Biographical/Historical Sketch
Processed by
Barbara Quigley
5 January 2004
Manuscript and Visual Collections Department
William Henry Smith Memorial Library
Indiana Historical Society
450 West Ohio Street
Indianapolis, IN 46202-3269
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VOLUME OF |
1 folder |
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COLLECTION |
1908–ca. 1940s |
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PROVENANCE: |
Purchased from Kurt W. Schlicht of Indianapolis, Ind., in August 2001 |
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RESTRICTIONS: |
None |
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COPYRIGHT: |
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REPRODUCTION |
Permission to reproduce or publish material in this collection must be obtained from the Indiana Historical Society. |
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ALTERNATE |
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RELATED |
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ACCESSION |
2001.1119 |
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NOTES: |
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John Lewis DuShane was born 2 July 1895 in Indiana to Joseph and Jessie DuShane. Notes on the backs of photographs in this collection indicate that he was from Dupont in Jefferson County. He married Lillie Edna Whitsit (born in Illinois ca. 1902) on 20 September 1921 in Marion County, Indiana. During World War I, John was stationed in France and worked as a cook. At some point, Lillie worked for Walter Pittsford’s Purity Pie Company in Indianapolis. At the time of the 1930 census, her occupation was listed as seamstress, John’s was listed as plasterer, and they were living in Indianapolis.
The German community in Indianapolis staged a festival in June 1908 known as the National Saengerfest of the North American Saengerbund. The festival attracted 75,000 people, including 4,000 Germans from outside the city. A huge arch with a Willkommen sign was erected by Monument Circle. A stereograph photo showing this arch is included among the photographs in this collection.
Sources:
Indiana Marriages, 1845–1920 (http://www.gale.ancestry.com). Accessed 14 December 2004.
Probst, George Theodore. The Germans in Indianapolis: 1840–1918. Revised and illustrated edition by Eberhard Reichmann. Indianapolis: German-American Center and Indiana German Heritage Society, Inc., 1989: 137–38. General Collection: F534 .I55 P76 1989
U.S. Census, 1900, 1920, 1930 (http://www.gale.ancestry.com). Accessed 14 December 2004.
World War I Draft Registration Cards, 1917–1918 (http://www.gale.ancestry.com). Accessed 14 December 2004.
This collection consists of eight photographs, most of which seem to relate to the family of John Lewis DuShane or his wife, Lillie Edna Whitsit DuShane. There are four photo postcards from John DuShane’s days as a cook in World War I, at least two of which appear to have been taken in France, including one of an unidentified friend. Three show John DuShane and others in aprons and/or cooks’ hats.
Three photographs show scenes from Indianapolis: a small photo of a group of women in bakery uniforms who worked for Walter Pittsford’s Purity Pie Company; a postcard photo of a group of adults and children outside a “Gospel Mission” on Southeastern Avenue in 1910; and an unmounted blurred stereograph of the Monument Circle area with an arch bearing the word “Willkommen” in 1908.
There is also a portrait of an older man in a military uniform, identified on back as “John Whitsel” or possibly “John Whitsit” from World War II.
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CONTENTS |
CONTAINER |
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Seven men in uniform wearing cooks’ hats and towels over their shoulders holding cooking tools, standing outside of a building. The man in the middle is identified as John L. DuShane of Dupont, Ind. (1918 postcard photo). |
Photographs, Folder 1 |
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Sixteen men, most in uniform, some wearing aprons and cooks’ hats, outside of a building. John L. DuShane is identified as the man in the back row in the white hat. Written on back is the name and Ohio address of Elmer E. Dickerhoof with the note, “DuShane was from Dupont, Indiana and had relatives in Indianapolis from whom I got this photo in 2001.” (1918 postcard photo). |
Photographs, Folder 1 |
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Five women and two men in aprons standing outside a building, with another man looking out a window from inside. John L. DuShane is identified as the man on the right with his arms around two of the women. “1918 France” is written on back. The women are probably French civilians. (1918 postcard photo). |
Photographs, Folder 1 |
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Unidentified man in uniform standing outside of a building. Written on back is: “1918 France friend of John L. DuShane.” (1918 postcard photo). |
Photographs, Folder 1 |
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CONTENTS |
CONTAINER |
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Twelve women in bakery uniforms gathered by parked cars in what appears to be a residential neighborhood. Written on back is: “Girl[s] from Pittsfords Purity Pie Co. Lillie Whitsit, Mrs. Cora Fletcher, John Campbell’s Mother.” |
Photographs, Folder 1 |
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Large group of children and adults gathered in front of building with sign reading “Gospel Mission.” Written on back is: “Sunday School 1910” and “Southeastern Ave.” (1910 postcard photo). |
Photographs, Folder 1 |
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Unmounted blurry stereograph showing an arch with “Willkommen” written on it, with the Soldiers’ and Sailors’ statue in Monument Circle in the background (1908). |
Photographs, Folder 1 |
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CONTENTS |
CONTAINER |
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Portrait of older man in uniform. Written on back is “John Whitsel” or “John Whitsit,” and “W.W. II.” |
Photographs, Folder 1 |
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://opac.indianahistory.org/
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, P 0449).
5. When you find the collection, go to the "Full Record" screen for a list of headings that can be searched for related materials.