Date Posted:06:54:17 11/02/09 Mon Author: Donna Ray '51 Subject: TECH visit
Just visited Indianapolis and toured Tech campus with a daughter. She was quite impressed with it, naturally. Students were on fall break so it was quiet and about to close for the day, so we hurried around it as I explained it all. I was impressed with it too, more than I was when I went there.
My daughter was impressed with downtown Indianapolis too. We went into World War Memorial, found my Dad's name, rode the copper elevator, and talked to pleasant desk people. Also went to the Indpls. Library, what a place!
I didn't know I lived so close to downtown when I was little, but when we went to Highland Park (you know it Randy) you get a good view of downtown, and I lived just down on Dorman St across Michigan.
Randy, do you have any photos of the Arsenal during the Civil War? Or some info on it? Since the Arsenal Building is the "main" building of the Arsenal, I assume there were many more buildings. Someone some time ago on the message board told about the storing of the munitions across Michigan St. in the banks over there. Can you pick up this information again?
Also, there seems to be a gate just east of the guard house. Was it ever used?
Saw the electric sign for Tech - nice.
Evelyn, we didn't get into your old neighborhood, sorry.
http://www.wwiimemorial.com would be a good site for you to visit. If he isn't listed there-in, they give you the opportunity to list him. Just click on the "WWII Registry" button at the left.
Tidings, if you really want to embrace Tech as it was in the days of the Federal Arsenal, go to the Indiana State Historical Society, visit the William Smith Memorial Library. They have TONS of records cataloged pertaining to he Arsenal when it was under the Federal Governments command. (see below), A former Teacher from Tech took the initiative to have these records transfered from back east to IPS and then I think IPS donated them to the Historical Society. Nobody does more to preserve history than a Historical Society does.
Randall K. (Randy) Wilson
Class of 1970
Indiana Historical Society - Manuscripts & Archives
INDIANAPOLIS ARSENAL
RECORDS, 1861-1903
Collection #s:
M 650
OMB 54
BV 2709-2858
BV 2871-2999
Table of Contents
User Information
Historical Background
Scope and Content Note
Series, Box and Folder Listing
Cataloging Information
Processed by:
Paul Brockman
31 January 1995
USER INFORMATION
VOLUME OF COLLECTION: 207 manuscript boxes, 280 bound volumes, 13 oversize manuscript boxes containing 69 folders
COLLECTION DATES: 1861-1903
PROVENANCE: John Adams representing Indianapolis Public Schools Education Office, 120 E. Walnut St., Indianapolis, IN 46204, 21 February, 1990
RESTRICTIONS: None
ALTERNATE FORMATS: None
OTHER FINDING AIDS: None
RELATED HOLDINGS: Varney-Porter Papers (M 639); John Parle Papers
ACCESSION NUMBER: 94.0017X
NOTES: The records of the Indiana State Arsenal are held by the Commission on Public Records, Indiana State Archives.
HISTORICAL BACKGROUND
The Indianapolis Arsenal was established by the Federal Ordnance Department in April, 1863. Prior to that time, the state of Indiana operated its own arsenal in Indianapolis to supply munitions for Indiana regiments. The state arsenal operated from 1861-1864, at which time the land was taken over for use by the Federal Arsenal. Captain of Ordnance, William Y. Riley, was appointed to command the first National Arsenal which was located on forty acres of land on Michigan Avenue on the east side of Indianapolis near the area that became known as Woodruff Place. Riley was replaced by Captain Thomas Treadwell in August of the same year. Treadwell oversaw the construction of the first stone storehouse completed in 1865. Over the years, nine other buildings were constructed on the property, with the last structure being completed in 1893. Unlike its predecessor which also manufactured munitions, the Indianapolis Arsenal mainly served as an arms and supply storehouse for the United States Army. It was reported that at one time, the Arsenal stored 100,000 rifles.
The Indianapolis Arsenal had a normal complement of fifty soldiers. Over its nearly forty year history, the Arsenal was commanded by fifteen different officers. The Arsenal's last two commanders were Major Almon L. Varney (1892-1899) and Major Charles Shaler (1899-1902). During the Spanish American War, the Arsenal's status was raised from third to first class. Artillery harnesses and horse equipment were made in its shops.
The Arsenal's importance declined after the war with Spain, and the government authorized its closing in June, 1902. A detachment from Fort Thomas, Kentucky, maintained the grounds until they were purchased for use by the Winona Lake Technical and Agricultural Institution in April, 1903. After six years, Winona Lake went into receivership and in September, 1912, the land was used to start Arsenal Technical Schools, the predecessor of Arsenal Technical High School, which became the city's third high school in 1916.
Sources: Information in Collection.
Sengenberger, Ella. "Looking Back to Arsenal Days."
Thornbrough, Emma Lou. Indiana in the Civil War Era.
Encyclopedia of Indianapolis (Arsenal Technical High School Entry).
SCOPE AND CONTENT NOTE
The collection contains the records of the Indianapolis Arsenal, 1863-1902. The records are divided into five series and reflect the Arsenal's departments and formats of record keeping according to the original order. Departments represented in the collection are Ordnance, Commissary, and Quartermaster. There also are sections on general post records, the post library, and bound volumes of records. The last two series were created for format and storage reasons since both reflect a great number of bound volumes that would be confusing to interfile with the remainder of the collection. The records primarily consist of retained copies of correspondence, reports, and supply information that were sent to either the War Department or appropriate related areas of the military.
