Simeon V. B. Miller scrapbook, 1900-1906 | Purdue University Libraries, Archives and Special Collections

By Mary A. Sego

Collection Overview

Title: Simeon V. B. Miller scrapbook, 1900-1906

Primary Creator: Miller, Simeon V. B (1885-)

Extent: 0.3 Cubic feet. More info below.

Arrangement: Most of the content is in chronological order, with most of the newspaper clippings from the Purdue Train Wreck of 1903 located at the back of the scrapbook.

Subjects: Phi Delta Theta Fraternity, Purdue Boilermakers (Football team)--1903 train wreck, Purdue University--Alumni and alumnae, Purdue University--Students, Railroad accidents--Indiana--Indianapolis

Forms of Material: Memorabilia, Scrapbooks

Languages: English

Scope and Contents of the Materials

The Simeon V. B. Miller Scrapbook (1900-1906; 0.3 cubic feet) contains memorabilia from Simeon Van Buren Miller's college career at Purdue University. Since he had been involved in the train wreck of 1903, there are numerous newspaper clippings from the wreck. Simeon Miller followed in the footsteps of his father and two brothers, as a member of Phi Delta Theta, so there is also a concentration of ephemera from the fraternity. He had been president of the class of 1905 during his sophomore year, so the scrapbook also contains items from his tenure as class president. The scrapbook contains many other miscellaneous items, such as fee statements, dance cards, items from the athletic association and athletic events such as score cards and fee statements, newspaper clippings on the tank scrap, and numerous other programs. The scrapbook contains most of the items in the collection, but there are four additional envelopes containing dance cards, a name card and a coin purse.

Biographical Note

Simeon Van Buren Miller graduated from Purdue University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering in 1906. He was a member of the football team and was among those injured in the Purdue train wreck of 1903. Per a newspaper clipping among his scrapbook memorabilia, “Mr. Miller is admitted to have been the most horribly mangled of all the wreck victims who recovered…” He was also a member of Phi Delta Theta, as his father and two brothers had been. Simeon Miller was also president of the class of 1905, during his sophomore year at Purdue.

Subject/Index Terms

Phi Delta Theta Fraternity
Purdue Boilermakers (Football team)--1903 train wreck
Purdue University--Alumni and alumnae
Purdue University--Students
Railroad accidents--Indiana--Indianapolis

Administrative Information

Repository: Purdue University Libraries, Archives and Special Collections

Alternate Extent Statement: 1 flat box

Access Restrictions: Collection is open for research.

Related Materials: Purdue Train Wreck collection.

Preferred Citation: MSA 21, Simeon V. B. Miller scrapbook, Archives and Special Collections, Purdue University Libraries

Finding Aid Revision History: Last Revised 12/18/2009

Other URL: http://collections.lib.purdue.edu/fa/pdf/miller_simeon.pdf

Box and Folder Listing

Browse by Box:

[Box 1: 1900-1906],
[Folder 1: Loose Items From Scrapbook, 1903-1906],
[All]

Box 1: 1900-1906

1 Box Contents

Scrapbook

Section:

1. A page of Old Franklin Souvenirs, Ribbons from various receptions, Card from Phi Delta Theta; Pledged Oct. 1, 1900.

2. Lafayette Home Hospital Bill, First Semester Grades; December 20, 1901, stamped by W. E. Stone, President. Book of complimentary train tickets; The Indianapolis, Greenwood & Franklin (good only during the year 1902). Northwesters vs. Purdue, November 28, 1901, official souvenir and score card, “Price 10 cents.”

3. After the “Soph Banquet” – Purdue Athletic Association booklet, fee statement for 1902-1903 school year, $18.00 total. Score of 6 to 6, Purdue ties Notre Dame after a desperate struggle, Indianapolis Journal, Nov. 27, 1902.

4. Voter’s Certificate, for round trip between points in Central Passenger Association Territory. Tickets on sale Nov. 6, 7, 8, 1904. Booklet; Toasts to Sweetheart, Opening chorus of Minstrels, 1903.

