Charles C. Deam papers, 1881-1983, bulk 1900-1953
A Guide to the Papers at the Indiana University Archives
Electronic finding aid encoded by Ryan K. Lee
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
Deam, Charles Clemon,
1865-1953.
TitleCharles C. Deam papers, 1881-1983, bulk 1900-1953
Collection no
C22
Extent
5.2 cubic ft.
Language
Materials are in English.
Abstract
Indiana's first state forester; Deam was
a taxonomic botanist known for his work on trees, plants, shrubs, and flowers of
Indiana. Collection consists of diaries, correspondence, copies of published books,
library records, financial records, notations on specimens, records of sale of Deam's
library and herbarium to Indiana University, articles about him, information about his
family, and a paper by Deam on the pharmacy business. Includes correspondence from
Charles A. Weatherby, curator of Gray Herbarium at Harvard University.
Access Restrictions
This collection is open for research.
Advance notice is required.
Biographical Note
Charles C. Deam was a taxonomic botanist known for his work on plants, trees,
flowers, and shrubs of Indiana. He was born on August 30, 1865 on a farm in Wells
County, Indiana. He graduated from Bluffton High School in 1884, taught school for a
year, and attended DePauw University between 1885 and 1887. Forced to drop out due to
a lack of funds, Deam went on to work at odd jobs, including that of drug store
apprentice. In 1891 he started a drug store business which he operated on his own
until he sold a part interest to J. Spivey in 1910. At the time of his death in 1953,
he still held a one third interest in the business.
Deam began collecting plants sometime in the 1890s when, as he frequently recounted,
his doctor ordered long walks to counteract ill effects of his job. From then on he
devoted most of his time to botanical interests. At first he considered the whole
world his subject and made some trips to Central America at the turn of the century
to collect plants there. Soon after, though, he decided to concentrate on Indiana and
by the end of his career claimed that he had been in and collected plants from every
township of the state. By the time he gave his herbarium to Indiana University it
contained at least 63,000 specimens, some of which he was first to identify. Although
he never earned a degree in botany, he did receive honorary degrees from Wabash
College, DePauw University, and Indiana University.
Deam held government positions related to his interests: State Forester, 1909-1913;
Acting State Forester, 1917-1918; State Forester, 1919 to 1928; and State Forestry
Researcher, 1928-1940. In 1921, he wrote and pushed through House Bill 77 which
protected woodlands and reduced the taxes on them.
Deam published many articles and four books, each in several editions: Trees of
Indiana (1912); Shrubs of Indiana (1924); Grasses of Indiana (1929); and Flora of
Indiana (1940).
In 1893, Deam married Stella Mullin (1870-1953). She taught school at that time and
later became active in community and women's groups in Bluffton. They had two
children: Robert Mullin Deam (1896-1898) and Roberta Deam Ortenburger (1900-1961).
For more information on Charles Deam, consult the following:
- Kriebel, Robert.
Plain Ol' Charlies Deam: Pioneer
Hoosier Botanist.
West Lafayette, IN: Purdue University Press,
1987.
- Weatherwax, Paul.
"Charles C. Deam: Hoosier
Botanist."
Indiana Magazine of History 67 (1971):
197-267.
Scope and Content Note
This collection contains material created and collected by Charles C. Deam, an Indiana
taxonomic botantist, forestry official, and businessman. The Charles C. Deam Papers
comprise 5.4 cubic feet and span the period from 1881 to 1983 with the bulk of the
records created between 1900 and 1953. The collection is divided into five series:
Personal information; Journals; Publications by Charles Deam; Correspondence; and
Subject files. The Subject files series is divided into four sub-series: Administrative
files; Botany and science; General files; and Unpublished works and notes.
The first series is Biographical information. It contains materials from the years
1884-1983. The series consists primarily of articles written about Deam and published in
newspapers, magazines, and newsletters. Included in this series are one of his father's
patents, a letter to Deam’s daughter, Roberta Deam Ortenburger, from Gene Stratton
Porter, and information about his wife, Stella Mullin Deam. The series also includes a
folder of speeches about Deam that were delivered by Harriet Winch.
