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0265-08 Traces-Body.indd 4 11/13/08 4:02:48 PM With 2008 marking the 175th anniversary of the publication of John Finley’s obscure. Yet Nicholson was also defensive poem “The Hoosier’s Nest,” questions remain about the origins and meanings about the linguistic origins of the term of the popular moniker as applied to the early people of Indiana prior to Finley’s and its specific application to Indianans, poem and its adoption as the state’s nickname. Upon its first appearance in 1833, bemoaning, in part “the assumption being the poem was soon copied throughout the young United States, and many long- in many quarters that the Hoosier Com- time residents, homesteaders, and travelers also became aware of it. Finley origi- monwealth is in some way set apart from nally wrote “Hoosier” as “Hoosher” (a then common phonetic spelling), and her neighbors by reason of the uncouth- both versions were certainly spoken for several years prior to the 1830s. ness and ignorance of the inhabitants; and the word ‘Hoosier’ has perhaps been An examination of the uses of the many others have searched for this “Holy unfortunate as applied to Indianians in it words “Hoosher” and “Hoosier” as they Grail” to reveal the origin and meaning has sometimes been taken as a synonym were written by or about people living of Indiana’s ubiquitous nickname, delving for boorishness and illiteracy.” in Indiana during the first generation of into the original sources of the word, its Nicholson further argued that early In- statehood and pioneer era offers a glimpse meanings, possible linguistic history, and diana frontier inhabitants were not all that of its connotations preceding its general humorous folklore speculations as it was different from those of Ohio and Illinois, acceptance by the 1840s. Although more applied to residents of Indiana by both but without benefit of a more romanti- than fifty Indiana-related references had insiders and outsiders. cized view allowed for similar frontier folk appeared by then and are included below, Meredith Nicholson asserted in The of Tennessee and Kentucky. Although not- a comprehensive survey of the subsequent Hoosiers (1900) that although the ex- ing that the word Hoosier had long been litany of positive, negative, humorous, and act origins of the word “Hoosier” were used in Tennessee, Virginia, and the serious references is not the subject of this not then known, it was only second to Carolinas to refer to a “rough country- review. Notable authors Meredith Nichol- “Yankee” as a sobriquet. He realistically man,” he affirmed that Indiana residents son, Jacob Piatt Dunn Jr., Heath Bowman, concluded that with the appearance and surely adopted it without reference to R. Carlyle Buley, Walter Havinghurst, acceptance of Finley’s poem in the 1830s, manners or literacy. He also mentioned Ronald L. Baker, Marvin Carmony, and the local meaning was certainly not then the common, but doubtful, origins
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allegedly contrived from such phonetic became generally accepted. Like Nichol- poem the word “no longer designated a corruptions as “Husher” (the victors of son, he considered such fanciful origins as rough, uncouth backwoodsman, but a riverboat brawls or other demonstrators “Husher,” “Hussar,” and “Who’s yere?” to self-reliant man who was able to subdue of personal strength), a Louisville baker have little or no credibility. After recount- the wilderness, defend his home, and com- named Hoosier (but also noting an 1830 ing that James Whitcomb Riley (who had mand the respect of his neighbors.” Dunn Cincinnati reference to a gingerbread), designated Finley “The Hoosier Poet”) theorized about the “Southern” version’s a local “Who’s here?” expression uttered humorously offered “Who’s ear?” as his probable linguistic roots, tracing it to an to hail strangers at a cabin door, and own satirical counter to the other outland- Anglo-Saxon “hoo” associated with high “Hussar” (a light cavalryman common to ish theories of the time, Dunn debunked ground, and thence morphing into an old European armies, not to be confused with the similarly unfounded allegations of Cumberland English dialect term “Hooz- shock cavalry; this alleged source also was “Hoosier’s men” (construction workers), a er” used to describe something unusually a man who arrived after Finley’s poem Louisville baker’s “Hoosier” bread, “Hus- large or even hill dwellers. Its flow from appeared). sar,” Native American “Hoosa,” (maize), American Colonial southern coastal to hill It fell to the Indiana Historical “Hoosieroon” (apocryphal Spanish deriva- country as common banter seemed quite Society’s own Dunn, in his The Word tion; Finley coined the term to refer to a logical to him. Moreover, most of Indiana’s Hoosier (1907), to provide what remains child), “Huzur” (Indian Hindu term by initial settlers (especially in southern and one of the most extensive studies of this way of England), and the Revolutionary southeastern Indiana where the term was question—and just as importantly many War exclamation “huzza!” most noticed) migrated from or had their primary sources then available. Refer- The Indiana historian concluded by own origins in these same southern states. encing Nicholson and other numerous