Wilbur F. Pell, Jr. papers, 1932-1987, bulk
1934-1937
A Guide to his papers at the Indiana University Archives.
Finding aid prepared by Sara Szakaly.
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
Pell, Wilbur F., 1915-2000.
TitleWilbur F. Pell, Jr. papers, 1932-1987, bulk
1934-1937
Collection No.
C422
Extent
.4 cubic feet (1 box)
Language
Materials are in English
Abstract
Wilbur F. Pell, Jr., a 1937 graduate of
Indiana University and a 1940 graduate of Harvard University Law School, led a
successful career in law. While a student at Indiana University, he held leadership
positions in numerous areas, including editor of both IU’s humor magazine the Bored
Walk and of the university yearbook, the Arbutus. He also served as the manager of
the University Theatre, and in 1936 was elected Grand Master of the Beta Theta
Chapter of the Kappa Sigma Fraternity at Indiana University. This collection
contains materials related to his work with the Arbutus, Beta Theta, and the
University Theatre. Also included is a small amount of personal correspondence.
Access Restrictions
Collection is open for research. Advance notice required.
Biographical Note
A native of Shelbyville, Indiana, Wilbur Pell, Jr. dedicated much of his life to the
practice of law. Pell was born in December 1915 to Wilbur F. and Nelle A. Dickerson
Pell. As a teenager he attended Shelbyville High School, later moving to
Bloomington, Indiana, where he attended Indiana University. While at IU, Pell became
head editor of the IU’s humor magazine the Bored Walk and of the university yearbook
the Arbutus. He also served as manager of the University Theatre and was an active
member in the Beta Theta Chapter of the Kappa Sigma fraternity.
After receiving his A.B. in history in 1937, Pell attended Harvard Law School,
graduating in 1940 cum laude. The same year, Pell married Mary Lane Chase on
September 14. Pell returned to Shelbyville to join his father’s law firm. There was
a brief interruption in his work from 1942 to 1945 when Pell worked as a Special
Agent to the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
Following his return to law, Pell became an active member in the local and state
communities. He served on the board of directors of Shelbyville Community Chest
(1947-1949), director of the Westminster Foundation at Indiana University
(1947-1949), director and chairman of the Shelby National Bank (1947-1970), Director
of Shelby County TB Association (1948-1965) and president of the same association
from 1965 to 1966. Pell also participated in the Shelby County Fair Association
(1951-1953), and acted as district governor (1952-1953) and as president (1959-1961)
of the Chicago Rotary Club. He also acted as the district chairman of Boy Scouts of
America (1956-1957), the Shelby County President (1957-1958), President of the
Seventh Federal Circuit, Indianapolis (1962-1963), and as Chairman House of
Delegates (1968-1969). In addition, Pell was also an active member in Blue Key,
Alpha Phi Omega, Theta Alpha Phi, Tau Kappa Alpha, the American Bar Association, the
Fellow American College of Probate Counsel, the American Bar Foundation, American
Judicature Society and National Conference of Bar Presidents.
The recipient of many awards including honorary law degrees from Yonsei University,
Seoul, Korea, John Marshall Law School, and Indiana University, Pell was honored
with the Sagamore of the Wabash by Indiana governors Otis Bowen and Robert Orr. In
1973, he received the American Bar Association’s Judge Edward R. Finch Law Day
U.S.A. Speech Award for the best Law Day speech in the United States.
From 1953-1955, Wilbur Pell served as Deputy Attorney General for Indiana. In late
1969, Pell was nominated by President Richard M. Nixon to serve on the Court of
Appeals Seventh Circuit. Pell was appointed for life by Nixon on May 11, 1970. Among
his more noteworthy cases is the Chicago Seven Trial (1969-1970) for which he filed
the only dissenting opinion. Over the years, Pell shared regular correspondence with
various members of the judiciary including Supreme Court Justices Rehnquist, Burger,
and Stevens. Additional correspondents include Alfred P. Murrah, Richard M. Nixon,
Nelson Rockefeller, Dan Quayle, and columnist Ann Landers.
Pell passed away at the age of 84 in September 2000.
(Biographical note written by staff at the Indiana University
Law Library.)
Arrangement
Collection is organized into three series: Correspondence, Beta Theta and University
Theatre.
