Special Collections
Aviation Collection | Hillenbrand Family Library | Miriam E. Mason Collection | Oral Histories
A special collection of aviation books, videos and magazines has been donated to the library by Al Giesting and Jim Mahle of Batesville, Indiana, Richard DeBruin of Wisconsin, and others, and dedicated to the 352nd Fighter Group VIII AAF that flew over Europe during the Second World War.
This circulating collection contains over 330 non-fiction books on military, commercial and private aviation, plus fiction books, videos and copies of The Bluenoser, newsletter from the 352nd Fighter Group Association, and Friends Journal, a magazine from the US Air Force Museum.
A plaque
with the names of present and former Batesville area members of the 352nd
hangs above the collection. Those honored are:
T/Sgt. Albert Giesting, Bronze Star, Crew Chief for Capt. Virgil Meroney 487 Sqd., Pilot -
Sweet Louise P-47 & P-51-B,
1st Lt. Malcolm Pickering, Pilot -
Gracie P-51-B, and
Col. McDonald Godfrey, USAF Ret., Pilot - Candy Lamb P-51-B
The plaque contains an illustration of the
Sweet Louise
in flight. The aviation collection also includes models of the planes flown by Pickering
and Godfrey.
The
collection now includes squadron patches from the 352nd Fighter Group, and
prints, drawn by John "wily" Mollison, of the P-51 Mustangs as flown by:
Raymond Mitchell, George Preddy, Dean Houston, Alden Rigby, and Ray
Littge.
Our thanks to those who
have donated these valuable materials to the library.
If anyone has items that they would like to add to this collection,
please contact the library director, Mike Kruse (bmpl@cnz.com)
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This non-circulating collection of books is from the Hillenbrand family's former home on Walnut Street (photo, right), the site of the current Batesville Memorial Public Library. The collection is displayed at the library along with busts of John A. and Clara M. Hillenbrand and a stained-glass window from their home (photo, left). |
Click on the photo to enlarge |
A portrait of Miriam E. Mason (Miriam Mason Swain), a resident of
Batesville and author of children's books from the 1930's to the 1960's, is
displayed along with an original manuscript of Caroline and the Seven Little
Words (1967) in the Reference / Local History area. The portrait and
manuscript were presented to the library by The Woman's Study Club of
Batesville. Click on the photo to the left.
We gratefully acknowledge the donation of another original
Miriam Mason manuscript by the
Stockton-San Joaquin County
Public Library in California. Along with
the manuscript of Little Jonathan (1944), they also donated an original
drawing from the book and a letter documenting Ms. Mason's gift of the
manuscript and illustration to a sorority. The items were purchased from
the sorority at a sale, and were given to the Stockton-San Joaquin County
Library. The manuscript, illustration and letter will be displayed in the BMPL's
Children's Area at varying times. Click on the photo to the right.
A newly-published series for young
people, the
Young Patriots Series
by Patria Press, has just re-printed
Miriam Mason's John Audubon : Young Naturalist with illustrations by
Cathy Morrison. Our thanks to the family of Miriam Mason for donating two
copies for BMPL users to enjoy.
A brief biography of Miriam Mason Swain.
Oral Histories
The library has collected over 40
interviews with people who recall local events, people, organizations, churches,
schools, and businesses throughout Batesville's history. This circulating
collection is on audiotape, some with accompanying materials and photographs,
and is shelved in the Local History / Genealogy area of the library.
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Oral History Subjects: |
