Conservatory of Music and he Boston and Harvard
Universities. He later went on earn a theology degree from the University of Chicago and
a Ph.D. from Edinburgh University in Scotland.
Upon their return to the United States in 1912, the Becks settled in Chicago where Frank
spent over 25 years serving as a teacher, minister, and social worker. He served as a
professor at the Garrett Biblical Institute of Northwestern University, minister of the
Wabash Avenue Methodist Church in the infamous First Ward on the fringe of The Loop, the
first survey director for the Chicago Welfare department, the executive secretary of the
Chicago Inter-Church World Movement and worked with Jane Adams in Hull House and in the
missions along "Skid Row." Drawing from each of these
experiences, in 1956 he published the book
Hobohemia.
Retiring in 1934, Frank and Daisy returned to their alma mater where neither held
official positions at the university, but rather served as unofficial counselors to the
student body and the administration. In 1937, at the request of President Wells, Frank
Beck began work to organize what would become the University Committee on Religion which
consisted of representatives from various religious faiths and sought to ease prejudice
with tolerance and understanding. The related Student Religious Cabinet formed shortly
thereafter. As the programs grew, the Beck’s began a nearly twenty year campaign to
build a place of worship on campus for those of all faiths, and in 1957 thanks in large
part to their own donation Beck Chapel was dedicated. The chapel houses the symbols of
the Christian, Jewish, Buddhist and Muslim faiths. Until his death, Frank served as the
chapel Curator, presiding over the weddings of numerous students.
While working with Indiana University's religious programs, Beck was also extensively
involved with community concerns such as issues effecting the elderly and race
relations. Beck founded the Borrowed Time Club for senior citizens in 1949 which sought
to combat the widely accepted notion of the social uselessness of the elderly, and was
the first chair of the State Commission on the Aged and the Aging. In 1965 Beck was
recognized by the state of Indiana for his work on behalf of senior citizens. In 1959
following on the path of his previous work for social and racial equality in Chicago,
Beck published "Some Aspects of Race Relations at Indiana
University."
Frank preceded his wife in death on August 17, 1968, at the age of 96, and she followed
nearly four years later on April 24, 1972 at the age of 95.
The collection is organized into five series: Biographical materials, Publications and
research, Indiana University, Professional associations and activities, and
Correspondence.
The Frank O. and Daisy Beck papers span the period 1890-1969, with the bulk of the
records created in the years 1910-1969. The collection is organized into five series:
Biographical materials, Publications and research, Indiana University, Professional
associations and activities, and Correspondence.
The Biographical materials (1899-1966) contain documents related to Frank and Daisy’s
personal life such as biographical clippings, a notebook from Frank’s study at Harvard
University, a dairy Daisy kept during travels through Europe, and of particular note a
family genealogical manuscript tracing the lineage of Col. John Ketcham, one of the
original IU Trustees.
In the second series Publications and research (1890-1967), Daisy and Frank Beck’s
publications are divided into two separate sub-series. Those of Daisy Beck’s (1911-1962)
consist of published copies of articles, manuscripts, related correspondence and
reviews. Of particular note here is
"Once Over Lightly: An
Indiana University Story"
a humorous collection of historical stories tracing
the early development of Indiana University. The second sub-series consists of Frank
Beck’s publications and research (1890-1967) and consists primarily of correspondence,
manuscripts, and copies of three of his published books –
My Home
Town
(1958),
Hobohemia (1957),and
Some Aspects of Race Relations at Indiana University (1962).
This sub-series also contain numerous research related subject files which contain
collected newspaper clippings, newsletters and pamphlets on a variety of subjects, and
research notes, possibly for his sermons or publications. A large amount of material
here, relates to his research on aging and on the rights of the elderly, as well as on
civil rights and race relations.
The Indiana University (1919-1967) series is further organized into two subseries. The
first, Beck Chapel (1944-1967), consists of materials documenting Frank and Daisy Beck’s
involvement in gaining approval for the construction and design of the chapel on the
campus and for the mission of the chapel as a symbol of religious unity. Of particular
interest here are correspondence and drawings and specifications relating to the
architectural design of the chapel as well as a scrapbook documenting the early years of
the chapels existence. The second sub-series, General (1919-1961), contains files
documenting Frank Beck’s involvement on the university campus in various capacities. Of
particular note here are files relating to his involvement as an advisor with the
various religious entities on campus, such as the University Committee on Religion and
the Student Religious Cabinet. Others records document Beck’s involvement with the
Student Government Committee, a predecessor to the official organization of student
government; the Town Hall Club, a student organization which sought to bring social and
political problems up for discussion in public forums; and the Student Refugee Committee
which sought to sponsor European WWII refugees so that I might attend Indiana
University. Topical files of interest include those on the Japanese Student Relocation
in the aftermath of Pearl Harbor as well as the Chicago Reconciliation trips for
university students which sought to broaden understanding between those of different
races and nationalities.
