Processed
by
Alexandra S. Gressitt
25 October 1995
Updated 2 November 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 manuscript box (long roll)
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COLLECTION |
ca. 1847-1857
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PROVENANCE: |
Gift of R. W. Place, Butte, Montana, February 1948
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RESTRICTIONS: |
Request assistance from Conservation for use and rerolling after use. |
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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 |
1948.0213
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NOTES: |
The item in this collection came originally from the donor's mother, who with his father, lived in North Manchester, Indiana during the 1870's.
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The temperance movement in Indiana dates from about 1843 with the climax of activity in the 1850's. The Indiana Legislature passed and the Governor, Joseph A. Wright, signed an act, 16 February 1855 to prohibit the manufacture and sale of "spirituous and intoxicating liquors." In Wabash County one of the first temperance organizations was a Sons of Temperance Chapter, Wabash Division #59, chartered in 1847. In 1856 a Ladies and Gentlemen's Maine Law Society was organized, flourishing for several years.
The Manchester Union Temperance Society was organized in the town of Manchester (now North Manchester) on the Eel River, in Wabash County, Indiana, to conquer "King Alcohol." The constitution stipulates that "we... as the friends of education, and humanity and the cause of freedom, do with one united voice declare that we will use all lawful means to drive the Burning Scourge of Drunkeness from our country and in order to accomplish this desirable object we will organize ourselves into a Temperance Society. The organization, as outlined in the twelve articles of the constitution, would be run by a President, Vice-President, Treasurer, Secretary and an Executive Committee of twelve (composed of six men and six women.) Membership was open to any willing to sign and uphold the pledge and abide by the organization's Constitution.
The document is undated, but from internal evidence--such as residential dates for signatories--and regional temperance activity it would seem to have been created sometime between 1847 and 1857.
Sources: Material in collection
Wabash County History. Bicentennial Edition 1976. p. 185.
History of Wabash County Indiana.
1971 reprint. p. 139-142.
The collection contains one document, a preamble, constitution and list of temperance subscribers for the Manchester Union Temperance Society, is composed of fifteen sections of paper glued together to form a long roll. The preamble and constitution have been written in one hand, the list of names in another. The first five sections of the scroll contain the preamble and twelve article constitution. The ten sections which complete the document are a bi-column listing of subscribers to the temperance pledge--with the left hand column male adherents and the right, female. There are approximately 400 names on the list--40 per page (20 each male and female) with the last section damaged in such fashion as to obliterate some names.
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, M 0835).
5. When you find the collection, go to the "Full Record" screen for a list of headings that can be searched for related materials.