BLACK HISTORY NEWS AND NOTES BLACK HISTORY NEWS AND NOTES

ATREASURE BLACK RURAL SETTLEMENTS IN BY 1870 HUNT WILMA L. MOORE

A storm brews near the Union Literary Institute at Greenville Settlement in Randolph County, Indiana. COURTESY GEORGIA CRAVEY

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uring the summer of 2014 the Indiana Historical Society and Darke County, ) have annual embarked upon a journey to identify African American reunions and/or advocacy groups. The initiative also sought input from statewide rural settlements that existed in Indiana by 1870. Earlier D heritage organizations and other related in the year, Maxine Brown, a descendant of the Mitchems (one entities. These included the Indiana State of the state’s earliest black families) and a consultant with the Museum, Indiana Historical Bureau, Southern Indiana Minority Enterprise Initiative, had approached Indiana Landmarks, Indiana Humanities, the Eli Lilly Endowment about support for extending the southern Indiana State Archives, Indiana State Library, Indiana Tourism, Eleutherian Col- leg of an Indiana Heritage Trail throughout the state. As a possible lege, and the Georgetown Historic District Above: The La Porte County Historical Society Museum in La Porte, Indiana. Right: A contem- foundational step for statewide research, she worked with the IHS to in Jefferson County, Indiana. porary view of the Porter County Courthouse in develop the Early African American Settlement Heritage Initiative, an A Lilly grant enabled the hiring of Valparaiso, Indiana. effort to identify agrarian communities that had dotted the Hoosier five researchers and a database manager/ landscape. The EAASHI sought input from representatives of the researcher for the project. Contract the southern counties. William Gillispie, researchers Andrea Sowle covered the rural communities. a Tulane University student, was our northern tier of the state, Dona Stokes- database manager/researcher. The state Although these settlements no longer ty), Roberts (Hamilton County), Lyles Lucas and Georgia Cravey shared the was divided into five regional areas with exist as self-sustained communities, some Station (Gibson County), and Greenville/ central portion, and Lishawna Taylor researchers assigned to counties. The of them such as the Beech (Rush Coun- Longtown (Randolph County, Indiana, and Martina Kunnecke were assigned researchers fanned out around the state LUCAS STOKES DONA COURTESY visiting with county historians and others; exploring courthouses, libraries, and population and Indiana county agricultural sources useful for researching African various repositories; and, when appropriate, censuses and the international, online American history in that given county. By examining former settlement sites. They Newspaper Archive. highlighting the counties that included built upon the scholarship of Xenia Cord, The project identified sixty-one black the settlements identified by the research, Jacqueline Cortez, Anna Lisa Cox, Coy rural communities in forty-three Indiana the map suggests geographical patterns for Robbins, Stephen Vincent, and others. counties with roots from prestatehood African American settlement in Indiana for They also benefited from projects previously through 1870. The research is available the time period. sponsored by various institutions, including on the IHS’s website at http://www. Although the research looks at settle- Audrey Werle’s indexing of the 1870 indianahistory.org/our-collections/ ment through 1870, there are a few coun- census—research that she expanded from reference/early-black-settlements. ties where the findings may inform black population numbers today. These were sites By highlighting the counties that included where researchers found population clusters and evidence of community, as represented the settlements identified by the research, by different variables including land own- the map suggests geographical patterns for ership, schools, churches, and cemeteries. Many of the settlements had a building that African American settlement in Indiana for was used as both a church and as a school. the time period. Although there were early black settle- ments in Indiana towns and cities, most her work with the Indiana State Library; a There researchers can find a map and a notably Georgetown in Madison, Jefferson cemetery database developed by the Indiana description of the presence of African County, the emphasis of this project was Department of Natural Resources; Indiana Americans in each county through on rural communities. These were areas Landmarks’ county interim reports and 1870 that includes information about that existed away from urban population Indiana African American Historic Sites population, nativity of residents, extant centers. There was land ownership in many and Structures survey; and a 1987 survey historic properties, family names, and, of these communities, however, it was not a

IHS of county black history information, sent if applicable, settlement names. This prerequisite to classify an area as a settle- A church and a school were essential parts of the antebellum black rural communities in Indiana. Here, a group of schoolchildren pose with their out to all counties by the IHS. Other brief historical sketch is followed by a ment. It should be understood that the re- teacher at Lyles Station in Gibson County. broadly useful resources included federal bibliography of primary and secondary search done for this project was preliminary.

