George S. Rainey Papers and Cassettes
L381
1918-1892, undated
2 mss. boxes, 1 cassette box
Manuscript Section, Indiana Division
Indiana State Library
Processed by: Christina Baich, April 2006
Biographical Note:
George Sanders Rainey was born on November 21, 1893, in Crawford County, Indiana. His parents were Charles S. and Almira (Goad) Rainey. He only attended school through the eighth grade and later studied telegraphy. On April 13, 1915, he married Hallie E. Spaulding with whom he had one son, Charles. He ran for prosecuting attorney in 1918. On March 16, 1921, he was admitted to the Indiana bar. Rainey and his family lived in Speedway, Indiana. Rainey worked for several railroads throughout his forty-six year career as a railroad worker. He retired as a train dispatcher for New York Central in 1958. He also practiced law in Lafayette, Indiana, for a time. Rainey volunteered at the Indiana State Library reading books aloud to be recorded for the blind. He published his first full-length book, Demise of the Iron Horse, in 1969. He had earlier published an essay titled Bibles in Public School; or, A Plea for Religious Liberty (1924). He died on February 2, 1989.
Sources:
Thompson, Donald E., comp. Indiana Authors and their Books, 1917-1966. Crawfordsville, IN: Wabash College, 1974.
“In Memoriam.” Res Gestae. 32 (1989): 449.
Scope and Content Note:
The majority of the collection consists of typescripts of Rainey’s various writings and cassette tapes. In addition to his longer works, Open Day and They Stood Up, a number of shorter works and essay are included. Much of what Rainey wrote is based on his own experiences and beliefs. “A Garrulous Hillbilly” appears to be autobiographical. The cassettes hold recordings of Rainey reciting chapters from his own work as well as speeches and stories by Elbert Hubbard and R. G. Ingersoll. There are also some tapes containing political debates. The collection also includes a limited amount of clippings, correspondence, and other papers, including his certificate of admittance to the Indiana bar.
The collection is organized into Correspondence and papers, Clippings, Typescripts, and Cassettes. Dated materials are arranged chronologically. Typescripts lacking dates are arranged alphabetically. The cassettes retain their original order.
Box and Folder Listing:
Box 1.
Folder
1. Correspondence and papers, 1918-1982
2. Clippings, 1928-1978, undated
3. “American Ingratitude,” typescript, 1924 Aug. 12
4. Essays and speeches, 1969-1980, undated
5. “A Garrulous Hillbilly,” p. 1-59, typescript, 1972 Mar.
6. “A Garrulous Hillbilly,” p. 60-end, typescript, 1972 Mar.
7. “A Garrulous Hillbilly,” typescript, 1972 Sept. 10
8. Open Day, p. 1-75, typescript, undated
9. Open Day, p. 76-150, typescript, undated
10. Open Day, p. 151-223, typescript, undated
11. They Stood Up, p. 1-75, typescript, undated
12. They Stood Up, p. 76-150, typescript, undated
13. They Stood Up, p. 151-225, typescript, undated
14. They Stood Up, p. 226-326, typescript, undated
Box 2.
Folder
1. They Stood Up, p. 1-75, typescript, undated
2. They Stood Up, p. 76-150, typescript, undated
3. They Stood Up, p. 151-225, typescript, undated
4. They Stood Up, p. 226-307, typescript, undated
Box 3. Cassettes
Cassette
1. Tape 1, Ingersoll’s Lecture on the Gods, undated
2. Tape 2, Ingersoll’s Lecture on the Gods, undated
3. Elbert Hubbards Little Journey to the Home of Patrick Henry and Ingersoll’s Comments on
Napoleon narrated by George S. Rainey, undated
4. Speech by Robert Ingersoll on the Declaration of Independence, delivered at Indianapolis,
1876 July 4
5. Tape 1, Westward Ho, An Odyssey, undated
6. Tape 2, Westward Ho, An Odyssey, undated
7. An Odyssey by George S. Rainey and Lum and Abner, undated
8. Chapters from mss. They Stood Up being “Truth Lives,” and “The Extraordinary-Ordinary Man,”
and “The Law of the Land,” undated
9. Interview with Pittsburgh Steeler Les Arihood, undated
10. Andy Griffin at the Football Game, Hypnotic Power of Her, and Adam and Eve by W. C. Brann,
and Charity and Science of Kissing, undated
11. Mayme’s Rollicking Bus Ride, Copperheads and Watersnakes and the Cow, undated
12. Ingersoll’s Lecture on Mistakes of Moses narrated by George S. Rainey and Ingersoll’s Eulogy
ad Grave of a Boy in Washington, D.C., undated
13. Christianity—Some Definitions by Elbert Hubbard and Trust Busting by Elbert Hubbard, narrated
by George S. Rainey, undated
14. Elbert Hubbard’s Little Journey to the Home James Oliver, undated
15. Tape 1, Interview of Ann Murray with some of her songs, undated
16. Tape 2, Interview of Ann Murray with some of her songs, undated
17. Tape 1, “American Ingratitude” by George S. Rainey, undated
18. Tape 2, “American Ingratitude” by George S. Rainey, undated
19. Tape 3, “American Ingratitude” by George S. Rainey, undated
20. Tape 1, Debate Ronald Reagan vs. Walter Mondale, undated
21. Tape 2, Debate Ronald Reagan vs. Walter Mondale, undated
22. Truth Lives, The Extraordinary Man and the Law of the Land, undated
23. Debate Ronald Reagan vs. Walter Mondale at Kansas City, 1984 Oct. 21
24. R. G. Ingersoll by Elbert Hubbard and Ingersoll at the Tomb of Napoleon and Eulogy at Funeral
of Charles Rainey, undated
25. Tape 1, Debate George Bush vs. Geraldine Ferrara, undated
26. Tape 2, Debate George Bush vs. Geraldine Ferrara, undated
27. Tape 1, Open Day by George S. Rainey, undated
28. Tape 2, Open Day by George S. Rainey, undated
29. Tape 3, Open Day by George S. Rainey, undated
30. Tape 4, Open Day by George S. Rainey, undated
31. Tape 5, Open Day by George S. Rainey, undated
32. Tape 6, Open Day by George S. Rainey, undated
33. Ingersoll’s Lecture on the Liberty of Man, Woman and Child, undated
34. “The Jail Bird” and “Believe or Burn” by George S. Rainey
Collection Information:
Size of Collection:
2 manuscript boxes, 1 cassette box
Collection Dates:
1918-1982, undated
Provenance:
George S. Rainey, 7 February 1980
Access: This collection is open for research.
Restrictions:
None
Reproduction Rights:
Permission to reproduce, exhibit, or publish material in this collection must be obtained from the Manuscript Section, Indiana State Library. Possession of a reproduction from an Indiana State Library collection does not constitute permission for use.
Language Materials are entirely in English
Alternate Formats:
Related Holdings:
Notes:
Search the Indiana State Library's Online Catalog.