Journals is the second series and spans the years 1900-1953. The series includes Deam's
personal professional journals, dating from 1900 to 1953, with those written after
October 1913 containing entries for almost every day. These journals read almost like
diary entries and include personal as well as professional information. Some also
include newspaper clippings taped to the pages.
The next series covers the years 1912-1953 and is entitled Publications by Charles Deam.
This series contains copies of Deam's texts including
Shrubs of
Indiana
,
Trees of Indiana,
Grasses of Indiana, and
Flora of
Indiana
. The files include handwritten notes and corrections made by Deam.
The series also includes a folder of newspaper articles written by Deam dating from
1914-1919.
The next series is Correspondence, 1896-1953, and includes letters Deam wrote and
received as well as special bound collections of letters he received honoring him on
special occasions. Especially noteworthy is correspondence from Charles A. Weatherby,
curator of the Gray Herbarium at Harvard University, a good part of which includes
notations and messages by Deam. There is also much correspondence between Deam and
Harriet Winch, Paul Weatherwax, T.E. Shaw, and Ray Friesener. This series is arranged
alphabetically by surname.
The last series is Subject files. This series is divided into four sub-series:
Administration; Botany and science; General files; and Unpublished works and notes. The
sub-series are arranged alphabetically as are the folders within them. The material in
this series dates from 1881-1953.
The first sub-series is Administration. It spans the years 1881-1953. This sub-series
contains financial records of both personal and professional nature. It also includes
Deam’s labor record from 1909-1913 and lists of magazine subscriptions and library
transactions, which Deam meticulously recorded in two bound volumes.
The second sub-series spans the years 1885-1952 and is entitled Botany and science. It
includes brochures and information about botanical gardens that Deam had visited, a leaf
specimen that he had collected, and an article written by Elmore Barce that caught
Deam’s attention. It also contains the minutes of the Spenser Club, which are mostly
written by Deam’s wife, Stella. The Spenser Club was a botany club run by Deam and his
wife on the Indiana University campus.
General files is the third sub-series and contains materials from the years 1884-1953.
Of particular interest is House Bill No. 77 which was proposed by Deam during his time
as state forester. The awards file contains cards of recognition from Deam’s time as a
primary school student as well as certificates of travel in South America from later
times in his life. There is also a folder of articles written by Roland M. Harper. The
folder also contains an article about Harper himself, but offers no explanation of how
his articles found their way into this collection. The articles are of a mostly
political character, and it is presumed that Deam was either interested in these topics
or a friend of the author.
The last sub-series is Unpublished works and notes. The material in this sub-series
spans 1883-1952. The bulk of the material is comprised of Deam’s notes on different
plant specimens, some of which is found in spiral bound notebooks. The series also
contains some of Deam’s high school assignments, such as the Latin exercise book and the
school essays and drawings. The photo record is a list of photos taken by Deam on his
expeditions.
Arrangement
Arranged in five series: Biographical information; Journals; Publications;
Correspondence; and Subject files. The Subject files series is divided into four
sub-series: Administration, Botany and science, General files and Unpublished works and
notes.
-
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.
-
-
Separated Material
Seed samples from box 6.
A collection of oversized certificates that is stored upstairs.
Series: Created by Deam, discarded 27 old textbooks and approximately 25
envelopes.
Series: About Deam, discarded duplicates of articles about Deam and magazines and
newspapers from which articles about him had been cut.
Administrative Information
Usage RestrictionsThe donor(s) of this collection have not transferred their copyrights for the materials to the Trustees of Indiana University.
For more information, please contact the Indiana University Archives staff.
The Indiana University Archives respects the intellectual property rights of others and does not claim any copyrights for
non-university records, materials in the public domain, or materials for which we do not hold a Deed of Gift. Responsibility
for the determination of the copyright status of these materials rests with those persons wishing to reuse the materials.
Researchers are responsible for securing permission from copyright owners and any other rights holders for any reuse of these
materials that extends beyond fair use or other statutory limitations.
Digital reproductions of archival materials from the Indiana University Archives are made available for noncommercial educational
and research purposes only. If you are the copyright holder for any of the digitized materials and have questions about its
inclusion on our site, please contact the Indiana University Archivist.