The Professional associations and activities (1916-1969) series consists of those
records pertaining to Frank Beck’s activities outside of Indiana University. These
include files relating to Beck’s interest in aging such as participation in the Borrowed
Time Club, the Indiana State Commission on the Aged and the Aging, and the Indiana
School of Religion, as well as his tenure as Director of the Chicago Reconciliation
Tours.
Finally, the Correspondence series (1899-1967) primarily consists of personal
correspondence with family members and Frank Beck’s former students at Indiana
University. In reference to family members, of particular note is correspondence with
Willard and Minnie Beck and Lois Lucile Cook who were also actively involved in the
ministry of the Methodist Church. Correspondence with students focused mostly upon their
lives following the university as well as how their involvement with the Student
Religious Cabinet impacted their future endeavors and their outlook upon their
surrounding communities. Other notable correspondents include numerous former students
who were deployed stateside and overseas during the Second World War, including
Christmas cards from Saul J. Abraham while stationed in Hawaii, a letter from Robert and
Meg Dyer in October 1945 which poignantly describes the celebrations in a small northern
town in Wisconsin the day that the war ended, and from David Griggs and Albert Losche
who describe the post-war occupation of Germany.
Numerous photographs from the Beck Chapel scrapbook as well as several loose photographs
were pulled and added to the photographs collection.
See also, the Student Religious Cabinet records, Collection C430 and Collection C431,
the Student Government Committee records.
Series:
Box 8
Correspondence, 1899-1967,
undated
General A-B, 1917-1965
Abraham, Lt. Saul J., 1939-1942
Adler, Philip Jr., 1957-1965
Aiken, Curtis, 1964-1967
Allen, Theodora, 1958
American Friends Service Committee, 1940-1952
American Youth Hostels, Inc., 1951-1956
Anti-Cigarette League of America, (including Clean Life Army "A.C.L." Button) 1919
Appleby, Bob, 1943,
undated
Atkinson, Capt. Delbert Vern, 1941-1946
Aurora College, 1934-1935
Bartlett, E.H., 1935-1936
Bassett, Margaret Ann, 1937-1954
Beck, Amanda (mother), 1929
Beck, Daisy, 1907-1936, undated
Beck, Willard E. and Minnie, 1930-1962,
undated
Box 9
Behr, Karl, 1935-1939
Bennett, Sgt. Harold F., 1942-1956
Blashfield, Floyd, 1938-1948
Bogue, Robert, 1934
Briggs, Frank R., 1942
Briscoe, Herman T., 1940-1941
Brown, Jessica, 1936-1937
Burch, Evelyn, 1941-1961
Burke, Avis, 1944-1964
General C, 1934-1962, undated
Callahan, P.H., 1937
Canaham, Edwin D., 1940-1941
Carrell, Ruth Armstrong, 1940-1941
Cheng, Frank, 1956-1958
Clark, Hubert Ellis, 1938-1946
Class of 1894 Memorial - Correspondence, 1947
Clayton, Carolyn, 1961
Cook, Lois Lucile Schergert, 1922-1957, undated
Coons, Helen, undated
Cranston, Earl, 1909-1910
Creager, Grace, 1939
General D-E, 1935-1967, undated
Davis, Chester, 1945-1949
Dearring, Edgar, 1941-1950
Director of Forums, 1938-1940
Doty, Lee D., 1934-1936
Dudley, Margery, 1940-1944
Duffendack, Omer, 1928-1938
Edwin, John, undated
Ellenboger, Pvt. Eric, 1943
Ellingsworth, James R., 1942
General F-G, 1900-1965, undated
Family Alter League, 1919
Fedler, Janet, 1944
Fellowship of Reconciliation, 1940-1941
First Methodist Church, Bloomington, 1934-1966
Fleming, Pvt. Warren, 1943
Foster, O.D., 1934-1956, undated
Frank, Bob,
1941-1942
Gage, Carl,
1934-1935
Gemmer, Robert, 1942-1949
Gilkey, Charles W., 1941-1942
Glass, Mira - Cosmopolitan Club,
1942
Glassner, Pvt. Myron S., 1942
Glenn, Jean,
1941
Gore, Pvt. William J., 1944-1946
Gottschall, Newton, 1941
Green, R. Edwin,
1939-1940
Greenwald, Rabbi Milton, 1946
Greer, Frank R., 1940-1941
