Indiana Historical Society - Manuscripts & Archives
User Information
Historical Sketch
Scope and Content Note
Box and Folder Listing
Cataloguing Information
Processed by
Charles Latham
8 April 1991
Paul Brockman
7 June 1991
Chris Harter
12 March 1997
VOLUME OF COLLECTION: 2 manuscript boxes; 5 oversized boxes
COLLECTION DATES: Inclusive 1945-1996; Bulk 1973-1986
PROVENANCE: Frances Dodson Rhome, Indianapolis IN, 5 April 1991; Mrs. Wilbur C. Dollens, Indianapolis IN, 30 May 1991; National Society of Arts & Letters, Indiana Chapter, care of Jane Ford, 5940 Evanston Ave., Indianapolis, IN 46220, 10 September 1996
RESTRICTIONS: None
COPYRIGHT: Held by Indiana Historical Society
ALTERNATE FORMATS: None
ACCESSION NUMBER: 1991.0318; 1991.0483; 1996.0750
The National Society of Arts and Letters, an organization to encourage young people in the arts and in literature, was founded in 1945, by Mrs. Jesse W. Nicholson and Mrs. A.E. Neilson in Washington, D.C. An Indiana chapter was founded shortly thereafter by Carrie Abbott Guio in Indianapolis. Though some chapters have male members, the Society nationally is composed mainly of older women.
Chapter activities include regular meetings, competitions, both local and national, and presentation of awards. Regular meetings are held monthly. Members are elected as either performers or patrons in some field of arts and letters. The Indiana Chapter conducts local contests in dance, art, music, literature, and drama. Winners go on to the national competition. Both meetings and awards approach the arts on a rotating basis. Over the years, awards have been given in the following categories: dance, drama, children's drama, music, art, literature, journalism, and sculpture. The Indiana chapter also has a yearly poetry award. Local award winners have included two national winners (1951, 1952) and author Dan Wakefield (1954).
Source: Materials in collection and correspondence with donor.
The collection consists of the records of the national organization and the Indiana Chapter of the NSAL. Included are correspondence, lists, yearbooks, booklets, and clippings, from the years 1945-1996. It is arranged chronologically within category.
Box 1, folders 1-9 contain material from the national organization: by-laws from 1949, instructions on founding a chapter, quarterly newsletters (The Record), 1949-1984; yearbooks and programs, 1950-1996; and an analysis of membership and activities in twenty-five chapters.
Box 1, folders 10-16 and all of Box 2 contain material from the Indiana chapter, including yearbooks and programs, 1950-1983, a list of officers since 1945, board minutes and reports, 1973-1978, chapter correspondence, and newsletters. There is also material on membership, 1973-1984, including correspondence, recommendations, and resignations. Additional items include award winners, the 1975 annual conference in Indianapolis, chapter activities and programs, clippings and related publications, and the chapter's scrapbooks, 1945-1996, and photographs.
BOX 1: Records, National Indiana Chapter, 1949-1996
FOLDER CONTENTS
1 National -- By-Laws, 1949
2 National -- "Organizing a New Chapter", ca. 1980
3 National -- The Record, 1949-1967
4 National -- The Record, 1975-1984
5 National -- Yearbooks and Programs, 1950-1963
6 National -- Yearbook, 1974-1976
7 National -- Yearbook, 1982-1984
8 National -- Membership Directory, 1994-1996
9 National -- Analysis of Questionnaires, 1983
10 Indiana -- Yearbooks, 1951-1968
11 Indiana -- Yearbooks, 1975-1984
12 Indiana -- Board Minutes Reports, 1973-1978
13 Indiana -- Officers, 1945-1984
14 Indiana -- Past President's File, 1964-1967
15 Indiana -- Reports of Membership Chairman, 1983
16 Indiana -- National Conf., Indianapolis, 1975
BOX 2: Records, Indiana Chapter, 1966-1996
FOLDER CONTENTS
1 Indiana-- Membership Correspondence, 1973-1980
2 Indiana -- Membership Correspondence, 1980-1981
3 Indiana -- Membership Correspondence, 1982-1984
4 Indiana -- Historian's File, 1983-1984
5 Indiana -- Newsletters, 1979-1983
6 Indiana -- New Members, 1980-1982
7 Indiana -- Refusals and Resignations, 1950s-1980s
8 Indiana -- Deaths, Transfers and Resignations, 1950s- 1980s
9 Indiana -- General Correspondence and Printed Items, 1966-1979
10 Indiana -- Award Winners, 1947-1984
11 Indiana -- Drama Competition, 1984
12 Indiana -- Clippings, 1966-1979
13 Indiana -- Clippings, 1970s
14 Indiana -- Clippings Publications, 1984-1986
15 (OMB 41) Indiana -- Scrapbooks:
Box 1 - 1945-1951, 1951-1953
Box 2 - 1958-1966, 1966-1967
Box 3 - 1967-1968, 1968-1969
Box 4 - NSAL Conference Scrapbook, 1975, Scrapbook, 1982-1985
Box 5 - 1983-1996
16 (VC) Indiana -- Photographs (Banquet, 1952; 2 Group photos, 1957; Drama Contest, 1979; National Meeting, n.d.)
MAIN ENTRY: National Society of Arts and Letters (U.S.). Indiana Chapter.
SUBJECT ENTRIES: National Society of Arts and Letters (U.S.) Indiana Chapter
National Society of Arts and Letters (U.S.)
Art patronage--United States
Art patronage--Indiana
Music patronage--Indiana
Performing arts--Competitions--Indiana
Arts--Competitions--Indiana
Literature--Competitions--Indiana
Performing arts--United States--Congresses
Arts--United States--Congresses
Literature--Indiana--Congresses
Associations, institutions, etc.--Indiana
Women--Indiana--Societies and clubs
Scrapbooks--Indiana
END