Luther Short Papers S1181 1833-1914, bulk 1862-1867 3 folders
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Processed by: Elizabeth M. Wilkinson,
April 2006
Biographical Note:
Luther Short was born on May 14, 1845 to Milton and Mary (Tate) Short in Springville, Lawrence County, Indiana. Short grew up working on his father’s farm until age sixteen when he decided to fight with the Union Army, and enlisted in Company F, 43rd Indiana Volunteer Infantry as a musician on September 27, 1861. Short served with distinguished service for three years, two months and was mustered out as a Corporal on October 15, 1864. After the war he returned home and worked in the mercantile business until 1866. In September 1866 Short began attending Northwestern Christian University (now known as Butler University) in Indianapolis. In the spring 1868 he attended Indiana Asbury College (now known as DePauw University), and went on to graduate from Indiana University in 1869. Short graduated with a law degree in 1871 from the University of Michigan.
After obtaining his law degree, Short moved to Little Rock, Arkansas and practiced law there until 1874. He returned to Indiana in late 1874 and settled in Franklin, Johnson County. In January 1875 he was appointed deputy prosecuting attorney. In 1879 he partnered with G. E. Finney to buy the Herald Democrat—changing its name to simply the Democrat. Short bought out his partner’s interest in the Democrat to become its sole owner in March 1880. Short married Emma W. Heineken (1843-1917) on April 9, 1883.
In 1891, Short served in the Indiana House of Representatives for one term, and was also a presidential elector for the fifth congressional district in 1892. He was the U.S. Consul General in Turkey from 1893-1897. Short was associated with the Indiana Soldiers' and Sailors' Orphans for sixteen years. He served as vice-president of its Board of Trustees from 1907-1908, as president of the Board of Trustees from 1909-1917, and as superintendent from 1918-1923.
Short was a member of the Freemasons, reaching the thirty-third degree, and Odd Fellows. Luther Short passed away on December 28, 1925.
Sources:
Banta, D. D. History of Johnson County, Indiana. Chicago: Brant & Fuller,
1888.
Branigin, Elba L. History of Johnson County, Indiana. Indianapolis: Bowen
& Co., 1913.
Indianapolis Star. "Hoosier, Ex-Consul General to Turkey, is dead." Dec. 30,
1925, p. 1+2.
Shepard, Rebecca A., comp. A Biographical Directory of the Indiana General
Assembly, Volume 1, 1816-1899. Indianapolis: Select Committee on Centennial
History, 1980.
Scope and Content Note:
The majority of this collection consists of Civil War correspondence between Luther Short and his family and friends. Also included are a few pieces of later correspondence, documents relating to the Indiana Soldiers' and Sailors' Orphans' Home, a farm account book, and other miscellaneous items.
The materials are grouped together into correspondence, papers, and the farm account book, and are filed chronologically.