Griggs, David, 1946-1948
Griggs, Pvt. Harry, 1946-1947
Grunfeld, Pvt. Rudulph, 1941
General H, 1908-1966
Hall, Donna,
1944-1949
Hawkins, Mary, 1941-1958
Heiser, Ben H., 1935-1953
Hess, F. Eugene, 1945-1947
Hill, Pvt. Martin Lyons, 1943
Hiser, W.S.,
1939-1951
Hodapp, Leroy, 1962-1965
Howard, Mary Agnes, 1944
Hudelson, Edna Frazer, 1956
General I-K, 1912-1966, undated
Imes, Ralph, 1940-1950
Indiana Memorial Union, 1938-1967
Indiana University Foundation, 1965-1967
Inman Family, 1914-1965, undated
Jackman, Edna Schultz, 1941
Jaenicken, Frederick H., 1934-1951, undated
Johnson, Reverend William J., 1919
Jones, Walter A., 1940
Katter, Carol, 1948
Keating, Winifred, 1934
Kellogg, Hiram W., ca. 1904
Kepler, Helen, 1949-1962
Kralis, Lieut. Frank, ca. 1944
General L, 1906-1962, undated
Lasbury, Mrs. Edwin, 1959-1961
Laury, Raymond H., 1940-1942
Ledheller, Marth, 1942-1946
Leslie, Albert C., 1944
Leslie, Ronald, 1910-1917
Lindquist, Margaret, 1946-1947
Littell, Guy, 1951, undated
Losche, Corp. Albert, 1943-1950
General M, 1909-1965
Marston, Al, 1950-1958, undated
Martin, Charlotte, 1936-1946
Maurer, Ethel, 1950
Maurer, Mrs. William F., 1945-1946
McAlister, A.W., ca. 1912
McConnel, T.J., 1910
McDowell, William F., 1912
McKown, E.M., 1940
Meacham, Paul L., 1939-1942
Methodist Book Concern, 1912-1940
Methodist Federation for Social Service, 1939-1940
Meyer, Lt. Max, 1940-1943
Midwest Council on Speakers on International Relations, 1937-1938
Mid-West Institute of International Relations, 1935-1936
Miscellaneous Correspondence, 2 folders, 1910-1966, undated
Moeckel, Marie, 1934-1936
Moore, Aubrey, 1941-1946
Moore, Jeanne Ann, 1943-1945
Moore, John Edward, 1943-1947
Moores Hill College – Related Correspondence, 1904-1907
Moran, Betty and Dick, 1943
Mount, Huston, ca. 1943
General N-P, 1912-1965, undated
National Christian Mission, 1940
National College of Education, 1934
National Conference of Christians and Jews, 1940-1947
Nesmith, Anna C., 1925-1964
Nicholson, Thomas, 1911-1914
Norris, 2nd Lt. Charles R., ca. 1942
Northcraft, Clifford, 1950
Olofson, Andy and Betty, 1940-1944
Palmer, Charles, 1936-1937
Patrick, J.E., 1944-1965
Phillips, George, 1934-1947
Pierce, Robert B., 1952-1963
General R, 1915-1967
Ragatz, B.J., 1960-1963
Rand, Sally, 1931-1932
Rawlings, Lola D., 1962
Reconciliation Trips, 1934-1941
Rees, Mary, 1941
Reid, Richard, 1952-1958
Reitman, Rose, 1933-1936
Box 10
Rock River Annual Conference, Board of Conference Claimants, 1937-1944
Rosenthal, Alice, 1941
General S, 1912-1965, undated
Schricker, Henry F., 1938-1940
Scott, Roland, 1942
Sears, Louis, 1935
Shafer, Alvia Beck, 1899-1952, undated
Sheridan, Thomas E., 1947-1966
Sigma Epsilon Theta, 1939
Sigma Nu Fraternity, 1938-1965, undated
Smith, Pvt. Dwight L., 1943-1945
Smith, Robert Morris, 1949-1952
State Young Men’s Christian Association, 1945-1946
Stein, Rose, 1956-1959
Stephenson, Robert and Elizabeth, 1936-1947
Strain, Julia, 1942-1948
Student Government, 1963
Student in Military Service – Addresses, undated
Sturgeon, Robert, 1937-1943
General T-V, 1935-1966, undated
Thomas, Norman, 1938-1939
Tiemeyer, Delores, 1949-1950
Trippet, Sanford, 1955-1962, undated
Ulmet, A. A., 1960, undated
Vincent, John H., 1897-1904
Visher, PFC John, 1943-1952
Volpert, Pvt. James F., 1943
General W-Z, 1912-1965, undated
Box 11
Walker, John, 1917-1948
Waltz, Ralph, 1942-1943
Wasoske, Mary, 1941
Wayfarers Lodger No. 1001, 1941
Wedding Invitations – Miscellaneous, 1941-1943,
undated
Wells, Herman B, 1935-1955
Wilkinson, Dolores Grice, 1939-1945
Wilson, Ray C., 1944-1945
Wright, Grace, 1939
Young American Wants to Help, 1941
Young, Jack, 1950-1961 , undated
Young Men's Christian Association, 1941-1946
Zuppman, Edith Evans, 1941-1944
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