BIBLIOGRAPHICAL: Works on Indiana History

PRIOR to the work of John B. Dillon, whose Historical Notes was published in 1843, there was, practically, no written history of Indiana, either as a State, as an American Territory, or as a French possession—excepting, of course, the documents from which the orderly history was subsequently constructed. Dillon entered a virgin field with the prodigious labor of a pioneer before him, and, single-handed, as it were, worked his chosen part of this field so industriously and well that he still remains a leading authority upon the period covered by him. His first book, Historical Notes of the Discovery and Settlement of the Territory Northwest of the Ohio, was merged in the History of Indiana, which appeared in 1859. The title has been somewhat misleading to many unacquainted with the work, as it is almost wholly devoted to the early French occupancy and the Territorial period, the narrative proper ending with the admission of the State in 1816. To this is added, however, "a general view of the progress of public affairs" up to 1856. In the twenty pages devoted to this is condensed an amount of information that in the hands of a more verbose writer might have made a small volume. Not the least valuable part of Mr. Dillon's book are the appendices of Indian treaties and other documents.
John B. Dillon

In our opinion the little volume by J. P. Dunn: Indiana, a Redemption from Slavery (1896), is, next to Dillon's book, the most notable contribution to Indiana's historical records. Like Dillon's work it is not a history of the State, but is, rather, a study of a particular phase of our earlier history—our relations to slavery. Incidentally the entire French and Territorial periods are dealt with, and the subject throughout added to by original research. Thorough as an investigator, taking full advantage of the researches of other students, and with a keen and searching
J. P. Dunn reasoning faculty, Mr. Dunn reveals the genius of the genuine historian, and has the ability, none too common, to write history attractively without imperilling his authenticity. His work as a reference book stands the test of long and frequent usage.

The Conquest of the Country Northwest of the River Ohio and the Life of George Rogers Clark, two large volumes by William H. English (1896), is an exhaustive study of one chapter in our earlier history. The full scope of Mr. English's plan was to write a voluminous history of the State, and this work that saw the light was but introductory to the larger scheme. Of the particular events with which he deals the two volumes named are the most thorough study extant, and as such have a value proportioned to the importance of those events. For years Mr. English was a collector of rare and valuable material, and a considerable amount of this appears in the "Conquest of the Northwest."
W. H. English

An illustrated history of Indiana issued in 1875 under the names of De Witt C. Goodrich and Prof. Charles R. Tuttle, and which, in an enlarged form, re-appeared in 1879 sponsored by Wm. S. Haymond, was then the only book in the field aiming to present the later history of the State, and so, perhaps, its existence was justified. It is chiefly distinguished by an overburdened title-page advertising the phenomenal scope of the work. It has long since been relegated to the upper shelves where it rests in an oblivion quite comprehensible to any one who seeks it for historical enlightenment.
Goodrich & Tuttle

Of the "complete" works, The History of the State of Indiana from the Earliest Explorations by the French to the Present Time, by William Henry Smith (1897), is the most ambitious and the fullest. The writer unquestionably possesses a wide and varied fund of information; his subject-matter, made more attractive, perhaps, by arrangement into numerous topics that fairly well cover the State's story, is set forth in an easy, readable style, and it will doubtless hold its place as a popular history. To the more particular student, who is indisposed and who ought not to be asked to take things implicitly on faith, the book is less satisfactory. Mr. Smith tells us a surprising number of new things, but, unfortunately, does not at any time see fit to cite authorities. The possible suspicion that he prefers a flowing and readable narrative to strict accuracy he has taken no pains to avoid, and for that reason, if for no other, he will hardly be regarded as a reliable authority
W. H. Smith

The Popular History of Indiana, a compilation by various authors, but bearing the name of Mrs. T. A. Hendricks as sponsor, covers the whole period of our history up to 1891, the date of publication. It may be regarded as a young peoples' history, and was the first published attempt in that line. For a work of its character it was a creditable product, and served its purpose for a time, but is about forgotten now.
Mrs. Hendricks

The Young People's History of Indiana, by Mrs. Julia S. Conklin (1899), fills admirably the need it aims to subserve. Within the compass of 375 pages it tells the story of the State's development in the style of one who knows the juvenile mind and has the literary skill to appeal to it. The work is conscientiously done and, on the whole, is accurate, the few mistakes in it, so far as we have found, being of minor importance. For use in the school room it is the best book published so far, and as a convenient reference book it is well worth a place on the library shelf.
Julia S. Conklin

Stories of Indiana, by Maurice Thompson, and Young Folks' Indiana, by W. H. Glascock, are juvenile books designed to awaken in the youthful mind an interest in our history. The elements that best lend themselves to attractive narrative are chosen, and these are presented with literary ability, making a very desirable addition to our historical literature.
M. Thompson and W. S. Glascock

Biographical and Historical Sketches of Early Indiana, by William Wesley Woollen (1883), while chiefly biographical in character is yet an important contribution to the history of the State. It deals with personages closely identified with the State's life, many of whom, important as were their services, have no other biographer. Mr. Woollen, personally familiar for many years with men and affairs in Indiana, devoted long and arduous labor to collecting the material for this book, which is, and will always remain the source of information touching many notable Indianians whose names have all but dropped from public memory.
W. W. Woollen

