Indiana Historical Society - Manuscripts & Archives
User Information
Biographical Sketch
Scope and Content Note
Folder Listing
Cataloguing Information
Processed by
Chris Harter
13 May 1997
VOLUME OF COLLECTION: 5 folders
COLLECTION DATES: 1922-1950
PROVENANCE: Joan E. Hostetler, Indianapolis, IN
RESTRICTIONS: None
REPRODUCTION RIGHTS: Permission to reproduce or publish material in this collection must be obtained in writing from the Indiana Historical Society.
ALTERNATE FORMATS: None
OTHER FINDING AIDS: None
RELATED HOLDINGS: SC 2453, Sallie E. Coleman Diary; SC 2598, Rebecca Traill Hodges Poem
ACCESSION NUMBERS: 1996.0710
NOTES:
Sallie E. (Downing) Coleman (fl. 1860-1947) was the daughter of Col. Michael A. Downing, who made a fortune with cable cars in Denver, then moved to Indianapolis and served as police commissioner (1884), president of the board of public works (1895-1901), and park commissioner (1901-1908).
Sallie Downing's first husband was John H. Vajen, Jr. They had a daughter, Suemma (1883-1924), who married William Avery Atkins (1879-1958), an Indianapolis businessman. Suemma and William A. were the parents of William Coleman Atkins (d. 1937). See also: SC 31, William Coleman Letters.
After Mr. Vajen's death, she married William Henry Coleman (1848?-1946). Coleman was born in Pennsylvania to Richard and Mary (Clark) Coleman. He grew up in New York before moving to Indianapolis in 1880. He worked for a lumber merchant while in New York and eventually owned his own lumber factories in Indianapolis, Terre Haute and Tennessee. He also had a lucrative contract to make oil barrels for Standard Oil.
Beginning in 1890, the Colemans lived in a house at 1006 North Meridian Street in Indianapolis, where they entertained extensively. They gave generously (reportedly over $1 million) to many causes, especially to several hospitals and to the libraries of Butler and Yale Universities. Sallie Coleman was an active volunteer for the American Red Cross (See also: M 551, American Red Cross, Indianapolis Area Chapter) and the Indianapolis Flower Mission (See also: M 71, Indianapolis Flower Mission Records).
Note: Variations of Sallie E. Coleman's name are as follows: Sally D. (SC 2598, Rebecca Traill Hodges Poem), Sallie D. (Dunn, p. 858-859), Sally E. (IBS, vol. 27, p. 106), and Sallie E. (IBS, vol. 27, p. 106; IBS, vol. 33, p. 7).
Frederick G. Balz (1875?-1954) was a lifelong resident of Indianapolis. In 1906, Balz, along with Allen O. Neidlander, founded the Star Millinery Company in Indianapolis. Balz served as president of the company for many years. He was married to Arcada S. Balz, and was a member of the Indianapolis Rotary Club and the Mystic Tie Masonic Lodge.
Adelaide Fairbanks (1876?-1961) was the daughter of Charles Warren Fairbanks, the 26th Vice President of the United States (see also: M 100, Charles W. Fairbanks Papers). She graduated from Ohio Wesleyan College in 1895. She married and divorced Capt. Lewis D. Causey, a submarine commander in the U.S. Navy. They had six children: Ruth F., Lucy, Angela, David, Lewis Dean, and George F. She was a member of the board of directors, as well as a part owner, of The Indianapolis News.
See also: M 101, Robert C. Fairbanks Papers.
Josephine Herschell (1875?-1968) was the wife of poet William Herschell (1873-1939). Both worked for The Indianapolis News, he as a poet and she as a feature writer. Mrs. Herschell also worked for The Indianapolis Sun. She was president of the Indiana Federation of Press Women in 1919 and a member of the Women's Press Club.
Carleton Buel McCulloch (1871-1949), the son of Rev. and Mrs. Oscar McCulloch, was born in Wisconsin. The family moved to Indianapolis in 1878. McCulloch attended Indianapolis High School and Rose Polytechnic Institute in Terre Haute (Vigo Co.). He received his medical degree in Chicago in 1895 and began general practice in Indianapolis two years later. McCulloch served overseas during World War I. During his time there, he helped organize and staff Lilly Base Hospital No. 32, an Indianapolis-sponsored evacuation hospital in France.