pointing the Indiana origins of the word Most authors since Dunn have es- opinions since the 1830s that had cre- itself toward the commonly used southern sentially returned to his thorough study. ated uncertainty about the word with “a expression for people considered rustic, Ronald Baker’s From Needmore to Prosper- notable lack of any satisfactory results,” rough class, backwoods, uncouth, or coun- ity: Hoosier Place Names in Folklore and Dunn examined the popular opinions and try. Unlike Nicholson’s bemoaning this History (1995) remains one of the best re- actual evidence and effectively concluded appellation, Dunn was quick to point out cent examples. Baker provided an overview that many theories were simply based on that its adoption in Indiana was in spite of the past searches by Dunn, Nicholson, false assumptions of fact. He determined of its prior meanings and taken on with a and others for the origination and mean- that Finley’s poem was drafted well before humorous spirit at a time when westerners ings of Hoosier, while also highlighting the its publication and that it was a sepa- (today’s Midwest) were fond of adopting folklore and legendary aspects that have rate “Carrier’s Address” document that state nicknames, and that the “double- been attached to the term. He attributed accompanied the January 1, 1833, issue sense” meaning was essentially gone by the much of the latter phenomenon (and its of the Indianapolis Journal (Dunn could late 1830s. Wrigley also affirmed the no- attendant double-sense meaning of the not locate a surviving copy, nor have any tion that when her father wrote his famous word long after its adoption by residents of surfaced in the past hundred years). He also found that the initial version used the word Hoosher as Finley had heard it The Indiana historian concluded by spoken for several years and that the poet certainly did not create the word. He reprinted the entire poem from a version pointing the Indiana origins of the then owned by Finley’s daughter, Sarah Wrigley (who later donated it to the Indi- word itself toward the commonly ana State Library, where it can no longer be found). used southern expression for people Dunn also provided and substanti- ated a number of primary sources wherein considered rustic, rough class, back- “Hoosher” and “Hoosier” both appeared in the early decades of statehood as it woods, uncouth, or country.
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Indiana) to mid- to late- nineteenth-cen- tury East Coast hack writers and so-called almanacs more concerned with creating colorful characters to ridicule and contrast with the supposedly culturally superior Yankees. He agreed with most of Dunn’s
dismissals of the more humorous theories Indiana Historical Society and the term’s obvious southern origins, but he considered the Ohio River boatmen and related “husher” appellation in the sense of a ruffian to also have merit. In the June 2007 issue of the Indiana Magazine of History, Jonathan Clark Smith examined and updated the boatmen appellation in great detail. A reexamination of many of the original expressions of the words “Hoosher” and “Hoosier,” both known and unknown to Dunn and others, is nonetheless illuminating. One of the earliest known references recorded in private correspondence was well-established for several years. reproduced by Sandford Cox in his Recol- Dunn noted the regional fondness for lections . . . of the Wabash Valley (1860). A nicknames at this time, often accepted July 14, 1827, incident that was actually with humor, and he mentioned an a practical joke played on local residents 1830 Cincinnati account by a Rev- about a (fictional) Indian raid on frontier erend T. A. Goodwin who described Indiana was recounted in part as: “The a gingerbread favored by Indiana squatter, who fabricated the story and per- residents as “Hoosier-bait” (which petuated the false alarm, took a circuitous term would later appear in Finley’s route and returned home that evening; poem). and while others were busy building tem- George L. Murdock of Cincinnati of- porary block houses, and rubbing up their fered a complimentary, if honorific, use of Sheet music for the songs “Hello Hoosier guns to meet the Indians, he was quietly the term when he sent a business proposi- Town,” written by Edwin S. East in cel- gathering up money, and slipped down tion to General John Tipton at Logansport ebration of the state’s centennial, and “My to Crawfordsville and entered his land, to on February 11, 1831: “John McClure Hoosier Gal,” written by George P. Morris which he returned again, chuckling in his is here from Vencenes Repareing a steam and published circa 1854 by A. E. Jones and sleeve and mentally soliloquizing–There is Boat and proposes to take the whole to Company of Indianapolis. a Yankee trick for you–done up by a Hoosier.” Logansport the first rise of water . . . we A written reference supposedly dated are both anxious that our Boat should 1826 that is frequently reported and be the first at your place . . . I should be repeated is an erroneously cited 1846 glad to have the privilige of Delivering the document—so that alleged earliest date articles at any time between this and the does not apply. The early 1830s witnessed first of May Our Boat will [be] named the a significant increase in the word’s appear- Indiana Hoosier.” ance, and no doubt its general acceptance Newspaper references to the word in spoken conversation among Indiana Hoosher began with earliest known print residents and their neighbors had been appearances in mid-1831. In the June 25
