Corona typewriter used by a US clergyman for an anti-Nazi sermon

Identifier
irn97472
Language of Description
English
Alt. Identifiers
  • 2015.33.2 a-f
Dates
1 Jan 1937 - 31 Dec 1937
Level of Description
Item
Languages
  • English
Source
EHRI Partner

Extent and Medium

a: Height: 8.250 inches (20.955 cm) | Width: 8.500 inches (21.59 cm) | Depth: 6.125 inches (15.558 cm)

b: Diameter: 1.375 inches (3.493 cm)

c: Height: 1.000 inches (2.54 cm) | Width: 0.125 inches (0.318 cm)

d: Diameter: 1.500 inches (3.81 cm)

e: Height: 1.000 inches (2.54 cm) | Width: 0.500 inches (1.27 cm)

f: Height: 9.125 inches (23.178 cm) | Width: 11.375 inches (28.893 cm) | Depth: 4.375 inches (11.113 cm)

Creator(s)

Biographical History

Mark Edgar Newson Lindsay (known as M.E.N.,1898-1987) was born in Hagerstown, Maryland and received a bachelor’s degree from Lynchburg College in Lynchburg, Virginia. He married Melcora Gruber (1899-1982) and they had three daughters Lois (1928-2017), Joan (b.1931) and Carol (b.1935). He received his Master of Divinity degree from Yale Divinity School in 1930, and was ordained as a minister in the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ). His first pulpit was that of a Congregational church in South Britain, Connecticut, where he, along with other town leaders, mobilized to prevent the establishment of a training camp for members of the German American Bund, a Nazi affiliated group, in 1937. In 1941 he and his family returned to Lynchburg, where he worked at Lynchburg College. In 1943, he was assigned as pastor of a Disciples of Christ congregation in Tazewell, VA, where he served during the 1940s and 1950s.

Archival History

The typewriter was donated to the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum in 2015 by Lois Lindsay Brown, Carol Lindsay Hagy, and Joan Lindsay Redford, the daughters of Rev. M.E.N. Lindsay.

Acquisition

United States Holocaust Memorial Museum Collection, Gift of Lois Lindsay Brown, Carol Lindsay Hagy, and Joan Lindsay Redford

Scope and Content

Typewriter used by Reverend M.E.N. Lindsay to compose the sermon that he delivered on November 21, 1937 to his parishioners at the South Britain Congregational Church, as part of his protest of the planned camp of the German American Bund in Southbury, Connecticut. The Bund, an American Nazi organization, were planning to set up a training camp to indoctrinate Nazi values in young people. The group had established at least 20 training camps in rural areas throughout the country and had 25,000 active members. With a camp already established in nearby Waterbury, the Bund purchased 178 acres in the Kettletown area of Southbury, then a farming community of just 1,200. Lindsay and another local pastor, Rev. Felix Manley, rallied the residents to protest the project. The protest was successful and the town prevented the camp from being built.

Conditions Governing Access

No restrictions on access

Conditions Governing Reproduction

No restrictions on use

Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements

a. Portable, metal, manual typewriter painted black with a front folding carriage seated in a black carrying case (f). The typewriter is enclosed within a square, black metal frame. The front of the frame dips in the center and has large gold lettering. The back half of the frame is cut out along the sides and holds the carriage mechanism. The frame has four metal feet with rubber bumpers, two in the front and two in back. The metal frame curves forward at the base to form the open keyboard. The keyboard has three graduated rows of round glass front keys with ivory colored paper and black type inside. The two far left keys have black paper with ivory colored type. On the left is a curved silver colored metal shift lock key. The elongated, black metal space bar is centered at the front, behind a curved metal plate with a slot for seating the typewriter to a corresponding cleat inside the carrying case. All the keys are attached to metal type-levers that extend into the body and trigger the silver metal typebars that are parallel to one another. Silver colored metal hinged arms flank the typebars and unfold to flip the carriage forward. On the right is a round, ivory colored backspace key with black text. On the carriage mechanism, there are two black metal ribbon spool holders in front of the long cylindrical black rubber platen. Resting on the platen are a centered silver metal typeguide, a metal line indicator and measure with white lines and numbers and small rollers on curved silver metal paper fingers. Several silver metal release levers are located on either end of the platen and on the right end is a black rubber platen knob. Behind the platen is a long, curved metal paper guide with a manufacturer’s label on the left and two long, metal extension arms folded in on themselves on the back. On the rear of the carriage, below the paper guide are three narrow silver metal bars, the top is engraved with a measure and the bottom two hold evenly spaced screws. Below the bars are a silver rounded bell on the right and round spring drum with unwound cord hanging loose on the left. Imprinted in gold on the backside of the frame are a series of patent dates and at the bottom is a silver metal cleat for seating the typewriter in the case. The back left foot bumper is partially missing and black paint has worn off the surface in several areas. b. Black, circular, metal ribbon spool holder cover with flat rimmed bottom and hollow stem that extends from the center approximately 1” in height. On the underside is a small curved arrow and lettering along the rim. There is a small remnant of black typewriter ribbon attached to the stem. c. Small, thin, black colored metal clip with 180 degree curved ends. d. Black, circular, metal ribbon spool holder cover with flat rimmed bottom and hollow stem that extends from the center approximately 1” in height. On the underside is a small curved arrow. e. Small, semi-circular piece of black plastic with broken edges. This appears to be a broken piece of the typewriters back left foot. There is lettering on the rim and a shiny coating on the interior surface. f. Black, faux leather clamshell carrying case for typewriter (a). The case is made of lightweight wood covered with a black patterned material on the exterior. The case is joined at the rear with two ornate, silver metal hinges. On the same end are four small, rounded, black painted wooden feet. The front has a silver metal locking latch with lettering in the center flanked by silver metal brackets, each with a circular silver ring to attach the black curved handle. The interior is lined with a light tan cloth. The typewriter is held into place with several metal and wooden elements attached to the base and lid. The base has a silver metal cleat in the center front and back and the lid has two square wooden columns, two small round bumpers, one metal and one wood, four silver metal prongs on the right side panel, and a long, thin, silver metal strip attached in the center. Two additional bumpers, now missing, left dark circular stains and pin holes near the lower corners. The bottom front flap has detached from the case and is secured to the top flap by the latch. Black marks and circular stains are present on the interior lining.

Corporate Bodies

Subjects

Genre

This description is derived directly from structured data provided to EHRI by a partner institution. This collection holding institution considers this description as an accurate reflection of the archival holdings to which it refers at the moment of data transfer.