Preferred Citation
[Item], Charles C. Deam papers, Collection C22, Indiana University Archives, Bloomington.
Processing InformationProcessed by Kathryn Fuller; revised by Dina Kellams and Rebecca Smith
Completed in 2006.
Series:
Biographical information, 1884-1983
Box 1
Teaching license, 1884
Certificates from honorary societies, programs from events at which
Deam was honored, etc., 1905-1934
Articles about Charles Deam,
1924-1974
Information on the Deam Family, 1885-1954
Winch, Harriet: speeches re: Deam, 1936,
1979
Series:
Journals, 1900-1953
Box 1
June 18-July 18, 1900
1910
1911
1912
1913
Nov. 1, 1913-Dec. 12, 1917
Dec. 12, 1917-Sept. 11, 1921
Sept. 21, 1921-May 19, 1925
May 20, 1925-June 5, 1925
June 6, 1929-Sept. 17, 1934
Sept. 18, 1934-June 25, 1939
June 26, 1939-Apr. 8, 1945
Apr. 10, 1945-Aug. 29, 1950
Aug. 30, 1950-March 29, 1953
Series:
Publications, 1912-1953
Box 2
State Board of Forestry. Eleventh Annual Report, 1911
Contains
Trees of Indiana, pp. 86-357, 1912
Trees of Indiana,
pp. 86-357 of State Board of Forestry Eleventh Annual Report bound
with extra papers on which Deam has written notes, 1912
2d ed, 1919
1st rev. ed.,
1921
(includes handwritten corrections), 1921
2d rev. ed. (4th ed. bound with extra papers on which Deam has
written notes), 1931
3d rev. ed. (5th ed.), 1953
Grasses of Indiana,
1929
Shrubs of Indiana,
1924
(bound with extra papers on which Deam has written notes), 1924
2d ed., 1932
Flora of Indiana,
1940
(bound with extra papers on which Deam has written notes), 1940
Newspaper articles by Deam, 1914-1919
Series:
Correspondence, 1896-1983
Box 3
"A", 1913-1953
Abbe, Ernst C., 1951
Adair, E. Ross, 1952-1953
Aellen, Paul, 1932,
1946
Ammons, Nelle, 1951
Anderson, Edgar, 1929-1958
Andrew, Margaret, 1950
Andrews, Abe E., 1950
Andrews, F. M., 1929
Arnold Arboretum, Harvard University, 1921,
1951
Arthur, J. C., 1938
“B", 1935-1953
Bailey, L. H., 1949-1952
Bailey, William M., 1951
Baldwin, S. Glidden, 1950
Ball, Carleton R., 1921-1946
Banta, Edna, 1950
Barger, N. R., 1951
Barnes, William B., 1943-1951
Barnhart, John Hendley, 1932,
1938
Bartlett, H. H., 1924,
1950,
1953
Beadell, H. A., 1952-1953
Bechtel, A. R., 1936-1953
Becker, Elmer, 1950
Benson, Lyman, 1939-1941
Bidgood, Hallie, 1952
Billington, Cecil, 1950,
1952
Birthday Letters to Deam, 1945
(bound volume)
Blatchley, W. S., 1896,
1938
Braun, E. Lucy, 1951
Brenckle, J. F., 1939,
1942
Brook, Parker & Co. Ltd., 1951
Brooks, Earl, 1951-1952
Buckmaster, Mrs. Sidney M., 1950
Butler, Amos W., 1929
"C", 1913-1953
Calvert, Mrs. Scott, 1952,
undated
Camp, Wendell H., 1944-1952
Chase, Agnes, 1940-1951
Clausen, Robert T., 1937,
1942
Cleland, Ralph E., 1939-1940
Coats, Nellie, 1952
Cook, James E., 1950,
1953
Cook, Melville T., 1952
Coopers, R. H., 1950
Coulter, Deam, 1917-1928
Craig, E. Lingle, 1951
Craven, Crin, 1949
Cummins, George B., 1930,
1952
"D", 1913-1983
Daily, William A., 1951
