Lilly Library Manuscript Collections

HARRISON, B. MSS.

The Harrison, B. mss., ca. 1888–1965, consist of materials and correspondence from and relating to 23rd President of the United States Benjamin Harrison, and to A. T. Volwiler's projected biography of him. Harrison was born in North Bend, Ohio in 1833, but moved to Indianapolis, Indiana when he was 21. He served in the U.S. Senate from 1881–1887. In 1888 Harrison was persuaded to run against incumbent President Grover Cleveland after Maine Senator James G. Blaine refused a second nomination by the Republican Party, having been defeated by Cleveland in the prior election. Harrison was successful, serving one term from 1889–1893. He died in Indianapolis in 1901. Volwiler's work, The Correspondence between Benjamin Harrison and James G. Blaine 1882–1893, was published in 1940 by the American Philosophical Society.

Acquired: 2008

Collection size: 1,500 items

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For more information about this collection and any related materials contact the Public Services Department, Lilly Library, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN 47405. Call (812) 855-2452 or send an email using our Ask a Question form.