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There are many unnamed settlements— 1820, the first federal decennial census There were many familial relationships and communities where there is reasonable after Indiana became a state, recorded family names across rural settlements. The evidence that they existed, but no name 1,230 African Americans, fifty or more harsh federal fugitive slave law and Article was found. It should also be noted that in ten counties within the state. With the 13 of the 1851 Indiana Constitution, this is not an exhaustive list of Indiana exception of Wayne County, these coun- followed by an 1852 provision to enforce black rural settlements. Evidence suggests ties were located in the southern tier of it, curbed the influx of blacks entering that additional settlements may have the state, mostly in the southeast. Prior to the state. There were several counties that existed in many counties where settlements the Civil War, most blacks settled in the experienced population drops during this have been identified, as well as counties southern, west central, and east central part decade. Conversely, after the Civil War, the where no settlements were listed. Further of Indiana, forming population clusters in federal census showed dramatic population study is needed. towns, cities, and rural areas. They shared increases, especially in those counties that There were several trends that emerged nativity most often with people from North bordered the Ohio River. For example, among counties from the research. In Carolina, , Kentucky, and Ohio. Spencer County, which had recorded two blacks in 1860, listed 949 in 1870. Settlements tended to be in counties that contained higher population numbers IHS, ELIJAH ROBERTS COLLECTION, M 325, GIFT OF MILTON BALTIMORE BALTIMORE OF MILTON GIFT COLLECTION, M 325, IHS, ELIJAH ROBERTS of blacks. Several counties showed evidence In July 2005 descendants of the Roberts Settlement in Hamilton County, Indiana, gathered for their annual reunion at Roberts Chapel Church. of an African American presence, but there was not enough data to document a Since Indiana was settled from south a historic site and history cafe. There are I purchased the 1891 Corydon Colored settlement. The documented settlements’ to north, the trail project was designed panels on the walls of the building with School in 1987 and donated the school to population numbers at peak ranged, gen- as a prototype in southern Indiana that old documents and photographs. Also, a newly formed, nonprofit corporation, the erally, from twenty-five to several hundred would eventually include any and all of there is a barbeque food service that is Leora Brown School Inc. The school was residents. There were a couple of excep- this history in Indiana, county by county, owned by an African American family. rehabilitated and completed by 1993. It tions that had closer to twenty residents. extending the trail throughout all nine- At least two other structures are in- was named in honor of, Leora Brown, who These were communities that contained ty-two counties. In the absence of historic cluded on the trail: Taylor High School, an had attended elementary and secondary multigeneration family members. structures or events that may have im- 1891 segregated schoolhouse in Jefferson- grades at the school and later taught there pacted the lives of African Americans and ville, and the McGee cabin, a reconstruct- longer than any other teacher. The school SOUTH the state, historic markers will be erected ed cabin similar to one lived in by Ben is maintained as a historic site and as a Maxine F. Brown, EAASHI senior researcher and Indiana African American to help tell their stories. The trail proj- and Venus McGee, ex-slaves of the George cultural/educational center. Heritage Trail Project founder ect hopes to create a coherent history of The Indiana African American Heritage African Americans in statewide reposito- Trail project was initiated about ten years ries, as well as within individual counties, In the absence of historic structures or events ago as a heritage tourism initiative and to insure that the historic documents are that may have impacted the lives of African a means of preserving and illuminating properly preserved. Indiana’s early history of African At the same time, and because slavery Americans and the state, historic markers Americans. The project was developed exploited many African Americans, will be erected to help tell their stories. under the auspices of the Southern Indiana the trail project was also designed to Minority Enterprise Initiative Inc., a small encourage the development of tourism- Rogers Clark family. The McGee cabin sits In 2006 we were able to save from Jeffersonville-based nonprofit organization. related businesses owned by African in close proximity to the Clark cabin near demolition an 1891 small bungalow that The trail project is now under the auspices Americans—for example, food services, the Falls of the Ohio River in Clarksville. was built by Leonard Carter, a Civil War of the Leora Brown School Inc. in transportation, retail, and lodging. A Also, at least two historic markers are on veteran who served as a member of the Corydon, due to my desire to clarify the small historic building that was originally the trail in Clark County. One is for Taylor Twenty-eighth U.S. Colored Troops. He scope of the project as a statewide initiative a segregated restroom inside the historic High School (the building is privately lived and died in Corydon. The Carter rather than just a southern Indiana Jeffersonville Quartermaster was secured owned and in need of rehabilitation). The house was donated to the Leora Brown project. The EAASHI should be helpful in as a Welcome Center and starting point second marker is for Hannah Toliver, a School and moved to a lot behind the

