Guide to the William H. English Collection 1762-1895


Search this Finding Aid





Table of Contents

• Descriptive Summary
• Information on Use
• Access
• Citation
• Biographical Note
• Scope Note
• Related Resources
• Subject Headings
• INVENTORY
• Series I: Original Manuscripts
  • Subseries 1: Papers of Jonathan Jennings
    • Sub-subseries 1: Letters to Ann Jennings Mitchell and Dr. David Mitchell
    • Sub-subseries 2: Jennings Family Correspondence
    • Sub-subseries 3: Political and Official Correspondence
  • Subseries 2: Papers of the Governors of the Territory and State of Indiana
    • Sub-subseries 1: General Political Correspondence
    • Sub-subseries 2: Letters to Governors
    • Sub-subseries 3: Letters for Clemency
    • Sub-subseries 4: Petitions
  • Subseries 3: Documents relating to the Territorial and State Judiciary
  • Subseries 4: Miscellaneous Manuscripts and Documents
    • Sub-subseries 1: Correspondence
    • Sub-subseries 2: Documents
    • Sub-subseries 3: Bonds
    • Sub-subseries 4: Elections
    • Sub-subseries 5: Military, Census, Land Sales, etc.
• Series II: Transcripts, Notes, etc.
• Series III: Oversize

Descriptive Summary

Information on Use

Access

The collection is open for research.

Citation

When quoting material from this collection, the preferred citation is: English, William H. Collection, [Box #, Folder #], Hanna Holborn Gray Special Collections Research Center, University of Chicago Library.

Biographical Note

William H. English (1822-1896) combined active careers in politics and business with an avid interest in the history of his native state of Indiana. An influential member of the Democratic Party, he was a member of the House of Representatives from 1852 to 1860 and was a candidate for the vice-presidency in 1880. English aspired to write a history of his state and to this end amassed a variety of original sources and transcripts. Before his death in 1896, he had written The Conquest of the Northwest & the Life of George R. Clark (Indianapolis: Bowen-Merrill Co., 1896, 2 vols.) and his unpublished manuscript, now in this collection, which traces the history of Indiana down to approximately the year 1800.

Little is known of the manner in which English acquired his manuscripts. The heirs of the families and persons concerned perhaps gave some to him, and he may have purchased some. There is evidence in one case that he borrowed a manuscript, the original journal of the Indian territorial legislature, from the office of the Indiana Secretary of State for use in writing his history but never returned it to that office. Subsequently, it was included in the collection given to the University but was returned to the State of Indiana in 1946. (A photostat of the journal was made at the time of the transfer; this is now located in Boxes 6:11 through 8:1.) It was published in Indiana Historical Collections, XXXII.

Scope Note

The collection is arranged into three series:

Series I contains the original primary manuscript sources collected by English, including Governor Jennings' correspondence, various official papers of Indiana governors, etc.

Series II contains notes, transcripts, and drafts made by English in the course of writing his history, including his correspondence which was principally concerned with obtaining biographical information of men important in Indiana history. Within these major divisions, manuscripts of similar origin, subject, or type have been grouped and are described below. A selected number of manuscripts whose interest transcends the history of Indiana have been entered individually in the Library's catalog of historical manuscripts, in the Special Collections Research Center.

Series III contains oversize documents from the first two series. Most of these are large newspaper clippings and broadsheets, with some court, trading and land documents included. The series also contains sketches of funerary inscriptions for Elisha English and Emma Mardulia.

Related Resources

The following related resources are located in the Department of Special Collections:

Browse finding aids by topic.

Willoughby Walling, English's grandnephew and an alumnus of the University gave the present collection to the University in 1924. It is complemented by a similar collection of sources collected by English deposited in the Indiana Historical Society which have been described as follows: "3,875 pieces. Include personal Papers of William H. English and his son, also documents and letters collected by English, relating to Indiana history and of Indiana people of prominence, 1785-1924, including letters of Owen, Bright, Hendricks, Voorhees, etc., early election returns. Todd orderly book, 1793, Scott Masonic Lodge of Lexington, Indianapolis Light Infantry, etc. Biographical data concerning members of Territorial and State Legislature and Constitutional Conventions. 29 boxes. Also have pictures collected. Hite-Bowman papers 1,226 pieces. Papers of the Hite and Bowman families 1741-1871." The 29 boxes of biographical data were previously in the University's collection but were transferred to the Historical Society in 1957 because of their very local character.

Subject Headings

• Jefferson, Thomas, 1743-1826
• Harrison, William Henry, 1773-1841
• English, William Hayden, 1822-1896
• Jennings, Jonathan, 1784-1834
• Indians of North America
• Slavery
• Indiana-History
• United States-History-War of 1812
• Kaskaskia (Ill.)-History

INVENTORY

Series I is divided into four subseries, they are: The Papers of Jonathan Jennings, first governor of the State of Indiana (1784-1834); The Papers of the Governors of the Territory and State of Indiana; Documents Relating to the Territorial and State Judiciary (1762-1835); and Miscellaneous Manuscripts and Documents. Also, the first two subseries and the fourth of the four subseries are organized into sub-subseries categories outlined below.

