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Charles C. Deam papers, 1881-1983

A Guide to the Papers at the Indiana University Archives


Electronic finding aid encoded by Ryan K. Lee

Indiana University Archives © 2006

Summary Information

Repository:
Indiana University Office of University Archives and Records Management
1320 East Tenth Street

Herman B Wells Library E460

Bloomington, IN 47405-7000

Phone: 812-855-1127

Fax: 812-855-8104

Email: archives@indiana.edu
http://www.libraries.iub.edu/archives 

Creator:
Deam, Charles Clemon, 1865-1953.

Title:
Charles C. Deam papers, 1881-1983, (bulk 1900-1953)

Collection no:
C22

Extent:
5.2 cubic ft.

Language:
Materials are in English.

Abstract:
Indiana's first state forester; Deam was a taxonomic botanist known for his work on trees, plants, shrubs, and flowers of Indiana. Collection consists of diaries, correspondence, copies of published books, library records, financial records, notations on specimens, records of sale of Deam's library and herbarium to Indiana University, articles about him, information about his family, and a paper by Deam on the pharmacy business. Includes correspondence from Charles A. Weatherby, curator of Gray Herbarium at Harvard University.

Administrative Information

Access Restrictions:
This collection is open for research.

Advance notice is required.

Usage Restrictions:
Copyright interests for this collection have not been transferred to the Trustees of Indiana University. For more information, contact the Indiana University Archivist.

Preferred Citation:
[Item], Charles C. Deam papers, Collection C22, Office of University Archives and Records Management, Indiana University, Bloomington.

Processing Information:
Processed by Kathryn Fuller; revised by Dina Kellams and Rebecca Smith

Completed in 2006.

Biographical Note:
Charles C. Deam was a taxonomic botanist known for his work on plants, trees, flowers, and shrubs of Indiana. He was born on August 30, 1865 on a farm in Wells County, Indiana. He graduated from Bluffton High School in 1884, taught school for a year, and attended DePauw University between 1885 and 1887. Forced to drop out due to a lack of funds, Deam went on to work at odd jobs, including that of drug store apprentice. In 1891 he started a drug store business which he operated on his own until he sold a part interest to J. Spivey in 1910. At the time of his death in 1953, he still held a one third interest in the business.

Deam began collecting plants sometime in the 1890s when, as he frequently recounted, his doctor ordered long walks to counteract ill effects of his job. From then on he devoted most of his time to botanical interests. At first he considered the whole world his subject and made some trips to Central America at the turn of the century to collect plants there. Soon after, though, he decided to concentrate on Indiana and by the end of his career claimed that he had been in and collected plants from every township of the state. By the time he gave his herbarium to Indiana University it contained at least 63,000 specimens, some of which he was first to identify. Although he never earned a degree in botany, he did receive honorary degrees from Wabash College, DePauw University, and Indiana University.

Deam held government positions related to his interests: State Forester, 1909-1913; Acting State Forester, 1917-1918; State Forester, 1919 to 1928; and State Forestry Researcher, 1928-1940. In 1921, he wrote and pushed through House Bill 77 which protected woodlands and reduced the taxes on them.

Deam published many articles and four books, each in several editions: Trees of Indiana (1912); Shrubs of Indiana (1924); Grasses of Indiana (1929); and Flora of Indiana (1940).

In 1893, Deam married Stella Mullin (1870-1953). She taught school at that time and later became active in community and women's groups in Bluffton. They had two children: Robert Mullin Deam (1896-1898) and Roberta Deam Ortenburger (1900-1961).

For more information on Charles Deam, consult the following:

  • Kriebel, Robert. Plain Ol' Charlies Deam: Pioneer Hoosier Botanist. West Lafayette, IN: Purdue University Press, 1987.
  • Weatherwax, Paul. Charles C. Deam: Hoosier Botanist. Indiana Magazine of History 67 (1971): 197-267.

Scope and Content Note

This collection contains material created and collected by Charles C. Deam, an Indiana taxonomic botantist, forestry official, and businessman. The Charles C. Deam Papers comprise 5.4 cubic feet and span the period from 1881 to 1983 with the bulk of the records created between 1900 and 1953. The collection is divided into five series: Personal information; Journals; Publications by Charles Deam; Correspondence; and Subject files. The Subject files series is divided into four sub-series: Administrative files; Botany and science; General files; and Unpublished works and notes.