IHS, STERLING WATKINS FAMILY PAPERS, M 933, GIFT OF REGINALD J. WATKINS J. OF REGINALD GIFT M 933, PAPERS, FAMILY WATKINS STERLING IHS, supplying basic information for any future of the trail in Clark County. The building woman who was arrested and imprisoned school. The house has been stabilized, An 1836 indenture for the sale of land in Rush County, Indiana, made by Sterling and Rebecca research and help identify some relevant was named the Depot because of its role for allegedly aiding slaves from Kentucky but much work remains to be done. It is Watkins of the Beech Settlement. extant structures. in relation to the trail. It now functions as to escape to Indiana. planned to be used as a local Civil War

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learning center. In addition, there are three significant numbers in a county, which of raising money to purchase the freedom historic markers in Harrison County specific could help identify if there had been a of his children enslaved in Kentucky. to African American history. They represent settlement (either named or unnamed). The most rewarding and beneficial the Leora Brown School, the Saint Paul African American landmarks, national part of the settlement research was when I African Methodist Episcopal Church, and registers, and Indiana historical markers also had the opportunity and honor to inter- Oswell Wright. proved a good starting point. view several descendants, such as Carole I hope the example that is being set in To facilitate my research, I consult- Guess, a retired schoolteacher. Her Cosby Harrison County will be followed by other ed the works by some of the experts on (Crosby) family members were free people counties across the state. Although a former, this subject: Xenia E. Cord’s Black Rural who came to the Graysville settlement conscientious county historian, Frederick P. Settlements in Indiana before 1860; Audrey in Jefferson County around 1821 due to Griffin, and an interested former principal Werle’s research notes on African Americans fear of kidnappers who had been stealing of the Corydon Central High School and elected official, Earl O. Saulman, as well as Brown family descendant Barbara Shannon, They came from some of the thirteen did considerable work collecting and pub- original colonies, although on occasion I lishing information about the black popula- tion in Harrison County, more work needs found a settler whose birthplace was listed to be done in order to preserve the historical as Africa, such as Peter Smith who was living records and documents. in Crawfordsville, Montgomery County, WEST CENTRAL Dona Stokes-Lucas Indiana, according to the 1850 census. The African American presence in Indiana’s rural landscape may be long using census data; John W. Lyda’s The Negro children and selling them down South. In forgotten by many, but all is not lost. My in the History of Indiana; Coy Robbins’s vast Vigo County, Lost Creek Settlement de- journey in search of evidence identifying body of published works; dissertations by scendants Dorothy Ross and her daughter,