In Subseries 1, the Papers of Jonathan Jennings, first governor of the State of Indiana (1784- 1834) are divided into three sub-subseries. The first sub-subseries are the letters Jonathan Jenninngs wrote to Ann Jennings Mitchell and Dr. David G. Mitchell, (Jonathan's sister and brother-in-law) of Brownsville, Fayette County, Pennsylvania. Twenty-seven of the letters cover the years 1806 to 1827. This correspondence begins in the year that Jennings left Steubenville, Ohio and arrived in the Indiana territory, and ends with the death of his sister. The letters contain matters of both family and political interest. With the exception of one letter written on February 9, 1807 in which Jennings discussed the personalities of various Indiana politicians, the letters in this group were published in Indiana Historical Society Publications, X, no. 4.

The second sub-subseries in Subseries 1 is entitled the Jennings Family Correspondence. This sub-subseries consists of letters dated between 1809-1860. Most of these letters relate to family matters and are mixed with abundant religious exhortation. The early letters of Obadiah Jennings, Jonathan's brother, and those of David G. Mitchell contain commentary on the business affairs, politics, and descriptions of the early Old Northwest.

The third sub-subseries in Subseries 1 is the Political and Routine Official Correspondence of Jonathan Jennings comprise of 22 letters written between 1809-1826. These letters have been printed in Indiana Historical Society Publications, X, no. 4, with the exception of eight letters addressed to the legislature in 1821, dealing with such varied matters as extradition, the Jeffersonville Ohio Canal Company, the governor's residence, postage, and the establishment of courts, etc. (The collection contains nine transcripts of Jennings' letters with the notation "original photographed" in the upper left corner. Dorothy Riker printed the text of these letters indicating that the originals were in the collection at the time of her compilation. They may have been lost or misplaced sometime before the writing of the present description; the transcripts made by English, however, are preserved in Box 6, Folder 9.)

In Subseries 2, the Papers of the Governors of the Territory and State of Indiana, there are four sub-subseries collections. The first is the General Political Correspondence of the governors and consists of 12 letters dated between 1801-1856. The early letters in this group concern the establishment of government in the new territory and contain several descriptions of the territory. During the War of 1812, the letters described the progress of the Indian raids at the beginning of the conflict. There are also several letters alluding to the careers of Indiana politicians. Of unusual interest is a letter of March 18, 1812 complaining of the presence of a community of free "Negroes" in Harrison County. (These letters are entered individually in the miscellaneous manuscript catalog.)

The second sub-subseries in Subseries 2 consists of Letters of Recommendation and Resignation made up of 96 letters from 1806-1853. The operation of the patronage system in Indiana is reflected in this correspondence that covers a whole range of state jobs from Judge of the Circuit Court to river pilot. The names of many persons recur as endorsers and as individuals recommended in the petitions. Often they were men who eventually filled high office, such as the latter governor James Whitcombe who was several times recommended for office in 1826. Many of the petitions contain the written endorsement of the governor ordering appointment.

The third sub-subseries in Subseries 2 is Petitions for Clemency with 40 letters from 1808-1858. The letters consist of requests to the governor to use his pardoning powers for the release of prisoners held for such varied crimes as murder, assault, debt, military offenses, etc.

The fourth and final sub-subseries in Subseries 2 is the 22 letters of the Miscellaneous Government Services dated between 1795-1850. Included in this group are letters to the Governor, Secretary of State, etc., requesting a variety of services from the territorial and state government. For example, requests for records of military service and land sales, requests for elections to fill vacant offices, etc.

Subseries 3 is entitled "Documents Relating to the Territorial and State Judiciary." It is comprised of 266 pieces dating between 1762-1835.

Beginning with the dockets of Judges Symnes and Turner for court cases in Knox County in the year 1794, there is a wide range of legal documents relating to the operation of the early judicial system in Indiana. The cases, usually for the court at Vincennes, included crimes of violence – frequently murder and manslaughter, slander, larceny, and illegal sales to the Indians. The most numerous types of proceedings revealed in these documents were concerned with the stealing, illegal holding, and beating of slaves. The records of some of the cases contain extensive documentation and these cases have been arranged in individual folders. The cases are arranged chronologically within this group.

Many persons prominent in the early history of Indiana appear in these cases. In one case, the heirs of Jost Hite fight a land claim against Lord Fairfax and, after the Revolution, against George Washington. In 1810 and 1811 William Henry Harrison recovered large sums in an action for debt against William Mclntosh. During 1808 and 1829 Jonathan Jennings was involved in several cases with his creditors. Isaac Bowman's request to establish a ferry between Louisville and Jeffersonville is the subject of other litigation.

Other judicial records, aside from the documents relating to litigation, are included in this sequence. They include call for juries, accounts of court clerks, certificates of law officers, etc. Some unusual documents are of a juror's presentment against Judge Thomas T. Davis in 1807 for non-attendance at court, Governor Harrison's instructions to a sheriff to investigate charges against the justices of Hamilton County in 1798, etc.

