Indiana History Literary Fraud Uncovered: The Case of the Forged Diary
By Richard L. King, with assistance from Richard Day and Paul Roales
Indiana history researchers take note. A book long-available on library shelves and at used book dealers that purports to be the published diary of a 19th Century traveler is actually a work of fiction (though no doubt factual in part). Even historians who should know better have been fooled over the years, said Vincennes historian Richard Day. The story of the forged diary came to light thanks to an email message received by a book collector.
Paul Roales, a former Vincennes resident and always-avid collector of Vincennes-related historical materials, recently sent me email concerning his recent purchase of A Tour Through Indiana in 1840. This book, published in 1920 and edited by Kate Milner Rabb, purports to be a diary written by John Parsons of Petersburg, Virginia. I located the book on the shelves of Vincennes University's Lewis Historical Library and mentioned to Day that it looked like an intriguing historical source. However, Day immediately informed me that this book is basically a hoax (though perhaps a well-intended one) and often fools researchers seeking information about early Indiana history. Readers of this work should be aware that it is to be considered as a work of fiction, according to at least two published sources quoted from below.
Mrs. Rabb (1866-1937) apparently was quite an accomplished woman. She received her A.M. (Master of Arts) degree from Indiana University and taught school in Jefferson and Rockport. Mrs. Rabb embarked on a serious literary career and contributed stories to many magazines. A book about Indiana literature mentions Mrs. Rabb wrote a weekly column for the Indianapolis Star titled "The Hoosier Listening Post," which "dealt often with stories, sketches, and sidelights of Indiana history and which had a large following of readers" (Shumaker 435). She published two books on Indianapolis history: "No Mean City" (1922) and An Account of Indianapolis and Marion County (with William Herschell, 1924). She also edited a ten-volume collection of humor. In 1961 Indiana University dedicated in her honor the Kate Milner Rabb residence hall.
Shumaker writes:
Her novel, A Tour Through Indiana in 1840. The Diary of John Parsons of Petersburg, Virginia (New York, 1920), though disguised in the form of a diary of a person who was, perhaps, a relative of Mrs. Rabb, and which has been edited by her, is actually a clever work of historical fiction. Fortified by a picture of John Parsons, "taken from a daguerreotype," as the frontispiece, and all the apparatus of scholarly editing, including footnotes from historical works, Mrs. Rabb succeeded in passing off this fraud, with few ever discovering her trick. The material had first been published in the Sunday editions of the Indianapolis Star and had attracted much interest.
It is to be regretted that the author resorted to this deceit, for the book can stand well on the basis of a historical novel. Though there may have been a John Parsons, historians have found no evidence of the existence of his diary; Mrs. Rabb simply used research and her knowledge of Indiana history to create the diary and the letters, sending her hero traveling about the state, visiting the leading towns, such as Indianapolis, Madison, Logansport, Greenfield, Lafayette, Terre Haute, Greencastle, and Vincennes, bearing letters of introduction to the leading citizens in each community. In fact, these letters must have been numerous enough to fill a small trunk, since Parsons met and recorded his impressions of almost all the people of importance in Indiana in 1840. He was very observant and was interested in everything, attending parties, political meetings, camp meetings, observing colleges and comparing them with those in Virginia, becoming acquainted with merchants, politicians, preachers, judges, pretty young girls, and fine ladies. Also, there is introduced a love element in that the handsome Parsons becomes engaged to a beautiful maiden; but this happiness is nipped in the bud by the death of the hero on his trip home to Virginia.
I believe the above quotes describe the matter well. In closing I should note that a brief biographical article about Mrs. Rabb in Indiana Authors and their Books: 1816-1916 (1949), lists her as "Editor [actually author]" of A Tour Through Indiana in 1840. Perhaps this article will keep a historian or student from making an embarrassing error someday. If anyone wishes to comment on this, please email me at rking@indian.vinu.edu .
I am including below Paul's original email below:
Subject: A Tour Through Indiana in 1840
Date: Thu, 12 Nov 1998 09:25:35 -0500
From: "Paul A. Roales"
Richard,
This really does not have anything to do with folklore, but mabey you would
be interested anyway. I recently bought a copy of the book: "A Tour Through
Indiana in 1840". It is the diary of John Parsons of Petersburg, VA edited
by Kate Milner Rabb. The book was published by Robert McBride & Co. in
1920. It is a fasinating book about the people he met and the places he
visited in Indiana in 1840. This was in the spring during the Presidential
campaign of William Henry Harrison, so things were really hopping in
Indiana. It would make a great book to be used in an Indiana History class.
Anyway, during his visit to Vincennes he mentions Vincennes University in
passing, but spends a page on a description of St. Gabriel's College which
I knew very little about. I thought you might be interested in the quote
below from pages 350-351 of the book. If you want to use any of this, since
the book was published in 1920 I suspect the copyright has expired.
(Quote follows)
There is a most interesting Catholic institution, St. Gabriel's College,
which offers a large and interesting curriculum, providing greater
instruction in languages than any other institution in the state.
Instruction is given, it is announced, in both ancient and modern
languages, to-wit: Hebrew, Latin and Greek, Italian, Portuguese and
Spanish, English, French and German, the last three of which are taught by
professors to whom they are vernacular.
Besides all these branches, mathematics, philosophy and the sciences,
instruction is offered in drawing, painting and vocal and instrumental
music upon the piano, violin, flute, guitar and clarinet. The institution,
'tis said, is provided with a splendid philosophical apparatus, an
extensive library and elegant specimens for the study of anatomy. There is
also in preparation a botanical garden designed to contain the greatest
possible variety of plants. The scholastic year consists of two sessions of
twenty-two weeks each, and the terms, including boarding, washing, mending,
bed and bedding, medical attend-
ance, paper, quills, ink and books per session, is $70. Music and drawing
are extras as are also modern languages.
(End quote)
Interesting, no?
Paul
Paul A. Roales
Geologist
P.A.R. Consulting Service
http://www.ionet.net/~paroales
After explaining what I learned to Paul, he responded:
That's interesting. I remember when I was reading the book thinking that
this guy sure met a lot of important people on his visit, but I never
thought it might be a fabrication (although the Editor's notation that
Parson's died shortly after leaving Indiana at the end of the book did seem
quite strange). Anyway, it was an interesting read and, true or fiction, it
still would make a great Indiana History book.
Paul A. Roales
Geologist
P.A.R. Consulting Service
http://www.ionet.net/~paroales
Works Consulted
Banta, R.E., compiler. Indiana Authors and Their Books: 1816-1916. Biographical sketches of authors who published during the first century of Indiana statehood with lists of their books. Crawfordsville: Wabash College, 1949: 262.
Shumaker, Arthur W. A History of Indiana Literature: With Emphasis on the Authors of Imaginative Works Who Commenced Writing Prior to World War II. Indianapolis: Indiana Historical Bureau, 1962: 434-436.
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