Davidson, J. F., 1950
Dayton, William A., 1942,
1949
Dinner Honoring Deam, 1938
(bound volume)
Denuyl, Daniel, 1931-1954
Dietz, Harry F., 1950,
1953
Dobbs, Ray, 1950-1952
Duncan, Wilbur H., 1950
Ek, Charles M., 1934,
1950-1954
Enders, H. E., 1951
Essig, Sanford F., 1950,
undated
"F", 1910-1952
Fassett, Norman C., 1942,
1951-1953
Farwell, Oliver A., 1931,
1941
Fately, Nolan W., 1950-1951
Faught, Francis Ashley, 1927
Fix, William L., 1951-1952
Flora of Indiana: Reviews and Letters, 1940-1941
(bound volume)
Fort, Russell, 1950-1951
Fox, William B., 1950-1951
Friesner, Ray C.,
1931-1937
1943-1945
1946-1949
1949-1956
Fuller, Albert M., 1944,
1953
"G", 1921-1952
re: Deam’s collection of Galls, 1917
Gates, F. C., 1952-1953
Goodwin, Maurice C., 1951
Goodwin, Mrs. M. C., 1951
Gray Herbarium, 1925,
1950-1951
Greene, Richard A., 1951
Grepke, Eva, 1952
Guthrie, W. A., 1913,
1917
"H", 1909-1952
Hamlet, Mr. & Mrs. Jack, 1951,
1953
Hansen, Robert J., 1950
Harper, Roland M., 1950-1953
Hatt, Robert T., 1947-1952
Hayes, Stanley W., 1942-1944,
1951
Hebert, P. E., 1952
Heiser, Charles B., 1944-1952
Hedden, L. H., 1950
Hermann, Fred, 1940-1952
Hessler, Robert, 1914
Hitchcock, A. S., 1920,
1925-1926
Hobbs, C. M., 1913
Hooten, Elliott R., 1912
Howe, Thomas D., 1953
Howell, A. V., 1951
Huffman, Sue, 1951
Hulten, Eric, 1952
Hussey, Paul, 1938,
1940
(re: John Hussey)
"I", 1926-1952
International Friendship Gardens, 1951
"J", 1933-1945
Jackson, H. S., 1919-1920
Jackson, Lida and Ed, 1913,
1950
Jones, G. Neville, 1942,
1952
Jotter, E. V., 1948-1953
"K", 1950-1952
Keefe, Anselm M., 1951
Kinkead, Ludie J., 1945
Kinsey, Alfred C., 1950
Kriebel, Ralph M.,
1932-1938
1939-1940
Kunkel, Kenneth M., 1913,
1950-1952
Box 4
"L", 1926,
1950-1953
Leatherman, Anna D., 1952
Ledin, R. Bruce, 1952
Liming, A. N., 1951
Lion’s Club, 1952
Logue, Everett G., 1948-1953
“Mac-Mc”, 1913-1951
McAbee, Margaret, 1952-1953
McAtee, Waldo L., 1952
McCoy, William A., 1950
McFarland, Frank T., 1950-1953
"M", 1929-1952
Markle, Millard S., 1950
Marshall, Thomas R., 14 Jul 1913
(United States Vice President)
Men’s Garden Club (Fort Wayne), 1951
Miller, Helen, 1952
Moldenke, Harold N., 1942,
1952-1953
Mottier, David M., 1913-1933
Munz, Philip A., 1936,
1945
"N", 1951,
1953
Neff, Ivy J., 1950-1953
Nelson, James E., 1918
Nielsen, P. Chr., 1950
Nordine, Roy, 1951
"O", 1926-1951
Ortenburger, Robert, 1950-1951
(grandson)
Ortenburger, Roberta D., 1951,
1953
(daughter)
Ownbey, Gerald B., 1950
"P", 1941-1952
Palmer, Ernest J., 1938-1953
Palmer, T. S., 1951
Patton, Will A., 1950
Pauley, Scott S., 1951-1952
Phinney, A. J., 1931-1932,
1938
Pleiss, Griffin A., 1945
Potzger, John E., 1946-1953
"R", 1909-1952
Rickett, H. W., 1934,
1948
Rinear, Ralph W., 1950
Rollins, Reed C., 1952
Rosendahl, C. O., 1949-1951
"S", 1933-1953
Sark, Elmer J., 1950-1951
Sauers, Charles G., 1951,
1953
Saufley, William E., 1951