COURTESY GEORGIA CRAVEY GEORGIA COURTESY rural African American settlements in Herbert Lynn Heller, Brain L. Hackett, and Dee Reed, maintain an impressive archives Indiana from 1820 to 1870 focused on Mark Furnish; and books by Emma Lou of the their family history, having helped nineteen counties in west-central Indiana Thornbrough, Stephen A. Vincent, Anna organize the Lost Creek Community Grove and two counties in the southeast. My Lisa Cox, and Cheryl Janifer LaRoche. Restoration and Preservation Foundation. west-central research area was bounded by I discovered that many blacks had Reann Poray from the Plainfield-Guilford Vigo County to the west, Boone County migrated to this vast wilderness prior to Township Public Library in Hendricks and Hendricks County to the east, Benton Indiana becoming a state in 1816. They County introduced me to octogenarian and County and Carroll County to the north, came from some of the thirteen original longtime resident James Gilbert. Brother and Monroe County and Bartholomew colonies, although on occasion I found Gilbert, as he is affectionately called, has County to the south. I also researched a settler whose birthplace was listed as been a member of the Bethel African Meth- Jennings and Jefferson Counties along the Africa, such as Peter Smith who was living odist Episcopal Church for more than sixty Ohio River. in Crawfordsville, Montgomery County, years and served as my energetic tour guide, To identify individuals, I used early Indiana, according to the 1850 census. a docent on wheels as we stepped back in census records, early land records from the Some of those who settled here had fought time traveling the dirt roads of the county. Bureau of Land Management, property in the Revolutionary War. William Hood A lot has disappeared from Indiana’s ru- deeds and plat maps (when available), as settled in Jefferson County before 1812 ral landscapes. With the increased interest well as the valuable resources provided by and applied for a Revolutionary War pen- in telling a more diverse history, increased libraries, genealogical societies, and historical sion in 1818. He had run away from his access to collections of organizations and societies. Identifying settlements proved owner in 1769, at the age of sixteen. Others institutions, and family researchers preserv- who came here had either been only recent- ing and telling the stories of their ancestors, COURTESY GEORGIA CRAVEY GEORGIA COURTESY COURTESY DONA STOKES-LUCAS more challenging. I used a variety of primary Clockwise from top: Headstone honoring Civil War veteran George W. Peterson, a sergeant with Company F, U.S. Colored Infantry, at Weaver and secondary resources to determine if ly emancipated, or were like Daniel Pierson African Americans and the role they played Settlement in Grant County, Indiana; James Gilbert at the gravesite of his wife, Catherine, at Maple Hill Cemetery in Plainfield, Indiana; and people of color had actually resided in any (Pearson) of Danville, Hendricks County, in Indiana’s history will not be forgotten. descendants of Lick Creek Settlement explore the Roberts and Thomas Cemetery in the Hoosier National Forest in Orange County, Indiana. who had the arduous task during the 1850s

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EAST CENTRAL settlement dubbed “Oklahoma” on the Georgia Cravey Researchers might be living in the best of east side of centered near The call came in May inviting me to times right now. Authors of nineteenth- the intersection of Seventeenth and Rural join a team whose mission would be to Streets. Another productive research tactic identify and document nineteenth-centu- century county histories seldom gave much was using information extracted from ry rural African American settlements in notice to the contributions of people of color. the 1870 census by Audrey Werle, who each of Indiana’s ninety-two counties. The produced an index to heads of households opportunity excited me and I agreed to updates to these older county histories and IHS summer team had the good fortune with African American members. Her participate. I would spend my summer on contemporary historians have been much to work with William Gillispie, a young, work provides a quick snapshot of the roads of Indiana exploring history that better about documenting minorities. tech-savvy intern who combed through surnames, age, occupations, nativity, and lay right under my feet. The growing body of digitized these sources and fed us great leads. He personal wealth arranged by county and I babbled enthusiastically to my friends newspapers also allows researchers access unearthed one of my favorite discoveries— township. Used in tandem with online and family in person and on social media. to another source of information. The an 1896 article describing an all-black genealogy databases such as Ancestry.com, I contacted the county historians in each it provided a means to follow those of the counties I was assigned. Many of families through time and place. my contacts had suggestions for research I also relied heavily on the County leads. Some responded with mild surprise Interim Reports produced by Historic that there had been an African American Landmarks and the Indiana Department presence in rural Indiana in the 1800s. of Natural Resources’s Division of His- Everyone responded with interest; more toric Preservation and Archaeology. These often than not, I heard something like, “I’d guides had nice maps of backroads useful love to hear what you learn.” for locating documented sites and struc- I started my research by compiling tures that relate to early African American population figures from the decennial history. One of the most difficult tasks census reports and tallying those counts by was juggling the figures, facts, and stories township. Then I recorded the figures on of multiple counties at the same time, county maps. With this strategy I could keeping them organized and meeting tight begin to see trends in population patterns. deadlines. There were late-night phone The maps gave me a sense of where to calls and e-mails exchanged with fellow focus my attention. I turned to printed researchers that had a tinge of hysteria. All sources: individual county histories, atlases, summer my house, with its piles of papers plat books, gazetteers, and clipping files. and research materials, looked like so (Researchers might be living in the best many games of giants playing solitaire. of times right now.) Authors of nine- The summer provided a number of teenth-century county histories seldom gratifying experiences. While making COURTESY DONA STOKES-LUCAS gave much notice to the contributions of arrangements to visit the Lost Creek Dorothy Ross (left) and her daughter, Dee Reed, descendants of Lost Creek Settlement, have been recognized as living on a Hoosier Homestead Farm by the state of Indiana for farms owned by the people of color. However, there is almost Settlement, I learned about a special tour same family for more than 150 years. always some brief mention of an AME that U.S. Forest Rangers were arranging church, of a “colored” lodge, a segregated for a group of descendants who were freedom papers. I took them up to the over the summer and while one of his gifts school, or black soldiers who served in the traveling from California and Florida to librarians and suggested that these valuable is his sense of direction, he is not known Civil War. Some counties included individ- visit the site of their ancestors’ farms in documents be protected. for his patience. We also have differing ual stories of success, and there were also Orange County. It only took a moment My spouse, Jim Lingenfelter, ideas about what constitutes safe driving accounts of tragic injustices. The wealth of to brashly invite myself to go along. accompanied me to Randolph County. practices. After tearing through miles of online resources now available makes iso- In another instance, while surveying The county was home to three successful soybeans and corn, we arrived at the field lating names and keywords in the text of a vertical files at one of the public libraries, and enduring settlements, as well as the where Union Literary Institute stands. A Union Literary Institute, one of the first thunderstorm was threatening and after nineteenth-century county history a much Historical marker honoring the Lost Creek African Methodist I opened a folder that contained a sheaf easier task than before. Some counties Episcopal Church’s role in helping slaves flee to freedom on the of fragile documents. I could hardly integrated educational institutions in the snapping a few photos, Jim was ready to have been fortunate enough to produce Underground Railroad. COURTESY DONA STOKES-LUCAS believe my eyes—I was looking at original United States. Jim was of great help to me get back on the road.

