Collection Information
Biographical Sketch
Scope and Content Note
Calendar of Eggleston Letters
Cataloging Information
Processed
by
Charles Latham
11 January 1991
Updated 14 May 2004
Manuscript and Visual Collections Department
William Henry Smith Memorial Library
Indiana Historical Society
450 West Ohio Street
Indianapolis, IN 46202-3269
VOLUME OF COLLECTION: 2 folders, 8 items
COLLECTION DATES: 1884-1912
PROVENANCE: Archives of DePauw University and Indiana Methodism, Greencastle, Indiana 46135, February 1970 Wilder Books, P.O. Box 762, Elmhurst, IL, 26 February 1990 Children's Museum, 3000 N. Meridian St., Indianapolis IN 46205, ca 1986
RESTRICTIONS: None
COPYRIGHT: Held by Indiana Historical Society
ALTERNATE FORMATS: None
ACCESSION NUMBERS: 90.0116, 91.0185x
Edward Eggleston (1837-1902) was born in Vevay, Indiana, the son of Joseph Cary Eggleston and Mary Jane Craig. His father, who died in 1846, came from a family of some importance in Virginia. His mother's second marriage was to a Methodist preacher, Williamson Terrell. Early influences on Eggleston included his father's Virginia background, his stepfather's Methodism, and assurances by Mrs. Julia Dumont that he was destined to be an author. Unlike his brothers, both of whom fought on the Confederate side in the Civil War, Eggleston developed a growing hatred of slavery. Both his education and his career were interrupted by periods of ill health.
After a period (1857-1866) as a Methodist preacher, Eggleston took up journalism, and then, beginning in 1871, the writing of novels. These included The Hoosier Schoolmaster (1871), based on the experiences of his brother George; The End of the World (1872), The Mystery of Metropolisville (1873), The Circuit Rider (1874), Roxy (1878), and The Graysons (1888).
In the 1880s and 1890s, Eggleston turned to history, and completed two volumes of an ambitious history of life in the United States. In 1900 he was elected President of the American Historical Association.
From 1870 on, Eggleston lived mainly in the East, first in Brooklyn, from 1881 on at Joshua's Rock on Lake George, New York. He maintained a house in Madison, Indiana, however.
Sources:
Materials in collection
Dictionary of American Biography
Who Was Who in America, Volume 2
According to the Dictionary of American Biography, most of Eggleston's papers are in the possession of his family, either at Lake George in New York or in Madison, Indiana. The comparatively few documents in this collection came largely as a gift from DePauw University. Two recent purchases have been added.
The collection consists of letters and a short manuscript by Eggleston, 1884-1900, and letters by his wife, 1900-1912. It is arranged chronologically by correspondent.
The material written by Eggleston himself, in Folder 1, includes an 1884 power of attorney in connection with his mother's estate; an 1887 letter giving a glowing assessment of Henry Ward Beecher; letters of 1893 and 1900 about financial matters; and an undated ten-page manuscript about church schools.
Folder 2 contains letters from Mrs. Eggleston, in Madison, Indiana, to Mrs. Albert G. Craig in Vevay, about meetings of the Vevay Eggleston Club in 1900 and 1912.
A calendar of the letters in Folder 1 is appended.
17 January 1884 Edward Eggleston, brothers, and sister to George H. Kyle, Vevay. Power of attorney. DS 4p
1 April 1887 Edward Eggleston, Lake George, N.Y., to Dear Sir. Critical estimate of Henry Ward Beecher-- "the very greatest of modern pulpit orators"-- a man of "grandiose" wit, imagination, passion, analysis, vocabulary, courage, and aims, with "delightful human traits." ALS 8p
18 April 1893 Edward Eggleston, Madison, Indiana, to Messrs. James Greene Co. I will approve a five-year mortgage, with a gold clause, if the title has been examined at Mr. Perkins's expense. ALS 1p
[2 February 1899] Envelope to Dr. Albert G. Craig, Vevay, Indiana.
3 May 1900 Edward Eggleston, Majestic Hotel, New York, to My Dear Cousin. I enclose turnpike receipt, duly signed. We are both well, and hope to finish the house this month. ALS 1p
n.d. "Edward Eggleston, D. D." "Paragraphs for Young Superintendents." Every church school should also be a mission school, mixing poor and rich children together. Recruit the poor children. Give rewards but not prizes. Instruction should be entertaining. Teachers should work together, and different church schools should cooperate, not compete. Bell and Main's Songs of Praise is an excellent song book. AMsS 10p
For additional information on this collection, including a list of subject headings that may lead you to related materials:
1. Go to the Indiana Historical Society's online catalog: http://157.91.92.2/
2. Click on the "Basic Search" icon.
3. Select "Call Number" from the "Search In:" box.
4. Search for the collection by its basic call number (in this case, SC 0536).
5. When you find the collection, go to the "Full Record" screen for a list of headings that can be searched for related materials.