Collection #

M 0599

 

 

John G. Biel
Papers, 1940–1970

Collection Information

Biographical Sketch

Scope and Content Note

Contents

Cataloging Information

 

 

 

Processed by

Paul Brockman
10 January 1992
Revised 22 April 2002
Updated 15 April 2004

Manuscript and Visual Collections Department
William Henry Smith Memorial Library
Indiana Historical Society
450 West Ohio Street
Indianapolis, IN 46202-3269

www.indianahistory.org

 

COLLECTION INFORMATION

VOLUME OF
COLLECTION:

1 manuscript box

COLLECTION
DATES:

Inclusive, 1940–1970 (bulk 1950s)

PROVENANCE:

Dave Buchanan, Vigo County Historical Society, 1205 South 6th Street, Terre Haute, Indiana 47802, 24 May 1991

RESTRICTIONS:

None

COPYRIGHT:

Held by Indiana Historical Society

REPRODUCTION
RIGHTS:

Permission to reproduce or publish material in this collection must be obtained from the Indiana Historical Society.

ALTERNATE
FORMATS:

None

RELATED
HOLDINGS:

 

ACCESSION
NUMBER:

1991.0481

NOTES:

Walter H. Mellor Papers (M 601) were part of this donation, however, because of their unrelated nature, two separate collections were created.  Mellor was Biel’s father-in-law.

BIOGRAPHiCAL SKETCH

John G. Biel was born in Terre Haute, Indiana, in 1906 and became a lawyer, businessman, and civic leader in that city.  Biel received his undergraduate (1928) and law (1930) degrees from Indiana University.  He practiced law in Terre Haute with the firm of Dix, Dix, and Biel until 1943, at which time he went into independent practice.

Biel was also associated with many businesses in the Terre Haute area and served as a director and member of operations primarily concerned in the areas of real estate and financial institutions.  In addition to his business and professional ventures, Biel was involved in many civic and charitable organizations.  In addition, he was also a distinguished local historian, writing articles on a variety of topics regarding the history of Indiana for newspapers and magazines and lecturing to local organizations.

In 1933 Biel married Marion Mellor of Michigan City, Indiana.  They had one child, Kent Mellor Biel, who was born in 1936.

Source: Barnhart, Carmony, Indiana From Frontier To Industrial Commonwealth, vol. 3, pages 29–30. New York: Lewis Historical Publishing, 1954. F526. B37 1954

SCOPE AND CONTENT NOTE

The collection consists entirely of Biel's correspondence, research notes, and related printed items regarding his work on the history of Indiana.  Included are letters from various historical organizations and libraries regarding research and publication of articles on a variety of topics. These include George Rogers Clark, Vincennes, early Indiana territorial and state history and government, the political conflict between Jonathan Jennings and William Henry Harrison, Shakers in Indiana, the period of Abraham Lincoln's life spent in Indiana, commemorations and anniversaries, and local topics and individuals.  Most of the work was done in the mid-1950s.

CONTENTS

CONTENTS

CONTAINER

Historical Research and Correspondence, Jennings v. Harrison (1 of 5)

Box 1, Folder 1

Historical Research and Correspondence, Jennings v. Harrison (2 of 5)

Box 1, Folder 2

Historical Research and Correspondence, Jennings v. Harrison (3 of 5)

Box 1, Folder 3

Historical Research and Correspondence, Jennings v. Harrison (4 of 5)

Box 1, Folder 4

Historical Research and Correspondence, Jennings v. Harrison (5 of 5)

Box 1, Folder 5

Historical Research and Correspondence, Civil War Prison Camp at Lafayette

Box 1, Folder 6

Historical Research and Correspondence, Indiana Territory Sesquicentennial, 1950

Box 1, Folder 7

Historical Research and Correspondence, Stickney Indian Agency Letterbook

Box 1, Folder 8

Historical Research and Correspondence, George Rogers Clark

Box 1, Folder 9

Historical Research and Correspondence, Indiana, U.S. Constitutions

Box 1, Folder 10

Historical Research and Correspondence, Benjamin Harrison Memorial Commission, 1940

Box 1, Folder 11

Historical Research and Correspondence, Lincoln Family Trail, 1956

Box 1, Folder 12

Historical Research and Correspondence, Benjamin Parke

Box 1, Folder 13

Historical Research and Correspondence, Northwest Territory, 1957

Box 1, Folder 14

Historical Research and Correspondence, New Harmony

Box 1, Folder 15

Historical Research and Correspondence, Pigeon Roost Massacre

Box 1, Folder 16

Historical Research and Correspondence, Thomas H. Richardson

Box 1, Folder 17

Historical Research and Correspondence, Vallonia

Box 1, Folder 18

Historical Research and Correspondence, Governor James Whitcomb

Box 1, Folder 19

Historical Research and Correspondence, Henry Moore Shaw

Box 1, Folder20

Historical Research and Correspondence, Tippecanoe Battlefield

Box 1, Folder21

Historical Research and Correspondence, Shakers, 1953 (1 of 2)

Box 1, Folder22

Historical Research and Correspondence, Shakers, 1953 (2 of 2)

Box 1, Folder23

Historical Research and Correspondence, Children of the American Revolution Application, 1962

Box 1, Folder24

Historical Research and Correspondence, Howard Steamboat Museum

Box 1, Folder25

Historical Research and Correspondence, Bibliography for Indiana History

Box 1, Folder26

Historical Research and Correspondence, Fort Wayne (Kikionga)

Box 1, Folder 27

 

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:  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 0599).

5.      When you find the collection, go to the "Full Record" screen for a list of headings that can be searched for related materials.

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