Jacob Piatt Dunn
Encyclopedia
Jacob Piatt Dunn was an American
historian and author of several books. He was instrumental in making the Indiana Historical Society
an effective group, serving as its secretary for decades. He was also instrumental in the Indiana Public Library Commission. As an ethnologist
, his main concern was that of the Miami tribe
of Indiana and the preservation of their language. His greater Indianapolis
treatise was his most important work as an amateur historian. He also served as adviser to Indiana governor Thomas R. Marshall
and Senator Samuel Ralston. He was responsible for a new Indianapolis city charter, and use of the Australian ballot law for the city (1889), even though he never ran for office.
on April 12, 1855. He moved with his parents to Indianapolis in 1861. He graduated with a Bachelors of Science
at age 19 from Earlham College
in 1874, and obtained a LL.B. from the University of Michigan
two years later. He was a lawyer
for a few years in Indianapolis after graduation, but would move to Colorado
in 1879 for five years looking after the family's silver
interests. While in Colorado he developed an interest in the history of Indians, and would serve as a reporter for newspapers in Denver, Colorado
and Leadville, Colorado
.
He would return permanently to Indianapolis in 1884. He would release Massacres of the Mountains: a History of the Indian Wars of the Far West 1815-1875 in 1886. Relying heavily on government documents, it was the first scholarly attempt at the subject, winning him considerable fame for publishing such a "minor classic". Massacres to this day is held in high regard by those interested in the history of the American frontier. At this time Houghton Mifflin
were working on a series of books called the American Commonwealths, and invited Dunn to write the Indiana volume of the series. In 1888 Dunn would write a book entitled Indiana: A Redemption from Slavery. He would further support himself by writing political editorials for local newspapers.
Fame from his books elevated him in Indianapolis circles. In 1886 he joined two other Indianapolis historians in improving both the Indiana Historical Society and the Indiana Public Library. As recording secretary, he managed to make the Indiana Historical Society into an active society. He was chosen twice to be the Indiana state librarian, from 1889–1892, and would serve as charter president of the Indiana Public Library Commission from 1899 to 1914.
He would be the most serious historian looking into the origin of the term "Hoosier
" as a term used to describe citizens of Indiana.
In 1910 he wrote the two volume Greater Indianapolis, considered to be his greatest work. The first volume was one of the best local histories ever published, and the second volume consisted of the biographies of notable residents of Indianapolis. With his five-volume Indiana and Indianans published in 1919, they are still considered premier sources for studying Indiana history. His other notable 20th century work was writing a dictionary of the language of the Miami Indians with the granddaughter of Chief Little Turtle, a language that has not survived the 20th century.
In his last years, he would go to Haiti to mine for manganese
for two months in 1921, and then serve as adviser for Samuel Ralston in 1922. As Ralston's chief aide, Dunn would die in Washington D.C. in 1924.
. The second, and far more controversial, was his desire to alter the Indiana state constitution to remove voting privileges for many immigrants and blacks. Some modern historians fret over Dunn's description of such things as cannibalistic aboriginals and voodoo in Haiti
, and his use of the terms nigger
and chink
. These historians question Dunn's sincerity on wanting to preserve the language of the Miamis.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
historian and author of several books. He was instrumental in making the Indiana Historical Society
Indiana Historical Society
The Indiana Historical Society is one of the United States' oldest and largest historical societies and describes itself as "Indiana's Storyteller". Housed within the Eugene and Marilyn Glick Indiana History Center, it is located at 450 West Ohio St...
an effective group, serving as its secretary for decades. He was also instrumental in the Indiana Public Library Commission. As an ethnologist
Ethnology
Ethnology is the branch of anthropology that compares and analyzes the origins, distribution, technology, religion, language, and social structure of the ethnic, racial, and/or national divisions of humanity.-Scientific discipline:Compared to ethnography, the study of single groups through direct...
, his main concern was that of the Miami tribe
Miami tribe
The Miami are a Native American nation originally found in what is now Indiana, southwest Michigan, and western Ohio. The Miami Tribe of Oklahoma is the only federally recognized tribe of Miami Indians in the United States...
of Indiana and the preservation of their language. His greater Indianapolis
Indianapolis
Indianapolis is the capital of the U.S. state of Indiana, and the county seat of Marion County, Indiana. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city's population is 839,489. It is by far Indiana's largest city and, as of the 2010 U.S...
treatise was his most important work as an amateur historian. He also served as adviser to Indiana governor Thomas R. Marshall
Thomas R. Marshall
Thomas Riley Marshall was an American Democratic politician who served as the 28th Vice President of the United States under Woodrow Wilson...
and Senator Samuel Ralston. He was responsible for a new Indianapolis city charter, and use of the Australian ballot law for the city (1889), even though he never ran for office.