Ordnance records (series one) contain retained copies of correspondence with the government agencies, the Ordnance Department in Washington, D.C., other arsenals in the country, and merchants and suppliers, April, 1863-September, 1902. Topics include receipts and shipment of supplies, military orders, personnel matters, and general operational subjects. There are also bound volumes of letterbooks, July, 1881-September, 1902 and copies of letters to the Chief of Ordnance, November, 1885-April, 1899. Other Ordnance materials includes rosters, daily reports, accounts with troops, merchants, and other individuals, 1866-July, 1902. The bulk of the remainder of the Ordnance section concerns stores including financial statements and statements of Ordnance Stores, July, 1863-June, 1900; abstracts and issues and receipts of stores, May, 1863-August, 1902; weekly reports of stores, and return of stores, January, 1864-June, 1902. Also in the collection are invoices for Ordnance Stores, June, 1863-December, 1868, orders and receipts for supplies, and vouchers for cash and materials, September, 1863-December, 1878. Other items relating to the Ordnance Department include abstracts of proposals from contractors and suppliers, 1867-1901, contracts for supplies and builders, 1882-1903, requisitions for stores, 1863-1902, and inspections, certificates, and reports (financial and condition of the operations), 1886-1902. Additional Ordnance records include returns relating to provisions, 1866-1873, cash papers and company funds, 1872-1902, and returns relating to troops and local merchants. There also are troop and civilian employee records including muster rolls, 1898-1901, pay rolls, 1898-1901, enlistment papers and discharge notes, 1865-1902, and Civil Service reports and information, 1897-1901.
Quartermaster Department (series two) records include retained copies of letters with the Quartermaster General's office and other related departments and individuals regarding supplies and operations, 1863-1902, return of stores, supplies, and clothing and equipage (commonly referred to as "C&E"), 1865-1902. There also are records of estimates of "C&E" and issues of "C&E", 1878-1902, as well as records for the requisition, contracts, and proposals for fuel, forage, and straw, 1875-1902. Also contained are records for individual current accounts with the department, 1875-1902, and cash papers and returns, 1866-1874, as well as reports of persons hired, 1877-1901, letterbooks, 1891-1902, and bills of lading, shipping, and transportation invoices and records, 1866-1902. There also are records regarding contracts with local merchants, local financial records, and records of property returns, 1875-1902.
Commissary Department records (series three) contain papers regarding a variety of departmental information, including the return of provisions, abstract of purchases, and accounts current, October, 1866-December, 1894. There also are retained copies of letters about provisions, contracts, payments, notices of supplies ordered from other barracks, notices of funds ordered, and orders to provide troops with supplies (subsistence stores) from the Indianapolis Arsenal, September, 1866-June, 1902. Commissary records also contain return of provisions, January, 1868-June, 1901, bank and treasury statements, 1886-1902, and the returns of subsistence stores, July, 1892-June, 1902 (probably a continuation from the general commissary papers mentioned above.) Also included are property returns, 1876-1883, contracts, 1879-1902, abstracts and proposals for contracts, 1879-1902, letterbooks, 1876-1901, and financial records, 1875-1893.
The records also contain general information regarding the Indianapolis Arsenal (series four). Included are retained copies of general or miscellaneous letters and letterbooks, June, 1863-August, 1902, regarding acknowledgment of receipts, enclosures of bills or other requests, shipment of stores, requests or receipts of ammunition and weapons, and information about troops in the garrison such as enlistments, retirements, transfers, and disciplinary information. There also are records regarding the troops including muster and pay rolls, 1866-June, 1902, pass books, November, 1894-November, 1899, post returns (attendance of troops), 1866-1877, and information about civilian employees, 1878-1902. Also included are letters to the Treasury Department, 1866-1902, along with Treasury Department statements and receipts, 1874-1902, and letters to the Surgeon General and other post medical records, 1876-1902. Special and post orders and circulars, 1876-1902, and local financial accounts and original bills from local merchants, 1871-1901 are also contained in the collection.
The larger bound volumes and volumes from the post's library are placed in a separate section (series five) to reflect their format, but when possible, they too are divided into departments and general records. The first part of these records consistsof 149 printed bound volumes apparently housed in the Post's library. Volumes in this section include reports of the Chief of Ordnance, 1875-1900, Ordnance Circulars, Orders, and Notes, 1863-1894, and Quartermaster General Reports, 1884-1900. The library volumes also contain General army orders and circulars, 1863-1900, the Army Register, 1877-1900 and various manuals, lists, histories, and laws, 1861-1898. Of particular note are field and heavy artillery tactics manuals, 1861-1863, and Revised U.S. Army Regulations, 1861.
The second part of series five consists of 129 large bound volumes regarding the facility's operation. Ordnance volumes include letters sent, 1863-1885, morning reports, 1869-1880, supply/stores records, 1863-1902, returns of hired men, 1863-1901, and moving reports, 1884-1900. There also are volumes of miscellaneous letters sent, 1863-1902, clothing records, 1866-1899, medical records, 1884-1902, and Quartermaster letters and records, 1870-1902. The most extensive subject of the bound volumes are the Post Guard Reports, 1866-1902, which includes a daily general description of life and conditions at the Arsenal.
Sharon, they don't have the WWII soldiers listed in the plaques on the walls of the stairway, only WWI soldiers (and sailors, etc.) but I found my brothers (WWII, Korea) on a computer in the basement of the Memorial, where they have a marvelous display of all the services through the years, with figures in uniforms and equipment, etc. I would have like to take the time to walk through it all but it is huge and goes on for many rooms and we had to get to our next stop - Tech. It is gret Memorial, and my sister-in-law just sent me a clipping from the Indpls newspaper about how it all got started - very interesting. I think, and maybe one of you will know, that the names of soldiers are also in the Monument on the Circle. Seems I saw my Dad's name there once.
If you have any information on your Dad's service, what regiment, company, and such, he was in, and when, and where he was stationed, the people at the War Memorial would like to have that information.
