History of New Harmony, Indiana, 1977
A Guide to the Collection of Oral History Interviews at Indiana University
Bloomington
Finding aid prepared by the staff of the Center for
the Study of History and Memory with a grant from the National Endowment for the
Humanities Division of Preservation and Access, 2000-2002
Overview of the Collection
Repository
Indiana University Center for Documentary Research and Practice
Indiana University
Franklin Hall 0030B
601 E. Kirkwood Avenue
Bloomington, IN 47405
Phone: 812/855-2856
Fax: 812/855-0002
E-mail: ohrc@indiana.edu
https://cdrp.mediaschool.indiana.edu
Creator
Indiana University Center for the
Study of History and Memory
TitleHistory of New Harmony, Indiana, 1977
Project No.
ohrc049
Interviews
8 interviews. Audiotapes, transcripts, and collateral
materials.
Physical Location
Interviews are housed in Franklin Hall, Room 0030B. Copies of interview transcripts are also held by the IU Libraries University
Archives.
Contact archives@indiana.edu for more information. For other locations housing the interviews
from this project, please contact the Center for Documentary Research and Practice office.
Language
Materials are in English
Abstract
The interviews in this collection primarily address New Harmony in
the early twentieth century. The interviewees discuss the Centennial
celebration, 1913 Flood, Murphy lecture series, and the impact of religion in
the community. Throughout the collection, knowledge is shared of the early
Rappite and Owen communities, particularly in regards to changes in the
community as they relate to the historic preservation movement.
Scope and Content Note
This collection contains eight interviews conducted in 1977. The interviews range from 50 to 115 minutes. All interviews
consist of audio tapes and typed transcripts, as well as collateral materials.
Administrative Information
Acquisition Information
Oral history interviews conducted by the Indiana University Center for the
Study of History and Memory from 1968 to the present, with particular focus on the
history of twentieth-century America and the Midwest.
Usage Restrictions
The archive of the Center for Documentary Research and Practice at Indiana University is open
to the use of researchers. Copies of transcript pages are available only when such copies
are permitted by the deed of gift. Scholars must honor any
restrictions the interviewee placed on the use of the interview. Since some of our earlier
(pre-computer) transcripts do not exist in final form, any editing marks in a transcript
(deletions, additions, corrections) are to be quoted as marked. Audio files may not be copied for
patrons unless the deed of gift permits it, and a transcript is unavailable for that
interview. The same rules of use that apply to a transcript apply to the audio interview.
Interviews may not be reproduced in full for any public use, but excerpted quotes may be
used as long as researchers fully cite the data in their research, including accession
number, interview date, interviewee's and interviewer's name, and page(s).
Preferred Citation
[interviewee first name last name] interview, by [interviewer first name last
name], [interview date(s)], [call number], [project name], Center for Documentary Research and Practice, Indiana University,
Bloomington, [page number(s) or tape
number and side if no transcript; if digital audio and no transcript, cite time when quote occurs].
Interview List
Interviewee
Cox, Raymond S.
November 17,
1977
Call Number
77-040
Physical Description
26 pages; 1 tape, 1 7/8 ips, 65 minutes; no
index
Interviewer
Giroux, Vincent A.
Access Status
Open
Scope and Content Note
Raymond Cox, born 1896, grew up in the New Harmony area, and
remained there most of his life. He speaks about becoming a school teacher,
enlisting in the Air Corps during World War I, and selling automobiles. He
discusses the decline of the automobile business during the Great Depression
and World War II, and the alternative employment he worked, such as
constructing outhouses and being a town trustee.
-
Keywords
-
-
Corporation Names
- 262nd Air Corps
-
-
Occupation Names
- automobile salesman
- school teacher
-
-
Personal Names
- Ribeyre, Alfred
-
-
Place Names
- Cutoff Island, Indiana
- Jefferson Barracks, Missouri
-
-
Subjects
- dance hall
- farming
- gasoline stations
- Great Depression
- oil boom
- outhouse construction
- sharecropping
- World War I
Interviewee
Donald, Dorothy; Donald, Mildred
November 16,
1977
Call Number
77-036
Physical Description
41 pages; 2 tapes, 1 7/8 ips, 100 minutes; no
index
Interviewer
Giroux, Vincent A.
Access Status
Open
Scope and Content Note
Dorothy, born 1899, and Mildred Donald, born 1898, both grew up
in New Harmony, Indiana, before pursuing teaching careers and moving away. They
speak not only about their education, but also the education and teaching of
their students. They discuss their religious background and the influence of
religion on the community. They believe changes in the town, such as the
emphasis on preservation, have allowed the community to survive.
-
Keywords
-
-
Corporation Names
- St. Stephen's Episcopal Church
- Women's Club
- Working Men's Institute
-
-
-
-
Subjects
- 1913 Flood
- community changes
- education
- Great Depression
- historic preservation
- local business district
- Methodist church
- New Harmony Centennial
- religion
- social activities
- teaching
- World War II
Interviewee
Elliott, Helen
November 15,
1977
Call Number
77-035
Physical Description
44 pages; 1 tape, 1 7/8 ips, 105 minutes; index
Interviewer
Giroux, Vincent A.
Access Status
Open
Scope and Content Note
Helen Elliott, born 1893, grew up in New Harmony and was a
history teacher in Indianapolis for many years before returning to the town.
She discusses her early life, particularly education, teaching, and religion.