The first series is Biographical information. It contains materials from the years 1884-1983. The series consists primarily of articles written about Deam and published in newspapers, magazines, and newsletters. Included in this series are one of his father's patents, a letter to Deam’s daughter, Roberta Deam Ortenburger, from Gene Stratton Porter, and information about his wife, Stella Mullin Deam. The series also includes a folder of speeches about Deam that were delivered by Harriet Winch.

Journals is the second series and spans the years 1900-1953. The series includes Deam's personal professional journals, dating from 1900 to 1953, with those written after October 1913 containing entries for almost every day. These journals read almost like diary entries and include personal as well as professional information. Some also include newspaper clippings taped to the pages.

The next series covers the years 1912-1953 and is entitled Publications by Charles Deam. This series contains copies of Deam's texts including Shrubs of Indiana , Trees of Indiana, Grasses of Indiana, and Flora of Indiana . The files include handwritten notes and corrections made by Deam. The series also includes a folder of newspaper articles written by Deam dating from 1914-1919.

The next series is Correspondence, 1896-1953, and includes letters Deam wrote and received as well as special bound collections of letters he received honoring him on special occasions. Especially noteworthy is correspondence from Charles A. Weatherby, curator of the Gray Herbarium at Harvard University, a good part of which includes notations and messages by Deam. There is also much correspondence between Deam and Harriet Winch, Paul Weatherwax, T.E. Shaw, and Ray Friesener. This series is arranged alphabetically by surname.

The last series is Subject files. This series is divided into four sub-series: Administration; Botany and science; General files; and Unpublished works and notes. The sub-series are arranged alphabetically as are the folders within them. The material in this series dates from 1881-1953.

The first sub-series is Administration. It spans the years 1881-1953. This sub-series contains financial records of both personal and professional nature. It also includes Deam’s labor record from 1909-1913 and lists of magazine subscriptions and library transactions, which Deam meticulously recorded in two bound volumes.

The second sub-series spans the years 1885-1952 and is entitled Botany and science. It includes brochures and information about botanical gardens that Deam had visited, a leaf specimen that he had collected, and an article written by Elmore Barce that caught Deam’s attention. It also contains the minutes of the Spenser Club, which are mostly written by Deam’s wife, Stella. The Spenser Club was a botany club run by Deam and his wife on the Indiana University campus.

General files is the third sub-series and contains materials from the years 1884-1953. Of particular interest is House Bill No. 77 which was proposed by Deam during his time as state forester. The awards file contains cards of recognition from Deam’s time as a primary school student as well as certificates of travel in South America from later times in his life. There is also a folder of articles written by Roland M. Harper. The folder also contains an article about Harper himself, but offers no explanation of how his articles found their way into this collection. The articles are of a mostly political character, and it is presumed that Deam was either interested in these topics or a friend of the author.

The last sub-series is Unpublished works and notes. The material in this sub-series spans 1883-1952. The bulk of the material is comprised of Deam’s notes on different plant specimens, some of which is found in spiral bound notebooks. The series also contains some of Deam’s high school assignments, such as the Latin exercise book and the school essays and drawings. The photo record is a list of photos taken by Deam on his expeditions.

Arrangement

Arranged in five series: Biographical information; Journals; Publications; Correspondence; and Subject files. The Subject files series is divided into four sub-series: Administration, Botany and science, General files and Unpublished works and notes.

Indexing Terms

The following terms have been used to index the description of this collection in IUCAT , the IU Libraries' online catalog. Materials about related topics, persons or places can be found by searching the catalog using these terms.

Names

Topics

Separated Material

  • Seed samples from box 6.
  • A collection of oversized certificates that is stored upstairs.
  • Series: Created by Deam, discarded 27 old textbooks and approximately 25 envelopes.
  • Series: About Deam, discarded duplicates of articles about Deam and magazines and newspapers from which articles about him had been cut.
 
Series: Biographical information, 1884-1983 
Box 1  
Teaching license, 1884
 
Certificates from honorary societies, programs from events at which Deam was honored, etc.,  1905-1934
 
Articles about Charles Deam,
 
1924-1974 
 
1941-1983    (oversize)
 
1912-1953    (newspaper)
 
Information on the Deam Family, 1885-1954 
 
Winch, Harriet: speeches re: Deam, 1936, 1979 
 
Series: Journals, 1900-1953 
Box 1  
June 18-July 18, 1900 
 
1910 
 
1911 
 
1912 
 
1913 
 
Nov. 1, 1913-Dec. 12, 1917 
 
Dec. 12, 1917-Sept. 11, 1921 
 
Sept. 21, 1921-May 19, 1925 
 
May 20, 1925-June 5, 1925 
 
June 6, 1929-Sept. 17, 1934 
 
Sept. 18, 1934-June 25, 1939 
 
June 26, 1939-Apr. 8, 1945 
 
Apr. 10, 1945-Aug. 29, 1950 
 
Aug. 30, 1950-March 29, 1953 
 
Series: Publications, 1912-1953 
Box 2  
State Board of Forestry. Eleventh Annual Report, 1911 
 