5. Card; Complimentary Banquet to the Purdue Football Squad, Lahr House, December 6, 1902, Simeon V. B. Miller, Member of the Squad – “Big Eats, I drama “PR”. Yes, But It Was A Very Close Shave: Purdue at Last Won a Game Yesterday, But by Narrow Margin of 5 to 0, Sunday Times, October 26, 1902. “Rah for the Best Class that ever hit PURDUE – Purdue Men Struggle At Tank; cartoon, with caption, depicting the battle of supremacy between freshmen and sophomores in the matter of ornamenting with the class numbers the tank of the West Lafayette water works. “The best football game I ever saw 6 to 6”; Official score card/program of the University of Michigan vs. University of Wisconsin, Chicago, Illinois, November 1, 1902. Fee statement for semester ending June 10, 1903, $13.00. Programme of the Purdue Minstrels, Wednesday and Thursday, May the third and fourth, 1905. Sixth Annual Chapter Letter of the Indiana Theta Chapter of Phi Delta Theta, 1893-1903. West Lafayette, Ind.: Purdue University. Grade Report for Simeon Van Buren Miller, Junior Class, School of Mechanical Engineering, semester ending June 7, 1905. Purdue Minstrel Banquet Program, May 18th, 1905. Annual Circular Letter Of Indiana Theta Chapter Of Phi Delta Theta, March 1905. Admit Bearer to All Games Of Baseball Played on the Franklin College Grounds During Season of 1904 – Account, S.V.B. Miller

6. Tank Scrap article, card from Chapel Exercises in memory of Fred Butler Smith, “A grand ‘05 man.” Program from Memorial Day Exercises – 1903, program from Third Annual Football Banquet, Saturday, December 6th, 1902. Purdue University Matriculation Ticket for Mr. S.V.B. Miller, signed by Purdue President, W. E. Stone.

7. Items from Miller’s tenure as President of the Class of ’05, during his sophomore year - note from W. E. Stone stating that the class could use the chapel for a class meeting, dated Saturday, May 30, 1903. Note from F. Donner V. Sons Co., in regards to an unpaid bill for flowers. There is also a letter from the Central Union Telephone Company asking about a phone that had been removed from a building, during the Scrap between the freshman and sophomores, and there is a statement of account for the ’03 Debris. Also among his class presidency items is a letter from W. E. Stone, detailing the faculty’s stance on class functions of a social nature, dated April 6, 1903.

8. Miscellaneous ephemera from Simeon Miller’s college days; everything from an application for an absence excuse for malarial fever, to programs, grade cards, a note from a girlfriend, coupons and tickets, postcards, telegrams, a few photographs from football camp in 1903, etc. There is also an invitation to the inauguration of J. Frank Hanly as Governor of Indiana and Hugh Th. Miller as Lieutenant Governor (Simeon’s brother), dated January 9, 1905.

9. Numerous newspaper clippings from the Purdue Train Wreck of 1903. Ticket stub from the fateful trip. Illustration of Miller in a hospital bed playing a guitar, along with the newspaper article, Last of the Wreck Victims Play Banjo and Guitar at Hospital: Leslie Will Go Home Tomorrow and Re-enter School at Purdue—Miller is to Remain Several More Days (no publication or date noted). Another newspaper article that features Miller: A Romance of the Wreck of the Purdue Football Special: Has Simeon V. B. Miller, Famous Right End of the Purdue Football Team, Recovered From His Injuries Received in the Fatal Wreck Of the Purdue Special Last October, After Being Tenderly Nursed Back to Health by Miss Mima Hull, Fair City Hospital Nurse Only to Receive New

Wounds—This Time From Cupid’s Darts? Third page of the Sunday Sentinel Magazine Supplement, no date noted.

Item 1

A page of Old Franklin Souvenirs

Ribbons from various receptions

Card from Phi Delta Theta; Pledged Oct. 1, 1900.

Item 2

Lafayette Home Hospital Bill

First Semester Grades; December 20, 1901, stamped by W. E. Stone, President. B

Book of complimentary train tickets; The Indianapolis, Greenwood & Franklin (good only during the year 1902).

Northwesters vs. Purdue, November 28, 1901, official souvenir and score card, “Price 10 cents.”

Item 3

After the “Soph Banquet” – Purdue Athletic Association booklet

Fee statement for 1902-1903 school year, $18.00 total.

Score of 6 to 6, Purdue ties Notre Dame after a desperate struggle, Indianapolis Journal, Nov. 27, 1902.

Item 4

Voter’s Certificate, for round trip between points in Central Passenger Association Territory. Tickets on sale Nov. 6, 7, 8, 1904.

Booklet; Toasts to Sweetheart, Opening chorus of Minstrels, 1903.

Item 5

Card; Complimentary Banquet to the Purdue Football Squad, Lahr House, December 6, 1902, Simeon V. B. Miller, Member of the Squad – “Big Eats, I drama “PR”. Yes, But It Was A Very Close Shave: Purdue at Last Won a Game Yesterday, But by Narrow Margin of 5 to 0, Sunday Times, October 26, 1902.

“Rah for the Best Class that ever hit PURDUE – Purdue Men Struggle At Tank; cartoon, with caption, depicting the battle of supremacy between freshmen and sophomores in the matter of ornamenting with the class numbers the tank of the West Lafayette water works.