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discover any large, rural African American recalled what he knows about these black people at the IHS who helped, beginning settlements, I was able to find some very families. Born had a personal experience, with John Herbst, our CEO, who was interesting pieces of information. remembering that one of the Morgan supportive from the initial planning stages My surprising discovery was a small family members lived and worked on his of the grant; Stacy Klinger, who wrote the settlement in Indiana’s youngest county, grandfather’s farm, the Linderholm Farm, grant and coordinated the outside meet- Newton. The first evidence of this unnamed in the 1920s and 1930s. He said the ings; Nicea Yamber, who made sure every settlement is the 1870 federal census for individual was treated like a member of the bill was paid; and Kim Easton and Luke the county, which shows many residents family, as were all of the Morgan family Smith, who helped with the presentation with the surnames Morgan and Porteonus members. He stated that his grandfather of the project’s results on the IHS website. living next to one another, as farmers. All of had grown up in a Quaker community. I especially smile at the contributions of these families were born in Indiana. Later Later in life, while Gerald was running an our students—the very talented Gillispie; census data indicates that the Morgans antique store, descendants of the Morgan Kelsey Bawel and Kelsey Smith, Indiana stayed in this area and several black fami- family, who had moved to Michigan, came University–Purdue University Indianapo- lies joined them. The1916 Atlas of New- back to learn about their family history and lis graduate interns; and Leah Grynheim, ton County shows George Morgan’s wife, he was happy to tell them what he knew. our marketing department’s intern from Emma, owning ninety acres in section 25, The Morgans lived in this area until 1922, Herron High School. which the 1910 census estimates as having when Emma died and the land was passed The IHS hopes that interest in the a land value at $8,600. (No land deed has on to her daughter, Cora Morgan Tracy, settlement research will spur future been found.) This is likely because of the who was later buried there, along with projects, programs, exhibits, publications,