Contains Trees of Indiana, pp. 86-357, 1912

 
Trees of Indiana,
 
pp. 86-357 of State Board of Forestry Eleventh Annual Report bound with extra papers on which Deam has written notes, 1912 
 
2d ed, 1919 
 
1st rev. ed.,
 
1921 
 
(includes handwritten corrections), 1921 
 
2d rev. ed. (4th ed. bound with extra papers on which Deam has written notes), 1931 
 
3d rev. ed. (5th ed.), 1953 
 
Grasses of Indiana, 1929 
 
Shrubs of Indiana,
 
1924 
 
(bound with extra papers on which Deam has written notes), 1924 
 
2d ed., 1932 
 
Flora of Indiana,
 
1940 
 
(bound with extra papers on which Deam has written notes), 1940 
 
Newspaper articles by Deam, 1914-1919 
 
Series: Correspondence, 1896-1983 
Box 3  
"A", 1913-1953 
 
Abbe, Ernst C., 1951 
 
Adair, E. Ross, 1952-1953 
 
Aellen, Paul, 1932,   1946 
 
Ammons, Nelle, 1951 
 
Anderson, Edgar, 1929-1958 
 
Andrew, Margaret, 1950 
 
Andrews, Abe E., 1950 
 
Andrews, F. M., 1929 
 
Arnold Arboretum, Harvard University, 1921,   1951 
 
Arthur, J. C., 1938 
 
“B", 1935-1953 
 
Bailey, L. H., 1949-1952 
 
Bailey, William M., 1951 
 
Baldwin, S. Glidden, 1950 
 
Ball, Carleton R., 1921-1946 
 
Banta, Edna, 1950 
 
Barger, N. R., 1951 
 
Barnes, William B., 1943-1951 
 
Barnhart, John Hendley, 1932,   1938 
 
Bartlett, H. H., 1924,   1950,   1953 
 
Beadell, H. A., 1952-1953 
 
Bechtel, A. R., 1936-1953 
 
Becker, Elmer, 1950 
 
Benson, Lyman, 1939-1941 
 
Bidgood, Hallie, 1952 
 
Billington, Cecil, 1950,   1952 
 
Birthday Letters to Deam, 1945 

(bound volume)

 
Blatchley, W. S., 1896,   1938 
 
Braun, E. Lucy, 1951 
 
Brenckle, J. F., 1939,   1942 
 
Brook, Parker & Co. Ltd., 1951 
 
Brooks, Earl, 1951-1952 
 
Buckmaster, Mrs. Sidney M., 1950 
 
Butler, Amos W., 1929 
 
"C", 1913-1953 
 
Calvert, Mrs. Scott, 1952,   undated 
 
Camp, Wendell H., 1944-1952 
 
Chase, Agnes, 1940-1951 
 
Clausen, Robert T., 1937,   1942 
 
Cleland, Ralph E., 1939-1940 
 
Coats, Nellie, 1952 
 
Cook, James E., 1950,   1953 
 
Cook, Melville T., 1952 
 
Coopers, R. H., 1950 
 
Coulter, Deam, 1917-1928 
 
Craig, E. Lingle, 1951 
 
Craven, Crin, 1949 
 
Cummins, George B., 1930,   1952 
 
"D", 1913-1983 
 
Daily, William A., 1951 
 
Davidson, J. F., 1950 
 
Dayton, William A., 1942,   1949 
 
Dinner Honoring Deam, 1938    (bound volume)
 
Denuyl, Daniel, 1931-1954 
 
Dietz, Harry F., 1950,   1953 
 
Dobbs, Ray, 1950-1952 
 
Duncan, Wilbur H., 1950 
 
Ek, Charles M., 1934,   1950-1954 
 
Enders, H. E., 1951 
 
Essig, Sanford F., 1950,   undated 
 
"F", 1910-1952 
 
Fassett, Norman C., 1942,   1951-1953 
 
Farwell, Oliver A., 1931,   1941 
 
Fately, Nolan W., 1950-1951 
 
Faught, Francis Ashley, 1927 
 
Fix, William L., 1951-1952 
 
Flora of Indiana: Reviews and Letters, 1940-1941    (bound volume)
 
