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COLLECTIONS & WILLIAM HENRY SMITH MEMORIAL LIBRARY 

 
 
Notable Hoosiers

Notable Hoosiers consist of selected historically significant Indiana individuals who are well-known for their past activities or contributions to the state. Not all notables are native Hoosiers, but all spent some measurable amount of time in Indiana. There are many Hoosiers that would fit into this category, however, the Indiana Historical Society has only a limited number of digital images that represent this topic. As more are received, they will be added to the digital collections.
Madam C.J. Walker Notable Hoosiers
James Whitcomb Riley--Hoosier Poet Lew Wallace in New Mexico


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Madam C.J. Walker (M 0399)

Madam C.J. Walker was a self-made businesswoman who became a national figure and philanthropist. In 1910 she moved to Indianapolis, setting up a factory and beauty school. The collection contains the personal and business papers of Madam Walker, A’Lelia Walker, Freeman B. Ransom, and others who worked for the company, company records relating to operations and the beauty schools and agents, and materials from businesses located in the Walker Building in Indianapolis. This digital collection is a sample of the materials found in the collection.

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Notable Hoosiers

Indiana has more claims to fame than David Letterman and John Mellencamp. Explore this collection to learn more about Hoosiers, past and present, who have contributed to the world at large. Included here are digital images and brief biographical information for Indiana entertainers, authors, athletes, musicians, scientists, and more. For an extensive list of notable Hoosiers, click here.

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James Whitcomb Riley--Hoosier Poet

This digital collection contains images from our manuscript and visual collections. Photographs show Riley, his family, friends, and events in his life. Correspondence between family members gives information about their everyday lives. Additional letters between Riley and friends, such as artist T. C. Steele and author Bill Nye, are included. Holiday postcards from 1911 reveal the poets popularity throughout the country. To view transcriptions of the manuscripts click on the documents’ thumbnail, then scroll to the bottom and click on Show Image and Page Text Side by Side.

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Lew Wallace in New Mexico (M 0292)

Lewis (Lew) Wallace (1827-1905) was born in Brookville, Indiana. He had a distinguished military and political career, but probably is best known as the author of several books, including Ben Hur (1880). President Rutherford B. Hayes appointed him Governor of the New Mexico Territory from 1878-1881. The letters and documents shown here represent that part of his career. This era in New Mexico’s history is known for the Lincoln County War, and Wallace was appointed to restore peace. The documents reveal the fear among the civilians, Wallace’s efforts to curb the violence, and how he negotiated with William Bonney, “Billy the Kid.”
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