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where I could get ‘Entertainment’—I Travel reminiscences from the 1830s also knew that any of the Hooshers would keep reported both Hoosher and Hoosier variations me if they had corn for my horse which by some casualty had become lame some days of the word at the time Finley was drafting his before. . . . On arriving at a less cheer- ful appearing cabin I made the necessary poem and shortly after its publication. inquiries of a fiery headed middle aged woman—not forgetting to throw in two issue of the Lawrenceburg Indiana Palladi- of pleasure and with a view to spending words for my horse . . . Soon a ‘man’ & um, an inquirer with “Hoosher” as a nom a few days in pure waters of St. Joseph, a youth came in from their labors—their de plum voiced concern for “Steam Boat had his joyous anticipations unexpectedly team was an novel one to me, thinks I, Racing” on the Ohio River and wanted marred by ‘running afoul’ of a fisherman’s these Hooshers have beat the Yankees this to know the speed and condition of each spear, near this place:—being brought on time—They had a fine large bullock, with of four boats. In the July 23 issue of the ‘terra firma’ and ‘cast into a balance’ was proud horns, regularly harnessed with a same newspaper, a writer bemoaned the found to weight 83 pounds.” Nicholson horse to the plough!” riotous behavior of a boatload of persons and Dunn noted that the publishers of New York traveler Charles Hoffman from Cincinnati, noting this was not the the Intelligencer were southerners also described these encounters in his A Winter first such Sunday incident and that “We familiar with the southern use of the word in the West, upon traveling from the Mich- hope when the next similar visit is pro- “hoosier” to describe a rough, uncouth igan Territory into northwestern Indiana’s jected, they will be good enough to give countryman. Dunn’s contemporary, T. E. “rolling prairie” near “the little settlement a few days’ notice to the ‘Hooshers,’ that Howard considered the reference to have a of Laporte on December 26–29, 1833: they may be prepared to receive them with positive connotation of “vigorous man- ‘Stranger, will you take a cocktail with proper attention.” A week later, a writer hood, hearty good feeling, shrewdness and us?’called out a tall athletic fellow to me as from Wabash compared the gubernato- good common sense.” An eighty-three- I was making my way through a group of rial election among four candidates to pound sturgeon was no small fish. wild-looking characters assembled an hour a horse race and allowed that Governor Travel reminiscences from the 1830s since around the fire by which I am now Noah Noble “has been corned, littered also reported both Hoosher and Hoosier writing. There was a long-haired ‘hooshier’ and kept in Indiana and so may be called a variations of the word at the time Finley from Indiana, a couple of smart-looking ‘Hoosher.’” was drafting his poem and shortly after suckers [so called after the fish of that A long, politically inspired poem in its publication. While riding between name] from the southern part of Illinois, the “Address of the Carrier” section of the Paoli and what is now French Lick in a keen-eyed leather-belted ‘badger’ from January 3, 1832, issue of Indianapolis’s June 1832, Virtulon Rich recorded three the mines of Ouisconsin, and a sturdy yeo- Indiana Democrat newspaper included an references in his diary later published as man-like fellow, whose white capot, Indian early published use of the word “Hoosier” Western Life in the Stirrups: “I learned moccasins, and red sash proclaimed, while a year before Finley’s poem: it was their ‘grist-mill’—These are the he boasted a three years’ residence, the Protesting in most touching tones, ‘corn crackers’ to supply the wants of the genuine wolverine, or naturalized Michiga- Gainst taxes, troubles, debts and loans, Hooshers, & many a weary traveler too, nian. Could one refuse to drink with such In favor of much large donations, plies his ivory to the half ground grain company? The spokesman was evidently Ask for our “hoosiers” good plantations, with great satisfaction, after worrying a ‘red-horse’ from Kentucky, and nothing Urging each scheme of graduation, through a long day without food. . . . As was wanting but a ‘buck-eye’ from Ohio As justice to the common nation. night grew near I began to make inquiries to render the assemblage as complete as In April of the same year, the South Bend Northwestern Pioneer and St. Joseph Intelligencer published this description of Opposite: An early commercial use of the term “Hoosier.” The circa 1855 ambrotype image a fish coming into Indiana from Michi- shows two storefronts, the general merchandise store of N. L. C. Watt and the tailor shop of gan: “A Real Hoosier.—A sturgeon, who, Henry Grautman, located just north of the corner of Main and Pearl streets in Richmond, no doubt, left Lake Michigan, on a trip Indiana. Residents gather outside of Watt’s Hoosier Store, surrounded by merchandise.