The fourth and final subseries of Series I is entitled "Miscellaneous Manuscripts and Documents." This group of manuscripts is arranged in five categories. Because of the miscellaneous character of the manuscripts the categories are not necessarily discreet according to subject matter.

Sub-subseries 1 of Subseries 4 is the Miscellaneous Correspondence comprised of 37 letters dating 1773-1880. Included here is a letter of Joseph Bowman describing the capture of Kaskaskia during the Revolution, several letters dealing with land developments undertaken by Bowman's heirs and Isaac Hite in Louisville and Jeffersonville, military letters during the War of 1812, and some letters of political interest. There are three letters written by Thomas Jefferson. Two are to George Rogers Clark (1778 and 1807); the third is to an unknown woman regarding her claims to some land (1779). Included as the writers or recipients of the letters are: Daniel Morgan, the George Rogers Clark family, Timothy Pickering, James Madison, Henry Clay, James Whitcombe, and Salmon P. Chase. This particular group has been included in this category but not cataloged are twelve letters of the political correspondence of William Hendricks and Daniel McClure covering the years 1853-1880.

Sub-subseries 2 of Subseries 4 is the Miscellaneous Documents made of 21 documents dating between 1779-1832. This group contains, for example, the appointment of Robert Todd as land surveyor for William and Mary College and his military commissions, proclamations of William Henry Harrison concerning county boundaries, several appointments to various state offices, etc. Selections of the important documents are included in the miscellaneous manuscripts catalog.

Sub-subseries 3 of Subseries 4 is Miscellaneous Bonds consisting of 58 documents from between 1798-1828. Bonds signed by a variety of state officials and others involved in the government business in Indiana territory and state, and the Louisiana territory included. They cover such positions as state auditor, county coroner, trustees of a public seminary, etc. There are also five licenses of Indian traders. Among the important early figures concerned in these bonds were Davis Floyd, Everard Clark, William Bowman, Joseph Bowman and W. W. Goodwin.

Sub-subseries 4 of Subseries 4 is Miscellaneous Election and Poll Records, 1802-1845, 49 documents. Various early Indiana elections are included. The most interesting are a voters list of the 1802 election to a convention to draft grievances to present to Congress, principally to favor the introduction of slave holding; the 1804 election returns to decide on entering the second grade of territorial government; and the 1821 group of votes to decide if voting in the state would be by ballot or viva voce. Other documents record votes for various county officers, militia officers, and certificates of election. Related material includes a printed letter of David G. Mitchell to his constituents around 1832 and notes of a speech (apparently Mitchell's) acclaiming Jackson's election in 1828. There is a statement by John F. Carr and E. G. English, William H. English's father stating that they did not use corrupt means in a senatorial election.

Sub-subseries 5 of Subseries 4 is Miscellaneous Military, Census, Land Sales, and other Documents comprised of 88 documents, 1774-1851. In this final group are: 1) 11 tabulations for the census of 1810; 2) 19 military papers of Indiana regiments, 1807-1810, recording elections of officers, muster returns and the like; 3) 13 deeds and other documents (1774-1851) relating to land sales and holding; 4) 43 receipts, bills and accounts. Of particular interest is the receipt book for soldiers lands kept by William Clark 1784-1788, and a bill of sale of slaves to Henry Clay, October 8, 1820. Three manuscripts have not been identified. This half of the collection contains a total of

771 items.

The other large division of material in the English collection contains English's own preparations for writing the histories. English's efforts to collect material led him to acquire early letters of family remembrance such as the one for the Todd family (1829) and a copy of a letter on George Rogers Clark (1849). He also acquired a portion of the papers of John B. Dillon, State Librarian and Historian. A few of Dillon's papers are in the collection.

The 119 letters written to English are arranged chronologically and date from 1854-1895. A few early ones deal with his political career, but the letters are predominantly on the subject of Indiana history. Many record his activities in organizing the 1885 reunion of the members of the constitutional convention of 1850. Most are answers to letters asking information of descendants of early Indianans. These letters are also important in showing how and where English obtained his manuscript sources – many of the letters refer to enclosed manuscripts. Finally there are letters written to him as president of the Indiana Historical Society – one has the signature of Lew Wallace. English's notes on the 1885 reunion are in a separate folder.

Some of the newspaper clippings of English have been retained. They include clippings from early Indiana newspapers, 1828-1858, mostly on political subjects. There are about 30 clippings referring to English himself--both as politician and historian. Finally there are clippings he kept on Governor Hendricks and clippings recording the 1885 Reunion.

The manuscript of the text and notes for 15 chapters of his unpublished history of Indiana are in the collection together with photostatic and other reproductions of documents he used in his Conquest of the Northwest...There are also a group of photographs of Indiana legislators. Some notes that he and Dillon took have been retained including copies of the O. L. Clark - Wm. F. Reynolds correspondence on Indiana politics, 1837-1841

Series III, Oversize, contains oversize documents from the first two series. Most of these are large newspaper clippings and broadsheets, with some court, trading and land documents included. The series also contains sketches of funerary inscriptions for Elisha English and Emma Mardulia.