Indiana Historical Society - Manuscripts and Archives Department

CLEMENT STUDEBAKER, JR.
ALBUM, 1928

Collection #
BV 2708

Table of Contents

Collection Information
Historical sketch
Scope and Content note
Cataloging Information

Processed by
Charles Latham
21 November 1994

COLLECTION INFORMATION

HISTORICAL SKETCH

Clement Studebaker, Jr. (1871-1932) was the youngest son of Clement Studebaker (1831-1901). The elder Clement was born in Pennsylvania, moved to Ashland County, Ohio, with his family four years later, and learned blacksmithing in his father's shop. In 1850 he moved to South Bend, Indiana. There he taught for two years, then opened a small blacksmith shop with his brother, John M. Studebaker (1833-1917). He married Anna Milburn Harper, daughter of a prominent Mishawaka wagon manufacturer. The blacksmith shop became a wagon shop; it was incorporated in 1868, with Clement Studebaker as president. This was the ancestor of the Studebaker automobile company.

Clement Studebaker had two sons, Clement, Jr., and George M. (1865-1939). George M. Studebaker was commander of the "Studebaker Tigers" in the Spanish-American War. Staying with the company, he built a 64-room mansion in South Bend, but lost his fortune and home through his investments in the Samuel Insull utilities empire.

Clement Studebaker, Jr., graduated from Northwestern University and joined the family firm, of which in 1901 he was treasurer and second vice president. In 1914 he moved to Chicago and went into public utilities. He was president of North American Power and Light Company, Illinois Power and Light Company, and Illinois Traction Company.

The Indiana Society of Chicago, of which Clement Studebaker, Jr., was president in 1928, was a group founded in 1905 centering around Hoosiers who had moved to Chicago. Its main activity was an annual dinner in December, with prominent speakers. This event in mid-twentieth century was drawing as many as 1700 diners.

Sources: Indiana Scrapbook Collection, VII 29-30
Indiana Biographical Series, X 70, XIX 29
Who Was Who in America, Vol. I
Dunn, Indiana and Indianans, III 1253

SCOPE AND CONTENT

This collection contains one bound volume, an album in which are posted pages from the program of the Annual Dinner of the Indiana Society of Chicago for 1 December 1928. Guests included Samuel Insull, five judges, and the presidents of fourteen railroad lines. This elaborate program includes "shares of big business" in "Hoosier Incorporated," texts of sentimental songs to be sung, an account of all the remarks and toasts, and a listing of the guests at all 127 tables.

CATALOGING INFORMATION

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
2. Click on the "Local Catalog" icon.
3. Search for the collection by its call number, using the letter or letters designation and four digits (e.g., M 0715, SC 2234).
4. When you find the collection, go to the "Holdings" screen for a list of headings that can be searched for related materials.

END