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it was select. . . . Could I refuse to drink “The term ‘Hooshier,’ like that of Yankee, or Buck-eye, first with such company? The warm glass is in my frozen fingers. The most devout tem- applied contemptuously, has now become a soubriquet that perance man could see no harm in that! bears nothing invidious with it to the ear of an Indianian.” It is touched smartly by the rim of the red-horse,—it is brushed by the hooshi- published weekly.” The paper languished References to the word in printed, er,—it rings against the badger,—comes in and was gone by 1834. published, and private writings signifi- companionable contact with the wolver- The October 26, 1833, issue of the cantly increased after the 1833 publica- ine,—‘My respects to you, gentlemen, and Indiana Democrat reprinted an article from tion of “The Hoosier’s Nest.” The January luck to all of us.’” the Cincinnati Republican dismissing the 4, 1834, issue of the Indiana Democrat The traveler later offered this evocative still popular first two in a series of im- reprinted a piece from the Kentucky’s description: “I am now in the land of the probable origins of the term: the Indiana Maysville Monitor newspaper: “The Hoosier Hooshiers, and find that long-haired race pioneers’ habit of hailing a cabin with the State like true democrats have taken the much more civilized than some of their call “Who’s here?” and the equally dubious lead in appointing delegates to a National western neighbors are willing to represent Hussars theory. These fanciful explanations Convention.” Also in the September 9 them. The term ‘Hooshier,’ like that of came a few months after the publication issue of the Democrat, Finley was described Yankee, or Buck-eye, first applied con- and wide circulation of Finley’s poem and as: “The poet-laureate of Hoosierland and temptuously, has now become a soubri- thus seem too coincidental. Also offered in editor of the Richmond Palladium . . . that quet that bears nothing invidious with it the same article was a more believable ex- was unceremoniously robbed by the Cin- to the ear of an Indianian.” planation: “The word ‘Hoosier’ is indebted cinnati Chronicle, of the credit of immor- “The Hoosher’s Nest” was published as for its existence to that once numerous talizing our State in verse, by that justly the separate “Address of the Carrier” that but now extinct of mortals called the Ohio celebrated epic of the ‘Hoosier’s Nest.’” accompanied the New Year’s Day 1833 boatmen. . . . By some caprice . . . the ap- The November 29, 1834, issue of the issue of the Indianapolis Journal, and the pellation Hoosher became confined solely Vincennes Sun carried a reprint from the poem was soon widely read and copied. to such boatmen as had their homes upon Cincinnati Mirror describing the arrival of Finley originally wrote Hoosier as Hoosher the Indiana shore, and from them it was a load of large pumpkins from Indiana as when he began the poem a year or two gradually applied to all the Indianans, who “Hoosier and Mammoth Pumpkins.” before, having often heard it after arriving acknowledge it as good naturedly as the When a couple traveling from western in Indiana from Virginia, by way of Ohio, appellation of Yankee.” This article thus New York crossed into northern Indiana in 1820. A week after the poem appeared, more importantly provides a glimpse of from Michigan in June 1835 needed a the January 12, 1833, issue of the Indiana the contemporary meaning of the word as place to stay for a night, the wife left this Democrat reported that John W. Davis it was by then accepted in the region, con- vivid account as reproduced in Pioneer toasted “The Hooshier State of Indi- tinuing: “The appellation ‘Hooshier’ has Women of the West: “My husband asked ana—through all their divisions, religious been used in many of the Western States, if they could tell us where we could find and political their motto must and ever for several years, to designate, in a good a tavern? They looked at each other and will be: ‘their country’” at the Jackson Day natural way, an inhabitant of our sister then askance at us. The question was dinner in Indianapolis. By August, the state of Indiana . . . [and] . . . the people repeated again; they looked bewildered, same newspaper printed former Governor to whom it is now applied, are amongst when my husband thoughtfully changed James B. Ray’s prospectus for “publishing the bravest, most intelligent, most enter- his phrase and said—‘Where can I stay The Hoosier at Greencastle, Indiana . . . prising, most magnanimous, and most tonight and have good care taken of my a real Newspaper. . . . The Hoosier will be democratic of the Great West.” horses?’ The answer came quickly—‘Oh, at Nicholas B—’s, the Hooshier’s, he has
Opposite: An 1830 map of Indiana engraved by William Woodruff. The map indicates the a first-rate place, and take in every night a growth of the state since its founding fourteen years before. Two-thirds of the state had been great many folks.’ We made two or three settled, and negotiations continued between Native Americans and newcomers in the north- ern region. Watercolors outline the borders of the counties. County seats and other towns are noted, and Indiana boundaries are shown along with township and range lines.