Fort, Russell, 1950-1951 
 
Fox, William B., 1950-1951 
 
Friesner, Ray C.,
 
1931-1937 
 
1943-1945 
 
1946-1949 
 
1949-1956 
 
Fuller, Albert M., 1944,   1953 
 
"G", 1921-1952 
 
re: Deam’s collection of Galls, 1917 
 
Gates, F. C., 1952-1953 
 
Goodwin, Maurice C., 1951 
 
Goodwin, Mrs. M. C., 1951 
 
Gray Herbarium, 1925,   1950-1951 
 
Greene, Richard A., 1951 
 
Grepke, Eva, 1952 
 
Guthrie, W. A., 1913,   1917 
 
"H", 1909-1952 
 
Hamlet, Mr. & Mrs. Jack, 1951,   1953 
 
Hansen, Robert J., 1950 
 
Harper, Roland M., 1950-1953 
 
Hatt, Robert T., 1947-1952 
 
Hayes, Stanley W., 1942-1944,   1951 
 
Hebert, P. E., 1952 
 
Heiser, Charles B., 1944-1952 
 
Hedden, L. H., 1950 
 
Hermann, Fred, 1940-1952 
 
Hessler, Robert, 1914 
 
Hitchcock, A. S., 1920,   1925-1926 
 
Hobbs, C. M., 1913 
 
Hooten, Elliott R., 1912 
 
Howe, Thomas D., 1953 
 
Howell, A. V., 1951 
 
Huffman, Sue, 1951 
 
Hulten, Eric, 1952 
 
Hussey, Paul, 1938,   1940 

(re: John Hussey)

 
"I", 1926-1952 
 
International Friendship Gardens, 1951 
 
"J", 1933-1945 
 
Jackson, H. S., 1919-1920 
 
Jackson, Lida and Ed, 1913,   1950 
 
Jones, G. Neville, 1942,   1952 
 
Jotter, E. V., 1948-1953 
 
"K", 1950-1952 
 
Keefe, Anselm M., 1951 
 
Kinkead, Ludie J., 1945 
 
Kinsey, Alfred C., 1950 
 
Kriebel, Ralph M.,
 
1932-1938 
 
1939-1940 
 
Kunkel, Kenneth M., 1913,   1950-1952 
Box 4  
"L", 1926,   1950-1953 
 
Leatherman, Anna D., 1952 
 
Ledin, R. Bruce, 1952 
 
Liming, A. N., 1951 
 
Lion’s Club, 1952 
 
Logue, Everett G., 1948-1953 
 
“Mac-Mc”, 1913-1951 
 
McAbee, Margaret, 1952-1953 
 
McAtee, Waldo L., 1952 
 
McCoy, William A., 1950 
 
McFarland, Frank T., 1950-1953 
 
"M", 1929-1952 
 
Markle, Millard S., 1950 
 
Marshall, Thomas R., 14 Jul 1913 

(United States Vice President)

 
Men’s Garden Club (Fort Wayne), 1951 
 
Miller, Helen, 1952 
 
Moldenke, Harold N., 1942,   1952-1953 
 
Mottier, David M., 1913-1933 
 
Munz, Philip A., 1936,   1945 
 
"N", 1951,   1953 
 
Neff, Ivy J., 1950-1953 
 
Nelson, James E., 1918 
 
Nielsen, P. Chr., 1950 
 
Nordine, Roy, 1951 
 
"O", 1926-1951 
 
Ortenburger, Robert, 1950-1951 

(grandson)

 
Ortenburger, Roberta D., 1951,   1953 

(daughter)