The Government of the People of the State of Indiana, by W. A. Rawles (1897), and The Government of the State of Indiana, by W. W. Thornton, are two small volumes dealing with the civil development and the governmental machinery of the State. They are pioneer works in their line, and, if we err not in reading the signs, point the way to a field where much work of a high quality and important character is going to be done. We refer to historical work with a distinctively sociological bearing. Such work, indeed, is already appearing, and there have recently been published two notable theses by college men which show the trend of historical thought in the universities. The thoroughgoing scholar, with wide knowledge of historical sources of the subject in hand, and who begrudges no pains in the attempt to search out and master complex data, is revealed by both these productions, and they should certainly take rank among our really valuable historical material.
Civil Gov't

The first of these, in date of publication, is The Wabash Trade Route in the Development of the Old Northwest, by Elbert Jay Benton, Fellow in History in the Johns Hopkins University, published by that university early last year. In substance it is a study of the development of the Wabash valley (and accompanying influences) through the medium of the Wabash river, the Wabash & Erie canal, and, finally, of the railroads. He traces the effects of transportation facilities upon industries and commerce, upon agriculture, upon the distribution of population and urban growth. In developing his theme he probes deeper into the State's great internal improvement experiment than any other writer has yet done, and when that chapter of our history comes to be adequately treated Mr. Benton's pages will be of considerable help. Finally, this writer invests his subject not only with interest but with positive charm; and not the least mission of such literature is to promote the taste for history in its sociological aspect.
Elbert J. Benton

The Centralizing Tendency in the Administration of Indiana, by Willim A. Rawles, Ph. D., Assistant Professor of Economics, Indiana University, was recently published by the Columbia University as one of a series of history studies that constitute part of the advanced work of the university. That the study is a serious and ambitious one is indicated by the length of the thesis, which consists of 322 octavo pages of actual subject matter. The tendencies traced through the separate histories of a number of governmental activities are an integral part of social development, and the data that indicate their true sweep are many and complex, but Professor Rawles' investigation of these goes far toward proving the thesis he maintains, i. e., that centralization is really a factor in progress. Aside from his argument and his conclusions his book, purely as a collection of historical facts, is no small addition to our records. Education, Charities and Corrections, the State and public Health, Taxation and the exercise of Police powers are successively considered in their historical developments, and in each branch of inquiry a valuable fund of information set forth; while in the generalization and grouping of these facts to show their direction and sociological significance, the author has doubly justified his labors. It is hoped that this is but a precursor of much more work of the same character.
W. A. Rawles

In our reference above to the work of college men in Indiana history we overlooked a thesis which antedated the two just noticed by several years. This is The State Bank of Indiana, by William F. Harding, published by the University of Chicago in The Journal of Political Economy for December, 1895. This paper of 36 octavo pages, with an appendix of about equal length, is a careful and instructive study of the State's financial affairs during the life of the old State Bank, or from 1834 to 1857. To say that it is a careful study of this important subject is to say that it is a real acquisition to our historical literature, and as such is every way worthy to rank along with the work of Mr. Benton and Mr. Rawles. If published by itself instead of being merely a feature in a periodical it would, probably, come to the notice of more people and be surer of a place in the library.
W. F. Harding

The Institutional Influence of the German Element of the Population in Richmond, Indiana, by Fred J. Bartel, was published within the last year as the second paper of the Wayne County Historical Society. This is but a pamphlet of 27 small pages, but is decidedly noteworthy as representing a kind of work which, it seems to us, might easily be promoted through the higher schools, and which, if so promoted, would certainly result in great gain. Mr. Bartel has attempted nothing very ambitious or complex—he has simply performed a modest task well. Studying at first hand the material lying about him, and chiefly, we judge, by personal interviews, he has taken up one element of the population of his city and carefully traced its history, its influences and its character as an integral part of the community. Mr. Bartel has done good pioneer work, and when the ideas of history study now obtaining in our colleges have shifted to another view-point, students from these institutions will rescue from their respective home localities data which, taken collectively, will be invaluable.
Fred J. Bartel

The New Harmony Communities, by George B. Lockwood, while a book devoted to a locality, has yet a much wider interest. The romantic story of the New Harmony social experiment with the galaxy of remarkable personages it drew together is unique in our annals. Fuller information touching it has long been in demand, and Mr. Lockwood, after long application, has recently published an extensive study that is brimful of interest.
Geo. B. Lockwood

As intimated at the beginning of this list there are many works that touch the history of the State in one way or another, which hardly come under our present caption. Several of these, however, in addition to those noticed above, may be casually mentioned. Early Indiana Trials and Sketches, by Oliver H. Smith, U. S. senator and one of the State's leading lawyers in the earlier period, is an oft-quoted volume of reminiscences which gives many graphic glimpses of the political and legal life of his day, as well as pen portraits of contemporary notables. Recollections of the Early Settlement of the Wabash-Valley, by Sanford C. Cox, is another, exceedingly readable, collection of reminiscences that reach back to the early twenties. The New Purchase, by Baynard R. Hall, represents things in and about Bloomington seventy-five years ago. Because of the fictitious and fanciful names given to places and persons, which make it largely unintelligible without a key, it is now but little read, and few, perhaps, know that as a circumstantial and vivid account of the life, surroundings and customs of our pioneer population, few other books compare with it. Indiana Miscellany, by W. C. Smith, contains considerable interesting matter of a reminiscent and anecdotal character. The History of Education in Indiana, by Richard G. Boone, is the fullest study of that subject yet published. The Hoosiers, by Meredith Nicholsons, while primarily a literary study, yet deals with the historical forces that have made for literature within the State. The Indiana Historical Soc. Collection, a number of papers of exceptional value, at present is two large volumes with a third in press.
Miscellaneous