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further inquiries and passed on, with our expectations considerably raised in the A Google search for “Hoosier” in prospect of the promised accommoda- tion.” As they went on searching, the common online parlance presents woman finally noted: “A fresh glance of scrutiny, however, enabled us to descry a results for “about 5,000,000 for very small hut jutting into the woods, as uninviting a log house as we had seen in all our wanderings.” There followed a vivid Hoosier” and “about 1,170,000” account of their very rustic sojourn with their “Hooshier” hosts. for “Hoosier AND Indiana.” On August 20, 1835, Quaker mistress Sarah Harvey wrote to her sister-in-law Recently arriving in “Muncietown” and unhusked.—The pigs eat corn, and in Pennsylvania about her new life in from Pennsylvania, a homesick Samuel the Hoosiers eat corn and pig, until they Indiana. Mailed in Richmond, this newsy Kennedy wrote a colorful letter about get to New Orleans, when the pigs, the three-page letter (currently the oldest man- his new surroundings in August 1839, remainder of the corn, and the flat are all uscript reference to “Hoosher” in the col- noting in part that “Horatio still has his sold, and the Hoosiers wend their way up lections of the Indiana Historical Society) office of County Surveyor _ and has his the stream again. Their apparel is much used the word five times to describe people ‘very Hoosierist wife’ still _ Horatio is a of it made of a peculiar domestic fabric, and conditions in eastern Indiana, includ- thorough Democrat, and went the ‘whole which they manufacture without the aid ing both similarities to Finley’s poem and hog’ at the Election which is just over _ of protection called Hoosiers jeans. They some of its common understandings: But it wouldn’t avail _ the Whig candidate are, in almost all respects, a people quite “this 69 acres is for sale at 600 dol- for Congress Wm. Rariden is re-elected by unlike the yankees.” lars—but mind ye the land is flat—water a handsome majority.” As often the case with most historical hard—no barn, and the house a “Hoosh- In neighboring Dayton, Ohio, the research, more references will surely be er’s nest” staked & ridered. . . . this has August 28, 1841, issue of the Dayton discovered in primary sources for the im- been a happy day to me here along with Transcript provided a description of such portant years immediately before and after Joseph and Lydia Plummer_ they are rich neighboring state nicknames as Illinois the publication of “The Hoosier’s Nest.” in good fruits of mental cultivation, as Suckers, Ohio Buckeyes, Michigan Wol- Debate and research continues about the well as worldly substance_ dear cousin verines, and Wisconsin Badgers, and of term’s origin and subsequent adaptations, Lydia has been learning me to comb and course Hoosiers: use, and meanings since its Indiana acqui- spin worsted “Hoosher” fashion. she of- “The yankees have long been known, sition. For example, an extensive narrative, fers me all I’ll spin for stockings if I winter and properly appreciated. Other aliasses annotated chronology, and bibliography in the west, but she admires my spinning [sic] are coming into use among our of the use of the term through time (both so much I will spin some for her_ old set- countrymen, which it will be necessary to historical and in folklore and legend) is tlers in Indiana are called “Hooshers” and understand. The most important belong available on the Herman Wells Library the cabins they first live in “Hoosher’s to the Hoosiers. These are locally the Web site of Indiana University. nests”_ It takes a year to become a people of Indiana, and generally the It is no small testimonial that a pres- Hoosher_ all our rel[at]ions now live in emigrants from the Southern States who ent-day search for “Hoosier” on the Secre- snug frame or brick houses_ all in good settle in any of the free States of the tary of State’s Access Indiana Web site for business who are no[?] to prop back_ Northwest.—They are a class, who like Business Entity Report Filing reveals over I am at head quarters now_ this is the the jews and yankees, can be known 2,600 companies using “Hoosier” in their place to meet th[?] society in Richmond by their habits and customs where ever name, ranging alphabetically from AAA or hereaway_ travelers of note often call they are. The Hoosiers are found in great Hoosier Home Healthcare Specialists Inc. [?] . . . I love to visit cabins and hear and numbers in flat boats on the Mississippi. to Warthogs MC Hoosier Chapter Inc. A see and learn how to begin the world with One of their cargoes down the river is similar online White Pages business list- its begining and grow with its growth.” corn and pigs. The corn is unshelled ings search produces almost 900 entries for