Scope and Content Note
The papers of Wilbur F. Pell, Jr. span the years 1932-1987 and have been organized
into three series: Correspondence, Beta Theta and University Theatre.
The first series, Correspondence, is dated 1936-1937 and is organized into two
subseries: Arbutus and Personal correspondence. The Arbutus subseries contains
correspondence between Pell and various individuals and companies regarding the
printing of the 1936-1937 Arbutus. These are organized alphabetically by personal or
company name. The second subseries contains a small amount of personal
correspondence pertaining to Pell’s application to the Harvard Law School and travel
arrangements for a trip to Europe. These are organized alphabetically by
correspondent surname.
The second series, Beta Theta, is dated 1932-1987, and contains items Pell collected
as a member and leader of the Beta Theta chapter of Kappa Sigma. The series is
organized alphabetically by folder title and includes varied items as copies of the
fraternity newsletter Beta Theta Times, a small amount of correspondence, by-laws,
and election information. Additionally, the 1987
Beta Theta
Chapter Record
is included.
University Theatre is the final series and is dated 1934-1936. Organized
alphabetically by folder title, items in this series include a copy of
The Indiana Dramalog, and a 1936 I.U. Revue program, many
play programs, two partial playbooks, and a ticket book for the 1935 University
Theatre season.
-
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.
-
Related Material
The finding aid for Pell’s papers at the Indiana University Law Library can be found
at:
www.law.indiana.edu/lawlibrary/collections/doc/Pell_FindingAid.pdf
Administrative Information
Acquisition Information
Accession Information: 2010/104
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], Wilbur F. Pell, Jr. papers, Collection C422, Indiana University Archives, Bloomington.
Provenance
This collection was separated from a larger collection of Pell’s papers, which is
held by the Indiana University law library.
Appraisal
Items with student grades have been removed and destroyed.
Processing InformationProcessed by Sara Szakaly.
Completed in 2010
Container List
Series:
Box 1
Correspondence, 1936-1937
Subseries:
Box 1
Arbutus, 1936-1937
J.C. Allen and Son, 1937
American Binder Corp, 1937
Benton Review Shop, 1937
Carlon, Jerry, 1937
Drake University, 1937
Elliot, Harry, 1937
Funkhouser, James, 1937
Samuel R. Guard and Company, 1937
Harrell, Charles, 1937
Hoop, Tom, 1937
Hunsiger, Gilbert, 1937
Indianapolis Engraving Company, 1937
Jahn and Ollier Engraving Company, 1937
Keppen, Dorothy, 1937
Midland Press, 1937
National Philatelic Bureau, 1937
Pontiac Engraving and Electrotype Company, 1937
Reagan, Gordon L., 1937
“Rens”, 1937
The S.K. Smith Company, 1937
Solotken, Jeanette, 1937
Teter, Nellie Showers, c.
1937
Underwood Elliot Fisher Company, 1936
Subseries:
Box 1
Personal, 1936-1937
Davis, Paul Y., 1936
Harvard University, 1937
Waterman Steamship Corporation, 1937
Viking Voyages, 1937
Series:
Box 1
Beta Theta, 1932-1987,
undated
Beta Theta Chapter Record,
c. 1987
Beta-Theta Times,
1935-1936
By-laws, 1932-1933
Christmas card, undated
Correspondence, 1935-1938
Dance cards, 1933-1936
"Dodsonia" (information about
Fred Dodson, candidate for Prom King), undated
Facsimiles, undated
"Oh, the Beebees" (song lyrics),
undated
Point system for blue key election, undated
Series:
Box 1
University Theatre, 1934-1936,
undated
The Indiana Dramalog,
1935
I.U. Revue, 1936
Playbooks, undated
"The Judge"
undated
Untitled, undated
Programs, 1934-1936,
undated
After Dark,
1936
Around the Corner,
undated
Drafts, undated
The Brat,
undated
Heloise and Abelard,
1934,
1935
The Hoosier School-Master,
1935
Ladies of the Jury,
1934
The Merchant of Venice,
undated
The Music Master,
1936
No, No, Nanette,
1935
The Old Maid,
1935
The Prize Winner,
1936
Romeo and Juliet,
1935
Rosmerholm,
1936
Solid South,
1935
The Wild Duck,
undated
Season book, 1935
