TERRE HAUTE —
Cinda May sat with the phone to her ear listening as the auctioneer in New York City said “Holding, holding.”
“I’m thinking, ‘yes, yes,’ then a third bidder came in,” May said.
May continued bidding and bought 20 letters that union organizer, presidential candidate and Terre Haute-native Eugene V. Debs wrote to his nephew, Robert Heinl, from 1893 to 1925.
“I felt very strongly that they really needed to be here,” said May, special collections chair at Indiana State University’s Cunningham Memorial Library.
In the handwritten and typed letters, which join about 6,000 other items in the library’s Debs Collection, Debs wrote personal and political news to his favorite nephew, as Heinl grew up to become a newspaper columnist and editor in New York and Washington.
In one of the more important letters dated Sept. 26, 1918, two weeks after Debs was found guilty of sedition, he tells his nephew that such a verdict was “inevitable.”
“If my position is right nothing else matters, and I am absolutely sure that it is, as sure as I am of my own soul. What the world in its present madness says or thinks or does is nothing to me,” Debs wrote in the letter. He also alluded to a difference of opinion between the uncle and nephew, “I know my position from your point of view is indefensible and it would be a sheer waste of time to argue about it … We may be very widely separated in our views but our hearts toward each other will remain unchanged.”
Such letters provide an important link to Debs during a 30-year period when he worked to organize unions, found the International Workers of the World, lead the Socialist Party and run for president five times, according to May. Debs made his last presidential run, in 1920, from prison and received 913,664 votes.
The collection also includes a letter to Heinl from his uncle, Theodore Debs, brother of Eugene Debs, who served as secretary to his brother. In the March 13, 1921, letter, Theodore wrote, “The Boss is still animated with the old spirit and you can gamble your last dollar that he will not allow these p---ants to humiliate him or put anything over without a vigorous come-back, even if he is in prison.”
President Warren Harding commuted Debs’ prison sentence to time served and he was released on Dec. 23, 1921.
“They do contain information about what is going on in his life. It shows his human side,” May said. “They provide a window into the family.”
Letters provide an important link to influential figures and allow historians to study a period and a person, according to May.
“It may be the only place to find certain kinds of information,” she said. “There’s a comfort zone that you’re in when you’re communicating with kin.”
In a letter in August 1914, Debs writes to his nephew about presidential candidate William Jennings Bryan, “Strange how many people here seem to think of him almost as a god. In the final searching analysis of history he will almost if not entirely disappear from view.”
In another letter written in Cleveland in September 1914, Debs wrote about World War I, “These are stirring days and it sometimes seems as if the world were stark mad and our so-called civilization bent upon destroying itself from the face of the earth. The carnival of blood and iron in Europe is frightful and enough to fill me with pity and horror. But if it will finally make for the overthrow of such savages as William and Nicholas and the vampires they represent, it will at least make some atonement for its awful cost of humanity.”
The letters will be stored in ISU special collections and available for researchers to view. Special collections is on the third floor of the library and is open from 8 a.m. to noon and from 1 to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.
Schools
Letters from Debs
Writings join about 6,000 other items in ISU library’s Debs Collection
- Schools
-
-
Bruce’s history lessons: Truman’s decision to recognize Israel
This week (May 14) in 1948, at the direction of President Harry Truman, the United States recognized the existence of the newly formed state of Israel, which had declared independence earlier that day. It was, Truman later stated, among the most important decisions of his presidency.
- Reunion listings: May 16, 2013
-
Chances and Services for Youth to participate in food program
The Chances and Services for Youth recently announced plans to participate in the Summer Food Service Program.
-
South Latin students compete at convention
Terre Haute South Vigo High School Latin students competed with other Indiana schools at the recent state convention at ISU.
-
Southwest Parke School Corp. receives eLearning grant
Southwest Parke Community School Corp. has received an Imagining and Creating eLearning grant for the 2013-2014 school year through the Indiana Department of Education.
- Newsmakers: May 16, 2013
-
Otter Creek competes in regional Academic Super Bowl
The Otter Creek Academic Super Bowl teams competed in the regional Academic Super Bowl competition on April 27 at Sarah Scott Middle School.
-
Riverton Parke FFA teams compete at April 16 contest
Two Riverton Parke FFA Parliamentary Procedure Teams competed at the section competition for the Parliamentary Procedure Demonstration Contest on April 16 at the Indiana FFA Center in Trafalgar.
-
Parks offering summer day camp
The Terre Haute Parks and Recreation Department is now accepting registrations for its summer day camp.
-
State recognizes counties for improving college success
Indiana Commissioner for Higher Education Teresa Lubbers recognized 26 Indiana counties for working to increase the percentage of Hoosiers with education beyond high school. The counties are members of Indiana’s College Success Coalition, a statewide network focused on improving college access and success.
-
College Challenge program earns accreditation
Indiana State University’s College Challenge program for high school students has earned initial accreditation from the National Alliance of Concurrent Enrollment Partnerships.
-
ISP offers youth an up close look at law enforcement
Most television viewers have seen at least part of a CSI or Law and Order episode. These shows seem to have spurred a new interest in law enforcement and forensics. For more than 40 years the Indiana State Police have been giving young people an up close look at law enforcement through its youth camps program.
-
Goals, Pride & Achievements: May 16, 2013
Alyssa A. Barnes of Clinton graduated from Purdue University on Sunday.
She has a bachelor’s degree in hospitality and tourism management, with a minor in psychology. -
Woodrow Wilson students collect funds for animals
The leadership team from Woodrow Wilson Middle School sponsored a week of giving to collect funds and supplies for the Terre Haute Humane shelter.