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unsupported theories, thoughts of local immaculate conceptions, and variations thereof as folklore or urban legends: Hoosa; Hoose; Hoosier’s men, food, or customers; Houssieres, Husher (probably the phonetic “Hoosher” pronunciation of Hoosier); Hussar; Huzur; Huzzah; Who’s yer/here; Who’s ear; etc. Although the old double-sense mean- ing still occasionally surfaces (usually among newcomers or visitors, linguistic researchers, or those who may enjoy mak- ing fun of Indiana residents), it remains embraced in its modern appellation as primarily positive. Moreover, the word is a regional nickname, like many others whose precise origins do not necessarily Ind i ana H stor cal S oc ety burden the modern, continued appella- A W. H. Bartlett engraving, titled “Domestic Architecture in the Backwoods,” depicts the tions. Perhaps one of the more eloquent rudimentary accommodations sheltering early Indiana settlers and the rich forests upon conclusions was offered by Walter Hav- which they depended for survival. inghurst in The Heartland (1962) when he observed: “Whatever its origin, the “Hoosier in Indiana,” and there are three first printing of “The Hoosier’s Nest.” It is name of Hoosier has had a lasting ap- columns of “Hoosier” entries in just the safe to conclude the Hoosher and Hoosier peal for Indiana people and has acquired Indianapolis White Pages. A Google search nickname adopted by Indiana residents a quite enviable aura. For more than a for “Hoosier” in common online parlance and for them by their nearby neighbors hundred years it has continued to mean presents results for “about 5,000,000 was derived from the dialect term (prob- friendliness, neighborliness, an idyllic for Hoosier” and “about 1,170,000” for ably traceable from England) not un- contentment with Indiana landscape and “Hoosier AND Indiana.” What would common among southern immigrants life.” Most of Dunn’s original research has the results be of a single day’s tally of to Indiana and the Ohio Valley several withstood the test of time after a hundred how many times throughout Indiana the years before Finley arrived and penned his years, and it appears that George Blakey’s word “Hoosier” appeared in daily or other famous poem. Although the term implied observation still holds that Finley’s creative print media or is spoken on local televi- a frontier roughness just beyond the most effort “helped define Indiana identity” and sion and radio news programs, advertising recently settled and “civilized” regions contributed to a “legacy [which] is a stero- pitches, etc.? What would the results be (which of course were always moving type that the state has accepted affection- of researching for all of the registered or west), its subsequent widespread accep- ately, if not realistically—that of a rustic, advertised business names that have come tance in the 1830s and 1840s was defi- rugged, individualistic land.” and gone since the 1830s? nitely good-natured, if not independent- Steve Haller is senior director, collections, This review has been intentionally minded, in meaning then and thereafter. for the IHS’s William Henry Smith Memori- limited to the decades on either side of the It is also safe to discount several factually al Library. This is his first article forTraces .
For Further Reading Baker, Ronald L. From Needmore to Prosperity: Hoosier Place Names in Folklore and History. Bloomington: Indiana University Press, 1995. | Blakey, George T. “Stalking the Elusive Hoosier’s Nest.” Traces of Indiana and Midwestern History 11 (Summer 1999). | Dunn, Jacob P., Jr. The Word Hoosier. In Indiana Historical Society Publications, vol. 4, no. 2. Indianapolis: Bobbs-Merrill, 1907. | ______. Indiana and Indianans: A History of Aboriginal and Territorial Indiana and the Century of Statehood. Chicago: American Historical Society, 1919. | Finley, John. The Hoosier’s Nest and Other Poems. Cincinnati: Moore, 1866. | Nicholson, Meredith. The Hoosiers. New York: MacMillan, 1900. | Smith, Jonathan Clark. “Not Southern Scorn but Local Pride: The Origin of the Word Hoosier and Indiana’s River Culture.” Indiana Magazine of History 103 (June 2007).
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