“The best football game I ever saw 6 to 6”; Official score card/program of the University of Michigan vs. University of Wisconsin, Chicago, Illinois, November 1, 1902.

Fee statement for semester ending June 10, 1903, $13.00.

Programme of the Purdue Minstrels, Wednesday and Thursday, May the third and fourth, 1905. Sixth Annual Chapter Letter of the Indiana Theta Chapter of Phi Delta Theta, 1893-1903.

West Lafayette, Ind.: Purdue University. Grade Report for Simeon Van Buren Miller, Junior Class, School of Mechanical Engineering, semester ending June 7, 1905.

Purdue Minstrel Banquet Program, May 18th, 1905. Annual Circular Letter Of Indiana Theta Chapter Of Phi Delta Theta, March 1905. Admit Bearer to All Games Of Baseball Played on the Franklin College Grounds During Season of 1904 – Account, S.V.B. Miller

Item 6

Tank Scrap article, card from Chapel Exercises in memory of Fred Butler Smith, “A grand ‘05 man.” Program from Memorial Day Exercises – 1903, program from Third Annual Football Banquet, Saturday, December 6th, 1902. Purdue University Matriculation Ticket for Mr. S.V.B. Miller, signed by Purdue President, W. E. Stone.

Item 7

Items from Miller’s tenure as President of the Class of ’05, during his sophomore year - note from W. E. Stone stating that the class could use the chapel for a class meeting, dated Saturday, May 30, 1903. Note from F. Donner V. Sons Co., in regards to an unpaid bill for flowers. There is also a letter from the Central Union Telephone Company asking about a phone that had been removed from a building, during the Scrap between the freshman and sophomores, and there is a statement of account for the ’03 Debris. Also among his class presidency items is a letter from W. E. Stone, detailing the faculty’s stance on class functions of a social nature, dated April 6, 1903.

Item 8

Miscellaneous ephemera from Simeon Miller’s college days; everything from an application for an absence excuse for malarial fever, to programs, grade cards, a note from a girlfriend, coupons and tickets, postcards, telegrams, a few photographs from football camp in 1903, etc. There is also an invitation to the inauguration of J. Frank Hanly as Governor of Indiana and Hugh Th. Miller as Lieutenant Governor (Simeon’s brother), dated January 9, 1905.

Item 9

Numerous newspaper clippings from the Purdue Train Wreck of 1903.

Ticket stub from the fateful trip.

Illustration of Miller in a hospital bed playing a guitar, along with the newspaper article, "Last of the Wreck Victims Play Banjo and Guitar at Hospital: Leslie Will Go Home Tomorrow and Re-enter School at

Purdue—Miller is to Remain Several More Days" (no publication or date noted).

Another newspaper article that features Miller: A Romance of the Wreck of the

Purdue Football Special: Has Simeon V. B. Miller, Famous Right End of the Purdue Football Team, Recovered From His Injuries Received in the Fatal Wreck Of the Purdue Special Last October, After Being Tenderly Nursed Back to Health by Miss Mima Hull, Fair City Hospital Nurse Only to Receive New

Wounds—This Time From Cupid’s Darts? Third page of the Sunday Sentinel Magazine Supplement, no date noted.

envelope 1: Coin Purse, No date

Envelope # 1, not dated, 0.025 cubic feet. The envelope contains a coin purse, approximately 3" x 2.75".

envelope 2: Dance Card, 1902

Envelope # 2, 1902, 0.02 cubic feet. Phi Delta Theta Hall, Dance Card, Thanksgiving, 1902, 3" x 9".

envelope 3: Dance Card, 1905

Envelope #3, 1905, 0.015 cubic feet, Phi Delta Theta Hall, Dance Card, January 30, 1905, 2.5" x 5".

envelope 4: Name Card, No date

Envelope #4, not dated, 0.01 cubic feet, Name card, signed K. E. Golden and M. J. Golden (Katherine Golden and Michael Golden), with notation, "A msg. full of good wishes." 3" x 1.53".

Folder 1: Loose Items From Scrapbook, 1903-1906

2. Envelope # 1, not dated, 0.025 cubic feet. The envelope contains a coin purse,

approximately 3” x 2.75”.

3. Envelope # 2, 1902, 0.02 cubic feet. Phi Delta Theta Hall, Dance Card, Thanksgiving,

1902, 3” x 9”.

4. Envelope #3, 1905, 0.015 cubic feet, Phi Delta Theta Hall, Dance Card, January 30,

1905, 2.5” x 5”.

5. Envelope #4, not dated, 0.01 cubic feet, Name card, signed K. E. Golden and M. J.

Golden, with notation, “A msg. full of good wishes.” 3” x 1.53”.