IHS heavy marshes that dominate the land. other members of the Tracy family. research, and conversations, and unearth (Left to right) Project participants Maxine Brown, William Gillispie, Dona Stokes-Lucas, Andrea Sowle, Georgia Cravey, and Wilma L. Moore. This section, known as the Willow Marsh Other research discoveries included more evidence about these communities. area, borders the Indiana-Illinois line, and new information about a midsized settle- Although it is independent of this project, As we turned back out of the field, He blew a kiss to the sky and we parted. a cappella choir marched into the church today the Morgan-Tracy Cemetery is the a van drove by slowly. For a moment, While in the process of documenting singing traditional songs, family and guests only physical evidence indicating that these I thought we might be in trouble for settlements in Marion County, I missed were welcomed, and stirring sermons were families once lived on that land. Many of As a lifelong Indiana resident, I was happy to trespassing. I wondered out loud if the a deadline to explore Eagle Creek Park. preached. After services, I stood in the the residents of this settlement are buried find that everyone I worked with in the twen- occupants of the van might be somebody It was for a good reason. I had been shade beneath huge sycamore trees in the here, including some of the later families I should talk to, but Jim was muttering following the migration of early settlers adjacent cemetery while descendants paid that joined the Morgans. ty-three northern counties were more than under his breath about how we needed from the community of Bridgeport their respect to those pioneers buried there. Because of the unyielding nature of the happy to assist me with whatever I needed. to get back home. Then I invoked the through the movement of different church I had some great adventures, discovered land the Morgans owned, it is likely the powerful name of one of my fellow congregations. One of my contacts put me some good places to eat, and met a lot of family worked on a nearby farm. Marriage Truly, the people working and volunteering researchers saying, “I bet Dona Stokes- in touch with Clarence Woods, who grew wonderful people who were willing to share records reveal that the brothers, James in this area of research are some of the best. Lucas would talk to them.” Jim braked, up in a neighborhood of small African resources with me. My summer on the road and George, married Elisabeth and Emma turned the car around, and we hailed American farms clustered around Reed reaffirmed that Indiana has a rich and fas- Porteonus, who were possibly sisters given ment in Saint Joseph County and another the National Museum of African Amer- the other vehicle. They turned out to be Road in what is now the park. It was a cinating history and that from the earliest their matching, unusual surnames. An in Whitley County. As a lifelong Indiana ican History and Culture will include a couple from Wisconsin and the driver perfect summer day and Woods, a lively days African Americans played significant archaeological report by Joseph Hiestand resident, I was happy to find that everyone an exhibit on black rural communities was a descendant of James Clemens, an nonagenarian, was our tour guide pointing roles in taking our state from farms and noted that this land was part of the “shore I worked with in the twenty-three northern in the Midwest. It will use Lyles Station, early settler and farmer in the Greenville/ out where various farms were located as fields to factories and halls of government. lines and sand knobs of the marshes.” This counties were more than happy to assist me which continues to have several inde- Longtown Settlement and one of the well as the former site of Mount Pleasant I hope that my research and discoveries can report matches the markings on an 1876 with whatever I needed. Truly, the people pendent black farmers, as a prototype. founders of Union Literary Institute. The Baptist Church, now marked with a plaque help the next person who comes along. map of Newton County, where section 25 working and volunteering in this area of (View further information about Lyles driver was looking for his ancestor’s home on a boulder. The summer culminated NORTH is made up of the marshes surrounding research are some of the best. I had a fan- Station at http://www.lylesstation.org/.) (which stands just across the Indiana line with a homecoming at the Beech Andrea Sowle what was Beaver Lake, a body of water that tastic experience doing this project, and am The NMAAHC, part of the Smithsonian in Ohio) and was not sure how to get Settlement in Rush County. Organizers Over the summer I was responsible has a well-documented history of being excited about everyone’s discoveries. complex, is slated to open on the Nation- there. Dona had shared a map with me invited all those gathered to share “dinner for researching in northern Indiana. one of the healthiest gaming lakes in all al Mall in 2016. * * * that included the Clemens homestead, on the grounds.” Attendees reminisced and Because the northern part of the state of northern Indiana. While not much is Wilma L. Moore is senior archivist, and I was able to give it to the descendant caught up with acquaintances. was settled last, I was worried I would known about these families, Gerald Born, This project was fortunate to have great African American history, for the Indiana and inform him about his ancestor’s When I entered the old frame church not be able to uncover as much as the the director of the Beaver Lake Museum researchers and interested collaborators. I Historical Society William Henry Smith connection to the Union Literary Institute. I was transported back in time. A men’s other researchers. And while I did not and Two Rivers Reference Library, has would be remiss not to mention the many Memorial Library. •

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