-
Riverton Parke academic bowl team finishes strong
The Riverton Parke English academic bowl team finished as runner-up at the state finals competition on May 4 at Purdue University, and the social studies team swept through all of its last eight questions without a miss to finish third in the contest.
-
Turkey Run High School names top 2013 students
Kaleigh Basan has been named valedictorian and Jeff Woods and Kendall Davies are co-salutatorians for the Turkey Run High School Class of 2013.
Graduation ceremonies will be in the high school gymnasium at 11 a.m. May 25 with 36 students receiving their diplomas. -
Bruce’s history lessons: Spring Cleaning 2013
Time for my annual “Spring Cleaning” column, in which I address reader issues and answer “Frequently Asked Questions.”
-
Moats gets ISU Rankin Award
Indiana State University has honored Katelynn Moats of Terre Haute with the Rankin Memorial Distinguished Senior Award in recognition of her contributions to the betterment of the university.
-
Turkey Run to honor seniors
Turkey Run High School will hold its senior awards and recognition program at 7 p.m. Monday in the ELC room. A reception will be held from 6 to 7 p.m.
The program for freshmen to juniors will be held at 1:32 p.m. May 16 in the high school gymnasium. -
Honey Creek math club earns gold status
Honey Creek Middle School has received Gold Level Status as a participant of the 2013 MATHCOUNTS Club.
-
Riverton Parke students bring home art awards
Students from 15 schools in west central Indiana competed in the 34th annual d’Arlier Trust Spring Art Show on April 19-25 in Veedersburg. Four Riverton Parke High School students won a total of nine awards in six of the show’s 20 categories.
-
Parke Adult Tutoring Service awards mini-grant
The Parke Adult Tutoring Service has awarded a mini-grant of $270 to Riverton Parke English teacher Mike Lunsford to purchase reading materials for his students.
- Vigo County School Corp. Honor Roll — Middle School, Second Grading Period
-
BRUCE’S HISTORY LESSONS: The Civil War: Means versus ends
The Civil War began this week (April 12) in 1861 with the shelling of the Union fort, Fort Sumter, by Confederate troops in South Carolina. Four years later that war ended with the total defeat of the Confederacy, and in the war’s wake many historians have concluded that a Union victory was inevitable given the huge advantages that the Union North had in terms of manpower, weaponry, manufacturing and industrial capacity.
-
SMWC honored for ‘Pomeroy Pride’
Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College received a silver award from the “Higher Education Marketing Report” 28th Annual Educational Advertising Awards. The full-page ad publicly announced the launch of the SMWC’s campaign to build a sports and recreation center, titled the “Pomeroy Pride Campaign.”
-
ISU students garner awards at ITEEA conference
A group of Indiana State University technology and engineering education students talked to each other over walkie-talkies as they recently went to Columbus, Ohio, in a three-car caravan.
-
Indiana State to be recognized for ‘Celebrating Sustainability’
Indiana State University will be recognized in two venues this month as one of 20 colleges and universities nationwide that exemplify the mission of the American College and University Presidents’ Climate Commitment to re-stabilize the earth’s climate through education, research and community engagement.
-
Pimento reunion dinner set for May 11
The Pimento School reunion dinner will be held May 11 at Hoosier Prairie School. Friendship hour will begin at 5:30 p.m., followed by dinner at 6:30 p.m. A meeting and program will conclude the evening.
-
ISU taking applications for Summer Honors program
Indiana State University is accepting applications from talented high school students interested in taking part in this year’s Summer Honors program.
-
ISU student selected as a Newman Fellow
Katelynn Taylor, a junior at Indiana State University, is one of 181 student leaders nationwide selected by Campus Compact as 2013 Newman Civic Fellows.
- More Schools Headlines
-
Bruce’s history lessons: Truman’s decision to recognize Israel
Raw: Aftermath of Deadly Attack in London
Raw: New Video of Deadly Oklahoma Tornado
Jodi Arias: Death Penalty Would Cause More Pain
IRS Official Pleads 5th Amendment
Florida FBI Shooting Has Boston Bombing Links
Okla. City Mayor: Up to 13K Homes Hit by Tornado
Police Ram House to End Hostage Standoff
Garcetti Elected Los Angeles Mayor Over Greuel
Lawyer: Feds Investigating Susan Powell Case
Looking for Love? Take the Prague Metro
Today in History May 22
Paperless Scanner, Vision of the Future
Raw: Aerial View of Moore Tornado Damage
Raw: Costa Rica Volcano Roars to Life
Former Rep. Weiner Running for New York Mayor
Families Begin Returning to Their Homes in Moore
Raw: Students Clash With Police in Chile
First Person: Baby Falcons on a New York Bridge
Raw: Japan's WWII Atrocities Under Fire in Seoul
Okla. Teens Get Video of Deadly Tornado Overhead
AK-47-wielding thug may be the most bumbling crook ever
Oklahoma Survivors, Heroes Survey Damage
Trout's cycle a boost for Angels
Kim Kardashian Flaunts Pregnant Bikini Body in Greece
NBA star pledges $1M to help tornado recovery
Shakira's Shocking Talent
Morgan Freeman falls asleep on air
GRAPHIC: Blood-Soaked Machete Killer Caught on Tape
Elin Nordegren Furious With Lindsey Vonn For Parading Kids in Public
Camera Captures Climber As He Loses Grip And Falls
Helen Mirren Meets with Dying Boy in Queen Elizabeth's Place
Crowd Chants '¡Si, Se Puede!' After Passage of Immigration Bill
DWTS Crowns a Winner
Demi Moore a Rocks Bikini at Harry Morton's Family House
Anthony Weiner: I'm running for New York City mayor
Kate Middleton's Dress Flies Up
VIRAL: Baby makes epic soccer goal
The Hangover Baby All Grown Up
