Collection Information
Biographical Sketch
Scope and Content Note
Folder List
Calendar
Cataloging Information
Processed
by
Alexandra S. Gressitt
21 October 1995
Updated 11 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: 1 manuscript box (9 folders)
COLLECTION DATES: 1890-1942
PROVENANCE: Various dealers
RESTRICTIONS: None
REPRODUCTION RIGHTS: Permission to reproduce or publish material in this collection must be obtained in writing from the Indiana Historical Society.
ALTERNATE FORMATS: None
OTHER FINDING AIDS: None
RELATED HOLDINGS: M 192 Carleton B. McCulloch Papers; M 221 Meredith Nicholson Papers; M 268 James Arthur Stuart Papers; SC 1065 Samuel Caldwell Meredith Papers; SC 2492 Robert Underwood Johnson Papers; and SC 2494 Jacquelin and Florence Holliday Papers
ACCESSION NUMBER: 1967.0303; 1967.0602; 1969.0806; 1969.1009; 1971.0401; 1973.0812; 1974.0408; 1974.1004; 1980.0913; 1986.0681; 1990.0148; 1992.0007; 1995.0761x
NOTES: This collection will be added to as materials become available.
Meredith Nicholson was born in Crawfordsville, Indiana, 9 December 1866, the son of Edward Willis and Emily (Meredith) Nicholson and died in Indianapolis, December 1947 where he is buried in Crown Hill Cemetery. He married first, Eugenie Kountze of Omaha, Nebraska (1896-1931) by which union they had four children: Elizabeth Kountze Nicholson (Mrs. Austin H. Brown--see also collections: BV 2629 and SC 2414) Eugenie Nicholson who died in infancy; Meredith Nicholson, Jr. and Charles Lionel Nicholson. He married, secondly, Dorothy (Wolfe) Lannon of Marion, Indiana, 20 September 1933, from whom he was divorced, 24 December 1943.
An author, diplomat, and lecturer, he was a self-educated man of letters, who with Booth Tarkington, George Ade, and James W. Riley is considered a leader in creating, during the first quarter of the twentieth century, a Golden Age of literature in Indiana. Following one year (1884) with the Indianapolis Sentinal, Nicholson went with the Indianapolis News, where he worked from 1885-1897. His literary career spanned nearly forty years with his first publication Short Flights 1891 and his last The Cavalier of Tennessee in 1928 and included both prose and poetry.
Nicholson participated with some enthusiasm--as party leader and candidate--in Democratic party politics, serving one term (1928-1930) as a reform city councilman in Indianapolis. For his long years of service and dedication to the Democratic party, Nicholson was rewarded with ministries to Latin America--Paraguay (1933-34), Venezuela (1935-1938) and Nicaragua (1938-1941)
Sources: Who Was Who in America, Vol. II, p. 397
Dictionary of American Biography, supplement 4, p. 620-30.
Indiana Authors and Their Books (1949), p. 237-239.
This is an artificial collection of miscellaneous materials, acquired by the Indiana Historical Society from various dealers, relating to Meredith Nicholson. The collection spans the years 1890-1942 and includes correspondence, poems, and newspaper clippings. The correspondence reflects both Nicholson's literary interests and political activities.
Correspondents include: Joseph M. Block, George Creel, ---- Crockett, Mary C. Day, Edward A. Filene, Henry James Forman, ---- Ganzig, Maude Lancaster, Pirie MacDonald, Laura Owen Miller, Meredith Nicholson Jr., ---- Porter, Charles Elmer Rice, James W. Riley, Margaret W. Shipp, and Charles Warren Stoddard.
Folder
1: Correspondence, 1897
2: Correspondence, 1906, 1910
3: Correspondence, 1912-1917
4: Correspondence, 1922, 1924
5: Correspondence, 1930-1933
6: Correspondence, 1942
7: Invitations, n.d.
8: Poems, 1890-1911
9: Poems (newspaper), n.d.
CORRESPONDENCE
12 Aug 1897 Meredith Nicholson, Indianapolis, Indiana, to C.W.S. [Charles Warren Stoddard]. ALS, 7p.
5 Jun 1906 Meredith Nicholson, Indianapolis, Indiana, to Mr. Porter. ALS, 4p.
9 Dec 1910 Meredith Nicholson, Indianapolis, Indiana, to Mr. Corckett. ALS, 1p.
25 May 1912 Meredith Nicholson, [Indianapolis, Indiana], to Dr. Riley [James Whitcomb Riley]. TLS with notations, 1p.
11 Dec 1912 Meredith Nicholson, Indianapolis, to Dr. Charles Elmer Rice. TLS, 1p.
22 [ ] 1914 Meredith Nicholson, Indianapolis, to Mr. Crockett. ALS, 2p.
14 Nov 1915 Meredith Nicholson to Miss [Maude] Lancaster. ALS, 2p. with envelope.
5 Mar 1916 Meredith Nicholson, Indianapolis, to Miss [Mary C.] Day. ALS, 2p. with envelope.
2 Jul 1916 Meredith Nicholson, Indianapolis, to Geo. Creel. ALS, 1p.
30 Jul 1916 Meredith Nicholson, Indianapolis, to [George] Creel. TLS, 2p.
2 Jan 1917 Meredith Nicholson, Indianapolis, to [Henry James] Forman. ALS, 1p.
6 Jan 1917 [Henry James Foreman] to [Meredith] Nicholson. Typed Carbon Reply, 1p.
18 Nov 1922 Meredith Nicholson, Indianapolis, to Pirie Mac Donald. TLS, 1p.
15 Dec 1924 Meredith Nicholson, Indianapolis, Indiana, to Edward A. Filene. TLS, 3p.
11 Mar 1930 Meredith Nicholson, Indianapolis, to Laura [Owen Miller]. ALS, 1p. with envelope and enclosure of poem "Simplicity", printed.
18 Oct 1930 Meredith Nicholson to Joe [M. Bloch]. ALS, 1p.
[30 Oct 1930] Meredith Nicholson to Joe [M. Bloch]. ANS, 1p with Marion County Democratic Committee receipt,
13 Oct 1930 PFF1, signed by Meredith Nicholson.
29 Apr 1931 Meredith Nicholson, Indianapolis, dedication for Miss Ganzig. ANS, 1p.
30 Dec 1933 Meredith Nicholson, Asuncion, Paraguay, to Joe and all [Joseph M. Bloch]. ALS, 4p with envelope.
6 Aug 1942 Meredith Nicholson, St. Augustine [Florida], to Margaret [Shipp]. ALS, 2p with envelope.
28 Mar, n.y. Meredith Nicholson, invitation to Easter story hour on Monday, March 28 from 3 to 6. ANS, 1p.
28 Mar n.y. Meredith Nicholson, Jr., Invitation to Easter story hour on Monday, March 28 from 3 to 6. ANS, 1p.
POEMS
25 Aug 1890 Intolerance [for Capt. John S. Cleland]. Autograph poem, initialed, 1p.
Aug 1906 In the Dusk [Scribner's Magazine]. Autograph poem signed, 1p.
8 Mar 1911 An Old Guidon. Autograph poem signed, 1p.
NEWSPAPER CLIPPINGS
n.d. A Song of Welcome "Indiana Speaks" by Meredith Nicholson.
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, M 0666).
5. When you find the collection, go to the "Full Record" screen for a list of headings that can be searched for related materials.