Item Listing:
Folder 1. Civil War Correspondence, February 1862-September 1864
(37 items)1862 Feb. 28 Smith, James H. to Dear Friend [Luther Short], ALS 1862 Mar. 4 Short, M. to Dear Son Luther, ALS, with envelope 1862 Mar. 11 Howe, W. E. to Friend Short, ALS 1862 Mar. 31 Howe, W. E. to Friend Short, ALS, with envelope 1862 Nov. 30 Rafferty, G. N. to Friend Luther, ALS, with envelope 1862 Dec. 19 Short, M. to Dear Luther, ALS, with envelope 1862? Wantland, Noah M. to Luther Short, ALS 1863 Jan. 3 Short, M. to Dear Luther, ALS 1863 Mar. 24 Short, Luther to Dear Father, ALS, 2 p. 1863 Apr. 18 Short, Luther to Dear Father, ALS 1863 May 5 Short, Luther to Dear Father, ALS 1863 May 10 Short, Luther to Dear Father, ALS 1863 Jun. 14 Short, Luther to Dear Father, ALS 1863 Sept. 4 Short, L. to Dear Father, ALS 1863 Sept. 20 Short, Milton to Dear Luther, ALS 1863 Nov. 1 Short, Luther to Dear Father, ALS 1863 Nov. 8 Short, Luther to Dear Father, ALS 1863 Nov. 22 Short, Luther to Dear Father, ALS 1863 Nov. 29 Short, Luther to Brother Burnett, ALS 1864 Jan. 13 Short, Luther to Dear Father, ALS 1864 Feb. 22 Short, R. W. to Brother Luther, ALS, with envelope 1864 May 2 Short, Luther to Dear Father, ALS 1864 May 15 Short, Luther to Dear Father, ALS 1864 May 24 Short, Luther to Dear Sister, ALS 1864 Jun. 11 Short, Luther to Dear Father, ALS 1864 Jun. 22 Short, Luther to Dear Father, ALS 1864 July 8 Short, Luther to Dear Father, ALS 1864 July 28 Short, W. [Wesley] to Luther, ALS 1864 Aug. 16 Short, Luther to Dear Father, ALS 1864 Sept. 8 Short, Luther to Dear Father, ALS 1864 Sept. 16 [Short], Your brother Luther to Dear Sister, ALS
Folder 2. Correspondence and Papers, 1867-1914
(27 items)1867? June 19 Short, Luther to Dear Father, ALS
1875 Feb. 17 Dodge, S. D. to Dear Friend, ALS
1877 Feb. 12 Mollie to Dearest Shortie, ALS, 2 p.
1893 Feb. 20 Cooper, Geo. W. to Hon. Luther Short, LS
1903 Oct. 26 Short, Luther to Grand Secretary General [Freemasons], ADS
1911 Nov. 28 New, Burt to Mr. Short, LS
[with 1911 Nov. 28] Legal document. Luther Short, Ferdinand F. Boltz, Daniel F. Mustard, and Ida S. McBride,
Trustees of the Indiana Soldiers' and Sailors' Orphans' Home vs. Peter P. Stultz,
Superintendent of the Indiana Soldiers' and Sailors' Orphans' Home, 2 p.
1913 Apr. 30 Marshall, Thos. R. to Luther Short, LS. with envelope
1914 July 1 Ott, L. E., E. P. Erwin, Luther Short to The Board of Trustees of the Indiana Masonic
Home, TDS, 9 p.
1914 Oct. "Masonic Home Cost," AD
1866 Steamer ticket for "The Always Reliable People's Line" for Louisville.
1875 Nov. 25 Invitation. "Presbyterian Pipe Organ Society, Grand Masquerade Levee, Franklin Hall."
1876 Nov. 27 Hand bill. "Dramatic Entertainment of Miss Helen Potter."
1879 May 1 Dance card. "May Ball at Washington Hall, Edinburg."
1879 Dec. 18 Hand bill. "Second Annual Masque Soiree Dansant."
circa 1880s Theater poster. "Tonight! Golden's Grand Dramatic Combination, Two Orphans!"
Item placed in the Broadside Collection
circa 1914 Indiana [University] Songs and Yells.
Folder 3. Farm Account Book
(1 item)| 1833 Jan. 1-1836 Dec. 20 | 1 volume |
Collection Information:
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Size of Collection: |
3 folders (65 items) |
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Collection Dates: |
1833-1914, bulk 1862-1867 |
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Provenance: |
Emma Byfield, 27 March 1936 |
| Access: | This collection is open for research. |
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Restrictions: |
None |
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Reproduction Rights: |
Permission to reproduce, exhibit, or publish material in this collection must be obtained from the Manuscript Section, Indiana State Library. Possession of a reproduction from an Indiana State Library collection does not constitute permission for use. |
| Language | Materials are entirely in English |
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Alternate Formats: |
None |
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Related Holdings: |
IP
329.3 no. 5, Early History of the Democratic Editorial Association of
Indiana by Luther Short. |
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Notes: |
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Photocopying Policy:
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