William W. Spencer papers, 1872-1911, bulk
1876-1877
A Guide to his Papers at the Indiana University Archives
Finding aid prepared by Danielle Emerling
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
Spencer, William W.,
1851-1938
TitleWilliam W. Spencer papers, 1872-1911, bulk
1876-1877
Collection No.
C288
Extent
.1 cubic foot (3 folders)
Language
Materials are in English
Abstract
William W. Spencer was an 1877 graduate
of the Indiana University Law Department and was elected to the Indiana House of
Representatives in 1911. Collection consists of writings, moot court trial records,
and general files.
Access Restrictions
Collection is open for research. Advance notice required.
Biographical Note
William W. Spencer, born October 7, 1851, in Indiana, received a B.S. from Indiana
University in 1875 and graduated from the Department of Law in 1877. As a student,
Spencer participated in the University Circuit Moot Court. After receiving his
degree, he moved to Marion County, Indiana, where he served as a precinct
committeeman and ward chairman. He was active in the Marion County Democratic
Central Committee from 1881-1892, serving as both the secretary and later as the
chairman. In both 1904 and 1908, he was chosen as a delegate to the Democratic
National Convention. He was elected member of the Indiana House of Representatives
from Marion County in 1911 and served until 1914, participating as chairman of the
Ways and Means Committee. Following his time in the General Assembly, he served as a
commissioner on the state Board of Elections from 1918-1938. He died December 9,
1938 in Indianapolis.
Source: Shepherd, Rebecca A. A Biographical Directory of the Indiana General
Assembly. Indianapolis: The Select Committee on the Centennial History of the
Indiana General Assembly in cooperation with the Indiana History Bureau, 1980.
Arrangement
Collection is organized into three files: Writings, Moot Court, and General.
Scope and Content Note
This collection is organized into three files: Writings, Moot Court, and General.
Writings consists of short essays on various topics, including the teaching
profession and the electoral college. One piece, titled “The Temperance Bill,”
appears to be an address to the House of Representatives, circa 1911. It also
includes a handwritten copy of the lyrics to the song The Blue and the Gray by
Francis Miles Finch.
The Moot Court file contains case and trial records of the University Circuit Moot
Court, a required activity for students in the Law Department at the time. The
General file includes an 1872 report card, a memoranda concerning 1881 tenant and
landlord rights, and a University Circuit Moot Court summons.
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Indexing Terms
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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.
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Related Material
Related photographs may be available in the
University Archives
Photographs Database
Administrative Information
Acquisition Information
Accession numbers: 0837
Usage Restrictions
Copyright interests for this collection have been transferred to the Trustees of
Indiana University. For more information, contact the Indiana University
Archivist.
Preferred Citation
[Item], William W. Spencer papers, Collection C288, Office of University Archives
and Records Management, Indiana University, Bloomington.
Provenance
Gifted to the Archives by son Herbert M. Spencer in 1957.
Processing InformationProcessed by Danielle Emerling.
Completed in 2012.
Container List
Folder 1
General, 1872-1881,
undated
Folder 2
Moot Court, 1876-1877,
undated
Folder 3
Writings, 1873-1911,
undated
