New Harmony collection

Collection — Multiple Containers

Identifier: MSP 145

Staff Only

Scope and Contents

The New Harmony collection contains materials from and information related to the New Harmony community in Southern Indiana and the family of Robert Owen, one of its leaders. The collection includes correspondence, newspapers, illustrations, maps, pamphlets, and historical research about New Harmony.

Dates

1820-1980s

Creator

Owen, Richard, 1810-1890 (Person)

Access Information

The collection is open for research.

Copyright and Use Information

Portions of material in this collection are in the public domain. Other material copyrights held by Purdue University or original creator. Consult with Purdue University Archives and Special Collections prior to reproduction of materials.

Historical Information

The area of New Harmony, Indiana, was initially settled as Harmony in 1814 by the Rappites, a German Lutheran group led by George Rapp. Rapp sold the land in 1825 to British industrialist Robert Owen, who established New Harmony as an experimental free thinking utopian community that would create "universal happiness through universal education." Owen recruited prominent thinkers, scientists, and educators to join the community. The Owenite community experiment ended after two years, but the Owen family - including Robert Owen's sons Robert Dale Owen, Richard Owen, and David Dale Owen - continued to live and work in the area. Contributions of the short-lived New Harmony experiment include the first kindergarten in America, first free public school, and first public school offering equal education to boys and girls. Historic New Harmony maintains the buildings and history of the original settlements.

Richard Owen, son of New Harmony founder Robert Owen, was the first President of Purdue University.

Source: materials in the collection

Extent

0.70 Cubic Feet (One half-width letter-size manuscript box, one flat box, and two flat folders)

Language of Materials

English

Additional Description

Arrangement

The New Harmony Collection is organized into five series.

Correspondence
Documents
Newspapers
Imagery
New Harmony Historical Information and Research

Acquisition Information

Most items were acquired by Purdue Libraries in the 1930s.

Related Materials

MSP 130, Collection of Virginia Poullard Dupalais Twigg, Lucy Way Sistare Say, and Charles Alexandre Lesueur Works of Art. Purdue University Archives and Special Collections, Purdue University Libraries.

Processing Information

Materials were stored in acid-free folders and boxes. Newspaper clipping were flattened. On June 11, 2021, two portraits of Thomas Say that had been stored in a separate location were added to the collection.

Subjects

Collecting Areas

- Special Collections. Purdue University Special Collections

Related Names

Creator

Finding Aid & Administrative Information

Title: New Harmony collection
Status: Under Review
Author: Adriana Harmeyer
Date: 2020-05-19
Description rules: Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Language of description: English
Script of description: Latin
Edition statement: Second edition.

Revision Statements

2020-05-19: Collection description updated by Adelle Rogers.
2021-06-11: Collection description updated to reflect the addition of two portraits of Thomas Say by Adriana Harmeyer.