McCulloch was nominated twice as the Democratic candidate for governor, but lost both times. He was the personal physician and companion of James Whitcomb Riley. (For information on Riley, see: M 240, James Whitcomb Riley Collection; M 660, James Whitcomb Riley IMCPL Collection.)
Clyde J. Roach (fl. 1944) and Maud Roach (fl. 1944) were residents of Indianapolis.
Marie Stevens (d. 1973), an Indianapolis resident, was known for her work with children, persons in need, and crime prevention. She was active in juvenile justice and helped to establish the Girls Living Center, Inc. Ms. Stevens was a member of the Indianapolis Council of Women, and participated in a number of civic projects. She was employed at John Deere Plow Company for 38 years.
Herman B. Wells (1902- ) was born in Jamestown, Indiana (Boone Co.) to Joseph and Anna (Harting) Wells. He received degrees from Indiana University in 1924 and 1927. Wells was to be the recipient of honorary degrees from over 22 colleges and universities throughout his lifetime. Wells was dean of IU's School of Business Administration before serving as president of the university for 25 years (1937-1962). After leaving his position as president, he became the school's chancellor. Wells was considered one of the country's leading authorities in the fields of business administration and economics. He served a number of advisory roles throughout the world, including a positions in Germany and Thailand. Wells was also a delegate to the 15th General Assembly of the United Nations in 1957. He currently resides in Bloomington, Indiana (Monroe County).
No information found in available resources for: Harvey M. Hooker and Berenice Longsworth.
Sources: Material in the collection.
Collection Guide - SC 2453, Sallie E. Coleman Diary.
Dunn, J. P. Greater Indianapolis. vol 2. p. 857-859.
Dunn, J. P. Indiana and Indianans. vol. 5. 1950.
Indiana Biography Series. vol. 27, p. 105-106; vol. 33, p. 7, 83.;vol. 34, p. 79, 81;vol. 43, p. 7; vol. 58, p. 117; vol. 62, p. 33, 57; vol. 68, p. 101;vol. 74, p. 82; vol. 78, p. 6, 107.
Who's Who in the Midwest, 1990-1991. p. 694.
This collection consists of material from a scrapbook kept by Sallie E. Coleman. It includes correspondence, greeting cards, and newspaper clippings. The material was originally unordered. It was removed from the scrapbook due to conservation concerns, and put into folders according to physical format.
The majority of the collection is correspondence (August-September 1944) received by Sallie E. and William H. Coleman in response to an Indianapolis Star feature article on the Colemans. It includes letters from prominent Indianapolis citizens, as well as family members living in New York and other states. Later correspondence (October-November 1944) includes letters to William at the time of his birthday. Also included are a postcard (1922) from Rome, Italy to Adelaide Fairbanks from Suemma Vajen, and a postcard (1950) announcing the estate sale of the late Sallie E. Coleman. The correspondence is arranged chronologically.
Correspondents include: Frederick G. Balz, Sallie E. Coleman, William Henry Coleman, Stella Colman, Adelaide Fairbanks, Josephine Herschell, Harvey M. Hooker, Berenice Longsworth, Carleton B. McCulloch, Clyde J. Roach, Maud Roach, Marie L. Stevens, and Herman B. Wells,
Present in the collection are birthday greeting cards to William Coleman and newspaper clippings, including the Star feature on the Colemans, various articles mentioning the Colemans and members of the Atkins family, and an obituary for A.R. Samuel, a resident of Danville, Illinois.
Folder
1 Correspondence, 1922; August 1944
2 Correspondence, September 1944
3 Correspondence, October-November 1944; 1950
4 Greeting Cards
5 Newspaper Clippings
MAIN ENTRY: Coleman, Sallie E., d. 1947
SUBJECT ENTRIES: Coleman, Sallie E., d. 1947
Coleman, William H. (William Henry), 1847 or 8-1946
Fairbanks, Adelaide, 1875 or 6-1961
McCulloch, Carlton Buel, 1871-1949
Wells, Herman B
Scrapbooks--Indiana--Indianapolis
Indianapolis (Ind..)--Social life and customs
END