Science Press Printing Company, 1939
Segal, Simon, 1951
Seybert, John E., 1950-1952
Shaw, Thomas E.,
1949-1951
1952-1953
Shinners, Lloyd H., 1942,
1945
Steele, Edward S., 1916-1917
Steyermark, J. A., 1950-1951
Storrs & Bement Company, 1952
Swallen, Jason R., 1943,
1949
Swink, Floyd A., 1950-1951
Svenson, Henry K., 1932-1951
"T", 1913-1952
Tehon, Louis O., 1951-1953
Totten, H. R., 1951-1952
Troop, J., 1928
Tucker, Mack, 1953
"U", 1945,
1950
Utter, L. Gordon, 1932
VanCamp, J.L., 1949-1952
Visher, S. S., 1945
"W", 1913-1953
Wadmond, Samuel C., 1950-1952
Weatherby, Charles A., 1930-1952
Weatherwax, Paul,
1916-1929
1930-1938
1939-1953
Welch, Winona H., 1939,
1950-1953
Wells, B. W., 1918-1952
Wells, Herman B, 1939
Wheeler, Lawrence, 1951
Wilcox, Ralph, 1949-1953
Winch, Harriet,
1936
1937
1938
1939
1940
1941-1949
1950
Box 5
1951-1953
Winchell, John H., 1950
Witmer, S. W., 1951-1952
Wood, Elmo S., 1952
Woolen, William Watson, 1913,
1916
Young, Catherine M. E., 1942
Yuncker, Truman G., 1951,
1953
Zyon, Rolla, 1953
Fragments & Unknown, 1934,
1947,
undated
Series:
Subject files, 1881-1953
Subseries:
Administration, 1881-1953
Financial records,
Box 5
Expense book, 1881-1882
Household furniture, 1893
Cost of residence, 1902-1907
Specimen purchases, 1912-1950
Labor Record: Total hours worked, 1909-1913
Library record,
Books loaned, 1903-1951
Catalogue of books, 1893-1953
Magazine subscriptions and dues to organizations, 1926-1950
(notebook)
Subseries:
Botany and science, 1885-1952
Box 5
Barce, Elmore- Article, 1930
Brookville Society Natural History bulletin, 1885-1886
Changes in nomenclature since Gray, 1935
Leaf Specimens- Deam Oak (outside Bluffton, Indiana), undated
“A Letter Mostly About Oaks and Plums”, 1952
Missouri Botanical Garden, 1914
Spenser club minutes, 1902-1907
Wells County Atlas, 1938
Subseries:
General files, 1884-1953
Box 5
Address book, 1912-1952
Autograph book, 1884-1891
Awards, certificates, resolutions, 1887-1952
Classified owners list- Indiana counties, 1933
Guestbook: Deam’s arboretum,
1925-1941,
1947
1941-1953
Harper, R.: Articles sent to Deam, 1939-1953
House Bill no.77- Authored by Deam, 1921
Information on other botanists, 1920’s-30’s,
undated
Indiana counties information, undated
Letters of recommendation re: Deam, 1885-1946
Subseries:
Unpublished works and notes, 1883-1952
Box 5
Bolle: Geum notes, undated
Botany workbook, 1884-1896
Early botanical collections, undated
Exercise book: Latin translations, 1883-1886
Hibiscus Palusris Linn notes, undated
Flora notes,
Florida, 1938-1949
Indiana, 1941-1952
Kentucky, 1940
Box 6
List of plants in cultivation, undated
List of Indiana Collectors, 1936,
undated
Notebooks,
Miscellaneous Information, 1910-1922
Pharmaceuticals and Household products, 1910
Notes, Misc., undated
Photo record, 1913-1938
School essay speech and drawing, 1880’s
Specimens loaned, 1937-1950
Willows of Indiana notes, 1919