Life
Dunn was born in Lawrenceburg, IndianaLawrenceburg, Indiana
Lawrenceburg is a city in Dearborn County, Indiana, United States. The population was 5,042 at the 2010 census. The city is the county seat of Dearborn County...
on April 12, 1855. He moved with his parents to Indianapolis in 1861. He graduated with a Bachelors of Science
Bachelors Of Science
Bachelors of Science is the stage name of Phil "Rene", Chris and Lukeino. They met in California and formed a successful act, quickly becoming one of the top drum and bass producers in the electronic music scene...
at age 19 from Earlham College
Earlham College
Earlham College is a liberal arts college in Richmond, Indiana. It was founded in 1847 by Quakers and has approximately 1,200 students.The president is John David Dawson...
in 1874, and obtained a LL.B. from the University of Michigan
University of Michigan
The University of Michigan is a public research university located in Ann Arbor, Michigan in the United States. It is the state's oldest university and the flagship campus of the University of Michigan...
two years later. He was a lawyer
Lawyer
A lawyer, according to Black's Law Dictionary, is "a person learned in the law; as an attorney, counsel or solicitor; a person who is practicing law." Law is the system of rules of conduct established by the sovereign government of a society to correct wrongs, maintain the stability of political...
for a few years in Indianapolis after graduation, but would move to Colorado
Colorado
Colorado is a U.S. state that encompasses much of the Rocky Mountains as well as the northeastern portion of the Colorado Plateau and the western edge of the Great Plains...
in 1879 for five years looking after the family's silver
Silver
Silver is a metallic chemical element with the chemical symbol Ag and atomic number 47. A soft, white, lustrous transition metal, it has the highest electrical conductivity of any element and the highest thermal conductivity of any metal...
interests. While in Colorado he developed an interest in the history of Indians, and would serve as a reporter for newspapers in Denver, Colorado
Denver, Colorado
The City and County of Denver is the capital and the most populous city of the U.S. state of Colorado. Denver is a consolidated city-county, located in the South Platte River Valley on the western edge of the High Plains just east of the Front Range of the Rocky Mountains...
and Leadville, Colorado
Leadville, Colorado
Leadville is a Statutory City that is the county seat of, and the only municipality in, Lake County, Colorado, United States. Situated at an elevation of , Leadville is the highest incorporated city and the second highest incorporated municipality in the United States...
.
He would return permanently to Indianapolis in 1884. He would release Massacres of the Mountains: a History of the Indian Wars of the Far West 1815-1875 in 1886. Relying heavily on government documents, it was the first scholarly attempt at the subject, winning him considerable fame for publishing such a "minor classic". Massacres to this day is held in high regard by those interested in the history of the American frontier. At this time Houghton Mifflin
Houghton Mifflin
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt is an educational and trade publisher in the United States. Headquartered in Boston's Back Bay, it publishes textbooks, instructional technology materials, assessments, reference works, and fiction and non-fiction for both young readers and adults.-History:The company was...
were working on a series of books called the American Commonwealths, and invited Dunn to write the Indiana volume of the series. In 1888 Dunn would write a book entitled Indiana: A Redemption from Slavery. He would further support himself by writing political editorials for local newspapers.
Fame from his books elevated him in Indianapolis circles. In 1886 he joined two other Indianapolis historians in improving both the Indiana Historical Society and the Indiana Public Library. As recording secretary, he managed to make the Indiana Historical Society into an active society. He was chosen twice to be the Indiana state librarian, from 1889–1892, and would serve as charter president of the Indiana Public Library Commission from 1899 to 1914.
He would be the most serious historian looking into the origin of the term "Hoosier
Hoosier
Hoosier is the official demonym for a resident of the U.S. state of Indiana. Although residents of most U.S. states typically adopt a derivative of the state name, e.g., "Indianan" or "Indianian", natives of Indiana rarely use these. Indiana adopted the nickname "Hoosier State" more than 150...
" as a term used to describe citizens of Indiana.
In 1910 he wrote the two volume Greater Indianapolis, considered to be his greatest work. The first volume was one of the best local histories ever published, and the second volume consisted of the biographies of notable residents of Indianapolis. With his five-volume Indiana and Indianans published in 1919, they are still considered premier sources for studying Indiana history. His other notable 20th century work was writing a dictionary of the language of the Miami Indians with the granddaughter of Chief Little Turtle, a language that has not survived the 20th century.
In his last years, he would go to Haiti to mine for manganese
Manganese
Manganese is a chemical element, designated by the symbol Mn. It has the atomic number 25. It is found as a free element in nature , and in many minerals...
for two months in 1921, and then serve as adviser for Samuel Ralston in 1922. As Ralston's chief aide, Dunn would die in Washington D.C. in 1924.
Controversies
Some claim Dunn was an example of a blend between a secular evangelist and progressive, while others believe that Dunn was more of a "'hide-bound' partisan". Dunn's two biggest interests both ended unsuccessfully. The first was obtaining precious metals in the American West and HispaniolaHispaniola
Hispaniola is a major island in the Caribbean, containing the two sovereign states of the Dominican Republic and Haiti. The island is located between the islands of Cuba to the west and Puerto Rico to the east, within the hurricane belt...
. The second, and far more controversial, was his desire to alter the Indiana state constitution to remove voting privileges for many immigrants and blacks. Some modern historians fret over Dunn's description of such things as cannibalistic aboriginals and voodoo in Haiti
Haiti
Haiti , officially the Republic of Haiti , is a Caribbean country. It occupies the western, smaller portion of the island of Hispaniola, in the Greater Antillean archipelago, which it shares with the Dominican Republic. Ayiti was the indigenous Taíno or Amerindian name for the island...
, and his use of the terms nigger
Nigger
Nigger is a noun in the English language, most notable for its usage in a pejorative context to refer to black people , and also as an informal slang term, among other contexts. It is a common ethnic slur...
and chink
Chink
Chink, chinki, chinky or chinkie is a pejorative term referring mainly to a person of Chinese ethnicity but sometimes generalized to refer to any person of East Asian descent...
. These historians question Dunn's sincerity on wanting to preserve the language of the Miamis.