 
Ownbey, Gerald B., 1950 
 
"P", 1941-1952 
 
Palmer, Ernest J., 1938-1953 
 
Palmer, T. S., 1951 
 
Patton, Will A., 1950 
 
Pauley, Scott S., 1951-1952 
 
Phinney, A. J., 1931-1932,   1938 
 
Pleiss, Griffin A., 1945 
 
Potzger, John E., 1946-1953 
 
"R", 1909-1952 
 
Rickett, H. W., 1934,   1948 
 
Rinear, Ralph W., 1950 
 
Rollins, Reed C., 1952 
 
Rosendahl, C. O., 1949-1951 
 
"S", 1933-1953 
 
Sark, Elmer J., 1950-1951 
 
Sauers, Charles G., 1951,   1953 
 
Saufley, William E., 1951 
 
Science Press Printing Company, 1939 
 
Segal, Simon, 1951 
 
Seybert, John E., 1950-1952 
 
Shaw, Thomas E.,
 
1949-1951 
 
1952-1953 
 
Shinners, Lloyd H., 1942,   1945 
 
Steele, Edward S., 1916-1917 
 
Steyermark, J. A., 1950-1951 
 
Storrs & Bement Company, 1952 
 
Swallen, Jason R., 1943,   1949 
 
Swink, Floyd A., 1950-1951 
 
Svenson, Henry K., 1932-1951 
 
"T", 1913-1952 
 
Tehon, Louis O., 1951-1953 
 
Totten, H. R., 1951-1952 
 
Troop, J., 1928 
 
Tucker, Mack, 1953 
 
"U", 1945,   1950 
 
Utter, L. Gordon, 1932 
 
VanCamp, J.L., 1949-1952 
 
Visher, S. S., 1945 
 
"W", 1913-1953 
 
Wadmond, Samuel C., 1950-1952 
 
Weatherby, Charles A., 1930-1952 
 
Weatherwax, Paul,
 
1916-1929 
 
1930-1938 
 
1939-1953 
 
Welch, Winona H., 1939,   1950-1953 
 
Wells, B. W., 1918-1952 
 
Wells, Herman B, 1939 
 
Wheeler, Lawrence, 1951 
 
Wilcox, Ralph, 1949-1953 
 
Winch, Harriet,
 
1936 
 
1937 
 
1938 
 
1939 
 
1940 
 
1941-1949 
 
1950 
Box 5  
1951-1953 
 
Winchell, John H., 1950 
 
Witmer, S. W., 1951-1952 
 
Wood, Elmo S., 1952 
 
Woolen, William Watson, 1913,   1916 
 
Young, Catherine M. E., 1942 
 
Yuncker, Truman G., 1951,   1953 
 
Zyon, Rolla, 1953 
 
Fragments & Unknown, 1934,   1947,   undated 
 
Series: Subject files, 1881-1953 
 
Subseries: Administration, 1881-1953 
 
Financial records,
Box 5  
Expense book, 1881-1882 
 
Household furniture, 1893 
 
Cost of residence, 1902-1907 
 
Specimen purchases, 1912-1950 
 
Labor Record: Total hours worked, 1909-1913 
 
Library record,
 
Books loaned, 1903-1951 
 
Catalogue of books, 1893-1953 
 
Magazine subscriptions and dues to organizations, 1926-1950    (notebook)
 
Subseries: Botany and science, 1885-1952 
Box 5  
Barce, Elmore- Article, 1930 
 
Brookville Society Natural History bulletin, 1885-1886 
 
Changes in nomenclature since Gray, 1935 
 
Leaf Specimens- Deam Oak (outside Bluffton, Indiana), undated 
 
“A Letter Mostly About Oaks and Plums”, 1952 
 
Missouri Botanical Garden, 1914 
 
Spenser club minutes, 1902-1907 
 
Wells County Atlas, 1938 
 
Subseries: General files, 1884-1953 
Box 5  
Address book, 1912-1952 
 
Autograph book, 1884-1891 
 
Awards, certificates, resolutions, 1887-1952 
 
Classified owners list- Indiana counties, 1933 
 
Guestbook: Deam’s arboretum,
 
1925-1941,   1947 
 
1941-1953 
 
Harper, R.: Articles sent to Deam, 1939-1953 
 
House Bill no.77- Authored by Deam, 1921 
 
Information on other botanists, 1920’s-30’s,   undated 
 
Indiana counties information, undated 
 
Letters of recommendation re: Deam, 1885-1946 
 
Subseries: Unpublished works and notes, 1983-1952 
Box 5  
Bolle: Geum notes, undated 
 
Botany workbook, 1884-1896 
 
Early botanical collections, undated 
 
Exercise book: Latin translations, 1883-1886 
 
Hibiscus Palusris Linn notes, undated 
 
Flora notes,
 
Florida, 1938-1949 
 
Indiana, 1941-1952 
 
Kentucky, 1940 
Box 6  
List of plants in cultivation, undated 
 
List of Indiana Collectors, 1936,   undated 
 
Notebooks,
 
Miscellaneous Information, 1910-1922 
 
Pharmaceuticals and Household products, 1910 
 
Notes, Misc., undated 
 
Photo record, 1913-1938 
 
School essay speech and drawing, 1880’s 
 
Specimens loaned, 1937-1950 
 
Willows of Indiana notes, 1919