She knows much of the religious influence in New Harmony and discusses its
changes through the years. She fondly recalls the influential people in her
childhood and the emphasis they placed on intellectual pursuits. While she was
teaching in Indianapolis, she became involved in the New Harmony Memorial
Commission. After her return to New Harmony in the nineteen forties, she
continued her involvement in the history and preservation of the town, and
discusses it in detail.
-
Keywords
-
-
Corporation Names
- Historic New Harmony, Incorporated
- New Harmony Memorial Commission
-
-
Occupation Names
- history teacher
-
-
Personal Names
- Bryan, William Jennings
- Owen, Jane
-
-
Place Names
- Indianapolis, Indiana
-
-
Subjects
- 1913 Flood
- church events
- church influence
- community changes
- education
- family history
- historic preservation
- local business
- Murphy lecture series
- oil boom
- religion
- social activities
- teaching
- tourism
Interviewee
Glump, Almah W.; Glump, Harry S.
November 15,
1977
Call Number
77-034
Physical Description
48 pages; 1 tape, 1 7/8 ips, 115 minutes; no
index
Interviewer
Giroux, Vincent A.
Access Status
Open
Scope and Content Note
Almah and Harry Glump, both born 1894, lived in New Harmony,
Indiana all of their lives. They speak about the town in the early twentieth
century in regards to recreational activities, education, and their various
jobs. They also describe the importance and influence of the various religions.
Much discussion is given to the restoration of the town, and both the positive
and negative effects it has had on population, business, and tourism.
-
Keywords
-
-
Corporation Names
- St. Stephen's Episcopal Church
-
-
Personal Names
- Fauntleroy, Mary
- McClure, William
- Owen, Jane
-
-
Subjects
- 1913 Flood
- education
- employment
- local business decline
- opera houses
- racial inequities
- religious influences
- religion
- social activities
Interviewee
Johnson, Alvin; Johnson, Geraldine
November 17,
1977
Call Number
77-039
Physical Description
39 pages; 1 tape, 1 7/8 ips, 90 minutes; no
index
Interviewer
Giroux, Vincent A.
Access Status
Open
Scope and Content Note
Alvin, born 1897, and Geraldine Johnson, born 1898, were long
time residents of New Harmony, Indiana. They recall the early twentieth century
living in a small town. Their discussion concentrates on social activities,
religion, education, and the effects of historic preservation on the viability
of the town. They also describe the 1913 Flood, the Great Depression, and the
oil boom of the early nineteen forties.
-
Keywords
-
-
Corporation Names
- St. Stephen's Episcopal Church
-
-
-
Occupation Names
- music teacher
-
-
Place Names
- Poseyville, Indiana
-
-
Subjects
- 1913 Flood
- agriculture
- education
- farming
- Great Depression
- Murphy lecture series
- oil boom
- Rappites
- religion
- social activities
- tourism
- World War I
Interviewee
Kuykendall, Mary E.
November 17,
1977
Call Number
77-041
Physical Description
20 pages; 1 tape, 1 7/8 ips, 50 minutes; no index;
photograph
Interviewer
Giroux, Vincent A.
Access Status
Open
Scope and Content Note
Mary Kuykendall, born 1887, moved to New Harmony, Indiana just
prior to her marriage in 1906. She discusses early recreational activities and
the role of religion in the town and her life. She speaks about the horrific
1913 Flood and the well-received Centennial celebration the following year.
-
Keywords
-
-
Corporation Names
- St. Stephen's Episcopal Church
-
-
Subjects
- 1913 Flood
- church events
- community changes
- local business
- New Harmony Centennial
- religion
- social activities
Interviewee
Mathas, Anne; Stallings, Frances J.
November 16,
1977
Call Number
77-037
Physical Description
32 pages; 1 tape, 1 7/8 ips, 75 minutes; no index;
photograph
Interviewer
Giroux, Vincent A.
Access Status
Open
Scope and Content Note
Anne Mathas and Frances Stallings, twins born 1892, grew up in
New Harmony, Indiana. They discuss their early education, religious background,
and the social events of the early twentieth century. Particularly memorable
were the Murphy lectures and the Centennial celebration. They speak about
changes in the community and the influence of the restoration movement.
-
Keywords
-
-
Corporation Names
- St. Stephen's Episcopal Church
-
-
-
Subjects
- 1913 Flood
- childhood
- church
- church events
- community changes
- education
- historic preservation
- Murphy lecture series
- New Harmony Centennial
- politics
- religion
- social activities
Interviewee
Tolliver, Foster
November 16,
1977
Call Number
77-038
Physical Description
38 pages; 1 tape, 1 7/8 ips, 90 minutes; index
Interviewer
Giroux, Vincent A.
Access Status
Open
Scope and Content Note
Foster Tolliver, born 1921, grew up in Posey County, Indiana,
but did not move to New Harmony until after World War II. He was a local
businessman and town councilman for many years before becoming mayor. He
discusses many of the public works projects he was involved with during this
period. Some, such as the Sanitary Sewer System, were successful, but others,
such as the installation of water meters, met stiff opposition and failed. He
describes the benefit of historic preservation in terms of tourism and
increased land values, but feels the town has been in a general decline since
World War II.
-
Keywords
-
-
Corporation Names
- Historic New Harmony, Incorporated
- Southern Indiana Gas and Electric Company
- Tree of Life Clinic
-
-
-
Personal Names
- Owen, Jane
-
-
Place Names
- Poseyville, Indiana
-
-
Subjects
- community changes
- community development
- education system
- electric utility system
- flood plain ordinance
- historic preservation
- sanitary sewer system
- water meters
