Collections:

The collections listed are only a portion of the materials held by the Ruth Lilly Special Collections and Archives, and additional collections are added on a continuing basis. Catalog-level information about each of the collections can also be found in IUCAT, Indiana University Libraries' online catalog. For a complete listing of collections, contact Special Collections and Archives through Ask an Archivist.

American Turners Collection

The records relating to the Turners' national office and its activities and programs.

Athenaeum Damenverein & Women's Auxiliary Records, 1876-2002

Women’s organization, founded by the Socialer Turnverein (Social Athletic Club) in 1876 as the Indianapolis Turn-Schwestern Verein, to support the activities of the Turnverein, and especially to promote and oversee the girls’ athletic classes, and to help enlarge and preserve the Turner library.

Athenaeum Turners Collection

The records relating to the American Turners, the Socialer Turnverein of Indianapolis, the Athenaeum Turners, the Women's Auxiliary of the Athenaeum Turners, the Socialer Turnverein Stock Association of Indianapolis, Das Deutsche Haus, the Athenaeum, related organizations.

Federation of German Societies Records, 1931-1988

The records of an organization formed in the late nineteenth century by the various cultural, social, and fraternal organizations of Indianapolis's German-American community dedicated to preserving the German culture in Indianapolis.

Oscar F. Frenzel Papers, 1876-1904

Personal and business papers of an Indianapolis citizen deeply involved in the city's banking, business, and cultural activities including various Masonic groups, the Indianapolis Academy of Music, the Indianapolis Socialer Turnverein, the Indianapolis Maennerchor, and the Indianapolis Target Shooting Association.

Heimaths' Unterstutzungs Verein Records, 1897-1977

Minutes of a mutual benefit society whose mission is to provide assistance to its members in times of need.

Indianapolis Gardeners Benefit Society Records, 1867-1985

Records of a mutual benefit society who drew their membership from a specific segment of the German community 3 Indianapolis area greenhouses and outside gardeners.

Indianapolis Maennerchor Records, 1866-1990

Records of an Indianapolis all male chorus formed in 1855 by a group of German immigrants that played a significant role in the cultural development of the city.

Indianapolis South Side Turners Records, 1893-1956

Records of an Indianapolis society which endorsed the political, cultural, and athletic Turner societies which had existed in Germany.

Preussen Unterstutzungs Verein Records, 1884-1956

Records of a mutual benefits society which served German immigrants from Prussia by providing assistance in time of illness.

Otto Stark Papers, 1887-1970

Papers of an Indianapolis-born artist who gained national prominence as a member of the "Hoosier Group," a loose association of Indiana artists that included T. C. Steele, J. Ottis Adams, and William Forsyth. His work most clearly showed the influence of Impressionism.